Member News

April 11th and 12th were certification days at LRFC

Referee level 1

• Noah Pascoe
• Dan Barker
• Evan Whiteford
• Wade Coulter
• Greg McClean
• Sherman Gowan
• Tristan Huron
• Joey Stuart

All participated and will be available for matches this season. Our thanks and congratulations to them for taking the time and signing up , we hope that there are lots of opportunities to have them gain experience and gainful employment!

April 13th Community initiatives new IRB course

• Kim Callaghan
• David Short
• Kevin McKreelis
• Jeff Hetherington
• Mike Krauss
• Bobby Grant
• Dan Barker
• Tristan Huron
• Wade Coulter
• Matt Bartlett
• Alyssa Verwey
• Matt Wiltshire
• Joey Stuart

All became trained coaches available to work with teams up toU14 contact. They are to be congratulated and thanked , this is only one of several training times these members will be involved over the next few weeks. This has been a part of the plan to initiate House League at the club. The coaches can now deliver an accurate and correct initiation into rugby and up to junior level contact. Again they will be gaining experience with the House league and assisting other teams at the club. We hope to make good use of their “training” days by having them assist with School outreach programs and other activities during the summer months. I hope that all these individuals are going to have long and beneficial relationships with the club and rugby .

Brett Beukeboom at Plymouth Albion

Former Champions

Western University were at the National 7’s tournament in March in BC.

 

Year End awards      

◄ 1 ... 3 4 5 ... 7 ►

Presidents award  Alison Westrop

presented to a member who has gone well beyond the ordinary responsibilities of membership, and supported the club in every way they are able.

David Beukeboom

Walter Gerow Award,   LRFC executive

presented by Dwight and Laura Gerow to the person who most exemplifies the values and behaviour of Walter Gerow, tenacious and hard on the field, gentleman at all times

Brodie Bowins

Women Snr   Kirk Wilson  Greg Buckley

Emily Mitchell  Backs    MVP

Corie Lewis  Forwards  MVP

Lauren Finney  Most dedicated Player

U18 Girls   Claire Wilson

Mercedes Brasier MVP

Irene Hutcheon  Most Improved Player

Courtney Sherk   Most Dedicated

Men Snr   Steve Lamb

Rob Brouwer  MVP

Bobby Grant  Most Dedicated

Jeremy Wright Rookie of the Year

Sam Evans Most Improved

Men U18    Luc Pearson

Mitch Collins

Jacob Lockhart

Tristan Huron  Most Dedicated

 

U16 Boys  Scott Beukeboom

Noah Pascoe  MVP

Conor Storey  Most Improved

Chris Francis  Most Dedicated

 

U14 boys  David Beukeboom, Danny Maw, Brian Greven

Scott Peel MVP

Carter Hamilton  Most Improved

Tanner Maw,  most Dedicated

 

U15 boys  fall 7’s   Glenn Smallwood  David Beukeboom, Brodie Bowins

Evan Whitford  M V P

Matt Bartlett  Most Improved

Sam McElrea Most dedicated

Chris Francis  Most sportsmanlike

 

Our congratulations go to all these deserving winners,  we look forward to them returning next season and  their progress with the club. These choices  were not made lightly and we also know that there are many players as well on all the teams. You are all to be congratulated for your dedication and support of the Lindsay teams.  Congratulations to the Men’s teams for winning promotion to the Marshall Provincial Division.

Special congratulations to Steve Lamb upon his induction into the Kawartha Lakes Hall of Fame 2013.

At the year end banquet , there was a moment when we reflected on the years as we start the 35th year and 36th season for the club,  we have had to say good bye to Vince our founder and Sensei,  There will be celebrations this coming season, the first of which will be the Vince Jones Presidents select XV versus The Rock Provincial match on the May long weekend.

We have to thank , Dennis Newman, he is sticking with us and we are grateful.  Glenn Smallwood , does so much that there is not enough space.     Sandy and Tom Callaghan for always supporting and helping out lending equipment and backing us up.  The partners of the executive of the board, that have allowed the countless hours of time to be spent by the board on the club not to cause complete social /family rifts!  Brett Moxley who has given and given and given over the last 10 years, he is  able to put his own business and family to the forefront of his life for the time being.  We look forward to his full time return!!  Many more were part of the evening and we hope they will continue to come out, and keep us growing and moving forward.

 

The club would like to list the players from the U8 , U10 and U12 awards which happened earlier in the season,  please email president@lindsayrugby.com if you have the results for posting.

