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RATCLIFFIAN
ASSOCIATION SPORTS EVENTS 35

THE PATCH GAMBLE RUGBY FESTIVAL

SUNDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2016

The Old Ratcliffian President’s Team & Juniors Team
Following the successful resurgence of Old Ratcliffian rugby Jackie Bennett, former Secretary of the Ratcliffian Association,
over the past few years, it was agreed by this year’s President of conceived the idea with Sam during her time at Ratcliffe. She
the Ratcliffian Association, Sam Bird (98), that the Association offered to take on the majority of the organisation of the event,
would host a 10s Rugby Festival in memory of a fellow classmate, with help from her daughter, Alex Slack (née Gamble) (03), who
Patch Gamble (96), who was tragically killed in a car accident had just started in her new position in the Association Office.
in 2000. It was decided that any money raised would go to the Matt
Hampson Foundation. Matt was paralysed in a rugby accident
when training for the England Under 21s some years before, and
a Foundation to help other sportsmen with similar injuries has
been set up in Leicestershire. The Association was able to donate
£1500 to the Foundation.

Sam Bird (98) (right) presenting the prize to the Man of the Match from
the Old Uppinghamian team

Sam, a keen rugby enthusiast who has played in some of the Jackie Bennett & Alex Slack (née Gamble) (03) presenting Matt
previous OR fixtures, captained the President’s Team, and James Hampson with a cheque for £1500
Montgomery-Stuart (12) captained the second Old Ratcliffian
team, ‘The Juniors’ (aptly named, as the President’s Team were, The date was set and the planning went into overdrive. The
for the most part, well into their thirties, and mostly past their most difficult part was enlisting enough keen rugby players who
rugby-playing days!) would give up a Sunday to risk life and limb playing in a 10s rugby
festival! Jackie was lucky enough to have her brother, Myles
Halley (75), as the technical advisor, being an RFU referee and a
keen rugby enthusiast.

Eventually, Jackie managed to persuade teams from the alumni
of other local public schools to join in - Old Loughburians, Old
Tridents, Old Oakhamians (who joined forces with the Old
Tridents), and Old Uppinghamians. Sadly, the team of Old
Princethorpians had to withdraw at the last minute.
Guests outside the marquee

Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk