EDITORS WORD ONE BIG STEP FORWARD IS NOT ENOUGH....... The number of EGOR Country mem- bers increased from 12 (in June 2002) to 40 (until October 2006) in less than four years..... administratively speaking the first great step towards a solid European Rugby Veterans Orga- nisation has been done..... Practicaly there are so many things more to be achieved until our Organisation will function accordingly to the num- ber of members. Both meetings, held this summer in Zurich during 8th Euro- pean Golden Oldies Rugy Festival, the EGOR Executive Committee and General Membership meetings, ilustrated may be this necessity the best. Being not satisfied, for example, with the major of links EGOR – Country Representative the Committee made a decision to „divide“ existing country members into, so called, Regional Divisions that will be „under the respon- sibility“ of each of nine Executive Committee members. The aim is to improve actual connection(s) and to help / advise in developing G O Rugby in those countries and generally throughout Europe. General Membership Meeting is biannual conference of all EGOR members, what means the only possibility that all members meet / discuss and make decisions about the future development of veteran rugby in Europe. 2006 Meeting in Zurich illustrated the best how it should not be functioning in the future.... From 40 EGOR Country members (what includes about 350 GOR Teams/Clubs) only 28 are „Full paid up members“ – what means that they have contributed with Annual Sub- scription Fee of 120,- Euro (10,- Euro per month !) what is also the condition to take part at the Conference. Not to forget among „full paid up members“ are teams, individuals and not only countries. By the way this EGOR fee is the only source of financing European Veteran Rugby Organisation ! From these 28 „full paid up members“ only 13 were pre- sent in Zurich at the biannual Conference – the needed quorum, to make valid decisions is 12..... Being not able to participate this important meeting,16 members excused theselves for various reasons. The following Country members even did not reacted at the repeated invitations to take part: Armenia, Bosnia&Herce- govina, Bulgaria, England, Estonia, Finland, Georgia,Hunga- ry, Ireland, Latvia, Slovenija and Switzerland – the „host Country“ of the meeting......not to talk about need to „excuse“ themselves not being able to come.... Is this lack of interest, or lack of the responsibility, or is it too expencive for some members (not to forget all costs for such meetings are beared by the participants themselves), or is it the matter of only Fun, Friendship & Fraternity approach / „philospophy“ – where the first word of GOR slogan FUN dominates ? All these questions must be answered in the future. To achieve this much, much more engagement is required begining with the EGOR president, vice-presidents, sec- retary, other Executive Committee members and especialy from Country Representatives, that are the vital links con- necting one E G O R country with another. Marko Protega www.europeangoldenoldiesrugby.com The Battered Relic Trophy is the most precious European G O Rugby Award introduced at the 1 st EGOR Festival in 1992 in Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. The organisers Dutch Exiles and Festival Director David Haynes awarded on that occasion the team that showed at most „Golden oldies rugby spirit“ during the whole Festival days. In 1992 this was Swansea RFC Veteran team (Wales) and this year at 8 th EGOR Festival in Zurich this Trophy was awarded again to the Welsh rugby vete- rans – Y GOGS (Geriatrics from Wales), the team from Caernarfon. Caernarfon is the town in northern Wales known as the place that is worth to visit, not only becau- se of its beauties, but also because in no other part of Wales is golden oldies rugby so important part of every- day life as here...... After returning from Zurich with the Battered Relic Trophy YGOGS took a prestigious tour on a bus journey through old town of Caernarfon to the delight of locals and visitors alike. As well as members of vete- ran team who were in Switzerland, members of the Youth and Junior sections of Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon and their families came along for the drive. Y GOGS are proud of their history of Fun, Friendship & Fraternity and to have been awarded with thw Trophy in Zurich has made all the hard work worthwhile. Although founded as a rugby club „only“ 33 years ago, Caernarfon Veterans have participa- ted up to now five World (1993, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2003) and two European (2004 and 2006) golden oldies rugby festivals. As the first team already they entered 2008 EGOR Festi- val in Maderia. Publisher: EGOR Committee · Editor: Marko Protega (Heidelberg) · Lector: Bill Cranston (London) Printed in Germany by BAIER DIGITALDRUCK Heidelberg · Designed by Philipp Emenet Thanks to Swiss Gnomes (Zurich) and for the help of Swiss Rugby Federation in organising 8 th European Golden Oldies Rugby Festival 2006 E.G.O.R. Newsletter Issue 12 November 2006 The official bulletin of EUROPEAN GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY THE BATTERED RELIC TROPHY IN THE RIGHT HANDS Y GOGS – The Great Bus Journey Geriatrics of Wales (Caernarfon) in Zurich The cups being displayed outside Caernarfon Castle
Transcript
EDITORS WORD
ONE BIG STEP FORWARDIS NOT ENOUGH.......
