Mon Ih Scots! (General Newsletter 01/03/2022)
The Scottish Super League got underway in Dundee last Saturday, with six teams from four clubs competing for glory. The old stalwarts of Granite City Guerillas started their season off strong, with their 1s taking an undefeated first place, their 2s slipping into second having lost to the 1s, and their ladies team taking fifth position with a victory over the Edinburgh Fireworks. Club president Anthony Aldred had this to say of the day:
“We (GCG) were incredibly excited to have the Scottish league start again and welcome 2 new teams into the competition. This is hugely positive for the sport in Scotland and hopefully the start of a rise in the popularity of the sport here and the growth of new clubs in other cities and towns. Overall I think all the teams would agree they had an enjoyable first meet in what was an excellent hall. We are mostly just all happy to be back playing dodgeball in Scotland, the atmosphere on Saturday was great and we hope that continues!”
Two new clubs entered the foray, with Buchan Sharks and Kelvin Rapids both entering their freshman season. Kelvin Rapids lost two tough matches against the Guerillas before making their mark in a close fought 13-11 win against Buchan Sharks. For their part, the Sharks enjoyed a win over Guerillas Ladies and almost managed to pull the Guerillas 2s into tricky territory, just losing out with a 13-11 scoreline. This means the two teams are tied in the table, with Buchan Sharks taking 3rd place with a stronger set difference.
“This was the Sharks’ first competitive league day and what a great experience it was,” says Paul Duncan, the Buchan captain. “All our games had been super close and competitive. It is fantastic to see the sport growing in Scotland. Most importantly we had fun, which will always be our priority. Bring on the 2nd of April and more competitive dodgeball in Scotland!”
Edinburgh Fireworks fill out the final spot in the table, taking 6th place with a very hard fought, but ultimately winless, day. “The first Scottish league meet was a great experience for Edinburgh Dodgeball,” says their captain, Jordan Phillips. “Our competitive team comprises of mostly new players who really value and appreciate the opportunity to compete against Scotland’s best dodgeballers. We are feeling galvanised and ready for the next meets.”
Brits Abroad!
The French Open, hosted by the Licorne Dodgeball team in Paris, was held over last weekend, and two British clubs went to test their mettle against some of the top teams in Europe, including the Spanish national team. Milton Keynes Cyclones came home with the bronze in the men’s category, while Warwick Eliminated brought back the silver in the mixed division. Special commendations to Josh Keys and Ellie Manns of Warwick Eliminated, who were voted the MVPs of the mixed division by all competing clubs.
The Warwick ladies also guested for three French clubs in the women’s division: DC Orleans, DC95, and Beauvaisis. It’s fantastic to see British clubs making their mark internationally and connecting with dodgeball players across the continent – and especially great to see them coming back with so much silverware. Bravo tout le monde!
BUCS Finalists
The BUCS leagues have come to an end. We can now announce that the following teams have qualified for the BUCS Finals Day:
Men’s National Championship: Sheffield 1s; Warwick 1s; Nottingham 1s; Imperial 1s; Birmingham 1s; Leicester 1s.
Men’s National Trophy: East Anglia 1s; Newcastle 1s; York 1s; Derby 1s; Plymouth 1s; UCL 1s.
Women’s National Championship: Sheffield 1s; Newcastle 1s; Warwick 1s; Derby 1s; Imperial 1s; Winchester 1s.
Congratulations to all who participated in this, the first year of BUCS Dodgeball. See you all on the 12th, where we’ll see who comes out on top as the best university team in Britain.
England Closed Trials
A total of 35 players tried out for the England Lions squad last weekend, with 10 players still due to trial in the coming weeks. We spoke to Lions manager Jen Allam: “It was an intense yet fantastic day! There was a great atmosphere throughout the hall with lots of cheering, encouragement and general hype. The calibre of the triallists was brilliant as they showcased their skillsets, teamwork and work ethic through a series of drills, scenarios and games.
“It was lovely to see all the hard work and planning come together; it wouldn’t have been a success without our talented professional service staff, coaches and volunteers. I am so excited to see what the future training sessions bring and how the Lions perform at the upcoming European Championships in July!”
Have something you want shouted out to the dodgeball community in the next newsletter? Let me know by dropping me an email at zoe@britishdodgeball.com.