United Kingdom national quidditch team explained

Team UK
Full Name:United Kingdom National Quidditch Team
Nicknames:Team UK
Sport:Quidditch
Owner:QuidditchUK
Founded:2012
League:International Quidditch Association
Colours:Red, White, and Blue
Coach:Emily Oughtibridge
Captain:William Orridge
Championships:2017 IQA European Games
2016 IQA World Cup
2015 IQA European Games
Disbanded:2021

The United Kingdom National Quidditch Team, colloquially known as Team UK, was the official national Quidditch team of the United Kingdom.Team UK made its debut in 2012 at the IQA Summer Games in Oxford, UK where it placed 5th of 5 teams. The team then played in Canada at the 2014 IQA Global Games in Burnaby, BC on July 29, 2014 where it placed 4th of 7 teams and in the European Games in Sarteano, Italy in July 2015, placing 2nd of 12. Team UK gained its first medals at the IQA World Cup 2016 in Frankfurt on July 23–24, 2016, finishing 3rd out of 21 teams. In 2017 the team gained its first international trophy, winning the IQA European Games,[1] beating France in the final. Team UK's final tournament appearance was a 3rd place medal at the 2019 IQA European Games in Bamberg.

In 2021 Team UK was split into three separate independently managed teams: Team England, Team Scotland and Team Wales.[2]

History

Team UK was formed just in time for the 2012 IQA Summer Games in Oxford, where it competed alongside the United States, France, Australia and Canada. At the time, Quidditch in the UK was very thin on the ground; a few teams in the UK played by IQA rules, namely Avada Keeledavra and the Leicester Lovegoods (now Keele Squirrels and Leicester Thestrals), but they had only just started up that year. Other groups such as the University of Nottingham Quidditch Society and the various College teams at Oxford played by local variations on the rulebook. This meant that the UK was the most inexperienced team represented at the games, with many of its players being free-agents with no game experience. Though the UK came last at the event, roundly defeated by every other team, this event spawned the mass growth of the sport in the United Kingdom. The event was eventually won by the United States with a landslide victory over France in the Final.

The successor event to the Summer Games, the 2014 IQA Global Games, took place in Burnaby, Canada, and again the United Kingdom was represented. An initial round of try-outs selected 42 players who were later divided into the travelling team and the reserves. This event saw the UK compete against the US, Canada, Australia, France, Belgium and Mexico. The two years of intensive growth in the UK since the last appearance of its national team was reflected, and the team won major victories against Belgium and Mexico. Though they were defeated by a wide margin by the US and Canada, the UK forced extra-time against eventual silver-medallists Australia despite eventual loss and soundly defeated old rivals France. The UK was kept from the medal podium by a slight margin, losing the 3rd place playoff against Canada on a snitch-catch. The Global Games, like the Summer Games before them, were won by the Americans, who secured the gold with a wide-margin win over the Australians.

Team UK made its third appearance at the 2015 European Games, the first tournament of its kind. Team selection was made via observation of players in matches during the opening months of 2015, leading up to the British Quidditch Cup. The side finished second in the tournament, losing to France 90*-50 in the final. They topped their group, which included the hosts Italy, Norway, Germany, The Netherlands and Ireland winning every game. Victories followed in the quarter-finals against Catalonia and Belgium in the semi-finals. Team UK keeper and seeker Ollie Craig was named the MVP (most valued player) of the tournament.

Beginning with the 2015-16 season, a standing national squad was established fluctuating around 35 players who train together on a regular basis and are dropped or called up at the discretion of the captain and coaching staff. Squads for each competition will be selected from this national 'training squad'.

In July 2016, under captain Ben Morton, Team UK attended the Quidditch World Cup, held in Frankfurt, Germany with a squad of 21 chosen from the training squad. UK were one of the top 5 seeds heading into the tournament and lived up to expectations claiming bronze medals, after defeating Canada 190*-60 in the third place play off. The UK topped their group comfortably on day 1 with victories over Turkey, Austria, South Korea and Spain and carried their form into day 2 beating Slovenia and Turkey on the way to a semi-final against the USA. Whilst the UK took an early lead against the USA they were unable to hold onto it and a spot in the final was taken by the USA instead, with the UK losing 140*-40.

In October 2016 a squad of 10 travelled to Odense, Denmark to represent the UK in a friendly match against Norway held as part of the Odense Harry Potter Festival. The friendly was split into 3 games with the UK coming out on top in 2 of the games, winning the first 180*-30 and the second 90-80*, however the Norwegian team fought back to win the final game 110*-100.

In July 2017 Team UK, captained by Bill Orridge, won the IQA European Games, beating France in the finals 90*-70 on a snitch catch by Callum Lake. Andrew Hull led the UK in the final, notching four of the team's seven goals. Hosts Norway took third place.

