Myles Martin Weekly Report

Holiday Auction Sat Dec 7th – A reminder that the Balmy Beach Holiday Auction and Market will be held at the club on Saturday December 7th. This is a big fundraiser for the section and all proceeds goes towards jerseys, field permits, goal post pads and much much more. Hope to see you there.

Download a copy of the Donations Letter

Although the rugby season has come to an end, the rugby section is still working hard to produce one of their most important events of the year, the annual holiday market and auction. Here is a note from Kirstin. If you are interested in helping or donating, please feel free to contact her at bonomok@gmail.com.

Hello Alumni – Hope you were all able to make it to the amazing game last week and get an opportunity to see the boys fight to secure a spot in the McCormick Cup Final this weekend. The holidays are fast upon us! What better way to get ready for Christmas and the Holidays then to get your shopping done at our Annual Holiday Auction Saturday December 7th from 4:00 – 7:00. This is one of our key fundraisers for the year. We are looking for support in different ways and hope that one may appeal to you!

1) Donations: Most importantly – right now, we need items donated. This can be a gift basket you make or get donated from a company, sporting tickets, gift certificates, weekend to a cottage, artwork, sports memorabilia, kids baskets, etc.

2) Be or get a local business to purchase a table – at the local vendor’s market. This event will allow them to sell their own items throughout the entire auction during the busy holiday season. The table fee is $125 (please have vendor’s fill out the donation form with applicable info and we will contact them)

3) Donate or Get a Donations for the Booze Basket – (we sell raffle tickets on the night & this is a huge way to raise money on the day of. We typically raise over a $1,000+ from this alone.

4) Promote: – Put posters up in your local businesses, close to where you live. This is an open event to the public – Bring family and friends!

5) Social Media: – Post & re-post on Instagram, Facebook etc. and encourage people to attend the event – we need people to attend the event to buy, buy, buy!

Jerry Declute – It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the passing of Gerry Declute. Gerry’s celebration of life will be Thursday December 5 from 2pm to 5pm at the Balmy Beach Club. A great man who loved Beach Rugby.  Gerry’s Newspaper Notice.

Congratulations to all the Award Winners this year:
Ed Caterer – Chris Shryer
Harvey Jaanusson- Lee Keegal
ORU 1s Most Valuable Forward – Jamie Cain
ORU 1s Most Valuable Back – Jason Park
ORU 1s Most Valuable Back – Josh Bald
ORU 2s Most Valuable Forward – Tariq Popal
ORU 2s Most Valuable Back – Simon McLean Lavado
TRU 1s Most Valuable Forward – Ulises Ornelas
TRU 1s Most Valuable Back – Hugh Berry
TRU 2s Most Valuable Forward – Claude Germain
TRU 2s Most Valuable Back – Grayson Binkley
Men’s Most Improved Player – Diego Dabovich
Men’s Most Dedicated Player – Denzel Borris
Men’s Rookie of the Year – Owen Lee
Women’s Most Valuable Forward – Kim Hunter
Women’s Most Valuable Back – Kristin Bonomo
Women’s Most Improved Player – Amelia Hawthorn
Women’s Rookie of the Year – Maddy Blackmore
Women’s Most Dedicated Player – Laura Armstrong
Volunteer of the Year – Kristin Bonomo
Womens asshole of the year – Kristin Bonomo
Mens asshole of the year – Iain McLeish

 

Congratulations to all our Gold and Blue athletes both men and women, on a great season.! – The ones were down going into the final minute of the game but a great play by young Jamie Cain turned the game in our favour and saw us hold up the cup for the last time in Fletchers Field. Here’s the game recap and if you want to watch the game, the link is below:

