Chariots Awards
2009-10
 
Chairman’s Speech at Awards Day
9th May 2010

 
Chairman’s Speech at Awards day 
9 May 2010

I am once again pleased to say that the club has had another year of growth in what has been only the fifth year since the mini and junior sections were founded. Numbers have grown approximately 20% each year, and I have received many comments about how nice it is to see the club so busy on a Sunday morning. 

Of course, with an increased club size comes increased challenges. The shop and kitchen are ever busier, more players need registration, more coaches and referees are required and so on. I’d like to thank everyone who already gives up some of their precious time, and encourage those of you whom are yet to volunteer to do so. There are a number of positions where we’d like to appoint a ‘manager’, including shop, kitchen, promotions, pitches preparation, chief changing room sweeper and many more! At next year’s registration (1^st Sunday in September) Nicola Diplock will be asked to accumulate a list of those willing to give perhaps two or three days a year to helping in the kitchen. As a not for profit organisation we rely on such help so please do volunteer. 

We are always keen to recruit new coaches, assistant coaches, first aiders and referees, and the club supports those who are willing to go on various training courses. If anyone is interested in attending these over the summer, please see John Hatchett, our Club Coaching Coordinator. In particular we’d be keen to hear from any of you who are already first aid qualified who we could rely on when home games are being played. 

We are also looking for sponsors for a new range of clothing, so please email me if this is something that might be possible from your company. 

Over the summer break we are intending to once again have a fun day, and, once they have chance to take a breath, I think some of the coaches are looking to do some training over the summer. 

I’d like to encourage all of you to take a few flyers away with you today (more can be printed from our website (www.verulamians.co.uk). Please put them up in scout huts, chip shops, pubs, schools and anywhere else you can think of. We want to keep the momentum of growth up so that we can field at least one side at each age group right up to senior rugby. At the moment we still have the difficulty at ages U13 upwards that there aren’t enough players to make a full side, so we end up combining two age groups. Hopefully next year, by fielding an U14 and U16 age group we’ll manage to make sure everyone has the opportunity to play.

Awards for 2009-10 season:-

Minis

Age group	Player of the Year	Most Improved	Players’ player
Under 6	Luc  McAndrew	Oakley Sivell
Under 7	Joseph Breed	Ethan Reynolds
Under 8	Jack Liversidge	Stephen Smith	Aidan Clifford
Under 9	Jack Hegarty	Jake Ireland	Corey Fletcher
Under 10	Callum Keane	Matt Hayden	Joe Pattison
Under 11	Jordan Renolds	Curtis Wolf
Under 12	Harry Croughton	Joseph Williams-Ryan

Juniors Under 14

Player of the Year	Most Improved Forward	Forward of the year	Best newcomer	Most improved back
Josh Lawrence	Dan Smith	Will Monaghan	Jonny Townsend	Tom Croughton

Juniors Under 15

Player of the Year	Most Improved Player	Players player	Coaches player	Teamk player of the Year
Dreevesh Gooheram	Oliver Bassil	Thomas Keohane	Jacob Miller	Kieran Torbuck

Juniors Under 16

Player of the Year	Most Improved Player	Players player
Ridhaa Dollie	Elad Schwartz	Thomas Keohane

Female Player of the Year
Emily Saunders, now in her third year at the club, for her continued enthusiasm and for both playing and assisting at lower age groups.

 Mini Player of the Year
Alexander Saunders U8. Nominated by Coach and Assistant coach, Alexander is a strong fast rugby player, who has all-round skills: running, covering, tagging, dodging/swerving, staying on his feet etc. He is always friendly and co-operative during coaching & matches. He encourages his team mates and communicates with them throughout matches typical of a 'fly-half'. He doesn't seek glory and is a real Team Player. He is an asset to the team and the club. 

Junior Player of the Year
This award goes to a lad who has given 100% all season. He hardly ever misses training, and works hard to improve his skills and fitness. In a game you are always pleased to have him on your side, particularly when a last ditch tackle is required! The winner is Thomas Keohane.

 Team of the Year
This team started the season with just 4 regulars carried over from the previous year (i.e. really struggling to put a team out) and a novice coaching team, and have managed to build the team to 17 players over the season.  The playing record has been: P26 W14 D4 L8  Tries for 121.  Tries against 78, so we've averaged almost 5 tries per game.  Looking at how we've improved over the season, the playing record since Christmas has been even more impressive: P20 W13 D2 L5  Tries for 92  Tries against 43  - a win ratio of 65%, which reflects how the team has developed both skills-wise and tactically, the support of the parents (which has been invaluable), as well as the impact of having a larger squad as the season has progressed.  In the Plate competition at the County Festival, the playing record was P6 W5 D0 L1 F16 A6, losing only to the eventual competition winners and finishing a strong second in the mini-league of 7 teams. Team of the year is the U9’s

 Coach of the Year
With the harsh winter it has been a season of two halves. If the award were given for the second half, I’d have little hesitation in awarding this to Stewart Gavigan who joined us from Hemel and has introduced a new structure, level of discipline and skill set to the U15’s. I’m also very grateful for his able assistants Ashley, Craig, Will and Wyn who have all been key in keeping the Thursday evening sessions both interesting and useful for all the juniors.
However, the winner for this season goes to a chap who started the season with little experience but who has developed both himself and his team incredibly well, Andy Towle.

Club-person of the Year
I’d like to say a special thank you to Ashlyn Clifford and Hannah Ryan who were both regular helpers in the kitchen. Vernon Clough, our fixtures secretary, continued to do the difficult job of trying to match us up with appropriate opposition, despite changes to age groups. Nicola and Nigel Diplock provided support behind the scenes in terms of rounding up volunteers, car-parking etc, club stalwart Paul McGoohan continued to give his time to the kitchen, as Welfare Officer and with communications, social etc. Dai spent many an hour behind the bar and in the kitchen. Nicky Crain has demonstrated how effective a support person can be to the U15’s age group, and has been very helpful in producing the registration cards. Many others such as Camille Ward, Jayne Richards and Steve Keohane have been helped out when asked, and it is this spirit that epitomises our ethos at the club.

My clubman of the Year for 2009-10 season is Vernon Clough. 

I’d like to thank all the parents who come down and support the club and their children. I’m pleased to say we all mostly behave in accordance with the Code of Conduct and are a credit to the club. 

If anyone has any Tesco or Sainsbury’s vouchers, please could you make sure I have them before you go, or pop them in the post to me.

 Lastly can I ask all players and coaches to make their way to the front of the club for a team photo.

Rob Lines .Chairman