Korea’s Unicorn Club wins the Australian Gateball Championships

IMG_0380-1The 2017 Australian Gateball Championships were held at EDSACC in Bateau Bay from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th October. In all, 22 teams participated. Originally, we had hoped to host 24, but last minute visa issues meant teams from Indonesia and China were unable to make it.

Despite wet weather on Saturday and Sunday, we had a glorious weekend of gateball, with Team Unicorn from Korea beating Zheng Bang, Jianxi from China in the finals. Australian teams reaching the final stage included Epstars, Ipswich Snoopies and Redcliffe Roses.

EDSACC were wonderful hosts and New South Wales players worked together to ensure that the organisation was seamless.

Some individual highlights emailed to info@gateball.com.au included:

“We enjoyed the entire weekend. Everyone was very friendly, both on and off the courts. It was great to meet the overseas teams and watching their skilled play was very enlightening. The 3 day format was a definite bonus as it allowed for plenty of meet, greet and convivial practice before the competition itself.”

“Our team has thoroughly enjoyed their first tournament and being such a big one as well. Overall the whole experience for them was fantastic and they are looking forward to the next comp. I personally enjoyed the strategy sessions and the rest of the team learned the correct way to do the rest of the court work correctly.”

“Passing the ref’s assessment but not the terror of reffing the actual game! Also Keith’s review of my first game – very balanced and useful.The euphoric feeling halfway through playing the Koreans and thinking we might win! My 13 year old son, having had to be dragged to the tournament, begging to go to another tournament as soon as possible! Meeting up with old and new friends”

“It was a privilege to compete in a competition with overseas teams and observe their skills and strategies. This fact alone will benefit Gateball Australia and all the competitors immensely.”

“- being the best Australian team – never imagined in our wildest dreams that it would happen
– the support of the other clubs and friendships you make that just pick up from comp to comp.
– the venue was lovely, a club to be proud of and Bateau Bay was lovely. We got to see dolphins and whales where we stayed everyday – so fantastic.
…some pics on our Facebook page @redcliffegateball.com”

“Being shown how to do jump touches and super slides by the Korean team with their fancy mallets. We should ask them for a demonstration of their supersticks if they return to defend their title in 2019!”

The winning Koreans had to rush off at the end of the competition as there had been a change in the arrangements for their shuttle – they apologised for their hasty departure and sent us this message: “Im jay who is Korean team. First im really sorry for making hurry up and uncomfortable. Next time i will do my best so we can enjoy the event. Really we feel happy and thank you. More than 100% when you come to Korea, we can do everything for Australian team! And everyone is so nice and kind. We are so lucky guy cause of you! thank you so much. All of things and everyone. Please be safe and have a lovely day♡”

Finally, Ian McKinnon of EDSACC managed video the final – so follow these links if you want to see it again

Part 1
Part 2
Closing Ceremony

And here is how Channel 9 covered the event

Thanks to those who have given feedback by email – please give us some of your individual highlights as comments below.

At the end of the competition, CNSW Chair Nerida Taylor handed the ceremonial gate to Philip Brown, the VCA Coordinator of Gateball as the 2019 Australian Championships are to be held at Cairnlea. Philip announced that the competition will be held from Friday 29th November to Sunday 1st December.

2 thoughts on “Korea’s Unicorn Club wins the Australian Gateball Championships

  1. My personal highlight was actually sparking two Agaris in a row to win our last friendly match in the last minutes…and I hadn’t even been through gate 2!

  2. A great competition experience. The weather added interest. I felt that the Friday programme was very helpful. An investment in a PA system would ensure that we all could hear directions and speeches. Thanks to all.

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