Index Nice guys finish last? ...... 4 A word from the UKUA Chairman ...... 5 Paganello, Rimini ...... 6-7 Eating properly for ultimate ...... 8-9 University Ultimate ...... 10 Offence is easy! ...... 11 The first cut...... 12 Spirited away? ...... 13 The UKUA Mixed Tour and Nationals ...... 14-15 Don’t question The Management! ...... 16 Ultimate preparation: winter fitness work ...... 17 The ‘A’ Tour ...... 18 The ‘B’ Tour ...... 19 World Ultimate Championships 2004 ...... 20-23 A short history of The Worlds ...... 24-25 How to be a totally excellent ultimate player ...... 26 Crossword ...... 27

2 COVER PHOTO: MALCOLM CANNON AT SAUNTON SANDS PHOTO: © JIM WILEMAN 2004 www.jimwileman.co.uk

STU MITCHELL AND RICH HIMS THE FINAL - CHEVRON VS LEEDS, TOUR 3, MANSFIELD PHOTO © CHRIS ‘AUSSIE’ WHITE 2004 www.leedsjedi.co.uk

“THE ONLY THING I'D SAY WOULD BE THAT STU DID CALL A FOUL AT MANSFIELD, AND THE CZECH PLAYER DIDN'T (SEE PAGE 13).” “A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN FINLAND WHO SAW THE PLAY AND PHOTO HAVE SAID THAT IT LOOKS A WHOLE LOT WORSE THAN IT REALLY WAS, AND I DIDN'T HORSE THE GUY AS YOU'D EXPECT.” “I'M STARTING TO SOUND DEFENSIVE, SO I'LL SHUT UP” RICH HIMS

PORTUGAL: THE WORLD BEACH CHAMPIONSHIPS:

DANCING TO THE SONG ‘MORTO MUITO LOCO’ STARTED BY THE BRAZILIAN TEAM. JUST AFTER THE CLOSING AWARDS CEREMONY THIS MASSIVE ONE KICKED OFF WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

NICK ‘HARGREAVES’ BILDNER, GB MIXED.

PHOTOS © STEPHEN GIGUERE 2004 www.lookfly.com ultimatum2004 www.beachultimate.org/wcbu2004/ morto.htm As I put the finishing touches to Ultimatum 2004, I find myself thinking “This is the last time I’ll be doing this, next season I’m going to retire from serious ultimate – just play for fun; this is my final Ultimatum.” Is this the first time I have had this thought – or do I have it every year? The latter, I guess, this is my fourth time. It’s not that I don’t enjoy editing Ultimatum – CLEATS: PRICE: £20-UP IF, WHEN YOU PLANT YOUR FOOT FOR AN I do, but while Ultimate is being played EXPLOSIVE CUT YOU MORE OFTEN THAN NOT END more and more throughout the UK, I UP PLANTING YOUR FACE INTO THE MUD WITH YOUR LEGS SOMEWHERE UP IN THE AIR, YOU'RE myself am playing less – and I don’t feel PROBABLY WEARING TRAINERS. BUY SOME CLEATS. IF YOU'RE HAPPY WEARING TRAINERS that I can shoulder the responsibility.. YOU MUST BE INDOORS. BUY A HACK. But wipe away that tear I see moistening Point of Note: Why are we members of To brighten this edition up, I asked GB your eye – the truth is, I enjoy every ‘UK’ Ultimate, yet our National team is handler Rob 'probably the safest dump moment of it, and I have lots of help. I tagged ‘GB’? Although UK is more in Devon' Mitchell to catalogue some of have always been a collector of inclusive (GB does not include Northern those special accessories that help us all memorabilia, and that’s exactly what this Ireland), GB has been our traditional get through the day as ultimate players. edition of Ultimatum is. Hopefully it’ll help name when playing in international you remember this year's Ultimate with a Special Thanks: championships. Sammy explains: smile if you were a part of it, or inspire you Paul Hurt for the format, and AF Litho for to be a part of next season if you were In 1983 we had no fancy team kit and everything they do. Rob Mitchell, Rich not. At the very least, it’s something you played as the "Samurai", but we were Hims, Steven Stevenson and Katie DJ can show yer folks back home to kind of thrilled to also be considered as for creative criticism and corrections. convince them that you are not part of "England" as it was a national team, The photographers who make this some crazy underground cult that nobody rather than a club event. The "England" possible, and the people out there who has heard of; “look mum; IT HAPPENS!” label was used in the team strip for the have nothing better to do than think next two years. In 1986 the BUF hosted People often ask me how to get a photo about ultimate, dream about ultimate, the event and consequently there was a of themselves in Ultimatum. It’s real and maybe even write about ultimate. change in our labelling to "Great Britain" simple: Spot the people who are talking The UKUA for funding the whole thing or "GB". The shortened form "GB" good pictures (they often have really big and everybody out there for getting became very popular for cheers and cameras), and then make spectacular involved, playing the game, and just chants - much better than "En-ger-land". plays whenever they are around. It helps being there. Not to mention paying your The less 'cuddly' term "UK" seems if you about 10-15 meters away, and UKU membership fees. clumsy for cheers and I predict will ideally facing the camera. Getting good remain unpopular with national team photos of ultimate is really hard, and players and supporters. Throughout the photographers often seem to follow a years, few people outside the UK/GB player rather than the disc (which moves were even aware of the differences in much faster), so if you can also develop the terms. Indeed Charlie Mead would a reputation for always being in the thick often print official schedules with us of things, and generally a play-maker, down as "England" even when we were you’re made. International fame and officially "GB" - then he would call us the recognition are just around the corner. "UK" in match write-ups ... it drove a Jack Goolden, Editor pedant like me mad!

3 nice guys finish last? Winning requires toughness, perhaps them. We should be giving them to the a non-game situation springs to mind… as if you were a major threat and pulled even ruthlessness. A phrase perhaps teams who played hard, but also played “Ve vant to take sand from all over ze out all the stops to beat you. At least that better known as “nice guys finish last” – fair – the teams who deserved it. world and put it in zees trophy” – the way you can look at the game and see a saying attributed to baseball veteran German Co-ed team after winning at the what they were good at and learn from it. So what can be counted as good Spirit? Leo Durocher. The self-refereeing side World Beach Championships. “There There are many different feelings out My (somewhat biased) example would of Ultimate makes it unlike any other you go for world domination again” – there but I believe it is more than simply be Positive Mojo – 2004 University sport. The responsibility for fair play is was the reply from a slightly drunken the singing of pre-rehearsed songs and Champions at indoors and outdoors as placed on the individuals. The Spirit Of Irish chap. The important thing is to the clapping of hands in a circle. Don’t well as Spirit winners at both – a truly The Game, if you will. transfer this sort of attitude and get me wrong; calls can be a great end remarkable feat which shows that friendliness onto the pitch. Spirit could so easily become something to a game. (Imagine the scene… last playing at the top needn’t compromise for the teams languishing at the bottom game of the World Beach So what about playing fair during the fair play. Mojo simply have genuinely of the pecking order to aim for. They Championships… terrific Portuguese game? Surely Spirit should be about the nice people. They made me, and many can’t realistically compete at the top, so sunset… back massages from some attitude and manner in which players others, feel welcome even when we they’ll have a good time and try to win lovely Canadians… a whole bottle of behave on the pitches. Hands up who caught/dropped our first 175g disc in Spirit by turning up drunk to the pitches. Canadian whiskey gone in a matter of hasn’t called a foul when you’re on a sunny Seaton Park. Of course we Thankfully, I don’t know too many who minutes!). Ultimate is obviously the sport high stall? Well, maybe you knew that wanted to be a successful University would subscribe to such a mind-set. We on the pitch, but the friendships made disc was down but you called it up? club, but the jokes and bad shouldn’t be giving our Spirit votes to and the activities that go on off-pitch can Being horsed by a top team can hurt, but impressions are never far away. In fact, lower teams if we only feel sorry for contribute much to a tournament. Many it feels so much better if they played you they were usually encouraged to help take away the pain of yet another BP training routine. The fun and the banter were central to the success. At 9-3 down in the outdoor final at half time to Leeds we could be forgiven for thinking it was all over. So close to the double. Yet we felt as though we’d had a good time and played pretty well during the weekend. Getting to the final is a pretty good advert for the sport back home, I thought. But to then turn it around and win against a terrific Leeds defending their crown was an added bonus (OK, a huge added bonus). So many of us across the UK enjoy the sport regardless of the final result. That’s why we play it and devote so much of our time to it. My first experience of a non-University event involved being told by an off-field player, “No, I will not clear the line” when we were trapped on the line. But he was just in a bad mood and others on his team apologised on his behalf. In fact, they turned out to be a far more spirited team than their first impression suggested. So it isn’t just University teams that learn to play with Spirit, although I think that’s what appeals to so many first timers. Take Leeds at Tour 1. Winners of both Spirit and the Tour. In fact, it’s not unusual for Spirit to end up going to one of the top teams at tournaments. Yes, winning is central to every single sport. Otherwise it would merely be a pleasant hobby. Ultimate has shown over and over again that winning is not the be all and end all of the game. Nice guys finish last? Well yes, nice guys can finish last. They can also finish first. John Dixon, Positive Mojo #10

4 a word from the UKUA Chairman 'Exciting' - I think that is the word I would One of the most exciting developments level individuals and groups are stepping Hims (along with the rest of the choose. Every year I play (and before this year has been the sense of new up and taking responsibility for the sport University Committee) have continued you think it, there haven't been that beginnings in both Women's and Junior that we play. This is vital. Not just for the sterling job the University Committee many!) I see more people in more teams Ultimate. The growth of a successful the future development and growth of always does. Tina Collier, our with more energy playing at more Women's Tour and the first Junior only Ultimate but also so that we can Administrator, has been a star. And last tournaments. This slow, steady growth tournaments for several years (not to continue to enjoy the sport today. but far from least the UKU Board would in the numbers of people discovering mention the dedication of both male and not have functioned without the efforts of There are a few people I feel deserve a Ultimate is in itself exciting, of course, female Junior teams in Finland) really Laura Pearce (Treasurer), Wayne Retter, mention for all their hard work over the but even more exciting is the enthusiasm bodes well for the future. Alia Ayub, Adam Batchelor and Chris and energy that you all bring. I've said it last year. Catherine Moore deserves Hughes (DoC). There are, of course, before but the spirit and camaraderie, It is exciting for me to see how much praise for her continued dedication to the many more deserving of our thanks - I rivalry (and revelry) and sheer energy goes into the development of the Junior Women's GB team. Alia Ayub has could go on listing names forever. enjoyment that is evident at every sport from players from across the full been very influential in the development Without these people we wouldn't have tournament and in every team is truly spectrum of our community. Although we of the Women's Tour (working with many been able to play the sport that we all 'exciting'. Combine that with the drive are still a very small community of our top women players including Tara love throughout 2004. Next time you see and commitment to constantly take our (probably around 22 hundred this year) Jewell, Laura Pearce amongst others) any of them why not shake their hand. Or sport to higher levels and you can see we are growing and are beginning to and our recent PR activities. Maria ask how you can help. Or just say why I think the UK is a very exciting face some of the consequences of this Cahill and Jamie Cross were responsible 'thanks'. They deserve it. place to be playing Ultimate right now. growth. From the local to the national for the success of the Mixed Tour. Rich Barry O’Kane

MISSED! TOM GAMESTAR (URIEL). ALEX EVANS (JEDI) THINKS HE’S JUDGED THE THROW BETTER UNO (UNI OUTDOOR NATS), ST ANDREWS. PHOTO © CHRIS ‘AUSSIE’ WHITE 2004 www.leedsjedi.co.uk

PORTUGAL: THE WORLD BEACH CHAMPIONSHIPS

FRANCE VS USA (OPEN DIVISION FINAL)

ALI SMITH - GB VS. GERMANY. MIXED DIVISION

PHOTOS © STEPHEN GIGUERE 2004 www.lookfly.com www.beachultimate.org/wcbu2004/morto.htm HACK: PRICE £18

PROVE TO YOUR FRIENDS THAT ULTIMATE IS MORE THAN JUST A PASSING FAD MINORITY SPORT BY SPENDING WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR FREE TIME (I.E. PITCH-SIDE BETWEEN GAMES) PLAYING THIS PASSING FAD MINORITY SPORT.

