Issue I
FALMOUTH FALCONS STORM TO VICTORY IN TIEBREAKER MATCH
The Falmouth Falcons have snagged first place after a two-day tiebreaker match against the Chudley Cannons. The underdogs won by ten points in the match on Tuesday and Wednesday, after a game filled with fouls and bludger injuries. More on page I.
Also in this issue...
Exclusive Interview: Andrew Lenton (page II)
Hogwarts Quidditch (page III)
Throwbacks: Gwenog Jones (page IV)
Pandora and Adriana's Advice (page V)
Limited Edition Trading Cards: Andrew Lenton
Macmillan, Cedric
It was a rainy Tuesday morning for most of the United Kingdom but the crowd that had gathered at Ellis Moor Stadium to witness the tiebreaker match of the second league didn't seem to feel the weather as they cheered for their favourite teams.
The match kicked off with the underdogs - the Falcons - taking an early lead with the help of the Cannon chasers, who were fouling about as much as Ralla Wilson from the Toyohashi Tengus. By the end of the match, there were several bruises forming on Falcon chaser's arms, and Callum Martin especially was sporting a rather nasty black eye.
Throughout the match, there was a violent game of bludger tennis going on between the four beaters, with the Falcons' Nicholas Mobin giving the formidable Cannons beaters a run for their money. Partially due to the bludgers, the match dragged on for almost forty-eight hours, and ended with the Cannons catching the snitch... but losing the game, as the Falcons had racked up enough penalty points to exceed the final score by ten - and bringing back memories of that Wales-Uganda game from the World Cup.
Hathaway, Pandora
Seeker Weekly's Pandora Hathaway met up with Andrew "Andy" Lenton, Chaser for Puddlemere United, to get the latest scoop on the Quidditch player himself and his team.
What are your expectations going into the British and Irish Quidditch League with Puddlemere United at your side?
Andy: "In it to win it, Pandora! I'm hoping that we get all the way to the top, fingers crossed."
Are there any fears you have coming into the League or any teams you're concerned about facing?
Andy: "Are you kidding, there's so much to fear; The Harpies just won the World Cup so they're obviously favourites in the polls. And obviously there are notoriously strong teams like the Wasps, and the Tornados. But it's really interesting, because there are the Schmidts, who I really think are ones to watch."
Now, how do you feel about your team? Are there any concerns with the players or do you believe that your teammates are all well-prepared for the upcoming games?
Andy: "I've got full confidence we'll do well. We bond well, we know each others strengths and weaknesses and we've combatted that really well in training. So yeah, I'm confident with the team and how we'll perform on match days."
Do you have any advice to give to our younger viewers who are considering playing professional Quidditch?
Andy: "Of course! If I had to give kids a piece of advice, it's that Quidditch is never a write-off. If that's what they love to do, then they should keep at it. Even if it means looking foolish - until you're ready to look foolish, you'll never look great."
Who or what inspired you to play Quidditch?
Andy: "When I was younger, one of my mums was a gym teacher in a muggle school, so she encouraged me to do a sport before leaving Hogwarts. But Pro-Quidditch? My fiancé, Em. She's the Beater for the Harpies, but in all honesty, she's ended up being a keeper, if you know what I mean."
DeWitt, Adriana
Throughout the past few weeks, the Hogwarts Quidditch captains and teams have been announced, and in the wake of the World Cup, a surge in interest is expected by the Professors - and the Departments of Magical Education and Games and Sports.
We here at Seeker Weekly have been catching up with this year's school Quidditch Captains - Thomas Bagman (Gryffindor), Cassandra Gideon (Ravenclaw), Niele Jusmaite (Slytherin), and the co-captains Eleanore Dane and Alyss Roanoke (Hufflepuff).
As a team, what do you think you need to work on most this year, especially after the World Cup?
Thomas: "Our Chasers seem to hold onto the Quaffle for dear life, and no one looks for passes."
Cassandra: "There isn't really one particular area that needs more work than any other, but we will be adjusting our practices after we see how the other teams are playing this year."
Niele: "If I'm honest, there isn't anything that's more important than anything else - I think there's always going to be room for improvement, though."
Elle: "I think what we really need more of is teamwork. We all are really individually skilled...but that matters less in a team sport like Quidditch than how well you can use those skills together."
Alyss: "Umm, since this is my first year being a captain, I would like to get to work on communication and teamwork out on the field. I didn't go and see the World Cup because I was required to go to a Martial Arts Tournament instead, but I have a feeling that I'll try and not repeat those mistakes."
Could you tell us a little about each of your teammates' skillsets?
Thomas: "We've got a few new players this year, but I can speak to the one's I've played with more often. Malia's little for a Beater, but she does a really good job of backing me up when I need it. Flynn really knows how to use the wind currents to his advantage-- and he trusts me to protect him, so he doesn't get distracted easily. Our Chasers-- Anastasia, Victoria and Rheine have all worked together, and I'm pretty sure they're friends off the field as well. So I think their cooperation should work well. I don't know much about my new Keeper, to be honest."
Cassandra: "Obviously everyone on the team excels at their individual positions, and I'm honestly not comfortable with divulging my teammates' superpowers, but I will say we know how to work together individually, which is very important."
