Corbridge Festival - ‘It’s all about the music’ on Saturday 7th July!

Northumberland’s biggest family friendly music festival returns for 2012. Offering guaranteed crowd-pleasing bands and featuring some of the best talent on offer, from world-class headliners to the un-signed and up-and coming. Featuring Simon and Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene, The Quireboys, Smoove & Turrell, Dancing Lotus, Rae Morris, Pikey Beatz, Jamie Squire and loads more.

Packed with fun things for all the family, beer tents, 2 nights camping, stalls, street theatre, funfair and loads of activities and workshops for the children.

Tickets are £17 (Adults), £8 (Concession) and under 10's free. So go on, what’s stopping you? It could just be the highlight of your Summer!

Check out the web site for all the information on the bands, entertainment and much more. www.corbridge-festival.co.uk

Please support this fund raising event for Tynedale Rugby Club.  

As a National One rugby club Tynedale are always looking at new and novel initiatives to raise funds. One such initiative has been proposed by Hamish Smales, our well known and highly convivial First XV fullback.

The background to the initiative is as follows...during the Youth Section 'End of Season Ball', it has become a tradition to 'auction off' a Tynedale Player. This is all good fun and done in the best possible taste. Last Saturday Chris Hall duly volunteered his services and he is to subsequnetly make himself 'available' for the auction winner at a date to be shortly arranged. As such, the club raised a tidy sum to contribute to the develop of junior rugby at the club.

During the evening a discussion took place between a number of players who attended the Ball as to how they too could help contribute to the financial health of the junior section. One such idea was thrust forward by a very enthusiastic and boyishly excited Hamish Smales, it involved replicating the well known Womens Institute 'Calendar Girls' initiative where twelve rather risqué images were collated to produce a calendar which was later retailed with great success. At the time much scorn was placed on our No.15 - commonly known as Prawn - but he was adamant that there was a market for such a publication.

As a result we are very pleased to report that today Hamish has proved that he is good to his word and we are able to provide you all with a sneak preview of Tynedale's ‘Mr January’ for 2013. We caught up with Hamish for a few words and the conversation went like this...

'Hamish, thanks for speaking to the Tynedale website today, can we ask you what motives are behind the launch of the calendar?'

'Well, firstly can I say how I honoured I am to feature as Mr January, I have received many accolades in my life and only last summer I represented England 7s, but this means so much to me. I take great pride in my body and it's lovely to be able to share the fruits of my labour in the gym with all my Tynedale fans. Being the housewive's favourite is jolly good fun and coupled with being able to use my body for such a worthy cause is simply wonderful'.

 'Thanks Hamish, you really are a credit to club. Have you been able to recruit any other players because of course we have eleven more months to fill?'

'Well, I asked my brother, Dicky Hall, Peter Cole, Bullet and a few others who were at the ball and I was both disappointed although not so surprised that they poo pooed the idea'.

'Oh, why is that Hamish?'

'They mentioned something about dignity and reserve, but really the truth is much simpler...no one comes close to having my physique and I think it's simply a case of being intimidated by my beauty and brawn. They have the nerve to call me Prawn when I'm not a Prawn, and I'm not just a number 15, I am a Human Being '.

'But Hamish, that sounds a little conceited if you don't mind me saying?'

'Not at all, I am who I am and they are who they are, you don’t get anywhere in this life without having gumption and the confidence of conviction'.

'Ah, I see, but where does this leave us in the question to find Mr February to Mr December?'  

'Andrew, just relax, I'm not just a pretty face with an outstanding body, an international cap and the charm of Nigel Havers....I've always had a 'Plan B'.

...and what would that be?

'I'm going to do all 12 months myself'.

[Interview ends] 

The Annual Longhirst 7s took place over the weekend, the competition involved 16 teams many local but some who had travelled from further a field as well as specialist sevens teams. Tynedale were represented by a Raiders team and having won their group convincingly they disposed of Alnwick in the quarter final to set up a semi final with Newitt Centurians(mainly from Darlington Mowden Park and a couple of ex Tynedale) who seemed to be the form team and the favourites. The Raiders, with the ability to score from any of the seven on the park concentrated in keeping their patterns and forcing turnover ball  shaded a close encounter  19-12.

The final against old adversaries the Mighty Peth(mainly from Morpeth)  who contained two current and one ex Tynedale first team members whilst competitive early on rather faded as a spectacle after two classic Matty Horrocks tries rewarded the pressure applied by the other team members particularly George Mcguigan who had a great  afternoon both stealing kick offs well set up by Dave Treglown and generally making a nuisance of himself to great effect. Also special mention should be made of Johnny Mock who found a new vocation as a hooker and perhaps could convert there permanently next season…. But actually perhaps Not!!