Wow! Everyone was fiending for a final to send off Fletcher’s Field in style and boy did this game deliver. If someone had said before this game started that we would: have our starting fly half dislocate his shoulder and removed from the game within the first 2 minutes of game play, suffer 2 yellow cards bringing us down to 13 players at one point, play at most 15 minutes of offense with the ball, have two tries called back, and still win on a last minute prop – intercept line out and run 22 m for the try play, I would have said that was impossible. And yet that is exactly what happened. After playing 78 minutes of hard nose defense the score with 1 minute left in game play was 12-15 against Beach with less than a minute left. With a line out on the Brantford 22 looming, Jamie Cain, playing #1, locked eyes with the Brantford hooker knowing he would throw to the first man in the Brantford line out. Having seen this play twice before in the game, Jamie leapt to intercept the throw, tipping the ball up into the air for himself to regather. Securing the ball Jamie then steamrolled 22m into the endzone to put Beach ahead 17-15. The referee allowed the kickoff after the try, and a bold jackle from Kyle Lagasca ended the game with a Beach win. What a game! This win, the last ever at Fletcher’s Fields, finally puts Balmy Beach ahead of the combined Toronto Irish, and Markham to lock down the title of the winningest team in Ontario History 17 cups to 16. These boys bled Blue and Gold all season and nothing could make us prouder than their performance last weekend. However, as we all know, the best cup is always the next one. On to the 2025 season. UTB!

https://www.youtube.com/live/ZdV9wUbr6BI?si=cr_gYseKdetznMkY

A note from the rugby section re the finals being played Sept 28, 2024. As you may have heard, a series of wacky events has led to the last Gee Gage Cup to be played at Fletchers to be up for grabs between Beach 2’s and Beach 3’s. I think this is a great throwback to the early years of the Gee Gage Cup, where more than one or two of the finals were also Beach 2’s V Beach 3’s games. The game kicks off at 11:30AM, and a bus will be leaving the clubhouse at 9:30AM. Physio’s, refs, and champagne for after the game are already sorted, and I hear rumors that the smoke machine, and disco ball from previous years will be in attendance as well for post game celebrations.

Everyone; current players, alumni ect… are welcome to play. We will be opening a 48h membership option for anyone, not currently playing, who wants one last game at Fletcher’s Field before it closes forever. If anyone who is not currently a player wants in, just reply to this email and I’ll send you the details. Once the game is over, and appropriate celebrations have occurred, everyone is encouraged to stick around for the 1’s game at 3:30pm. After that game we will be returning back to the club on a Coach bus that will be for players only. Hope to see everyone out on Saturday: Iain McLeish

For those who will not be able to attend the game on Saturday, the finals will be televised on Rugby Ontario’s Youtube page. Here’s the link

John Edwards Celebration of Life – There are roughly 40 spots left and wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to pay their dues. Please register here: https://pp.events/thelifeofjohnedwards

What a great evening as we said goodbye to a great blue and gold stallworth Claude “the Dude” Germaine.

We had over 110 in the main hall last night laughing at infamous moments and inside jokes and dirty poems. Big shout out to the roasters, Malency, Brock and Scott Dunham and to Kyle Nichols for MCing the event.

I spoke with Claude and he was super emotional and very drunk but infinitely thankful for the special evening he was able to spend with his family and friends on this very special night.

No game report from last weekend but the Beach 1s were able to squeak out a victory over the Oshawa Vikings 10-6 so they will be playing the last finals on Saturday Sept 28 at Fletchers FIeld at 3pm vs Brantford

The Gee Gage Cup is a little more complicated, the Beach lost to the Scottish last weekend 26-19 but the Scottish forfeited their game against Burlington to play us and played their first team players against us along with some players who were from a different team. We put in an inquiry with Rugby Ontario and the Beach were declared the winner while giving a fine to the Scottish. All this means that the Beach 2’s will be playing the Beach 3’s in the finals on Saturday Sept 28 at Fletchers at 11pm.

No games this weekend, have a great weekend and more info to follow…….