5 Paganello, Rimini For what now seems like forever, the Thursday. Opening Night Party. Italian City of Rimini has hosted the biggest, Traditionally, I spend the Thursday night party becoming so stupidly drunk on free bestest beach-based Ultimate tournament red wine that, months later, people come in the world each Easter weekend. up to me and tell me what I was doing on that night, and I have to nod sagely, with This year, the 14th edition of Paganello my best I-don’t-remember-please-go- welcomed the usual array of away look on my face. Not this time dysfunctional Frisbee playing flotsam methinks. Controlled vino rosso and jetsam to the party, for another four consumption is the order of the night. days of dry-feet, party-till-dawn, red- Getting the hang of this concept I wine-vomit, running-in-treacle, sand-in- managed to see everyone I wanted to your-contact-lens, perfect-pasta, and tip- see and avoided all the ones I didn’t. The top Ultimate. With twenty-something fireworks fired. Children played. Old countries represented across 3 friends were reunited. Got well pissed. divisions, predictably Great Britain was not backward in jumping on the first Friday. Day One proper. Freezing. The Easyjet out of town. Probably delayed. coldest, wettest day in my 5-year Rimini history. Chevron - Rimini version – get on with the job of dispatching Pool K whipping-boys Klopstock, then predictably losing to former Beach Champs, Collard Greens. The final game was the cruncher - winner stays top 24 – against old hands XLR8ERS from France. In a close game of reasonable quality Ultimate, halfway through I was taken aside by the captain Saturday – Day Two. Hangover? them social misfits would be to massively of the opposition. Apparently there was Check. Sore feet? Check. OK lets get understate their oddness. One talented something wrong with our Pulls. Yes, started. Now known in one suburb of team looked like two thirds of the long-lost they were too difficult to catch. I was Manchester as Black Saturday, it was John Purdey triplets. These were soon informed that this represented bad Spirit the day Claire Parker lost her first ever followed by the gayest pizza-men in France. Ignoring the heavy irony of game at Rimini after xx games with Western Europe has ever witnessed. that statement, I responded that they Bliss. Then just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, Nevertheless, the crowd love it all. They were probably in for an upsetting they did it again. But it proved merely a whoop and cheer every perfect move, weekend. The game restarted, quickly sharp reminder that they had to up the and sigh a wistful sigh for what might moving towards its jingle-laden stakes if they wanted to bag another have been with each dropped disc. I have conclusion, and by using the twin Brolly. Still funny though. Poughkeepsie no idea who won, or even if there was a weapons of throwing better and were yo-yoing between inspiration and winner, but once again it proved to be the catching more, a Chevron victory was mediocrity as they tried to find their style perfect support act to another night of secured. With another Pool game to take them back to glory. Chevron partying. And as the first few beats of dispatched, a life-saving hot, frothy found a new consistency not since OutKast’s ‘Hey Ya’ pumped out, the stage cappuccino was sought out of the wind revealed. We lost every game. was instantly sardine-full of beach and rain. Elsewhere results were going Around the ground Mavis looked very Ultimate’s finest movers and shakers. according to plan. Bliss, Catch Twenty- good and Princess Layout were picking Litres of free wine had oiled the limbs Stu, UTI and PoughKeepsie all wading up a nice couple of wins. Sun shone as sufficiently for everyone to be dancing like through the opposition unconcerned well - very nice. Britain’s Open division lunatics. Tables were crammed with with Paga-caps. heavyweights carried on picking up the gyrating people, the Princess ladies orally Friday Night Party. Glass of Coke 4 three points with style. applying fake tattoos, and all over the Euros? Yes please! Rubbish Euro-rock Saturday Night Freestyle Party – Altro place were outbreaks of love. Then, 4am band? Give me more! The Friday party Mondo Studios. Freestyle night is always arrives – and you’ve got to get that last in Rimini is always the poor relation to a strangely beguiling spectacle. Hundreds bus home. Two of our boys - to protect the big events later in the weekend. of sand-worn Ultimate children take the their identities lets call them Ryan and Young, frisky people still manage to chance to be entertained by people more Stan - missed the last free ride and, too dance the night away on a packed floor, socially unacceptable than themselves. drunk to care, decided to walk the 4kms little knowing how much energy they The Freestyle genre has magically home. They got lost. Badly. Only when will need to save. I manage to last till combined the grace and athleticism of the beer haze lifted the next day did they 2.00am when one too many poodle- gymnastics, with the fashion know-how of realise that their player pack containing a rock classics wears me down. Rod, Jane and Freddy. perfect map of the route home, had been Stumbling home along the coast road nestling in their shirt pocket. You can’t we remark on how far it is to our From what I can gather, they are judged buy stupidity. hotel, and vow to spend more on on technique, artistic merit, and how accommodation next year. inappropriate their clothes are. To call

6 Sunday. Day Three. Nicely warm. Hmm. PETE ‘RODDERS’ WRIGHT, CATCH 22 VS. SEXXXXPENSIVE Catch22 were playing like a team who had THE PAGANELLO SIGN POST, played together for decades. Helpfully IN CASE YOU ARE LOST boosted by a couple of senior GB players, PHOTOS: © BARBARA ZONZIN 2004 Sweeks and Mitchell S, they bullied www.paganello.com through the opposition to reach the Semis. MEL ZLOCH (PRINCESS LAYOUT), MARKS Chevron fell victim to the C22 machine INE LANCKRIET ON THE BELGIAN mid-morning. Si Hill bemoaning our WOMEN'S TEAM O.B. refusal to capitulate and give them a rest PHOTO © STEPHEN GIGUERE 2004 www.lookfly.com before the Quarter final. Yeah Sic, when have you ever given any team an easy ride? Victory in this battle of the Roses levelled up the scores for the week-end, as Chevy had blatantly won the party the night before after a Yorkshire no-show. We agreed to complete the fixture in the Rose and Crown on Monday night. Full match report to follow. Beach-combing some other scores showed that Poughkeepsie were still getting the sort of erratic results that reflected their new style roster. But, even losing two 2nd round pool games wasn’t enough to stop them making Semis, after outclassing and out- fighting the highly seeded Americans, Lick My Love Pump. Mini-squad UTI’s long- shot bid to regain the title fell to the Kings- of-the-beach No Tsu Oh in the Quarters. But, showing predictable quality they later grafted their way to 5th place. Paga Semis often overshadow the Final. With a heavy GB presence in the crowd, Monday. Day Four. Last games and personal campaign of heckling no Tsu we won, C22 didn’t. Like the road to Catch22 attempted to overturn the Final glory. Genital-shrinkingly cold.The Oh’s Mike Grant. He of shit hair under his Damascus, sometime around dawn superstar-laden SeXXXpensive. But, Druids had made a strangely rare visit to shit hat - as the song goes. Even though Ryan was hit by a blinding light, and with despite running down every disc, it proved Paga this year. GB Ultimate’s erstwhile this mind-meld of abuse managed to virtually his only scoring shot of the too much to hang onto them. Not through purple-people spent the whole week-end bring an hilarious 4 turnovers from ‘the game managed to hit the double with lack of effort though. An anonymous decked out in regulation Action Man best player in the world’ SeXXXpensive one shot to secure victory. I hope they watching American remarked that, “those khaki shirts. Unfortunately, so effective were not good enough to stop a fourth are not too bitter. As 5.00am threatened guys in green have a lot of spunk”. I think was this camouflage design that they Texan championship. we were politely asked to leave. he meant Wigsy. Bliss settled an earlier appeared unable to locate their end- Paganello number 14 had flattened the score by taking out Absolut Oppen to zone receivers. Final placing 34th. Mavis Monday Night – A bit of Bully. The deck-chairs for another year. reach their 300th final. Chevron continued took a very creditable 5th place. Rose and Crown is the only pub I know in the world where you can get burger Good night. our rich vein of consistency. 0 and 3. For Chevy a rare win saw us end with a and chips at 4.00am. For this and other If you haven’t already sussed that you Again. The last game of the day being a that-will-do 23rd place, before we reasons it is always full of British need at least one Paga on your great match against Mr Twister ( or headed to the stadium pitch for the Ultimate players on Rimini Monday. frisbee CV then there really is no hope Clapham Lite ™). Finals. Only beer can help us now. It was Strange things often happen in the R&C. for you. What else are you going to do like being in Bristol. Wearing every piece Sunday Night – Cross-dressing People fall asleep and wake up with next Easter? of clothing, hats and waste paper you Party. Have you ever waited an hour for salad balanced on their head. Jaimie could find, the crowd attempted to keep Steve ‘Kenny’ Kennedy. a bus on an Italian high street dressed Rogers walked to the toilet with his pants as a woman? Many Italian women their spirits up as the rain battered us down. Poughkeepsie just couldn’t and undies down. Scientists have yet to probably have. Sadly, so have I. An prove why. eventful 60 minutes was passed as a capture the magic of yesteryear and went small contingent of GB transvestites down honourably for second place. No Anyway, it was 3.00am and there was a attempted to get to Sunday night’s party such troubles for Bliss. They pulled away match to decide at the Oche. Chevron v venue. One after another buses packed mid-game and eventually won with ease Catch Twenty-Stu was locked at one-all, with strange people passed us by. for the 5th time. It was still raining. By the and a game of arrows was to decide it. Accounts vary, but I’m told that we time No Tsu Oh and SeXXXpensive were Teams were selected, and darts were busy trading hucks all feeling in my toes didn’t miss much, although bought (yes, bought - 10 Euros to you, had been lost. The only way through it photographic evidence proves that slightly soiled). Some of the Chevy team for Britain was verbal abuse. With a some revellers looked a whole bowl of couldn’t hit the board. Some of Catch22 seemingly one-sided final opening up wrong. To think, I even shaved off my were unaware they were playing darts. before us, the Catch boys started a chest hairs. Both of them. All were shit. To cut a long story short,

7 a step by step guide: eating properly for ultimate

Training diet Competition preparation On the day…. Fluids To reach your ‘ultimate’ potential from a There are two primary dietary Try to train yourself to drink to a long term dietary point of view, it is considerations for Ultimate players: schedule, rather than waiting until you generally advisable to eat a diet based carbohydrate amount and timing, and feel thirsty. If you do, you’re already on whole grain carbohydrates (pasta, fluid intake. This is due to the particular significantly dehydrated which will affect rice, bread, potatoes, whole meal intensity, duration and frequency of your performance. As a guide: cereals, porridge oats and grains), exercise involved, as well as the mental 15 minutes before the game: 300- regular (at least twice daily) sources of (eh?) tactical and coordination skills. 500ml (about two glassfuls or half a protein from meat, fish, eggs or pulses, In the final days before a tournament bottle of sports drink) and small amounts of fat (unsaturated therefore try to: types are best, as in liquid cooking oils, During: 150-250ml every 15-30 oily fish, nuts and seeds) from varied 1) Stay well hydrated. Aim to drink at minutes, use the points you sub off fluid and food sources. Make sure you least 6-8 cups (1200-1600ml) of non- effectively to down the equivalent of get in your daily 5 portions of fruit and alcoholic fluid every day. Most a glass or mug of fluid veg. Eat plenty of foods high in iron and caffeinated drinks count for non-training After: rehydrate as quickly as calcium too. If you concentrate on eating requirements if drunk regularly as we possible. To do this you must drink a variety of foods every day, you should tend to adapt to their diuretic effect. (This 50% fluid more than the fluid you be able to meet all your requirements. isn’t the case for alcohol). have lost through sweat. That means Of all these nutrients, carbohydrate 2) Ensure glycogen levels are topped drinking 1.5litres of fluid for every kg plays a vital role in exercise up. This can be achieved through a 24- of body weight lost to cover ongoing performance. Glycogen, where 36 hours rest and a high carbohydrate losses through sweat and urine and carbohydrate is stored in the body, diet. Carbohydrate loading is a popular to cover you fluid deficit. As a guide, provides the critical fuel for exercising idea but often misunderstood. For most most players loose around one litre muscles and must be continually refilled; Ultimate players, it is probably not of sweat per hour, depending on the more you exercise the more your necessary as the only benefits are really climate and the individual. dietary carbohydrate needs are. Protein seen in endurance sports (triathlons, Plain water is not always the best drink, requirements are usually met through a cycling, marathons, cross-country BANANAS 87p unless you train once a day for less than balanced diet and artificial protein skiing), which involve continuous high- an hour at low intensity. The best drink THEY COME IN THEIR OWN BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGING sources shouldn’t be needed. intensity exercise for over 90 minutes. AND YOU DON'T NEED A FORK TO EAT THEM. supplies some carbohydrate (glucose, Most Ultimate games either don’t last sucrose) and salts, which help the body this long or allow short rest periods absorb and retain more of the fluid as (subbing off) in which you can grab well as restocking what is lost through snacks. There can also be a sweat. Normal strength sports drinks disadvantage to lugging around unused such as Lucozade Sport, Powerade, Sis super-loaded (and heavy) glycogen Go are suitable. But if, like me, you think stores around the pitch. If you decide they’re a bit pricey, you could try this you will benefit from it, try eating 8-10g home-made ‘sports’ drink recipe: 50ml (5 carbohydrate per kg body weight (this is dessert spoon) of Ribena or similar high a lot!) and don’t make it an excuse to pig sugar concentrate, 450ml water, and a out on anything that takes your fancy small pinch of salt (eat your heart out (i.e. cakes, chocolate biscuits, chips) as Delia!). you will just end up gaining body fat rather than glycogen. It’s worth remembering diet drinks will not give you the benefits of carbohydrate and the caffeine content may make you pass slightly more urine, delaying rehydration.

