Brisbane 2015 - Wrap up

Apologies for the delay with this post, but life caught up to me and it's be really busy.

In case you're wondering, yes, we made it back from Brisbane safe and sound.

Sydney from the sky -- on approach from Brisbane.

Except for bowler Mark (L) who stayed behind with friends.

And the Wilson's. Except for them too. They got into their car and drove off into the sunset or some such thing. We'll see them again. I'm pretty sure we'll hear Mrs Wilson long before we even see her. (And I say that with the deepest of love.)

Saturday, if you all recall, was the Carers Challenge. Rockets put three teams together: Lesley and Anna, Tony and Ron, and Lucy and Mike.

Not wanting to expose and particularly poor bowler of the lot, I'll post the total score for the teams' two games and their average (total/4).

(If you remember, the actual real bowlers averages over their competitions a healthy 132.75)

So...

Anna and Lesley: 429 (average 107.25)
Tony and Ron: 417 (average 104.25)
Lucy and Mike: 379 (average 94.75)

We'll leave the bowling to the bowlers, I guess.

I've got hundreds (literally) of pictures from the trip that I will add to this site as soon as I figure out how to add a gallery. And I will.

But I'll leave you with this one, taken at the Outback Spectacular which was, as the name suggests, spectacular.

Howdy, y'all
Front Row: Lucy, Adam, Candice, Natham, Warren, Mark L, Emma M, Lesley
Middle Row: Angela, Jo, Robyn, Emma C, Amy, Annette, Karina, Anna
Back Row: Mike, Nick, Ron, Mark M, Tim, Dennis, Ben, Tony

Brisbane 2015 - Day the 7

First, a quick note from Stats Man, Natham:

          THURSDAY TEAMS

Adam                23 pins over average

Tim                   22 pins over average

Emma C           21 pins over average

Emma M           21 pins over average

          THURSDAY SINGLES

Natham             31 pins over average

Adam                20 pins over average

Tim                   20 pins over average

Candice            16 pins over average

Ben                  15 pins over average

Karina              Turkey in a game of 154

Nick                 Turkey in a game of 115

INTERESTING FACTS

Rockets Bowled

369 Games

Hitting 48985 pine

At an Overall average per game of 132.75 <~~ Ain't too shabby

Today was a "rest" day, in quotes because we did absolutely not rest.

After another buffet breakfast we braved the elements and headed to the Warner Brother's Movie World. 

No. Just, no.

The elements were actually pretty kind to us, the rain holding off until about ten minutes before we were planning on leaving. 

Up until then, we ate healthy foods:

No more than a billion calories, I reckon

We wore fancy hats...

Tim is "Puttin' On The Ritz"

Saw crime fighter fight crime...

Na-na na-na na-na na-na
Batman!

Spied exotic wildlife...

No, I don't want a tuppence. I want a chip.

And after all of that we headed out, en mass, to the "Presentation" dinner (in quotes because nothing was presented) and ate, drank and danced.

Say "cheese".
And wine.

Tomorrow is the "Carer's Challenge" and a challenge it will be. I'm predicting fewer numbers to add up. I promise I won't lie about our scores. Much.

Brisbane 2015 - Day 6

The final comp day this morning, followed by an afternoon at Science Future (always a fun diversion because -- SCIENCE!).

Hornsby Rockets attending Brisbane, 2015
Rebels. (I think that's what the sign means)

One of the thing many may not be aware of is that a trip like this is exhausting. And not just for the bowlers. The crowds, incessant noise and responsibility is tiring.

See?

Some of the bowlers, though, still had great form, even at the end of it all.

Natham and his excellent form

Natham, by the way, has been our Stats Man, providing me with the numbers I've been sharing with you all.  He's had remarkable turnaround times. Thank him the next time you see him.

It was also a day of new bowling balls:

I tat I taw a puddy-tat!
(Emma's got a whole new groove going on.)

After bowling was Science Future, and it was a blast.

It's Electrifying!

Adam is...taller

Play that funky music, boys

Amy quit while she was a head.

And another day done, dinner at Sizzler's. I'm pleased to report that everyone chewed thoroughly.

It's a free day tomorrow (Movie World, weather permitting) and Saturday morning is the Carers' Challenge where yours truly and a half dozen other Rockets parents/carers attempt the impossible -- breaking 100 in a bowling game.

Brisbane 2015 - Day 5

It's State Comp day, and Hornsby Rockets had representatives in both the Open Category (Adam M.) and the Restricted Category (Emma C and Natham C)

NSW Open Squad (Adam bottom left)

NSW Restricted Squad
(Natham Top Left / Emma Bottom Right)

Supporters were in abundance, usually decked out with fashionable head gear. The Melbourne Cup could learn a lesson or two.

Ron, looking his VERY best

I'm not going to pretend to fully understand how the scoring works. Some people do pretend, but I don't think anyone really, completely knows.

Anyway, at the end of a very long and crowded day, after the points for the winning teams and the winning pairs and pin falls (follow all that?), the results are in.

In a very tight set of games, the NSW Restricted Squad were pipped at the finish line by Tasmania, tied for third on points, but slipping to fourth on pin fall.

In an even tighter match, NSW squeaked by QLD on pin fall, grabbing the gold.

Adam, proudly showing off the gold.

It was an exhausting day for the bowlers. Congratulations to all of them, and well done. We're very proud or you all.

Brisbane 2015 - Day 4

A moment of silence while we reflect on the importance of chewing our steak thoroughly...

Why do these posts always end up talking about food?

