Splish but no Splash
Interbase Waterpolo 2008
AC Jesse Halkett gets ready to shoot. (OH-08-0222-55-tn).
By FGOFF Liam Shanahan
It is a game where kick outs are a welcome part of the sport yet splashing is frowned upon; the undies/ togs debacle is no longer a moot point once in the water; and a short person experiences the great sporting leveller – water.
While it can be a challenge in the highest order of physical exertion waterpolo remains a game that anyone, regardless of ability, can rise to.
Over 5 and 6 April 2008 RNZAF Base Ohakea hosted the annual Interbase Swimming and Waterpolo Tournament. The tournament was a double round robin between Bases and led to one of the most hotly contested tournaments of recent years.
Combined teams photo including Woodbourne, Auckland, and hosts Ohakea. (OH-08-0222-20-tn).
The overall winner for the tournament was RNZAF Base Auckland, however it was so tight that it came down to a points countback after which only five goals separated Auckland and Ohakea. Woodbourne also competed strongly and produced a plentiful supply of talented individuals to be watched in the future. Among the talent this year, PLTOFF Lachie Johnston (OH) won men’s player of the tournament, CPL Debz Goodwin (AK) won the women’s player of the tournament, and W/O Dave Dean (WB) won the sportsperson of the tournament.
AC A De Wit, with the ball. (OH-08-0222-38-tn).
In years gone by RNZAF Waterpolo boasted high numbers of participants and while it has ebbed in Air Force circles of late it is still a vibrant sport in New Zealand. As a testament to this, Hutt Waterpolo Club were invited to challenge the RNZAF and pitched their Senior Men against the RNZAF Team in an exhibition match on the Sunday. The score was respectfully confined to 9-5 in favour of our guests however the team from Lower Hutt was stacked. All players were either NZ Age Group or NZ Men’s Representatives with a player from Barbados and another from Texas for flavour. While we were in awe of the talents of this team we responded in kind by revealing not only our sporting ethos and way of life but our endeavours on behalf of NZ which these players could readily identify with.
With continued support the excellence in sport displayed could again be attained by RNZAF Waterpolo players. Evidently, from 2008’s interbase competition, RNZAF Waterpolo is again reeling from resurgence in players’ enthusiasm for the sport.