JUNE2012
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 27
EDMONTON WOLFE TONES GAA CLUB
Tve been playing Gaelic football since 2005,
and I love every minute of it' says Kim Budd
KIM BUDD is the Vice Chair of the Edmonton Wolfe Tones Gaelic football team and Chair of the Western Canadian Division GAA.
EDMONTON - Kim Budd is Vice Chair of the Edmonton Wolfe Tones Gaelic football team and Chair of the Western Canadian Division GAA.
Last month, I spoke with Kim at the Edmonton Irish Sports and Social Society Clubhouse about upcoming activities and tournaments for the club.
Kim explained that she started playing with the Wolfe Lones in 2005 and said, "I've been with them ever since and I love every minute of it all."
She said, "On the August long weekend, we're travelling out to Vancouver and bringing a men and ladies team for sure, and possibly a second team and half of a hurling team.
"We've just started training, so I would expect that we will see a lot more of the new Irish recently arrived in town coming out to the field for training.
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
"We're excited that we don't have to rebuild as much this year and are still coasting from our strengths last year. It's also very exciting to see new people getting involved and taking the initiative."
Kim said, "Right now we have five new Irish women who will be joining the team this year. Lhis is the highest number of ladies that we've had in the past 10 years playing for the Wolfe Lones.
"One of the projects that we're working on this year is organizing a hurling team. Right now we have one ladies and one men's team, but we will have a much stronger ladies team this year and certainly a lot more subs when we travel."
The club is very aggressively fundraising at this time of year, as Kim explained, "most players going to the tournament will probably pay for their own travel and accommodations, but we as a club try to help offset some of the expense by covering the cost of accommodations."
For more information about the Edmonton Wolfe Tones Gaelic football team, contact Kim Budd by e-mail at: kimberly.budd@shaw.ca, or visit the website: www.edmontongaa.com.
eDmonConiRish spoRts COD social society
Please check our website for club events:
edmontonirishclub.ca
Youth Gaelic Football Summer Camps
By RONAN DEANE
VANCOUVER - The Irish Sporting and Social Club (ISSC) Vancouver will host Gaelic Games camps for youth this summer.
Presented at Capilano Rugby Club at Klahanie Park in North Vancouver, the ISSC welcomes children, between the ages of six and 16, boys and girls, and their parents to register their interest at: youth@isscvancouver.com.
The camp will be held on July 14 and August 4, and will run in conjunction with the Vancouver Gaelic Games Day (July 14) and the Western Canada Championship event (August long weekend).
The ISSC encourages everyone with a connection to the club to promote these
The Youth Camp will be presented at Capilano Rugby Club at Klahanie Park in North Vancouver for children, between the ages of six and 16.
camps so that we can promote Gaelic games amongst families and develop the community aspect of the ISSC. Check out http://www.isscvancouver.com/ sports/youth.
CANADIAN ALL-STAR TEAMS - May 26, Toronto. Vancouver representatives: Angela Oldknow (front row, fifth from the left) and Rita Richie (front row, fourth from the right).
IRISH SPORTING AND SOCIAL CLUB VANCOUVER
New players and supporters welcome - all levels and nationalities
VANCOUVER - As predicted, the ISSC has had a jammed packed schedule throughout April and May.
The last couple of months have seen all four codes (men and women's football, hurling and camogie) take to the training fields around the city (details of times and venues are available on the club's website at: www.isscvancouver.com/events/calen-dar/). All nationalities and levels are welcome!.
The beginning of April saw club president, Ronan Matthews and secretary, Jerry McCarthy head to Calgary to present the club's history to the vice president of the GAA and take part in discussions regarding development of Gaelic games across western Canada.
Also on the administrative side of things, Denis Ryan, Keith Roche and Grainne Warren represented the club at a referee seminar hosted in Edmonton, so expect to see them donning the black uniform and blowing on their whistles throughout the summer!
On the social scene, the club hosted a registration and social night in The Academic late in April, which was yet another maj or success for all involved with the social events committee.
Especially large numbers have been seen at the women's football sessions, which is in no small part due to the fantastic coaching made available for all levels and the tireless work done by player representative Martina Tallis.
A Women's Summer League has been set up in response to these superb attendances and it is one of the initiatives the club has put in place to develop the sport here in Vancouver.
