Taupombledon 2009

The competitive spirit was warmed up for the second time this (in)famous tournament was to be played on NZ shores with the great linguistic Taupombledon vs Taupimbledon debate. The o's won it, for no more reason than it rolls off the tongue better...and it's printed on the scoreboard.

Friday was accompanied by the usual bemoaning of the Wellingtonians about the drive up - you all choose to live in that hemmed in backwater ;-)

But normal order was quickly restored once the keg was tapped and the beer was flowing. A nice little surprise for the Friday night - a half keg of Kid Chocolate left over from the Auckland beer festival. The traditional bacon sarnie fry-up was held sometime after midnight, and the last of us trickled off to bed at - a probably unwise - sometime after 3am.

Despite the forecast for some showers from the summerless south, Taupo managed to put on another perfect day for tennis - not too hot, not too cold. A new element to the tournament was unveiled, creche corner - where more athletic ability was probably displayed than on court. Of course, the tennis once again took a back seat to the real purpose of the day - the drinking - a keg of Emersons Pilsner for the boys (perhaps a little too hoppy to accompany a day of tennis), and punch for the girls (minus 2).

But there has to be a winner on the day - and this year, finally, Rae & Tom managed to pick up the title to their own tournament. I think they were quietly chuffed, and there might have even been some subtle fist-pumping at the back of the court. Of course, the final game of tennis does no mean a halt to proceedings, as the trophy quickly becomes the object of attention with a game of "tennis-ball-soccer-header". This may go down as one of the best games ever, extending to a marathon 7 sets.

Post the BBQ dinner, the night finished much earlier this year - perhaps the influence of the kiddies, perhaps the extra strength in the Pilsner, perhaps we are all just getting older...

But still another great Taupombledon weekend.