Editor/Writer: Hazard
Additional proofreading: Nick, Hurley
With UK Club Nationals coming up, it felt like a good time to write a small explainer to help everyone follow along with the results.
Nationals has undergone a few changes previously.
Most significantly, it now consists only of 8 UK teams in each division!
There's no Irish teams for the first time since 2016 (not including 2021), and each division now comprises only 8 teams.
Also, there is now a Division 2 in Leicester for Mixed and Open. I'll cover that briefly too.
Alright, let's go over the basics.
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What - UKU Club Nationals (Mixed, Women's, Open divisions)
When - 6/7 July 2024
Where - Highfields Sports Complex, University of Nottingham, UK, NG7 2PS
Schedule? - Here (Pitch 1 are the streamed games)
Streaming? - For free on YouTube through ulti.tv (click on the "live" tab)
Saturday Streamed games:
9am - SMASH'D vs Alba (Open)
10:50 - Lemmings vs Reading (Mixed)
12:40 - SYC vs SMOG (Women's)
14:30 - Bristol vs SMOG (Open)
16:20 - HECK vs BN1 (Mixed)
Sunday Streamed Games:
9am: - Women's Semi-Final
10:40 - Mixed Semi-Final
12:20 - Women's Final
14:00 - Open Final
15:40 - Mixed Final
Who is there, and how did they qualify?
Open and Mixed teams qualified through two regional tournaments (North and South).
The following teams will be at Nationals (North/South qualifiers shown as N/S, along with last year's results and the approximate team geographic base). I'll also include teams which have been present at multiple previous consecutive Nationals that aren't attending this year.
Mixed
1. Deep Space (1st, S, London)
2. Lemmings (2nd, N, Leamington)
3. Heck (New, N, Edinburgh)
4. Reading (4th, S, Reading)
5. GUX (5th, N, Glasgow)
6. BN1 (6th, S, Brighton)
7. Thundering Herd (8th, S, London)
8. Newcastle Brown (New, N, Newcastle)
Notable absentees - SMOG (3rd last year, Northern team focussing on Open/Women's this year), Oxford (9th last year, Division 2 this year)
Women's
1. Iceni (1st, London)
2. Bristol (2nd, Bristol)
3. LMU (3rd, LMU - London Masters Ultimate)
4. SYC (6th, London)
5. SMOG (New, Durham/Manchester)
6. Spice (4th, Midlands)
7. Horizon (9th, Yorkshire)
8. Chameleons (10th, Non-geo)
Notable absentees - SCRAM (7th last year, Scottish team which appears to have disbanded)
Open
1. Chevron Action Flash (1st, N, Nuneaton-ish)
2. Clapham (2nd, S, London)
3. Bristol (6th, S, Bristol)
4. Alba (3rd, N, Scotland)
5. SMASH'D (4th, S, London)
6. SMOG (New, N, Durham/Manchester)
7. LLLeeds (New, N, Leeds)
8. Ka-Pow! (10th, S, London)
Notable absentees - Reading (12th last year, Division 2 this year)
Previous UKU Nationals results (I actually had to dig a bit for these, I was also settling an argument)
2023
2022
2021
2020 (did not occur due to reasons mostly outside of UKU control)
2019
2018
2017
2016 (Mixed/Women's/Open)
2015 (Mixed/Women's/Open)
2014 (Mixed/Women's/Open)
2013 (Mixed/Women's/Open/Masters)
2010 (Women's/Open)
Tournament Structure
Each division has the same format.
2x pools of 4 team
Semi finals (1-4 and 5-8)
Finals
Each team will only play 5 games in total, and must finish top two in their group for a chance at progressing
European qualification is no longer decided directly at Nationals, and so there will be no additional cross-games.
Interesting stories
Overall, the absence of the Irish team has to be the most notable change since previous years. There have been several strong Irish women's teams Gravity/FLAME/Rebel), with Gravity winning the division in 2019! Ranelagh, PELT, and XVI have been mainstays of the open division, however 3rd was the highest any team managed (Ranelagh in 2019, PELT in 2017). There have been Irish mixed teams, with Rebel achieving 2nd in 2018 the only notable finish I could find (I think it's fair to say the focus was more on Open/Women's). While they weren't there in 2021, this will be the first time since the 2015-16 season to have a full season with a UK-only Nationals.
The shrinking of the divisions to 8 teams is also a new change. Again, in 2021 each division only had 8 teams. However, this was expanded for both 2022 and 2023 (12 in open/mixed, 10 in women's). Last year also saw the first ever Division 2 Nationals (open-only), which has been expanded to included mixed this year, and seems to signal a permanent change in Nationals going forward.