HEALTH WARNING: CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR ETHICAL CREDIBILITY, YOUR BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY AND YOUR HAIR CARE REGIME. PHOTO: © JIM WILEMAN 2004 www.jimwileman.co.uk

KEITH HODGESON MANAGES TO GET A PASS OUT, EMO VS. FUSION. OPEN NATIONALS PHOTO © CHRIS ‘AUSSIE’ WHITE 2004 www.leedsjedi.co.uk 8 Food Between games A word about alcohol… The morning after For pre-event meals choose something This is difficult but important to get right. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! (or damage limitation) you know and enjoy (don’t try a new food If it has been a long hard game, your Despite what you may have heard about If you didn’t take heed of the last just before an important event as it may glycogen stores are likely to have started beer and carbo-loading, a few pints paragraph then it’s too late mate! not agree with you). It should be: depleting by this time (between 45-90 before a tournament will not fuel up minutes) and football studies have A high carbohydrate, low fat breakfast Easy to digest, low in fibre muscle glycogen stores; alcohol can shown this can significantly affect (cereal and marmite on toast) rather High in carbohydrate actually interfere with glycogen endurance and high intensity exercise than the traditional fry-up is probably the Moderately low protein synthesis. Basically, alcohol should not capacity later in the day. Some people best option as well as plenty of fluid Low in fat be consumed just before, during or are more susceptible to this than others (water, dilute squash or sports drink). In Include fluids with it straight after exercise; it can lead to and it has been shown if carbohydrate is my experience a hair of the dog may well dehydration (as it acts as a diuretic), An appropriate eating plan could be a consumed just prior to the game and at have the same effect by this time. It’s not poor fuel stores, delayed recovery, bowl of pasta with red sauce and 400ml half time, such as in a sports drink, a as though you’re going to be in the final impaired skills and coordination and a fruit juice 3-4 hours before the game, positive effect on movement and skills anyway… greater risk of hypothermia in cold then a 200g pot of low fat fruit yoghurt (less mistakes) is seen in the second conditions (Scandinavia anyone?). Take Laura James MA MSc SRD and snack pack of sultanas 2 hours half due to fatigue delay. special care with bruising and soft tissue www.eat5aday.co.uk beforehand, then with one hour to go So what do you eat? It is very tempting injuries sustained during a match as 500ml of sports drink. when you have an hour before your next alcohol will significantly increase the See the table below for ideas. (LF) match to shelter in the clubhouse with a damage and prolong time for indicates lower fibre options for those bowl of chips or a sausage sandwich. rehabilitation due to its vasodilatory prone to pre-match Delhi-belly. These ‘snacks’ may contain some effect, increasing swelling/bleeding, so carbohydrate but the high amount of fat avoid it for 24-48 hours if you are injured. Pre-Exercise meals/snacks and protein slows their digestion and you If you are watching your weight alcohol Breakfast cereal or porridge with semi- are more likely to find its turned into a is also very high in calories. skimmed milk and fruit or fruit juice brick in your stomach during the next few hours. The best between-game snacks Fruit salad with low fat yoghurt are low fat and fibre, high quick-release Jacket potato with baked beans/tinned carbohydrates that are not too filling, spaghetti/sweet corn Smoothie based such as Jaffa Cakes, jelly babies, on semi-skimmed milk or fortified soya cornflakes with semi-skimmed milk, milk, low fat yoghurt and banana / muesli bars, canned spaghetti on white mango / berries toast, fruit or sports drinks, flavoured milk, jam sandwich or bananas. Muffins or crumpets with honey/jam/syrup (LF) After the last game Jelly with tinned pears This is the chance to do as much as you can to optimise your strength and fitness Toast or roll with honey/ jam/ syrup/ for the next day, knowing that a long, baked beans/ banana and honey Low hard night of drinking and partying is fat muesli or cereal bar and a banana probably ahead of you…. Low fat rice pudding and tinned fruit You need to rehydrate and restore you Liquid meal supplement e.g. Sustagen glycogen fuel stores as soon as possible Sport, Maxim Original Energy (LF) after exercise (within 20-30 minutes), by Pasta with low fat tomato sauce (LF) eating around 50-70g of carbohydrate. The kind of snacks that will provide this Sports drink - Lucozade, Powerade (LF) are 2x500ml bottles sports drinks, a bread roll with banana and honey, 200g carton of low-fat fruit yoghurt and 1 multi- pack box of breakfast cereal, or a bottle of flavoured milk together with a muesli ANKLE BRACE: PRICE: $35.95 bar and an apple. If you can handle a IN THE FUTURE ALL ULTIMATE PLAYERS WILL WEAR HIMS-PROOF STORM TROOPER OUTFITS. FOR NOW, larger meal any of the pre-event meal MAKE DO WITH THIS TASTY ANKLE BRACE WHICH WILL KEEP YOU PLAYING DESPITE YOUR SLENDER, ideas are suitable too. SNIPPY-SNAPPY BAMBI LEGS.

WWW.ACTIVEANKLE.COM

9 university ultimate Considering how to approach this article, to put out joint teams. Early on it the winning point completed a perfect CONES: PRICE: £10 I've been able to take much appreciated became clear that the finalists of 2003 year for Aberdeen. EVERYONE HAS THEIR LIMITS AND THESE BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT ORANGE CONES WILL SHOW YOU YOURS. counsel from two great contributors to were likely to set up a rematch, and so it On a personal note, while that loss was Ultimate journalism, but none of it has let panned out as RoShamBo took a goal DESIGNED TO SQUASH DOWN SUFFICIENTLY BADLY utterly devastating, I can say with some WHEN YOU LAYOUT ONTO THEM AS TO IMPAIR YOUR me escape the fact that there's only one difference of 86 into a final against the CHANCES OF PRODUCING TINY ULTIMATE PLAYERS IN confidence that I'll be able to look back THE FUTURE. story from the season past: Aberdeen. similarly dominant Oxford. The two content that Aberdeen executed such a What Roy and Will have done with that teams could not have looked more complete accomplishment. It is only team, and the way in which it's been different as the black-clad WoW! lined fitting that, when asked for comments on done, cannot be overstated. As up against an Edinburgh team this article, Will should remain true to something of an Ultimate historian, I was apparently competing for the Most form in his humility: "I look back with painfully aware that the Far Flung team Garish Skirt award. Just like last year, some disbelief on this year, as I'm sure of 2002 were inheriting an Edinburgh's play was primarily through you do. RoShamBo were great, Sublime Indoor/Outdoor double mantle not worn their mini dynamo, Karen Levey, but this were really impressive, and I think any of since the departing Catch 22 of '97, but I squad had a greater number of four teams could have won either was ecstatic when we were able to wear competent deeps and handlers to vary tournament." Perhaps, but everyone it the very next year. Those three their game, and contributions from the who was there knows that only one team 'doubles' have now been eclipsed by a whole team saw them revenge the deserved to. Positive Mojo team that have redefined defeat of Cardiff. the phrase by winning not just the titles, Rich Hims, Uni Coordinator but also the Spirit award at each event. Outdoors: St Andrews Indoors: Sheffield The inauguration of Outdoor Regionals allowed for a more informed seeding of HARRY PUTS IN A BIG FAKE DOWN FIELD - BEFORE MAKING A SAFE DUMP. Looking back at the results, it's all too Outdoor Nationals than previously GB VS. CANADA (MASTERS), WUGC TURKU 2004 PHOTO: © PAUL HURT 2004 obvious that seeding University possible, and this was reflected as www.pope.smugmug.com tournaments is nigh impossible, even nearly half the teams finished within a INDOOR ULTIMATE IS QUITE GOOD REALLY. PERHAPS I’VE BEEN TOO SCATHING after Indoor Regionals, with only one place of their seeding. The new 16 team ABOUT IT IN THE PAST. BRISTOL OLD GITS WENT TO AN INDOOR EVENT EARLIER team finishing as seeded, and an format made for a number of close, THIS YEAR - I THINK IT WAS CALLED ‘NATIONALS’ - AND EVERYBODY TREATED IT LIKE A TRIBUTE EVENT, PRESUMABLY IN THE HOPE THAT WE’D RETIRE AND GO average shift of more than 3 places. At exciting games on Saturday afternoon AWAY IF THEY LET US WIN. SORRY GUYS, BUT IT’S HARD NOT TO WANT TO the start of the weekend, neither of the as Portsmouth's lead was overtaken by DEFEND ANY TITLE, EVEN IF IT’S NOT REALLY ULTIMATE. FAR FLUNG V MANCHESTER MINGERS @ UIN (UNI IN NATS), SHEFFIELD. finalists were predicted such a place, but Aberdeen to push them down to the PHOTO © CHRIS ‘AUSSIE’ WHITE 2004 their possession game was impressing middle eight crossover, a crossover www.leedsjedi.co.uk everyone as they topped their respective round that saw a well-drilled Brunel team pools, in stark contrast to the loose upset the seeds to earn a place in the playing style of the previous years quarter finals. Since no Women’s teams finalists that saw them drop out at the were able to make the trip north, the quarter final stage. As the semi finals format had also been arranged to allow played out and the all-Scottish fixture for a showcase England v Scotland was confirmed, an ankle injury to Women’s game after the first two rounds Aberdeen's much hyped Roy Van Cleef of pool play. With the Scottish team had the spectators resigned to an made up primarily of the RoSham Edinburgh victory, but the depth of the women, and no WoW! girls in sight, Positive Mojo squad had other ideas. many of the crowd took the result for Whether it was perennial runner-up granted, but some visionary hucks from Geoff Legg's presence on the Edinburgh Brunel's Gemma Taylor, and solid play roster or an inspiring layout block by Ben by Leeds and Loughborough girls had a Price, at 3-1 Edinburgh the tide seemed vocal sideline cheering the English team to turn and the crowd began cheering for to a jubilant win. Aberdeen with greater expectation. Two tough semi finals evidenced the Expectation that was utterly satisfied as need for deep sidelines as Aberdeen a low-turnover possession-fest saw the bested a Loughborough team with a pair 30 minute clock run down with the score of Clapham stars, and an experienced a mere 6-5 to Mojo. Continued sublime Jedi squad overcame Edinburgh's play and a tense final point culminated in athleticism. So, to a final that has been the disc being punched into the corner described as 'one of the most exciting for an impressive 8-5 victory. ever to be played at student level'. Four Women’s Indoors: Warwick of the ten nominees for this year's University Player of the Year matched Two years on from the first Women’s each other play for play as Jedi took a Indoors, and the attendance has commanding lead, only to be doubled. Hosts Warwick fielded a comprehensively reined in by a superlative five teams, while elsewhere determined Mojo. As everything was put rostering concessions were made to on the line, it was only fitting that the allow clubs with fewer X chromosomes game should go to sudden death, and

10 offence is easy! What shall we blame for GB Ultimate’s Boffins are harder to spot, some are short pass early in the stall before ‘poor’ performance at Worlds 2004? very good players, many have lots of having to resort to something hard later The format of the tour? Mental fatigue experience and all have studied the on? Did you cut deep and call for the after a long season? A failure to attract game and will give you a detailed disc when you know the thrower cannot talented athletes to the sport at an early explanation of how to react to any given make good throws over 20 yards? enough age? All convenient excuses situation. They spend hours devising When a play was called why were you that players can fall back on to avoid the complex and rigid offensive strategies close enough to let your defender poach fact that when it comes down to it they and waste hours of team practice off and get a bid? These are all bad simply failed to complete enough passes running through them. What they do not choices – sometimes you would have and score enough points. Their Offence realise is that even the most drilled got away with it and there would not was not up to scratch. It’s no surprise Offence in the world needs to be flexible have been a turnover but sooner or later that this has not been a major focus of and adaptive, Ultimate players cannot if you keep making bad choices they will the post Worlds discussion - a lot of think about more than a couple of things catch up with you. Most importantly; are British Ultimate players have strong at once and just because a particular you concentrating properly to make sure opinions but sadly over 93% have no cut or throw tends to work for them that you do the next thing right, or are you idea what they are talking about. (Only does not necessarily mean it will work brooding on your mistakes, getting angry 6.7% of competition entrants correctly for everyone else. Boffins can also play about a harsh foul call or working out predicted Chevron’s Tour finishing a valuable role on the team – ask them how to look good in front of the sideline? position). Unfortunately the people most to learn the rules just in case you are Until you begin to concentrate properly, There are few things you could try at likely to give you advice about how to ever in a situation where someone calls rather than practicing and pretending practice to improve the choices people play Offence are most likely to be a time-out whilst simultaneously you are playing quality Ultimate, you make during matches; do not waste Heroes or Boffins and they are not going completing a ‘greatest’ on a pass that might as well stay at home to do a little time on complicated pull plays, learn a to be much use when it comes to the was thrown during a contested travel. needlework on your toga or work on the few simple patterns that you can use a highest levels in the game. Do not let them anywhere near the team melodies of your team song because lot during the game (e.g. how to dump tactics. There are two good tests for you are not going to be able to cut it at Remember your best ever layout, or that the disc, what to do against a line-trap Boffinism (Boffinitus?): Firstly, look at the top level. and how to score from 10 yards out) 40 yard hammer you threw for a score the frequency and length of their and then practice them, against a on a high stall or when you out skied a Britidisc posts. Secondly, when they are Once you have begun to eliminate the defence, until they become second melee of players to bring down a explaining an offensive plan ask ‘What bad choices from your game you need to nature so that in a game you know wayward huck? Great moments that still would you do if the third defender in the recognise two situations where you are exactly what is going to happen and send shivers down your spine when you stack was poaching up a couple of likely to be loosing concentration: you are responding automatically – think about them but they are not the yards inside their man preventing the Firstly, when your adrenaline is choices do not come into it. When you kind of Ultimate that you should be trying inside out threat?’ If the answer is pumping. How many times have you are running drills make sure you are not to recreate as part of your offensive longer than the question, you can safely seen a great catch followed by a lousy encouraging bad choices, do not force strategy. Heroes feed off those ignore it. throw? Why do teams that have been moments, celebrate them wildly and tell working the disc patiently down the field people to throw the disc if they do not the tale in the pub for years to come. Once you have reached an adequate turnover on an assist? Are you think they can complete a throw, allow What they fail to realise is that full length level of fitness and mastered the basics someone who gets angry with yourself them to look passes off and pretend to layout was only an inch away from being of throwing and catching, playing good after a mistake and try to make things dump it instead (and make sure you a desperate, hopeless bid at a poor Offence is easy and all it comes down to right by pulling off something harder the blame the receiver for not cutting into throw, if you had turned and looked for is making good choices – the easiest next time? All examples of lapses in the right area at the right time). Don’t the dump on stall 6 you would not have choice is always the right one. I thought concentration as adrenaline kicks in. just do push ups and sit ups every time needed to throw the hammer and as you the Open Final in Worlds was pretty dull The other time is when you are you make a mistake, pick on one of the out skied three defenders two of your to watch, neither team had an offensive beginning to get tired. Maybe you have Heroes and get everyone in the team to team mates were being poached off and structure that was particularly obvious, been playing a flawless game and then do punishments every time they are consequently were wide open for an until the last few points very few hucks suddenly things start to go wrong for you involved in a turnover – eventually they easy swing. Their approach to Offence were thrown; every point was just 7 and you cannot understand why you are may realise how often it happens. If may be great to watch and great to play, guys working very hard gradually turning over. It will usually be because one of your team-mates thinks that against a weaker team, but as soon as working the disc down field, turnovers you are getting tired. You may feel OK running, catching, throwing and they come up against any opposition were few and far between because both because your body is pumping all the THINKING is something that an who know what they are doing their style teams were taking the easy pass every energy to your legs to keep you running, average Ultimate player can do will let them down – it’s simply too risky. time (the 70+ calls did not help either). but bits of your brain are beginning to simultaneously, stop counting It may be a blessing that very few They will do a lot of fitness work to get shut down and the bad choices are completions in a drill and play fiz-buzz games in Britain are ever played like into good enough shape to make those coming. Spotting when you are loosing instead, see how smoothly that goes. that because sooner or later we can kinds of plays but if you want to make concentration is difficult, learning how to Harry Golby pretty much always rely on a few people the best use of the Heroes in your squad deal with it even harder (I would loosing their heads and do something get them on the D line because sooner recommend taking some subs and trying stupid / exciting, but it explains why or later you’re going to get so fed up with to do nothing more than dumping the British Ultimate is still several steps them giving up offensive possession disc whilst you get through that rocky behind the best in the world. cheaply that you will stop bothering to patch). The secret to real success is chase your man to get it back. (If they To improve your Offence you need first being able to see when it is happening to insist on playing Offence advise them to to analyse the choices you are making your team as a whole and stopping the move to Leeds). on the pitch. Did you look off an easy rot before it sets in.

