Best opening ceremony ever!!!!

Late again, never seems to change at Kanga Cup how the time drains away and I'm once again updating the day after midnight..  Fortunately the tennis is on - no spoilers here, so don't worry and this will be quick

Seminar today, same same as previous years, but much bigger....
Today's stats

• 27 assessors / referee coordinators / mentors, 100% increase on 2011????
• 40% increase in referee participation, approximately 140
• 400 sausages cooked
• 4 versions of Monday's appointments already, waiting until morning to print out final copies for the day
• 640 matches scheduled
• 12 years that Norm Armstrong contributed to Kanga Cup as referees assessor, coach, 3am finals appointments club member - we observed a moments silence today in his passing last December, rest in peace my friend, your presence here is missed.

Beep test, high scorers being 14.5 and 13, but great job from all taking part - Thanks Mark for helping run warm ups at short notice

This was followed by lunch BBQ brought to you by The 3 Stooges (Nathan, David, Paul), with supervision from Sigourney.  "You want my meat anybody" - Quote of the Day; lots of pushing, shoving, YC offenses generally

Quick change into nice clothing and off to the front of the line and polite clapping at the opening ceremony.  Respect to the CEO for recognizing at length the contribution of the referees in Kanga with year.  Much better from 2011.

Tori took the oath on behalf of the Referees, great job in a big room.  Quickest opening on record, about 20 minutes of actual presentation and we're heading for supplies before a quick dinner

After dinner, Ben Williams attended and presented his road to the top and the challenges ahead as he prepares for London 2012 and World Cup 2014.  Really fasinating stuff, answered lots of behind the FIFA door stuff about refereeing at elite levels.
One a personal note, it's really rewarding to see Ben do so well after being a colleague / competitor at National Titles in 1995 - a group that produced 7 FIFA badges from 20 referees
With Mark Nester in attendance, (he got the U/16 Grand Final, Ben was 4th, I think I was doing Myspace updates on a very long phone cord????) it was a mini reunion of telling tall tales from an era ago.
Here's the group and some faces are still running around on your local field somewhere.....

So from memory lane, it's back to Day 1 reality tommorrow and everyone was in bed early and not talking, so presumably asleep. 

Early start, buses departing HQ from 7:45am carrying lots of hopes and dreams and excitment from this years Kanga Cup Referees Youth Academy.

Off to bed - don't forget to checkout today's photos on Flickr and follow me on twitter, live from U/18's at Hawker on Monday.  Some videos to go up later, but not tonight

Go Murray....

Bedtime.