Cornish Pirates

Another example of the Cornish Pirates embracing the county occurred early in May when two of our players officially opened a new £1million sports centre at Brannel School, St. Stephen (St. Austell).

Players Owen Hambly and Sam Betty cut the ribbon to open a venue which will help bring fitness and fun to pupils and the local community alike, its funding coming from The Big Lottery Fund.

Past pupils, teachers and dignitaries attended a poignant ceremony at the school to also celebrate the result of tireless fund-raising, the centre dedicated to the memory of a former pupil and gifted sportsman Stephen May, who died in a car accident nearly 10 years ago.

After the opening Sam said: “Having a centre as good as this will be great for inspiring more children to get involved” - And so say all of us!

In recent years the Pirates have done much good work in the schools, with this continuing and developing still further in the 2005-06 season. In liaison with the Penwith Sports Partnership we delivered ‘Tag’ rugby throughout the Autumn term to schools including St.Buryan, St. Just, St.Levan, Sennen and Pendeen, this forming part of a programme to help develop skills and also provide expert advice for teachers. It has been an experience which all involved have enjoyed.

The climax of the coaching resulted in an U11s Tag Rugby competition held at Cape Cornwall School in January, which was won by St. Just Primary School.

Attending the event to present certificates were Owen Hambly and Adam Nicholls, two young Academy players from the Cornish Pirates who have played both for England Schools and British Colleges.

During January and February our players visited other schools in Penwith to provide coaching, such as Gulval, Newlyn, Penzance Junior, and Alverton.

Our work elsewhere in the county has seen us perform a rugby/fitness session at Penryn School with gifted and talented sports students. We were also at Redruth Community School recently when the RBS 6 Nations Trophy was on show, our representatives taking coaching sessions on the day. Wade Kelly has visited Polwhele School, whilst John McKee did some coaching at Truro.

The Cornish Pirates are in talks with various people to expand our community involvement around the county, details of which will be posted on this website at given times.

Note, however, that it is not just on the field that we have provided benefit, there being a successful ‘Healthy Food’ evening held at Bodriggy School, Hayle, in October. Helping organise this topical community event was our Team Manager, Adrian Edwards, who is also a parent governor at the school. Robin Turner, our Chairman, gave a demonstration of how to cook fish, and ‘Mackerel Sky’ restaurant representatives showed pupils and parents how to make a healthy lunch box.

Early in February a similar, but bigger, ‘Healthy Food and Fitness Evening’ took place at Mounts Bay School, it providing yet another example of how Cornwall’s leading rugby team is becoming more and more involved in supporting the community.

Working closely with headteacher Mrs. Sara Davey and pupil members of the ‘School Council’, the aim was to develop an awareness of healthy alternatives, with the

highlight of the evening being a ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ competition between a Cornish Pirates and a Mounts Bay School team. Representing the Pirates were hooker Nick Makin and pupil Jack Mander, them having to tackle making ‘Cornish Pirates Cheesy Fish Burgers’, whilst teacher Andy Harvey and pupil Nicole Richards had to conjure up a ‘Cornish Pirates Scrum-my Fish Salad’. Even from the back of the hall the food smelt delicious, with popular Pirates’ prop-forward Alan Paver hosting the ‘show’ superbly – Ainsley Harriott watch out!

Cornish Pirates players read out interesting food facts to the large gathering, the enjoyable evening ending with a rowing contest between local rugby heroes representing the Cornish Pirates, Mounts Bay Pilot Gig Club, St. Ives RFC, Mounts Bay RFC, and a Mounts Bay School staff side who saw no reason why they should not be favourites! In the event, and to no surprise, the Cornish Pirates ‘A’ side just pipped Mounts Bay RFC to win the ‘Final’ of the competition.