HRFC News

2006/07 HRFC Awards Evening 4th June 2007

Last weekend members of Harbury Rugby Club enjoyed their Annual Dinner and Awards Evening at the Clubhouse. President IAN HOLROYD reflected on a season of mixed fortunes but drew very positive messages from the hardwork and application of the Colts. He thanked all the members and players for their efforts and in particular thanked Chairman JOHN FRENCH  and the outstanding work of DAVE ANDREWS who deservedly was awarded the CLUBMAN OF THE YEAR.

On the playing side great pleasure was shared by all as STEVE ALFORD was voted PLAYER OFTHE YEAR and the work of both MATT KNIGHT and the seson's 1st team skipper MARK FINCH was noted. He also thanked SEAN GEARY and TONY COWLEY for their contribution and the work of all the Coaches, Helpers and Officials in the Colts, Junior and Mini Sections.

2006/07 HRFC Season Review 12th May 2007

We began the season with improved facilities, scrummage machine, additional practice equipment, enhanced changing room facilities, some new players and above all a new player coach to work with Tony Cowley.

Although we started off slowly Seam Geary always said that it would be christmas before a turn round occurred, and he was right. Sadly we lost our way during late Feb/March but came good at the end and finished 5th in the league table Perhaps with more luck we could have been challenging for promotion!

The 2nd XV worked well but were short of players on occasions and as a result players were forced to play out of position. In the first year of the 2nd XV Merit Table, the HRFC boys finished 4th just behind bigger clubs; a brilliant results for the squad and captain Adrian Exton.

2006/07 also saw the introduction of a Saturday Colts team, the Colts did exceptionally well in their first year and the bulk will be together next season and strengthened by some of our Under 17's. We are very pleased pleased and proud of our Colts collective effort.

We introduced an additional training night on a Monday, which though not that well attended continued throughout the season with an average of 10 players. The Wednesday sessions were well attended but too often there were not enough players in the right positions to enable an effective opposition for say the forwards. This was frustrating for Sean and Mark and obviously some of the players.

We used a lot of players in the seniors (around 70) and with injuries and cry offs this affected the structure and form of both the 1's and 2's

This season there was more transparency in selection and having Dave Andrews around to help, shape and remind was very useful.

Dave Andrews 8th May 2007

At their Annual Meeting last week members of Harbury Rugby Football Club unanimously voted for hugely popular DAVE ANDREWS to become a Life Member of the Club.

Dave, who joined Harbury in 1970, not long after he moved into the village, has been an influential figure ever since. Playing as a scrum half then he showed 37 years later that he still has the courage and tenacity to take on the role in turning out for an `A’ XV against Old Leamingtonians last month. Certainly he has greater durability than the majority of his peers who would probably prefer to watch a game from the safety of the touchline rather than play!

However, it was Dave’s foresight in establishing Mini and Junior Rugby at Harbury in 1979 when the Club moved to their Middle Road ground. He built this up from nothing to become an influential force in Midlands’s rugby. Several players that Dave has taught the basics of rugby football have gone on to play high standard rugby including currently the Northampton Saints flanker BEN LEWITT. As pleasing has been the number of such pupils who currently play in Harbury’s first team – Matthew Knight, Rob Shuttleworth, Sean Geary, Pete White, Andy and Richard Sandford and Richard Mazurek.

Over this current season Dave has taken a lead in transforming the changing facilities, advising selection and generally undertaking a huge amount of work around the Club.

Congratulations then to Dave Andrews, a true and utterly committed clubman to whom the status of Life Member is richly deserved.

Annual AGM Reivew 8th May 2007

Mini & Juniors Awards Preintation 8th May 2007

Sunday 29th April was the last Sunday of the Rugby season for our Mini and Juniors, it was a games and presentation morning.

We started with assault course races, followed with kicking target practice and rugby rounders.  Before lunch the coaches had a game of two handed tag rugby against the Under 15's, to make it a bit fairer the Under 15's had to wear wellington boots!!!  The coaches won 12 - 5 with tries from Under 15's Coach Barry Dutton and Under 10's Coach Chris Howell.  A few of the coaches will be approached for Vets rugby next year, watch out!!!!!

The more serious business of the Presentations.

All the Mini players received medals and in each age group presentations for Player of the Season, Clubman of the Year and Most Improved Player.

