Overton RFC
9th International Easter
Festoval of Rugby
2007
He thinks it's all over... It is now!!
9th Overton International Rugby Festoval
During Easter nestled in the fields of Laverstoke Park, Overton Rugby Club held its 9th "International Festoval of Rugby" under the glorious Hampshire sun. This bi-annual event has been running since 1991 attracting teams from all over Europe, several teams coming every other year to enjoy the hospitality the club offers. All sections of the club contributed to the team effort, delivering a record year with over 1000 people a day coming to enjoy the event. There are not many clubs where you find the President and Chairman rolling up their sleeves to serve food prepared in part by the club Treasurer.
This years event hosted teams from countries across Europe including;
St Martin Du Lac (France),
Paris Olympique (France)
Inverleith RFC (Scotland),
Geesthacht Harlekins VfL (Germany),
Entract Frankfurt (Germany),
RC Betuwe (Netherlands),
and The Periwinkles (the national Lymphoma Rugby Team).
On Good Friday saw the teams arrive to a warm reception before a day of tough competition on Saturday. The Periwinkles were crowned tournament champions after some tough competition in particular a close semi-final versus the home team, decided by a single penalty. In the final they faced Paris Olympique RC in the late afternoon sun watched by some 400 spectators supporting both teams.
The plate competition "The Equinox Ball" saw Inverleith RFC taking the trophy back to Scotland on their seventh tour south to the Overton Festoval.
In the afternoon, Overton celebrated £10,000 sponsorship from Hampshire Constabulary for the continued promotion and management of the Sparkling Rugby programme to promote rugby within local schools.The Chief Inspector of Basingstoke Constabulary Jill Baldry presented club President David Brewerton with the cheque flanked by teams from 5 local schools. The children were at the Festoval to take part in the schools TAG tournament which was won by Overton Primary School in another close local derby with Whitchurch.
As the day went into night so the celebrations and party went on in the true sprit of rugby with singing, dancing going on into the wee small hours.
On Easter Sunday it was the turn of the youth teams in Overton first ever 10s Tournament, with visitors from Aldermaston, Andover, Barbarians, Basingstoke and New Milton. The hot sun and tough competition made it a well contested battle through to an Overton-New Milton final in which New Milton took the top spot.
The day was concluded with another men's match, Overton Camel Corp (old Overton players and degenerates) versus The Presidents Select International IX, this entertaining game was decided in the final minutes by a single try to give The President's men a 24-17 victory.
OnMonday it was the turn of the minis (aged 5-12) in which 8 clubs sent teams spanning the age-groups to celebrate mini's rugby in the best way possible, by playing well and having fun. The final match of the day, a traditional men's local derby with St Mary Bourne, was watched by some 200 spectators saw both teams enjoying an excellent and physically tough game of rugby, resulting in a draw.
A number of celebrities came along to show their support including local landowner (and former Formula 1 World Champion) Jody Scheckter and former RFU President LeRoy Angel. Mr Angel was also there to present ORFC with their recently achieved Seal of Approval from the RFU. The Active Sports Seal of Approval accreditation programme was introduced as a method of examining, maintaining and improving the provision of rugby in the youth section of an rugby clubs across the country. Overton are proud to become only the seventh club in Hampshire to achieve this honour, the culmination of a year long
process.
The proceeds of this year's Festoval will be supporting the push for the new club house at the Laverstoke Park site. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the event through their play, their hard work and their support, helping ORFC live up to its motto of "Grass Roots Rugby at its Best".
Click Here to see more from our FESTOVAL photo gallery
What our visitors are saying.....
----- Original Message -----
From: pa-ga
To: Roger Filbey
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 9:38 AM
Subject: Re: festival
Roger,
we finally moved quickly on sunday and i didn't find you to say goodbye,
so i wanted to thank you again for the great journey we had in Overton,
you've got a realy nice club !
i wish you a good end of season greetings
Paul ( Paris Olympique)
----- Original Message -----From: Marko
To: 'Roger Filbey'
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 11:24 AM
Subject: Overton Festoval
Hallo Roger,
we had a save journey and reached Frankfurt at 1100am.
