2010 ***20th Anniversary***

36 teams including "American Idols" from the USA and 9 fields fully booked up by July forcing us to add a 9th field to cope with the demand for places and still several teams missed out. Organisers produced a memento for every player and a gift for every team.

2009

Slammers, one of Britain's top A-grade teams, might have been expecting an easy win in the Grand Final of the 2009 Edinburgh Festiball when their opponents turned out to be the Rally Caps, a local Edinburgh Softball League team.

But Slammers had to withstand some terrific fielding and a late rally by the Rally Caps before emerging with an 8-6 victory that gave them the Festiball's top prize, the Pentlands Cup.

Twenty-nine teams took part in the 19th Festiball, played in weather that ran the gamut from dry and sunny to overcast, windy and rainy – but at least there was no snow!. That ungainly number of teams was the result of one team withdrawing on the Wednesday evening before the tournament, forcing a major schedule revamp on the disgruntled organisers.

2008

Co-operation by the weather and the ground staff at Peffermill Field in Edinburgh allowed the annual Edinburgh Festiball to be played in warm and sunny conditions on the weekend of August 23-24, despite heavy rain in the preceding days.

All games at Peffermill during the preceding week – including football – were cancelled to preserve the grounds for the Festiball, and despite torrential rain Thursday night, moving a couple of pitches on Friday made it possible to play.

And the beneficiaries were Niners, who warmed up for next week’s A Nationals by winning Comp 1, Manchester Lions, who took Comp 2 and Manchester Outlaws, who won Comp 3.

2007

The sun shone, the rain stayed away, and Festiball reaches maximum - 36 teams - a new format - 3 sections of 12, with a double elimination format for the final groupings.

The final contested between the King-ding-aling, a composite team from the London area and the Slammers - The Kings winning through...

Another visit from the North American Powersquad International, this year with two Squads - maybe 3 next year ?

We look forward to welcoming old friends, and new for 2008...

2006

Over 30 Teams from around Great Britain, plus Powersquad International from North America - our first overseas visitors, and hopefully they will return in 2007. The weather was much improved over 2006, and the final was played in front of a packed Grandstand. The Manchester Mavericks were victorious

2005

34 Spaces taken, 10 in Comp 1, 18 in Comp 2 and a new Comp 3 - Festiball has come and gone, but the main final on Sunday afternoon will be remembered by many. Over 200, huddled on the main stand in wind and rain, watched the Pioneers beat the Slammers in the bottom of the 7th Inning - Remember to get your entries/deposits in for 2006 early

2004

Biggest entry yet (32), with a couple of Irish Teams, and entries from all over the UK - great weather as usual. Clan Red won the trophy this year.

2003

A further increase in entries (27), nearing saturation point...a 1st for the Festiball - Competition now split into Comp 1 & 2 - Slammers make it 3 in a row, this time beating Mr Blu's (Edinburgh) - Much discussion results in beer now replacing medals !!!

2002

Slammers retain their title beating the Clan (Scotland) in a closely fought final (7-5)

2001

The Festiball, now with 25 Teams, including our 1st Irish Visitors (Keltic Shock and Oddsox Green) - The Slammers beat the Meteors, a reversal of 2000

1999

Could this be our year, NO..... - this time The Chromies (London) venture to the Festiball and take the title beating the Slammers (London)

1998

More growth - 18 Teams - Manchester Mavericks take the Title again - Would a Scottish Team ever win ?

1997

Another move for the Festiball - this time to its present residence - Edinburgh University at Peffermill - 16 Teams - but this time a win for a Regional Team, Manchester Mavericks beat the Bravehearts

1995

The Tournament was now getting too large to 'play in the park' - the Tournament moved to Heriot Watt University on the outskirts of Edinburgh - better facilities, flatter grounds and marked diamonds !! - Picts had never won the Festiball - Was this their year? - Sadly no, The Greens beat the Picts 11 -10 in an exciting final

1994

This was the year Liz got involved in the organisation of the Festiball - 8 Teams - Picts 'A' & 'B', Greens, Red Roosters, Jesters, Secret Agents, Genies and Muswell Hill - The Genies first expedition North of the Border stopped the Greens winning their 4th Title - That was the year... the rain was horizontal and freezing cold !!

1993

Scottish Hospitality lured 3 Teams back - yet again the Greens triumphed !!

1992

Enough players from London came up to make two squads - Reds & Greens - and the Festiball never looked back - The Greens triumphed !!


1991
The Festiball was started by Andy Cannon, from the Picts Softball Club, in 1991. Andy was contacted by a group of Softball Players from London, who were coming to the Edinburgh Festival over the Bank Holiday in August - thus how the Tournament got its name. Being the only team in Scotland, at that time, Andy took the chance to get some softball games in over the weekend - at last he had some opposition.

A fantastic weekend was had by all - and the visitors decided to come back the following year - In those early days, there were two in the Festiball and it was played in Holyrood Park

Created on 04/18/2005 06:26 AM by festiball Updated on 08/22/2010 03:24 PM by liz

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