Gentlemen, blow your froth

[Hitcher]

Back in the day when I was an agriculture student at Massey University, there were drinking games.

I don’t mean those things that happen spontaneously whenever university students and alcoholic beverages are gathered together. No, I’m talking about properly convened formal events. Events with scrutineers, timekeepers, electronic timing devices, assorted other officials and competitors in different categories. The beverage being consumed was beer, generally DB draught delivered for the occasion by mini tanker from the Fitzherbert Tavern.

A consequence of the outcome of the annual event was the selection of a team to represent Massey at the Winter Tournament. The Tourney, as it was known, also involved proper sports, like hockey, rugby, netball and so on. It was hosted on rotation by each of New Zealand’s universities. Successful participation would result in a University Blue being awarded. I’m not sure if Blues were awarded for drinking, but I wouldn’t be surprised. The world was a bit different back then.

Drinkers were allowed specialist events. Some participated in all of the events. For the benefit of any teetotallers who may be reading this, I should note that beer is not a performance enhancing drug, so things generally tended to get a bit untidy as the day unfolded.

The “guns” were generally exponents of the single glass events, the 7 and 11 ounce categories. There were specialist jug and yard drinkers who would usually wait for their event to roll along before they started drinking. Others were less disciplined. A goodly sized crowd could be relied on to offer encouragement to the participants.

A filled glass of ale was placed on an electronic trigger. Removing the glass would activate the electronic timer. Putting it back again would stop it. A 7 ounce exponent would need to down the contents of their glass in less than 0.3 of a second if they wanted to be competitive. Jugs were about the 4 second mark. Spillage was carefully monitored with disqualifications handed out if this exceeded 5%.

There were heats and finals for each event. Contestants could compete in multiple events, and many did. There were mens’ and womens’ sections.

There were even team events -- Boat Racing, as it was known. Twos, fours and eights. Seven ounce glasses were consumed consecutively by team members. The fastest team won, spillage considerations notwithstanding.

The day’s events concluded with what was known as the Chunder Mile. Yes, gentle readers, the intention was completion in the fastest time with mandatory regurgitation. At least one Technicolor Yawn™ required. Few starters were sober. The event was broken into quarters, each requiring the consumption of a measure of ale and a cold pie.

Once all of the official proceedings were completed and prizes awarded, it was time for the after-match festivities and a bit of cleaning up for the organisers.

I understand that tertiary students today are motivated solely by academic success and minimising their student loan debt levels. Bless them.

[pete376403]

I have a mate who was at Massey during the 70s doing BVetSc, who told me about these events. What years were you at Massey? I used to go up and see him during the weekends, many a happy day spent in the Armada Bar at the Fitz.

[Hitcher]

What years were you at Massey? I used to go up and see him during the weekends, many a happy day spent in the Armada Bar at the Fitz.

I was there from 1975 thru 79. The Armada Bar was a bit posh for us Aggies. We used to hang out in the Fitz's "garden" bar. For $10 on a Friday night, I understand it was possible for an Ag Science student to down 5 jugs (at 54 cents each), swap a crate for weekend contingencies, buy three fish and chips and still have change. Prior to peddling home, of course.

[Swoop]

The Massey Uni. "Mountaineering Club" had a reputation...

[vifferman]

For $10 on a Friday night, I understand it was possible for an Ag Science student to down 5 jugs (at 54 cents each), swap a crate for weekend contingencies, buy three fish and chips and still have change. Prior to peddling home, of course.
Yeah...
When I started at uni (Waikato), beer was $0.80 for a 1/2G flagon (or "goon" as we termed it). We kept all the corks we popped during the year, blutack'd them to the wall, and ended up with over 730 for our group of 5 (supplemented by other beers, spirits, wine, etc.) It's a wonder we managed any studying.
Unfortunately for me, every second Friday night and Saturday morning was a fizzix practical. This was "entertaining" (yes, I'm being euphemistic here) , what with all the lasers, beeping instruments and whatnot after a solid night's boozing.... :confused:

[mashman]

Ahhhh, the lunchtime pint.

