Bulf a l'eau 2006
Every year the summer slowly arrives on our doorstep and we smile at the thought of pulling on tight speedos, tighter wifebeaters and getting involved with cheap foreign beer. Then suddenly we realised we don't have to wait til June for fun in the sun, or do we??
Last weekend ten brave Sperms descended (at pace and from a height) on the city of Marsielles to play in the 1st ever 'Bulf a l'eau' tournament organised by the Fleuvais Ultimate team. It was a 2-day, 12 team affair and each team was limited to a maximum of 10 players. We got to the suburb where the tourny was to be held and checked into the aubergine for the next 3 days. Every one of us was nursing a hangover, underslept or half-cut so we decided to get dinner, play pool and start boozing. The banter was mighty even on the very first night as we got into the swing of being in a city with cheap beer and cheaper food. We left the hostel when the bar closed and JD bought the 1st 10 person round of the weekend - a huge team play that would be followed by 19 more similar ones! :)
So off to the 'welcome party'. We'd heard there was a beach party with free food so to arrive to the beach (in a gale) and find about 15 people huddled in a restaurant was a bit disappointing but with sangria at €1, punch at €1.50, beer at €2 and free paella complaints were at a premium. Soon the drinking games began with Grand Old Duke of York followed by Never Have I Ever and so on. The night was a fun one remembered best for the team getting on as famously as ever, for Fishbox drinking more sangria than most of Spain, for the teamplay rounds beginning, for damn tasty paella, for Mister Kebab's incredible food (a steal at but €5) and for the banter that was inevitable as soon as we all stepped on a plane from Dublin.
As usual getting up for breakfast by 8.45am was a struggle but we all made it, in some shape or form (except luan 'dont talk to me before 11am' mckenna) . Myself and Yiv went to score the first match of the day and it was only then we realised how bad the weather actually was. The wind was blowing the length of the beach, and making the pitches upwind downwind so teams were slapping on big zones and throwing anything they could into the wind. It wasnt quite Ultimate Rugby but not far off. The Belgian team Freeezbeeez of Brugges and the Pick-Up team were finding it tough. Soon the rest of the team arrived and we threw then faced our first match.
In our 6 team pool we'd been given Monkey Foo from Grenoble, Wizards from Geneva, Disterics from Girona, Friselis from Versailles and finally, Shifty and Fraser's mates, Ziggles from Montpellier. First up were Monkey Foo who we beat 7-1 in a fun game. The wind forced us to throw lots of upwind swill but the zone meant we weren't running as much as we would have playing man - much to everyone's delight! We all started well with the handlers throwing strongly and the likes of niall and yiv running hard behind the cup. We also divided into two lines which was an ESIS first and it ended up working really well. We had a 2 game break so we went and got some foof on board and a few lunch time beers too.
The next game was always going to be the tough one of the group, against an experienced Wizards team. They had throwers and know how but in the end our willingness to take more risks upwind, our hard zone and pesky youth won through as we closed out a hard fought and highly spirited game 5-1. Big Gay was beginning to score more and luan and softy caused good trouble all around the pitch. Another break, another teamplay round and then back to play the young Disterics team. They found it really hard against the wind and as we were beginning to get used to it the score ended up 11-1. They were probably the most spirited team we played and made the party great craic. Given they'd only be playing for less than 2 years they were happy just to play! One last game off, one more beer and then we played Friselis who some one had told us were recently crowned Indoor French Champions (although,as their captain told us the team we played wasnty half as good as the team that won!) so were intruiged. They had two very strong throwers and one in particular seemed to get a lot of breaks but we wore them down with the aggressive cup and some excellent upwind play, especially from Doc Flannagan. JD and myself were getting more adventurous with a few hammers thrown in for good measure :) Not to be outdone, Fi and Kiely were catching the swill lashed at them!