 

 

 

 

 

Ceremony details for Steve Lamb’s Induction to Lindsay Hall of Fame

Date: Sunday October 20th
Where: Lindsay Victoria Park Armouries
Time:

• Doors open at 1:00
• Ceremony at 2:00

Light refreshments provided and cash bar

Tickets are $10 – available at the door

Steve Lamb is Inducted to Lindsay Hall of Fame

Barbara-Ann MacEachern  Sep 25, 2013

(LINDSAY) As the second longest running member of the Lindsay Rugby Football Club, Steve Lamb has been instrumental to the area’s rugby legacy that is recognized nationally and on the world stage.

The Lindsay and District Sports Hall of Fame inductee’s rugby career started one afternoon when a young Mr. Lamb was playing baseball at Central Senior Public School, when he noticed some older guys playing rugby at the adjacent LCVI field and was invited to play.

“I decided to give it a try and I haven’t looked back since,” he says, adding that he enjoyed the physicality of the game, particularly the running and defensive play, as well as the camaraderie with his teammates.

It wasn’t long before he was recruited to play with the older guys, when he was just 15. 

Congratulations Steve, from all of us at the LRFC!

 

Emily Barber part of U20 Canada sweep at Nations Cup

Congrats to Emily Barber and the u-20 Canadian women’s team. They finished the tournament 4-0, Emily started 2 games including the final and also had 2 tries in the 4 games.

Justin Rafton starts in his University side vs an All Black legend!

Justin’s University of Cantebury Vipers will be playing Cantebury RFC on Saturday and he will be opposing Richie McCaw.  He is coming off a 7 month sabbatical and is easing himself back before he rejoins his club team, the Cantebury Crusaders.  Jusitn has learned he will be starting on Saturday, and to be playing against his Rugby  idol is a ‘dream come true’.   Hope to pass along some pictures shortly.

We want to feature achievements, memories and other human interest stories from our current and past rugby players on this page.  Where are they now?

Ryan Hill

The current economy is not an easy place to find full-time rewarding careers. Even for those with post-secondary educations who are forced to work multiple jobs in order to not only pay back their student debt, but to also afford their basic living expenses. At every turn young adults are now told that they need more experience in the field that they are looking to apply in. Even for myself, my university degree needed to be supplemented with a college diploma after discovering that university is now more the minimum standard than the golden ticket.

It takes more than an education to get a job in today’s work place. It takes a certain personality and a strong set of ideals and morals to standout ahead of the rest of the crowd all vying for that top spot. I am proud to say I work for the city of Ottawa as a full-time career firefighter. A career decision that is not only physically and mentally challenging, but one that is also extremely popular and sought after. In fact the odds of getting hired on full-time are so slim today that it is simply referred to now by most as “winning the lottery”. Those who do get hired though all share similar ideals and strong character traits such as teamwork, brotherhood, determination, commitment; honour, respect, courage, and having a strong sense of community. While my parents are certain to take most of the credit for setting the foundation towards becoming who I am today, I am proud to say that the same traits that helped me enter into the fire service are the same ones that came from my time as a Lindsay rugby player.

I began playing rugby as a Lindsay Gryphon when I was 10 years old, and over the following 17 years I only once missed a summer of play. From the club’s mini program, I worked my way up through the under 16’s, under 18’s and under 21’s, until eventually settling into the men’s team. When I was not filling my Saturday’s as a Gryphon, I was playing for my high school as an I.E. Weldon Wildcat and later on as a Raven for Carleton University. During this time I learned what it meant to work hard in training. That practice does make perfect, and that if you wanted a starting position on the team you had to earn it with patience and determination.

The game took me beyond Lindsay and Ontario, giving me the opportunity to travel abroad to places like England, Wales, Scotland and even Barbados. It was on these tours where I found my love of travel and discovered a sense of brotherhood. Where member’s from other Rugby clubs, from other countries, opened their doors to me and my teammates for the sole reason that we were rugby players. These very same people would later on be responsible for numerous bruises and cuts, taking turns crushing and stomping over top of us. Though to be fair we were happy to return the favour. Though the true feelings of brotherhood would later be felt when our two teams would come together after each game, where we would share a laugh over past stories or humorous jokes and songs. This very same sense of brotherhood and tradition is overflowing in the fire department and is something that is shared in the station, in other cities and even other countries.

