Warwick Bears flying high

The end of term sees the indoor season for Warwick Bears, the University’s Ultimate Frisbee team, drawing to a close with only Women’s and Mixed University Indoor Nationals to be played at the start of next term. Impressive performances so far this term have left the Open and Mixed teams 1st in the region and the women’s team 2nd in the region.

The Open team kicked off the term with a strong start in two warm up competitions in the lead up to Indoor Regional’s and Indoor Nationals. Having won Regional’s, Bears looked strong going into Nationals, which were held at the Alan Higgs Centre, Coventry. Bears finished 5th overall after Manchester University knocked them out of a spot in the semi finals in a very close, hard fought game.

Warwick took a staggering 3 teams to University Mixed Indoor Regionals, held again in Coventry and hosted by our very own Women’s Captain. The 1st team qualified in first place for Mixed Indoor Nationals. The second team just missed out on a qualifying spot for Div2 whilst the third team shocked everyone by winning the plate (9th), finishing higher than many other 1st and 2nd teams from across the region.

With a record number of female players in the club, Warwick Bears were able to take 2 teams to Women’s University Indoor Regional’s in Wolverhampton. This was held in the same venue as Club Indoor Regional’s, which the Open team used as a warm up competition for Nationals. The Open team came 3rd, with the 2nd place going to Bear Cavalry, an ex-Bears team. With all these Bears and ex-Bears in one venue the atmosphere during each game was electric, with all players cheering each other on. After a nail biting sudden death final, the women’s 1st team came 2nd to Fling (Nottingham). The second team went out to do their best and beat everyone’s expectation by finishing 7th above three 1st teams and Fling’s 2nd team.

The beginners this year have shown themselves already to be strong Frisbee players. In week 2, two beginner teams came to Loughborough Beginners, coming 7th and 24th. In week 3 another beginner team came second at Sussex beginners, losing in sudden death, having no subs due to injury. Beginners have played on the Women’s 2nd team and the Mixed 3rd team showing their worth to the club already. A few stars are already in the making for next year.

The most anticipated fun tournament of the year is, undoubtedly, WIndoors which was hosted on campus last weekend. Warwick Bears entered 5 teams to compete with 19 other teams from around the Midlands. The Warwick Bears 1st team beat a well experienced in a tense final. Many of the people playing at WIdoors are people who have now left the club but who keep coming back year after year to play with some old friends, as well as seeing how this year’s 1st team measures up to the golden oldies!

Next term, Warwick Bears have high hopes for taking home trophies in the outdoor season. After winning Mixed and Women’s, and the Open team coming 3rd, in Outdoor Nationals last year expectations are high for another fantastic year.