I only can say, fantastic, wonderful and thank you and all your team and stuff very very much.
I hope also you have a good mini-tournament and I wish you a calm and quiet Tuesday!
Marko
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
RUGBY
----- Original Message -----From: Hunt Robert
Sent: 10 April 2007 08:51
To: Gary Millar(Overton RFC)
Subject: Thanks from A+FHi Gary
In case I didn't say it yesterday (and I'm not sure that I did), please could you pass on the thanks of all of us at Aldershot and Fleet to everybody involved at Overton for a great day out. It really was an impressive and well run event, which you could see had, had an awful lot of time and effort spent on it and which the kids all thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks again see you next year.
Cheers
Rob
----- Original Message -----
From: Tim Lloyd <
Date: 08-Apr-2007 19:44
Subject: overton 10s
To: Julie Millar <
Julie.
Just a quick note from everyone at New Milton to thank you all for a fantastic day, the end result made it even better but even if it had not gone our way we would have enjoyed it as much.
Please pass on on thanks to everyone at your Club, and we will see you in 2 weeks.
regards
Tim Lloyd
Manager
New Milton u14s
----- Original Message -----
From: Andy Earle<
Date: 08-Apr-2007 21:20
Subject: overton 10s
To: Julie Millar <
Julie,
Many thanks for inviting us to your tournament today, we all had a really good time.
Lads went home a bit bloodied and bruised, parents a bit tired and sunburnt.
All of them commented on what a good atmosphere, well organised and enoyable day they had.
Sumo was full of the fact that he played for two teams (Barbarians & Aldermaston) on the day, i reckon he is just a rugby tart !
Thankyou to you and all your helpers for all of the work you obviously put in, I know what hard work it is after the county tournament we held the other week................................
then you have to clear up !
Regards
Andy Earle
Coach U14's Andover RFC.
----- Original Message -----
From: Cremers, Harrie
To: Roger Filbey
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 1:17 PM
Subject: RE: Scan2191.pdfDear Roger,
I am sorry I did not mail earlier, I just back in the office since yesterday.
First of all I and our whole club want to thank you for a wonderful weekend. The atmosphere was brilliant, the food was great, rugby was good and most of all your hospitality was perfect. I hope everything worked out well for your club, also the Monday game(did you win?) and the youth festivol.
I had a quick look on the foto's and it is a nice memory to have these foto's on the internet. That is what our club has to do also, finally finish our web site.
I will send a CD whith the foto's of the festiavl in Bemmel 2 years ago. I have forgotten this to bring with me.
Send everyone greetings from Bemmel, maybe we see eachother next year in France.
Please note that we probely will organize a festival over 3 years, 30 years anniversary. Of course you will be invited.
Kind regards, greetings to Annemarieke, your son and daughter and have a good weekend(will be 25 degrees in Holland coming days)
Harrie
Rugby Club Betuwe (Holland)
----- Original Message -----
From: Marco
To: Roger Filbey
Sent: Friday, April 20th, 2007 12:16 PM
Subject: RE: Scan2191.pdf
Hello Roger and all the others of the tournament team, at this point again many thanks for this fantastic tournament. There will remain us long in recollection. Especially I would like to thank for your hospitality and auxiliary readiness. I hope, we see again, maybe already the next year in St. Martin you Lac? Marko Deichmann, unity Frankfurt rugby And if you plan once a visit in Frankfurt, give answer!
Marco Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
----- Original Message -----
From: denis.tremeaud
To:Gary Millar
Sent: Friday, 4/20/07, 8:01 AM
Subject:
Once again: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! And congratulations for the organization of such a great week end! Each one of us (St Martin) is still talking about this giant party, 2 weeks later!! We really enjoyed the journey, and we're all looking forward to see you again. Special thanks to Gavin & Sharon who received us (my sister and me).
Denis Saint Martin du Lac (France)