This week sees our Blue and Gold athletes back in action at our home pitch. The TRU Mens are in pursuit for the Gee Gage Cup while the ORU mens are eying a trip to the McCormick Cup finals. But first they need to get through some tough competition this weekend

TRU I vs Toronto Scottish – 1pm @ Tubs and Gee Gage
ORU I vs Oshawa Vikings – 3:30pm @ Tubs and Gee Gage

We had a massive crowd last week and the gents are hoping even more can make it out this week to make sure they fully understand what home advantage means.

The Alumni Dinner – This is your last call for you to confirm your spot for the Dude’s Roast on Wednesday September 18th. If you have not received a confirmation email from me then unfortunately you are not on the list and will be denied entry to the dinner. The club has informed us that they will not be allowing walk-ins so please take a moment and let me know if you plan to attend.

Date – Wednesday Sept 18th
Time – Drinks – 6:30pm, Dinner – 7pm
Cost – $100 – Please send an e-transfer to beachalumni@gmail.com

Some great rugby this weekend and I hope you had a chance to make to the pitch to watch the Beach take on Burlington

Burlington kicked off with the wind behind them. The battle by the beach was primarily played in the forwards with a lot of pick and goes from the base and driving mauls from lineouts. Knocking on the doorstep of Burlington’s goal line we moved the ball out wide and dotted down in the corner. Beach up 7-0. Burlington then marched right back down the field moving the ball efficiently through their center with runners attacking the gain line until they found a soft spot in the Beaches defense that was quickly exploited. Burlington levels the score 7-7. Both sides score again but neither team makes the conversion so the halftime score is 12-12.

The Beach now had the wind at their backs and used it far more effectively than Burlington. Using the kicking game to strategically place the ball where they weren’t and the Gary Owen to put the Burlington 15 under duress. The Beach were able to use crash ball and move the rock to the wing after several phases to score. The defense held their own and didn’t allow Burlington to score in the second half. The final score was 28-12. Next week the Beach will take on Oshawa as the road to the McCormick cup continues.

Fall Alumni Dinner – Time is running out! If you haven’t confirmed your attendance for the alumni dinner and Claude “The Dude” Germain’s epic retirement roast on September 18th, now is the time to act. Seats are almost gone, and we want YOU there to celebrate The Dude’s 35 incredible years of rugby! THERE IS NO TIME TO WAIT, Please respond to this email confirming your attendance

A big thank you to Mike Edwards for forwarding me the information regarding John Edwards Celebration of life on October 25 at the club. Please see the link below and if you have any questions please send them to Mike at eddyeddy.edwards@gmail.com. https://pp.events/thelifeofjohnedwards

Sept 7th Fixture – This weekend we have one game on tap as we start the McCormick Cup run for 2024. The 1s will be taking on the Burlington Centaurs on Saturday at Tubs and Gee Gage field at 3:30pm. Time to dig out your blue and gold gear to cheer on the boys.

Alumni Dinner – Seats are filling up fast, so I suggest you respond to this email letting me know that you will be attending the Dude’s Roast on Sept 18 at the club. Tickets are $100 and you can send and e-transfer to beachalumni@gmail.com. DON”T WAIT!!!!!!!!

Balmy Beach Turns 70 – Save the Dates – In 2025 Beach Rugby turns 70!!!! We have formed an “eclectic” group of 14 as a committee to plan events for this special occasion . Jake Lipsett and Gerry Allen are cochairing this group. We have arrived at an agenda for JUNE 04 to June 08,2025. Save these dates!!! Wed, June 04 Gala Dinner @ the Club (8 Originals to be honoured). Thurs June 05, Golf Tourney and perhaps other activities with reception at the Club. Fri. June 06, Alumni Rugby Game followed by Pub Night at the Club. Sat June 07, Club Day at Tubs and Gee Gage Field with participation by all Sr men and women, and Juniors(Beer trucks and food trucks) with informal Social at the Club to follow. Sunday June 08, no formal events but folks can take advantage of Club Brunch to say farewells! Plan ahead and participate. More news to follow

Fall Dinner – After 35 incredible years on the pitch with Balmy Beach, Claude “The Dude” Germain is hanging up his boots. It’s been a journey filled with grit, determination, yellow cards and more red cards with more than a few good laughs, and we couldn’t let him go without a proper send-off. Join us on September 18th at the Balmy Beach Club for a night to remember, where we’ll honor The Dude in the best way possible—with a roast! Get ready for an evening of great stories, hearty laughs, and a few surprises as we celebrate Claude’s outstanding contribution to the team and the sport.

