Mainland Canoe Polo

South Island Canoe Polo Championships 2004 Report

by Jimmy Sewell, MCPA Competition Director
23 November 2004

The South Island Championships were contested recently in the first week of November. They involved three and a bit grades which were Open, Women, Junior and an on the side challenge between Nemesis (Burnside Canoe Polo Club, Christchurch) and the Valkyries (Kiwi Canoe Polo Club, Palmerston North).

We had the new goals Mainland Canoe Polo Association had purchased for National League installed by Sean Thompson out at the lake and they lasted the weekend well (but not much longer than that, sorry Sean). We even had a small write up in The Press in the week before the event, which had Nick Burnett with a brilliant look of strain on his face.

The Saturday went smoothly enough with North Islanders and South Islanders both enjoying the miserably cold weather. The day started with a huge result with Nelson A drawing with Nautilus 5-5, showing just how far Nelson A has progressed in recent years. The Demons from Dunedin began to show how they planned to dominate the Junior grade whereas their travelling companions, the Sneaky Weasels, tried to default the entire tournament to which they were told to use as many ring-ins as needed. In the little side challenge, Nemesis beat the Valkyries 6-0 and 4-2.

On the Sunday, the sun came out and burnt everyone, which I was told was as much my fault as the miserable weather on the Saturday. The story of the day was Nemesis who were placed 5th at the end of the round robin and started the Open grade finals by beating Nelson A 3-1 and then going on to beat Nautilus 2-0. They only just failed to get into the Open grade final by losing 8-1 to Burnside Red.

The final of the Junior grade was contested between the Demons of Dunedin and St Andrews College of Christchurch. With the Demons coming out 6-3 victors in the grade. The Women’s grade final was contested between Malice and the Gingas (which only contained one ginga), both of which were Burnside Canoe Polo Club Teams. Malice came out on top by a score of 5-4.

The Open grade final was fought out between two other Burnside Canoe Polo Club teams, Burnside Red and Burnside Blue (although they did contain a few ring-ins including players from Dunedin, Wanaka, Nelson and Palmerston North). At half time, the score was still 0-0, but that blew out to a 4-1 victory to Burnside Blue at the end.

Hopefully next year we will have the second court up and running at Lake Roto Kohatu and we will be able to encourage a few more North Island teams to come down and try and take out our championships. I’m sure they’ll be keen after we go up there and take out they’re Tournaments early next year.

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