11 SI MOORE AND CLAIRE PARKER, GB WOMEN TIME-OUT, WUGC, TURKU PHOTO © TOM STYLES 2004 www.lookflynews.com

RICH HIMS. GB VS. CZECH, MIXED DIVISION, WUGC, TURKU PHOTO: © PAUL HURT 2004 the first cut.. www.pope.smugmug.com

“First cutting” Jack said, “just a short defender must first be out-witted and/or Having established an ‘apposite’ position only the cutter can get it. Crucially it also piece about what it entails and how to out-manoeuvred. If a player has a speed the first thing the cutter should do is means that upon catching the disc the be better at it”. No problem, I figure, advantage they should be able to get move the defender; back-them-up or cutter will have an opportunity to make without bothering to consider the free almost at will, however there is drag them to a space away from the an immediate unmarked pass. The more implications, and take it on. Well I’ve rarely a big enough disparity in speed for target of the cut. If a cutter is at the front lateral or away the cut is, the harder it been pondering it for weeks now and it to be decisive on its own and wily, of the stack the defender is almost becomes for the defender to be able to reached the following conclusion; I experienced defenders can be capable certain to set up between them and the get into a position to stop the should have lied, said I was too busy of negating this advantage. Fast players thrower, probably shading to the open continuation pass. A trailing marker, side. By walking (or jogging, whatever) and turned down the assignment! often become blasé about cutting, intent upon stopping a continuation relying entirely on superior speed to beat forwards, the defender is forced to back- Fortunately Parinella and Zaslow (2004), throw, will ‘bite’ hard on any fake of this their defender but are often unable to up to maintain their position between the in their excellent book ‘ULTIMATE: throw and will often over commit to give adjust and compete when they find cutter and the disc. Moving directly Techniques and Tactics’, have done the opportunity for the thrower to pivot to themselves being marked by a player of towards the thrower optimises the space most of the spadework already, and for a the other side and have an unmarked equivalent athletic prowess. on both the sidearm and backhand more detailed analysis of cutting throwing opportunity on that flank Consequently other techniques for flanks and keeps the marker guessing. technique there is a chapter on the escaping the attentions of the marker The initial direction of the movement instead. Consider also that the more subject in that book. must be employed. Timing, guile and does not have to be towards the thrower lateral or away the cut is, the better the First cuts are those that provide a thrower deception are the keys to getting free, but from the front of the stack it definitely opportunity to throw down field and with his/her first options to throw to, combined with the ability to plan and opens most options. However, consider specifically throw long down field. a first cutter starting from deepest in the usually from a static position as opposed execute the right cut at the right time. Which leads on to the end of the cut stack, the marker is probably deep of to being a continuation / flow cut. Good These attributes will allow a cutter to where there are another set of them protecting the endzone, in order to first cutters are invaluable at the start of a defeat a better-positioned, more athletic techniques that a first cutter will need to point or after a stoppage of play, when the defender. back-them-up the cutter would move master in order to maximise their Offence and Defence are set and a cut is away from the disc before faking and The position of the cutter should offer at effectiveness. These are: required to initiate the movement / flow of cutting hard back towards the disc. least two viable cutting options otherwise the disc. Any time that the flow is halted • Knowing where the next the defender will have the upper hand by Any cut will usually contain a distinct and because there is no continuation pass player will be cutting to. taking the optimum position on the route swift change in direction, allied with rapid available, the Offence will tend to reset • Having the correct grip on the to the one place that they can cut to. acceleration and is often preceded by a and a first cut will be required to get the disc to enable a swift release. Starting somewhere that provides fake to further unbalance the defender. disc moving again. • Stepping into the correct opportunities on either side will allow the Moving the defender, taking a small position to facilitate that throw. First cutting is a high pressure cutter to fake one way and cut to the bounce-step, faking one way and cutting assignment: the defence is set, the open other. Also it means that the defender will the other can facilitate all of these things. • Being balanced. spaces are easily identifiable and the favour one side, probably the side that the The bounce-step is nothing more than a • Having the confidence to complete glare of the spotlight is focused firmly on forcing defender is trying to deny the small hop, followed by a two footed the immediate continuation throw. the battle to complete the first pass. The thrower. A good general principle of landing and a knee bend. This stores A players ability to perform these tasks game is effectively reduced to a one-on- cutting is to take what the defender is energy in the legs and allows for and the efficiency with which they can do one contest in which the first cutter is giving, that means cutting to the side that explosive acceleration in any direction. so will determine the exact moment at responsible for defeating their marker the marker is less intent on defending. Of The last point is key: the defender will be which the next cutter will start their cut: and providing the thrower with the option course a cutter must be able to beat the back on their heels, not knowing which that s/he and the team expect. If a defender to the side the marker is direction the cutter will choose and thus the more skilled a player is at catching- team’s first cutters are unable to win denying as well but this battle will always the cutter has the upper hand. and-releasing, the earlier the next cut can commence, conversely the more these battles the Offence will struggle to be more hotly contested: so there is a If after the bounce-step the cutter does function, turnover more often and will trade-off between offering a harder, not feel confident in their ability to simply time it takes them, the longer the next often concede possession and good break-mark, throw to a freer cut, and an out-accelerate the marker, they should cutter will need to delay. For short cuts field position. easier throw to a more tightly covered cut. make a fake prior to starting the cut the right moment to start is probably as proper. The fake will ideally be no more the disc is being caught or fractionally A first cutter must: Here are some tips on opportune than a few steps (one or two are often before; too early and the cutter will find • Know where they are expected to be moments to cut; things that will enable a sufficient) but those steps must look like themselves running out of space and not cutting to. cutter to spring free of their marker: or at least convince the marker that the be a viable target. • Cut when the marker is off • Be able to time his/her cut: this cutter has just started sprinting/cutting balance, back on their heels. First cutting is but a cog in a fully means not cutting at the same time hard in that direction. If the marker functioning Offence and all the other as a team mate or too late in the stall • Cut when the marker isn’t looking! believes this they will commit themselves count. • Cut when the marker gets their body to following. Once they have, the fake is cogs need to be well tuned and • Be able to beat their marker position wrong or their feet crossed. completed by not taking the next step, lubricated in order for it to be fully and get free. • Cut after having made the absorbing the energy into the leading leg, effective. However first cutting is a very • Know when the cut is over and clear marker move away from the by sinking over the planted foot (the important cog, the one that sets all the quickly to make way for another space to be exploited. deeper the knee-bend the more energy is others in motion, the one which initiates cutter. If the thrower looks at the stored) and then using that energy to and determines the pace and direction of An experienced player does these things cutter and “looks them off” the cut reverse the momentum and leave the every attack. By improving the quality of without thinking, it’s all just a part of should be terminated immediately. defender floundering. it’s first cutting, a team will find it easier to cutting. For less experienced players the move the disc, be less restricted by the As with all cutting, speed and agility are process will require more thought, Once ahead of the marker and heading very helpful but often insufficient on their planning and application but the end for an open space, it should be possible opposition and commit fewer turnovers. own to defeat an attentive defender. The result can be equally productive. for the thrower to throw the disc so that Simon Moore, GB Women’s Coach. 12 EDITOR'S NOTE: SIMON'S ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN AFTER EXPERIENCES AT WUGC 2004. THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT REFLECT THE SPIRIT OF THE UK TOUR - WHICH HAS IMPROVED NOTICEABLY IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE TOP TEAMS SUCH AS CLAPHAM AND spirited away? LEEDS. THERE SEEMED TO BE A MARKED DIFFERENCE ON THE WORLD STAGE. What I have to say is partly a response games where the stakes are high. If a to the photo that appeared on the inside defender has hit the hands of the receiver cover of the last Ultimatum but prompted and adheres to the rules they can never mainly by what I saw at Worlds this contest that foul, that’s obvious, I think? summer. It is something that has been But it happens all the time. growing in our sport for some time and is I would like to share a couple of a threat to the very fabric of Ultimate. examples from Worlds that stick in my I’m talking about a blatant disregard for mind. The first is from the open final: it certain laws of the game and constant was a pretty dour game and in front of violations of the S-O-T-G that can turn paying customers and a major TV crew our sport into a farce! the two contestants paid only lip-service This is what it says at the start of the to the S-O-T-G; when a demonstration of rules to Ultimate: it’s virtues were called for, from the World’s best teams, playing Ultimate’s “Ultimate has traditionally relied upon a biggest showpiece game. Consider the spirit of sportsmanship, which places the one occasion when a catching foul was responsibility for fair play on the not contested (shock, horror), there was individual player him/herself. Highly a huge cheer (the biggest of the game?) competitive play is encouraged but as if something amazing had just never at the expense of: happened, when in reality it was an event • mutual respect between players that should be common-place in a game • adherence to the agreed-upon as closely contested as that one was. rules of the game • the basic joy of play. The other incident is rather more disquieting. I watched a defender, who The purpose of the rules of ultimate is to was pursuing a cutter towards the disc, provide a guideline, which describes the hit the elbow of the receiver as the catch way the game is played. It is assumed was attempted. It was dropped and that no ultimate player will there was a “foul” call. When the thrower intentionally violate the rules; there asked if it was contested, first an are no harsh penalties for inadvertent uninvolved team-mate answered, “Yeah, infractions but, rather, a method for it’s contested” then the fouler responded, resuming play in a manner, which “Of course it’s contested!” This all personal integrity the only check is the have embraced the ‘willing-to-cheat’ simulates what would most likely have happened barely five meters from where attitude of team-mates and, to some mindset in an attempt to make occurred had there been no infraction.” I stood, open mouthed with disbelief. extent, external peer pressure from the themselves more competitive amongst ultimate community at large (I believe the highest echelons of World ultimate. Take one example as a microcosm of the This example suggests to me that it is blatantly bad calls should be boo-ed by The North Americans are well ahead of sport as a whole and apply the same not solely individuals who are to blame. any neutrals present!). But no one everyone in this department and if we principles to other parts of the game, Experienced players are all more than seems to care; no one seems prepared Europeans do not make a stand and even if they are less black and white. capable of judging situations and being to make a stand. If a team is not make a positive effort to reinvigorate the Catching fouls, it seems to me, should be able to have a good idea as to the prepared to challenge the calls/attitudes beleaguered S-O-T-G, cynical calls will fairly simple to resolve. As a defender, veracity of a call. Yet how often do we of players making poor calls then our become more and more common place. you know if you've given someone a slap! see a team-mate intercede and attempt game is in deep sh*t!! Equally as a receiver you know if you to reason with a player making a We will end up with observers or even have dropped the disc before there was heinous call? How often do we see The other thing that is apparent is that as referees making our calls and ultimate contact. If players are prepared to be vociferous team-mates suddenly turn a players climb to higher levels of playing, will lose one of the fundamental features honest, as the S-O-T-G demands, there blind eye and go quiet? The choice of they feel less constrained by the rules, which distinguishes it from all other should rarely be any dispute. But fewer players to accept, without question, less need to abide by the spirit of the sports and which contributes to making it and fewer players seem prepared to be every call made by their team makes game, as if being an elite player excuses the greatest game on earth. totally candid; too often scared to ‘let the them equally culpable for these dubious them from these bothersome It takes courage to be honest, to admit team down’ or to be seen to have made actions. Whilst at Worlds I suspect that, restrictions. It is a shame that the best that you were unable to prevent an an error! Good ultimate players are fine for certain teams, some calls were players/teams don’t also have the best opponent from getting the better of you athletes and generally dexterous too, so mandatory e.g. ‘always contest a understanding of the rules, have the best in most cases there is no way they “don’t catching foul, whatever’! spirit and take responsibility for and to accept that your team–mates know” if a foul has been committed. safeguarding that spirit. might be pissed-off with you. Well that’s If the moral imperative for ‘fair play’ is Sometimes there will be doubt and the how it has to be! Individuals have to removed our game will become As I said at the start, these are not new rules allow for that, no problem. Other take responsibility for their actions and untenable! At least in ‘refereed’ sports or startling insights and I probably would times ‘fouls’ will result from incidental be honest. Let’s eradicate the cheating requires some subterfuge, or not have been moved to write anything contact, the result of two players going to willingness to cheat from our game; let’s guile, or timing, some sort of skill to con had it not been for a game so dire, in the same spot at the same time: often bolster the S-O-T-G and make it strong the adjudicator, at the very least luck! In terms of lack of spirit, that I had to leave. misinterpreted, often wrongly called and again; let’s glory in being different from Ultimate none of these are required, Both teams became embroiled by a tit- almost always contested. other sports and not rush to join them in there is no one to hoodwink, all that is for-tat mentality which spiralled the game My point is this, there needs to be more required is a certain moral laxity and a into the depths of spiritlessness! Certain their spiritless, refereed world. honesty in the game, especially in big willingness to cheat. Apart from factions amongst the elite of ultimate Simon Moore, Personal Rant. 13 the UKUA mixed tour and nationals The UKU Mixed Tour returned in 2004 director resulted in both teams being Great weather in Swindon for Tour 3 their team into two lines, but the club with a continuing trend towards ‘fined’ 50 ranking points. A subsequent produced some of the most exciting teams fighting for those qualifying points “geo” teams, as new outfits appeal by Rampant X to the UKUACAC Ultimate of the year. Ltd Release and dominated. A resurgent Whatever and LeedsLeedsLeeds, EMO, Ltd Release, was rejected. EMO contested the Plate final after the ever consistent BAF forced the GB and Cardiff all made their mark in dropping out of the top 8, with Ltd teams to playoff for 5th in their last The inconclusive finish to Tour 1 gave a their inaugural season. reversing the outcome of their 7v8 match tournament before Worlds. Despite sense of added importance to Tour 2, at Tour 2 to take their second Plate of the neither having won an event, the joint The GB Mixed team, looking to build on and it quickly delivered with the Tour 1 season (Tour 1). BPF 2, playing their leaders of the rankings Leeds and their success at Europeans, entered ‘finalists’ meeting in the QF. Rampant X third Tour, maintained their improvement Rampant X knew whoever finished Tour 1 playing with two teams, the took an early lead, and survived a late finishing a very creditable 13th, the best higher would take the title. Results on LeedsLeedsLeeds heavy O-line GB A, fight-back by a unified GB team, to set result of any 2nd team this year. BPF 1, Saturday meant they could not meet and the Scotland heavy D-line GB B. up a SF against host Si Weeks’ Little having lost to the still unified GB team in until the final and the seemingly Also fancied were 2003 Tour winners Sheff. Sheff (playing their only Tour the SF, shared a sudden death game inevitable occurred with both teams Rampant X, and the home team Bristol event) rode their trio of deep threats - with co-joint Spirit winners Leeds, the winning tough SF against quality Plastic Factory 1. The ‘peer pools’ format Sweeks, Rodders and C-Lo - into the northerners coming out on top. With opposition. The final proved to be a used all year produced close, exciting final. EMO and Ltd Release usurped Rampant X winning another epic sudden tense affair with both teams feeling the games, with a 5-12 crossover before QF Whatever and Shocker’s places in the death SF against LeedsLeedsLeeds pressure. However, it was Rampant who giving the top 16 teams a chance to win top 8, and Spirit went to Spoon winners with a last ditch run, the final was a started in the more assured fashion and the title. Whatever, the 2003 National Salt ’n’ Sauce. A full strength repeat of Saturdays match between the jumped out to an early lead. However, Champions fielded a weakened side in LeedsLeedsLeeds, although still missing two teams which also went to sudden LeedsLeedsLeeds regrouped, storming Bristol and finished 7th. Both GB sides their GB contingent, proved the surprise death. GB, in great form all weekend, back into the game, and, with the help of progressed to the semi-finals, with GB B of the tournament, defeating BPF in the repeated their victory with their own late a dropped pull and a run of clinical O, prevailing over BAF, and GB A other SF before falling to the rampant run in the cap. taking the lead. A combination of half succumbing to Rampant X in a mud- Sheff in the final. The news on the time and Rampant X’s zone D seemed bath. The conditions had become so bad grapevine was that Sheff would return With qualification for European Clubs to break LeedsLeedsLeeds’ momentum that the teams, who were concerned for Nationals, and the qualification slot dependent on each team’s finishing and Rampant finished on top, repeating about the safety of the players, called off for European Clubs given to the winners. position at their best three events, Tour 4 as Mixed Tour Champions. Cardiff the last game of the day, the final. On this performance, it was hard to see gave teams the last chance to improve Ultimate won Spirit. Failure to consult the tournament anyone stopping them. their Mixed Tour Ranking. GB again split