Details:
Date: September 18th
Location: Balmy Beach Club
Time: 6:30pm drinks Dinner 7pm – 10pm
Cost: $100 per person (includes a contribution to Junior Rugby)

RSVP: Please reply to this email if you plan to attend. You will receive a confirmation upon your response. Don’t miss this chance to be part of an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the one and only Dude!

The ORU I’s kicked off against Brantford I’s at T&G in a thrilling rematch of last year’s McCormick Cup final, and perhaps a sneak peak of this year’s final match up as well. Beach went up quick into the match capitalizing on a quick penalty to kick points going up 3-0. Shortly after Beach snuck in a try in the corner to put us up 10-0. Brantford rallied and put in two quick back to back tries to make the score 10-14. Another penalty gave us the opportunity to kick points once again bringing us within 1pt. One more score from Brantford before half time would see the score 13-21 going into the half. The second half saw a flurry of scores, and a couple injuries on both sides, with Brantford finishing on top 33-42. This was a great competitive game, and we are looking forward to a possible rematch in the McCormick Cup Final later this year.

The Gents take a few weeks off as the McCormick Cup tournament starts on September 7th vs Burlington.

U16s Finals – After two convincing wins over Waterloo County (26-0) and Peterorough Pagans (12-0) on Junior Cup day, the weather drove the players into the shed at Fletcher’s Field. When the rain didn’t let up, the final match versus Oakville was pushed to Tuesday evening back at Fletcher’s. To ensure a “proper” match, the usual 30 min cup match was extended to the standard 60 mins.

Under greying skies, the Cru and Beach kicked off for a gold medal match to decide who was the best U16 Boys team in Ontario. After crossing the try line early and some extended deliberation between the Match Official and AR – the first try of the match was scored by Balmy Beach’s Rylan Bozzer. Hard-nosed breakdowns and dominant scrums were the foundation of a strong Beach offence that continued to eat away at Cru territory and make gains. Prop and all-around open-field menace Sam “Big Red” Meikle decided to lead from the front and crash over for the second try of the match. Not to be dissuaded, the Cru pulled out some tricks and crossed in the corner, after missing the convert the score was 14-5 Beach.

Early in the final 30 minutes, sustained razors deep in the Cru red zone created increasing pressure, and a quick dummy from Adam DeNoble opened a gap to allow the speedster enough room to break the line and touch down, he made his own convert to bring the score to 21-5.

After the Cru brought on fresh legs with their “replacements” (and a few head scratchers from the match official) the golds from Oakville popped in two quick tries, and the Beach found themselves under pressure for the first time all season at 21-19.

After a continued strong lineout performance, the Beach pulled down the throw inside the Cru zone and Bozzer initiated a patented mid-field crash. The forwards executed flawlessly to pull an already stretched Cru defence back towards the sideline with Big Red smashing through several tentative tacklers to put the game away with a final try. With the convert, the final score was 28-19.

Beach Junior Rugby draws players from across the east end of Toronto, Schools represented on the U16 First XV are:
Birchmount CI, Crescent School, Danforth TCI, East York CI, Malvern CI, Neil McNeil CS, Northwood School (NY), O’Connor College School, Riverdale CI, Victoria Park CI

The Balmy Beach U16 Boys Blue (First XV) is sponsored by Heal Wellness Beaches: Acai Bowls and Smoothies at 1938 Queen St E

TRU Men A – 15:30 Balmy Beach TRU 1XV 17 Vs 29 Lindsay RFC 1XV @Tubs and Gee Gage