Anywho, notable results from yesterday and today (thanks to Natham the Stats Man):

MONDAY TEAMS

Natham             30 pins over average

Tim                   27 pins over average including a turkey

Angela              26 pins over average

Emma M           19 pins over average including a turkey 

Adam                19 pins over average

MONDAY SINGLES

Adam               53 pins over average including a four bagger plus a turkey

                        Broke a record from 1998 for male A Grade singles

Tim                  39 pins over average

Karina             18 pins over average including a turkey 

Ben                 16 pins over average

Natham           15 pins over average

Mark L.            A turkey in a game 157

MONDAY DOUBLES

Mark M             17 pins over average

Karina               15 pins over average including a turkey

Adam                15 pins over average

And hot off the presses...

          TUESDAY DOUBLES 

Adam                27 pins over average including a 4 bagger

Mark M.            28 pins over average

Natham            26 pins over average

Emma M.          25 pins over average

Warren             18 pins over average

          TUESDAY SINGLES

Warren              27 pins over average

Mark M.            20 pins over average including a turkey

Emma M.          16 pins over average

Adam                A turkey in a game 201

It was a more relaxed start today. We even had a mascot.

This is Jasper. Say hi.

Jasper is the seeing-eye dog of a bowler from QLD who bowled so much better than me that I think I'll bowl with my eyes closed next time. I can't be worse than I am now.

But back to the Rockets.

Ron (you know Ron -- he's been here forever) has a very nice camera and spends much of the time taking pictures. (As you would.)

Cheeses. Ron would like Jo to stop that now.

Here's some of the pics he's taken of the bowlers for your viewing pleasure:

Karina, Adam and Mark L.

Emma W and Candice

Nick, Ben and Mark M

Angela, Tim and Warren

Amy, Emma C and Natham

That's the bowlers. Here's some of the so-called responsible carers and parents.

Michael (but I continue to call him Peter)

Annette the Lefty

Hmmmm.  Dennis

The Chrome Dome

Boss Lady

There are a couple missing. I'll get some compromising shots of them tomorrow.

And speaking of tomorrow, Wednesday is the "State Competition." NSW (yay!) versus QLD, VIC, WA, SA, and NT (did I miss anyone?). Makes State of Origin look like a pick-up game in the park. 

Best of luck to Adam, Natham and Emma C, as well as the rest of the NSW squad. We'll be cheering you on.

Brisbane 2015 - Day 3

Housekeeping first...

There were some outstanding results from Day 2:

SUNDAY TEAMS:
Adam                18 pins over average
Natham             28 pins over average
Warren              23 pins over average
Mark Milner       turkey in a game of 170

 SUNDAY DOUBLES:

Adam                 41 pins over average
                         A six bagger in a game of 249
Mark Milner       23 pins over average
Tim                   22 pins over average
Ben                   21 pins over average
Natham             26 pins over average
Warren             18 pins over average

And today Adam broke a 17 year lane record with a series total of 647 and Angela (Average 110) ended the day with a 151.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

After yet another early breakfast with hit the lanes and began warming up for a long day of ten-pin.

Tim is getting his stretch on

Lesley, I think, has cracked. And it's only Monday.

Yippee!

 Nick was methodical about his preparation.

"Hey, did you hear how the Bulldogs did?"

And Amy was showing off her new shoes.

"They don't stink yet!"

The morning was very busy and very crowded and once all were finished (including Adam's record breaking game) we headed to the local tavern for an extremely large lunch.

The local birds were serenading us until they realised we wouldn't give them any of our chips.

"We're here. Where's the food?"

Nothing like a bit of rabbit ears.

A picture of Ron taking a picture. Say Cheeses!

After lunch we ended off with on last series (doubles) and headed back to another huge meal.

I'm getting fat(ter).

Until tomorrow...

Brisbane - Day 2

Second day in Brissie, first day of the comp.

And the first day is always the most tiring.

New place, coordinating the bowling times, cramming into a small bowling alley...

Forward, MARCH

After a few wrong turns we arrived at the Westfield shopping centre (aka money-pit) at which the bowling alley lived.

While functional, it's not the largest of alleys, but other than a delay that slowly increased as the day wore on things ran pretty well.

But it was packed.

Park it here

Where am I supposed to go?

Deep in thought.

Bowling went well. I heard rumours of a six-bagger that made up a 248 from Adam. Emma Crompton pulled a 140 in her first team game. Bowlers bowled well.

I'll post more ( and more comprehensive) results as the week unfolds.

We wandered Westfield for the afternoon, then headed to the Kedron-Wavell Services club, the bowlers in full throat (Hotel California never sounded so -- loud) for a meal and a half. (Two, in some cases.)

so another day ha come to an end. Tomorrow will be a long one. I think I should hit the sack.

Until tomorrow, happy bowling.

Brisbane, 2015 - Day 1

Well, it's been a very long day.

A healthy compliment of bowlers, parents and carers assembled at the Hornsby AMF, then bussed, planed and bussed (again) to our accommodations in Brisbane. We've got a (whatever the collective noun for a scad of bowlers is - a split?) competing in the TBA National Disability Championship.

The bus. The wheels. And off we go.

I don't know if you've travelled with a group or not before, but I have to hand it to the people who have to put up with us. The flight attendants were always smiling, even when we blocked the aisle getting personal effects out of the overhead -- forever.

Ben -- wondering where the food cart was

We all got settled in, eventually, and gathered at the restaurant at the hotel we're staying at and chowed down.

Food,

Glorious

Food

Many thanks to Lesley and the rest of the committee for their organisational skills. The rooms are great, the food plentiful and a free day before comp is a great idea.

Tomorrow we bowl. Picture of the lanes and highlights of the games to follow.

Stay tuned~