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Last Thursday the Balmy Beach Old Boys (BBOBs) made their debut at Tubs and Gee Field. There were close to 30 former players who dug deep into their closets and garages to find their old Beach boots, socks and shorts to try to give it a run like they did back in the day. With rolling subs a must, cardio was definitely optional. Claude Germain and Chris Hewitt gathered the guys before kick off and got them all fired up to play Oakville Old Boys. The Beach got on the board 3 mins into the game and it was pretty much downhill from there. Oakville was simply no match for the younger Beach team. There were some fine examples of champagne rugby but a big shout out to Sean Gowland who scored the BBOBs first try and almost a hat trick. Beach 57 – Oakville 12.

The women were first to kick off the monumental Saturday of the 70th anniversary weekend. As they trotted out to their blue and gold uniforms and met with the Beach faithful on a perfect Saturday, the Brampton Beavers had their cards stacked against them. For a while it was a track meet with both teams scoring every time they entered the opposition’s 22m. With less than 5 mins left in the second half, the women made a few great defensive stands causing Brampton to turn over the ball. This led to a couple more insurance tries and ended the game with a big W, Well done ladies. Final 38-26

The Beach 3XV were next to take the pitch versus Oakville. A mix of grizzly veterans and young stallions came together to show Oakville this was our day. From the time the whistle blew the Beach had the CRU on the back foot looking for answers they couldn’t find. The Beach showed a wide arrange of attacking strategies and everything clicked. All this led to a big 28-5 win.

The Beach 2XV kept the winning streak going but it wasn’t easy. The Beach were definitely dominant in set pieces but few handling errors and costly mistakes made for a closer game than meets the eye. A spirited halftime time speech had the boys refocused and it was evident. Big hits, cripst backline plays and tough defense was the tone of the second half. The boys in blue found a way to pull even and then score a late try to seal the deal. Beach 31-CRU 24

The 4pm saw the Beach 1XV take the field. The game opened at a blistering pace with exceptional ball movement and line breaks no one saw coming. The Beach had the CRU pinned in their half for most of the first half. The Beach were winning at the half. Unfortunately the second half was not as strong as the first. The CRU were able to piece together some plays and take advantage of some costly penalties to flip the scoreboard in their favour. The Beach 1s come up short 47-24.

This weekends fixtures
TRU Women @ Markham Irish 12:30pm – Austin Dr (Markham)
Beach 3XV vs Buccaneers – 3:30pm – Tubs and Gee
Beach 2XV @ Scottish 2pm – Sunnybrook Park
Beach 1XV @ Scottish 3:30 – Sunnybrook Park
BBOBs vs NOBS 2pm June 15 at Tubs and Gee

What a week last week was. The week started on Wednesday night as everyone made their way to the Balmy Beach Club for the gala. The main hall looked immaculate with Beach jerseys hanging from the rafters and beach colours everywhere. There were over 200 people in the venue as we all stood up when the bagpipes started up and the originals were paraded through the hall to their seats. A very emotional moment.

Ian McConvey took to the mic as the Master of Ceremonies telling jokes and stories about the past and present, forwards and backs. Thanks Ian.

The originals were the first to be acknowledged by the Beach faithfuls and a very touching video tribute telling the story about how rugby was started at the Beach back in 1955. The video included coaches and players from all around the world. They had nothing but great things to say about the willingness to learn, toughness and tenacity of these young men. They didn’t win much but they didn’t make it easy on their opponents either.

Next up was the 50th anniversary of the 1975 1st Team Champs. Jake Lipsett took to the mic to tell stories of this great team. These icons came up to the front of the room to a rousing applause one by one. Then the group shot at the end.

The mic was then passed to Red Lipsett as he told the story of the 1975 2nd team champs. Again the players made their way to the front as the beach faithful clapped and laughed. UP BEACH being shouted throughout the night and echoed by others then glasses raised to the ceiling.

The night ended with our club president Iain McLeish talking about the pride and the direction of the beach and finally a roasting from Scott Dunham and Claude Germaine. These 2 brought the house down talking about some of the crazy things they have seen both on and off the field. A perfect ending to a perfect night.

A huge shout out to the Balmy Beach club and staff, the unsung heroes of the evening. They made the place look immaculate and the food was some of the best I’ve had at any event.

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.

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…

• Players need to be over 35 or older in 2025 (younger players may be considered if they are aging terribly)
• We will have light schedule, with most games in September after the Senior Men’s regular season is complete
• We have a variety of registration options available
• We intend to have a large roster of players so that you can play as much or as little as you would like
• Training will be limited to brief warm-ups 15 minutes prior to kick-off
• The games are slower and less competitive than Senior Men’s, and all levels of ability are welcome
• Old Boys Rugby has a greater focus on the social side and we will be ensuring that we host our opponents well!

Fixtures:
Depending on interest, we may look to secure some other games, but here is our current schedule…

• Thursday June 5th – @ Home vs Oakville (part of 70th Anniversary Celebrations)
• Sunday June 15th – @ Home vs NOBS
• Saturday September 6th – @ Burlington, NOBS tournament
• Sunday, September 21st – @ Home GITS
• Saturday October 4th – Coburg Saxon Old Boys Tournament

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