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<< Golf outing date confirmed

Our annual golf outing date has been confirmed for 24 May 2012 at Shandon Park Golf club. Please put the date in your diary now. Click here for further details.

<< AGM and Annual Dinner date confirmed

Our AGM and annual dinner has been confirmed for Friday 01 June 2012 at Newforge Country Club. Please put the date in your diary now. Click here for event schedule.

<< Charity Candlelight Dinner Dance and Cabaret Evening

A Charity Candlelight Dinner Dance and Cabaret evening ihas been organised for Friday 30 March 2012. Pleae put this date in your diary now. Click here for full details.

<< Action Cancer questionnaire

Did you know that 1 in 3 people are affected by cancer and that up to 50% of cancers are preventable through a healthy balanced lifestyle?

Executive Action is a team of young graduates from NIHE working directly with Action Cancer to carry out research. They need our help to ensure that Action Cancer can target their services more effectively.

As Perennials we know you are all committed to a healthy lifestyle, so we need your help and would ask that you take a couple of minutes to complete a short anonymous health questionnaire.

Please click here to complete the survey  

<< London Irish tour report

Bandits on the golf course, Australian rugby fan rescued from depression, skipper misses game, our 73 year old prop starts front row fight and wins Man of thew Match award, final quarter comeback, three intercept tries for opposition - just a normal day out for the Perennials.

See Match reports or click here  For Photos see Gallery or click here

>> Newforge Taggers tournament

Newforge Taggers, for whom we raised some funds at our recent casino night, played host to a tag rugby tournament on Saturday 12 June 2011 at Newforge. Some 30 teams from England, Wales and Ireland put on a festival of rugby.

The Perennials were represented by our President, Philip Parker, Geoff Goldsbrough, Tom Galbraith and Paddy Mallon, who is also a committee member of the Taggers.

Musical entertainment was provided by a band of children from inner-city Belfast, called A-FREEK-A who specialize in African drum music – great sound – led by the very enthusiastic Nicola.

A very up-lifting day for all concerned and gratifying to see some of our funds going to such a good cause. One of the lasting memories was lots of happy faces. Check out the photographs click here

>> Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children

Our largest charity donation to date enabled us to purchase a specially adapted mini bus for use by the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. Funded by a successful Day at the Races a big thank you goes to all those who contributed. Pictures of us handing over of the keys went astray hence the late publicity.  click here

<< Super injunction lifted connects famous actor with former Ulster star

Lifting of the latest super injunction raises further questions about the close connection between millionaire comedy actor Leslie Phillips and famous apple tart and pastry maker and fellow Perennial Graham McComish.

Spot the connection replies on a post card please.

<< 2011 AGM and Annual Dinner

Our annual AGM and Dinner took place at Newforge County Club on Friday 06 May 2011. A big thanks was conveyed to out going President  Roger Cupitt and out going captain Willie Oakes for all their hard work during the year.

Awards were presented to our President and Captain and to our Perennial of the year George Neely. George scored some memorable tries during the season but will be remembered most for causing a blockade on the streets of Dublin as he tried to negotiate our 3.6 metre high tour bus under a 3.0 metre high bridge, on our visit to the opening game at the Aviva stadium.

Philip Parker was elected Club President and Cooke legend Michael O'Reilly Club Captain for the incoming season. We wish them well and ask everyone to give them their full support both on and off the field during the season.

Following an excellent meal and speeches by Our President and Captain responded to by Stewart Porter and Billy Flywheel, the evening finished off with Alan Crawford entertaining the troops.

Again a big thanks to Geoff Goldsbrough for organising the dinner.

<< Casino night breaks the bank

Some 250 guests in black tie and evening dress gathered at Shandon Park Golf for an excellent night’s entertainment and fund raising, for the Newforge Taggers Tag Rugby Football Club.

The Newforge Taggers club was established in September 2006 as a Tag Ruby Club for those with learning difficulties and is presently the only club of its type in Ireland. click here for details. The players, who are both male and female, come from across the community and are aged between 6 and 34 years.