Marshall 1XV – 15:30 Burlington Centaurs 1XV 28 Vs 39 Balmy Beach Marshall 1XV @Sherwood Forest Park

Senior Men’s Exhibition – 14:00 Burlington Centaurs 2XV 24 Vs 28 Balmy Beach Marshall 2XV @ Sherwood Forest Park

TRU Women – 13:00 Toronto Scottish 63 Vs 0 Balmy Beach @Fletchers Field

U16 Boys Central – Balmy Beach Blue 76 V 5 Aurora Barbarians 1SATEC @ WA Porter CI

U16 Girls Central – 11:00 Balmy Beach 0 Vs 20 Barrie RFC @Tubs and Gee Gage

U16 Boys Exhibition – 10:00 Balmy Beach Gold 26 Vs 20 Aurora Barbarians 2 SATEC @ WA Porter CI

07/08/2024
U18 Boys Central – 19:30 Crusaders Rugby Club Archers 14 Vs 26 Balmy Beach @ Crusaders Rugby Club
U18 Girls Central – 18:30 Mississauga Blues 17 vs 12 Balmy Beach @ Mississauga Valleys

Some great rugby coming up this weekend:

17/08/2024 – Marshall 1XV – 15:30 Balmy Beach Marshall 1XV vs Brantford Harlequins 1XV @ Tubs and Gee Gage

TRU Women – 12:30 Barrie RFC vs Balmy Beach @ Jim Hamilton Field

Senior Men’s Exhibition – 14:00 Balmy Beach Marshall 2XV vs Brantford Harlequins 2XV @Tubs and Gee Gage

U16 Boys Junior Cup – 10:30 Balmy Beach Blue vs Waterloo County Blue @ Fletchers Field

18/08/2024
U14G Wrap-Up Day
09:00 Kingston Panthers vs Balmy Beach @ Fletchers Field
10:15 Balmy Beach vs Peterborough Pagans @ Fletchers Field
11:30 Balmy Beach vs Georgian Bay Titans @ Fletchers Field

U14B Wrap-Up Day – 12:20 Barrhaven Scottish vs Balmy Beach Blue @ Fletchers Field

U14G Wrap-Up Day – 12:45 Balmy Beach vs Belleville Bulldogs Black @ Fletchers Field

U14B Wrap-Up Day
13:35 Balmy Beach Blue vsToronto City Youth @ Fletchers Field
14:50 Balmy Beach Blue vs Crusaders Rugby Club Archers @ Fletchers Field
15:15 Markham Irish Canadian RFC vs Balmy Beach Blue @ Fletchers Field

Saturday August 10th Schedule
ORU I VS Burlington I in Burlington – KO 3:30pm
TRUW VS Scottish at Fletchers – KO 1:00pm
ORU II VS Burlington in Burlington – KO 2:00pm
TRUI VS Lindsay at Tubs and Gee – KO 3:30

ORU I and ORU II are both playing for first place in league points, and also the overall league championship. Two wins will see us still in contention for both going forward into the final week next week.
TRUW are playing semi-finals VS the Scottish. A win will see them through to the Championship game. Anything else will see them into the TRU Bowl.
TRUI are playing Lindsay in the TRU premiership semi-finals. This format and opponent has changed multiple times this week, but a win here will see the TRU I into the championship round next week.

The Beach U16 Boys First XV Blue will be competing for the Central Championship this Saturday Aug 10 at SATEC. Kickoff is 11am.

U16 Girls vs Barrie RFC at Tubs and Gee kickoff at 11am

Sunday August 11th
U14 Boys vs Guelph at the Guelph Lake Sports Fields 9am Kickoff
U14 Boys vs Hamilton at the Guelph Lake Sports Fields 10am Kickoff
U14 Girls vs Toronto City Youth at Guelph lake Sports Fields 9:30am kickoff
U14 Girls vs Guelph at Guelph Lake Fields 10am kickoff
U14 Girls vs Waterloo at Guelph lake Sports Fields 11:30am kickoff