The number of EGOR Country mem-bers increased from 12 (in June2002) to 40 (until October 2006) inless than four years..... administratively speaking the firstgreat step towards a solid European Rugby Veterans Orga-nisation has been done.....Practicaly there are so many things more to be achieveduntil our Organisation will function accordingly to the num-ber of members.Both meetings, held this summer in Zurich during 8th Euro-pean Golden Oldies Rugy Festival, the EGOR ExecutiveCommittee and General Membership meetings, ilustratedmay be this necessity the best.Being not satisfied, for example, with the major of linksEGOR – Country Representative the Committee made adecision to „divide“ existing country members into, socalled, Regional Divisions that will be „under the respon-sibility“ of each of nine Executive Committee members.The aim is to improve actual connection(s) and to help /advise in developing G O Rugby in those countries andgenerally throughout Europe.General Membership Meeting is biannual conference of allEGOR members, what means the only possibility that allmembers meet / discuss and make decisions about thefuture development of veteran rugby in Europe.2006 Meeting in Zurich illustrated the best how it shouldnot be functioning in the future....From 40 EGOR Country members (what includes about 350GOR Teams/Clubs) only 28 are „Full paid up members“ –what means that they have contributed with Annual Sub-scription Fee of 120,- Euro (10,- Euro per month !) what isalso the condition to take part at the Conference.Not to forget among „full paid up members“ are teams,individuals and not only countries.By the way this EGOR fee is the only source of financingEuropean Veteran Rugby Organisation !From these 28 „full paid up members“ only 13 were pre-sent in Zurich at the biannual Conference – the neededquorum, to make valid decisions is 12.....Being not able to participate this important meeting,16members excused theselves for various reasons.The following Country members even did not reacted at therepeated invitations to take part: Armenia, Bosnia&Herce-govina, Bulgaria, England, Estonia, Finland, Georgia,Hunga-ry, Ireland, Latvia, Slovenija and Switzerland – the „hostCountry“ of the meeting......not to talk about need to„excuse“ themselves not being able to come....Is this lack of interest, or lack of the responsibility, or is ittoo expencive for some members (not to forget all costs forsuch meetings are beared by the participants themselves),or is it the matter of only Fun, Friendship & Fraternityapproach / „philospophy“ – where the first word of GORslogan FUN dominates ?All these questions must be answered in the future.To achieve this much, much more engagement is requiredbegining with the EGOR president, vice-presidents, sec-retary, other Executive Committee members and especialyfrom Country Representatives, that are the vital links con-necting one E G O R country with another.
Marko Protega
www.europeangoldenoldiesrugby.com
The Battered Relic Trophy is the most precious EuropeanG O Rugby Award introduced at the 1st EGOR Festival in1992 in Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.The organisers Dutch Exiles and Festival Director DavidHaynes awarded on that occasion the team that showedat most „Golden oldies rugby spirit“ during the wholeFestival days. In 1992 this was Swansea RFC Veteranteam (Wales) and this year at 8th EGOR Festival in Zurichthis Trophy was awarded again to the Welsh rugby vete-rans – Y GOGS (Geriatrics from Wales), the team fromCaernarfon. Caernarfon is the town in northern Walesknown as the place that is worth to visit, not only becau-se of its beauties, but also because in no other part ofWales is golden oldies rugby so important part of every-day life as here...... After returning from Zurich with theBattered Relic Trophy YGOGS took a prestigious tour on abus journey through old town of Caernarfon to the delightof locals and visitors alike. As well as members of vete-ran team who were in Switzerland, members of the Youthand Junior sections of Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon and theirfamilies came along for the drive. Y GOGS are proud oftheir history of Fun, Friendship & Fraternity and to havebeen awarded with thw Trophy in Zurich has made all thehard work worthwhile. Although founded as a rugby club„only“ 33 years ago, Caernarfon Veterans have participa-ted up to now five World (1993, 1995, 1998, 2001 and2003) and two European (2004 and 2006) golden oldiesrugby festivals.As the first team already they entered 2008 EGOR Festi-val in Maderia.