Moving onto the more specific stories in each division. I will include predictions, but being honest, I am very out of the loop with how teams are looking this year (particularly in the Women's division) so please do not view it as an informed opinion - I just know the article is more fun if I include them. Plus, with only 8 teams in a division, how wrong can I really be?
Mixed
Last time: SMOG had been mixed champion for three Nationals in a row (2019, 2021, 2022). They had also won their regional final fairly comfortably against Lemmings (11-6). In the southern region, Reading had overcome Deep Space (14-11). The 2022 final was also Reading vs SMOG, and everyone kind of expected it would be again. As a result, both the semi-finals being the exact opposite results of the regional finals (Lemmings 15-9 SMOG, Deep Space 12-8 Reading) was not the kind of upset anyone had on the cards. Deep Space then won the final 12-7, and proved it wasn't a fluke by winning EUCF as well.
SMOG have been part of the mixed division since 2016, so their absence (and SMOG 2's absence) sees a chance for a non-Reading/Deep Space/Lemmings team to make top 4, something that hasn't happened since 2018!
Heck beat fellow Scottish team GUX in the only notable regional upset. This makes them by far the highest debutant team at Nationals, and in a great position to make semi-finals (considering the format), although BN1 might prove an interesting challenge.
The big teams in the division though are definitely Lemmings, Reading, and Deep Space. All previous finalists, with Reading and Deep Space both previous winners. Deep Space have the easier group, but Lemmings/Reading can both earn an easier semi-final if they top their pool.
Thundering Herd also continue to uphold their reputation as one of the most historic clubs in the division. They've attended almost every Nationals in the modern format (except 2017/2019), including a top-2 finish in the first year (2012). Interesting, that was also the year that Newcastle Brown last made an appearance mixed Nationals (although they did represent in the open division last year).
Prediction
1. Deep Space
2. Reading
3. Lemmings
4. BN1
5. GUX
6. Heck
7. Newcastle Brown
8. Thundering Herd
Women's
Last time: After only finishing 5th in 2022, Iceni returned to their former selves by going undefeated and beating Bristol 13-10 in the final. It was actually a pool rematch, in fact with all three top teams coming from the same pool (the other team being 2022 winners LMU).
It is probably worth noting that the only teams in three years to get any Ws against Iceni/LMU/Bristol are Gravity and SYC (both vs Bristol, 2022). Iceni/LMU/Bristol have also won the last three championships, and come into this tournament as top 3 seeds again. It feels like we have a top 3 in UK women's Ultimate right now. However, the new SMOG women's team will prove a new challenge for them this year, as it contains many former mixed National champions.
Spice/SYC have been on the heels of the others for many years now (at least, as far as UK Nationals are concerned - they finished as the highest UK Women's teams at WUCC 2022). Both teams have been consistent Nationals contenders since their founding. Neither team has ever finished below 6th, although neither team has claimed the title either - although SYC did make the final in 2017 and 2014.
Horizon and Chameleons wrap up the list. Horizon has attended the last two Nationals and had close games against the teams just above them while comfortably beating the team below. They've not quite been able to break into that tier yet, but will certainly be looking to keep it competitive across the bracket. Chameleons also entered last year, although they serve more as an accessible open-to-all team and so will be looking to pick up their first win this year.
Prediction
1. Iceni
2. LMU
3. SMOG
4. Bristol
5. SYC
6. Spice
7. Horizon
8. Chameleons
Open
Last time: There's only one real story that can headline. Chevron Action Flash won the final 12-11, upsetting a decades-long Clapham reign. As far back as the rankings go, you can find Clapham's name at the top, and also Chevron's name in second place most of the time (with occasional appearances of Alba, Fire, and Leeds). Chevron have been fighting for the championship for the longest time and, last year, they finally achieved it. It is worth noting that Clapham then won EUCF last year, but regardless, the UK Nationals streak was broken.
So, this time, Clapham are likely out to get it back. They'll have to see off Alba (who made the 2022 final), SMASH'D (who've finished top 5 for three years running), and Leeds (who make their first Nationals since 2018).
Chevron have Bristol (who managed to upset Ranelagh in the pool stages last year), the new SMOG open team (again, containing many mixed National champions), and Ka-Pow! (who peaked at 4th in 2016).
The fight for top 4 of SMASH'D vs Alba and SMOG vs Bristol are likely to be the highlights of the Saturday, although there's always a chance for a Leeds/Ka-Pow! upset (ed's note - I am playing for Leeds and previously played for Ka-Pow!).
