On Saturday (7 September), Bath Lacrosse Club hosts its 34th annual Bath Eights tournament.
Last year’s men’s competition winners, Cheadle Lacrosse Club, will be back and looking to win a record sixth title.
After being introduced in 2017, the women’s competition is in its third year with Stockport Lacrosse Club and Bristol Bombers winning in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Bath Eights 2019 is set to be the most exciting tournament yet with 32 men’s sides and 12 women’s sides taking part.
The men’s competition started back in 1986 when, according to Bath Lacrosse Club’s website, ‘someone had an idea: “Let’s have a pre-season tournament in September”. It would be unlikely to attract many teams, being so far from the lacrosse heartlands of Manchester and London, but it was perhaps worth a try’.
Well, the tournament is now a permanent fixture on the lacrosse calendar and is something teams from all around the country look forward to.
It is also the main source of finance for Bath’s junior development programme.
From 1986 until 2016, the Bath Eight-a-Side Lacrosse Tournament took place on the first Saturday in September on the Recreation Ground in the heart of the city.
However, the tournament moved to Odd Down Sports fields in 2017, Bath Lacrosse Club’s home between 1983 and 1986.
The newly refurbished ground, with floodlit 3G pitch, is a far cry from the original council pitches and it gives the option of expanding both the men’s and women’s tournaments if required in the future.
All funds raised from the event go towards the club development fund, which continues to help grow the sport in the local area.
For more information regarding the Bath 8s Tournament click HERE.
2019 BATH 8s TOURNAMENT CONFIRMED TEAMS
MEN
Bath
Bangor University
Bristol Bombers
Camden Capybaras
Cardiff Harlequins
Cardiff University
Cheadle
Cheadle (Coffin Dodgers)
Cheltenham Cougars
Cheltenham Cotwoldians (Cheltenham Cougars 2nd team)
City of Stoke
Epsom
Guilford Gators
Hillcroft
Hitchin
Kings College London
London Raptors
Loughborough University Alumni
Mellor
Military Lacrosse
Milton Keynes
Nottingham Trent University Alumni
Reading
Reading University Rainbows
Ruthin & Alicante
Sheffield
Spencer
Swansea University
Trowbridge
University of Bath
Welwyn
Wilmslow
WOMEN
Bath
Bristol Bombers
Cheltenham Cougars
City of Stoke
Guildford Gators
Hillcroft
Kings College London
Reading
Reading University Rainbows
Swansea University
University of Bath
Walcoutian Blues