Lhree clubs (Harps, Celts and JP Ryans), each with a junior and senior team, will compete over a six week period for the city league title and bragging rights for the next year!
Lhe inaugural match held in Brockton Oval on May 31 saw the Harps take on JP Ryans in a very closely fought match in the senior competition, with blood, sweat and tears being left on the pitch... literally!
Lhe junior match was a nip and tuck affair but the Harps managed to pull through and make it a double for the club. Round two pitted the victorious Harps against the unknown quantity of the Celts and again another ding-dong battle ensued with some really good fast flowing football on show from both sides in the senior match.
By LORRAINE MUCKIAN
However, the juniors once again stole the show and with a large number of girls making their debut the standard was exceptional. Lhe Celts pulled through for a double win.
Club Celts and JP Ryans contested round three on June 7 where the spoils were shared with the Celts winning out the senior battle by the bare minimum and the JP Ryans'junior squadkeeping coach Matthews' winning streak going.
Special mention should also go out to both Rita Richie and Angela Oldknow who earned the privilege of representing Vancouver in the Canadian All Star match held in Loronto on May 26 as part of the Ladies Football Association's 2012 All Star Lour.
Final score in the match: Rita's Selects 6-7,Angela's Selects 5-12. Ritachipped in with an impressive 1-1 from half forward and Angela notched up a very respectable 2-3 from the corner forward position.
The hurlers have also been getting in some inter-club competition with a number of exhibition matches organized over the last six weeks in John Hendry Park on Saturdays.
Although some key club stalwarts have departed this year, the numbers have been good and training is going well. More bodies are always welcome to the club, so if you're interested in a bit of 'stick ball', check out the website for times and venues of training sessions.
Camogie sessions coached by hurlers Cathal Roche and Jonny Kavanagh have also been well attended and interest has definitely increased since last year, which hopefully bodes well for participation at competition level for the camogie-ers.
The Ledcor Western Canada GAA Mens Football All-Stars 2011 were announced at the end of May and the ISSC was well represented, picking up five awards: Ruairi Dolan, Brian Naughton, Freddie Gannon and Mike Harnett (all Vancouver Harps) and Darren McAndrew (Vancouver Celts). A great achievement for all concerned!
The previous two months have also seen the ISSC Harps soccer team compete in the Metro Vancouver Spring League and they've notched up a number of victories since their first match on May 1. All support is always more than welcome and the sideline hydration tent is the prime viewing spot.
And speaking of 'Foreign' sports let's all get out and support Lhe Boys In
Green in the Euros 2012.
Lhe Donnelly Group pub Smiley s will be showing the games and ISSC members can get 20 percent off any food items on their bill. NOLE: ISSC membership card required.
Important 'Save the Dates' this year:
July 14 - Vancouver Lournament
August 4-5 - Western Canadian Championships hosted by Vancouver
August 31- September 2 - North American Championships in Philadelphia
Ledcor Western Canada GAA All-Stars 2011
VANCOUVER - Lhis year's Ledcor Western Canada GAA All-Stars of 2011 were announced last month.
LADIES Goals - Alecia Baldwin (Edmonton)
Full Backs - Suzanne McKeon (Calgary), Niamh O'Carroll (Edmonton)
Half Backs - Madison Chies (Edmonton), Michel-Joan Jenkinson (Edmonton)
Mid-Field - Janene Ward (Calgary), Mchelle Cremin (Edmonton)
Half Forwards - Jane Curtin (Calgary), Eimear Dooley (Calgary)
Full Forwards - Ainsley Baldwin (Edmonton), Anna Mullen (Edmonton)
Seven from the Edmonton Wolfe Lones and four from the Calgary Chieftains.
MEN
Goals - Ruairi Dolan (Vancouver Harps)
Full Backs - Brian Naughton (Vancouver Harps), Gary Fitzpatrick (Edmonton)
Half Backs - Brian Walsh (Fort McMurray), Freddie Gannon (Vancouver Harps)
Mid-Field - Brian Deasy (Calgary), Keiran Kilkelly (Fort McMurray)
Half Forwards - Stephen Ward (RedBridge), Brian Daly (Edmonton)
Full Forwards - Darren McAndrew (Vancouver Celts), Mike Harnett (Vancouver Harps)
Four from the Vancouver Harps, two from Edmonton, two from Fort McMurray, and one each from Calgary, RedBridge, and Vancouver Celts.