* “ Oh yes its ladies night and the feelings right Oh yes its ladies oh what a night” Kool And The Gang belted this song out some years ago but it would not have been out of place at the Annual Awards Night in The Club last Saturday night. Someone asked jokingly if we required the loan of some trophies for the Awards Evening. I think the answer was an emphatic “no!” Yes it was a memorable year that does not come along too often, to celebrate for the Ladies in both Football and Camogie. The ladies footballers won all before them in League, the Championship and Feis Sevens whilst the Senior Camogs won the club’s first ever Championship in this code and finished runners up in the league. Not to be out done the seconds won the All County Premiere Reserve Championship. The Senior Hurlers and the Senior Footballers won Feis Titles. Our Senior Footballers finished top of the league but lost out in the League Final. This was the first year ever in our history that all the Senior Teams in our club won a county title in the same year. It was a memorable night. The three Championship winning management teams were honoured by the club by being presented with Cuchulainn Crystal to celebrate their magnificent achievements. We were also honoured to have a magnificent guest speaker in Ross Carr and to have the Chairman of The Down Ladies Board Philip O’Hare & his wife Agnes and Down Camogie Board Chairwoman Deirdre McGrath & her husband Francis as guests for the evening. The winner of our Hall Of Fame Award was James McKenny. James was unable to be there on the night due to a prior engagement. We were able to make the presentation to him earlier in the week when Chairman Kevin Sweeney and John O’Neill presented him with his award. James was a great player and has been a great supporter of our club over the years. He reminisced about coming home from College in Dublin as a fourteen year old boy and asking Frankie Rooney to ask his older brother Dan could James play for The Town. We are glad Dan said yes and we are glad that he did. We will not mention the rugby bit James will we? Moving on James will be able to regale to his Bryansford friends mainly Messrs Kane & Cunningham of this award when they are sitting in the refines of the Burrendale Hotel where he holds court most mornings and indeed bats away all that the friendly banter of his good rivals and friends. Ross Carr in his address to us all spoke eloquently of The Town, of its rich history in Gaelic Games and of the time a gangly Ciaran McCabe whom he never heard of until he lined out at centre half forward and Ross marking him. After 10 minutes Ciaran had 1-03 on the board and turned Ross inside out. He did that to everybody Ross, it was nothing personal! He reserved special praise for Colm McAlarney who has kept in touch with him throughout his county career right from his debut for Down through his time as manager of our County. He has always valued his encouragement every step of the way. The final award of the evening was The Club Person of the Year Award. Brian Dougherty who was at the centre of the organising of the Awards Evening did not realise our Chairman Kevin Sweeney was talking about him. This took the form of eloquent words and deserved praise for all his hard work both as secretary and his role as in the Senior Football Management team. No job too big or too small. Indeed this scribe was unable to go to get some last minute things required for the awards night on Saturday, who did I rely on? – yes The Doc! He also got a bit of a comedy roasting which would have to be part and parcel where he is concerned! Well done to all our teams and awards recipients for your fantastic achievements this year. Thank you should go especially to Francie McAlinden and Joe McPhillips for getting the hall ready for the Awards Night. Another big thank you to a Moira Hawkins whom we jetted home from Australia to organise the night along with Ciaran Brannigan who didn’t get to Australia! To the organising committee – well done! All the award winners were; Hall of Fame – James McKenny; Club Person of the Year – Brian Dougherty; Senior Footballer of the Year – Fintan McGreevy; Senior Hurler of the Year – Jason Croskery; Ladies Footballer of the Year – Karen McMullan Ladies Managers Player Of The Year – Kyla Trainor; Under 21 Footballer of the year – Sean Dornan; Minor Footballer of the Year – Rossa McCartan; 2nds Footballer of the Year – Caolan Corrigan; Contribution Award Minor Football Team – Ryan Lundy
* ACTIV8 IS BACK! We are once again organising Activ8, for those that are unfamiliar with it, it is a health and fitness programme held throughout lent. It is for men and women 18-80 of all abilities. We have over 20 weekly events and each person that signs up can pick and choose what they attend, all for £30, much less than £1 per day. The participants are grouped into 8 teams and encouraged to attend as many events as possible to get points for their team. The events include; Salsa Dancing, Tag Rugby, Running, Yoga, Circuits, Ballroom Dancing, Zumba, Hiking, Tai-Chi, Basketball, Archery* (surcharge of £5), Chair Aerobics, Netball, Pilates, Walking, Cycling and lots more. Again all for just £30!!! Registration is this Thursday 27th February in Castlewellan Club, with activities beginning on Ash Wednesday 5th March. There is also a social aspect to this programme and we'll be planning a few nights and evenings as well and as everyone who participated last year will testify, its good craic too. So if your new year’s resolutions are distant memories and you want a challenge then this is the perfect programme for you.
* Thank you to all of the club members who attended the Child protection course last Friday Night in the Club.
* Anyone interested in juvenile coaching in football, hurling or camogie please contact John O’Neill on 07711737610
* The club is in the process of updating the jerseys of all teams in the club. If any business or individual feels they would like to sponsor or make any contribution towards the purchase of a set of jerseys, could they please contact Brian O'Neill.
* The Spring Coaching programme for Juveniles (Pre – School to P7) will commence on this Saturday March 1st in St Malachy’s High School. Pre – School, P1, P2 and P3 boys and girls will run between 10 and 11am. P4, P5, P6 and P7 boys and girls will run from 11am to 12 Noon. The course will be free to all who register as club members in 2014. You can register your child as a member on the day £10 for Pre – School, P1 and P2 and £25 for children from P3 to P7. As a member you will be entitled to take part in over 40 coaching sessions, blitzes and games and there will be various other events arranged throughout the year. We would encourage everyone to register as members but for those who are maybe trying our games for the first time you can pay £5.00 for the 5 week programme and join later at which time the £5 will be deducted from the membership fee.