[Beemer]

I was there from 1975 thru 79. The Armada Bar was a bit posh for us Aggies. We used to hang out in the Fitz's "garden" bar. For $10 on a Friday night, I understand it was possible for an Ag Science student to down 5 jugs (at 54 cents each), swap a crate for weekend contingencies, buy three fish and chips and still have change. Prior to peddling home, of course.

'Peddling' home? Drugs I presume?

[mansell]

Ahhhh, the lunchtime pint.

Problem with me wasthe lunchtme pint lasted a tad too long, usually leaving the Kiwi tavern around Five
:doh:

[Motu]

Oh, those boisterous academics, what a wild lot they were. Us tradesmen just had to go to night school and do a 3 week block course once a year - nothing to report.

[Nova.]

i blow my froth all the time.

[mashman]

Problem with me wasthe lunchtme pint lasted a tad too long, usually leaving the Kiwi tavern around Five
:doh:

Oh dear... we used to work for a fulla that did that sort of thing. He'd disappear for a wee dram at lunch time and come back at some point the following week. Fuckin great fella too.

We woz good and went back to class after a quick power drinkin session... it turned us into real students, asking lots of questions etc... :innocent: (one of us was warned about our tone with the lecturers :rofl:... and it wasn't me... Behavioural Science was always more fun after a few beers :yes:). Fun times Uni.

[Zedder]

We geology students never carried on too much, salt of the earth we were you know, rock solid.

[Winston001]

Ah yes that takes a chap back. In my day at Otago during Capping Week (May) the Drinking Horn was a celebrated highlight. It was held in the University Union Hall with a couple of thousand (more) cheering students watching the hard men on stage. 7oz in .4 of a second, scull a jug under 4 seconds to be in with a chance. These guys could open-throat meaning they could overcome the physiological need to swallow. An open pipe.

In my own modest way I won the Invitation Jam Jar at a flat party on one memory-less occasion. We used jam jars and preserving jars and the tradition carried on for a few years in Christchurch and Dunedin.

Oddly enough the girlfriend wasn't impressed with these sterling competitions so alas it all faded away.

Thanks for the reminder Hitcher. :D

[007XX]

How lovely of you to share and show us young'uns the proper way.

I shall report this year on whether there are still such amusing sides to Uni life.

I somehow doubt I will be welcomed in by the younger attendees though and dragged into drinking sessions, but will see.

[imdying]

This is why we should not give up on our binge drinking culture... many worked so damn hard to nuture it!

[Banditbandit]

I was there from 1975 thru 79. The Armada Bar was a bit posh for us Aggies. We used to hang out in the Fitz's "garden" bar.

Yes .. That's why us riders drank in the Commercial Hotel (south end of the Square) or the Cafe De Paris ... (I left Palmmie in 1975 ...)

[SVboy]

The "helicopter"-the idea being to to rotate rapidly as you vomited-points for style and distance projected. The "pelican" {Canty} or "sharing a hot lunch"{Lincoln} where you vomited downwards into the upturned open mouth of the lucky recipient. Orientation week fun!

[Banditbandit]

The "helicopter"-the idea being to to rotate rapidly as you vomited-points for style and distance projected. The "pelican" {Canty} or "sharing a hot lunch"{Lincoln} where you vomited downwards into the upturned open mouth of the lucky recipient. Orientation week fun!

Some very good reasons to not drink with university students ...

[Zedder]

Some very good reasons to not drink with university students ...

Or go to the Munich beer festival.

[Ruahine]

Some of these events were still going strong when I was at Massey in the 90s. Boat races were great fun and many a good night was had in the Fitz especially on Tuesdays (50c bourbon night).

Sadly the Fitz has closed its doors. The end of an era.

