Annual Events…
Love DANCE? Love good sportsmanship? Love a GOOD TIME?
Love BEER??!
Then read on and see what the Falkland's have in store
Every year for the 'party animals' and
Even for the 'oldies'!
Wayne and Doug prepare for a drunken game of 'golf'!
Sports Week '98
There is ALWAYS something happening in the Falkland Islands - although when you live there you seem never to notice…!
Sports Week ~ to know what it's like you just have to be there!
This is undoubtedly THE BEST EVENT of the year besides Christmas Celebrations
…basically it is a week of TRADITIONAL SPORTING EVENTS, (Horse racing, 'Gymkana' events, sack Races, 'STEER RIDING' and dog trials), BBQ's, drinking beer, DANCES, Prize-giving, very little sleep and a GREAT LAUGH with loads of friends!
Kev Marsh at Sports Week '98!!
'Greasy Pole' event ~ a bad picture but it gives the idea !
Mid ~ Winter Swim…! (It's exactly what it says!)
SORRY - no pictures for this event but I can ASSURE you that
it's worth watching when it happens!
SURF BAY - the main beach near town is the venue for scores of
Mad idiots who run into the FREEZING COLD waves for a couple
Of minutes, GET WET and run out again in mid July (OUR WINTER)
~ however, IT IS FOR CHARITY!
Surf Bay…'feel' the cold waters?!!
The Raft Race…
takes place on New Years DayAnd involves teams of people, (usually drunk), BUILDING
Their own RAFT and then racing it from one end of the harbour to the other…
It's HILARIOUS to watch and the reward is simply knowing that you won!
THAT'S NOT ALL, but These events just
give you a taste of the best!!
Above left:
This is 'us' (me and 5 mates) in the Raft Race 2000!! No, we didn't exactly build the raft ourselves, and no, we didn't win but hell it was good fun!!Left:
This is Chris after the race swimming in the harbour!!Below:
the race in full swing - we're in front!!
You really have to be MAD to go into this event - HUNGOVER, tired at the start and COLD, WET AND SMELLY at the end! Next year I think I'll just watch
J
Christmas Sports…a whole lot more fun!!
I miss out on these just about every year as I am out at camp (countryside) but my friends always have funny stories…here's a bit about the event and some more pictures…
Below: Stanley's jockeys take the Sports very seriously
THE CHRISTMAS SPORTS are very similar to the events that take place during Sports Week ~ but the WEATHER is usually MUCH NICER!
The events include mostly HORSE RACING ~ many people in the islands have a great interest in horses and many quality racing horses are brought over from Chile for breeding.
The races begin on BOXING DAY and continue for 3 days with 'GYMKANA' EVENTS ('games' involving horses) and foot events such as TUG 'O' WAR included. Everyone sits in the sun, enjoys home-made ICE-CREAM and lots of BURGERS and HEINEKEN!
Afterwards there are prize-giving dances - MORE FUN!!
A GREAT social ATMOSPHERE and great SPORTSMANSHIP…the races are
often the highlight of Christmas.~ May Ball ~
when you turn 15 you are eligible for the belle-of-the-ball competition! (Even if u r a bloke!)
The photo on the left shows Matthew, ('PRINCE CHARMING'), Cara, ('MAY QUEEN'), Louise and Joe at the 1997 May Ball.
~ The Ball takes place over 2 NIGHTS on the last weekend of May (when it usually begins to SNOW in the Falklands!).
The FIRST NIGHT everyone who attends for their first time (when they turn 15) dresses up as they are in the photo, 12 GIRLS are then picked by number of VOTES to be in the FINALS, and then the JUDGES pick 2 winners on the basis of their dancing. PRINCE CHARMING is voted for by the LADIES!
When I went for the first time it was the most nerve-racking thing ever!
It's definitely GOOD FUN though and WEEKS OF PREPARATION go into the dresses, the dancing skills and getting the blokes organised!
The SECOND NIGHT is just an opportunity to kick off your shoes and DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY again!
(Above: Sian, Anna and Lou b4 the May Ball second night ~ 1998)
New Years!!!
Needs no explanation, but here's a few photos from the Millennium celebrations in Stanley…
MORE PAGES!
Friday Nights out…pubs, parties and other stuff!
SOCIAL LIFE….when we're not in the pubs!
SPORT…footie, footie and…!
WILDLIFE AND SCENERY…totally uniquE
