After, well, ages of not happening it’s time for another Silly Army caption competition. Click on the image below for a bigger version (should you need it) and leave a comment as a caption. Prize is a message of your choice carved into our raft forever. . . So long as it’s not too terrible! The winning caption will also appear with the image in the next issue of Pose Monthly.
. . .
Filed under Caption Competition, Silly Army
It was a small but fun gathering of members at The Silly Army last Sunday, the grey, overcast weather and the bank holiday perhaps contributing factors. However, there were still enough players for plenty of silly games.
Tennis. A gentleman's game.
After Pete and Dave played a gentlemanly game of tennis while the troops practised their hockey shooting, it was time for a game of Hockey proper. The management of Dave, Pete and Kaye, along with Alex M, took on the yellow team of Steph, Duncan, Matt and Helen. While the wonky fingered keeper in the red goal made several valiant saves and Alex was all over the pitch, the addition of the two old men on the team made it somewhat unevenly matched (particularly as Pete frequently forgot how to move and Dave was clinically dead at least twice, but still kept playing. . . )
The yellow team were working better as a unit rather than relying on one plucky player out in the field, and so they quickly took the lead and the game.
We attempted to play ‘Proper’ football after a while but gave up quite quickly as it was a bit too scary. Much enjoyment came from the grunting and football chav impersonations, however. Erik joined us during this time and was one of the few who could actually play footie. The score at 3-1 and nobody sure who was on which team, we abandoned this game in favour of Sticky Ball.
The yellow team played as a unit.
This time we mixed the old men up a bit (that is, put one on each side) and this seemed to work, as the yellows stormed the first game and the blues took the second (although the strong wind may have had something to do with this). “Mrs Machine” in particular was a star for the blue team. It was, however, the yellows who took the third for the match, although there was just one ball in it. Special commendation to Lauren for turning up with cakes during the game!
Next up we had som e Tchouckball, which was a tricky game on a big pitch with so few players. Again it was tight but the yellow team edged it with some good partnerships between the Machine, Steph, Kaye and Pete.
We were going to play some Kubb for the remainder of the afternoon, but Erik, Pete and Matt became a little too absorbed in a Lego Star Wars sticker album and began covering all toys, cars and anything that moved in stickers…
Come join The Silly Army in King’s Park, Bournemouth, from 7pm on Wednesday evenings and 1pm on Sunday afternoons for fun and games of a silly nature. It’s free, a charity and open to anyone aged 18 and over.
Filed under Forthcoming events, Match reports, Silly Army, Silly Games
The Silly Army enjoyed a sun drenched afternoon in King’s Park this Sunday in the longest games session of the season, which left all of the Sillies aching for more (and most of them aching for a hot bath and some muscle rub).
After a busy few weeks it was great to get some new toys out in the park, not least the Giant Net that Pete has been perfecting for Really, Really Big Tennis – his latest game invention. While the giant net may still need a little work, it provides not only a great game (in which you struggle to see your opponents through the net) but also an effective anti-Chav barrier to keep out undesirable elements.
We began games with a traditional Big Tennis game, before moving on to enjoy or endure one of the longest Hockey games in living memory.
The clocks going forward and noisy pussy cats were among the reasons for Sillies being late, but gradually the field of players kept growing. It was good to welcome back newer recruits including Mark and Catherine, gluttons for more punishment, and to welcome a host of new members to the club – let’s hope they come back for more.
Five points were reached pretty quickly by the yellow team in Hockey, but with so many players arriving it was decided to play on to 10 – a decision some of the older members in particular would live to regret.
The red team was going from strength to strength and Pete couldn’t decide which team to be on to maintain his losing streak, which confused everyone (not least himself). The reds clawed five back and though the yellows scored a couple more it was not long before the reds took the lead. There was much deadlock before it was decided by old bones Dave and Pete that, with the teams tied on 8-8, the next goal would win. Kaye in the yellow goal squared up to counterpart Pete in the red, and I am pleased to report the best woman won as the yellows scored the winner.
After some Double Dodgeball we played the new version of Sticky Ball for the second week, complete with the chance to get multiple balls into play thanks to the central multiball hole. The blues quickly took the lead and won the first game, before the yellows came back to win the second. However, the blues played better as a team to win the third and take the match.
