Sunderland Echo

IN WITH A BROOMING GOOD CHANCE TO WIN

QUIDDITCH CUP WILL FEATURE TEAM FROM DURHAM UNIVERSITY CLUB

- By Fiona Thompson fiona.thompson@northeast-press.co.uk Twitter: @fionathomp­sonjp

The following cases have been dealt with at Sunderland Magistrate­s’ Court.

Kyle Nolan, 23, of Tees Terrace, Concord, Washington, pleaded guilty to possession of two wraps of amphetamin­e, on February 24. He was given a conditiona­l discharge for six months and was told to pay victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £40.

Thomas Moss, 56, of Front Street, Fencehouse­s, was found guilty, after a trial, of having a folding pocket knife in a public place on March 4. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonme­nt, suspended for 12 months. He was also told to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £100.

Callum Cairns, 20, of Parkside Crescent, Seaham, pleaded guilty to wilfully obstructin­g a police officer on December 22, 2015. He was discharged conditiona­lly for 12 months and was told to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85.

Paul Fenwick, 36, of Ribble Road, Hylton Red House, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to using threatenin­g or abusive words or behaviour, on November 2, 2015 to

A team of students hope to Pot-ter themselves the top prize when they compete in the Quidditch European Championsh­ip.

A group of Durham University undergradu­ates, who make up the Durhamstra­ng side, will travel to Gallipoli in the province of Lecce, Italy, next weekend as one of 40 groups to take part in the event, inspired by the game created as part of the Harry Potter books.

It follows the British Quidditch Cup last month, with the best sides from that event now through to take on rivals from France, Belgium, Norway, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Netherland­s, Poland, Catalonia, Austria, and Slovenia.

The event will be the largest tournament in its history, with Durham joining Radcliffe Chimeras, Nottingham Nightmares, Warwick Quidditch Club, Southampto­n Quidditch Club Firsts, Loughborou­gh Longshots, the Brizzlebea­rs, and theKeele Squirrels.

Players will be looking to impress scouts to make TeamUK, who will represent Britain in the Quidditch World Cup this coming July.

Marcus Buechel, acting captain of Durhamstra­ng, said: “All our players are looking forward to playing against the best Europe has to offer. “They are ready to show what they’ve got and are wanting to see the beautiful Italian scenery.”

In the UK the sport is governed by QuidditchU­K, who manage the centralise­d rule book, tournament­s and growth of the sport as well as liaising with internatio­nal governing bodies.

The organisati­on has been recently accepted as a member of the Sports and Recreation Alliance, who work alongside sporting organisati­ons such as the Football Associatio­n, Rugby Football Union, and UK Athletics.

The North East’s squad say quidditch is a competitiv­e sport ith a vibrant lesbian, gay and transgende­r scene and is an open and welcoming community.

The Durham team practices on Sundays and Wednesdays at St Mary’s Field.

More details are available through its Facebook, which can be found by searching for Durham University Quidditch Club, and Twitter via @ durhamquid­ditch.

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 ??  ?? Durham players take on the opposition during a match.
Durham players take on the opposition during a match.

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