The hot money is on a Chevron vs Clapham rematch this year, especially considering Chevron beat Alba 15-6 in their regional final. Don't count out the other teams but, if it happens again, expect both teams to be going for it with everything.
Prediction
1. Clapham
2. Chevron
3. Alba
4. Bristol
5. SMASH'D
6. SMOG
7. Ka-Pow!
8. Leeds
Division 2
Tournament Info? - Here
Location: University of Leicester Sports Ground, Leicester, UK, LE2 4DS
Schedule? - Here
2023 Results? - Here
After its debut last year with just an open division, the Division 2 championship returns with a mixed division as well!
Mixed
1. Flyght (11th Div 1, N, Nottingham)
2. Sheffield Steal (New, N, Sheffield)
3. Oxford (9th Div 1, S, Oxford)
4. GUXYZ (New, N, Glasgow - GUX 2nd team)
5. Thundering Herd 2 (New, S, London)
6. Contested (New, N, non-geo)
Interestingly, 4 of the eligible Northern mixed teams took up the call but only 2 of the eligible southern ones, with Solent and Zoo (who finished above Oxford and TH2) not attending. However, it is the first year of the division and all teams here finished ahead of at least three other teams in their region.
Flyght and Oxford suffer from the shrinking of Division 1 to find themselves in Division 2 this year - with Oxford part of the upper division since 2021 (finishing 6th/5th/9th). However, Flyght were the team with better results at regionals, only narrowly missing out 10-7 vs GUX on a place in Division 1. Steal also only lost 11-8 vs Newcastle Brown. Flyght then handily dispatched Steal 15-5, emphatically earning their top seed here.
TH2 and GUXYZ both form second-teams to help expand out the division - potentially giving value to the tournament as a space to allow clubs to grow bigger. Contested are more of a "friend-team", but fill out the tournament after a decent regional performance. It is worth noting that Brum-ish (a Birmingham/Some team mix) finished below Contested and GUXYZ, but did play both teams twice and won/lost against both teams, just in the wrong order for final placement.
The tournament will be a single 6-team pool, followed by a final 1 vs 2 game. I will be accused of bias if I predict Oxford first, so please appreciate the restraint I'm showing here.
Predictions
1. Flyght
2. Oxford
3. Sheffield Steal
4. Thundering Herd 2
5. GUXYZ
6. Contested
Open
1. Solent (7th Div 2, S, Southampton)
2. Manchester (4th Div 2, N, Manchester)
3. Lemmings (2nd Div 2, N, Leamington)
4. Fire of London (3rd Div 2, S, London)
5. Devon (1st Div 2, S, Devon)
6. Cambridge (8th Div 2, N, Cambridge)
7. EDI (5th Div 2, N, Edinburgh)
8. Reading (12th Div 1, S, Reading)
9. Bristol 2 (New, S, Bristol)
10. Sheffield Steal (6th Div 2, N, Sheffield)
Interestingly, only one team drops down into Div 2 from last year (Reading), and only one brand new team joins the crew (Bristol 2). The division stays at 10-teams strong, with a lot of repetition from last year. Surprisingly, no team from last year made the jump to Div 1 either, although that might be more due to the "Leeds" team last year (Yorkshire Ultimate) declining a spot in Division 2. Additionally, only one team from each region declined a spot this year (Newcastle and Brighton), indicating teams are now factoring in Division 2 as part of their yearly plans.
Solent and Fire were both sudden-death losses away from making Div 1 this year (11-12 vs SMASH'D and 10-11 vs Ka-Pow! respectively), meaning both teams have to be favourites in Division 2 - especially Solent who later beat Fire 14-9 in the final seeding game. Additionally, Devon only lost 10-11 to SMASH'D in the group stages. In contrast in the north, Manchester lost 11-15 to Leeds and 7-10 to SMOG, with no other team coming noticeably close to the Div 1 counterparts (a surprise 7-10 result by EDI vs Leeds not withstanding).
It should be noted that there are a lot of second teams here (or open teams with a mixed-team counterpart). This makes predictions hard, as Lemmings, Reading, Steal, and Bristol all have a separate player pool influencing their team selection, which makes regionals/nationals roster lists more variable. Solent, Manchester, Fire, and Devon have all shown they can match up with Div 1 teams though, while many of the others show solid results either this year or last.
The tournament is two 5-team pools, followed by 3vs6/7vs10 crossovers, then semis and finals.
Predictions
1. Solent
2. Manchester
3. Devon
4. Fire
5. Reading
6. Cambridge
7. Lemmings
8. EDI
9. Bristol 2
10. Sheffield Steal
Dev for the win!!!
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