WELCOME TO ZURICH
Publisher: EGOR Committee · Editor: Marko Protega (Heidelberg) · Lector: Bill Cranston (London)Printed in Germany by BAIER DIGITALDRUCK Heidelberg · Designed by Philipp Emenet
Thanks to Swiss Gnomes (Zurich) and for the help of Swiss Rugby Federation in organising8th European Golden Oldies Rugby Festival 2006
E.G.O.R.N e w s l e t t e r Issue 12
November 2006
The official bulletin of EUROPEAN GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY
THE BATTERED RELIC TROPHY IN THE RIGHT HANDS
Y GOGS – The Great Bus Journey
Geriatrics of Wales (Caernarfon) in Zurich
The cups being displayed outside CaernarfonCastle
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Thank you for helping us to issue this NumberHeinz Haß – Die Alten Preußen, Berlin (Germany)
John Gysin (71), the player of Swiss Gnomes from Zurich, „won“ the Jeff ButterfieldTrophy donated to the EGOR by Jeff’s widow Barbara.This silver plate, to remember the founding father of European GO Rugby Jeff Butter-field (1929 – 2004) was awarded for the first time during 2004 Festival in Benidorm(Spain) to Gerd Sharn (69) from veteran team Die Alte Preußen, Berlin (Germany).Two years later, in Zurich 2006, John had the honour to be the Oldest Festival Playerand so to „win“ this Trophy and to keep it for the next two years until 9th EGOR Festi-val on Madeira Islands (Portugal).John was born on January 22nd 1935 in Westcliffe-on-Sea,Essex (England).With eleven (in 1946) he started to play rugby at Tyttenhanger Lodge School, after forGranleigh School, the RAF and finaly for his Club – Old Cranleighan Rugby Football Clubuntil 1956, when he moved to Germany and played – coached St.Pauli RFC inHamburg.In late 1956 John co-founded Bonn Rugby Club (BSC) where he also was the coach and the player.In 1969 he left Bonn, lived shortly in Bern, and since 1970 living in Zurich he has been playing for the local club (Zurich RC).Swiss Rugby Federation engaged him as the referee in 1988His first experience as „an oldie player“ was in Aberdeen (Scotland) in 1998 when Swiss Gnomes participated 4th European GOR Festival.With 63 years at that time John was for the first time „the Oldest Festival Player“.Now 8 years later in Zurich, at 8th EGOR Festival, he had the honour to be „the oldest one“ for the second time....We hope to see him in two years time on Madeira Islands again........
GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY IN EUROPE
JOHN GYSIN THE OLDEST PLAYER OF 2006 EGOR FESTIVAL
Golden Oldies Rugby is played for Fun, Friendship and Fraternity and there are no „winners“ or „loosers“, so it was difficult to find „theaward“ that replaces winning and being the champions......David Haynes, the organiser of the 1st European Golden Oldies Rugby Festival in 1992 remembers those days:„When I was looking for a prize for the first ever European Festival I first went to look for the normal shields, plates and cups, but I did notthink this was the spirit of of the Festival and of G O Rugby, so I decided to look for something old and may be chipped or damaged.I spent about four hours walking around the city looking at antique and secondhand shops when I came accross the can !It was just like old rugby players, it was bright, just like most of us.It was dented just like many old players feel after a good hard game.
Somebody tried to solder the can in places and many of the players have been patched up over the years.It was my opinion the perfect symbol for an Oldies Rugby Festival....“So, the most precious European Festival Award – The Battered Relic Trophy – was „born“.In the past eight EGOR Festivals it was awarded, according to the decision of experienced Rugbymen, former festival organisers and EGOR Committee members, to:
1992 – Swansea RFC Veterans (Wales) 1998 – Caterham Old Cats (England)1994 – Old Hirelings R.A.Paris (France) 2000 – Not awarded1996 – Swiss Gnomes Zurich (Switzerland) 2002 – Gelezinas Vilkas Vilnius (Lithuania)
2004 – Porto Old Greens (Portugal)2006 – Y GOGS Caernarfon (Wales)
THE STORY ABOUT THE BATTERED RELIC TROPHY
John Gysin (yellow shorts) playing in Zurich v. Die Alten Preußen (Berlin)
Union Francaise Ancient Rugby (U.F.A.R.) is the biggest and best organised EGOR member with 190 golden oldies clubs divi-ded into seven so called „Regional Committees“.André Plantie (63) was involved with French Veteran Organisation for 12 years, first as the Secretary, and then as the Presi-dent.His silent and continious work impacted significally the development of G O rugby in France.Federation Francaise de Rugby „recognised“ the veterans as the part of its own organisation allowing that oldie players areinsured when playing games ..... André was the man to initiate this important decision for the veterans.
