Tour 3, Cardif

It rained last weekend. It also was the last of the ultimate frisbee Tours of the season, Tour 3. There was a time when there were 5 Tours, but now with the mixed season expanding, the open season has become nice and short. I know I am not that old, but I am beginning to feel that I have been around the block a little in terms of ultimate frisbee now. A friend of mine and I are beginning to talk about taking a break from the game, maybe taking up triathlons or something equally crazy. Perhaps ultimate is losing it appeal, or perhaps it sucks to get soaked to your pants during the first game of a weekends frisbee.

So to the tournament: We came 15th out of 16th in the A Tour. Not bad to be honest, we showed consistancy, and moments of great skills and ability. We beat Blue Arse Flies, who as it was said at the weekend were "the ass of the Midlands", or something like that. A bit harsh, but made us laugh. I remember during the first year of Ltd Release, we lost to them in the cross over to the top eight after taking a huge lead. Well we wooped them this time on the Saturday, and so set up a great game against Brown of Newcastle to break into the top twelve. We lost, but we fought the whole way, trading up at many points. So top twelve was not to be, and on Sunday we played three games, none particularly memorable and ended up 15th.

The high point for me was a pitch length huck the I pulled off. It was caught spectacularly by the opposite team (bad luck Nick), but I was proud of my throw non the less.

So thats that. I am leaving Southampton soon, and wont pick up a disc for Ltd Release ever again. It makes me a little sad, but not too much. There is so much more to look forward too. Lets see, cycling my bikes, making more bikes, talking about bikes and probably, maybe, more ultimate. I just need to find a team that I like, are good fun to hang out with and can take a bit of abuse, I think I know of one...

Cowes Week

We came 4th on Saturday, helping the boat, "Premier Flair", the one with the red and gray tear drop logo come 10th over all, sweet.

European Ultimate Frisbee Championships 2007

It was super cool, despite paying the ridiculous £5 entry fee. Watched GB play Finland in the womans division final. It was not such a great game for the spectator with many throw aways and drops. Such mistakes make the game seem a little amature. Which is a shame, cos the players were definatly not, and had trained hard I am sure to play in the championships and worked super hard to make the finals. GB never looked like they would win, and lost in the end by a few points after the time cap went.





The mens game was the main event for me. With the final being contested between GB and Sweden. It was a wicked game. There were a few brakes of a point or two, but the game for the main traded points with GB and Sweden level at time. Game to 15, scores were 13:13 Sweden on offence (I think).



GB did not manage to get a break on the Swedish machine, and the score was 13:14. Time for GB offence to score. They made hard work of it, with one turn I think. They eventually scored, making it a game of sudden death, next point wins. It was a goodie, Wiggsy for Great Britain made some huge efforts, narrowly missing a defensive block in the Swedish end zone, and then making a huge lay out grab (which might have been out, but I was not complaining). Two throws later, we had scored and had won the EUC open finals.





Jb, Hannah and I were happy. Moritz and Aazani enjoyed it too I think. A fun day had by all...

This is a bike and a half

Seen on the fixie gallery.

Biking with Ed

John's bike, 5 August 2007
Originally uploaded by ed_needs_a_bicycle

When cycling with Ed from Southampton to Lymington and then caught a ferry to the Isle of Wight with Lidia.

Have not been pushed so hard on a bike since the Chiltern 100:
Distance: 31.91 km
Max Speed: 44 km/h
Avg. Speed 28.9 km/h