Ards Rugby Club Notes
Match Reports And Scores
1st XV – Suttonians 22 v 11 Ards
2nd XV – Ards 7 v 44 City of Derry
3rd XV – Ards 12 v 55 Queens
4th XV – Ballynahinch 7 v 15 Ards
U19s – Ards 7 v 10 Carrick
U17s – Portadown 15 v 10 Ards
Cois Beukes 3 Nations Cycle Challenge
In November 2010 Cois Beukes lost his 10 month battle with a rare and aggressive form of Cancer known as Sarcoma. Cois’ passing at 35 years of age is a tragic loss to all that knew him and he leaves behind a loving wife and daughter. Cois proved to be an inspiration throughout his life and through his passion and involvement with rugby as a player and a coach, Cois had an incredible way of caring for others around him. An honest, loyal and loving man, Cois’ memory lives on.
To pay tribute to Cois, in aid of Marie Curie Belfast, his wife Rachel and a group of 29 friends have decided to embark on a charity ride from Cardiff to Belfast. The Cois Beukes 3 Nations Cycle challenge will cover 350 miles over 4 days through Wales, England and Ireland. The journey will mirror that of Cois when he first moved from SA to Cardiff in 1997. Two of the four days will be spent cycling nearly 100 miles per day through the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia national parks. Areas that are believed to have the odd hill! It’s going to be a tough challenge so please get behind the team to raise money for a worthy cause.
For more information, please logon to www.justgiving.com/coiscycle and www.expeditionwise.com
Funding Workshops For Clubs
In the current financial climate, rugby clubs are looking at different ways of securing additional income. Read on
Traditionally rugby clubs have turned to a variety of funding bodies to assist them with the development of projects, however as funding programmes start to be cut back, clubs are finding it more and more
difficult to access these funds.
To assist clubs, the IRFU (Ulster Branch) is hosting a series of information evenings based around the general area of funding. The evening will look at a number of topics including:-
Identifying your clubs needs and planning for future funding applications.
Hints and tips on how to prepare a grant application.
Advice on supporting material required.
How to build a case for funding your project and evidencing need.
Looking at why applications are not successful.
Current funding opportunities and sources of funding.
Typical things that funders are looking for.
Review of recent funding programmes.
These seminars will take place as follows:-
16th February Ravenhill Rugby Grounds, Belfast 7:30pm to 8:30pm
23rd February Omagh RFC 7:30pm to 8:30pm
If you would like to attend the evening please register your details by either of the following methods:-
Email rugbydevelopment@ulsterrugby.com
Phone Julie Dorman on 028 9049 3111 ext 239
Ards Sports Awards 2010
Applications for the 2010 Ards Sports Awards are now being received and have to be submitted at Ards Borough Council Offices by Friday February 4. For more details and application forms please log on to www.ards-council.gov.uk
Ladies
Ards Ladies recent recruitment drive certainly raised their profile with a number of potential new recruits taking their first tentative steps towards playing rugby by coming along to the Club or following up on contacts made. This is very encouraging for the girls and hopefully gets more players down at the Club in the coming weeks. Ards Ladies train on Wednesdays at the club from 7pm, and all new players will be very welcome to come along and give it a try.
Mini
It is proposed to host Ards Mini Rugby Tournament this season on Sunday April 17 from 12 noon. Details on the Tournaments format are still being worked out and will be announced in the coming weeks. Any parent or guardian who would like to assist the Mini Committee in organising such a mammoth event or help out on the day would be very welcome and is asked to contact their respective coaches or forward their contact details on to the Mini Co-ordinator, Ian Caughey.
The Minis next set of friendly games are away to Carrick on Saturday February 5. Players should meet at Carrick’s Woodlawn Grounds, Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus no later than 9.45am.
News Worthy Items
Please remember to keep on submitting news worthy items, match reports and photos etc to the club PRO or webmaster for publication in the local media and Club website on a regular basis.
Social
The Annual Club Dinner will be held in the clubrooms at Hamilton Park on Wednesday March 16 from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £20 and places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. Please contact Teddy Sloan or Terry Atcheson for more information.
Tours
After last seasons successful tour to Glasgow, Cumnock RFC have indicated that they would like to tour Ards this time round. Two dates that are being considered are Saturday April 16 or Saturday May 7. The team they propose brining will be in the U19/20s range, so hopefully Ards can return the favour and give them a tour to remember.
Meanwhile the U17s are looking towards the end of the season with a proposed tour to Barcelona in Spain. The tour is dependant on the availability of player numbers and would be around May/June time. All players interested in going on the tour should contact Dayle Jones for more details.
Tag Rugby
The Schools Tag Rugby Blitz for the Ards Borough has been penciled in for Thursday March 17. Teams would arrive at Ards Rugby Club at approximately 10:30am to register, with the event itself kicking off at 11am. All Schools in the Ards Borough will be invited to enter a team and more details on the actual itinerary will be released soon.
Tag Rugby (non-contact) is for both boys and girls and can be played both indoors and out. Anyone who would like this great activity delivered to their school or clubs should contact Emma Hingston, the Sports Development Officer at Ards Borough Council on 02891 824000 or e-mail emma.hingston@ards-council.gov.uk to book their place.
Fixtures – Saturday February 5
Ards 1st XV v Greystones – AIL (Away)
Ards 2nd XV v TBC
Ards 3rd XV v Portadown – Foster Cup (Away)
Ards 4th XV v TBC
Ards U19s v TBC
Ards U17s v Omagh – Cup (Home) Kick-off 11am
Mini v Carrick – Friendly (Away) Kick-off 10am
Fixture – Sunday February 6
Ards U13s v Bangor – Friendly (Away) Kick-off 12 noon
All Saturday fixtures have a 2.30pm kick-off unless otherwise stated.
Please refer to the club website at www.ards-rfc.com for any late changes
