This year's New Year party was held on Australia Day on Saturday Jan 26th, 2008. It was also an occasion to welcome sporting teams and organisations to get together, meet each other and exchange news and ideas for the year ahead. In addition, a sayonara party was held for Tokyo Crusaders's Rugby FC legend Gordon Brown. To help send him on his way a boat race was held between the Crusaders and a mixed team including members of the Tokyo Hibs FC. Crusaders won but only by a gulp! :-) During the night we also welcomed back Paddy's Dancers (an all Japanese members Irish dance team, thank you Hiroko and Co.) who really got the party atmosphere going with a lively performance of Irish set dancing. Dressed fantastically, all enjoyed a great session of Irish dance and some were even tempted to try a few steps themselves (Crusaders Damo for example). Moving quickly from his hopping hooves, Damo also took it upon himself to entertain us with his silken crooning vocals with (c)rap renditions of ditties by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Neil Diamond ;-) Somehow the lads from the Crusaders (on their way back from a rugby game that day) managed to meet Japan's representative for Ms. Universe and her friends and lead them back to Paddy Foley's where they had a great time, well it seemed so, if you think of rabbits frozen in the glare of car headlights, you can get the picture. Seriously though a fantastic night was held by everyone and the Crusaders had the sore heads the next day to prove it! Yes a truly great start to the New Year...