After an exceptionally confusing game of Crumbs & Crows (when is it not confusing?) we stopped for some well-earned tea and cake, home made cakes courtesy of Spencer in his chef’s trousers.
Next up was Combi Ball, for once quite a well balanced game with the lead frequently changing between the yellows and blues. New player Lauren in particular was a natural sharp shooter for the yellows, while K surprised herself more than anyone else by scoring a football goal for the blues. It was eventually the blues that took the lead, in no small part due to the partnership of Graham and Pete up front. Catherine also excelled for the yellows.
After a long experiment with the Really, Really Big Tennis game, we started losing players and retreated to the Big Tennis pitch. Big Tennis feels very small indeed after Really, Really Big Tennis, but we played on until we got too stiff to move.
A great Sunday in the park – come and join The Silly Army this Sunday from 1pm.
Filed under Match reports, Silly Army, Silly Games, Silly News
The last Sunday in February was another disappointingly wet and chilly one for the Silly Army. With rain, hail and sun plus a bone-chilling wind, it was impossible to tell whether anyone would turn up for games at all.
K and Pete unpacked the toys on a bright but cold afternoon, only to find themselves packing them all away again 15 minutes later when the skies opened. Karl arrived and helped with the clear-up before it was decided unlikely for anyone to come out to play, so as swiftly as he arrived young Karl departed.
The kit as best protected as possible, the remaining two huddled miserably in the car for 20 minutes staring at a steaming heap of woodchip, waiting in case anyone else turned up. Joined by a well-wrapped-up Mimi and then Dave, Pete and K texted the members they thought might be brave enough to face the journey to tell them they were leaving – by which time the skies had cleared once more.
So as not to waste the day entirely, we tested Pete’s latest invention – a very long, very high tennis net. Though it didn’t work quite the way he wanted, it still provided a good object over which to have a knock-about, and confused the unfortunate Chris, who believed the council had cordoned off our corner of the park!
With Chris, Steph, Richard and Ras stepping out to brave the conditions we attempted a game of Very Long Tennis with three aside. Unfortunately the wind picked up and the net came down as one of the central posts cracked in two. Then the heavens opened again and we played a new game – how many people can we cram in Dave’s car?
When the weather cleared up some more we played some regular Big Tennis, joined by Nick and Helen, before it got too cold to continue.
Let’s hope for better weather conditions this Sunday! The Silly Army meet in King’s Park every Sunday from 1pm. Come along and join us!
Filed under Silly Army, Silly Games, Silly News
The Silly Army are organising the games for Boscombe’s Party on the Pier on Saturday 12 March. In partnership with Inspieration Friends of Boscombe Pier group, the Sillies will be running a combination of It’s A Knockout and Crystal Maze style games for teams of five.
We’re still looking for teams to take part – anyone aged 18 or over is welcome to try out the games, that range from fishing for giant Velcro fish to giant Shove Ha’Penny, Bridging the Gap to Unexploded Bomb.
Pete, Kaye and Dave have been busy making new toys for the big day, helped by Pat (who must be commended for his superb fish), Rob and Alan. Many of the games are made from recycled materials.
Deadline for team registration is 5th March, so get in fast. To register, please email admin@inspieration.org or telephone 07812 163624.
There will also be music from Gugge and a chance to try trikke carve riding.
Filed under Forthcoming events, Silly Army, Silly News
After being rained off the previous week, last Sunday The Silly Army were back in King’s Park with a vengeance, and had some new games to try to boot.
The Bournemouth sports club for adults are organising the games for Party on the Pier on Boscombe Pier on March 12th, and Pete, Dave and K have been busy devising and building games for the last couple of months, ably assisted by Pat, Robert and Alan.
So last Sunday the Silly Army trailer rolled up not just with the standard goals, balls and sticks, but also with barrels and planks not seen since the great raft non-victory of August 2010.
While Dave gets his thrills plank standing, we all know Helen is thinking those three little letters: W T F?
These are part of the Bridging The Gap challenge, getting from one piece of ground to the other without touching feet down, using only the barrels and planks. Cue much arguing as the Sillies attempted to work out the best way to complete the challenge. After much deliberation, it was unanimously decided that Dave was best at standing on planks.