[Swoop]

The "pelican" {Canty}
I believe Otago have the ownership rights for that one.:rolleyes:

[slofox]

I was Official Photographer at the Clarendon Chunder Mile a couple of times. This was an annual - and memorable - event turned on by the University of Canterbury during my sojourn there.

Participants were required to run half a mile in the heats and one mile in the final. A total of six times round the then 440 yard track. There were strict rules to be adhered to.

Heats came first. Two laps of the track. Before each lap the "athlete" was required to drink a half gallon flagon of beer, then run the lap. Repeat for the second lap. If you chucked up in the heat you were eliminated from the event.

The finalists were the fastest non-chuck competitors from the heats (if there were any!). And here is where it got interesting. The final was the four lapper - the mile event.

Same rules plus a bit. No chuckling up allowed in the first 220 yards of the event nor in the last 220 yards of the event. (ie, first half of first lap and last half of last lap). Anywhere else in between, you could chuck up without penalty. Oh and yes, they did!

Just to make it interesting, the final two laps of the race required not just the consumption of the usual half gallon of beer but the eating of a cold "Stevenson's" square pie as well...:sick:

Made for interesting viewing, believe me...

[jim.cox]

Sadly the Fitz has closed its doors. The end of an era.

You would think that supplying alcohol to students would be a licence to print money.

But as an Otago Graduate I was dismayed to find "the Gardens" and "the Bowling Green" hotels gone and "the Captain Cook" under threat.

"The Royal Albert" (complete with god-awful Stuart hunting tartan carpet) is now an Irish bar

Of my former haunts only "the Oriental Tavern" really survives

[merv]

You were a hard man then Hitch.

I was a Canterbury man myself. My funniest memories of drinking were the end of term sessions at the Bush Inn. Sat there one day outside watching a poor tradesman fit a new glass window into the toilet block carefully smoothing the putty. As soon as he'd gone dammit some mean arse student just popped the glass back out not giving the putty any time to set.

[pete376403]

Some of these events were still going strong when I was at Massey in the 90s. Boat races were great fun and many a good night was had in the Fitz especially on Tuesdays (50c bourbon night).

Sadly the Fitz has closed its doors. The end of an era.

I got a fitz t shirt about 10 years ago. Only beautiful people went there before 1999

[Ruahine]

You would think that supplying alcohol to students would be a licence to print money.



It possibly wasn't helped by someone dying after a naked bull-rush accident a few years ago.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/762214/Dead-teens-family-pleased-Fitz-closing

[Oakie]

We geology students never carried on too much, salt of the earth we were you know, rock solid.

What a load of schiste!

[Zedder]

What a load of schiste!

Come on, be gneiss.

[Oakie]

Oh you win. I'd leave now if only I could find agate.

[Zedder]

Oh you win. I'd leave now if only I could find agate.

I didn't mean to polish this off so early.

[Oakie]

I didn't mean to polish this off so early.

I was wrong when I thought I'd lost my apatite for this discussion.

[Zedder]

I was wrong when I thought I'd lost my apatite for this discussion.

You're a gem for coming back into it.

[mashman]

Are you guys always boring.

[Oakie]

Well after I left I got a bit sedimental about it. A bit silly I know but all geologists have their faults (no I'm not really a geologist).

[Zedder]

Well after I left I got a bit sedimental about it. A bit silly I know but all geologists have their faults (no I'm not really a geologist).

I'm in ore of your knowledge though.

[Nova.]

I'm in ore of your knowledge though.

rock his world :laugh:

[Zedder]

Are you guys always boring.

Well, I never.

[Zedder]

rock his world :laugh:

Good scoria.

[mashman]

Well, I never.

Too much pressure?

[Zedder]

I didn't want to crater rift in our thread.

[Zedder]

Too much pressure?

Nah, not even tuff yet.

[Oakie]

Nah, not even tuff yet.

Been trying to work out how to get sodium into this thread but have I been successful? Na.

[SVboy]

Been trying to work out how to get sodium into this thread but have I been successful? Na.

But you are a diamond for trying.

