Mark Fanning

 

What year did you begin playing Ultimate Frisbee? 

September 2007

 

 

How did you start playing?  

A friend of mine (Yasin Mammeri) and I signed up on clubs day, aswell as signing up for pretty much everything else, but having missed the first few trainings, Yasin convinced me to at least try Ultimate once, so I came to the Mardyke for training and have been hooked ever since.

 

 

Who was your first frisbee crush? 

Probably Brian O'Callaghan, he's quite dreamy isn't he :P

 

 

What was the best frisbee tournament you ever attended? 

EYUC 2013 coaching the Irish Junior Women's team;

Watching the girls give everything they had for the team and each other,
Coming second in spirit,
The support and camaraderie from the other Irish teams there and everyone back home especially the previous coaches and players who had done a terrific job creating and building such a great structure and moulding a great group of girls,
The comeback vs. Israel,
And oh ya, this happened:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdQWtz-pvI8

Two other tournaments also stand out:
Windmill 2011 with Rebel Ultimate, finishing 8th with an awesome team, was unbelievable, also Amsterdam!! Getting to the Mixed final in 2013 was pretty special too!
and
UK Mixed Indoors December 2011 with UCC, a small tight-knit team, we went over, won the tournament and had a great weekend bonding together

 

 

What was the worst frisbee tournament you ever attended?        

Finishing 5th at All-Irelands in 2013 was not one of mine or the clubs finest moments.

 

 

If you were an animal that could play frisbee what animal would you like to be and why??         

A cheetah for some speed and agility 

 

 

If a theme song was played every time you were announced onto the pitch, what theme song would you choose?       

R Kelly - The Worlds Greatest or Lupe Fiasco - Superstar;
for the sheer cockiness of the song title

 

 

What was your best Ultimate Frisbee moment?         

Winning Iv's with UCC for the first time in 2010 was special. We worked so hard all season for that moment, and when we achieved it, it really meant alot.

As mentioned above, being apart of the Junior Women's team in 2013 was amazing, and the out pour of emotion after the girls beat GB, I doubt will ever be topped. The celebrations, sing-songs and general atmosphere from all the Irish teams afterwards will never be forgotten.
The support from everyone back home, especially anyone with a previous connection to the team aka Richard Hobson et al was incredible and made it that much more special to know everyone took a genuine interest and cared about how we were doing.

 

 

Which player did you look up to when you first began playing frisbee?       

A 3 way tie between James Finn, Steve Kehoe and Brian O'Callghan, all very genuine good guys, two of which I practically "lived" with in Lima Lawn.

Jim had great form and technique on his throws while also inventing one himself: http://www.ultipedia.org/wiki/Finn

Steve was the showman who could layout, throw hucks and could do a cartwheel spin pull!

Brian was the experienced older guy who thought me alot about the game and the tactics of it.

 

 

What player do you look up to at the moment?        

No one, I'm 6ft 5in, so there's not really anything to look up to :P

Seriously though, seeing the drive and passion that guys like Donal Murray and Brian O'Callaghan still have for the game and club is inspiring.
I'm not sure if my body will allow me to continue playing into my late 20's and beyond, let alone at the very top level of the sport which they are both at.

Also seeing the dedication that players like Padraig Sweeney and Andrew Meade have put into running UL this year has been a great experience for me. Having only ever played for Cork teams, it was a great learning experience to see how other players and teams work together and I've not been disappointed.

 

 

Have you ever played a joke on one of your teammates?      

This year in UL, my number 8 was taken by someone else, so when their gear arrived myself and some of the lads borrowed it, and brought it around on a tour of UL and the surrounding area for a week.
We ran a very successful "Where's no.8?" campaign:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wheres-no8/416281705202569?sk=photos_stream
 

 

Where do you see your frisbee self in 5 years time -   

I haven't planned that far ahead.
Possibly doing more coaching than playing, but it really depends on how the next 3 and a bit years of college pan out for me, and where I might end up afterwards.
Hopefully I'll have a few more medals tucked away in the back pocket!!!

 

 

What was the best frisbee team you ever played on? 

UCC 2009/2010 season.
Utterly dominate from start to finish.

Rebel Ultimate in 2011 wasn't too far behind, won everything that year and finished 8th at Windmill Windup.

 

 

Do you have any other hobbies?   

Who needs other hobbies???

 

 

What was the best frisbee party you were ever at?        

The party after we won Iv's in 2010, was a messy messy night. It was also followed by varsity trophies big day out, a guided tour of UCC with the trophy, which kept the party going for the rest of the week.

The UK Nats party in the airport the the yellow wet-floor sign men, and after winning UK mixed indoors were pretty good aswell!!  

 

 

Have you ever thought about quitting frisbee?    

Nope

 

 

Why do you continue to play frisbee?     

The people, the competition, the ability to push myself, the desire to win more Iv's and All-Irelands, but most of all the enjoyment!

 

 

Choose your ideal frisbee player mush-up       

I'd incorporate the frisbee brain of Donal and Leo, with the fitness and speed of John Doc and the agility of Nick Peters to my own qualities and be pretty happy with that.

 

 

An interesting fact about you that people should know ?    

 I've got a really big..........................p
foot   

 

 

If you had to pick one person on your frisbee team to be stuck in a submarine with for 9 days who would you choose?   

Anyone but John Doc, I want to be able to live peacefully and without fear for those 9 days.

 

 

Do you have any nice saying - frisbee or just in general - you would like to share with us?         

"Sure look, you couldn't, because I can't even deal right now"
A.A. 14/04/2015 10:50

 

 

Do you ever wonder how different your life would be if frisbee didn't find you?

That honestly doesn't bare thinking about.
I'd probably have a college degree by now but meh, C'est la Vie!

 

Your dream job?

President of Ireland,
Think of all those perks with absolutely no responsibilities for how the country is run/governed.
Such a cushy life!

 

Thank you Mark, great interview and you will make a great President!