14 National’s, held at the end of August, Rampant keen to erase the memory of was only attended by 13 teams, by far the previous year’s loss to Whatever. the lowest of any event this year. The Sheff, continued to find success with clash with the self-proclaimed World their long game, although unusually Si Beach Ultimate Championships denied Weeks turned provider picking up male Whatever the chance to defend their title MVP for a series of long assists. from 2003, and also denied the Rampant played a faster paced game tournament many other players who keeping the disc moving, and with the chose Portugal over Colchester. With help of female MVP Tara Jewell traded GB choosing not to enter, the players within a point or two for most of the returned to their club teams, throwing game. With the game heading towards several wild cards into the mix. Unlike the cap, it was the Rampant zone that the knockout format of Open National’s, stepped up getting some crucial blocks Saturday’s pool play gave fifth seeded to take the game 13-11. Bristol an early chance to improve their Overall, the Mixed Tour seemed to be a seeding, and they did so with victory great success, with high-quality, well over LeedsLeedsLeeds. This left spirited Ultimate being played from top LeedsLeedsLeeds a tough QF against to bottom. I am sure all those players Bling It On, a guest team featuring who experienced it this year will be several Australian medal winners. looking forward to next season (in LeedsLeedsLeeds won through after a whatever format it may take), and I very close start, leaving Bling to finish 5th and much hope that more of you will get share the Spirit prize with the ever- involved next year. Play Mixed Ultimate, friendly Shocker. Ultimately, the pre- do it….. do it….. do it! tournament favourites Little Sheff and Finally a big thank you to everyone who Rampant X proved too strong for BPF made this year so successful, the TDs and LeedsLeedsLeeds in the SF, leaving and their staff, all you players, and of LeedsLeedsLeeds to have the final say course Wayne Retter and especially in what had become a yearlong battle Maria Cahill who, despite being ginger, with BPF. has done so much for Mixed Ultimate The final lived up to its billing, with Sheff over the past two seasons. desperate to qualify for EUCC, and Jaimie Cross, LeedsLeedsLeeds

MARK EARLEY GETS THERE TOO LATE, IRISH OPEN TEAM, BRITOPEN

TENT CITY, BRITOPEN

PHOTO: © ROB WALKER 2004 [email protected]

MILJA (INBREDS) VS. SHOCKER, MIXED TOUR 2, BAKEWELL

STU MITCHELL (LITTLE SHEF) AND CHRISTIAN ‘WIGSY’ NISTRI (LEEDS), THE FINAL. MIXED TOUR 2, BAKEWELL

JILL VANDER MEULEN. STEAL 1 V FLYGHT CLUB. OPEN TOUR 3 B QUARTER FINALS.

PHOTOS © CHRIS ‘AUSSIE’ WHITE 2004 www.leedsjedi.co.uk

15 don’t question The Management! Once, Shunryu Suzuki was asked by to focus on and one attitude to become someone, “How much ego do you aligned with. If two people are chosen, need?” to which he replied, “Just only one should ever be allowed to enough so that you don’t step in front speak at a time. As with any dictator, of a bus.” there are always the puppet masters behind the scenes, and these people All competitive teams come from should have an open and positive different backgrounds, but in the end, relationship with the dictator to make their aim is the same, to win. Too often, sure that the team’s needs are being the route taken towards intended victory met. Dissention and recommendations is the most direct path, and the result is can be had by all, but only in a small failure. How many times have you been forum (i.e. an e-mail or pub discussion on a team where the main talking point is with the leaders of the team). the victory that lies ahead? Answer probably is, all too often. Although a dictator will be in place, responsibility lies with every player, from Contrary to popular belief, it is not the worst to best, from the youngest to important to have a team where the oldest. Every player’s responsibility everyone is great friends from the start. to the team may be different, but every Sure, it can help in the early stages, but player has one. The puppet masters it is the feeling at the end of the season and the dictator should come together that is the goal, not the one at the and decide what the team wants from beginning. Camaraderie will be built each individual player and communicate through a team acceptance of a single this to them. If a player is unhappy with purpose, not through gags. their projected role, it is up to them to The value of some common suffering make their case, or prove themselves cannot be underestimated. The little otherwise. While trying not to things, like carrying on with practice pigeonhole players, it is important to give when it’s under subscribed, or in crap direction and personal goals to each weather, can make a big difference. player. The leaders of the team also They show that when the team’s back is need direction, they should lean on one up against the wall, people will carry on. another for advice on their own play and Even if the whole team is not there to what they need to improve to help the see that, the ones who are will cause of the team. remember. Fitness training in small Belief is where it all begins and doubt is groups is also a fantastic way to show a very necessary ingredient of belief. each other that effort is being put into the When you put so much time, effort, and team. Sure, doing fitness alone is still energy into a team, it is only natural helpful, but doing it as a team has so that you will wonder if it will all pay off. many positive externalities that will only The key is to always try and take reveal themselves later in the season. something positive away from each Who knows, if you really dislike the guy team event. Find something that a you are training with, maybe some team mate has done well and take it on competitiveness will even push you a bit board. This is not a carte blanche to harder. By the end of the session, at the put on the rose coloured glasses and least, you will have more respect for ignore all faults, but there is a need to each other. stay on the “sunny side” of life (wow, 3 clichés in one sentence, Si Hill would The installation of a benevolent dictator be proud!). Don’t worry if you doubt is another step in the direction of unity. their tasks at hand rather than concern the consequences of not winning. While yourself at times, it is only natural. The team should choose someone (two themselves with everyone else’s play. Find belief in your team mates and the a twist of fate may go against the team, people at the very most) at the beginning The motivation will be there because funny thing is that you will find your there’s no need to dwell upon it. Accept of the year that will do the speaking at you will have worked together for so self-doubt fading away. it and move on with the knowledge that practices and on the pitch and in the long towards creating a better team. you and your team can bounce back to huddles at tournaments. This does not When the big day arrives, focus on the Since the focus of the training has been play your best. It’s an incredibly fine have to mean that this person’s ideas moment, not the big picture. The toward improvement in yourself and the line; the goal is to find it. are the ones that the team will live by; it advantage of the dictator system is to team, you will find yourself means that the team will have one voice allow the other players to get on with concentrating on the task at hand, not Rob Alpen, Clapham.

NICK ‘HARGREAVES’ BILDNER, (CLAPHAM) VS. IAIN THACKRAH(LEEDS) OPEN NATIONALS PHOTO: © WAYNE RETTER 2004

BEN MITCHELL HUCKS DEEP FOR A QUICK SCORE CLAPHAM VS. LEEDS, THE FINAL, TOUR 1. BRISTOL PHOTO © CHRIS ‘AUSSIE’ WHITE 2004 www.leedsjedi.co.uk

16 ultimate preparation: winter fitness work As another long season comes to a stamina for Ultimate is pretty simple in close, every Ultimate player’s one sense; regular exercise will thoughts turn to winter training; the condition your body to recover more joys of long, hard training sessions quickly from each training session, on dark, damp evenings... the which will translate to an improved ability pleasure of early morning runs in to recover from game to game (and day crisp, cold air... to day) at tournaments. Well, perhaps. In-game recovery (i.e. between cuts/points) is best addressed by If you’re anything like me, previous simulating the demands of the game in winter training regimes have typically training. Rather than going out for a started with a few aimless evening runs, training run at a constant speed, do a which quickly fade into weeks of couch Fartlek (‘speed play’) session. This potato sessions moaning about the lack involves running at various speeds - of daylight and the appalling standard of much like you would on the pitch - with British television. jogging recovery periods in between. In order to avoid this scenario this winter, You can either make it time-based (e.g. try the following simple steps: 2 min jog, 1 min medium pace, 30 sec sprint, then repeat) or distance-based 1) Be realistic. It’s all too easy to start (sprint to next lamppost, jog three, sprint with a bang and let it slip. Slow and one etc), the key here is variety. steady wins the race here. High levels of suppleness, stability and 2) Plan your weekly routine. Write it strength together combine to make you down. Review it when you’re done, as resistant as possible to injuries. and build up gradually. Ultimate is a particularly unforgiving 3) Be flexible, but be consistent. We all sport, particularly on the knees and have bad weeks where it’s tough to ankles; if you want a long and healthy fit in training, but you’ll get much playing career a little regular work here of acceleration and rapid changes of Don’t forget to warm up and better fitness gains if you train can really pay off. A detailed breakdown direction, perfect for improving your down properly, and stretch regularly, rather than five sessions of the kind of training needed is beyond cutting. As the competitive season thoroughly after training. one week, and none the next. the scope of this article - the easiest approaches, more emphasis should be approach is to go to an organised class placed on speed and springiness; think Last, But Not Least 4) Make your training specific to your at your nearest gym or leisure centre. quality of training, rather than quantity. goals. If you understand the reasons A final thought: no training regime is a for doing each part of the training - In simple terms, strong and supple Time To Get Specific substitute for actually playing Ultimate. and how it relates to playing muscles will be better able to protect Ok, so there’s quite a lot to pack in to In my opinion, training throughout the Ultimate - you’ll be more motivated. your joints in tricky situations, e.g. rapid your training week - how best to go winter has been one of the key factors in changes of direction, take-offs and about it? With the proviso that every the development of the sport in this The Components of Fitness landings when skying or laying out. player is different in terms of their country over the last decade. Playing in Some combination of yoga, pilates, and Let’s flesh that out a bit. We can split the strengths and weaknesses, and how difficult weather conditions will improve core stability classes would be ideal. components of Ultimate fitness into six best to use their training time, here’s a your throws and catches, and is good broad areas: The final two components, speed and suggested weekly programme. fitness work in itself. Regular practices springiness, can be thought of as the allied with a coherent fitness programme Stamina Strength Sunday: Outdoor team practice (or final pieces of the fitness jigsaw puzzle. will get you in the best shape ever for Suppleness Speed Winter League matches) next year’s Ultimate! Stability Springiness Again, I won’t go into details, but the key point is that if you want to cut fast, jump Monday: Active rest day (at least 20 min Jeff Jackson, Fire of London. Ideally a balanced training programme high and layout spectacularly you need brisk walking, plus a stretching session) should address all six components every to improve your explosive power. Tuesday: 30-60 min Fartlek running week, with the main focus changing at The buzzword here is plyometrics, but session different times of the year (this is known be warned - you should have a good as periodisation). Fortunately there’s a base of strength and stability before Wednesday: Yoga/Pilates/Core Stability fair bit of overlap between the embarking on intensive plyometric Thursday: Strength work plus shuttle components - I’m not suggesting that training. you need to do a minimum of six training runs, or a Circuit Training session A good initial approach would be to sessions every week! Friday: Rest day combine skipping and shuttle runs. In the context of Ultimate, stamina is the Skipping is great for improving the Saturday: Cross training day (e.g. ability to play two or more hard games a ‘spring’ in your legs - build up from swimming, cycling, rowing - have day - and still recover overnight to do it double leg hops to alternate foot work. some ‘fun!’) all again the next day. Developing Likewise shuttle runs involve short burst

