Quite a few of the Mooncatchers proudly represented Belgium at the World Ultimate and Guts Championships 2016, in London.
During the week from the 18th to the 25th June 2016, they did their best to shine on the fields so that the world could see for itself the level of ultimate that Belgium has achieved. With varying levels of success, certainly. But always with that conviction and that Moon attitude that make them Mooncatchers.
Let's start with the Frisbee Guts Belgian team, with Jacek Jonas-Szatanski and Benoît Spapens. They literally wrote history. Firstly, by simply participating in this huge event, but also by winning Belgium's first match against Germany, 21-19.
The Belgian Open Guts team with the USA national Guts Team.
Spirit score: 8/8 with an average of 8.83 (out of 16 points).
In the Open division, the Mooncatchers were represented by Benoît Spapens, Mike Palmer, Arnaud Massart, Bilal El Berquani, Guillaume "Moby" Espitia, Quentin Walsh, Merlin Wollast and Victor Ouchinsky.
These players, along with their team, achieved the best result that any Belgian team has ever achieved: 7th in the world.
The Open team settled themselves in during their first matches (Czech Republic, Singapour, China, New-Zealand), then came up against some trickier opponents (Colombia, UK). Their good start in the tournament led them to a pre-quarter against Austria. After a tight match, Belgium won its ticket to the 8 top places of the world ranking. Japan ended Belgium's last hopes by taking the game 15-10. After another defeat against the UK, Belgium ended its tournament with honor, by taking its last game against Germany.
Final ranking: 7th out of 30
Spirit: 24/40, with an average of 10.4.
Belgian Open team and WUGC 2016
The Mooncatchers in the Women's division were Perrine Dehaspe and Eva Maxson.
Small deception for the women's team, as they were aiming for a ranking that would have better reflected their potential. A lack of regularity overall and losses at inopportune moments caused the women to fall to the lower pool.
Despite this, the players of the team stayed true to each other and spirits stayed high. The two key matches were without a doubt their defeat against Ireland, unfortunate for their ranking, and the historic win against Sweden that was, according to me, their best match of the tournament.
Final ranking: 17th out of 26
Spirit : 14/26 with an average of 10.25
Belgian Ultimate Women's team at WUGC 2016
In the Mixte division, the Mooncatchers were Brice Vanhée, Jacek Jonas-Szatanski, Kilian Walsh, Vincent Crudo, Pierre Bihin, Nicolas de Mesmaeker and Pierre-Alain de Laminne (coach).
After a good start, the mixte team lost two important matches against Poland and Austria, which would have enabled them to achieve a better ranking. Slight deception, but successful tournament overall with one of the best spirit scores in the competition and a general relaxed feeling in the team despite the intensity demanded in such a tournament.
Final ranking: 17th out of 30
Spirit: 2/30 with an average of 12.
The Belgian Mixte team at WUGC 2016.
Finally, our two last Mooncatchers, Christophe Bihin and Simon Multon, played in the Masters division.
Belgian Masters at WUGC 2016.
Incredible start with a victory against New-Zealand, then a more difficult end with some matches having been cancelled, no real final ranking and a taste of "not-enough". Let's note, however, their 3rd place in the spirit ranking and the great atmosphere in the team during the week.
For more jokes, come to some of our practices and hear about stories about shelves, flooding, camping issues, soccer, etc.
Report by Pierre Bihin (Belgian Ultimate Mixed Team, 2016).