Blog | Manchester Bees Dodgeball

7th January 2018Alexandra Charlton

Progress Report: 2018, Already?! Our December Update

Now that we are officially over a week into 2018, it’s time to look back, for the final time, at the Hive’s happenings in 2017.

As well as continued antics on the Bees’ new Snapchat feed (join the fun – @mancbeesdodge) the Bees had a busy month in the run up to our Christmas break, with both socials and league to keep us busy!

Don't have the Bees on Snapchat yet? You're missing out on gems like this... — Don’t have the Bees on Snapchat yet? You’re missing out on gems like this…

On 10 December, the Bees hosted the Manchester Community Christmas Cup at the Active Lifestyle centre. With mini-tournaments for the ladies, gents and juniors, as well as a few totally mixed mini-tournaments, the day was great fun and enjoyed by all, especially with lots of amazing dodgeball talent on show!

A great day of festive fun and impressive dodgeball at this year's Community Christmas Cup! — A great day of festive fun and impressive dodgeball at this year’s Community Christmas Cup!

Next up, on Friday 15 December the Bees Christmas party took place, with tapas followed by an incredible evening at Ultimate Power Christmas! The Bees enjoyed gettin’ down to some absolute classic jams, fully armed with Bees’ Secret Shanta gifts and some, unsurprisingly having had a festive tipple!

Bees Maccers and Colm revelling in Ultimate Power's Christmas ballads! — Bees Maccers and Colm revelling in Ultimate Power’s Christmas ballads!

After a much needed rest on Saturday, on Sunday 17 December all four league teams travelled to St George’s Park for league – the Worker Bees were first to take to the court and, following a defeat to Hinckley, battled back against Derby Phantoms, coming back from 8-0 down to take the match 10-8!

The Honey Bees were also in action for the first meet of the season for Women’s league 1 and, after an initial defeat against an impressive Bedford Rangers team, walked away victorious in their second game over Nottingham Sheriffs 2!

the Honey Bees swarm for a team photo after their first League meet of the season!

After a more frustrating afternoon for the Queen and Killer Bees at Superleague, an impromptu social / debrief was held at local eatery Table-Table, with all players ready for a well earned Christmas break and plenty to build into the Bees’ new year resolutions!

Looking ahead in 2018, the Killers, Queens and Workers were all in action this weekend and our next Men’s and Women’s’ socials due to be held in mid-January.

Training is set to resume after our Christmas Break with our regular All-Comers session on Tuesday 9 January 2018 at Manchester Academy School, M14 4PX. It’s the perfect time to put those New Year resolutions into play, whether it’s to get fit, get out more and meet new people, or to try something a bit different – the Bees tick all boxes!

With exciting venue and timing changes upcoming, keep an eye out on the session info section of our website and our Facebook page for the most up to date details on our All-comers and members sessions.

15th December 2017Alexandra Charlton

Don’t be a Twit! Bees’ Social Media Update

Manchester Bees Dodgeball are serious about social media. With Facebook social pages & members groups, as well as Instagram, Snapchat (@mancbeesdodge) and LinkedIn pages, it’s no surprise that we’re also on Twitter!

We at Manchester Bees feel that Twitter is often the perfect place to document the day-to-day goings on with the club and our members – so in case you don’t already follow us, here’s a few nuggets to show you what you’re missing…

#NoContextQuotes

"Cleaned and fresh foil. You can always trust me with your fork, Shelly" #NoContextQuotes pic.twitter.com/LKWSKoNbQg

— Manchester Dodgeball (@ManchesterBees) December 1, 2017

This series does what it says on the tin: whether at training, league, committee meetings or socials, a good hearty quote without context, offers perfect insight into the shenanigans of the Bees’, from the pure nonsense…

"No, no, promise you won't put that ANYWHERE" – Suze #NoContextQuotes #BeesCommitteeMeeting 🤔

— Manchester Dodgeball (@ManchesterBees) November 10, 2017

…to the most historic sudden and unexpected anouncements…

Guys, GUYS! Helena's right! – Aden #NoContextQuotes #UnlikelyThingsToHearAtABeesCommitteeMeeting

— Manchester Dodgeball (@ManchesterBees) November 10, 2017

…the downright strange…

"SO. Your team is a CAT!" – @What_About_Suzy #NoContextQuotes 🐱

— Manchester Dodgeball (@ManchesterBees) December 14, 2017

…and the honestly, pretty obvious…

"We'd be an alright team if we didn't get hit out so much" #NoContextQuotes

— Manchester Dodgeball (@ManchesterBees) November 17, 2017

#TheresATrumpMemeForEverything

He does love Twitter, does Trump – probably even a little more than Manchester Bees! And with facial expressions like his, it’s fairly easy to document your every emotion in terms of Trump memes…

Good of Don to show us how close we are to the Bees Christmas Party! #SoClose #TopTrumps #SecretShanta #FriYAY #TheresATrumpMemeForEverything 💃🕺 pic.twitter.com/zXBPdzFJTV

— Manchester Dodgeball (@ManchesterBees) December 15, 2017

What’s more…

Now that the even more social media elves over at Manchester Bees have been given access to the Bees’ twitter account (a risky move, indeed…) there will be lots of up & coming series’ and topics of conversation – from #ToSnakeOrNotToSnake dilemmas, #WhatWouldSuzyDo scenarios and other excellent content coming your way, so make sure to check back for our (soon to be legendary) contributions to the Twittersphere!

