Touch of class ends touch rugby season

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 529, 29 March 1994, Page 14

Touch of class ends touch rugby season

By

Korty

wllson

Saturday 19 March saw the final prize-giving for a very successful Ruapehu Five Footers Sports Club. Cleches bar catered for approximately 60 team members, families, friends and supporters. Guest speaker Paul Quinn from Wellington, who in the early 1 980' s captained both the Maori All Blacks and Wellington, spoke about how people in rural areas so easily include their children at such formal functions. He admired the friendly family atmosphere, saying it coincides with this year being the 'International Y ear of the Family • He also told of his first encounter with rugby when at the age of seven he played his first game. In fact he didn't really play much at all because he was distracted by the outstanding performance of the one and only Grant Batty. Many of the younger Five Footer members had no idea who Grant Batty was! At the conclusion of his speech certificates were presented by 'Nanny Aye Oliver' to the junior team, Testis Clear presented certificates to the Women' s team, followed by Angel Rah presenting the certificates to the Men's team.

Special awards were presented by Paul Quinn to the following members: most improved junior, Jason Waerea; most improved woman, Kirsty Mcllroy; most improved mixed team player, Kelly Scobie; most improved men, Peter Wikohika and Paul Callaghan; most outstanding junior, Kanin Clancy; most outstanding woman, Coral Rahi; most outstanding mixed team player, Richard Mareikura; most

outstanding man, Lance Callaghan; most dedicated team member, Mario Mareikura. Supporters awards went to Kaye Oliver and Vera Wilson. Che Wilson received a prize for his consistent efforts in refereeing. While attending a tournament in Wanganui he refereed along with some of the top touch referees in the country, Brian Tyson and Rachel Orr.