Shanghai.....Asian Games 2006

Satrurday...........
With a 6.30am start to get to the hotel for a group breakfast at 7.30 I was already exhausted before we kicked off!
A quick change into my kit and an introduction to the girls B team (as in we had never met, let alone trained before the day of the games!) and it was off to the pitch.
Our first match kicked off at 10am so we had some time to kick and pass the ball whilst remembering each others names.....and as I have never even seen a game of Gaelic Football before, I got to watch a few matches before ours to get the general idea! Luckily there is no offside or such rules to learn.....1,2,3,4 bounce 1,2,3,4 kick, score, hit, grab, kick, slam, pass, jump, sprint, tackle.....Easy?!



On Saturday we played 5 matches - won 1, drew 2 and lost 2.......but when we won it was like winning the world cup! I got a real buzz from playing and now I want to train to get fast at sprinting.....so maybe Zeke - as you are number1 sprinter when playing football you can give me some tips?!! It was a long hard day and my whole body took a battering.

The matches finished at 5pm and I went back to Gordons being in no fit state to join the BBQ party at the rugby club.

I had a wander around the shopping mall before passing out watching the last Friends episodes.

Sunday.......The Finals
Due to our amazing performance in Saturdays matches we weren't in the running for any cups, bowls or even plates so our final match was just a good bye game and got us up and out to support the rest of the Japan games. After our last match I got my beer tokens and bought the finest alcopop I could find and went and had a massage (provided free as part of the weekend) on a hill overlooking the pitch so I could still watch the games.......bliss!

The Ladies A team made it to the finals for the plate.....and took it home.
The Mens A were knocked out in the semi finals

All the results are below

ResultsMens A
Japan 0-3 Shanghai A 2-2
Japan 2-11 HK B 2-2
Japan 4-6 Taiwan A 1-4QF
Japan 0-8 Beijing A 0-4SF
Japan 1-8 Singapore A 2-7

Mens B
Japan 0-2 Dalian A 2-2
Japan 4-5 Shanghai Tigers 0-5
Japan 1-9 Taiwan B 2-3QF
Japan 2-7 Singapore C 1-1SF
Japan 0-6 Shanghai B 4-1

Ladies A
Japan 4-2 Shenzhen A 1-0
Japan 1-2 Dubai A 2-4
Japan 2-2 HK A 2-5Plate SF
Japan 3-2 Singapore A 2-1
Plate Final
Japan 3-4 Beijing A 3-3

Ladies B
Japan 0-2 Korea B 2-2
Japan 1-0 Taiwan B 4-5
Japan 2-2 Beijing B 0-1
Japan 0-2 Shanghai B 2-2
Japan 1-0 Singapore B 2-2
Japan 0-2 HK B 2-3

After a long weekend of matches a well deserved party was next. The ceremony was held at the Regent Hotel where free drink and food for all was provided....the coach trip there was very amusing with singing performances from some of the team.

The reception was was brilliant and the Trade Minister for Ireland was there as well as a famous commentator.



After we got the food out the way dancing on the tables commenced. There was a bit of a disco and then a band who had to compete with people dancing on the stage in front of them!
The reception finished at 1am so it was back on the coach and off to an Irish bar...again another band, lots of dancing and drinking and other shenanigans going on!!!

Seen as some of us had to be at the airport for 7am we decided there was no point sleeping so headed for a club. I wouldn't call it a club exactly but it was good fun and dancing on the bar was permitted! We managed to get back to the hotel for 6am - enough time to shower breakfast and head to the airport....Monday was not a pleasant day!

Overall the weekend was brilliant and I love Gaelic Football....as well as the Irish celebrations!