Marco's report will come in once he touches down in Hawaii on the way home... the remaining games in the Test Matches were split, with Team Canada winning the first one by a comfortable score of something like 44-29 over the Kiwis, who were without Palmer and Tinker.

In the second game, in front of New Zealand's sports minister and other government dignitaries, the full Kiwi haka was in form, as was Dave Willsie's voice singing the Canadian national anthem in the pre-game ceremonies, and New Zealand's finest beat Canada by a 3-goal margin, roughly 41-38. The haka boys were primarily using a 3-2-2-1 lineup, featuring tournament MVP Dan Buckingham, Tinker, Taylor, and Mr. President, the persistent Bill Oughton.

Tournament all-stars and award winners are now posted on our results page for the New Zealand Nationals.

Final Test Match scores to be re-confirmed upon Hawaiian touchdown.

Our group in New Zealand has been severely hampered by the problems with e-mail. The internet cafe is a 15 minute walk/wheel from the hotel and is on the second floor. It is the only source of communication they have at the moment.

The New Zealand Nationals are over, but we have arranged for four test matches between our two teams, which finshed in 1st and 2nd positions at the Paralympic Games. Team Canada lost the first game today by a score of NZL 41 - Canada 35 and won the second game by a score of Canada 41 - NZL 32.

Match 1 featured all the Kiwis except for Tim Johnson, while in Match 2, the Wheel Blacks went without Johnson, Gerry Tinker and Sholto Taylor. We are using all of our players, and working on different lines, including our National Squad players Say Luangkhamdeng and Trevor Hirschfield, who are here along with the 12 members of the National Team. We played much better in the second game, and look forward to the next two test matches.

Tomorrow will be a better performance indicator for us, but it was good to beat the Kiwis.

Day 3 scores and final results have been posted...

Scores are now posted. Minor injuries to Hickling and Whitehead had them sit out the Can vs Can game in the crossover.

Well, it's 04:30 in the morning here in Ottawa, and the games are over but no scores are yet in. I do know that our two split Canadian teams lost both their games to the teams from Auckland and Canterbury, and that it's becoming obvious that the Kiwis, who are at the culmination of their national season, are at a peak, and the Canucks, who are yet to start their domestic season, are not.

We've had a few injuries to some key high pointers from both teams, and we'll have more on those shortly when Marco checks in.

The experience is good and the competition is excellent. Whatever the results of this event, it will be interesting to see the results of the test matches, which take place next week after the New Zealand Nationals wrap up. We play next at 09:00 and 10:30 tomorrow.

News from the Marcoman!

Paraphrased from a phone call...

"This is the coldest gym I've ever been in.... you could see your own breath in that place!"

"Modern society has found a cure for tendonitis... it's called 'Isabelle Gagnon.' I might have a new bruise on my arm, but I've never felt better!"

"It was overcast yesterday and rather chilly, and today it's raining, so we're expecting more of the same conditions at the gym today."

"The players enjoyed the rugby game last night and are fit and ready to go today... I enjoyed some much needed zzzzz's instead and am feeling better than ever."

I received the scores this morning, and they have now been posted on the CWSA web site.

Everything is good for the players in Wellington, although internet access is quite complicated. Marco picked up a phone card and will be calling the office this morning with more details.

After the games yesterday, the guys showed themselves to be a bit tired and rusty, but will be re-charged overnight after having attended an able-bodied rugby game at the local stadium.

More from me when the Marcoman checks in...

While the red and white canucks catch some zzzz's in Wellington, I can bring us a little more up to date with how things are progressing for our group. Here is a travelogue from our Team Leader, Cathy Cadieux...

"Chapter One (let's start all over)
Well, once I finally arrived at the hotel (a few more adventures but what the heck) it was great to see the team, relaxed and ready to head into a team meeting. After chatting with "Larry," the terrific lady providing bus transfers for the team, I joined the team at a very positive morning strategy session.

After a break for lunch, the team reconvened for an afternoon video session. Our host Phil Rangitawa then invited us, to join the Wellington Club at the Petone Working Man's Club for dinner and a few games of pool. As always, the Kiwis are amazing hosts. Many, many thanks to Phil and the Wellington Club.

The cell phone rings at 4:15am! I wake up but I am so confused with sleep that I have no idea who it was. UNKNOWN ID. So, for everyone out there, if you called, please call back.

A great day today with two team meetings and some free time. Stephan and Bob headed to Phil's place to check out the status of the chairs after the trans-Pacific journey. All is well, EXCEPT for the still missing wheelbag of Mr. Willsie. The afternoon saw me heading to the city centre with Bob, Stephan and Daniel for a little touring. I drove in and Bob drove back. We are all still in one piece and so is the vehicle. It must be those international driving permits. It was a great afternoon for all with cool and windy, but dry, weather.

We have an early morning tomorrow, with our first games (both teams) at nine. Pick up is at 7:15am. Access to e-mail is not good. There is no way for Marco, or Benoit or myself to use our WIFI or IPASS at the hotel and everything closes pretty early here. I will try to send results of tomorrow's games ASAP.