André was also on the European G O R Executive Committee since the very begining and was one of the most active mem-bers supporting and initiating actions of this European veteran organisation.Since last month UFAR has the new President – Patrick Drricarrere – after André Plantie who decided to stay with his oldieteam Musquets sur Lezé and to be further on involved with the Rugby on Midi – Pyrénées Committee.Thank you, André, for all you have done for the benefit of French and European golden oldies rugby.
Madeira 2008 is waiting on You and your Musquets.....
FRANCEU.F.A.R. HAS A NEW PRESIDENT
André Plantié (right) as UFAR Presidentwith Marko Protega, EGOR Secretaryduring European Festival 2006 in Zurich
Thank you for helping to issue this NumberEdeltraut Holek, Konstanz (Germany)
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Several years ago this G O Rugby event was initiated byRugby Union Baden – Württemberg (Germany) and its G O RRepresentative Georg Holek from Konstanz.The idea was to gather rugby veterans from central Europeonce a year, each time in another country.With the sudden death of its organiser Georg Holek, thisTournament, that now bears his name, was widdened to thecountries out of central Europe.So the 4th edition was successfully organised in Kiev by theUkrainian Union of Rugby Veterans.Four teams from five countries took part: Ruderi Romani,
Rome (Italy) Vetera-nos de Barcelona(Spain) Golden Cos-sacks, Kiev and combined team of Baden-Württemberg Rugby Union and the veterans from Czech Republic (Prague).Extraordinary publicity was given to this Tournament that was held under the patronage of Sports Ministery and Kiev TownGoverment.Although it was „an oldie tournament“ television and press coverage had given unusual publicity.Mrs. Edeltraut Holek, the Georg’s widow, presented the Challenge Cup to the home side of Golden Cossacks and each mem-ber of all participating teams got the commemorative souvenir medal specialy designed for this occasion.Veteranos de Barcelona (Spain) that participated Geork Holek Cup for the sceond time expressed the intention to organize thefifth edition of this Tournament in 2007, as the part of their Club Anniversary.
GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY IN EUROPE
Ruderi Romani (Roma) and Golden Cossacks (Kiev)
Tournament organisers Leonid Deineko(left) and Aleksandr Svertoka (right) withthe Georg Holek Challenge Cup
UKRAINE4th GEORG HOLEK CUP IN KIEV
Tourist paradise Madeira Archipelago is situatedbetween latitude 32° 22' 20'' N and 33° 7' 50''Nwith its longitude between 16° 16' 30'' W and17° 16' 38'' W.The island of Madeira itself has a surface areaof 459 square miles (741 qv.km) and is 35 mileslong and 13 miles wide.The island is 310 miles from the African coastand 620 miles from the European continent.The Archipelago, discovered by the Portuguesein 1418, is made up of the islands of Madeira,Porto Santo and unhabited islands of Selvagensand Desertas.
The Regional Ministery of Tourism and Cultureof Madeira and the Portuguese traditional vete-ran club Oporto Old Greens will host the next, 9th European Golden Oldies Rugby Festival in 2008 (June 19th - 23rd).
The centre of all "oldies happenings" will be cosmopolitan town of Funchal (photo above), the town with the old squares carefullyrestored with beautiful Portuguese pavements of patterned stones, flanked by the buildings built in the typical Madeiran style.
In Madeira there is an enormous variety of accommodation, with a wide variety of prices, that in general are much lower thanin other European destinations.With seven grass playing fields, whithin the walking distance from the town centre, organisers will be able to host up to 50teams, what gives the possibilty that "the biggest ever" European Festival be held in two years time.
