Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Southernmost International Rugby Game in the World

Pictures from the Southernmost International Rugby Game in the World held on Ross Island (technically it's on the Ross Ice Shelf next to Ross Island) between the New Zealanders and the Americans. I'm not sure how long this annual tradition has been going on, but I do know that the Americans have never won. I don't know if they've even scored in a game.


I was asked to sing the National Anthem for the annual International Rugby game this year. Last year, the team sang it themselves and they apparently were not impressed with themselves. This photo is courtesy of my neighbor Lizzie Smith. I kind of blend in with the players, but if you look hard you'll see me towards the righthand side of the picture. This marked the first time I have ever 1) sang at an international sporting event and 2) sang into a bullhorn.
rugby star spangled banner



After I sang, the kiwis lined up for the haka, a traditional dance form of the Maoris of New Zealand. This photo is also courtesy of Lizzie Smith.
the kiwis doing the haka



Toby drove in on this ride. His coworker Bob and he made this Snow Chopper from scrap parts after work. It took them 6 weeks and has a mattrack back tire and snowmobile ski front.
Toby on his Snow Chopper



Toby on the Snow Chopper 2



Lizzie is a kiwi living at McMurdo (just like my roommate Helen last season). She couldn't decide which team to support so she dressed half in red, white and blue for her American friends and half in black and white for the New Zealanders, right down to the ribbons in her hair and the stockings on her legs. She even had two flags and would wave them depending on which team was doing well at the time.
Lizzie couldn't pick sides



Daniel from Recreation



tackle



grabbing the ball



Each year they have a hard time finding an unbiased ref for the game. This season it was a Scot, but he lives at Scott Base with the kiwis.
kiwis got the ball



This is my suitemate Emily just about to go down. She's one of two women on the American team.
Em getting tackled



toe tackle



another tackle



toss in



the Americans get the Kiwi



the American crowd

Posted by Katie from the Ice @ 10:39 AM

Read or Post a Comment

Hi - This is going to be a very random comment, but do you know someone down there by the name of Jeff Bechtel? He is from Wyoming, and I need to get a message to him, but don't know how to get ahold of him.

I'm a friend of a friend ...

Please post something, or email me and let me know. Thanks a bunch... Lulu

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous @ 7:46 AM #
 

Hi Lulu,

I don't have your email address, so I hope you read this blog again. I know Jeff Bechtel. We worked for the same department when he was stationed out of McMurdo. Now he's off on the LMG (the Gould research vessel). I can get you his contact info, but you'll need to send your contact information to me at my katieantarctica @ gmail.com address.

Thanks,
Katie

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous @ 8:14 AM #
 
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