CITy UPDATE – London, ON
London calling
From the Clash to official
not-for-profit organization,
big changes abound
BY CHRISTINA NURSE
THIS PAST YEAR has been the TSN turning
point for Ultimate frisbee in London, Ontario.
Based on the foundation built by an enthusiastic
Ultimate player and coach Devin (Hanes) Somers,
who formed London Ultimate Club (LUC) in
2006, LUC became an official not-for-profit and
a seven person board was formed this year.
With the conception of the board came a louder
voice. An indoor winter league was organized for gave many London players their first experience year, traveled Ontario gaining valuable
the first time, but the real increase in players of playing 3-4 games in one day. experience and making LUC’s summer and fall
happened in the summer. Launched with LUC’s The year celebrated the fifth anniversary of leagues more competitive.
first AGM, the summer league, which is played London Calling. Devin Somers and Jill London is the home of the University of
on the wonderfully groomed Beuermann host this Ultimate tournament Western Ontario whose team includes very
St. George’s Rugby Club fields in on the second weekend of August. talented men and women players from
the east end of the city, grew The tournament is named after the competitive teams across Canada such as TFP,
from eight teams in 2007 to 1979 album by the Clash and Goat, Dirt, and the Canadian Junior team. At
13 teams in 2008. This attracts teams and players from University Easterns this fall in Montreal, the
allowed the board to offer a Ann Arbor to Ottawa. After this men’s A team lost its first game in the finals of
two-tier league, recreational year’s tournament, food was the tournament to Toronto. The women’s team
and competitive. The donated to the Unity Project, for placed third – their best result ever! With a
summer league also offered relief of homelessness in young team and LUC support, next year promises
half hour clinics before each London. to be even better.
game for those who wanted to LUC’s community involvement LUC has had an impressive year and with the
improve their skills. The highly skilled continued with several Ultimate women advent of our 2009 winter league where we
and entertaining Tawnya Jackson, who was one hosting an evening with Big Sisters, teaching experienced a waiting list of teams to play, we
of the London representatives attending Nationals Little Sisters the game basics. The social can proudly say Ultimate is alive and well in
in Calgary, playing with PPF, taught these clinics. committee hosted a fall Ultimate charity hat London, Ontario. »U
Through the board, a social committee was tournament. LUC raised approximately $200
formed because let’s face it, socializing and for My Sister’s Place, a support centre for
Ultimate drink well together. The social homeless women. LUC is also involved in London
committee organized a cups tournament, pub and surrounding area schools assisting in
crawl, and a fantastic end of summer league teaching Ultimate to students.
party that challenged each team to present an For the second year, London supported two
appropriate trophy to a team drawn from a hat. touring teams. Druid is a co-ed team lead by a
A foot high stack of spray-painted gold pancakes core of experienced tournament players who
was presented to the team that was “stacked.” are always eager to train those who are willing
The fall league also showed an incredible to learn how to drink like a sailor, wake up the
increase in registration, doubling the number of next morning, play 4 games of Ultimate, and do
teams from last fall and as a result, LUC could it all over again the next night. No need for
afford to play week nights on city fields under initiation when surviving an Ultimate tournament
lights, as opposed to Saturday afternoons. The is a challenge in itself.
season ended with a one day tournament that GLOW, London’s women’s team, for its second
10 Ultimate Canada Magazine — www.canadianultimate.com
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