Crystal Balls

What Was Crystal Balls?

Crystal Balls was a large international sports tournament organised by the Easton Cowboys & Cowgirls and friends held at Cullompton, Devon between Thursday 23rd August and Sunday 26th August. This extravaganza was ostensibly held to celebrate 15 years of the Easton Cowboys Football Team, but perhaps it all came together because we all enjoy a good knees up.

Easton Cowboys Football Club - 15 Years of Freedon Through Football. Always Antiracist, Always Antifascist.

After a year of planning 17 ½ men's football teams, 8 women's football teams, 5 cricket teams and some basketball and netball teams descended on Cullompton.

Many people worked very hard to make this event possible; organising the sport, running the site, security, running two bars, putting on entertainments, coping with the rubbish and recycling, doing many events for kids, catering, printing t-shirts, lending equipment, litter picking, etc., etc., etc,. It would be unfair to single out any individuals but a special thank you must be made to our hosts at Cullompton Community Association, Cullompton Rangers Football Club, Cullompton Cricket Club and Butterleigh Oval & Cricket Club also, to all the residents of Cullompton who came and enjoyed the entertainment. Thank you also to everyone who came from all over Europe and enjoyed the event and pitched in in a large or small way.

The fields on which we held our tournament are under threat from a new road. If you were at Crystal Balls please look at the messageboard on this site to find out how you can help save the Cullompton Community Association's land from development.

What Happened?

The sport events consisted of an 11-aside men's football tournament, a 7-a-side women's football tournament, a 20/20 cricket tournament, basketball and netball.

As well as the sport there was:

• Two Bars - one in the main marquee and a cocktail bar next door
• Bands - Reggae Revolution - A.Vacate, Babyhead, Pendelis, Spanner, Leonie Laws, Surfin' Turnips, The Great Eascape.
• DJs - of course, they get everywhere these days
• Shame Academy - A twisted talent show with entries from many of the teams
• Kids Events - including sports coaching, juice and smoothie making, den building, dressing up, music events, treasure hunt
• Bristol Wireless Tent - providing internet access through a satellite link and other services
• Films - the cinema in a 25 foot diameter geodesic dome showed Pingu every morning, documentaries including Goal Dreams (about the Palastine national football team) and The Other Final (Bhutan vrs. Montserrat ) and late night features.
• The Lounge - an 18 foot diameter geodesic dome to relax in
• Hexagonal Football - 3 teams play at once on a hexagonal pitch (to read the rules and how to set out the pitch click here)
• Gift Shop - there was the information/merchandise tent purveying t-shirts, badges and finest information.

Blimey! That is quite a lot going on.

T-Shirts

There are still lots of t-shirts left at the still bargin price of 10 english pounds. If you would like a tournament or 15th birthday t-shirt ask Rich, Paul C or ask at The Plough. Or if you are from futhure afield email webmaster@eastoncowboys.org.uk

Men's Football (11-a-side)

Group A Matches

Group A Table

Group B Matches

Table Group B

Group C Matches

Group C Table

Group D Matches

Group D Table

Men's Football Knock Out Matches

Standings

Golden Boot

Goalies

Fair Play

Women's Football (7-a-side)

Without exception all the women's teams who played were great. All of them were friendly and played in the spirit of the tournament. There were teams from Germany (St.Pauli & Hex Pistols) One from Belgium - Noorse - who everyone thought were German and became known as the 'German team from Belgium' And 3 from the UK: Newcomers Hackney Women, lovely old friends Republica and our illustrious hosts: Cullompton Ladies. The surprise tough opposition were the World 7 - composed of players from Brighton (who were bloody fantastic) and various players from almost all the other teams. It was unreservedly positive, obviously We Lost Everything, but what lovely teams to lose against!

Group A Matches

Group A Table

Group B Matches

Group B Table

Women's Football Knockout Matches

Cricket (20/20)

Basketball

The basketball tournament was the first of its kind at an Easton cowboys event, and it went brilliantly. There were teams from as far a field as South Bristol (we'd never heard of it either) and Lithuania. The tournament had a fairly loose structure as there weren't loads of teams, and lots of people who participated were also playing other sports. The Bristol Pirates impressed us all with their tight play, flashy kit and friendly attitude, and they came away victorious, after narrowly beating FC Vova. This Lithuanian team came to the tournament primarily to play football, but still managed to field 2 basketball teams who turned up straight from the football pitch to play some quality basketball that was lovely to watch. The final was played on Saturday so those who came to watch on Sunday found a load of cowgirls, pirates, cowboys, and erm.. Lithuanians in mixed teams playing together. Thanks to everyone who took part and made it such a successful event.

Photos & Links

If anybody has photos of the tournament that they would like to share please contact webmaster@eastoncowboys.org.uk.

If you upload your pictures to www.flickr.com please tag them as Crystal Balls. The Gay Wizard will be very grateful.

• See the Lunatics' photos here.
• Visit The Bristol Wireless tournament page here. And see some of their photos here.
• See Sid's Photos here.
• See Sue's pictures here.

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