Pace on Earth

It Was A Very Good Year

In the Daily Gleaner's wrap up of the past year on the local sports scene The Loyalists were named the team of the year by all three local reporters. This reasoning from Bruce Halihan:
"Team of the year: Last week, the tight-knit rugby community lost one of its most loyal fans in Bill Thorpe, whose name is synonymous with the sport in this city. So the Fredericton Loyalists will end 2006 on a sad note in a year where they achieved their greatest feat. They won the provincial (McNair) and Maritime (Caledonia) cups for the third year in a row, but what vaulted them to the top of my thick team of the year pile was winning the Aliant Atlantic Premier championship by winning twice one weekend in Newfoundland. No other team has ever won the Atlantic title on enemy soil."

It was a very good year and most importantly a very fun year to be around the club. Every January 1st we have a tradition whereby the weary revellers from the night before drag themselves out of bed and make there way to the club. We reminisce about the year that was, start to think about the year to come, eat soup or chili likely made by a MacAfee, have a beer and, weather permitting, play the Snow Bowl. This year there wasn't enough snow to play an actual game but we did get out and play touch for the first run of the season. Here's a partial photo of those who took part.It should be noted that I kicked the first drop goal of the season, taking that title from Scotty, and also scored the first try of the season (a feat I have accomplished every year ever likely because I am the only one keeping track).

Finally it should be noted my Cousin Jane Rumball was the unanimous choice for Female Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments. Bruce's rational for her was even better:
"Rumball won a world pairs championship with crewmate Darcy Marquardt, but what Rumball did to honour her parents - both of whom were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - tipped the oar in her favour. In three weeks, Rumball raised more than $5,500 for the Canadian Cancer Society - a feat recognized in the Globe and Mail, no less - and her "Row Against Cancer" eventually topped $6,000. That's quite a tribute."

Four months until rugby season.

posted by Vitamin S @ 7:09 p.m.