**If anybody has any photos of any events, that you would like to see on the website in the New Picture Gallery, please email of send on CD to Darren Nicholls**

A Permanent Memory to a Harbury Hero! Alan Padbury 5th March 2007

Alan Padbury - Paddy to all who knew him – was a wonderful young man who participated in the life of Harbury to the full especially in the sporting field where he represented both the football and rugby club. However, his involvement in the community was cut cruelly short when he became a victim of cancer in 2004. Nonetheless, Paddy was a fighter and despite the loss of a limb he held a burning desire to appear for Harbury Veterans. Sadly, this was never to be as he died on 15 February 2006 at the young age of 34.

Paddy was a member of Harbury RFC from the age of 6 and played for all the teams for nearly thirty years. He was a fearless and committed rugby player who gave his all in every match he appeared in. Moreover, he was a wonderful clubman who never moaned about which team he played in but had a fighting spirit and determination to re-gain his place. He was also someone who was willing to learn from others to help learn more about the game he played and loved.

After his death his friends and colleagues at the Rugby Club were determined to install a permanent memory to their close friend. A major change to the layout of the Clubhouse created a space from which Paddy could watch matches during the final months of his life.

This is now known as Paddy’s Place and includes photographs and memorabilia of his playing days. However, it is not just a space for reflection it is an area where friends can gather and remember Paddy in the way that he would have wanted it - some fun and laughter over a few beers.

A couple of organisations: Macmillan Cancer Support and Myton Hospice Patient Care really helped Paddy through the last few harrowing months. Members of Harbury RFC felt that a fund raising event should be held to thank these two Charities. Five members of HRFC ran in The 2006 Two Castles Run and raised £1100.

Last Saturday members of Harbury RFC, friends and relatives of Paddy’s came together at Harbury’s Clubhouse to formally open `Paddy’s Place’ and to present a cheque for £550 to each of the two organisations.

Rugby Club President IAN HOLROYD in a moving speech mentioned just how important Paddy was to the club. Moreover, he stressed that his memory would never be forgotten, how his name continually cropped up in conversations and emphasised how those who were fortunate to know Paddy will always remember a real hero.

Left-Right MARK FINCH; KEN ROBERTSON; ANITA BURROWS (Myton Hospice Patient Care); SIMON McCULLY; BERNADETTE HALTON (Macmillan Cancer Support): IAN KIMBERLEY; IAN McCLUSKEY

REG WOODHEAD 6th December 2006

Harbury lost a well loved character REG WOODHEAD, who died of cancer last week at the age of 58. Reg was a lock forward with an awkward gangly frame which was well worth its use in the lineout. He was also a remarkable goal kicker, who unlike today's wanabee Jonny Wilkinson's, put the ball down, ran a few steps and sent the ball soaring to great heights. This unconventional style, was not unilke that of PETER BROWN, a goal kicking lock for Scotland during the 1970's. Whether Reg followed his technique is questionable but Reg did enjoy a high success rate.He was one of few players who played for all the sides that Harbury have put out over the years and never moaned about being moved round the teams. A true clubman, who joined Harbury in the mid 1970's having played soccer in the successful Westlea side of that time. He played through to the early 90's and on many occasions with his brother JIM. Reg will be missed and the Club and all those who knew him send their condolences to his wife PAT, daughters JANICE and TRACEY and family.

Training Session with Coventry RFC's HENRY RHEEDERS 17th November 2006

On a cold wet dark October night, when most clubs are struggling for numbers at training sessions Coventry RFC's South African Lock Forward HENDRY RHEEDERS, who is sponsored by Club President Ian Holroyd's company - `Look Who's Talking' took a well attended and thoroughly enjoyable training/coaching session at the club last week.

Both the colts and seniors were put through their paces at the set piece - as the 'new all singing, all dancing' scrum machine was put to good use. Several players benefited from this specialist session and Hendry was only too happy to point out one or two things out about the dark art of scrummaging. Hendry will be undertaking another clinic later in the season. This involvement of outside coaches to complement the hard work being put in by coaches TONY COWLEY and SEAN GEARY is part of the approach being taken by the Playing Committee under the guidance of Club Captain MATT KNIGHT and Team Coordinator DAVE ANDREWS