Now that Amani Hooper has officially signed with the Montrose Magpies, it is time to begin the sweepstakes for the next best Seeker available: Oscar Sinclair. Despite missing seven games and only catching ten snitches last season with Pride of Portree, Sinclair is garnering much attention from at least five teams in the British and Irish Quidditch League.
Sinclair, 30, spent two seasons as a reserve Chaser for the Appleby Arrows before playing his first game as Seeker. After catching the Snitch in an exhibition match against the Heidelberg Harriers, he was bought by Pride of Portree, where he spent the next ten years.
Sinclair's time with the Prides had its ups and downs. Sinclair finished in the top four of the league in catches from 2005 to 2008. In 2009, he narrowly whiffed on a catch that would have given Puddlemere United their first loss of the season. He did end up catching the snitch twenty-seven minutes later, at which point Puddlemere United was already up by thirty goals. However, the last few years have been riddled with mishaps for Sinclair, including two broken jaws and six concussions.
The reason for Sinclair's decline from greatness is not his fault alone. In 2011, the Prides signed second-year Beaters Abdul Scott and Cooper Milne to long-term contracts. Scott, 22, and Milne, 23, have potential to be a solid duo in the future, but for right now, they simply are not getting the job done.
“It is the Beater's responsibility to protect their teammates, especially the Seeker,” says Quidditch expert Kennilworthy Whisp. “Without the Seeker, catching the snitch is impossible.”
Pride of Portree has not done enough to protect their franchise player and with Scott and Milne in the lineup for the next four-plus years, it is unlikely that they will be able to make improvements any time soon. Sinclair will not be in the league much longer if he continues to take bludgers to the head, but he is still a very good Seeker.
And every team in the British and Irish Quidditch League knows it. Sinclair has been in contact with numerous teams in the past week, arranging tryouts and negotiating contracts. Among these teams are the Falmouth Falcons, who are currently without a Seeker.
Falmouth fans believe the Falcons are a perfect fit for Sinclair and many Quidditch experts believe the Falcons are the frontrunners in the Sinclair sweepstakes. The Falcons are historically recognized for their strong Beating teams. Bernd Bergmann and Felix Hartmann are fine Beaters, capable of warding off any bludgers that come near their Seeker. The Falcons have also been making huge improvements to their Quaffle game in the past few years. With Sinclair, they could possibly have what it takes to win it all.
At least four other teams within the British and Irish Quidditch League have made offers to Sinclair. However, Sinclair has been receiving more and more attention recently from foreign teams as well. The Grodzisk Goblins and the Brzuze Bruisers of the Polish Kwidiczliga have both expressed interest in acquiring the veteran Seeker.
“I could see myself playing in a different league this year,” Sinclair said during a press conference in London. “It is definitely a possibility, but I am going to weigh all my options and do what I think is best for my career.”
Sinclair, 30, spent two seasons as a reserve Chaser for the Appleby Arrows before playing his first game as Seeker. After catching the Snitch in an exhibition match against the Heidelberg Harriers, he was bought by Pride of Portree, where he spent the next ten years.
Sinclair's time with the Prides had its ups and downs. Sinclair finished in the top four of the league in catches from 2005 to 2008. In 2009, he narrowly whiffed on a catch that would have given Puddlemere United their first loss of the season. He did end up catching the snitch twenty-seven minutes later, at which point Puddlemere United was already up by thirty goals. However, the last few years have been riddled with mishaps for Sinclair, including two broken jaws and six concussions.
The reason for Sinclair's decline from greatness is not his fault alone. In 2011, the Prides signed second-year Beaters Abdul Scott and Cooper Milne to long-term contracts. Scott, 22, and Milne, 23, have potential to be a solid duo in the future, but for right now, they simply are not getting the job done.
“It is the Beater's responsibility to protect their teammates, especially the Seeker,” says Quidditch expert Kennilworthy Whisp. “Without the Seeker, catching the snitch is impossible.”
Pride of Portree has not done enough to protect their franchise player and with Scott and Milne in the lineup for the next four-plus years, it is unlikely that they will be able to make improvements any time soon. Sinclair will not be in the league much longer if he continues to take bludgers to the head, but he is still a very good Seeker.
And every team in the British and Irish Quidditch League knows it. Sinclair has been in contact with numerous teams in the past week, arranging tryouts and negotiating contracts. Among these teams are the Falmouth Falcons, who are currently without a Seeker.
Falmouth fans believe the Falcons are a perfect fit for Sinclair and many Quidditch experts believe the Falcons are the frontrunners in the Sinclair sweepstakes. The Falcons are historically recognized for their strong Beating teams. Bernd Bergmann and Felix Hartmann are fine Beaters, capable of warding off any bludgers that come near their Seeker. The Falcons have also been making huge improvements to their Quaffle game in the past few years. With Sinclair, they could possibly have what it takes to win it all.
At least four other teams within the British and Irish Quidditch League have made offers to Sinclair. However, Sinclair has been receiving more and more attention recently from foreign teams as well. The Grodzisk Goblins and the Brzuze Bruisers of the Polish Kwidiczliga have both expressed interest in acquiring the veteran Seeker.
“I could see myself playing in a different league this year,” Sinclair said during a press conference in London. “It is definitely a possibility, but I am going to weigh all my options and do what I think is best for my career.”