Tasmanian Ultimate Association
2008 President's Report

In 2008 Tasmanian Ultimate had some fantastic results with multiple
reps playing on Australian teams at the World Championships, some
consolidation of previous good achievements, some growth and a
couple of minor setbacks.

The highlights in 2008 were dominated by Tasmanian women, with the
performance of the Tasmanian women's team, Bush, at Nationals, and
the selection of two Tasmanian women to Australian teams playing at
the World Championships in 2008. To balance these results from elite
women players, two young men represented Australia on the Junior
Open team as well.

The Tasmanian open team, the Tassie Tiggers, were unable to get a
team to the Southern Australian Ultimate Championships, hence ending
a proud six year run of Tasmanian Open teams attending National
Championships. The inaugural schools Gala Day held in 2007 was
unable to be repeated in 2008 and, due to a lack of available
players, the University of Tasmania Ultimate team was also unable to
form a team for the Australian University Games in 2008.

To continue with some highlights, 2008 marks eight years of
continuous leagues in Hobart and the 10th year of the Tasmanian
Two-Hat Ultimate Tournament. The TUA also supported three of the
five Tasmanian juniors (Eliza Burke-Polden, Steve Wright and Michael
Dunne) to attend the National Juniors training camp in January.
Shannon Trenwith also received a development grant to attend the
National Women's Pathway Development Camp.


Hobart Leagues:

2008 has seen continuation of two divisions in the Monday night
leagues in Spring and Summer with between four and six teams in each
division. Autumn and Winter leagues were moved to a weekend time
slot and a much improved indoor venue, the Aurora Sports Stadium,
and featured a record eight teams in Autumn.

This year saw previous league organisers coming back for more
(thanks to Joe Boyer, Dave Cooke, John Kristensen, Matt Smith and
Basil van Riet). Thanks to Jeff Dunn for processing results for TUA
leagues again and to all the new players for coming along to TUA
social leagues, with special mentions to Shannon Trenwith and Emily
Campbell for each bringing a team of new players to social league in
Spring!


Two-Hat:

Thanks to Matt Smith for directing his third highly successful
Two-Hat Tournament. The Two-Hat X was forced to move fields once
again, moving this time to the fields on Cornelian Bay. This
required a little more infrastructure with the hiring of portaloos
and shade tents being required. The Two-Hat also moved to a two day
format for the first time ever. Unfortunately this move coincided
with the smallest percentage of interstate players since the
inaugural Two-Hat - perhaps mainlanders can't handle playing two
days in Hobart's October heat? The number of Tasmanian players has
increased in each of the last four Two-Hats, so at least the locals
were not deterred by the two day format.

Thanks to the following people for helping Matt to run the
tournament: Alysia Cullen; Shavawn Donoghue; Joe Boyer; John
Kristensen; Mike Baker; Ash Martens; Tracey Coetzee; Stew Wilde,
Charlie Prevost; and Pat Dunne.


Southern Australian Ultimate Championships:

Due to an unfortunate alignment of stars, an early registration
deadline (just prior to the regular arrival of North American
university students) and the lack of availability of some key senior
players, the Tassie Tiggers were unable to get a team to the
Southern Australian Ultimate Championships in 2008.

While the women's team, Bush, faced similar problems, they did
manage to get a small team to Adelaide to the Southern Australian
Ultimate Championships and qualified in very hot conditions by
finishing 4th out of the 5 teams from this region, having come into
the tournament seeded 5th. Thanks to Shavawn Donoghue for running
this team.


Australian Ultimate Championships:

Having qualified for Nationals in Adelaide, Bush, had to travel
across Bass Strait once again in 2008 to play Nationals in Coffs
Harbour, where they finished a very impressive 7th place (seeded
12th). Thanks to Bush captain Shavawn Donoghue for organising this
team.

The Tiggers didn't have enough bounce to play Nationals, failing to
get a team to the qualifying tournament, ending a six year streak of
Tasmanian teams playing nationals in the Open division.


Australian Mixed Ultimate Championships:

A Tasmanian team, LOG!, captained by Shavawn Donoghue and with
coaching assistance from Basil van Riet, travelled to Brisbane for
Mixed Nationals in October 2008 and finished 22nd. Congratulations
to Shavawn Donoghue for winning the Female Most Valuable Player
award at this tournament.


University of Tasmania Ultimate:

Lunch time pickup games continued in 2008 at the University of
Tasmania, with fluctuating numbers at times, but returning to a
games twice a week for some of the year.


Elite players:

In August 2008, four Tasmanian players played on Australian
representative teams at the World Ultimate and Guts Championships.
Congratulations to: Eliza Burke-Polden, who played for Southern
Terra, the Australian Junior Women's team, spirit winners and second
overall; Ash Martens who played for the Firetails, fourth overall,
the Australian Women's team; and Ashley Button and Michael Dunne who
played for Aussie Thunder, the Australian Junior Open team, 6th
overall.

The TUA also provided development grants to four Tasmanian players
in 2008, supporting juniors and women in particular, to attend
National training and development camps.


Administration:

The TUA has maintained a strong financial position thanks to the
work of Shavawn Donoghue as treasurer and due to the number of well
run TUA tournaments and leagues throughout the year.

Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the TUA committee,
and those who attended TUA committee meetings and helped run leagues
and tournaments, for helping to make things happen. In particular I
would like to thank Treasurer Shavawn Donoghue for her continued
work, John Kristensen in his role as Vice-President and as acting
President for several months in 2008 and Joe Boyer for his role as
Secretary.

Joe Boyer is stepping down from his role as Secretary in 2009 after
two years in the job. I would like to offer special thanks to Joe
for his work as Secretary, as the TUA youth development officer and
as a consultant for team selections and draws for tourneys and
leagues, as well as his other contributions to Tasmanian Ultimate. I
hope that Joe will continue to be able to contribute to the
association, albeit in a lesser role. I look forward to seeing more
people stepping up to help run ultimate in Tasmania in 2009.



Jemery Day.
TUA President