Firefighters have a strong sense of community and try to give back by volunteering our time or skills with fundraisers or community events, which is also an ideal that is very important to being a part of the Lindsay Gryphons. Whether it was a bingo or golf tournament, a bottle drive, or even just taking the time out of our own day to help with renovations towards the clubhouse and playing field, it was important to the senior members of the rugby club that the young players learn to be a part of their communities and to give more than they took.

Firefighters must be relentless in our struggles to persevere and push forward when faced with unbeatable obstacles. We must be physically fit in order to accomplish our goals and to overcome extraordinary odds. We must have respect for our Chiefs and our Officers who help us accomplish our goals quickly and safely. They are the men and women who have the experience and knowledge to find new ways around overwhelming challenges, and who will provide support when our objectives do not always go our way. I can relate my feelings towards my Chiefs and Officers in the fire service in the same way as I did my Coaches and team Captains who I would look towards on the rugby field when we were down on the score board and desperate to find a way to win or when I needed to find a new way to improve upon my own skills in order to become a better player. The respect that I learned to give my Coaches and Captains is the exact same respect that I give my Chiefs and Officers every day, in and out of uniform, and on and off the job.

When I had my interview with Ottawa Fire Services one of the questions I was asked was in regards to any experience I may have had with working on a team and it was my experience as a rugby player, particularly as a Lindsay Gryphon that I was able to draw my answer from, because playing for a team like Lindsay, where I still maintain a sense of loyalty towards, allowed me the opportunity to be a part of a team with people from all different backgrounds and walks of life where we came together to train, sweat and bleed for the sole purpose of winning and a love of the game. To be a part of a team where we all shared the same goals and commitment towards success was like no other sport, job or personal experience I had ever been involved with, and I am certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt that if not for being a part of the Lindsay Rugby Club, my coaches and my many teammates that I would not have developed the personal traits needed for reaching my goals of becoming a full-time firefighter.

Sincerely,
Ryan Hill

Vince and the Presentation of the Cart

So we got Vince to the club not knowing what was coming, he was a little distracted as this afternoon Grace had had to go into the hospital and was still there waiting for tests. So Vince was fetched from the hospital and then returned shortly after this visit.

I have to say it was lovely, he went for it straight away, put the key on his key ring and got behind the wheel. We have many volunteers to join Vince so he won’t be lonely!! He was to say the least delighted, I think that we have all contributed to a wonderful and positive act. He accepted it with joy and is looking forward to its first work out on the practice pitch on Monday. He informs me he has a megaphone!!

Thanks again for this, and for seeing so clearly how this will help a great man!

Alison

no images were found

2013 with an Eye to 2015 – Canada’s Brett Beukeboom

Here is a great article about our very own Brett from March 6th, 2013

RugbyWorldCup-Argentina

 

Libby George

Libby George caps off a phenomenal year in rugby with Rookie of the Year for Guelph.

Libby was part of Guelph’s victorious University champions side in BC earlier this month,and not unexpected, she has picked up another accolade to her talent. Congratulations to Libby,and we hope to welcome her back to the club in the future, meanwhile we wish her the best in her University program in Guelph and we hope caps with Rugby Canada.

Vince Jones – A History of Coaching

• My D.O.B. is 20 June 1928.  I was 19 years of age when I founded/coached the Sealand club.
• 1947-8 – Founded club at RAF Station Sealand (England).  Player coach for 2 years.
• 1950-4 – Co-Founded and coached Brandford Harlequins, RFC (1 XV)
• 1955-7 – Founded and coached Hamilton Hornets RFC (1 XV)
• 1957-8 –  I was out of the country (U.S.A.)

1959-61 I travelled from Woodstock, Ontario (My OPP detachment) to Kitchener on my days off to form a club in that city. (Kitchener-Waterloo Pirates).  A very tedious enterprise being as I didn’t reside in Kitchener.  George (my brother) would come up from Brantford occasionally, whilst I bolstered two of the local residents (who played for Hamilton) to keep to the task at hand.  I wrote articles to the local newspapers, talked rugby on the local radio sports network and visited the local Kitchener (No Waterloo) high schools preaching the gospel.  Eventually a team took to the field.  (Coaching was conducted 1/2 hour prior to k.o.)  At this time I was transferred to the Sarnia area.  Kitchener had some checkered early years, changing their locales (venues), jersey colours, title(s) etc. eventually setting down as Waterloo County.

