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From: "Lawrence PAULSON" <L.Paulson@mmu.ac.uk>
Organization: Manchester Metropolitan University
To: britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 11:19:16 +GMT
Subject: Student Finals Report
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Dear All,
Sorry to keep bugging those who weren't there but here's my personal
report on the weekend. It's a bit of an epic...
This was my first attempt at being Tournament Director, and what I
would consider the first REAL Manchester tournament (the previous two
were both organised by non-Manchester players).
In light of this I probably couldn't have picked a worse tournament
to host- not only were there 20 teams arriving, but neither Fingers 6
not Chevvy AF were involved in playing. However, once the
considerable headache of finding accomodation for all these teams was
sorted, the actually tournament went very well.
The venue was top class- a brand new hall, big enough to hold 2 good
size pitches, (I even got some comments that I had made the endzones
too big!!) and with a balcony and plenty of room off pitch for calls
/ lazing about.
Play on saturday showed up just how close in many of the teams were,
with the Southern teams coming up with better results than their more
northerly counterparts. At the end of group play, Uriel, Ow1,
Skunks1 topped their groups, with Mohawks, Sorcerers and Picnic
coming second, whilst the 4th group was 3-way tie (Jedi Children
finishing top on points difference, with Mythago and Bears ending 2
and 3).
It was then that things started to go strange. The last games on
Saturday were the crossovers, which produced the biggest shocks of
the tournament. Group winners, and holders of 1st position, Uriel were
beaten by one point by Far Flung (16th), Sneeekys (12th) beat Picnic
(5th), and Sorcerers beat Midlands champs Bears in a Sunday morning
came, held over due to an injury to an Ow player which knocked the
schedule back 20 mins (it looked bad, but he was OK on Sunday).
So by the time the QF came round, the regional picture had shifted.
Now 4 of 8 teams in the top group were Northern sides (3 of whom were
Scottish), 2 were from SE and 2 from SW, and none from Midlands.
Saturday night was spent at Amigo's Mexican Cantina and 'Home for
ChevvyAF Wannabe DJs'. I say spent there, most of my time was spent
at home being asleep, but I did pop in for an hour and the sight of a
dance floor being transformed into a comedy chase scene merely by the
playing of the Benny Hill music will stay with me forever. Sadly
though student Ultimate is suffering badly these days from a lack of
party spirit. Not only did things peter out at the early time of
midnight, but only 550 pounds was taken over the bar (which when
there were 20 teams, x average of 8 players, means that taken as a
whole- each player drank only 1.5 bottles of Budweiser each).
Sunday then saw some suspiciously good play...
I've lost some of my notes, but OW beat Mohawks and Mythago beat
Sneeekys, whilst Sorcerers and Jedi won their QFs, before winning
their SF to leave a all-Northern Final: Sorcerers vs Jedi.
The final round games were on a bigger pitch with sidelines- which
brought to a particular weekend long worry of mine. The barrier
separating the two pitches was only a curtain, and the reckless
abandon with which players threw themselves into it, with complete
lack of regard for what was going on on the other pitch was quite
worrying. (I say quite, because I was trying to philosophical about
it all- if players want to risk major injury through lack of caution-
then fair enough. Just don't come complaining to me when they end up
in hospital).
In the final round, Purple Haze topped the Spoon group on points
scored, Picnic In The Sky won a sudden death Plate Final. The
fantasy frisbee competition was in full effect and so the level of
lay-outs, long range hammers and worlds-greatest attempts was high.
The final was another close affair- with Sorcerers taking an early 4
point lead, before Jedi woke up and made a fight of it. By time,
Sorcerers had kept their lead, Jedi never quite managing to catch up
fully or take the lead, and the score was 13-12, and Sorcerers scored
the final point cap to make it 14-12 and the championship.
At the awards ceremony, Sorcerers proved that Spirit and Success can
go hand in hand by winning the Spirit Vote.
So that was it, my first tournament as director. Would I do it
again? Hmm, maybe. I certainly would only agree to do another if
accomodation was sorted out (an outdoors for example, or at least a
tournament where my own team was definitely playing).
Things I Would Change:
I would have a more open schedule, with less playing time and more
time for unscheduled delays (and if that means less teams, so be it)
I would make sure I got black/yellow pitch markings like I ordered
(not just yellow as I received).
I would try and get some 'on-site' hot food / drinks.
I would give out the prizes myself.
I would put boards up between the pitches, as conversely this is less
dangerous than having no boards and just a curtain.
I would try and keep results / updated schedules posted better than I
did.
I would leave time for a Captain's Meeting on Saturday AND Sunday
mornings (because handed out sheets just are never read).
Things I Thought Were Good:
The sports hall in general.
The attitude of the teams (of course).
Having miniature bottles of Spirits as a prize and not one big
bottle.
Having Ultimate players in charge of the music at the Party.
Things I Have Learned:
You can never be too prepared.
You can never predict everything.
You can never underestimate others incompetence.
You can never delegate enough.
You can never have enough assistants.
You can never completely rely on others.
You can never completely rely on yourself.
You can never please everybody all of the time.
I think that wraps it up. Thanks to all the teams who took part, and
special thanks to the Fingers players who gave up their weekends to
help out. Thanks also to the family and friends who were unable to
speak to me all week because the phone was busy and then when I could
speak to them I was too busy to do anything.
Love n Luck
Lawrence
Tourny Director and Proud wearer of a New Fingers 6 T-Shirt (which,
no bullshit, are actually very nice, after all they were designed by
an upandcoming clothing designer).