UNITED STATES QUAD RUGBY ASSOCIATION

March2004

Bumper cars for big boys…
By Nicole Allen

"Quad Rugby tournament is a big hit with all ages"

Englewood, Colo.-  For anyone who has only heard of how ferocious and aggressive wheelchair rugby is, you have no idea. It is just one of those things you have to see to believe, and I was able to experience the sport during a national tournament held by the Denver Harlequins at Craig Hospital on February 13, 14 and 15, 2004.

When entering the gym you see two teams battling it out on a basketball court. They are ramming their metal wheels against each other trying to prevent the opposing team from making it to the goal. It reminds me of that show on TLC, Robot Wars, with all the metal involved with the game, as well as the important men who control it. Hunter Tamburino, age 6, came on February 13 with his grandma said he liked the game because it looked like “bumper cars for big boys.”

Our local boys, the Denver Harlequins, came in fourth at the end of the tournament with the Texas Stampede first, Phoenix Heat second, Portland Pounders third, Plan B fifth and Globe Travelers sixth. We also had one Harlequin make the All Tournament Team, Jason Regier. The other All Tournament members are Norm Lyduch of Texas, Ed Alexander of Plan B, Geremy Tinker of Texas, Will Groulx of Portland, Lynn Nelson of Portland, Brad Dubberley of Phoenix and MVP Mark Zupan of Texas. Dan Buckingham also won the Sportsmanship award.

Clips of the tournament will also be shown in an upcoming local film called The Goal. This film is about two men whose paths cross through wheelchair rugby and will be made in Denver using a few of the Harlequins in the film.

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