6th Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby Festival
The 6th Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby Festival took place at Hillfoots RFC, Tillicoultry, in Central Scotland on Saturday 16th August, with Teams participating from various parts of Scotland .......along with Players from Teams in Belgium ( Charleroi Black Star Club ), France ( Beauvais ) and for the first time - Israel ( Elders of Zion ). The Oldest Player Award, went to the Golden Oldies stalwart - Alistair Urquhart ( 86 ) who was playing for – Brechin BRUCE - and he was joined by his Step Son – in – Law, who took up Rugby….at the tender age of 69 !!! Each Team played three shortened Games and then enjoyed the “ Third Half ” …..at the Tilly Beer Festival !!
Although the SRU Annual General Meeting was held on the same day, Festival Ambassador – Alan Lawson, along with his wife Linda, was present to assist with the Presentation of the Festival Awards….and another Former President of the SRU – Jim Stevenson – was also in attendance and assisted with the Golden Oldies AGM. Amongst the Elders Players, was Menachem ben Menachem, the President of the Israeli Rugby Union and Ed Freedman, a Member of the European Golden Oldies Rugby Executive Committee.
Cheques from Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby, were presented to the Bill McLaren Foundation – accepted by Linda Lawson, a Director of the Bill McLaren Foundation and to the Murrayfield Centenary Fund, accepted by Jim Stevenson, a Trustee of the Fund.
At the AGM, the following were elected –
President Dave McDonald
Vice President David Carnegie
Secretary Katie Barnet
Treasurer Don Burns
The Committee of Area Representatives, was Elected as follows –
Highland / Isles Richard Davies Stornoway
Glasgow / West T B C
Grampian / NE Neil Leitch Mackie
Central Eddie Inglis Hillfoots
Tayside Gary Robertson Brechin BRUCE
South West T B C
Fife William A Hughes Waid
Borders Graeme Eastland Peebles
Edinburgh Sean Cameron Forresters
Referee Adviser Ray Mellis The Whistlers
If interested in filling one of the vacant positions, please contact – goldiesrugby@gmail.com
Thereafter, the following Awards were made –
The Innes Cup for the Festival’s Oldest Player
Alistair Urquhart Brechin BRUCE
Team of the Festival Award
Mackie MAMMOTHS
Best Supported Team
Crieff
Referee of the Festival
Robert Hood Gillan
Festival Sportiest Spirit Award
Forrester Rubies
Slaters Festival Personality Award
Ray Mellis
Clackmannanshire Provost’s Whisky, to the
Furthest Travelled Team
Elders of Zion Tel Aviv, Israel
Festival Ambassador
Alan Lawson Esq
A Floral arrangement was presented by SGO Secretary – Katie Barnett - to Provost Tina Murphy, who had attended the earlier part of the Festival.
As per the SGO Constitution, the SRU President becomes the Hon President of Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby….and Ian Rankin Esq was unanimously Elected to that position. The SGO President extended Congratulations and a Warm Welcome to Ian….and to Ed Crozier Esq, on becoming the new SRU Vice President….and stated SGO were looking forward to their support in the years to come. Also, again adhering to the Constitution, the outgoing SRU President – Donald Macleod Esq – joined Jim Stevenson and Alan Lawson, as an Hon Vice President of Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby.
A good time was had by all....and many of the Players hope to be at the next European Golden Oldies Rugby Festival, being held in beautiful San Sebastian, Northern Spain - http://egor2015.com - in June, 2015…..as part of a Scottish Touring Team. If interested in participating, please contact - goldiesrugby@gmail.com or scammie@hotmail.co.uk
The SGO President thanked Hillfoots RFC and the Local Organising Committee for their efforts…and hoped that there would be a good level of participation at next year’s Festival. Once again, a new Team had participated in the Scottish Festival and it was hoped that this growth would continue. No Venue has, as yet, been selected for our 2015 Festival…so if interested, check the information in the ‘ Documents ’ section of our Website, and if further details are required, contact – goldiesrugby@gmail.com
Whilst adhering to the IRB Laws, Golden Oldies Rugby has some variations –
There is Unlimited Substitution
Games are played over shorter time periods
Over aggressive Play is NOT condoned
Golden Oldies play in ‘ Festivals ’ not ‘ Tournaments ’
Age is shown by the colour of shorts Players wear……over 60’s cannot be Tackled
Golden Oldies Rugby is played in the Ethos of – Fun, Friendship and Fraternity
Full information on all aspects of Golden Oldies Rugby in Scotland, can be found on – http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/scottishgoldenoldiesrugby and also on the SGO Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/138012189607654 .........Please ‘ Like Us ’…..
You may also contact the SGO President – Dave McDonald - on 07866 910 865.
Dave McDonald
President - Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby Committee www.pitchero.com/clubs/scottishgoldenoldiesrugby
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