Blaze, Stirling University’s Ultimate Frisbee club, won a silver medal at the Scottish University Men’s Indoor Regionals (UMIR) securing a spot at nationals for 2024.
Over the weekend of the 11 of November, the players competed in a thrilling two-day tournament in Dundee, winning six out of seven matches.
The team consisted of a mix of experienced players and freshers who only started playing the sport in September.
Blaze’s highlights from the tournament
Blaze started Saturday with a solid 13-0 win against St Andrews 3s, displaying their great defensive skills.
The team played against Glasgow 1s in their second match, winning 9-5.
This was followed by Stirling facing off St Andrews 1s, one of Scotland’s most competitive teams, with an incredible 7-4 victory.
Blaze carried on their momentum against Aberdeen 1s, wrapping up an exceptional first day with an 11-6 win.
Sunday kicked off with a close battle against Edinburgh 2s, where Stirling secured an 8-7 victory.
Despite the next match being won 8-7 by St Andrews 1s, it did not undermine Blaze’s enormous dedication and stamina.
With a solid performance against Glasgow 1s, scoring 10-6, the team regained their winning streak during the day’s third game.
The final match of the tournament witnessed a showdown between St Andrews 1s and Blaze, with the Blaze men emerging victorious in a hard-fought 9-7 battle.
An Extraordinary Performance
Despite only having trained together for a few weeks, the players demonstrated remarkable teamwork, establishing themselves as the second-best team in Scotland.
Ronan Kelly, men’s co-captain, said: ‘It was an incredible weekend. The chemistry from the team was off the charts.’
About the freshers’ performance, men’s co-captain Daniel Ewen said, that they ‘absolutely outdid themselves’, showed ‘impeccable professionalism’ and ‘repaid [the captains’] trust tenfold, with just every play and every movement.’
As a result of their impressive performance, Blaze has earned a spot in the “University Men’s and Women’s Indoor Nationals” (UMWIN) scheduled in London for February 2024. They will compete in Division 1, playing against the best British university teams.
Joining Stirling in the Division 1 category is Edinburgh 1s who won the weekend’s tournament.
Featured image: Blaze – Stirling University Ultimate Frisbee Club