We also attempted the Spacehopper Steeplechase, with newly constructed jumps. Here we mourned the sad loss of a much prized hopper, Feck Off, who had been suffering from a slow puncture (bravely borne) for some time now, and eventually blew up when Steph sat on him. Despite this mishap, Steph soon proved that she and Pete are still the best bouncers in the Silly Army.
Feck Off lived up to his name when he blew up last Sunday. RIP.
We started games proper with that traditional opener, Big Tennis, before moving on to Hockey. As ever this was a long game with much midfield play and occasional goalmouth scrambling. We eventually decided to play to three, and the red team chipped home the winner. While the rest of the club was playing jolly hockey sticks, Rich was busy building a rocket sculpture from the barrels and planks – we expect his Turner Prize is in the post.
Sticky Ball action, where the greens took on the red/blues and won.
After a spot of Dodgeball we played Sticky Ball, a lack of red bibs meaning the greens took on the blue and reds. The greens won the first game, the blue/reds made a comeback in the second, but it was the greens who were more co-ordinated to take the match.
Another new game followed, a strange idea of Pete’s that followed the donation of several sets of bucket stilts from Inspieration. Stilt Football is easier said than done, and most of the Sillies spent most of the time trying to keep their feet on. Even the natural footballers Paul and Greg were struggling with this game and after we have eventually scored one goal each, a draw was agreed.
"OK, so there's a ball over there - now how the heck do we get to it?"
Next up was Impossiball, the game of large, cumbersome nets and soft balls that is incredibly difficult to score in. This was a game won by the reds, largely thanks to the skill of Alex (whom we believe is in the New Zealand Impossiball Olympics squad).
It was Alex who suggested the next game, too. It’s muddy, wet, cold and February, so of course the Silly Army jumped at the chance to get down on all fours and line up as if waiting some kind of gynaelogical procedure. The game was the Crab Race and the idea was to race on all fours across a small piece of ground. Ras and Alex seemed adept at this game, leaving the rest of the field far behind them.
The Silly Army welcomes you with open legs.
There was time for more Big Tennis, won by Helen’s team, before darkness fell and we had to pack up.
The Silly Army meet in King’s Park every Sunday at 1pm and play a range of games – you don’t need to be any good at sport to join us! We also meet on Wednesdays at the YMCA in Westover Road – come along and join us.
The Sunday sessions are free, Wednesday sessions cost £5 to cover hire of the hall.
Come to Silly Army and you can do this too...
Pictures by Chris and Ras.
Filed under Match reports, Silly Army, Silly Games, Silly News
The Silly Army have kicked off 2011 with record turnouts at both Sunday and Wednesday games sessions. Apologies for the lack of blogging of late, and thank you to everyone who has been turning up to Silly sessions and making them so much fun.
Gearing up for a game of hockey.
Last Sunday, Pete arrived with an extra pair of goals, kindly donated by the people at the YMCA, who had just bought a new set. This meant that we could set up two pitches should enough players turn up , or we could play a four way game. Obviously, we opted for the latter.
After a spot of Big Tennis, we first decided to play together and had a game of Sticky Ball. We’re still having a spot of bother with non-sticky sticky pads and both the yellow and blue teams were thwarted by s lack of stickiness on several occasions. Eventually, the yellow team won the first game and while the blues equalised in the second, the yellows eventually took that game too to win the match.
Then it was time to try a new game, one of Pete’s strange inventions, a four-way hockey match. Going by bib colour instead of the usual stick colour, teams of reds, yellows, greens and blues took to the pitch with five or six players aside. Each team had a simple objective; be the first to score three goals in any goal but their own. So that everyone had a vague idea of which way they were going, a each goal was also bedecked with a bib.
Dodgeball is hard enough with one ball - try it with four!
What followed was something resembling a cross between a live action version of the popular Risk boardgame and Benny Hill style chase as battles were fought out first in one goalmouth then another.
The blue team quickly took the lead (the score being 1-0-0-0) before Pete was quick to capitalise on the scramble in front of goal to score for the yellows (1-0-0-1). Duncan applied good pressure for the reds and with help from Helen caused the goal mouth confusion that led Ras, for the yellows, to shoot past his own keeper, losing that team their only point.