[Nova.]

But you are a diamond for trying.

he is a gem isn't he :rolleyes:

[Zedder]

he is a gem isn't he :rolleyes:

It's been done mate but I get your drift.

[Zedder]

But you are a diamond for trying.

Oil grant you that.

[Nova.]

It's been done mate but I get your drift.

definitely soiled that one didn't I.

[Zedder]

definitely soiled that one didn't I.

What on earth do you mean? At least you gave it a go.

[SVboy]

I feel a bit ground down by both of you! I am such a clod in your company. Not good for my shingles. I think I will just go and get stoned. I know I left a wee rock of something somewere.

[Zedder]

I feel a bit ground down by both of you! I am such a clod in your company. Not good for my shingles. I think I will just go and get stoned. I know I left a wee rock of something somewere.

Well sod off then if you're going to be like that.

[Oakie]

Yes. You're taking us for granite.

[Zedder]

I hope he didn't think I was going mantle at him.

[Zedder]

Well it's time I was dormant so I'll catch ya later. Great fun.

[Oakie]

I'd like to carry this on this morning but I've got to go and earn a crust. I shale check this out again tonight though.

[Zedder]

I'd like to carry this on this morning but I've got to go and earn a crust. I shale check this out again tonight though.

Yep, we've only just scratched the surface and lava doing it.

[Banditbandit]

Are you guys always boring.

They just get their rocks off with bad puns ..

[Zedder]

They just get their rocks off with bad puns ..

Just venting?

[Banditbandit]

Just venting?

ROTF lavaing out loud

[mashman]

They just get their rocks off with bad puns ..

Well they're very well drilled and polished at it and seem to shine under pressure.

[Zedder]

Well they're very well drilled and polished at it and seem to shine under pressure.

Yep, chalk it up to experience.

[Banditbandit]

Jeez these bad puns make me Felsic

[Zedder]

Jeez these bad puns make me Felsic

Well, that'll teach you to int-errupt us.

[Banditbandit]

Yeah .. a bit morainic really

[Zedder]

Yeah .. a bit morainic really

Maybe terminal, but that's the hard facts.

[Banditbandit]

We can only karst our lot ...

[Zedder]

We can only karst our lot ...

Go with the flow...

[Banditbandit]

That we shale

[Zedder]

That we shale

Already done by Oakie this morning so minus 10 points. I'll put it on the slate.

[Banditbandit]

Sorry - My Fault

[jim.cox]

Already done by Oakie this morning so minus 10 points. I'll put it on the slate.

Gneiss one :)

[Zedder]

Gneiss one :)

Already done too Jim so that line's your fault.

[mashman]

Already done too Jim so that line's your fault.

BB did that one, -50 coz you shoulda known better :bleh:... you should really stop else you'l lignite a fight

[Zedder]

BB did that one, -50 coz you shoulda known better :bleh:... you should really stop else you'l lignite a fight

Bugger missed that one, that hurts down to the core.

[Hitcher]

Whoever started this should get a greywacke around the head.

[Zedder]

Whoever started this should get a greywacke around the head.

I marble at your input.

[Hitcher]

I marble at your input.

It is distinctly sub-bituminous: coal comfort but cheap at the price.

[Zedder]

It is distinctly sub-bituminous: coal comfort but cheap at the price.

Fissure, Fissure.

[Oakie]

My sediments exactly.

[Zedder]

My sediments exactly.

It's getting to the loess common denominator.

[SVboy]

Are you old fossils still going? Pumice me that you will stop soon.

[mashman]

Are you old fossils still going? Pumice me that you will stop soon.

I'm sure they'll launch another basalt soon.

[Zedder]

Are you old fossils still going? Pumice me that you will stop soon.

Well things keep getting dug up.

[SVboy]

Quality has clearly eroded as this thread has progressed: I should escarp while I still can...

[Zedder]

Quality has clearly eroded as this thread has progressed: I should escarp while I still can...

