The showers were relentless on both competition days, but the players were even more unyielding in their desire to play. Once the lightning alert was lifted, they ran around on the muddy field, fighting tooth and nail for the top spot.
Group photo of local club Freakshow Singapore. Photo: Sport Singapore
A high-level ultimate frisbee tournament organised by local club Freakshow Singapore, Freakshow Invitationals 2018 provided an ideal platform for players seeking to accumulate competition experience, and work towards a larger objective of promoting the sport and its values.
The event was also used as a preparatory tournament by certain teams, including Freakshow Singapore and Australian side Friskee, who will represent their countries during this July’s 2018 World Ultimate Club Championships (WUCC).
Marking its second edition this year, the tournament was organised with the support of Tampines West CSC and ActiveSG, with ActiveSG providing the Kallang ActiveSG fields for the games.
Sharing more about Freakshow Invitationals 2018’s aims, Tournament Director Mark Ho said: “Apart from preparing for the WUCC, we want to spread the love for the sport [and] the community. We believe very much in spreading the sport and the values that it stands for.”
The tournament was organised with the support of Tampines West CSC and ActiveSG. Photo: Sport Singapore
The intense weekend of round robin competitions saw two overseas teams and four local ones battle it out for the title, with Friskee eventually taking first place.
A member of the winning squad, Cath O’Neill reflected on her team’s performance during the tournament: “We had quite a few close games and we fought back. There was a lot of hard running, and the teams were all really athletic. It’s good to match up against these players to get in the practice and experience. Playing such close games is also good not just physically but mentally. We get to take this mental strength into future games.”
Teammate Max Halden chimed in: “It’s quite a different style from what we’re used to – very fast-paced, a lot of different angles and options. We had to do a lot of adjusting. Tournaments with such high-quality opposition push you out of your comfort zone and better prepare you for the world stage.”
The Singaporean players, too, found the tournament to be an eye-opener, especially given how much larger the overseas players were physically.
“We’ve been put in situations that we’re not comfortable with. That’s the reason why we take part in competitions! We’re now growing as a team and learning more about each other than before,” noted Freakshow’s president Ben Ho, who also competed on the field.
Beyond that, the players – local and foreign alike – were united in their hopes to promote the sport and its values to the larger community, and to support the long-term dream of ultimate frisbee becoming an Olympic sport one day.
“I really hope this sport will be promoted not just as an activity for physical fitness, but also for its broader objectives and thrusts, to create a healthier community, spreading positive values to the population,” Mark expressed.
Competitors in action during the tournament. Photo: Sport Singapore
As Alicia Chua, a Freakshow player, explained: “I picked it up because it’s a mixed sport – something I found rare, especially given the physical nature of this sport. We all work together on the team, in spite of different speeds, strengths, and agility levels.”
“It’s also a self-refereeing sport that promotes integrity. You trust that each player is making what they think is the right call, and not based on any motivation to win,” she revealed.
With these positive experiences in mind, the Singapore ultimate frisbee community will continue working towards gaining official recognition locally, complete with National Sports Association status.