FAMILY ALERT - If you don't hear from your team members, it's because the local internet cafés are inaccessible. We have been borrowing "Larry's" computer when we can, but communication is not going to be great while we are here. More later and CHEERS from New Zealand.

Cathy"

______________________

That's much as it is going to be for me, as I'm camping up north in South River this upcoming weekend at yet another disc golf tournament, this one entitled DiscStock, but hope to be able to go to the dogsledding outfit (which isn't busy at this time of year) or the TD's house and use their computer to bring things up to date, at least on this blog.

I haven't heard any word from Wellington as of yet, but don't forget, while it is Wednesday at 16:30 here in Ottawa, it is currently 08:30 on Thursday morning for our Canadian team over in New Zealand.

Kiwi Nationals start tomorrow. Check out the schedule and keep checking it when the scores start to roll in!

Here is the full account of Cathy's saga, directly from her, as she had lots of time to write it while waiting at the (not very good) hotel in Los Angeles...

Chapter One
The Team Leader (that's me), arrives at the Ottawa International Airport ready for the journey with her team to New Zealand. I try to do kiosk check in and am told by the friendly computer to go to the Triangle counter. I queue up for the Triangle counter, for a good 20 minutes. I provide the nice man at the counter with my ticket (this is a real, coupon ticket.... not an e-ticket....no, no, no....a coupon ticket which a ticket printer will not print without a valid reservation and file locator from which to issue the ticket) and am told that, YES I HAVE A TICKET, BUT I HAVE NO RESERVATION!

Hmmmmmmm!!!! I am then told to go the Issue Ticket counter for further assistance.

Chapter Two
I queue up, first in line, for the Issue Ticket counter. The slooooooweeest person on the planet is manning this counter (or in her case womanning this counter) and 45 MINUTES LATER she is finished with the woman at the counter (of course, there is only one person manning, I mean womanning the Issue Ticket counter) and ready to assist me. By this time, it is 5 minutes past 2:00pm and I am still not even close to my 3:05pm Ottawa Montreal flight.

The woman at the counter says, "hmmmmmmmm!!!!!, this is very strange! I have never seen this before......hmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!" Five minutes later, she calls a supervisor. Five minutes later the supervisor stops playing with bags and joins us at the Issue Ticket counter. "Hmmmmmmmmmm!!!!, he says. I have never seen this before..... hmmmmmmmmm!!!"

They call Air New Zealand. Air New Zealand has my flights confirmed with them, but Air
Canada does not have reservations for the connecting flights to GET to them. Remember..... I have an actual TICKET!

Chapter Three
The Issue Ticket counter person and the supervisor start checking flights. It seems the flights that I have tickets for are oversold and they will not put me on those flights. So, they book me on the WORST POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS, leaving me an arrival in L.A. (if everything goes perfectly and we all know that that happens all the time in the airline industry) at 10:35, with an Air New Zealand departure of 11:30. Not much time!!!!!

Chapter Four
I arrive in Toronto, ON TIME, at 4:00pm (I love Toronto airport.... love it, love it, love it....) and head out to see if I can find Dave Willsie to let him know what's going on. I see Davey and, of course, he makes me smile. I then head to the lounge to wait out the next three and a half hours until my 8:30 flight.

I arrive at the departure lounge to see that this is going to be a full flight. It is now 8:00pm and we have not begun boarding. I ask if the flight is going to leave on time. They say there may be a slight ("maybe 10 minutes") delay in departure. THEN, they say "the groomers and catering have been delayed but we expect to board shortly."

It is now 8:45pm. We are now 20 minutes late and we have not begun to board. At 9:00pm, we finally begin to board. YEAAAA!!!!!!

Chapter Five
It is now 9:50pm. After moving the children that were seated in the exit row by mistake
and then moving the little old people with the YAPPING DOGS that were seated in the exit
row by mistake and then moving the people that were now seated next to the YAPPING DOGS, who did not want to sit next to YAPPING DOGS and then removing the YAPPING DOGS from the flight because the little old lady would not leave the YAPPING DOGS in their carriers and then removing the YAPPING LITTLE OLD PEOPLE who would not travel without the little YAPPING DOGS and then removing the LUGGAGE OF THE LITTLE YAPPING OLD PEOPLE from the cargo hold and reloading the luggage and then waiting for catering, yet again, to bring water to the plane, which they somehow neglected to bring the first time around and were, for some reason, unable to bring while we were dealing with the LITTLE YAPPING OLD PEOPLE WITH THE LITTLE YAPPING DOGS........ we departed Toronto.

Chapter Six
Doing the math, there is a problem. I had 55 minutes to make the connection in L.A. We are now departing an hour and a half late. This is challenging!

I am seated next to two old men who could win a dueling snoring contest. I ask the flight attendant (after she throws water all over me....by mistake) if I can hit them. She says she won't tell. I get up to let SNORING LITTLE OLD MAN #1 out to go to the bathroom. SNORING LITTLE OLD MAN #1 is still sleepy. He falls into my seat and breaks MY headphone adaptor for my own personal headphones. He is sorry, but he really has to pee!