Niele: "I've actually only played matches alongside two of my teammates before - Ace, who has a very good aim, and Ava, who has somehow managed to learn to block three goals at once - either that or she just moves really fast. As for our chasers, I don't know much about Nikki, but she excelled in tryouts. Roxy's great at raising team spirits, and she works well with Audi, who's small enough to get past opposing chasers. EQ, our other beater, is as good with a beater's bat as Ace is."
Elle: "Alyss is a really great Co-Captain and has strong leadership skills. GC is encouraging...whenever we're having a rough practice or trouble getting things to mesh, he keeps our spirits up. Jasper is much the same, though he uses jokes to help ease the tension when things aren't working out right. Oscar is more serious, which is good because he helps keep people on task and not just fooling around. Lisbeth is super loyal and has a lot of heart. Kylie works harder than probably anyone else on the team, which makes us all want to step up and work harder. Kimi brings the extra experience we sometimes need to iron out problems since she's been on the team since she's been at Hogwarts. She was an excellent Captain last year when we went undefeated. Finally, Fiona has a great personality to be an excellent coach. She's always trying to help others improve, and brings out the best in others."
Alyss: "Of course. There's Elle, our Seeker and co-captain. She's very nimble and extremely good at dodging. Then there's the Chasers, Jasper and GC2. Jasper's very tall and we can pull off plenty of trick passes against the opposite team. GC2, I'm not really sure about. I'll hold my opinion until the end of the first game. The beaters, Oscar and Lisbeth. I worked alongside Oscar last year but not Lisbeth. Oscar's a force to be reckoned with even though of his build and quietness. Again, I'll reserve Judgement on Lisbeth until the end of the first game. And our keeper, Kylie. I'll reserve my opinion on her until the end of the first game myself."
Are you planning on pursuing a professional Quidditch career when you graduate? If so, do you have any team in mind?
Thomas: "I'm not. I've never believed that Quidditch was a career for me-- I wanted to pursue something more stable. I've always supported Puddlemere, though."
Cassandra: "I'm not sure what I'll do after I graduate, but if I do decide to go pro I would shoot for a foreign team like the Proudsticks or Tengu."
Niele: "I would love to play Quidditch professionally! My top three teams would be the Harpies, Puddlemere or the Kestrels."
Elle: "I would love to continue playing Quidditch after I graduate, and as the Harpies are my favorite team, if I can tryout for their team, I definitely will be."
Alyss: "Maybe. Maybe not. My adoptive parents are both free-roaming protection details, so I might join the Aurors or play Quidditch. That's my possible future. As for the team, maybe the Wasps or the Kestrels."
OUR THROWBACKS: GWENOG JONES
Gwenog Jones started her Quidditch career while attending the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After she graduated in 1986, she continued with Quidditch and went on to be a proffesional Beater for the all-womens team the Holyhead Harpies - later becoming the team captain. Jones excelled in her years as a Quidditch player, winning multiple games for her team. Despite her great accomplishments, Jones had a reputation for being a hot head; she would often get into verbal - and sometimes physical - fights with the opposing players. However, this trait also helped her to get an extra push and win more games. Gwenog was also viewed by some as "a bit full of herself," but with all of her phenominal accomplishments, she had a right to be.
When asked what Jones liked to do after her games, Seeker Weekly found out that she preferred to just sit back and relax with her friends while listening to the Weird Sisters and drinking butterbeer. Jones really just liked to kick back and enjoy her time when she wasn't flying on her broom. By 2014, Gwenog retired from the Holyhead Harpies and became the manager of the Welsh National Quidditch Team. She continued with her same sassy and bold attitude even as a manager and was even drug of the Quidditch field for threatening to curse off another team manager's face. Throughout her whole career, Gwenog Jones managed to stay true to her natural fiery self.
Pandy and Adri are players for the premier league team the Tutshill Tornadoes. They're here to answer all your questions about professional Quidditch, so get owling!
How do you play Quidditch?
- anonymous
Pandy: "No comment."
Adri: "I think this is more of a question for a flying professor, sweetie - you shouldn't really be reading a Quidditch magazine without knowing how to play Quidditch. Basically, the chasers have to get the quaffle through the goals, the beaters have to hit the bludgers at opposing team members, the keeper has to save goals and the seeker has to catch the snitch and end the game."
What advice do you have for young girls trying to make it big in a man's world?
- Roxane Oduba
Pandy: "Don't let any man or woman or anyone tell you that you can't make it. This may be a man's world but it means nothing without a woman or a girl. You can do this, and don't ever give up on yourself even if those around you do. You are strong, smart, and a woman - be proud of that."
Adri: "Work as hard as you can, and though it's a man's world, who says it has to be? Break those walls down, girl, and walk over the boys that stand in your way in high-heeled boots."
How do you go about getting into professional Quidditch?
- anonymous
Pandy: "Work hard and practice, and if you do that with vigor and determination, you can make it."
Adri: "Well, I was spotted at a Hogwarts Quidditch game and offered a spot, so if you know there's a manager or someone else of importance watching you play, play to the best of your ability. Actually, play to the best of your ability all the time, just play better when you have a realistic chance of being scouted. Otherwise, you need to train. A lot. And then you have to try out and show off as much as possible."
Andrew Lenton
| Position | Seeker |
| Age | 21 |
| Height | 6'0" |
"Until you're ready to look foolish, you'll never have the possibility of being great.."
| Nationality | English |
| Handedness | Left |
| Trivia | He originally trained as a MediWizard for the League. |