You orogeny wanted to leave anyway.

[Oakie]

Well I blame St Andreas. It's all his fault!

[Zedder]

Well I blame St Andreas. It's all his fault!

This is getting abyssal.

[Woodman]

Without wanting to lignite another round of bad puns, but this thread rocks.

[SVboy]

Well I blame St Andreas. It's all his fault!

Did you see what San Andreas did to LA? Damn near richter!

[Zedder]

Without wanting to lignite another round of bad puns, but this thread rocks.

We try not to be vein about it though.

[Oakie]

If this thread continues much further someone will go to far and end up appearing before the quartz.

[mashman]

As porous the thread has become it could get back on topic if someone where to porous a drink.

[SVboy]

Dont be such a skin flint. As a conglomerate we are doing ok.....

[Zedder]

If this thread continues much further someone will go to far and end up going through the quartz.

We'll have to keep it seamly then.

[SVboy]

I guess if I went on the dolomite have time to improve my puns.....

[mashman]

Ahhh the dole... where every night is Boninite and the answer isn't Aplite Laterite.

[SVboy]

Threads slowing down-have we dunite?

[Oakie]

Ahhh the dole... where every night is Boninite and the answer isn't Aplite Laterite.

Dammit. I was going to use 'aplite' in my next post. Ah well, it essexite-ing to find new puns.

[mashman]

Dammit. I was going to use 'aplite' in my next post. Ah well, it essexite-ing to find new puns.

Tuff........

[Zedder]

I hope we haven't reached bedrock.

[Zedder]

Tuff........

100 points off I dun did that one.

[Zedder]

A thread of this magmatude is great .

[SVboy]

We may just be ex horsted.Its getting lahar d and lahar d to come up with good ones

[Oakie]

I hope we haven't reached bedrock.

Nah. You can use so many geological terms in this game. You just have to picrite.

[mashman]

100 points off I dun did that one.

Yer a fucking whiteschist

[Zedder]

Nah. You can use so many geological terms in this game. You just have to picrite.

I totally a scree.

[SVboy]

This gets silica and silica. Talus another one.

[mashman]

Nah. You can use so many geological terms in this game. You just have to picrite.

true, you can't just ley lines down any old causeway

[Zedder]

Yer a fucking whiteschist

Is that the aggregate opinion?

[mashman]

Is that the aggregate opinion?

Well I've never metamorphic geologist before.

[Zedder]

This gets silica and silica. Talus another one.

Shore mate.

[SVboy]

Those arnt very o ridge inal. I thought you would be graben any chance you got.

[Zedder]

Well I've never metamorphic geologist before.

A bit igneous maybe but not thick.

[SVboy]

Thats just mantle.

[Zedder]

Those arnt very o ridge inal. I thought you would be graben any chance you got.

Vug off it's all I've got.

[Zedder]

Thats just mantle.

200 points off I did that one.

[mashman]

A bit igneous maybe but not thick.

I metapelite one once, and I've been unfair to you, you're as phyllite as they come too

[Coolz]

This threads gold!

[Oakie]

I'm done for the night. Got to go to bed. Granite to you all. (Bunch of stoners)

[Zedder]

I metapelite one once, and I've been unfair to you, you're as phyllite as they come too

Mica rma is peaceful

[mashman]

I'm done for the night. Got to go to bed. Granite to you all. (Bunch of stoners)

Gedanite. ...

[Zedder]

I'm done for the night. Got to go to bed. Granite to you all. (Bunch of stoners)

Cheers Oakie.

[mashman]

Mica rma is peaceful

Andesite wouldn't be the same without you.

[Zedder]

Time to pipe down?

[mashman]

Time to pipe down?

I reckons... chert Bro :niceone:

[Zedder]

It's been just pyroclastic.

[Shadowjack]

Some of you have been quite magmanimous with your comments.

[Oakie]

We do it as we get boulder and boulder.

[St_Gabriel]

I should of stayed out of this thread... Chalk it up to experience