Its coming up to that lovely time of year again where the sun shines every day and those rain clouds disappear for a couple of months. Summer is on its way and spending it on the beach is an Australian way of life.
The Hunter Hat is running for the second time on the 16th and 17th of January 2010 and registration has just opened.
The Hunter Hat is a beach hat tournament played over two days, which means that you meet a bunch of new people and then play two glorious days on soft sand at one of the most famous beaches on the east coast of Australia.
Looks good huh? Imagine now, playing not 5m from the water (that water in the picture), laying out for the winning point and then being able to practically roll into the surf to “de-donut” yourself. Sounds better? Consider now the party venue: a room entirely to ourselves with a barman to serve a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with a DJ to spin the tunes you want to hear and dance to. When we get kicked out of there: there is a free bus at midnight to the city centre, where there are 5 or 6 nightclubs within walking distance of each other.
Dixon Park Beach is actually a part of Bar Beach and Merewether Beach. It’s the bit in between them. Dixon Park Beach is a 5min car ride from the middle of Newcastle and really close to Darby Street, our café and nice restaurant street. Accommodation will be what you want it to be, there are several nice hotels, a few bed and breakfast places, one or two seedy backpackers/hostels and a few hosts that could take a couple of billets. I can assist with all of the above should a local’s knowledge be needed.
Numbers are limited to 80 people (8 teams) so make sure you get in quickly. Registration is open right now at: http://www.afda.com/rego/showcompetition.php?competitionid=704. Payment will open in late November and the final playing roster will run off the first people paid. Obviously, there will be some reserve spots, should everything come to that. Format will be 3:2, 5 on 5 beach ultimate on a shortened field.
The Hunter Hat is a gourmet beach tournament, as there is a lot of stuff provided. At the moment, we are providing lunches for both days, a bbq (and hopefully some beer) for the final, a party, free team shirts and enough prizes/free stuff to sink the pasha bulker, which the Nobbys’ breakwall failed to do.
If you have any questions or queries, please drop me (Daniel Clenton) a line at tenk283 [at] hotmail [dot] com . I’ll get back to you as soon as I can, which is normally pretty fast. Juniors are welcome and the tournament will be junior friendly.
Hopefully I’ll see you in January!
Cheers,
Daniel
Nudiscs (Newcastle Uni Ultimate Frisbee Club)
Ps. The Hunter Hat is also a part of the “King and Queen of Beach Ultimate” competition being run by Simon Farrow. Attending this tournament wins you points towards becoming the King or Queen of Australian Beach Ultimate.