Want to contribute to our twitter series’? Follow and tag @ManchesterBees along with your hashtags of choice!

For now, we leave you with a realistic prediction of the scenes at tonight’s Christmas Party (not that we’re excited or anything)!

When Timber comes on at any time, any place #itsgoingdown pic.twitter.com/mwKq6GAP6l

— Manchester Dodgeball (@ManchesterBees) November 21, 2017

It’s pretty clear to see, whilst we’re a competitive club, we also have a pretty strong focus on having lots of fun and social nonsense. Like the sound of joining the club? Our All-comers sessions are on Tuesdays from 8-9.30pm at Manchester Academy, M14 4PX – come along and give it a go!

3rd December 2017Alexandra Charlton

Progress Report: The November Update

The year really has flown by and now we’ve hit December, it’s time to look back over the last few weeks at the Bees’ highlights for November.

Manchester Bees Academy

The Manchester Bees Academy is in still full swing with members training every Wednesday under the watchful eye of coach Sam Wench. Feedback is good and the Academy’s regular members are developing quite the tactical mind, as well as dodgeball skillset. Now developing their competitive edge, we can’t see how they get along in tournaments and friendlies lined up to take place over the coming weeks and months!

Stafford Open

The Stafford Open took place on 18 November and the Honey and Queen Bees took part in some fierce competition. Suzanne Vickers, Dodge-coach and regular Queen Bee, also attended but rather than getting bees’y, Suzie-V played with fellow Northern Irish players, for Belfast United – and took home the silver after a fantastic day’s competition!

24623784_10215393169808419_1327449662_o — Belfast United’s own Suzie-V poses for a post-tournament photo with the Queen Bees!

The Queen Bees and Honey Bees came first and second, respectively, in the Plate Cup at the tournament… and the real highlight? The historical moment? Achievement of a lifetime? It can only be one thing. The now infamous moment that the one and only Vic Hind made a legendary TRIPLE CATCH versus ‘Storfs’, the Storm / Sheriffs 1 super-team.

That legendary catch, along with so much other incredible play from all Honey Bees, led to eventual winners Storfs’ only defeat of the day. Incredible.

The Woman, the Myth, the Legend: Vic Hind

League Update

The following week, the Killers, Queens and Workers were back in action at League on 25 November 2017. All three teams are competing valiantly in their respective leagues, with Honey Bees ready to join the fray at Women’s League 1 , which kicks off later in December.

Bees’ Community Update

A huge thank you to all from the dodgeball community who donated their coats in support of the #WrapUpManchester campaign towards the end of the month. The coats formed part of a 51-stong donation organised by one of the Bees, which will be a huge help in keeping the city’s homeless warm over winter.

London Storm show their laces in support of inclusivity in sport — London Storm show their rainbow laces in support of inclusivity in sport

Finally, a massive shout-out to our friends down at London Storm, for participating in a wonderfully worthwhile cause; Rainbow Laces Day. Find out more about the Rainbow Laces Movement and sign up to show your support here.

Like the idea of joining a community club, whether to show off your competitive edge or support some wonderful causes and make some friends in the dodgeball community? Our All-comers sessions run on Tuesdays, from 8 – 9.30 at Manchester Academy School, M14 4PX. Be sure to check our facebook page for details of our training break at Christmas!

17th November 2017Alexandra Charlton

Save The Date – 10 December 2017: The Manchester Christmas Cup!

It’s that time of year again, and what would be better in the run-up to Christmas, than taking a time-out from all the Christmas shopping in town for a festive day of dodgeball with Manchester Bees?!

On Sunday, 10 December 2017, Manchester Bees Dodgeball will be hosting the Christmas Cup, suitable for all ages and taking place at Manchester’s Active Lifestyle Centre from 12pm.

The event will include a variety of brilliant games and activities, and whilst fixtures are to be confirmed, a number of teams are vying to get involved, as well as a number of Junior fixtures featuring teams from six of Mr Dodgeball’s regional clubs:

Altrincham Dodgers – Avondale Avalanche – Burnage Bruins

Horwich Heat – Handforth Hawks – Heaton Hurricanes

Players from the Manchester Bees Academy will also be jumping in and getting involved in the festive fun after a brilliant launch earlier this year!

In addition, various women’s games will also be taking place, featuring Kingsway Queens, Wilmslow Wasps, MUDs Majesties and our very own Queen and Honey Bees!

Last but not at all least, a variety of men’s fixtures will also be announced shortly, but are sure to include many of our Killer, Worker and Soldier bees as well as players and teams from local university clubs and some from even further afield!

Interested in getting your team involved in the fixtures? Contact us to let us know!

As well as all the on-court excitement, there will be a raft of fun activities to get involved with, as well as ‘DJ Claus’ and even a rumours of an appearance by a very special, very festive Bumble the Bee..!

Bumble the Bee is ready to get dodgin'! — Bumble the Bee is feelin’ festive!

For those who want to participate, entry will be £3 for adults and £1.50 for under 16s, with proceeds going to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust! For those who want to come along and watch, there will be FREE entry!

Full fixtures and more details will be announced shortly via Facebook – be sure to like our Page to keep up to date with the event details – we hope to see you there!

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