BALLYCLARE CELEBRATE PROMOTION
CLICK HERE for shots from the awards dinner
Ballyclare R.F.C. had several reasons to celebrate on Saturday night 3rd May at their Annual Dinner and Awards evening. Not only did it mark the 65th year of the club but also the 1st Xv had won Qualifying 2 to return to Section 1 – the same thing happened 40 years ago when the team coached by Laurence Caldwell managed to get promotion to the old Junior 1 (later Qualifying 1) and remained there for 31 seasons before being relegated to Q.2. But the side over the past four seasons has challenged for promotion and the signs became positive last year ending strong runners up to Bangor as well as being joint winners of the Towns Cup. In the current season the side led by Rab Boyd and coached by Bob Young also got to Ravenhill again to contest the final of the Junior Cup losing narrowly to Ballynahinch 2nds. They won the league this year with only one defeat away to Omagh who proved to be strong challengers throughout 2013-14. The success of the last two seasons led to four players being part of the Ulster Junior panel and it was great to see all four back late on Saturday night from County Cork after a narrow 10-9 defeat to Munster -all Ulster`s points coming from the Clare`s Gary Clotworthy -the other representatives were fly half Nial Lawther,lock Rab Boyd and flanker Gary Weatherup.
The dinner did not have the usual somewhat boring speech and instead all present watched a fine visual presentation of the year`s success on the big screen prepared by Matt Dailly. Outgoing President Garth Johnston thanked all those who had made the season most memorable on and off the field and new President Ken Wylie congratulated the quartet of Clare men selected for the Ulster Juniors. Club Captain Rab Boyd thanked coach Bob Young and his assistants while former Ulster Branch President Laurence Caldwell also congratulated the players and the club officials for one of the best years in the history of Clare rugby.
The draw was made by Eddie Simms for the final winners of a most successful 200 Club. Outgoing club Chairman Alastair Lindsay introduced the winners of the club awards who were -4th XV Captain -Mark Fox and Player of Year -Tony Turner; 3rd Xv Captain -Chris Gawn and Player of Year -Dave Rodgers; 2nd XV captain -Michael Stevenson and Player of Year -Steven Beasant; 1st XV captain -Rab Boyd and Player of Year-Rab Boyd; Top Points Scorer -Bobby Smith; Top Try Scorer -Adam Wardrop; Coulter Cup (for Place kicking) -Thomas McGookin (Under 17 XV); Most Improved Player -Jordan Brownlee; Young Player of Year (shared) -Jordan McKinstry and David Lawther; Ulster Plaques -Gary Clotworthy, Gary Weatherup,Rab Boyd and Nial Lawther; Club Player of Year -Rab Boyd; Clubman of Year -Willie Shaw ;
NEW CLUB OFFICIALS
At the recent A.G.M. the following were elected to the leading positions for the 2014-15 season –Patron -Peter Caldwell; President -Ken Wylie; Senior Vice President-Alastair Lindsay; Junior Vice President -Robin Byers; Chairman -Peter Kirk; Vice Chairman -Aaron Blackbourne; Hon.Secretary -David Lyttle; Assistant Hon.Sec -Joe Kelly; Hon.Treasurer -Willie Shaw; Assistant Treas -Graeme McKinstry; Members of General Committee -Stevie Crawford; Simon Baird and Ronnie McMurran;
