Finally the regular season is upon us and it’s time to watch our athletes in Blue and Gold start the journey to defend the McCormick Cup!
3 games on tap this weekend all against Waterloo County at Tubs & Gee Gage Field
ORU 3s – KO 12:30 pm
ORU 2s – KO 2:00 pm
ORU 1s – KO 3:30 pm
We are less than a month away from the 70th Club Anniversary…. are you ready? Check out the merch and get yours for this historic weekend
70th Anniversary
Be sure to keep an eye out for updates on our website…70th Anniversary Page
Introducing your 2025 Rugby Executive.
President / Director of Rugby – Iain McLeish
Vice President – Brock Clancy
Treasurer – Malency Wainwright
Senior Men’s Director – James Roseborough
Senior Women’s Director – Maddy Harris
Secretary – Chris Hewitt
Youth Coordinator – Chris Kalbfleisch
Alumni Coordinator – Myles Martin
Unfortunately there is no 6 Nations rugby this weekend but all teams will be back in action next weekend.
Rugby Squash – Rugby Squash is back March 19th, 20th and 22nd of 2025 and this is your formal invitation to sign up! Shake off the rust, grab a racquet, a scrum cap and take your chances! If you have never played or never heard of it, ask somebody who has.
We need 64 players of varying skill sets, from master to beginner to pay $70, get an all pro souvenir T-Shirt that you can wear around the club for the next 20 years to confirm how old you really are, a bite to eat during the week, a few pints, a chance to win fabulous prizes and most importantly the opportunity to have some fun, ridicule fellow players from the heights of the spectator gallery, check your ego at the door and be subject to said ridicule and meet some new and exciting people, what could be better. It is not too serious, a great opportunity to give squash a try
Format is rally-point to 25, no need to win by 2 and you will be matched up at best as humanly possible with someone of like ability or inability, keeping in mind we make the odd mistake in ranking players! Having said this, any mismatches will be addressed as best we can and all matches should be reasonably even.
Please confirm via e-mail as soon as possible to gyoung240@yahoo.ca and e-transfer the cash and I will solidify your spot. Games will run from 4pm to about 10pm and we run on schedule give or take an hour or less . We need 8 teams of 8 for Wednesday and Thursday evening, we then take the aggregate for each team and the top 4 teams play off on Saturday with 4 teams being eliminated on Thursday, pretty simple! There is an opportunity to play scheduled matches earlier in the week, during the day or at alternative times during the tournament
Thanks again for your wonderful support over the years and incidentally, all proceeds go to the rugby section. Sign up, do it now as it will fill up quickly.
- 1955 to 1969 to Ken McAulay = kenmcaulay1@gmail.com
- 1970 to 1999 to Rick Chambers = rick.erin88@gmail.com
- 2000 to 2024 to Tyler Allen = tyler_allen@msn.com
Craig Wells – It saddens me to inform you that Craig Wells has passed away. Please pray for his family during his most difficult time.
https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/oneill/obituaries/craig-wells/136656.html
6 Nations Round 3
Saturday February 22nd in the hall on the BIG SCREEN – $20 per person
9:15am – Wales vs Ireland
11:45am – England vs Scotland
Sunday February 23rd in the bar – No charge – Members and Guests only
10am – Italy vs France
All process go to supporting the Junior Rugby program
Introducing the Balmy Beach Old Boys (BBOBs) – For the 2025 Rugby season, we are starting a new Old Boys team at Balmy Beach. We will be called the Balmy Old Boys or BOBS for short. We have set up a WhatsApp group for anyone interested in playing, watching or hearing about the BOBS. If you are interested in being added, email chrisjhewitt37@gmail.com with your phone #, and we’ll add you.
Here are the key points…
Fixtures:
Depending on interest, we may look to secure some other games, but here is our current schedule…
Registration Options will be coming shortly.
If you are not a member of the Club or Rugby section – Please contact chrisjhewitt37@gmail.com directly and we can share some options
We are looking forward to running/walking around with everyone this year. UTB! Your Heroes, Claude (The Dude) and Hewitt (Tooth)
The 6 Nations Tournament kicks off this weekend and Balmy Beach Club will be showing every game.
Saturday matches will be shown in the hall on the BIG SCREEN – $20 Entry Fee. All proceeds will help support the Balmy Beach Junior Rugby program.
