The last official competition for 2005 saw some excellent times recorded by several of the current New Zealand record holders. Ashleigh Finlay from Hamilton drove up with Mum, Dad and fellow New Zealand record holder big brother Carl, and set new class records in the 2000 metres, the 1000 metres, the 300 metres and the 100 metres. Ashleigh now holds all the individual records in the lightweight women's 13-14 class and over the past three months has three times lowered the 2000 metre record; from 8 min plus to 7 min 37.6 sec, a record which seems destined to remain for a considerable period of time.

Axel Dickinson from Petone set three new New Zealand records in the men's lightweight 15-16 class, perhaps the best of these being his outstanding time of 15.6 seconds for the 100 metres. That row makes Axel the fastest ever New Zealand lightweight sprinter.

Others to break New Zealand records were: Mark Keown (1000m), Lizzie Dickie (500m), Yvonne Hooper (both 300 and 100m) and Camilla Anderson (100m equal).

On Sunday the rain fell in sheets, but sticking to the advertised program, petanque teams were made up from the indoor rowers present and a social but at times seriously competitive tournament was organised. A series of really close games evolved, the players either drenched in sweat from wearing oilskins or soaked to the skin from wearing tee-shirts.

Barbecue lunch and tea were cooked on the roofed veranda and an enormous quantity of rum and coke, not to mention Macs Gold and Speights seemed to disappear down the throats of both the winners and the losers; well, the non junior winners and losers at any rate.

Despite the rain, the tournament continued until night fall by which time neither boules nor cochonnet could any longer be distinguished from the piste or the piste's surrounds.

It was a great weekend and most of those involved are just hanging out for the repeat in 2006.

Coach Greg, seen at right about to throw the winning boule, declared that next time he wanted luminous boules, cochonnet and borders so that play could continue indefinitely with or without a full moon, starlight or even electricity.