Well done to the squad and to young coach Matt Fieldhouse who brought them on round by round in very understated way to win the competition for the second time in three years

The squad was as follows:

Alex Fieldhouse

Dave Treglown

Josh Kimber

George Mcguigan

Guy Pike

Jamie Harrison

Dave Batey

Louis Frankland

Stu Ridley

Matty Horrocks

Johnny Mock 

The picture shows the victorious squad. Further images will follow on the Match Reports section (when we can get it to load)

Lancashire 42 Northumberland 34 - There were 8 Tynedale players in the Northumberland team that played champions Lancs at the Vale of Lune on Saturday. Chris Harris, Alan Rogers & Hamish Smales (2) got on the score sheet for the North!

Richmond beat Caldy in the North v South runners-up play off, so will join Loughborough Students, Old Albanians & relegated Esher in National 1 to play us next season (6 trips to London!)

Tynedale Raiders won the Longhirst 7s again (2010 winners) on Sunday beating Mighty Peth 22-5 in the final. 

....well not quite, but Bellingham Golf Club are hosting two rugby focused golfing days. First is a 'Rugby Clubs Open Golf Championship' on Friday 1st June 2012

The competition is to be played as a pairs stableford competition by golfing rugby enthusiasts with a stroke allowance of three quarters of handicap up to a maximum handicap of 28. Entry fee of £40 per pair includes

* coffee and bacon roll on arrival

* 18 holes of golf

* pie, peas and chips after golf.

Craig Wright, golf club manager at Bellingham, says “The day is a great chance for rugby lovers to join Doddie Weir and fellow rugby club members and players from all over the North East and Borders to play competitive golf over our challenging course which is in great condition and enjoy the post golf craic.”

Entries can be made by e mailing admin@bellinghamgolfclub.com or by telephoning Craig Wright on 01434 220530. 

The second event is our own Tynedale RFC Golf Day. Last year over 40 players took to the fairways and greens before heading back to Tynedale Park for the Beer Festival. There are comps for both Individual performances and Four balls. The day commences with coffee and bacon rolls at 10am, and a Shotgun start at 11am. There is also a post game meal and presentation.

Bellingham do a great job at looking after the players and it is now the third year we've organised the event. For less than £30 for 18 holes, refreshments and a dinner - this is exceptional value. 

Mike Fieldhouse is taking bookings for the event  which precedes the Beer Festival on Friday, 15th June. All interested parties to confirm number with Mike Fieldhouse by the 17th May... mike.fieldhouse@bluefingroup.co.uk or 07889 245193 . AT .

Come and see this fantastic display of cars at Fastlane 2012, Tynedale Park, Sunday 13 May.

Please check for information on www.fastlaneshow.co.uk

Sat 28th,

Stourbridge v Tynedale, 3pm KO - National One, final fixture

Colts are at Selkirk 7s

Sun 29th,

Colts v Percy Park, County Plate Final, 1pm KO

Morpeth v Gosforth, Colts County Cup Final, 3pm KO

Youth Section, End of Season Awards, Midday

TYNEDALE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED        

SSE NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

TYNEDALE v WHARFEDALE

Saturday 21 April 2012 – K.O. 3pm.

WELCOME Wharfedale well remember coming to Corbridge when they clinched the North One title in 1993 in a memorable match.  The Wharfedale Cavalry Club have also made numerous invasions since then.  We have enjoyed these visits and I believe Wharfedale have too, off the field at least. On the field match results have tended to favour the home side. We always regard Wharfedale, our second nearest neighbours as a club very much like ourselves – and other clubs in our League tend to do the same – linking (and sometimes confusing) the two clubs in their minds.  Dales, farmers, remoteness, rural, sheep, hills, funny accents, etc. Whatever conceptions or misconceptions others may have, the friendly rivalry of our two clubs continues and we know just what to expect today -  a classic hard-fought match but still good friends at the end. We also welcome the Wharfedale Foresters who play Tynedale Raiders on an adjoining pitch, with a 2.30pm kick-off, and Wharfedale’s U9’s who played Tynedale U9’s at 1pm. today.  Incidentally, the Wharfedale U9 team is coached by Andy Peel (Ian Peel’s brother).

We are pleased to welcome BENFIELD MOTORS as our match sponsors today.  Benfield will be displaying some of their cars on the ground today and bringing guests to enjoy our pre-match lunch and the match itself.  We trust that their Chairman, John Squires, CEO Matthew Squires and their guests enjoy their day out at Tynedale Park and we thank them for their continued support.

