In a previous blogpost I mentioned that our group of high school friends make an effort to go away at least once a year. As part of this, we’ve established a great tradition: The Ashes Tournament.

The Ashes is a competition between the five friends (or between the regions were the friends live, e.g. Joburg vs Cape Town). Whenever we have our holidays, we dedicate the last night to the tournament. We’ll choose a game and set the rules, and the winner holds the title until the next vacation.

This all started during an online match last year. The two from Joburg bet a bottle of whiskey that they could beat the team from Cape Town in a FIFA tournament.

Sadly, the Joburg team won.

And when I was in Switzerland, I bought them a bottle of whiskey. The size hadn’t been specified, so I bought a small bottle. Just to spite them. But I bought a very rare type of whiskey from the distillery itself. So it was quite special.

Here’s a picture of them with their prize:

When we met up in August last year we formalized the tournament. The boys from Joburg drank their whiskey, shared a little with us, and all five of us smoked cigars together. We then put the ashes in the whiskey bottle and the ashes floating trophy was born. (The name is a play on the ashes from the famous England vs Australia cricket tournament).

Then, another FIFA tournament was held, with a “best of five” format chosen. The team from Joburg went 2-0 up, but our team from Cape Town fought back valiantly to claim a 3-2 victory.

It was a spectacular win, and we were sure to be petty about our victory all the way home. 

Here is me being petty, holding the trophy (and belt) in a field of yellow flowers

Here is me being even more petty by holding the trophy (and belt) under a double rainbow:

This year, we held a round robin Tekken tournament. After the first round we were basically all tied. And after the second, one person from the Joburg team and one from the Cape Town team made it into the final.

Sadly, a member of the Joburg team won again.

A Great Tradition

This tournament has created some phenomenal banter, from both sides. And, more importantly, it has established a great tradition in our friend group.

The trophy will go around for many years from now. We’ll hold the tournaments once we have each gotten married. We’ll continue when we have families. And continue to do so when we’re in the old age homes.

And finally, we had a really bittersweet realization when we were chatting about the tournament this week. One day (hopefully in the very distant future), there will only be one of us left. The last member of the crew. The final winner of the trophy.

And it is both a very sad and very beautiful thought that one day, one of us might be buried with the trophy…..

And have ALLLLLLLL the bragging rights in the afterlife 🙂

Image was taken on the last day of the ashes and belt being in the mother city. But don’t worry, I’ll be bringing them back next year 🙂

Blog: 276/365

Song of the day: Queen - We are the champions