Competitive record

Team UK

Competition PositionNumber of teams
5th5
4th7
2nd12
3rd21
1st15
4th29
2019 European Games 3rd20

Team England, Team Scotland and Team Wales

Competition PositionNumber of teams
England Scotland Wales
2019 European Games 14th20
2022 European Games1st15th16th20

Players

Where a player's club is listed, the information is accurate at the time of their representation for the event in question. The clubs listed in the 'current national squad' section are accurate for the current season. Where these names have changed over time, the name is given as the club is known now.

Players who represent, or have represented, the UK national team are as follows;

Current National Squad

The following players formed the squad winning the 2017 IQA European Games in Oslo in July 2017.[3]

SurnameFirst NameAppearancesClub
KHullAndrew34Velociraptors Quidditch Club
KWatersSebastian16Warwick Quidditch Club
CVealeAaron23Werewolves of London
CLoweRebecca18Durhamstrang
CWoodburnJacqueline17Velociraptors Quidditch Club
CMalpassBenjamin7Warwick Quidditch Club
CThanangadanJames17Velociraptors Quidditch Club
CThrippJemma31Werewolves of London
CHeynesThomas31Velociraptors Quidditch Club
CRileyOliver7Holyrood Hippogriffs
CStevensThomas7York Horntails
CCooperAshley14*Velociraptors Quidditch Club
CHarrisAbigail11Tornadoes Quidditch Club
BMikolajczakJan34Werewolves of London
BEdlundLucy18Velociraptors Quidditch Club
BQLucy22Velociraptors Quidditch Club
BSartoriJacopo17Warwick Quidditch Club
BOrridge (C)William22Loughborough Longshots
BTwistLukas31Werewolves of London
BO'NeillJessica14Velociraptors Quidditch Club
SLakeCallum7Bangor Broken Broomsticks

Squad: World Cup 2012 (Oxford, UK)

The following players are represented the team at the World Cup* in Oxford in Summer 2012, placing fifth of five after a defeat to all other competing countries in the round-robin.[4]

SurnameFirst NameClub
KJohnNatalieLeicester Thestrals
KWellsHarryLeicester Thestrals
KBarringerRobertKeele Squirrels
CGostickElliotLeicester Thestrals
CMorrisOwainLeicester Thestrals
CThomsonRebeccaLeicester Thestrals
CLudford-BrookesZoeKeele Squirrels
CBarryAngusRadcliffe Chimeras
CMorton (C)BenjaminKeele Squirrels
CRhodesJonathanHolyrood Hippogriffs
CHarrisAbigailLeicester Thestrals
CBarnettQuentinLeicester Thestrals
CHillJamesLeicester Thestrals
BGuenzelMatthewDerby Union Quidditch Club
BHillJackLeicester Thestrals
BStarbuckEmilyHolyrood Hippogriffs
BCorbinMatthewLeicester Thestrals
BWilleyStevenNone
BParryAshleighOxford Quidlings
SYoungRobertKeele Squirrels

Squad: World Cup 2014 (Vancouver, Canada)

The following players are represented the team at the World Cup* in Burnaby, Vancouver on July 19, 2014, placing fourth of seven after a 60*-40 defeat to Canada in the third-place play-off.[5]

SurnameFirst NameClub
KTwistLukasRadcliffe Chimeras
KGreenhalghAlexanderKeele Squirrels
KHullAndrewBangor Broken Broomsticks
CCooper (C)AshleyRadcliffe Chimeras
CWhiteleyAbigailRadcliffe Chimeras
CJørstadElisabethRadcliffe Chimeras
CNortonThomasKeele Squirrels
CThrippJemmaSouthampton Quidditch Club
CShawKaiOSI Vikings
CManuelTravisLeeds Griffins
CMcFadyenWarrenLeicester Thestrals
CHeynesThomasBangor Broken Broomsticks
CMikolajczakJanRadcliffe Chimeras
BSimpsonConnorKeele Squirrels
BKing-EvansDaleOxford Quidlings
BBurnettJamesRadcliffe Chimeras
BO'NeillJessicaChester Centurions
BDishingtonRachelRadcliffe Chimeras
BMcLaughlinRebeccaKeele Squirrels
BDaviesSamuelBangor Broken Broomsticks
SYoungRobertSouthampton Quidditch Club

Squad: European Games 2015 (Sarteano, Italy)

The following players are represented the team at the European Games in Sarteano on July 25–26, 2015, placing second of twelve after a 90*-50 defeat to France in the final.[6]

SurnameFirst NameClub
KTwistLukasRadcliffe Chimeras
KCraigOliverSouthampton Quidditch Club
KHullAndrewBangor Broken Broomsticks
CMortonBenjaminKeele Squirrels
CVealeAaronSouthampton Quidditch Club
CWoodburnJacquelineDurhamstrang
CNorton (C)ThomasKeele Squirrels
CThrippJemmaSouthampton Quidditch Club
CCalderLydiaSouthampton Quidditch Club
CNobleChristopherWarwick Quidditch Club
CGawneRobertDurhamstrang
CHeynesThomasRadcliffe Chimeras
CMikolajczakJanRadcliffe Chimeras
BGreggImogenSouthampton Quidditch Club
BQLucyNottingham Nightmares
BCarpenterAlexSouthampton Quidditch Club
BFaux-NightingaleAliceKeele Squirrels
BOrridgeWilliamLoughborough Longshots
BBrownAlexanderFalmouth Falcons
BSartoriJacopoWarwick Quidditch Club
SGoswellDavidNottingham Nightmares