So, with 4 games won and only 4 points conceded we ran to the boozer for Ireland vs Scotland and brought half the teams we'd played with us! Rounds aplenty, a quality win and off home for more mischief. On the way we paid a customary visit to Mister Kebab and dropped in to say hello to the Boss too. 10 Kronembourg for €6, hmm - yes please. Showers and all that followed before we started getting into the stride for the Saturday night party. We dressed Hawaiian and played the evil 'Pirates Cove' game. Luan was the loser, Rob swabbed the deck and i got messy. The game was quality but nothing but a hint of what was to happen that night! We brough booze to the party, got a big seafood meal when we arrived and soon the Belgians, French and Spanish were all up dancing with us, singing and even ceili-dancing!The night was colourful, very messy and dancy.Everyone had great craic and the photos are hilarious.Fi was Fridays mess and I was Saturdays.Whipping contests,goosing,froosing,deucing and much more.Just what we wanted from the night.A cheeky kebab and home to enjoy the Belgian generosity.
It was Sunday morning at a breakfast I'd just about struggled to make when things got strange.An emergency captains meeting was called and the T.D. informed us that the tourny was now over! There was a storm and the high winds were preventing the restaurant to open, the pitches to be marked out and in turn, ant Ultimate from being played so that was it. Nedless to say we were gutted. For the first time,not that anyone had dared to say it, we felt like we could get to a final at a European tournament. It wasnt to be though. We were awarded the Spirit prize which more than made up for it! A cool bag with t-shirts for everyone, a disc and even some French comics made us smile. Back to bed til lunch then we wandered down town where we got blown to bits and saw France demolish England. We laid bets on anything from the next lineout to the final score and it made a one-sided game hilariously funny.
After that it was to the aubergine via the Boss for supper and a huge game of Kings. More madness, especially when the Mental Disc crew arrived and began drinking from shoes and stuff. Dares, truths and naked rules gave us all a good laugh. After the previous few days it was all too much so a lot of us faded but apparently a few harder Sperms made it til 4am teaching the Belgians Pikey Speak, of course.
A long but fun journey home via bus, metro, plane and Gatwick had a few highlights - Fishbox's giddiness, the Belgians disc getting parked on, JD booking a flight home for the following day, being informed over the airport tannoy 'All customers are advised that playing Frisbee is not allowed in the Terminal' and the huge feed in Yates (less memorable for Niall who was food poioned!). Another great weekend spent with great people making great memories.
MVP - Oisin
MSP - Marko
Last weekend ten brave Sperms descended (at pace and from a height) on the city of Marsielles to play in the 1st ever 'Bulf a l'eau' tournament organised by the Fleuvais Ultimate team. It was a 2-day, 12 team affair and each team was limited to a maximum of 10 players. We got to the suburb where the tourny was to be held and checked into the aubergine for the next 3 days. Every one of us was nursing a hangover, underslept or half-cut so we decided to get dinner, play pool and start boozing. The banter was mighty even on the very first night as we got into the swing of being in a city with cheap beer and cheaper food. We left the hostel when the bar closed and JD bought the 1st 10 person round of the weekend - a huge team play that would be followed by 19 more similar ones! :)
So off to the 'welcome party'. We'd heard there was a beach party with free food so to arrive to the beach (in a gale) and find about 15 people huddled in a restaurant was a bit disappointing but with sangria at €1, punch at €1.50, beer at €2 and free paella complaints were at a premium. Soon the drinking games began with Grand Old Duke of York followed by Never Have I Ever and so on. The night was a fun one remembered best for the team getting on as famously as ever, for Fishbox drinking more sangria than most of Spain, for the teamplay rounds beginning, for damn tasty paella, for Mister Kebab's incredible food (a steal at but €5) and for the banter that was inevitable as soon as we all stepped on a plane from Dublin.
As usual getting up for breakfast by 8.45am was a struggle but we all made it, in some shape or form (except luan 'dont talk to me before 11am' mckenna) . Myself and Yiv went to score the first match of the day and it was only then we realised how bad the weather actually was. The wind was blowing the length of the beach, and making the pitches upwind downwind so teams were slapping on big zones and throwing anything they could into the wind. It wasnt quite Ultimate Rugby but not far off. The Belgian team Freeezbeeez of Brugges and the Pick-Up team were finding it tough. Soon the rest of the team arrived and we threw then faced our first match.
