Press release: 5/08/02

	Amsterdam 2002
Press release: 5/08/02		Women take the triple
The London Cruisers, the UK’s only lesbian and gay basketball club, took 4 teams to Amsterdam a European tournament hosted by the Amsterdam Tigers on the 2^nd August, The women came first (the third successive victory) and fourth and the men’s team came fourth and sixth.
The women fielded two strong teams, the first team in fine form, with Laura Dewar, player-coach, having a chance to work with a team that will be heading to Sydney for the Gay Games in November 2002. After beating Paris in a close opening game, the first team went on the beat Zurich, Fatal Attraction from Amsterdam and in the semi-finals came up against fierce competition from the B team. The B team lost to Berlin and came a well-deserved fourth and also walked off with the ‘sexiest legs’ award. The A team had to face the physical French team again in the final. With strict refs in control of the game the Cruisers could let their skill shine through with some excellent set moves and some truly awesome shooting from Lindsay Garret. The atmosphere in the final was tense, and there was light relief during half time when two of the male Cruisers came on court with a cheer-leading cruisers rap. Encouragement for the second half when the Cruisers stayed in control and beat Paris by a clear 5 points. This was their third victory in the 3 successive European tournaments and makes the Cruisers the European team to beat in Sydney!
		It was good to see the men fielding a second team and yet again, the first team, European champions at the Eurogames in Zurich 2002 looked ready for action. Unfortunately the first team have still to find their previous form, but battled hard against an invincible Amsterdam team and their old friends, Paris B, who came second. In the semi-finals the Cruisers were up against a tough team from Budapest and despite putting up a hard fight, failed to get in control of the game and came fourth overall — maybe because like the women’s B team, they were too busy looking pretty, pulling off the ‘sexiest legs’ award. It took a while for the new players to settle in and for the B team to gel, but although they didn’t pick up an award for their basketball dexterity, they did come away with the ‘gayest team’ award.
The tournament was organised, like the Gay Games four years ago, to coincide with Amsterdam’s Canal Parade or gay pride. London Cruisers, having played tournaments in Paris, Barcelona, Zurich and Amsterdam now feel compelled to host a competition here in London. With the amount of organisation required and Sydney in the offing, the Cruisers are looking at 2004, and need some serious sponsorship.