Having contested the club championship in 2010 in Hungary, the Novocastrian club Pie Wagon are eager to earn their spot in the international competition that hosts more than a hundred teams across a number of decisions.

Club director Stuart Sinclair has been preparing the team for the challenges at the qualifiers – set to be hosted in Melbourne from December 2 – and believes that the club championships are the most prestigious event for competing ultimate athletes.

“We are looking to qualify for the championships, it’s a tough field and there’s a lot of contest for the two spots that get to go overseas, so it’s difficult,” Sinclair said.

“The team played in the 2010 championships in Prague and we came in the top five clubs at the competition, so we feel like we have the experience to compete well at a level like this. As a club team there’s nothing bigger than the international stage and of course we want to be there.

“We’re hopeful of qualifying though, that’s all I can say. We have a great team and we’re putting a lot in for training and preparation and a stack of hard work for all the players involved.”

Sinclair knows that the international championships will be hard fought as well, and giants in the sport like the United States will prove to be great challenges.

“We’re looking forward to playing the field if we get there, there’s a lot of developing teams and countries that are just getting into ultimate and it’s always exciting to come up against them and see where you stand,” he said.

Pie Wagon has already had a great deal of practice leading into the Melbourne qualifiers, having contested the 2017 Division II Australian Mixed Ultimate Championship in Nelsons Bay from October 20-22.

Pie Wagon were one of the favourites of the second tier tournament that hosted 24 teams across a three-day tournament.

The grand final was played between Newcastle teams Apple and Rhubarb Pie and Pie Wagon Second Slice (the club’s second team) at Tomaree Sports Complex, with Apple and Rhubarb Pie walking away with gold in the end.

Port Stephens competitors, and those that travelled to contest the second division tournament, classed a rousing success in Port Stepehens.

“We sent two teams to that competition from Newcastle, and they both ended up making the finals and we won,” Sinclair said.

“Local tournaments like the Port Stephens event are a great way to get more players into the game and grow a sport that is definitely always expanding. We’d love to see more tournaments like this in the area.”

Tom Cruise Pact (Victoria) and Extinction (Queensland) were named Spirit of the Game winners at the championships. 

Female MVPs were Clare Burman (Manly Flakkas) and Liz Drummond (Burley Griffins). Male MVPs were Dillon Taylor (Wyndham Surge) and Sebastian Brown (Monstars).