Local incoming Festival Travel Agent will be MILTOURS DMC PORTUGAL, agency with almost 30 years of experience and with a network of offices covering the maindestinations in Portugal, more at www.miltours.pt <http://www.miltours.pt>
Festival Organising Committee headed by Joao Pedro Pinto de Sousa and two executive directors Dr. Goncalo Castel Branco Borges and Miguel Vareta signed thissummer in Zurich the Contract with European Golden Oldies Rugby Committtee, where mutual obligations and rights are determined.
The first team already entered the Festival - Y GOGS, Geriatrics of Wales from the town of Caernarfon, the holders of the Battered Relic Trophy 2006 - the most pre-cious award of European Golden Oldies Rugby.
More Festival info at: www.madeiraegorf2008.com <http://www.madeiraegorf2008.com> and at email [email protected]
PORTUGALTHE NEXT E G O R FESTIVAL ON MADEIRA ISLANDS
Joao Pedro Pinto de Sousa signing the Contract with EGOR this summer in Zurich
Thank you for helping to issue this NumberAndrej Hronec, Prague, Czech Republic
The EGOR Committee adress forCorrespondence:Marko ProtegaHecker Str. 2569124 Heidelberg, GermanyTel/Fax +49-6221-78 35 99email: [email protected]
Visit us on:www.europeangoldenoldiesrugby.cominfo@europeangoldenoldiesrugby.com
The EGOR Committee Bank Acount:GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY COMMITTEEc/c 22600c/o Banco di Brescia – Filiale Verona 1Largo Caldera 13, 37122 VERONACod. CAB 11700Cod. ABI 03500Cod. IBAN IT24T0350011700000000022600Cod. BIC BCABIT21
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19th VYSKOV COLLARED PORK TROPHYAs the most traditional G O Rugby event in Czech Republic „Collared Pork Trophy“has been organised regularly since 1987.Since 1994 this Tournament is organised also to the memory of Jan – Dzonek Nav-rátil, former outstanding local and international player, who save the lives of histwo team mates, but paid for this brave action with his own.....This year event in Vyskov (South Moravia) have participated five teams from threecentral European countries: Krakow Oldie Selection (Poland) Kecskemét Oldies(Hungary) Vyskov Old Boys Old Boys Praha and combined team of veterans fromBrno - Havirov (all Czech Republic).
Sunny September saturday in Vyskov and very typical Farewell Party made the participants enjoyment even greater....The jubilee 20th Collared Pork Trophy will be organised as the part of the first edition of European Golden Oldies Series 2007.More information at [email protected]
CZECH REPUBLIC
Jan Navrátil, the legend lives ...
EUROPEAN GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY
SERIES 2007
The idea came from Andrej Hronec, EGOR Executive Com-mittee member and Czech Rugby Union Media Coordinatorto FIRA/AER and IRB : forming European Golden OldiesRugby Series of veteran events Europe will get the necessa-ry continuity, that will enable the brighter interest of spon-sors for veteran sport(s) in general.
The start of the Series has been intentionally put in 2007 -the year of Rugby World Cup - the third biggest world sportsevent, after Olympic Games and Soccer World Champions-hips.France will host the Rugby World Cup, for the second time inEurope since the begining in 1987.France has also the strongest veteran organisation - UnionFrancaise Ancient Rugby ( U F A R ) in Europe.UFAR is going to organize veteran tournaments in the townswhere Rugby World Cup games will be played.These tournaments will probably be the part of European Golden Oldies Rugby Series what should help the successfull start of the Series....as such.
All 40 EGOR member countries have been asked to enter the Series with their G O Rugby events and the first reactions are promising....Besides countries with long GO Rugby tradition as Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain and Wales, also "new GO Rugby" countries like Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco,Netherlands, Norway has shown the interest to join this EGOR action.
Some other "smaller" member countries, like Greece, welcomed the idea too, although they will not have any G O Rugby event.Ted Cypiot, EGOR Country Representative wrote:
"Dear Committee members,Greetings from Greece. We recieved your letter regarding EGOR Series 2007. Marketing various Golden Oldies events as a package is an excellent idea. Althoughcurrently there are no veteran tournaments in our country for 2007, we as the small veteran rugby community here in Greece appreciate all what you do...."
It is expected that other EGOR country members follow these positive examples.....
Not only at EGOR Festivals, like Amsterdamsche Athletiek Club Netherlands (photo) at Heidelberg Festival in 1994, but also
EGOR Series should be participated by most European countries.