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IDEAL FOR WHEN BEACH ULTIMATE GOES ASTRAY, OR FOR THE TRADITIONAL TOUR 1 MONSOON, THESE WEATHERPROOF SOCKS WILL KEEP THE RAIN OUT AND THE SWEAT IN, ALLOWING YOU TO DEVELOP TRENCHFOOT IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN BOOTS. 17 the ‘A’ tour When GB had great success in possible that such feelings are France at last year’s European determined by just a couple of games, or Championships, the Tour was lauded maybe even a few key points in the for the way it prepared our players for season. international competition. Since the This year a new format was introduced disappointments at Worlds this year for Tour A in order to take into there has been much analysis of how consideration the changes in standard we could improve our domestic since the Tour began in 1997. The season. Some now feel that our season schedule for the first two Tours gave the is too repetitive, too tiring, and doesn’t 5-12 ranked teams the opportunity to have enough meaningful games. fight for their position in the top 8 on the While it is right to have this debate, we Saturday and then have a crack at the shouldn’t forget that the Tour this year top 4 on the Sunday. That was good in has still functioned well as a competition theory and in fairness it was right to try and has been great fun. something different. But after one day of pretty meaningless, and frankly quite For most of the teams there were plenty strange, top 4 pseudo-competition, of close matches and definite signs of Leeds, Clapham and Chevron started to progress. Bristol, BAF and the talented complain. Rob Alpen came up with a Fusion gave higher ranked teams more new schedule, which UK Ultimate, after competitive games. There were also giving it quite a bit of thought, decided to new teams – Fire of London, Abstract, try - and it worked very well. Saturday EMO and Limited Release. It climaxed in was meaningful for everyone and at the Edinburgh with the first ever Tour first tournament the new schedule was decider and we had three different used (Tour 3 Mansfield), its benefits teams winning Tour events. were fully demonstrated… by Leeds. By Although Chevron Action Flash were losing to Chevron on the Saturday written off at the start of the season, they (having beaten them in our four previous ended it firmly the third best in Britain matches) we gave ourselves the having collected only their second ever challenge of beating Fire then Clapham

Tour event victory at Tour 3 (not to reach the final. We produced one of MATT ’HICKEY’ WOODS CHALLENGES IAIN THACKRAH.THE FINAL, TOUR 2. CLAPHAM VS. LEEDSLEEDSLEEEDS including Chevy South). They did this by our better performances of the season PHOTO: © JACK GOOLDEN 2004 www.malago.co.uk coming from behind against by beating Fire 15-7 while Clapham LeedsLeedsLeeds (my team) in the final apparently had to work just as hard to KENNY DROPS ONE with Steve ‘Kenny’ Kennedy winning beat Bristol in their quarter 13-10. STEVE PORTER (STEAL 1) GETS SHOWN THE DISC BY HAMMERAGE, 15TH 16TH PLAY OFFS, TOUR 2 PHOTOS © CHRIS ‘AUSSIE’ WHITE 2004 MVP. Pity he wasn’t as good at collecting Before Tour 3 Clapham and Leeds had www.leedsjedi.co.uk trophies as winning them that day. played each other four times with Leeds There was much talk about Fire of only getting one victory. That was in the there were countless turn overs, mostly before we knew it we were behind and London at the beginning of the season, final of Tour 1 in Bristol when we had at the end we were attacking. Eventually needing something inspirational to lift us. especially as they won Winter League shown the rest of British Ultimate that we Clapham found a way to get the disc Unfortunately the opposite happened as finals. That their final position of fifth were not to be written off as we had down the other end of the field and took our hands froze up in the driving Scottish didn’t quite live up to the expectation is been in a recent Lookfly poll. At Tour 2 in the game into sudden death. We won rain and I had the ignominy of the pull understandable. They needed time to Eastbourne the final was close all the the game by somehow smuggling the hitting me on the toe to give Clapham gel the new squad and get their gags per way with Leeds edging the first half and disc to Christian Nistri in the zone and possession on our end zone line! Before minute rate up. By the time we played Clapham stepping up just enough to win our feelings were more of relief than we knew it, it was all over and Clapham Fire in the Tour 4 semi- final, they were 15-12. We came away feeling that we anything else. I think that Clapham felt had won the Tour. In the end they had playing the way many had expected had missed an opportunity to win, that in losing that game they had lost the played very well and deserved it, but it them to at the start and we had to make though heartened that we had played Tour, but it wasn’t to be as Chevron made that defeat to Chevron in a big comeback to make the final on that well with a tight squad. played their best game of the year to Mansfield even more significant. occasion. win, and thus kept the competition alive. In the semi at Mansfield, however, we So there are still many positives about The Tour creates many rivalries over the were full strength and it looked as if the Clapham showed their determination to the Tour. Next year changes will be course of a season. One interesting one whole Tour would be decided that day. win at Tour 4 by fielding only one team of made to freshen up the formats and was Bristol Plastic Factory v Blue Arse The match turned out to be an almighty over 20 players. That meant they would keep the competition meaningful. Flies. Both had recruited well during the struggle, which went on for over two always have a fresh D line and once Without the distraction of GB and with winter and were gunning for the higher hours. It involved thirty-three extremely they got going, they proved to be very the extra motivation to do well at EUCC, ranked teams. But their finishing position hard fought points, neither team was able hard to beat. Leeds had made the early Britain’s best clubs should be able to in the Tour was determined by the series to move the disc easily and the intensity running in the final, but at 9-5 the focus on reaching a higher standard of of games against each other and BAF of the D made the game very physical. Clapham D line took good advantage of Ultimate and I look forward to seeing just came out on top. It is interesting to By the end both sides’ Offence was really the deteriorating weather with a modified that in Tour 2005. note that BAF are reasonably satisfied suffering and this culminated in some junk that completely stopped us in our Ben Mitchell, LeedsLeedsLeeds with how they’ve done whereas Bristol pretty ugly points. The worst of these was tracks. Our failure to move the disc down feels they’ve under-achieved. It is at 16-15 to Leeds (game to 17) when field turned the game on its head and

18 the ‘B’ tour

The new season brought a new feel to lower teams anyway. Under the new have a greater desire to get into the first doing so is not incompatible. UK teams UK Ultimate. For the first time the division, however, the battle for team and thus the A Tour. should be aiming to win international Tour was split into two divisions; one promotion was all the more fierce. tournaments and when they do they’ll The B Tour should not be under- for the teams who want to win and the probably sing a crude, tuneless song Teams who wanted to go up felt that they estimated; a few A Tourers have used other apparently for those who want about it, even on the A tour! had a good chance not only of beating the divide as an opportunity to over state to ‘sing songs and wear togas’. teams who had just dropped down but their comparative quality. It is sometimes Looking back we should all realise The philosophy behind the move was also of staying up come the end of the as if the B Tour is a curse-word, or a something; from the winners to the last firstly to improve the standard of next Tour. In reality British Ultimate has backwater for players with no potential seeds, from fresh-faced beginners to the Ultimate, to make the top teams and retained the same quality divisions. Four or desire to improve. Often such Adam Batchelor, we were all out in that players truly competitive on the or five teams compete for the top spot at comments are made by the exact same terrible weather at Tour 1 (although international stage and secondly to give each Tour. After that, groups of eight people who started their Ultimate Adam did launder the entry fees to the ‘less experienced’ teams an equally matched teams tend to contend careers playing for similar teams acquire a little Filipino boy called Min- incentive for improvement. Now I like for the next eight spots and so the (although under a different, amusingly Min to make him hot beverages on the philosophy; it sounds cool and makes sequence goes all the way down the euphemistic team name). However; as side line – sordid but wise). The thing is, you sound cool, but I feared that the idea Tour. The only difference that has really there is life in a swamp, so there is that weekend I played some truly awful to split the Tour might cause some occurred is that the era of the ‘phone’ potential a-lurking out there: The B Tour games in the B Tour and I watched some antagonism or differences in opinion. I team may have had its day (although the is full of future A Tour players. truly awful games in the A Tour but the feared that the elitist attitude of the Uber- legend of Marty McFly lives on). desire shown by all teams was huge and It’s nice that The Nationals gives the teams might be at odds with the Marxist most importantly it was still fun. As that Geo teams have tended to concentrate opportunity for some tenacious scamps comrades at the lower tier of British bird from ‘Sex in the City’, watching a talent, making training more intense as to pounce on ‘bigger teams’ and to ride Ultimate who were already fully Frisbee event might comment: “Aren’t larger squads increase competition them with energetic and semi-athletic occupied in their own battle to score we all just trying to score upwind……..?” internally. It also means that the top exuberance for all they’re worth. It is also upwind points. I feared that the teams now benefit from larger squad good that at no venue this year has the Will Davies-Jenkins, Cardiff segregation might just make Frisbee sizes. If the Geo team surge has B Tour felt isolated physically from the A NAIL CLIPPERS: PRICE: £4.58 less fun. occurred because some teams and Tour. Young players need to see high BEHIND MOST GREAT ULTIMATE PLAYERS, Being more of a sceptic than a individuals feared being ‘relegated’ to quality contests and importantly every THERE'S A GREAT MANICURIST. NOW YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF THE FULL CARTHORSE philosopher, I was sitting on the the bottom tour, I guess the divide has player who has paid their membership TREATMENT AND AVOID HANGNAILS, TORN CUTICLES AND proverbial fence. Perhaps I sat on the worked and is more cunning than I could has a right to the same facilities and CHIPPED VARNISH WITH THESE STEEL NAIL CLIPPERS. fence because I had a sense of have imagined. The quality has pitch quality. I feel that if Tour A and B WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR TRIMMING HOOVES. foreboding that that’s exactly what I’d be undoubtedly increased in the A Tour and become physically separated then doing all season; straddling the divide there has been a psychological something would be lost. Yes, it is between the A and B Tour. Thankfully for improvement in the B Tour. Although important to improve the standard of my groin and contrary to the opinions of some ‘second’ teams in the B Tour ultimate, but it’s also important to retain some, the quality divide was not a struggle without some key players, the that sense of a collective spirit that gaping chasm. In previous years, the top level of ambition and commitment to makes the Tour circuit fun. Taking the 16 was effectively separated from the their game has increased as the players game seriously and having fun whilst

19 WORLDS BRONZE MEDAL

COST: MONTHS OF HARD TRAINING, FITNESS WORK, AND ABSTENTION, NOT TO MENTION THE HUNDREDS OF POUNDS SPENT ON TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION AND TOURNAMENT FEES.

USE: NONE. WORTH IT? OBVIOUSLY. can we learn from The Masters? A potted version of The World Ultimate Championships 2004 from the GB sideline.

