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Congratulations and a big thank-you to everyone who played at our festival this weekend. Well done to all trophy winners.

Festival Hall of Fame:

Congratulations to everyone who took part particularly the children who played some terrific rugby. Thanks for making the day worthwhile.

Message from Dave Jones (minis chairman):

All that preparation and over in a flash !
I'd like to take a moment to thank all of you, coaches parents and kids, who worked so hard to ensure our festival was a great success.

I will avoid thanking anyone in person, as I'm bound to miss someone, but the usual unsung heroes rose to the challenge !

For some the work started many months ago, when we decided who was going to be invited, and sent out the invites.
Despite some late changes we able to field a full compliment of teams in every pool for every age group. Something that reflects the reputation of our event.

We had an excellent team at the club on Saturday who did everything from sweeping the drive and collecting litter, to erecting tents and marking the pitches.

Despite the Herculean effort of carrying the concrete slabs from the sled, to hold the tents down, the wind had other idea's.

We turned up on Sunday morning to find that 2 of our tents resembled matchwood, and were destined for the skip. My thanks go to Martyn Harrison for not wanting a replacement for the borrowed tent.

I turned up on Sunday with an minibus full of Army Cadets, who performed their usual car parking duties with effortless precision. They were so keen to maximise the space they even tried to get both coaches into the same space ! I'm sure the threat to sue us was only an idle threat from the irate driver with a bent wing mirror.

With the big tent suitably anchored to the ground, the trestles laid out inside were soon heaving under the weight of cakes for sale. I'm an optimistic person by nature but had serious doubts whether we would sell even half of them. I should have listened to the ladies who know best, as true to their word, it was only a few fairy cakes which were given away at the end of the day.

Thanks to all those who contributed to the stall, and enormous gratitude to those that ran it with so many of their own efforts. I must admit that I did my best to reduce the pile at regular intervals !

The face painting was also a great success as who could refuse such a charming band of girls, armed with their crayons. I'm not saying they were heavy handed but the impression of the pens is still on my cheek a day later. As is usually the case, those ladies that manned the tuck shop and the kit store were missing all the fun, as they were stuck inside. Given the weather they were probably in the best place.

The raffle returned the largest profit ever, and despite the fantastic job that was done to amass the prizes, many were still left at the end uncollected. It always surprises me how the unassuming chap, in the day glow jacket, can extract some change out of people who have previously refused. Must be his gentle nature and charming smile !

The biggest fright I had of the day was when a lady told me that the ladies toilets were not working. All sorts of visions went through my mind which were none too pleasant I can tell you. I told her that was the responsibility of Billy, and made a hasty retreat. I apologise to anyone who suffered at the hands of the slow filling cistern but there is a limit to the Minis chairman role, and that certainly is it !

I said I wouldn't mention anyone by name but one man was responsible for oiling all the festival cogs yesterday. He was there all day Saturday and Sunday, and didn't stop the whole time. He doesn't say much, which must come in handy when you see the formidable women that he has to live with ! My sincere thanks go to my namesake.

Despite the hailstones, the dodgy training pitch, the trophies coming off the base, and the sound system failing to penetrate the winds, the whole day came and went, for most people, without a hitch.

I had planned to slip into the bar and drink Billy's profit when the last team had left. Unfortunately having to drive a minibus at the last minute, and the bar takings being particularly poor, this was not to be.

I eventually got home about 6:30 and slumped into the sofa for a well earned rest, before I remembered by kit bag was full of money to be counted. Ah well !

Thanks again to all of you that made the festival such a great success, and give yourselves a well earned pat on the back !

Regards

Dave Jones

Chairman of St Mary's Old Boys Mini's Section

Phone: 01454 632480, Mobile: 07790 493962

Email: david.h.jones@eds.com