Leinenkugel’s SpringFest Kubb Championship 2017 Recap

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wisc. — The third annual Leinenkugel’s SpringFest Kubb Championship was held on Saturday, April 30, 2017 with 18 teams. The “spring” part of that title may have been a little overstated, as most players were wearing gloves and heavier coats throughout most of the day. The sun peeked out for a few hours, but it was no match for the gusty wind, making for a fairly cold day. The wind was so intense that batons and even kubbs in mid-drill were being blown around.

The day started with a round of group play. This consisted of three groups of four teams and one group of six teams. After three rounds of group matches (best of three series), there was an additional inter-group match. After this teams were seeded into the championship bracket.

Teams losing in the round of 16 would be moved to the Beer Bracket, where they would compete for a free pitcher of beer.

The championship bracket had a lot of familiar faces and created some very tough and competitive matchups. In the semifinals, Damage Incorporated (Darren Finger, Scott Forster, Gregg Jochimsen) matched up with Two Beardos and a Weirdo (Emily Jipp, Andrew Thibodeau, Brian Winistorfer). On the other side was the three-generation family team, Ringers (Aaron Ellringer, Dave Ellringer, Sy Ellringer) and Tyr’s Tre (Eric Anderson, Scott Graham, Cory Shay). It wasn’t the first time any of these teams have met late in a championship bracket, and it probably won’t be the last.

The Damage Incorporated and Two Beardos and a Weirdo match went to three games. Damage Incorporated opted to take the side with a wind advantage which proved to be the right choice. They would take a close game one. Thanks to a big blast from Jipp, Two Beardos and a Weirdo battled back to take game two. Game three was another very close one that ended with Damage Incorporated taking the game, and match, on a turn with seven kubbs in play.

Tyr’s Tre matched up against a fellow Eau Claire team, Ringers. This match also took three to decided. In game one, Ringers came out hot on eight meters hitting four with their first six baton turn. Tyr’s Tre started a comeback, but it was too late. Game two went very similarly, but this time it was Tyr’s Tre that took four out of six batons and the win. The final game was an intense battle to finish, but the Ringers eventually came out on top.

Damage Incorporated came out swinging in the finals against Ringers. They took game one very quickly and game two seemed even faster. After the match, Dave Ellringer said with a grin, “That was painless.” You can watch most of game two below.

In the third place game, Tyr’s Tre and Two Beardos and a Weirdo played a tight match. This two game match actually lasted longer than the finals. Two Beardos and Weirdo stayed in it, but couldn’t string together their successes long enough to get ahead. Tyr’s Tre eventually won 2-0, earning third place and the final spot on the podium.

Final Results

1. Damage Incorporated (Darren Finger, Scott Forster, Gregg Jochimsen)
2. Ringers (Aaron Ellringer, Dave Ellringer, Sy Ellringer)
3. Tyr’s Tre (Eric Anderson, Scott Graham, Cory Shay)

Beer Bracket Winners: Dowel Movements (Casey Anderson, Brian Evans, Christopher Jones)