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Blackheath  59 Fylde    22

 Cinderford  43 TYNEDALE   14

 Ealing Trailfinders 55 Coventry   33

 Jersey   39 Macclesfield     0

 Rosslyn Park  34 Birmingham & Solihull  19

 Sedgley Park  19 Blaydon   41

 Stourbridge  29 Barking    22

 WHARFEDALE 31 Cambridge   24

This is Tynedale’s worst league position since coming into the leagues in 2009, There have been eight consecutive losses and only 4 losing bonus points gained since the club’s last league win on 28th January 2012 – a 25-25 home success against Macclesfield.

Wharfedale have endured a number of nail-biting finishes in recent seasons, and again hovered around the relegation zone until their 34-3 win over Blaydon and the win against Cambridge last week which lifted them into 10th place.  

PROMOTION & RELEGATION IN THE LEAGUES At the end of the current season one club is relegated from The Championship and the top National League 1 club is promoted.  That is likely to be Jersey if they win at Coventry today, or beat Fylde at home on 28th April. The bottom three clubs from National 1 are relegated and this season those three will be Birmingham & Solihull, Stourbridge and Barking.  As far as Leagues 2 North and South are concerned the top club in each league is promoted to National 1.  There is a play off between the second placed teams in 2 North and South for the third  promotional place.

WHARFEDALE LAST SEASON (2010-11) The Rugby Football Union’s Year Book reported: “Not for the first time in their lengthy tenure of National One, the Greens put their faithful fans through agonies of anxiety before securing a 16th successive season in England’s third tier.” After postponements in 2011 which caused a backlog of fixtures “the Dalesmen cut a frustratingly erratic path to final survival.” The final table for 2010/11, shown earlier in this programme, indicates how close Wharfedale came to disaster, with only a point separating them from Redruth who were demoted along with Otley and Launceston.

MATCH OFFICIALS  

Referee:  

MARCUS CATON played rugby and coached at the University of Wollowgong in Australia for ten years.  He began refereeing in 2003 with the Illawaro Referees’ Society on the south coast of New South Wales.  He then came to the UK and joined the Notts, Lincs and Derby Referees’ Society in 2005.  Marcus teaches in the Physical Education Dept., Trinity School, Nottingham and lives in Belper in Derbyshire.  He makes his fourth visit to Tynedale Park today having officiated at the matches v Wharfedale and Rosslyn Park last season and the match here v Barking on the 7th. January 2012.

Assistant. Referee: 

DEREK BLAKE from Newton Aycliffe, on the other hand, appears regularly at Corbridge.  Last season he ran touch here seven times; this is his fourth visit this term, having officiated at Corbridge v Birmingham & Solihull (29 October 2011) , on 7th January 2012 v Barking when Marcus Caton was the referee, and at the Fylde match on the 18th. February.

Assistant Referee:           

MIKE FIRBY from Branthwaite, Workington usually has a similar attendance record – as he made four visits last season, but this is only his second outing at Tynedale Park this season.  He was also last here on 24th September 2011 for the Cambridge match.

Referee’s Coach:            

PETER FARRELL from Wakefield is making his ninth visit. I wonder if he bought a season ticket on the railways!  

Welcome to all four officials. We hope they enjoy their visit today. N.B .Nine referees have now been to Tynedale Park this season for the 15 home matches,and.Nick Cockburn, John Meredith, Karl Kirkpatrick, Tom Davis, Wayne Falla and now Marcus Caton have been here twice.

SPORTS RELIEF – THE COURANT MILE, SUNDAY 25 MARCH 2012. Over 250 runners turned out to support the Hexham Courant and Tynedale Rugby Club working in partnership, to raise funds for community projects by arranging the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile.   BEER FESTIVAL – VOLUNTEERS WANTED. We and the Tynedale Lions Club are very grateful for the assistance received over the last ten years from our willing band of helpers in making the festival a truly enjoyable occasion for all.  Also we are grateful to the many paying customers who have helped us raise lots of money for local charities and good causes.  Put quite simply we could not put on this event without the help of our many volunteers. This year the festival will run from Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th June and it promises to be even bigger and better than last year.  There are lots of things to do prior to, during and after the event and as the festival grows, it needs more and more people to run it. This year we are again appealing to people well in advance to give a little of their time to help make this a great event.  The tasks are not onerous and do not require any specialist skills, and many of our volunteers have told us how much they have enjoyed the whole experience of being part of the festival. Members will be contacted soon by Bernie Quinn or Steve Hull of the Tynedale Beer Festival committee and asked to offer their services.  They can be contacted at:- Bernie Quinn 01434 602612 Mob: 07795 308302. email - bernie.quinn@gmail.com Steve Hull 01434 606869 Mob: 07502 029241 email - stephen.hull@hotmail.com

