Each year on Boxing Day, the Grangers have a BBQ and Bocce competition at their house in Austinmer. This year, Sydney put on a gorgeous day for the annual event. The sun was shining, the sky was blue; it was the perfect antidote to cure Christmas Day indulgence.

Each year, names are randomly drawn to form mixed teams of two. The draw is created and one round is played by all teams. The winning teams of round one go into the Cup (Winners) competition. The losing teams of round one go into the Plate (Losers) competition. The two competitions are then knock-out format and are contested until the Winner of the Cup and the Winner of the Plate are decided.

This year's event saw a few welcome changes to the competition rules and regulations. A $5.00 entry fee was introduced with the money allocated to a prize pool. All teams were in the running to win either $100 (The Cup Prize), $80 (The Cup Runners up prize) or $15 (The Plate prize). The games were also shortened, with each game now consisting of three ends. (In the past we had played first team to five points, which could sometimes take forever.)

After a hard day of Bocce the Plate grand final was a contest between Team Greg / Julie and Team Patrick / Jess. Greg and Julie triumphed in the end and won the Plate and took home the $15 prize money (don't spend it all at once!). Team Andrew / Daphne and Team Max / Sharon played for top honours in the Cup grand final. Team Max / Sharon beat out Team Andrew / Daphne to take the ultimate Bocce prize, the Cup.

It's quite interesting to look at the list of past winners of the Bocce competition. In the past the Boxing Day Bocce competition has been won by Andrew & Kay (Cup 2003), Kay & Brendan (Cup 2002), Andrew & Max (Plate 2002) and Sharon & Jess (Cup 2001). Maybe next year we can run a betting competition as well. (photos)