The exceptional flight crew arrange to contact Air New Zealand and tell them I'm on my way. They move me up to Business Class just before departure to get me out the door ASAP. The door opens..... I'm ready to run...... and the gate agent says "WAIT, they just left," which I already knew because I saw the Air New Zealand plane pushing back just as we were pulling into the gate. I waved!

Chapter Seven
I have been rebooked on a 9:30pm flight the following evening, by Air Canada. I am given a print out of the new flights and a $60 hotel voucher and rushed out the door. I pick up my bags in the baggage area from HELL, make a hotel booking, wait 25 minutes for the hotel shuttle and check into the worst Westin I have ever experienced. BUT, the bed was good!

Chapter Eight
A new day dawns! I have a lovely shower! I am refreshed! I talk to Monica (our travel agent) and she tells me that after three hours of tracing, by her and a colleague, she can't figure out what happened either. So, I'm just lucky I guess. Thank heavens it was me and not one of the players!

I check out of the hotel, have a great, relaxing lunch at the hotel, take a cab to Circuit City to replace my headphone adaptor and then take the shuttle to the airport, refreshed and ready for my flight.

Chapter Nine
Upon check-in, I am told that I have to pay an excess baggage fee (which I didn't have to pay the day before) for the extra bag (uniforms you know) AND I have to pay a DATE CHANGE FEE because I am not leaving on the day I was originally scheduled to leave. I am DISPLEASED!

My face begins to get red and I start perspiring, slightly. I am VERY clear with the counter agent that he can take his date change fee and "stick it ......... with Air Canada." He goes to see his supervisor. He comes back! They will kindly waive the date change fee for me (isn't that sweet), but I have to pay the excess baggage fee.

Chapter Ten
I am writing to my friend Marco, while sitting in the Lounge in L.A., waiting for my flight. The rest of my team, including the Marco, should be safely tucked into the hotel in Wellington, while I await THE FLIGHT.

I LOVE TRAVEL!

THE END (well not yet... not really...)

I will have a tournament schedule and a list of the players up on the CWSA web site shortly, but here is a sneak peak of the top players on the teams we will be facing:

(Those listed in bold were members of either the US, New Zealand, or Australian Wheelchair Rugby National Teams at the Athens Paralympic Games)

AUCKLAND
3.0 Mark Zupan
2.5 Curtis Palmer
2.0 Gary McMurray
2.0 Tim Johnson
1.0 Jai Waite
... and coached by Grant Sharman

WELLINGTON
I don't know any of these guys... but they do have a new "Hickling" which has got to be a good sign... ;)

MANAWATU
2.5 Peter Martin
2.0 Sholto Taylor (yes, that's not a typo... he got re-classified)
1.0 Phil Spring

CANTERBURY
3.0 Dan Buckingham
2.0 Geremy Tinker
1.0 Bill Oughton (who is also the president of the NZ wheelchair rugby and a regular reader of this blog)

OZ4
3.5 Brad Dubberley (who did tell me that he was taking time off from the sport... guess it's in the blood)
2.0 Bryce Alman
2.0 Greg Smith
0.5 Ryan Scott
(everyone gets mentioned from this team 'cause they're playing IronMan Rugby!)

QUEENSLAND
2.5 Patrick Ryan
2.5 Grant Boxall
0.5 Nazim Erdem

Meawhile, we've got two teams of our own down under, newly named "Fire" and "Ice."

They consist of:

CANADA FIRE
3.5 Garett Hickling
3.0 Fabien Lavoie
3.0 Ian Chan
1.0 Gordie Publicover
1.0 Trevor Hirschfield
1.0 Mike Bacon
0.5 Daniel Paradis
Coach: Adam Frost

CANADA ICE
3.0 Mike Whitehead
2.0 Dave Willsie
2.0 Say Luangkhamdeng
2.0 Martin Larocque
1.5 Patrice Simard
1.5 Erika Schmütz
0.5 Jared Funk
Coach: Benoit Labrecque

That's all for now...

The national team is off, well... mostly off to the New Zealand National Championships, which are about to take place in Wellington, the capital city of the country also known as Middle Earth. The team will have to enjoy it from the windows of the planes though, as they are there to gain experience in playing the Kiwi national team, who we have rarely encountered over the past quadrennial. The Kiwis, as you'll likely remember, beat us for the gold at the 2004 Paralympic Games, with our Canuck team taking the silver.

In addition to the Kiwi club teams, and their national team, we'll also be playing some Australian teams, one of which has a Texas import by the name of Mark Zupan playing for them. It should be a solid tournament!

I said 'mostly off' simply because one of our team members, actually our Team Leader, Cathy Cadieux, is not with the team quite yet due to some computer problems at the Air Canada end of things. She will be joining the team one day later, and is currently stuck in Los Angeles. Despite having a ticket that had been validated by their own computer system, the AC people had no knowledge of Cathy's ticket, and the outbound connector flight was full, so they couldn't do anything else but get her part of the way there, and thus she awaits her Air New Zealand portion of her flight now, which leaves near midnight tonight.