I’d never been to Finland before August. of the other teams play. Buses were have been the greatest week of ultimate advantages the Japanese invariably got I imagined an inhospitable place with required to get between the 4-6 sites. ever. But I did know. I knew we could do the D. Open finished second in their pool few trees, lots of furry hats, and wookies The organisers would have liked you to well, Open, Women, Mixed, Masters and and would face the USA and Canada in for pets. I’d packed at least three thermal think there were 4 sites, in reality there Juniors all had the ability to make semi the second pool stages. Canada were tops to keep me warm while watching were closer to 7 depending on how you finals, and once you’re in a semi, heaven too much for GB, but they did have a the GB. classify them and how much rain there'd knows what might happen. The force good crack at the yanks, taking the half been. That said the organisers did a before giving way. The victories over the And during the first three days the was strong, I could feel it. pretty good job of making everyone as Swiss and the Italians were comfortable weather was indeed inhospitable, not comfortable as possible. GB Open started by roaring past the leaving a quarter final with Sweden. least during the open ceremony where it Russians and making light work of the didn’t half rain on the parade. “40 Our hopes were high for all our teams, Dutch in a bit of a bog. They crushed the GB Women won all their pool games gymnast wet t-shirt streak through and after the first day the only evidence Danes, and dispatched the Brazilians. apart from the matches against Canada Turku” probably wasn’t the headline the we had went to reinforce our belief that Awesome. GB were indestructible. Huge and the USA. They walked past the organisers were looking for, but it kept we were in for some history changing, performances all round. Then a chink in Italians, but met some tough opposition the GB Juniors entertained. bling collecting, ultimate watching. the armour; the nippy Japanese. With Si in the Japanese, only a five point victory would actually change anything, and the The friendly Finns were justifiably proud Before I go on I should mention that Hill, Wigsy and Randy being rested the one point victory they managed was just of their sporting facilities, though the Worlds in Finland was a fantastic week, team struggled to dominate, the enough to put them into a head on rain had turned some of them into a just being surrounded by friends, Japanese got their nose in front and collision with the Finns. Dagobah swamp. Unfortunately the watching great ultimate, cheering for GB liked it. When the Japanese sent it long, distances between them weren’t for a whole week was amazing. If I’d GB never got near. When GB sent it long GB Mixed’s fortunes were, well, mixed. conducive to just nipping to watch one known nothing before I went it may well it hovered and despite our physical They started with strong performances

20 EMMA RUTTER, GB SIDELINE

SCORE! GB BOYS CELEBRATE

GB GIRLS: NATASHA GRIFFIN-BEALE, LOUISE KITTOW, SARAH DAWSON

PHOTOS © TOM STYLES 2004 www.lookflynews.com

SAM WEBBER, GB VS. SWITZERLAND (OPEN), WUGC TURKU 2004 PHOTO: © PAUL HURT 2004 www.pope.smugmug.com

against France and South Africa, before hand of the Germans, they faced the The Mixed team never really got into had some rocky patches in earlier the Canadians brought them down to Swedes in their quarter. their quarter final against New Zealand. games, and the Japanese result had earth with a bump. Sweden took a kicking, They did get turnovers but rarely scored been a blow for our confidence in the GB Junior Women lost everything but but the turning point came in an epic game them, the Kiwis on the other hand looked team. But we were European spirit, which they won with ease. The against the Japanese. Riveting stuff, the strong. They took their chances and Champions, the Borg would crumble. lack of confident throwers was a major lead changing many times along the way. closed GB out of the game. set back, but they kept plugging away, The Swedes played well enough but it GB lost in sudden death. This eventually never stopped smiling and were GB Masters had come to Finland was the shortcomings on GB that caught meant that they finished 3rd in the group rewarded with their own bit of Bling. knowing that there were only two teams the attention. Discs that would have rather than second, and faced the Kiwis in that could beat them. They didn’t meet been plucked from the air in a normal the quarter. At the start of Thursday afternoon, the either of them in the Quarters. They game were left hanging for Swedish GB Women had played their quarter The Masters had to play everyone in rocked up, and professionally dispatched fingertips. The D squad could only slow final, on some far beyond pitch which their event at the group stage. They beat the Australian opposition without much the advance of the disc and when they no one could get to. They faced all but the big two. They’d get another bother. The USA were waiting. did get turns they couldn’t score them. Finland, a team they should have crack at the USA, or Canada, in the The O team seemed to turn on every beaten comfortably. But the Finns had The Swedes are efficient, we’ve been Semis. point and despite playing some proved themselves to be tough cookies given plenty of proof over the years from awesome D to get the disc back and GB Juniors had an up and down week. and while the GB Women played what the likes of Volvo and Ikea, they don’t eventually score they had too many 5 Highlights were sudden death wins over they confessed afterwards was the turn over very much. As the Swedish minute points to be an effective force by Australia and Finland, disappointments worst game of Ultimate of the week, the Open team lined up the GB sideline the end of the match. included wake up calls from the USA Finns took the home turf advantage and were still quite relaxed, this was what and Canada and a humiliation at the put them out. we had been waiting for. Sure GB had With each passing point the voices got

21 SUE PIOLI, GB WOMEN PHOTO © TOM STYLES 2004 www.lookflynews.com

STU MITCHELL AND JEFF JACKSON, GB VS. SWEDEN (OPEN) PHOTO: © WAYNE RETTER 2004

SAM WEBBER, GB VS. SWEDEN (OPEN)

JOE ‘MUPPET’ BOLTON, GB VS. JAPAN (MIXED)

JO DURY, GB VS. JAPAN(MIXED)

RICH HIMS, GB VS. JAPAN (MIXED)

PHOTOS: © PAUL HURT 2004 www.pope.smugmug.com

more strained, the cheers of British voice yelled and shouted for the MMMOOooooorrrreee, when we finally elder statesmen of UK Ultimate. They scored a D point, came from desperation played, ran, leapt, dived, they matched rather than celebration. Even a Si Hill the USA point for point in one of the goal which would normally be greeted greatest sporting occasions. Both teams with impassioned glee was a little flat. It fought hard, sometimes the rules were wasn’t going to be enough. You could stretched, often the sideline saw things never question the heart of the team. that the players saw differently. I don’t They gave everything, the side line think anyone was surprised by this; such littered with the casualties of the week, a hard battle was never going to be bones broken, sore knees, “I’ve been uneventful. Some of the greatest players advised not to play” ligaments. A week from UK ultimate history will use this of the toughest level of competition the game to draw a line under their World of ultimate has to offer had taken international careers. They can be its toll. justifiable proud of their performances. OK the Yanks won, but it was the As the sun set over the Kuppitaa toughest game they played, as they later pitches, the light went out inside British rolled over the Canadian master’s side hearts, the Open team turned to the in the final. GB did the same to the Women for hope, the women turned to Swedes. the Mixed team for hope, they in turn looked at the Juniors. They were all out, At the presentation GB Masters stepped and all on the same day. The hopes and forward to take their bronze medals with expectations of the red, white and blues dignity and the knowledge that they had now rested on the experienced, sturdy saved the GB ultimate universe. In my shoulders of the Masters. head the John Williams’ orchestral tones struck up and I had a lump in my throat. With the Star - Spangled Banner hanging side by side with the Union Flag There aren’t any Wookies in Finland. on the boundary fence, every available Tom Styles, The Voice.

22 IBUPROFEN: PRICE: £2.39

PAIN HEALS, GLORY LASTS FOREVER AND CHICKS DIG SCARS. ESPECIALLY SCARS TO YOUR STOMACH LINING WHICH COME FREE WITH OVER-USE OF IBUPROFEN. HOWEVER, WITHOUT THESE LITTLE TABS OF VITAMIN I, HOW WOULD WE EVER BE ABLE TO PLAY OUR WAY PAST OUR PHYSICAL LIMITS AND INTO A WHEELCHAIR FOR THE LAST THIRTY YEARS OF OUR LIVES? a short history ofThe Worlds

The World Ultimate & Guts Perhaps recognising the financial Championships 2004 were the demands of attending Worlds, especially eleventh edition of this event which for the non Europeans, WFDF adopted a began in 1983 in Gothenburg, two-year cycle for WUGC to alternate Sweden. During this time I have been with Europeans (EUGC). At this time the fortunate enough to take part in all countries actively playing Ultimate were but two of these celebrations of our predominately European and the idea of sport and thought I should share my WUGC being held beyond Europe’s memories before Alzheimers kicks in. borders was a non-starter. WFDF’s first president was an accomplished disc International Ultimate competitions had player and experienced event organiser been contested for at least four years who was keen to encourage the quality before the first Worlds was staged. In the of major Ultimate (and other disc sports) early days, just after the dinosaurs events ... he was also a Brit. Charlie became extinct, England hosted an Mead, who is still a highly competitive event in Richmond in 1979 where disc golf player in Britain, sought to lead Warwick Bears became European by example and hosted the first of many Champions. Ally Pally Tossers (APT) Ultimate championships at Essex represented England in 1980 in Paris University in Colchester in 1986. and a team went to Milan, Italy in 1981 to contest the European crown. By 1982, So far in the story, the major Ultimate Bristol Samurai were the dominant force events had been dominated by the Open in the UK - although at the time, there division, with only a handful of teams in were only about a dozen active teams the Women’s and Junior ranks. This third and nobody played Ultimate north of edition of WUGC witnessed a of small but important rule changes. For reached their first final. GB played poorly Stockport. In 1982 the Samurai substantial increase in the Women’s instance the stall count in the early 80’s against a very disheartened bunch of represented England in Obertraun, division with 14 teams competing (the was 15 and was not initiated straight Swedes and ended fourth - yet this still Austria and again the following year in Open had 15). Taking advantage of away. This had dropped to 12 seconds ranks as one of the best GB Gothenburg, Sweden. home soil, our Women (now tagged by WUGC 1984 and had reduced to 10 performances at WUGC. The Great Britain) achieved the best World’s by the 90’s. In 1988 the GB Juniors were Australians? ... they came last, but they It was not until 1983 that the first team result to date in any division by going captained by an outstanding player in would come back again and they would from outside Europe took part, in what through to the final. With a solid core of Rafi Freire, who was so highly regarded come back stronger. was the birthplace of international London-based Sirens players, the GB that he also played in the Open team at competition, to create the first true World Unfortunately, the GB successes of the team faced the vastly superior Lady the same event - this double-dipping is Ultimate [and Guts] Championships mid-80’s were followed by rather poor Condors. Sadly, the video taping of this no longer permitted. (WUGC). Neither Canada nor Japan results in the early 90’s. Worlds in Oslo game was slow in setting up and missed could take up their invitation, but the If 1986 was the year of GB Women, in 1990 is perhaps the hardest to the opening score as GB went into an dynastic Rude Boys from Boston, 1988 would be the turn of GB Open. The explain. The Open squad looked strong early 1-0 lead ... that was to be their only Massachusetts made the trip. As total of 16 teams made Open 1988 the on paper and while the Women had a point in possibly the most one-sided final national champions, the Samurai largest WUGC division ever and number of personnel changes, they of WUGC history. represented England, bolstering their included the Australians for the first time were hopeful of some good results. numbers with ‘guest players’ from one or Each year saw more nations sending - it would be more then a decade before Finishing 12th of 13 and 10th of 11 two other top teams. Memories of my national teams to Europeans and Worlds this record would be bested. The pool respectively, GB returned home first ever trip abroad are a little hazy in a trend that still continues. The growth format and early upsets allowed GB to wondering what had gone wrong. The now, but I do recall that the team from in the scale of operation meant meet Finland in the semi - a team we Open team were awarded the SOTG the USA were a class act both on and off Tournament Directors (TDs) had to be had beaten in 1986. Meanwhile Sweden Award most probably because of an the field. Captained by one of the more professional in the running of went up against a strong USA team in incredible play by new-boy Harry Golby: legends of the sport: Steve Mooney, they events. WFDF and individual TDs the first semi-final. No GB Open team after proving himself in the Junior ranks, achieved the perfect double of gold helped to set the standards for future had ever beaten either of these nations, Harry was selected to play in the Open medallists and winners of the Spirit of hosts: competition structures were but Sweden were considered the more division. During the play-off game beatable of the two “invincibles”. The the Game (SOTG) award. adapted to match team numbers and against a low-seeded Danish team, crowd watched breathlessly as the field space into a schedule that was both Harry chased down a rather long, As the level of organisation improved - Swedes edged into an 18-16 lead (game demanding and rewarding for the wayward pass ... his marker had given the World Flying Disc Federation to 19) ... it really seemed as if we had our players. Some features of the late 80’s up and left Harry to lay out full tilt near (WFDF) was established in 1984 - so did best ever opportunity of a gold medal. At and early 90’s Worlds included a the back of the zone ... nobody was the interest in representing one’s this crucial point, GB had to leave the Monday to Friday set of games with there to call him in or out, but with his country. The growth in player numbers sideline to warm up for their biggest Saturday as finals, ideally in a stadium. laudable sense of fair play he called across Britain and the broad spread of game ever. Then the USA came back Wednesday often included a half day to himself out. quality players led to the first ‘selected’ and won, we could hear the crowd from allow players to see something other national teams in 1984. Still tagged as our warm-up field ... our heads dropped, At around this time, a new Worlds event than the playing fields and also rest. England, an Open and Women’s team the bubble had burst. The Finns reacted was born: the first World Ultimate Club took part in the second WUGC in The increase in the scale of the much better to the result - seeing their Championships (WUCC) was held in Lucerne. Canada and Japan joined the tournament as well as clear big moment to finish higher than their Cologne, West Germany in 1989. USA in Switzerland, but did not feature improvements to the standards of play in Nordic arch-rivals - they avenged Players seemed unsure whether such a amongst the medals. all divisions was set against a backdrop themselves for the 1986 defeat and format would prove popular. The