In our 6 team pool we'd been given Monkey Foo from Grenoble, Wizards from Geneva, Disterics from Girona, Friselis from Versailles and finally, Shifty and Fraser's mates, Ziggles from Montpellier. First up were Monkey Foo who we beat 7-1 in a fun game. The wind forced us to throw lots of upwind swill but the zone meant we weren't running as much as we would have playing man - much to everyone's delight! We all started well with the handlers throwing strongly and the likes of niall and yiv running hard behind the cup. We also divided into two lines which was an ESIS first and it ended up working really well. We had a 2 game break so we went and got some foof on board and a few lunch time beers too.
The next game was always going to be the tough one of the group, against an experienced Wizards team. They had throwers and know how but in the end our willingness to take more risks upwind, our hard zone and pesky youth won through as we closed out a hard fought and highly spirited game 5-1. Big Gay was beginning to score more and luan and softy caused good trouble all around the pitch. Another break, another teamplay round and then back to play the young Disterics team. They found it really hard against the wind and as we were beginning to get used to it the score ended up 11-1. They were probably the most spirited team we played and made the party great craic. Given they'd only be playing for less than 2 years they were happy just to play! One last game off, one more beer and then we played Friselis who some one had told us were recently crowned Indoor French Champions (although,as their captain told us the team we played wasnty half as good as the team that won!) so were intruiged. They had two very strong throwers and one in particular seemed to get a lot of breaks but we wore them down with the aggressive cup and some excellent upwind play, especially from Doc Flannagan. JD and myself were getting more adventurous with a few hammers thrown in for good measure :) Not to be outdone, Fi and Kiely were catching the swill lashed at them!
So, with 4 games won and only 4 points conceded we ran to the boozer for Ireland vs Scotland and brought half the teams we'd played with us! Rounds aplenty, a quality win and off home for more mischief. On the way we paid a customary visit to Mister Kebab and dropped in to say hello to the Boss too. 10 Kronembourg for €6, hmm - yes please. Showers and all that followed before we started getting into the stride for the Saturday night party. We dressed Hawaiian and played the evil 'Pirates Cove' game. Luan was the loser, Rob swabbed the deck and i got messy. The game was quality but nothing but a hint of what was to happen that night! We brough booze to the party, got a big seafood meal when we arrived and soon the Belgians, French and Spanish were all up dancing with us, singing and even ceili-dancing!The night was colourful, very messy and dancy.Everyone had great craic and the photos are hilarious.Fi was Fridays mess and I was Saturdays.Whipping contests,goosing,froosing,deucing and much more.Just what we wanted from the night.A cheeky kebab and home to enjoy the Belgian generosity.
It was Sunday morning at a breakfast I'd just about struggled to make when things got strange.An emergency captains meeting was called and the T.D. informed us that the tourny was now over! There was a storm and the high winds were preventing the restaurant to open, the pitches to be marked out and in turn, ant Ultimate from being played so that was it. Nedless to say we were gutted. For the first time,not that anyone had dared to say it, we felt like we could get to a final at a European tournament. It wasnt to be though. We were awarded the Spirit prize which more than made up for it! A cool bag with t-shirts for everyone, a disc and even some French comics made us smile. Back to bed til lunch then we wandered down town where we got blown to bits and saw France demolish England. We laid bets on anything from the next lineout to the final score and it made a one-sided game hilariously funny.
After that it was to the aubergine via the Boss for supper and a huge game of Kings. More madness, especially when the Mental Disc crew arrived and began drinking from shoes and stuff. Dares, truths and naked rules gave us all a good laugh. After the previous few days it was all too much so a lot of us faded but apparently a few harder Sperms made it til 4am teaching the Belgians Pikey Speak, of course.
A long but fun journey home via bus, metro, plane and Gatwick had a few highlights - Fishbox's giddiness, the Belgians disc getting parked on, JD booking a flight home for the following day, being informed over the airport tannoy 'All customers are advised that playing Frisbee is not allowed in the Terminal' and the huge feed in Yates (less memorable for Niall who was food poioned!). Another great weekend spent with great people making great memories.
MVP - Oisin
MSP - Marko
posted by Broccoli Ultimate at 3:03 PM
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