1961 witnessed a woman of the land, recognizing my innocence, dragging me, kicking and screaming to the altar.  It was whilst I was in a state of exhausted matrimonial bliss that I attempted to play rugby with the local Sarnia club.  Find me in such an emaciated physical condition, they respectfully declined my generous offer to play for them, So…. If I were to play rugby I would have to start a team of my own.  Therefore, ditto Hamilton and Kitchener, I started a 2nd XV with the Sarnia Club.  But duty called and I was transferred once more, this time to London.

1965.  I threw my lot in with the then London Foresters (Now St. George’s) RFC for 2 years, but I reasoned London, a city of some 350,000 souls could carry two rugby clubs.  Once again I made the rounds of the high schools, the newspaper and the radio station emphasizing a team of only Canadian/London lads.  No Brits.  My first meeting at a Catholic public school gym netted 50-60 lads.  I gave my spiel, handed out a few documents, membership forms and basic laws of the game and the date/locale of the first practice.  Exactly 20 kids showed up and we were away.  Green as grass but gutsy as hell.  We lost all of our early games by lopsided scores.  The youngsters were becoming demoralized, so I opened the club up to some Brit lads I knew and others came to know.  The combination of a few Brits and with the athletic ability of the young Canadian lads, we were away.  As success begets success, the players started pouring in.  In short order, the club (London Forest City RFC) was running 3 full senior men XVs.  In three years we won the SWORU championship and the SWORU 7s.  I could boast 45 players at practice and occasionally I could have fielded a 4th XV.  At one time we had 8 doctors playing in the club (one of which was a Maori All Black).

I coached the entire three teams by giving the captain of each XV a list of drills, calls and plays I wished taught.  Each XV had its own area of our field in which to practice.  Then I would go around to each training area to ascertain if everything was going well and that everyone knew what was going on.  Players then could move up or down through the 3 sides and fit in perfectly within the entire scheme.  What made everything work so well was the education level of most of the sides.  Besides the doctors, there were a couple of physios, two professional orchestra musicians, two lawyers, four policemen with a great mix of senior players who had the smarts and good young kids with the legs.

It was a cinch, except for that recurring problem in so many rugby clubs, everyone wanted to play, but no one wanted to work or organize.

It was a great club.  I was transferred to Lindsay in June 1978.  Formed the Lindsay Rugby Club in August 1978.  Forest City could only muster one XV for the September game and in three years the club folded.

The one major positive from my London sojourn was the number of High Schools which picked up the game following the Canadian only policy initially embraced by Forest City, and the exposure which was gained when Forest City hosted the touring British major XV Bristol RFC for SWORU.

1978.  Lindsay initially fell out of the sky on me when I formed the club in August 1978.  As with Forest City, I had a few good experienced players and a number of really competent types.  I coached simply but thoroughly.  Everyone knew what they were doing most of the time to a point where we had a Cinderella first year.  The experienced players came out for that one last hurrah and were never seen again.  Two very lean years followed where oft times I was the only member at training sessions, no one paid their fees and we travelled to away games with 10-11 players, but as hope springs eternal in the human breast, a few new young talented athletes came out.  We began to win games and spirit was revived.  Once again, coaching was simple but complete.  But and large, players knew what they were doing most of the time.  For the rest, I relied on their superb athletic ability.  (the axiom, Good Players make good coaches, held fast on many of our wins)  In their turn I coached the schools teams which were now being formed in the two Lindsay High schools (now that there was a place where they could play either after school years or additional games during their school years.)

Young lads were joining the club.  Not wishing a repeat of the Forest City demise, I encouraged the more senior lads who were either at University or graduated to coach at the higher aged groups whilst I loosened the reins allowing them to run the teams while I observed from the sidelines.  I was challenged to start a women’s XV which I did (successfully – not one of the players in those first teams had ever played rugby prior to the Lindsay Club.  -That was an experience!)  I coached the women for some five to six years eventually ceding the reins to younger men ready to take over that leadership.  When the new separate High School opened in Lindsay, I coached their rugby side for three years until a rugby coach was hired but the school.  As the game became more popular, younger players were expressing their desire to learn the game.  Hence, circa 1998 I commenced coaching 10/U flag rugby to children.  With the advent of tackle rugby at the 12/U, I acquired a 10/U flag coach and began coaching 12/U tackle, which I continue to this day.  I would estimate I must have coached at least 1,000 youths (boys and girls) during my rugby coaching career, 1948 – 2012.

Next Stories >>>>

• Ryan Hill(if you have a picture of Ryan from his days as a mini or later, playing for Lindsay Gryphons, we would like to see it and will post it along with his story soon!)
• Dr. Jerod Selby