Friday and Sunday matches will be shown in the bar – No Entry Fee
BBC breakfast served from 8:00-11:30AM Saturday & Sunday. See below for the full schedule.
BBC Rugby Holiday Market – A special thank you for those who supported the BBC Rugby Holiday Market and Silent Auction We wanted to reach out and thank all of the members that supported the Annual Rugby Holiday Market & Auction. With your support, we surpassed previous years funds raised with a record breaking (at least from 2017 onwards) with $12,000. With these funds we are able to support our athletes with trainers, field access and offsetting costs to make Rugby accessible to as many athletes as possible.
We would also like to invite you to save the date for the 2025 Rugby Holiday Market & Auction on December 6th, 2025.
Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and wonderful New Year. Once again, thank you for your continued support and participation. The Rugby Holiday Market & Auction Committee. On behalf of the Alumni Executive Committee, we would like to wish you a very safe and happy holiday. 2025 will be a special year with the 70th celebration and we look forward to seeing you there.
BBC is 70! – It’s time to get excited about the club’s 70th in June 2025, if you haven’t started making plans, I suggest you start ASAP. Before you know it June will be here. Check out the attached newsletter for the activities we have planned. More details to follow…
Rest in Peace Fletchers Field – For the past 60 years, Fletcher’s Field—fondly known as “The Square”—has been the beating heart of rugby in Ontario. It wasn’t just a field; it was a home, a stage, and a sanctuary. From regular season games to intense playoff battles, provincial clashes, and unforgettable international showdowns, Fletcher’s became a place where players and fans alike made the pilgrimage to Markham, season after season. But Fletcher’s was more than just a hub for fierce competition; it was a place where friendships were forged, where bonds formed over shared love for the game. It was the soul of rugby in this province—a place where victories were celebrated, losses were consoled, and countless memories were made. Now, the doors to The Square have closed for good. Its future lies in the hands of the City of Markham. But its legacy? That will live on in every tackle, every try, and every story shared over a pint. Here’s a tribute to the iconic field that shaped decades of rugby and brought so many of us together. Fletcher’s Fields Video
Balmy Beach Holiday Auction and Market – Saturday December 7th from 4-7pm. Hope to see you there. Please click the poster below for more details.
Balmy Beach Old Boys Hockey Team – It’s that time of year again, when the air chills and the Balmy Beach Old Boys reach out to help you make your holiday feast extra special. Our annual Turkey Time Sale is the perfect opportunity to ensure you have a fresh, high-quality, and delicious bird to cook for Christmas dinner. The price is a very reasonable $5.45 per pound and you can order Small (under 16 lbs), Medium (16-20 lbs) or Large (20-24 lbs) size turkeys. To order, complete this online order form, or if preferred you may contact Paul Babich by email at zzivio@bell.net or by phone at (416) 691-2370 to place your order manually. Order deadline is December 16th or until supplies last. Note, small-size turkeys may be in limited supply this year – so get your order in sooner than later or upsize to medium. Turkeys will be available for pick up at the Balmy Beach Club Lawn Bowling clubhouse. The pick-up date is Monday, December 23rd between 9AM and 6PM. We will notify you of your order total at this time and accept payment by e-transfer (to zzivio@bell.net), cheque (to “BBOB”) or cash. As you may know, this program raises funds not only for our hockey club but also for the important work of Centre 55 in our community. We offer the opportunity to add a donation to your turkey order to further support the cause. Please feel free to let your neighbours and friends know about Turkey Time!
Seniors’ Holiday Program Special Request – For four years now, the Club has sponsored the holiday program for the senior residents at the Revera Main Terrace Long-Term Care facility. Many of these residents have no family and our program has become quite meaningful to them. Typically, we provide a gift bag containing a variety of small items (body wash, deodorant, word search books, candy, etc). This year, the team at Revera has a special request: the residents are each asking for a digital alarm clock. We have identified a clock that we could procure in time for the event, but we are hoping that the Sections could assist us with financial support in the form of a donation of $150. Of course, any amount would be appreciated. The gifts are usually distributed at the Holiday Party in early December; this year we are looking forward to the junior girls’ rugby group helping to distribute the gifts and sing Christmas carols. If you have any questions or concerns around this request, please let me know, otherwise I would like to thank you in advance for considering donating to our seniors’ program this year. Best, Jenn Sharp
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