BUSINESS CLUB MEETINGS The Tynedale RFC Business Club has been established, with a Constitution outlining the legal status, objectives, membership criteria and details of meetings and subscriptions. Four meetings have now taken place, the last being held on Wednesday 18 April at 6.30pm. Any queries should be addressed to STEVE HULL whose contact details are 01434 606869 (Mob. 07592 029241) email – stephen.hull@hotmail.com

WORLD CUP 2015 – DEVELOPMENT MEETING  

Tynedale sent five delegates to a Club Development Evening arranged by the Northumberland Rugby Union and held on 28th March 2012. Planning for RWC 2015 needs to start now and Tynedale are anxious to be at the forefront in taking advantage of the opportunity to present the region to a world-wide audience and stimulate interest in local and national rugby.

BALL GIRLS TODAY  

Once again this season we are grateful to the Youth Rugby section of the club for providing five players for each 1st XV home match this season. Today’s match is being covered by the club’s Girls section and we are grateful to Simon Illingworth, Amy Liversea and Graham Crosby for organising them today.

REVIEW MEETING

The club Management Committee is conducting a review and planning exercise to produce a detailed strategic plan which will be communicated to the membership. A small sub-committee has been established, led by Ian Lewis and Steve Hull, consisting of Douglas Hamilton, John Shotton, John Rowland, Simon Allan, Tony Coates and John Clarke.  Two sessions were held on  Monday 12 March and Monday 19 March at the clubhouse, and a further meeting is planned for early May..  Any club member or supporter who would like to add their views and comments should send them to Ian Lewis by e-mail to ian.lewis@tynedalerfc.co.uk or by post:- The Old Granary, Hedley North Farm, Stocksfield. NE43 7SS.  Or call 0789 9905573.

ENGLAND COUNTIES Three Tynedale players, David Dickinson, Sam Shires and Harry Peck represented the England Counties XV which beat the Ulster Bank Club International XV at Preston Grasshoppers on Friday 16 March 2012. In recent years thirteen Tynedale players have achieved the honour of being picked for this National team:- RUPERT HARDEN, DAVID DICKINSON, JOHNNY WILLIAMS, JOE GRAHAM, RICHARD BOYLE, ENI GESINDE, SAM SHIRES, HARRY PECK, GAVIN BEASLEY, HAMISH SMALES, JACK HARRISON, JACK SMALES AND CHARLIE INGALL. 

TYNEDALE COLTS

Border U18 Cup – Semi-final Sat. 24 March 2012. Melrose Wasps  17 Tynedale Raiders 22  

FINAL – AT BERWICK Sat. 31 March 2012. Tynedale Colts   17 Gala Wanderers. 20

TYNEDALE RAIDERS Sat. 14 April 2012. Blaydon Georgians 35 Tynedale Raiders 44 On Wednesday the Raiders played Percy Park in the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup, at Ashington.

TYNEDALE VETERANS In 2011 the club’s Veteran team won the Veterans Bowl at the Melrose 7’s, so last week they went back over the Border to defend their trophy, but were sent “homeward tae think again.” Although they beat Orkney, they lost to Islay (who included Gregor Townsend and Gavin Kerr in their team! and Morgan Auld Blocks to end their interest in the competition.

KEVIN SHOWLER AND WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT An ex-Tynedale and current Durham City player, KEVIN SHOWLER has recently undergone an operation to remove a brain tumour. Durham City Rugby Club are organising a Fundraising event for a very special player, Kevin Showler and Help the Heroes.  They are attempting a World Record for the most number of players to participate in a competitive Rugby Game and they need players – LOTS of them.  450 players are needed for teams both regionally and nationally.  It will be a full family day with children’s entertainment and BBQ. Each player must play a minimum of 10 minutes with the game lasting altogether about 3½ hours.  As a fund-raiser they are getting all players who participate to contribute up to £10 into the pot to go towards Help the Heroes and Kev. DCRFC are also looking for referees to get involved and pick up a second World Record for the most refs to referee one game.

