During 2012, Warriors attended countless outdoor tournaments and socials all over the country, each with their fair share of post-tournament shenanigans. Here is a sample of what we got up to…
January 2011 – Edinburgh tournament and céilidh (Scottish dancing!)
Warriors started 2011 with a bang – attending (and winning) the Edinburgh international korfball tournament, despite two nights of (fairly moderate…) drinking and having to battle not only fellow korfers and absolutely rotten hangovers.
A highlight of the yearly Edinburgh tournament is the traditional post-tournament “céilidh,” which is (according to Wikipedia) a “traditional Gaelic social gathering, which usually involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing,” although we would add “alcohol consumption” to that list.
Warriors will be returning the tournament at the end of January 2012 and cannot wait to both defend our title and dust off the old dancing shoes…
February 2011 – Bowling tournament (and night out), Parrs Wood, Didsbury
Bowling has become somewhat of a tradition for Warriors and we tend to descend upon a bowling alley somewhere in deepest darkest Manchester at least once a year for a bit of friendly competition and to see who knows their “chicken sandwiches” from their “grandma’s teeth” (ie none of us!).
By sheer coincidence, the bowling alleys tend to be a stone’s throw away from a number of local bars. Funny that.
The Dude was not impressed with Amy’s repeated gutter balls.
April 2011 – Champions Trophy and annual ball, Norwich
The Champions Trophy is an annual tournament that takes place in Norwich. The tournament was conceived in 2009 as a way of giving England’s top (local) korfball teams the opportunity to gain entry to the prestigious Haven Sports Korfball League (ie the winners get promoted).
Further details on the Champions Trophy can be found HERE.
More importantly, after the sports hall lights are switched off, all of the players don their tuxedos (and LBDs) for the annual ball that follows in the evening.
As well as serving as an awards ceremony of sorts – recognising the achievements of both individuals and teams during the past season – it is also an excuse for the teams to let their hair down, have a bit of a dance and wake up the next morning regretting the actions of the night before.
April 2011 – Cocktail master class, Mojo Bar, Manchester
Shortly after returning from the Champions Trophy, Warriors dusted down the old grey matter and attended a night school with a difference – the cocktail master class at Mojo Bar in Manchester.
The Mojo Bar website (www.mojobar.co.uk/masterclass) boldly claims that their regular master classes provide a “history of cocktails… and… the fascinating facts and stories” behind them.
This may very well be the case, but given that we were tasked with making our own rum-based cocktails for the majority of the night, turning a team of Warriors into a gaggle of giggling Jack Sparrows (”But why is the rum gone?!”), our only memories of the night have been pieced together through photographic evidence.
There was, however, one lesson that we did learn: leave cocktail making to the professionals in the future!
June 2011 – End of season awards night
Once each korfball season comes to an end, it has become tradition for Warriors to reflect on the individual and team achievements of the last twelve months or so.
As well as the typical “most improved, “best newcomer” and “MVP” awards, the focus of the night tends to be on the awards that count. After all, we all are dying to know who the “Ultimate Warrior” is and “Best Couple” are, eh? *
This is Howard. Howard is special.
* The answer to the latter was Jonesy and Fish (we have no idea where this nickname comes from either), in acknowledgment of their ever-blossoming and thoroughly heart-warming bromance.
The Happy Couple (TM)
November 2011 – Where’s Wally?
Missing the whole point of Where’s Wally (ie making it difficult to find him), a dozen Warriors Wallies arrived in Manchester city centre in early November 2011 to paint the town red (and white).
What we thought we looked like.
What we actually looked like.
November 2011 – Silver party
To celebrate our very own Jen’s twenty-fifth (silver) birthday, she challenged us all to don silver attire and head towards Didsbury. There was only going to be one outcome.
Whilst some people did not get the memo and were subsequently (and rightly) attacked with silver face paint and glitter sticks (read: Fish), the night involved tinsel, wigs, copious amounts of white spirits and in one case (which we are considering reporting to the fashion police), sequins.
He’s sexy and he knows it.
December 2011 – Christmas social
The Warriors returned to Southern Eleven for their Christmas social, which (controversially) fell on a Sunday… leading some of the more hardened Warriors to book Monday off work and celebrate the extra day’s holiday with a well earned cocktail session.
And that was the last time that Santa got invited to a social.
The field of play
Shooting and defending shots
Penalties