The blues had the best grasp of this new game and were the first to reach three points, just in time as there were now so many players on the pitch that we had run out of hockey sticks, latecomers resorting to playing with squash racquets (Tim) or hovering on the touchline (Paul).
This was a record breaking winter turnout for Silly Army and came close to our all-time record. So that everyone got to see some action, we decided to split into two sets, one playing Combi Ball and the other regular Hockey.
While a giant, chaotic game of Mass Dodgeball took place at one side of the field, on the other the committee set about dividing the playing space in two. The reds and yellows then took to the pitch for Combi while the greens and blues played Hockey, before swapping over.
Combi Ball is one of our own inventions.
While the greens and blues slogged on in a 0-0 deadlock, the yellows took a fast lead in Combi and had victory in their sights in the first half of the game. However, then the tide turned somewhat against them, as an insistence on going for glory shots (and missing!) saw them squander their lead as the reds started playing as more of an efficient team. As the yellows failed repeatedly to secure the two points needed for a win, the reds came back to take the game, and deservedly so.
The blue team won the Hockey match and while the reds and yellows took straight to the pitch for the second game, the greens and blues took a breather/smoking break.
In a tight Hockey match, the yellows went ahead only for the reds to come back to leave the score precariously balanced at 4-4. However, it was the yellows that managed to chip home the winning goal. The blues and greens failed to report who had won their Combi game, and went on to play Crumbs & Crows.
Running around and being silly is good for you!
After some more Big Tennis, Karl unveiled a new touch-rugby style game, using the large hoops as goals. We once again formed into two teams of yellow and blue. A fast moving game, there was a bit of confusion over tagging and who was allowed to do what – a particularly valiant defence attempt must go to K and Lisa, who chased Chris all the way down the field to tag him just in front of goal.
We decided the game needed a bit more work but like the idea.
On Wednesday evening, we had a lower turnout than usual but welcomed another new player to the fold. We enjoyed a genteel game of Badminton, followed by some smashing Unreal Tennis. A rough and ready game of Netball followed before a long and tough game of Missile Command. We finished off with some Handball in which the red team, despite being first one then two players down, won a comfortable victory.
Come and join the Silly Army in King’s Park this Sunday from 1pm for free sports and games. We’re always keen to welcome new members!
Filed under Match reports, Silly Army, Silly Games
An icy pitch and a shed that seemed to be emitting water caused consternation for the Silly Army’s K and Pete when they arrived to set up for Boxing Day games, as well as giving them the opportunity to stomp in icy puddles. A quick review of the pitch conditions led to the decision to slide everything left a bit on to greener grass, where it was slightly less treacherous to unload the Silly Army kit.
We were soon joined by Dave, who was nearly thwarted by the ice, but luckily Silly people bounce and he was unharmed.
Helen, Clarkson, Duncan and Paul soon joined for much merriment on a crispy pitch. Under the watchful eye of a slow moving helicopter, the games commenced.
Big Tennis was the order of the day, the ball freshly pumped and suitably dirty, it actually bounced better on the frozen ground. Move of the day goes to Helen, K and Dave for the ‘Squealing Bundle’ formation, that somehow or another got the ball over the net.
There was a lack of wind in King’s Park (one can only assume it has Christmas off) so we played Silly Badminton. Move of that game has to go to Pete for hitting himself in the face – it had no impact on play or his ability to hit the shuttle cock, but self-flagelation is always entertaining to watch.
Next it was time for a roundaround and we played Passing Sticky Ball (in which every player has to touch the ball). Duncan’s expert marking was a boon to the blue team; everybody’s cack handed catching was a bonus to nobody. After an eternity, during which Pete got bored and wandered off to even out the sides, the blues eventually claimed victory, though Helen disputed this with the shake test, nobody listened to her on account of fearing the game would go on for ever.
To finish up we played Three Man Hockey (having lost Clarkson) and despite some deft moves from Paul for the reds, it was the yellows who emerged victorious, 10-9. Man of the match here has to be Pete, not just for a spectacular solo effort fighting his way through a sea of red players, but also for not being thwarted by an open goal – there’s a first time for everything!
The Silly Army will be playing in the YMCA hall this Wednesday, and back in the park next Sunday. Come, join us!