An excellent supper, musical entertainment from Jason Maguire with Jeremy Mearns on the keyboards was followed by a lot of high rollers taking to the casino tables to raise funds for the NewforgeTaggers. The Apex Jazz Band then brought a superb evening to a close.

A first class auction and the money made at the tables enabled our President Roger Cupitt to present a cheque for ₤4,000 to the Taggers chairman Nigel Cinnamon and the Taggers captain Gerard Shevlin.

Good luck to the Taggers, who are hosts to a tournament of over 30 similar teams who are travelling to Newforge from throughout the UK. this summer – we will be supporting you all the way.

<< Urgent Tour information

We have re-arranged our tour match with London Irish at Sudbury for Saturday 17 September 2011 and need a strong turnout of players to do the double over London Irish.

The key cost and logistic issue is air travel and we have negotiated the best group fares that we can, but to avail of these we must supply BMI airlines with the actual names of those travelling by Monday 21 February 2011 i.e. Monday week.

It is now that we need you to make the 100% commitment.

There are two options as follows:

Golfers:

Depart morning of Thursday 15 September returning after lunch on Sunday 18 September - Cost ₤365

Includes: Return flight
  3 nights B&B at Holiday Inn Brentfork Lock
  Golf
  Coach transport

Excludes: Lunch and Dinner
Additional charges to carry golf clubs on the plane - these are payable directly by you at the airport.

Others

Depart afternoon of Friday 16 September returning after lunch on Sunday 18 September - Cost ₤265

Includes: Return flight
2 nights B&B at Holiday Inn Brentfork Lock
Coach transport

Excludes: Lunch and Dinner

What we need you to do now:

Ring any member of the committee (contact details) and confirm your intentions, ensuring you give us the name exactly as shown on your passport.

Please note that once you confirm you are going and we book the flight in your name we cannot refund the cost of the flight

Please give us your support and respond even if you cannot go.

<< Subscriptions 2010 - 2011

Subscriptions will remain unchanged at £45 for the season and circulars will be going out over the next few weeks. Please return promptly to help cash flow.

<< Club plaques

Some people have expressed a wish to purchase a Perennials plaque for display in their home. We now have a stock of them at the cost of £30 each. Drop me an email if you wish to purchase one

<< 27 August - Hospitality Race Day Down Royal

Our major charity fund raising event of the year is our Hospitality Race Day on Friday 27 August 2010 at Down Royal Racecourse, Maze, Lisburn

In these difficult times charity needs our support more than ever. We need a turnout of 350 people to make the effort that the organizing committee has put in pay off. Whilst we have sold many corporate tables we need individual members to support us.

This year we are in the new hospitality suite and ticket price includes excellent food, race card, in house tote, close circuit TV and a full days entertainment before and during lunch and after the final race.

Please use your contacts to sell a corporate table £1000 for a table of 10 or individual tickets for £100.

Please contact Geoff Goldsbrough at ggg2m@btconnect.com or Alan McGaughey alanmcgaughey.ni@googlemail.com   Alternatively give Geoff a ring 07775 650010 or contact any member of the committee to book your tickets.

<< 28 July - New Trolley Dollies

Memebers voted on line for Ronnie Porter and John Scott as the new team bus Trolley Dollies for the incoming season.

Main duties: Looking after the refreshment needs of finely tuned athletes.
Managing stock levels
Ice cube management

Qualifications: Customer friendly
Ability to serve drinks whilst bus is in motion
Staying power to remain sober for the return journey

Reporting to: Day trip convenor

The Perennials are an equal opportunity employer and applications were received from drinkers, non-drinkers and alcoholics.

<< Charities 2010

Our Charities this year are:
 IRFU Charitable Trust - Helps players with serious injuriesShine a Light - Helps children with cancer and their parentsThe Christopher McCollum Fund - Help purchase wheelchairs or other equipment for young people under 18 who have a disability or illness which may be life limited.