Drinking

Although poorly organised, the Victoria team distinguished themselves in the drinking contest and were the cleanest drinkers and the only stayers of the tournament.

To the well-known strains of 'Land of Hope and Glory' the Vic. drinking/rowing team, resplendent in their green and gold singlets, biceps rippling in the dim light of the Ham ballroom, took the stand.

In the individual sprints, John 'Lips' Lawson and Andy 'Capacity' Phillpot were our 'men'. Lawson was soon an established favourite, having been the only drinker to have drunk his seven so quickly and cleanly that not even the inebriated Lincoln judges could dispute who had won. However, due to the biasness of the judges after numerous redrinks, John and Andy through no fault of their own came 4th and 7th respectively.

The 6×7oz. relay was next and a team of 'Bitch' Barge, 'Ring-in' De Veer, 'Landslide' Heggarty, Lawson, Lawrence, 'Capacity' Phillpot and 'Lips' Lawson took the stage to the resounding cheers of the crowd. Having gulped their way through to the semi-finals, the team were eliminated by the foul tactics of the judges who decided to change the rules of what up to then had been a straight drink-off into a best of three. The team then shovead the crowd what great drinkers are all about and shouted the team motto. The South Island is beaut', The crowd was chanting, 'Victoria, Victoria", but this failed to sway the judges, and later the Otago team was pelted with cans as the crowd showed its dislike of their animalistic habits.

Victoria's greatest moment was still to come. The kegs race was next and this consisted of picking the six most stupid members of the team, Hayden and Rutherford being added at this point, who had no regard for health or future sanity in an attempt by six drinkers to down 4½ gallons of warm South Island beer. Withstanding, showers of beer from irate supporters and inebriated spectators, the Victoria team drank and spat their way to victory. During the excitement. Sports Officer Kevin Wright received a stiff-upper cut to the left eye from Dennis Clifford, an excited team member shouting, 'Come on, Victoria'.

Dave Rutherford.