An interview with Pipey

A catch-up with UKTC’s founding Tournament Organiser

UKTC, the Crown Jewels of British Blood Bowl, started way back in the mists of time in York in 2015. Created and run for nine editions by a coaching legend from the North East of England - Pipey. Pipey, or Bren, is a serial tournament organiser with over forty NAF tournaments organised over the years and four Eurobowl titles to his name as part of Team England in their period of Eurobowl dominance. Having passed on the baton for UKTC and Monkey Bowl (which took place in Hartlepool this weekend just gone, run by Breakmonker) he then decided to create the UK Masters, where a highly competitive field gathered, where else, in York last year. 

It’s no understatement to say that Pipey is a stalwart of UK Blood Bowl and the community scene would be poorer without his efforts. As the new TO for UKTC I’ve leaned on Pipey for advice. So I figured as we build up to the ticket release for UKTC XI now would be a great time to have a quick interview with the man himself.

Team England celebrating third place in Barcelona in 2008 at Eurobowl V, Pipey back right.

The inspiration behind UKTC

Jock: Hi Pipey, thanks for hanging out and giving us a walk down memory lane. I came to UKTC for the first time only three short years ago, and it was obvious to me this was one of the big ones on the calendar. However, like everything, UKTC had to start somewhere. What was the inspiration for you to come up with UKTC and why did you pick York for its home?

Pipey: I was inspired by the huge success of team events like Lutece Bowl and Rugbowl in France and their success enabled UKTC to piggy back on the experiences they made. From around 2008 the UK had some relatively small but popular team events, chiefly Flame Bowl and later Monkeybowl Tribes. 

I felt we could have something much bigger so looked to carve out a slot in the calendar, make lots of noise about it (as it was then, mainly on forums and our website) and reach out to players from other countries. Over just a few years it grew from 100 to 200 to over 350 players at its peak. I was optimistic it would be popular, but was blown away by UKTC’s success. I live in Durham but chose York (less than an hour away on the train) as it’s a more central location within the UK as a whole, better connected by rail particularly and with a couple of well connected airports nearby.

Stories from years gone by

Jock: The community is full of great people and some incredible characters who leave lasting memories. Do you have a favourite memory or story from all the years of running UKTC that brings a smile to your face when you think about it?

Pipey: Peo2223 hugging nearly 100 people in 60 seconds just a few weeks before we went into lockdown in Jan 2020 was a fun one! All for charity… and little did we know how hugs in winter would be a rare thing for a few years!

I also really enjoyed UKTC 2025 run by Haychdee and team - a great event, lovely to see the baton being passed on, to kick back and relax taking part as a regular punter!

Pipey with old friend Purdindas at the Alicante World Cup as part of the long-standing Jock and Geordies partnership that's seen a great friendship between the communities over the years.

End of an era and a changing of the guard

Jock: You ran UKTC for a very long time, over more than a decade. It goes without saying that UKTC is beloved by the community. So it made sense when you felt like you needed a break that you looked for someone to pass the baton on to keep the tournament alive and well on the UK tournament calendar. 

How did it make you feel to attend last year’s UKTC as a coach playing with Haychdee at the helm as the new TO?

Pipey: It’s lovely to see and a testament to our community, so many are willing to put their hands up to help out. Running events with this kind of attendance and budget brings lots of responsibility. Thanks to Haychdee, PunchyMcRageFists, everyone else who was involved and now yourself as you take the tournament forward.

Just when he’d ‘retired’ from being a TO he gets back in the water!

Jock: This is the bit of the show where the guest star on Parky gets to promote their book! You handed over the reins of running UKTC and about five minutes later you came up with a brand new tournament that ran for the first time last November, and of course it was held in York! 

Can you give the readers the low down on the UK Masters and what the plans are for the next edition due in June next year? (Ed: very cool venue alert!)

Pipey: UK Masters is an individual event with a focus on high quality play. More Blood Bowl tourneys are taking place nowadays than ever before which is awesome; we live in a golden age! I believe there is an appetite for tournaments structured to allow experienced and skilled players seeking competitive matches to play one another more regularly. UK Masters II will be held at Warhammer World in Nottingham in June 2027 (dates TBC), a flagship venue with amazing facilities. We are hoping it will be a big hit!

Jock: Well having been at the first one and being the master of running tourneys, forty-one and counting, I’m sure UK Masters will grow from strength-to-strength and I can’t wait for the next one!

Team England, triumphant in victory at Eurobowl XIII in Wales in 2018. Pipey third from right.

What are your hopes for the future of UKTC

Jock: Taking over as the new TO for UKTC from Haychdee I have a real sense of duty and privilege at being given the opportunity to organise one of the best tournaments on the calendar. Certainly I drew inspiration from you and UKTC when it came to setting up the Home Nations, and you’ve been a great help in being the oracle to lean on when planning UKTC XI. UKTC has got a new home, hopefully for the long-term. What are your hopes UKTC in the coming years?

Pipey: That it continues to grow and develop, and remains at the heart of the UK and European tourney scene.

Jock: Thanks Pipey, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your memories and thoughts for the future of UKTC. Now is the perfect time for me to remind you reader that tickets for UKTC XI go live this coming Sunday - see the details below, and I look forward to seeing Pipey, and you, in Manchester in January!

Remember Tickets are released this week!

Tickets for UKTC XI will go on sale on Sunday 19 April 2026 at 10am BST.

For details of how to get your ticket read the blog on the registration here. Get the date in the diary. Rally the squad. We’ll see you in Manchester.