After last years ballon ballai competition there has been a new level to the rivalries between the English workers teams. Last year it was G's
Scott Dunn team that made it furthest. Add that into the mix of
Ski Higher vs Jump bar,
Ski Higher vs
Mark Warner (from the POTP snowball) and you have fireworks. So lets light the blue touch paper and stand well back.
I guess the easiest way is to describe Ballon Ballai. In England it is called Broom Ball. Think of it as ice hockey with the entire arsenal of sharp / hard objects removed. The puck is replaced by a kid's football, the hockey stick by a soft broom and ice skates by normal shoes. The rules promoted non-contact although in the more heated matches this rule was slightly bent.
The main rink was divided into two with a large inflatable sausage which ended up collecting many a player as they attempted to change direction while frantically waving their broom in the direction of the ball / opposing player.
With a little help from yours truly the first match was
Ski Higher vs the Jump bar. With the reputation of both on the line it was really no holds barred. Thanks to
Ski Highers great team work the Jump managed to sneak 3 goals into the net. Unfortunately there victory was short lived as they came up against Nini's Magic Mushrooms who handed out a 5-1 lesson in broom ball ass whoping.
Finlays Micheal Jackson appreciation society caused an upset by beating the dream team of the local Police municipal, in return I'm sure their minibus will get special attention from the towing truck next time it is left unattended.
Mark Warner dispatched
Scott Dunn's second team 'Uggs r us' only to be beaten by the Hotel Pralong. G's SD first team 'Where's Ed' had a free pass through the first round only to be beaten in their second match.
It was left to the Freeride team to show the French how it's done beating the Bled family, the bakers, The Hotel Pralong and Chikungugonia to make it into the final against the Magic Mushrooms. Only to lose by a respectable 2-0. Still they now have a nice metal-look trophy for their mantlepiece, some tremplin sun visors and a box of chocs.
