Good morning!  Glad you could join us today, since we have the third Christchurch Chronicle in from CWSA Executive Director, Cathy Cadieux.  The six-team, three-country New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby National Championships is now over, and the group has a four day break prior to the more important competition at the World Wheelchair Games.  Most of the remaining Canadians will leave Canada on Wednesday, and join our advance group, who will be able to act as 'local experts' to the new arrivals.  Anyways, here is Cathy's report:

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Hello Canada,

It's a bronze medal for Canada at the 2003 New Zealand National Championships.  Canterbury took the top spot and the Gold medal and Australia came away with a silver!

After a disappointing performance by the Avalanche in their semi-final against the strong Canterbury team, Canada delivered a superb game against Auckland with a controlled and disciplined performance with only 7.0 and 7.5 lineups.  With Mike Bacon sidelined temporarily, Canada went with the 3.0/2.0/1.5/0.5 or the 3.0/2.0/2.0/0.5 lineup.  It was great to see our team finish the tournament with such a strong performance.  Game scores posted were a 39-31 loss against Canterbury and a 46-35 victory over Auckland.

In the All Tournament Team department, Canada's low-pointers ruled.  The best 0.5 in the world, Daniel Paradis, took the best 0.5 spot and was joined by Patrice Simard who won the best 1.5 category.

At the tournament banquet, Captain David Willsie offered some gifts of thanks to our
hosts and tournament organizers Bill Oughton and Tim Johnson.  Bill, his wife Michelle and their young twins Jack and Pete, were great hosts and went out of their way for our team.  Tim organized transportation and anyone who's been in charge of that aspect of a tournament can sympathize.  Just ask Duncan Campbell.

We got some great experience this weekend for our young 3.0s and our new 2.0.  It was a very successful development opportunity for Canada and a good reminder of just how good these Kiwi's are.  Their performance in Sweden certainly didn't reflect their talent, as Canada knows from past experience.

We're now headed into four days off and planning some touring and general R&R, with a little laundry thrown in for good measure.

More later from "The Garden City."

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If you have any questions or comments for the Canadians in Kiwiland, please post them up in the comment box, and I'll get the answers for you and post them here on the Rugby Road Journal.

~Don~