Ballymena celebrates end of rugby season by hosting one of Irelands largest mini rugby festivals
Ballymena Rugby Football Club held its annual Mini Festival at Eaton Park on Saturday 30th April 2016 with over 100 teams attending for a full day of games and fun. Approximately 1400 players attended the event making it one of the best attended festivals of rugby across Ireland and an end of season celebration for all the Clubs involved. In addition, over 1500 Coaches and parents also attended, making it a major sporting event in the Borough.
The morning session from 9.30am to 12.30pm saw every available playing space utilised by the U6 to U9 teams, with each team having around five competitive games. Even the U5 players were able to join in with a few fun games. The Players all enjoyed a lunch prepared by the U11 Tour Fundraising Committee, who also ran a food village throughout the day operated by the parents. The Club Chairman, Derek Montgomery, presented medals to all the U5-U9 players before the end of the morning session. Derek reflected that all the Players had a great morning and fully deserved the medals for the quality of rugby observed. Billy Ashe, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, also attended the event and reflected that despite attending many similar events he had never seen anything of the scale at Eaton Park.
In addition to the rugby on display, Eaton Park had a festival feel with fun activities for the Players and siblings, including inflatable activities and a crossbar challenge run by the U18 captain, David Fullerton.
There was excitement when Ulster Rugby star Ian Humphreys attended to meet the Players and discuss the imminent fixture against Leinster. The afternoon session, from 1.00pm to 5.30pm, saw the turn of the U10, U11 and U12 teams with a full schedule of 16 minute matches until tea time. The afternoon medal presentation was carried out by Peter MacKenzie, incoming Club Chairman, who reflected Eaton Park’s delight to host so many teams in a celebration of mini rugby to such high standard by all the participating Clubs. With recent success by U12 at the Larne Festival, U11 on their Scottish tour and U10 winning in London Irish Festival, it was a great day for all the Ballymena Players to put their skills on display. There was an additional buzz in the afternoon by all at Eaton Park to hear that Ulster had been successful in their match against Leinster in Belfast.
Roger Alexander, U10 Head Coach, expressed the thanks of all of the P7 tour fundraising team who had support from many organisations to assist with making the day a great success. We are grateful to have sponsors to ensure the event is possible, such as, Michelin, AIB, McLaughlin & Harvey, Piperhill Construction, Calor Gas, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Marks & Spencer. The main Sponsors included Applegreen and McKillops Spar on Frys Road. Eamon McKillop stated, ‘We are delighted to be main sponsor and continue supporting this major event at Eaton Park as one of the largest community sporting events in the Borough.’
With almost 300 players from ages 5 to 12 years, the Club is proud to have one of the largest Mini Rugby Sections in Ulster. Other clubs always express how much they enjoy coming to Eaton Park for the quality of our rugby and the hospitality and spirit our club have towards them. David Cooke, this years Mini Rugby Convener, also expressed thanks to all the Volunteers from the Club who assisted in making the day such a success, including the Order of Malta medical team. The 2016/17 registration date will be publicized shortly on the website.