24 arrangement did not seem sustainable: made for a perfect atmosphere at the GB SUPPORTER ALIA AYUB, YESTERDAY there was a wealth of high quality final party where GB Masters were Ultimate events but only a small core of celebrating a fantastic fourth place after GEOFF LEGG AT WUGC 2004, TURKU talented players with no available PHOTO: © PAUL HURT 2004 an agonising loss to Canada in the semi- www.pope.smugmug.com sponsorship funds. Could the top club finals. Sweden used their home teams find the commitment to travel to advantage to sweep three golds and a WUCC as well as send national teams to silver, losing only to the superb Boston EUGC the same year, then WUGC the team: Death or Glory (DOG). Sporting following year? Across Europe it would umpire’s shirts and whistles to hammer be the same players competing in all home the message that Ultimate already three major events. has seven referees per team, DOG from WFDF broke new ground again in 1992 USA won the respect and adulation of all by awarding the hosting of WUGC to the players when they gained not only Japan - the first non-European venue. gold, but the SOTG award as well. This proved to be a little too far and too It seemed long overdue for USA to host soon for most European countries as WUGC and their impressive without sponsorship the teams were presentation easily won the bid for the mostly self-selected by those who could ninth WUGC in 1998 which was held in a afford the high costs involved. This fantastic sports complex in Blaine, inevitably weakened many teams and Minnesota. Although I lack first hand skewed the competition - GB mustered a experience of this event I can report that small Open squad who finished 9th of difficulties within the administration and 10. Meanwhile, to occupy the players logistics meant the tournament was not across Europe who could not afford the the success it had promised. The two big Japan trip, the Dutch were persuaded to developments were the birth of the host their first ‘national teams’ event in newest division: Coed (or Mixed as it is Wageningen. Embarrassingly, the highly now known); and the ‘coming of age’ of seeded GB Open team failed to reach the Canadians, who upset the US party the top flight in this well-organised event by taking the gold medals in Coed, (finishing 7th of 12). Masters and Open North of the border. Essex University played host yet again GB ended the 90’s in a similar vein to in 1994 and GB saw a return to some how they started, with low table finishes. As the four year cycle rolled round, the It would seem that organised form on home turf with the Women, Maybe long-distance travel does not suit improvements and expansion of the international Ultimate has truly matured Juniors and GB’s first ever Masters team the GB game? British domestic scene - both on all fronts over the last twenty one all gaining fourth place in their respective organisationally and competitively - The idea of a four year cycle for the years. The competitive structures and divisions. GB Open finished mid-table seemed to have paid great dividends. major internationals had been mooted in rules have stabilised; the quality of event and the GB Guts team won the SOTG GB achieved unprecedented medal the early 90’s, but it was not until the hosting is exceptionally high, despite the Award. Two years later the spirits were success at the 2003 Europeans with all tenth edition of WUGC that this Olympic limited (but growing) levels of higher than ever for the trip to five teams reaching their respective style began. One of the influences was sponsorship; very few sacrifices have Jönköping, Sweden. The largest ever finals then taking gold in Open, Mixed the significant step of inclusion in the been necessary in gaining the support of contingent of GB players made the trip and Masters. Aspirations were sponsors and inclusion in the World to the home of the most dominant 2001 World Games as a full medal sport. understandably at their highest going to WUGC 2000 in Heilbronn, Germany Games. The sport remains self- European Ultimate-playing nation. Turku, Finland, but major success on the officiating, even at the highest level and would be the qualifying event for World World stage would prove elusive. The number of late night parties had Games 2001 in Akita, Japan. The top I truly hope it will remain so. reduced over the years, but the Brits five nations, plus hosts Japan would GB Masters seemed least bothered by It is hard to predict what might happen were still up for some beers and fun compete in the slightly compromised the spotlight of expectation and won a to Worlds in the next twenty one years, games each evening in Sweden. The Mixed Ultimate event: play would be six- superb bronze medal. Flashes of but the growth in the number of nations Juniors and Masters shared the cheap a-side, three men and three women. brilliance in the other divisions were only will require a re-think of the format. I option of camp beds in the sports hall, enough to produce good-to-average would suggest that the number of while the Open and Women opted for Maybe spurred on by this incentive, GB placings and GB were once again to divisions offered will be reduced, but the luxury of the tournament hotel. performed exceptionally well in Open come tantalisingly close to gaining a only after a seventh is added: Masters Despite this, the GB Women made the (5th of 19) and Mixed (4th of 14) but World Games berth. Meanwhile, Canada Women. Another consequence of regular trek to join the Masters in the missed out on a World Games berth by were again in the ascendant with USA growth will be the need to limit entry and sport hall bar and the Open boys duly the odd point. Junior Women became just behind. Finland’s Women were the introduce qualifiers - something the four followed... there was great cross division the sixth division to be added to the only non-North American team to reach year cycle will easily accommodate. In support in the GB camp, built on the event and USA proved dominant, yet a final, which was excellent for the home 2025 Ultimate will still not be in the close knit spirit of the 1995 EUGC their senior women finished just crowd supporters, but frustrating for the Olympics, which is a shame ... for the campaign. This attitude obviously outside the medals for the first time. GB team they edged out along the way. carried over onto the field as a beaming GB Mixed celebrated their well- Australia and New Zealand also left Olympic movement, not for Ultimate. Charlie Mead announced the SOTG deserved SOTG award while the USA Finland ‘bronzed’ after outstanding And by 2025, I will have retired from winners for Juniors: GB, Women: GB, Mixed team gave top marks to all their performances in the Open and Mixed competitive Ultimate. Masters: GB and also Guts: GB. This competitors, regardless. divisions respectively. Dave “Sammy” Neilson, GB Masters

25 how to be a TOTALLY EXCELLENT ultimate player

1. Make smart cuts. The key here is to clog, clog, clog! This is the only sure- fire way to get the disc. By cutting off the Dear Barry, cuts from your other team mates, the person with the disc has no choice but to I’m writing regarding the payment of UK throw it to you. Don’t worry if you don’t Ultimate membership fees. I attempted to get it on your first cut. Keep making register on-line and pay my £27.50 sleazy clog-cuts until you do get it. membership fee, however, after five minutes of frustration, I just decided to dash off a 2. Never sub out. Well, obviously. cheque and post it to the address on the UK Ultimate website. 3. Maintain a Positive Mental Unfortunately, several weeks have now Attitude. This is simply done by being passed and have heard no confirmation of positive that your team will win, being receipt of my cheque, which has been positive that all your calls are right and cashed! But I am still not registered on UK that all of the other team’s calls are Ultimate. Coincidentally, I have instead wrong (note that sometimes your team received in the post a parcel from ‘Ultimate mates will make the wrong call. If this Promotions Limited.’ This parcel contained a happens, make the call for them and small bottle holding five large green capsules advise them that they are wrong), and labelled, ‘HORN: 100% Herbal Product, Safe being positive that you are a most and Natural Erection Capsule.’ excellent ultimate player. If for some As the ‘HORN’ capsules were valued at £28, reason you lose the game, alternate to this suggested to me that perhaps I had an attitude of being positively mental. posted my check to the wrong address. 4. Make the right call. If you are the Imagine my surprise when I noticed that the player with the best perspective on a address for Ultimate Promotions Limited was play, it’s your call. If you are involved in identical to the one for UK Ultimate! the play, it’s your call. If you are away Ideally, I would now like to swap my five from the play, but no decision is made, HORN capsules with a more needy member it’s your call. If you are away from the of the Ultimate community, or perhaps a field in a porta-loo, it’s your call. Don’t let member of the governing board . At the very anyone deny you of this right. least, I would like to not be excluded from 5. Choose your passes carefully. Mixed Tour 1 for not being registered. After you get the disc, throw a few fakes, All the best, ‘Rich’ then pose and gaze end-zoneward. Take your time and wait for just the right pass. This may take blowing off two or three 8. Know the other team. Sit on your KEY PHRASES cuts first. If the count gets high, huck it sideline in someone else’s chair and and call foul. If a pass presents itself, criticise every facet of their being. By “I was open!” “Oh, weak call.” throw it, then immediately make the clog keeping the disparity between yourself This is used when your team mate has Use this whenever any call is made, cut. and others large, a Positive Mental just thrown the disc away. It can also be anywhere, if you’re in the mood to say it, Attitude can be easily maintained. 6. Use the right throw. Never throw used in some circumstances when your which of course, you always will be, team mate has completed a pass, but to since a Positive Mental Attitude is key to a straight pass when you could throw an 9. Stay visible. When you’re not someone other than you. inside-out cross-field reverse-spin drinking the other team’s water or winning a game. backhanded overhead. Passes like that relaxing in not-your-chair, position “Call UP!!” “No one’s cutting!” have to be used to confuse the defence yourself directly in front of anyone and break open the field. If your team watching the game and yell, yell, yell!!! This is directed at anyone or everyone Your team mates don’t have the unique mate can’t catch whatever it was that Be sure to tell your team mates that when the offensive player you are perspective that you have, so of course you just threw, you have two handy they’re cutting in the wrong direction. covering has just completely toasted you they can’t tell when they’re open or not. can’t-fail excuses. 1. “It was right there!” Cringe, scream, yell, break some blood for a goal. By uttering this plaintive Sure, those early cuts may have looked 2. “The count was on seven.” vessels, and generally freak out at any remark, the blame is obviously placed on wide open to them, but you know better. pass longer than 30 yards... until it is anyone but you. 7. Know your team mates. If a caught. Then say “yeah!” Also make “I threw it to where you should less-than-amazing player on your team sure, when wandering up and down the have been!” gets the disc (i.e. anyone other than sideline obstructing views, to stay just AND NEVER FORGET: you), cut right to them, making sure to inbounds. YOU have the right to be on It’s certainly not your fault if no one on clog, and say “take your time!” Hover the field, but of course, no one else YOU ARE A GOD! your team knows how to cut. behind them for the dump. DON’T clear does. out. Ever.

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By Jack’s Gringos DOWN Clue: all answers have an ultimate theme. 2. Labour movement in u-turn to get free (3) ACROSS 3. Don’t push, don’t work: just call this on the line (4,4) 1. Grab a fisherman’s delight (5) 4. Saturday night fever on the dance 8. A capital guide for a period of rest (4, 3) floor is incomplete without vinyl (4) 10. Gigolo heads south for footwear (5) 5. A 19 with less tar organises 12. “I Believe,” she sang after swallowing a pill Britain’s players (1,1,1) for happiness (5) 6. Ps. Oslo an OK rematch – 14. Rotate 3.14, 5, 2 (backwards, we hear) (5) a cheeky option (2, 4, 4) BEN “RHINO” MITCHELL, WINNER OF LAST YEARS CROSSWORD. FOLLOWING THIS SUCCESS, BEN WENT ON GET ENGAGED, AND PLAYED FOR GB! PHOTO: © PAUL HURT 2004 15. What a load of rubbish. Call that a defence? (4) 7. Before taking a journey head south www.pope.smugmug.com and you may get the disc back (5) 17. Two point lead? Put a lid on it! (3)

THE GUY IN THE ‘BAD COMPANY’ SHIRT - WHO HAS JUST THROWN THAT HAMMER - OLI WATSON, 9. Disciple increases profit margin (4,2) IS A VERY DECENT CHAP, AND IS IN NO WAY A ‘TOTALLY EXCELLENT’ ULTIMATE PLAYER. 18. Revelry found in pop art you like (5) 11. Out of bounds score changes HAMMERAGE VS. RED DOG, TOUR 1, BRISTOL 20. Build a house with it or bring it to the middle (5) PHOTO © CHRIS ‘AUSSIE’ WHITE 2004 view of silly throw (7) www.leedsjedi.co.uk 22. Smoke – twenty – point (5) 13. Choose an obstacle in the way (4) IT'S A FLAT WORLD AFTER ALL 23. Hand’s low, no IOU allowed (2,1,1) IT'S RAINING. IT'S REALLY, REALLY WINDY. AND IT'S PRETTY DARK OUT. ALL THINGS 15. Our erstwhile editor is a CONSIDERED, I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE JUST SEEN THAT HUGE HAMMER GO UP. IT'S CARVING THROUGH THE AIR TOWARDS THE BACK CORNER, YOU CAN PRACTICALLY HEAR IT HUM. 25. We hear poultry making a call – that’s illegal (4) bit of a knave apparently (4) THE RECEIVER SKIES TWO MARKERS FOR THE SCORE - AND WAS THAT A DISC WAGGLE? I MIGHT JUST WATCH THAT AGAIN IN SLOW-MOTION... 26. Her majesty is after a digit 16. Bump ointment spread; THE SUCCESS OF 2003'S RUNNING WITH THE FLATBALLERS HAS HELPED ROADIE FILMS TAKE ULTIMATE VIDEO TO A NEW LEVEL THIS YEAR. AN EIGHT PERSON CREW IN FINLAND, A TRAINING that comes upside down (7) with many you get prizes (5) VIDEO IN THE PIPELINE AND MORE THAN THE USUAL HIGHLIGHTS CLIPS ON THE WEB. FIRST UP WILL BE THE DOUBLE DVD FROM WORLDS - CHECK OUT ROADIEFILMS.CO.UK FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND RELEASE DETAILS. THIS WINTER, IT'S NOT JUST WHITE PLASTIC DISCS YOU'LL WANT TO 27. Got the stomach for this game? (4) 19. Man from Istanbul (initially from Uganda) GET YOUR HANDS ON. ends up in Scandinavia for games (5) 28. Silver cutlery for a tournament prize (5) 20. High street store doesn’t sell shoes (5) Win: The amazing prize; Provided by www.lookfly.com - a Lookfly Baseball Cap or Visor, A Hackey Sack, A Pair of 21. One bridge player before twelve Lookfly Shorts or a Lookfly Skort. Also, from Roadie Films, a Worlds double DVD. good men – surely some accident (6) How to enter: Send an email to [email protected] with the answers and your contact details. 24. The cutter is going very fast Rules: All entries to be received by 28th February 2005. All correct entries will be put in a hat, from which the winner but backwards after losing head (4) will be drawn. My decision is final, only large bribes will be considered. 25. First of family answers back. Who gives a toss? (4) 27 ; ;

WHAT A MESS! THE FINAL - CLAPHAM VS LEEDS, TOUR 1, BRISTOL PHOTO © CHRIS ‘AUSSIE’ WHITE 2004 www.leedsjedi.co.uk

DISC: PRICE: £7.00 IF YOU'RE JUST TAKING UP ULTIMATE, YOU'LL BE NEEDING ONE OF THESE TO PLAY WITH. IF YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR SOME TIME, YOU'LL BE NEEDING ONE TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT DISAPPEARED AT THE LAST TOURNAMENT YOU ATTENDED.