Filed under Silly Army, Silly Games, Silly News
You could be forgiven for thinking The Silly Army sports and games club haven’t been up to much over the past few weeks due to the lack of blogging – but you’d be wrong. It’s been a busy few weeks indeed, hence the slow progress in reporting games activity. But we’ve still been out and about in the field and the YMCA Hall. Here is what we’ve been getting up to…
Sunday the 5th of December almost saw the most shocking defeat in the history of the Silly Army (even worse than the 21-0 Combi Ball fiasco) when Big Tennis came close to being a 21-0 defeat for the team featuring all three Silly Army committee members.
The ice man cometh...
Appallingly bad whacking from K, Pete and Dave (largely going backwards, sideways, upwards and indeed anywhere apart from over the net) and a few co-conspirators saw Steph’s team comprehensively wipe the floor with their opposition. The committee team did claw a few points back before skulking off with their tails between their legs to play Hockey.
There’s an unwritten rule at Silly Army that the colder the weather, the longer the Hockey match will be. That certainly played out this week as the toe-chillingly cold weather saw a very, very lengthy game indeed.
It was a well balanced game however, going to 4-4 before the red team eventually chipped the winning goal past yellow keeper K.
After a muddy, slippery game of Dodgeball, it was time for a slightly controversial game of Sticky Ball. The yellow team won the first game but the blues came back for the second. As players began to drift away, it was the blue team who kept their eyes on the ball for the final match to win 2-1.
As the light began to fade, there was just time for a game of Monkey Toss in which Alex’s team dunked the opposition.
Dave, dressed for the occasion.
Sunday 12th December saw the return of some old faces. Tim, on his apparently annual visit, fitted straight into the Big Tennis match and was soon filling in for the much missed Terminator giving Pete abuse.
Occasional guest London Dave dropped in too, but despite this combination Steph’s team won Big Tennis.
Hockey was a very close game and it was decided to play to 10 instead of 5. First the reds led 5-0 and it was decided to swap ends. The yellows came back and scored five in reply to take the score to 5-5 with all ten goals scored in the same end.
We swapped ends again and the yellows took the lead 8-6, despite Chris trying to confuse everyone by making up the score for his red team. The score went to 9-9 and the reds eventually won with an amazing goal from Tim.
Next we played Dodgeball, the yellows being all over the blues for the first game and the blues coming back for the second to take it to one a piece. But swift shooting from the yellows meant they won 2-1.
The Silly Army playing in the snow.
It’s been a long time since we played Randomiser, but that’s what we did next, bouncing a ball randomly off trampolines and the dodgeball, attempting to make the other team miss. There was much confusion as to what the actual score was after we ran out of fingers to count it on; we think Pete’s team won, but we’re really not sure.
Another game we haven’t played for a while, Space Invaders (the original version) came next. The object is to knock either one eyed or two eyed monsters, in the shape of traffic cones, off posts with a ball. The yellow team proved best at this, quickly demolishing the one-eyed monsters.
The yellow team also took victory in Tchoukball, possibly because they could see each other’s bibs better as it was getting rather dark by then.
Football in the snow.
On the 19th the ground was coated in ice and snow, but that was no deterrent to The Silly Army, who came out to play in surprising force.
Fresh snow fell as we set up, which meant the first game of the day was snowball fighting – largely an excuse to throw snow at Dave.
We took to the pitch to play Snow Football, giving Pete the chance to demonstrate why he’s being called up for the England Squad with his spectacular open goal miss.
It was the blue team who eventually won this slippery game. After slippy Dodgeball, we played Sticky Ball, the yellows finding their ice shoes to win a comprehensive victory.
Impossiball proved a great game on ice as we skated around the pitch, the yellows again sliding their way to victory.
Impossiball on ice is rather entertaining.
Then it was time for icy Hockey, where despite freezing toes the yellow team beat the reds 5-4.
All too soon it was time to slip slide home.
The Silly Army would like to wish all our members and readers a Merry Christmas. We’ll be out to play on Boxind Day from 1pm.
Filed under Match reports, Silly Army, Silly Games
Apologies for the lack of Silly Army blogging recently – end of year accounts and Christmas plans have been taking up rather a lot of time. Normal service to resume shortly.
In the meantime, here are a couple of pics of our fun in the snow last weekend. Any captions welcome!
Come on in. The park's lovely.
Filed under Silly Army, Silly Games
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