Squad: World Cup 2016 (Frankfurt, Germany)

The following players represented the team at the World Cup in Frankfurt on July 23–24, 2016. Following a 50-90* defeat to Canada in an exposition game two days prior to the event, the UK finished as overall third seed from group play after convincing victories over Turkey, Spain, Austria, and South Korea. The team then progressed past Slovenia and once again Turkey to a 40-130* defeat in the semi-finals against eventual runners-up the USA. Bouncing back quickly, the team won the UK's first ever global podium finish in the third-place game, taking bronze[7] with an emphatic 190*-60 victory over Canada.[8]

SurnameFirst NameClub
KTwistLukasRadcliffe Chimeras
KCraigOliverSouthampton Quidditch Club
KHullAndrewRadcliffe Chimeras
CMorton (C)BenjaminKeele Squirrels
CVealeAaronSouthampton Quidditch Club
CLoweRebeccaDurhamstrang
CWoodburnJacquelineDurhamstrang
CThanangadanJamesNottingham Nightmares
CThrippJemmaSouthampton Quidditch Club
CCookesJonathanLoughborough Longshots
CTrevettLukeWarwick Quidditch Club
CWatersSebastianWarwick Quidditch Club
CHeynesThomasRadcliffe Chimeras
BMikolajczakJanRadcliffe Chimeras
BEdlundLucyNottingham Nightmares
BQLucyNottingham Nightmares
BBurnettJamesWarwick Quidditch Club
BCarpenterAlexSouthampton Quidditch Club
BWalkerAliceRadcliffe Chimeras
BOrridgeWilliamLoughborough Longshots
SGoswellDavidNottingham Nightmares

Squad: Norway Fixtures at Odense Harry Potter Festival (Odense, Frankfurt)

SurnameFirst NameClub
KHullAndrewVelociraptors Quidditch Club
CMorton (C)BenjaminVelociraptors Quidditch Club
CLoweRebeccaDurhamstrang
CKempsterFrancescaLoughborough Longshots
CThanangadanJamesVelociraptors Quidditch Club
CCookesJonathanTornadoes Quidditch Club
BMikolajczakJanWerewolves of London
BEdlundLucyVelociraptors Quidditch Club
BA'BearNatalieWerewolves of London
BSartoriJacopoWarwick Quidditch Club

Squad: European Games 2017 (Oslo, Norway)

The following players represented the team at European Games in Oslo on July 8–9, 2017. Despite a pool play defeat to Belgium at the end of the first day, an impressive overall performance and undefeated second day saw them storm to their first international victory with a 90*-70 defeat of perennial rivals France.

SurnameFirst NameClub
KWatersSebastianWarwick Quidditch Club
KHullAndrewVelociraptors Quidditch Club
CVealeAaronWerewolves of London
CLowe*RebeccaDurhamstrang
CWoodburnJacquelineVelociraptors Quidditch Club
CThanangadanJamesVelociraptors Quidditch Club
CThrippJemmaWerewolves of London
CMalpassBenjaminWarwick Quidditch Club
CHeynesThomasVelociraptors Quidditch Club
CHarrisAbigailTornadoes Quidditch Club
CStevensThomasHogYork Horntails
CCooperAshleyVelociraptors Quidditch Club
CRileyOliverHolyrood Hippogriffs
BMikolajczakJanWerewolves of London
BEdlundLucyVelociraptors Quidditch Club
BQLucyVelociraptors Quidditch Club
BSartoriJacopoWarwick Quidditch Club
BO'NeillJessicaVelociraptors Quidditch Club
BTwistLukasWerewolves of London
BOrridge (C)WilliamLoughborough Longshots
SLakeCallumBangor Broken Broomsticks

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marmer. Andy. TeamUK Captures First International Championship. Quidditch Post. Quidditch Post. 16 July 2017.
  2. Web site: National Teams QuidditchUK . 2022-07-03 . QuidditchUK – Find Your Passion.
  3. https://quidditchuk.org/news/display/1198
  4. Web site: Meet Team UK | US Quidditch.
  5. Web site: Team England | QuidditchUK .
  6. Web site: QuidditchUK - TeamUK 2015 . quidditchuk.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150716200413/https://quidditchuk.org/news/display/933 . 2015-07-16.
  7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36885893 UK third as Aussies win Quidditch World Cup
  8. Web site: QuidditchUK - Team UK 2016 . quidditchuk.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160821195605/https://quidditchuk.org/news/display/1107 . 2016-08-21.