CORBRIDGE FESTIVAL

Our very own Corbridge music festival is coming back to Tynedale Park on Saturday 7 July, and we’ve stepped it up a notch.  Once again it promises another fantastic mix of music across two stages and  loads to for kids and grown-ups alike.  This year sees a number of internationally acclaimed acts performing on our main stage as well as some of the very best from the North East.  If you are quick, we have a limited number of early bird tickets available at £15 (Adults) and £7 (Concession) so go on, what’s stopping you?  Have a look on the website for all the information on the bands, entertainment and much more.  www.corbridge-festival.co.uk Please support this fundraising event for Tynedale Rugby Football Club

WHARFEDALE AND HEAVEN In his 2004 book on English Rugby Clubs, in which he reviewed 85 rugby clubs, Chris Harte gave Wharfeside Avenue, and the Wharfedale club the fourth highest score of 86% - beaten only by Broadstreet (92%) , Worcester (91%) and Leicester (88%). He also wrote “When I die and go to heaven will it be any better than going to Wharfeside Avenue, home of Wharfedale Rugby Football Club” He also waxed lyrical about the surrounding area, saying, “North Yorkshire is a delightful part of the world, even more so when you are in the Wharfedale part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  The towns to the immediate south, Ilkley and Otley, are old Roman garrison settlements and the invaders from twenty centuries ago liked nothing better than to wander up the Wharfe valley and to construct a few buildings.” "Following on from this, places such as the priory which is Bolton Abbey came to pass as the district moved into the civilising process we know today.  The advent of the railways opened up large tracts of the Dales, only for the government of forty years ago to close them down.”  Nowadays, the only way to get to Grassington is by one of  four routes which, on a typical Saturday afternoon, are blocked by car-loads of visitors who insist on driving at twenty miles an hour in the middle of the road.”  “Threshfield is an eastern extension of Grassington, situated over the bridge which spans the River Wharfe.  It is fairly wide and fast flowing at this point of its course, and its beauty is breathtaking.  A right turn takes you into Wharfeside Avenue: go past the new houses in Badger Gate and a few hundred yards down the road is the entrance to the rugby club.”  I have a couple of complaints about this article. Why this southern impatience with twenty miles an hour when there’s breathtaking beauty to enjoy? And why does he expect to go to heaven, when he only gave Tynedale 73% (and 33rd position) and only awarded 8/10 marks for the programme!

PRE-SEASON PRACTICE MATCHES  Saturday 11 August 2012.  TYNEDALE v Boroughmuir    (Home)  Saturday 18 August.  TYNEDALE v Melrose    (Home)  Saturday 18 August.  TYNEDALE RAIDERS v Melrose II   (Home)  Saturday 25 August.  Preston Grasshoppers v TYNEDALE   (Away)  Saturday 25 August  Preston Grasshoppers II v TYNEDALE RAIDERS (Away)

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OUR SUPPORTERS BACK HERE AT TYNEDALE PARK NEXT SEASON.

DOUGLAS HAMILTON. Chief Executive. 

Tynedale welcomed Wharfedale, our North Yorkshire neighbours, for what was the final home game of a long season.

The First XV fixture saw Tyne come back to edge a 23-20 win after a late penalty became the decisive points. A full match report is now updated with six images.

Wharfedale also brought their Forester's (second) team who faced a combined Raiders/Centurions/Veterans/Colts side. This game too went the way of the home side - avenging an earlier reverse at Threshfields and allowing the Raiders to finish their season with a win (pictures to follow).

Tynedale Under 9s hosted their counterparts from Yorkshire in what was an unusual game. The boys initially played to Northumberland Laws and won the game decisively 6-0. A second game took place to the Yorkshire Laws which allowed scrum, rucking and mauls. This provided a great learning experience for Tyne who will play these laws next season. Wharfedale turned the table and won 8-3. All in all this was a very worthwhile experience and both sets of coaches agreed that we should meet next year - hopefully when the 'big boys' play their respective fixtures.

Well done all! 

As most will be aware, Tynedale have a number rooms that can be hired out for commercial or private use. If anyone is planning birthdays, christenings, a wedding anniversary we'd love to host your perty. One of our commerical clients is ACM Photography who are running the below course at the club. They and we, would appreciate your support...

How to get the most from your camera!

> Lenses & using Shutter Priority

> Shooting in RAW

> Low light & Fill-in Flash

> How to use Studio Flash 

> Portraits with/without Flash/Light Modifiers

> Landscape Photography

> Inkjet Printers – setting up properly

> Adobe Photoshop – basics

Workshops will be held at Tynedale RFC, interested please contact Andrew of ACM Photography on  01434 681000

email: info@acmphotography.co.uk

web: www.acmphotography.co.uk