2007 President's Report

The highlights of 2007 have been numerous including hosting the
Southern Australian Ultimate Championships, the first Tasmanian
women's team to attend nationals, the Tiggers qualifying for
Nationals in a competitive region, the success of the elite
Tasmanian women ultimate players, the further development of two
divisions and the growth in our social league, the University of
Tasmania's success at AUG, the continued growth of the Two-Hat and
the introduction of more Tasmanian juniors to the sport through the
inaugural Gala Day.

Hobart Leagues:

2007 has seen further consolidation in ultimate in Hobart. Social
leagues continued outdoors in Autumn and indoors for winter league.
Summer league saw the last season of weekend A-League games in
Hobart (which complemented the weekday evening B-League games).
While the departure of A-League may be seen as a backward step, the
Spring league ran two separate divisions on the one evening (social
and div 1). This format produced enough interest for 6 teams in each
division, and problems finding enough field space (a much more
satisfying problem to deal with than problems finding sufficient
players).

This year saw some recycled league organisers coming back for more
(thanks to Aaron Pinkus, Matt Smith, Dave Cooke and Basil van Riet)
and some new league organisers, Jason de Puit and Masni Bennett, who
deserve much credit for successfully introducing two divisions to
Monday evening games. Thanks to Jeff Dunn for processing results for
TUA leagues. Thanks also to all the new players for coming along to
TUA social leagues to the old players for coming back for more!

Two-Hat:

Thanks to Matt Smith for directing his second highly successful
Two-Hat Tournament. Two-Hat IX was forced to move fields by sheer
weight of player numbers with a record breaking 67 players and 7
teams playing back at Wentworth Park on Hobart's eastern shore.
Two-Hat IX had excellent support from interstate players with our
first players from Newcastle and Brisbane, as well as good support
from players from Melbourne and Sydney.

Thanks to the following people for helping Matt to run the
tournament: Alysia Cullen; Shavawn Donoghue; Masni Bennet; Helena
Bilton; Joe Boyer; John Kristensen and James Bowe.

Southern Australian Ultimate Championships:

The TUA hosted a very successful Southern Australian Ultimate
Championships in March 2007 featuring 6 Open teams and 5 women's
teams, with 9 teams travelling from South Australia and Victoria to
attend. This tournament was the largest tournament ever held in
Tasmania, eclipsing both the famous Two-Hat and the Australian
Championships, last held in Tasmania in 1986 and 1989.

The Southern Australian Ultimate Championships featured the first
Tasmanian women's ultimate team, Bush, who qualified for nationals
at their first attempt, finishing 4th at this tournament and winning
the spirit prize in their first tournament. The Tassie Tiggers also
qualified for nationals by finishing in 5th place and securing a
wild card. Both teams finished above their seedings at this
tournament. Thanks to Ash Martens for putting her hand up and
running this tournament so successfully, and to Ash's band of
helpers (Matt Smith, Jeff Dunn, Chucky Wall, Mike Baker, Aaron Just,
Charlie Prevost and Paolo).

Australian Ultimate Championships

Having qualified for Nationals at home, the Tassie teams only had to
travel across Bass Strait once in 2007 to Nationals in Melbourne,
where Bush finished a creditable 11th place (seeded 13th) and the
Tassie Tiggers finished in 16th place. The Tiggers also reclaimed
the coveted Spirit prize at Nationals, last won by the Tiggers in
2003. Thanks to Tiggers captain John Kristensen and Bush co-captains
Shavawn Donoghue and Ash Martens for organising these teams.

Australian Mixed Ultimate Championships:

A Tasmanian team, LOG!, captained by Shavawn Donoghue travelled to
Sydney for Mixed Nationals in October 2007 and finished in a
creditable 15th place in this increasingly competitive tournament.

University of Tasmania Ultimate:

The University of Tasmania Ultimate Frisbee Club again sent a team
to the Australian University Games. This team was seeded 7th and
improved on this seeding to finish in 5th place, the highest ranking
for a Tasmanian team at a National tournament. Thanks to captain
Tania King for organising this team and congratulation to Tania and
Ash Martens who were both selected on the 2007 Green and Gold Merit
Team. The University also entered a team (based on their successful
AUG team) in Division 1 of Spring League.

Elite Players:

In July 2007, Shavawn Donoghue, Kate Godber, Ash Martens and Tania
King were selected for the Women's National Training camp and
Shavawn Donoghue, and Tania King played for Canberra and Kate Godber
and Ash Martens for Sultry in the National Ultimate Frisbee League
(NUFL) in 2007. Ashley Button played NUFL in the Open competition
for Heads of State. Ex-Tasmanian men, Mike Baker, Ian Warren and Tom
Caldwell were selected for the first Men's National Training camp.

These camps and leagues were the first step in the process of
selecting Australian teams for World Championships in 2008. The next
cut was the announcement of the Australian squads in October 2007,
which saw Shavawn Donoghue, Ash Martens and Tania King and
ex-Tasmanian Mike Baker all selected.

Schools Development:

Tania King initiated the first Gala Day held in Tasmania in November
2007, featuring ultimate players from 5 Tasmanian High Schools and a
band of TUA volunteer helpers. In addition to this gala day,
Tasmanian ultimate players helped run coaching sessions at
Collegiate and Rosetta High School during the year. The TUA was
sorry to see Tania return to Sydney at the end of 2007 chasing
employment opportunities, thank her for her efforts on behalf of the
TUA and wish her well with her continuing ultimate career.

Administration:

The TUA has strengthened its 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. This puts the TUA
in a strong position to continue development of the sport, by
supporting junior players, women's development, elite development
and increasing the ultimate playing opportunities in Hobart, ranging
from social to competitive. In addition, 2007 saw the TUA's first
successful grant application with $2100 awarded to spend on
equipment under the federal government's Volunteer Small Equipment
Grant scheme.

Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the TUA committee,
and others who attended TUA committee meetings, for helping to make
things happen. In particular I would like to thank Treasurer Shavawn
Donoghue for her continued work and John Kristensen and Joe Boyer
for stepping up into executive positions. I look forward to seeing
more people stepping up to help run ultimate in Tasmania in 2008.

Jemery Day.
TUA President