Garioch Newsletter
Apr
CONGRATULATIONS TO GARIOCH RFC 1ST XV, WHO ON SATURDAY CONFIRMED THEIR PLACE AT THE TOP OF CALEDONIA DIVISION 2 (NORTH) WITH A 43-20 WIN OVER RAF LOSSIEMOUTH AT LOSSIEMOUTH. THE SEASON IS NOT YET OVER FOR THEM UNFORTUNATELY, WITH PLAY-OFFS TO BE PLAYED FOR A PLACE IN CALEDONIA LEAGUE 1. AFTER A CHANGE OF HEART BY THE CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE, CALEDONIA 1 IS TO BE REDUCED TO 10 TEAMS DESPITE AGREEMENT BEING IN PLACE AT THE START OF THE SEASON THIS WOULD NOT OCCUR IF A TEAM WAS TO DROP FROM NATIONAL 3. THIS MEANS WE PLAY THE WINNER OF THE MIDLANDS LEAGUE, AND THIRD BOTTOM OF CALEDONIA 1. AT PRESENT, THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF GAMES TO BE PLAYED IN BOTH LEAGUES, SO WHEN THE MATCHES WILL BE PLAYED...
THE FINALE FOR GARIOCH IS THE CLUBS ANNUAL DINNER. AS EVER, WE HAVE PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS AND OBTAINED ONLY THE BEST SPEAKERS AROUND. TO TOAST THE GAME AND CLUB, WE HAVE FORMER WATSONIANS, EDINBURGH GUNNERS AND SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL, AND CURRENT SCOTLAND KICKING COACH, DUNCAN HODGE. DUNCAN EARNED 26 CAPS FOR SCOTLAND, SCORING A TOTAL OF 123 POINTS, 6 TRIES. HIS MOST MEMORABLE MATCH (CERTAINLY FROM A SPECTATOR POINT) WAS SCOTLANDS 2000 SIX NATIONS MATCH AGAINST ENGLAND AT MURRAYFIELD, WHERE DUNCAN SCORED ALL SCOTLANDS POINTS IN A 19-13 VICTORY.
OTHER SPEAKERS LINED UP FOR THE NIGHT ARE 1ST XV CAPTAIN, NEIL MOIR TO RELY ON BEHALF OF THE CLUB, FORMER GARIOCH, BIGGAR AND RAF PLAYER ANDY ALEXANDER WHO WILL TOAST THE GUESTS, AND TO ROUND OFF THE EVENING REPLYING ON BEHALF OF THE GUESTS IS JOHN GORDON. JOHN IS A PRISON OFFICER CURRENTLY BASED AT NORANSIDE NEAR FORFAR, AND IS WELL KNOWN ON THE AFTER DINNER CIRCUIT.
AS EVER, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALAN MCNAUGHTON OF MCINTOSH DONALD (VION), WHO HAS KINDLY AGREED TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO SERVE THE BEST BEEF YOU WILL FIND AT A RUGBY DINNER. EVER.
TICKETS ARE PRICED AT £35 PER PERSON. TABLES OF 10 ARE AVAILABLE, BUT ARE GOING FAST, SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF YOUR REQUIREMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. EV DONAGHUE AND NEIL MOIR WILL TAKE DETAILS OF PLAYERS WISHING TICKETS FOR PLAYERS TABLES.
DON'T FORGET, THERE WILL BE ALL THE USUAL FEATURES YOU HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM GARIOCH DINNERS - HEADS AND TAILS TO START, RAFFLE DURING, AND TOWARDS THE END OF THE EVENING, OUR AUCTION. ITEMS AVAILABLE INCLUDE 2 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TICKETS FOR FIRST GROUP STAGES, ANYWHERE IN EUROPE (TRAVEL NOT INCLUDED!!) AND A BOTTLE OF GAROCH 30TH ANNIVERSARY 30 YEAR OLD MALT WHISKY.
