Celtic Games 2011 Belfast
The Scottish team bus set off on an unusually hot & sunny summer day. Everyone was on time, this was shaping up to be a good trip. Francis was in full tour guide mode & even the wait for the ferry was fine in the sunshine. About half way across the Irish sea the trip seemed to get even better when Francis & Ann S won the jackpot from the bandit and bought team Scotland a drink to help them celebrate!
As the bus was driving off the ferry in Larne there was a loud bang which alarmed the locals more than the Scots, we had burst an air bag in the suspension, this took Eric our driver most of the following day to get repaired. Our second tour guide for the day Kieran Devlin from NICCSA joined us and pointed out the sights of Belfast on the way to the hotel.
A joint effort from Anne & Francis managed to keep Team Scotland out of the wedding photos that were being taken in the reception. A Quick turnaround was in order as we were off to the dogs in Lisburn to see if our luck was in.
Our hosts had thoughtfully named the races after some of the well known Celtic Games faces, would you win on “Happy retirement to Bob Trainer “ or maybe “Anne Young it must be Red Wine “ or even “ There’s only one F in Francis Smith “. The bold Francis continued on his lucky streak with 6 winners.
After the racing was over some of us went back to the hotel for a nightcap & bed , and others went into Belfast . Top marks to the boys in the Tag Rugby team who managed to pass themselves off as International Rugby players ,(in one club anyway).
We woke up to a beautiful day & despite the late night for some, the whole team was up and ready to go at 9am. When we arrived at a very impressive Storemont Pavillion it was a quick change into the Celtic games T-shirts. All gathered for a warm up in front of the pavilion before heading off to their morning sports.
As the morning got hotter Anne spent her time encouraging our team, taking photos, dishing out suntan lotion and re modelling t-shirts, before being called in as a very late substitute for the skittles.
When we all stopped for lunch we were all delighted to learn that team Scotland had come first in the Tag Rugby and Table Tennis. We were well placed in Skittles, Targets, Hockey & Triathlon.
By the time the afternoon sports started, heat & injuries had taken their toll , with all teams losing a couple of competitors. However there was hot competition on the bowling green with Chairman Bob playing his Northern Ireland counterpart Michael Hearty. This was hard fought a match ending in a 5 all draw.
Top marks to our X country runners for running in the baking heat and a special mention to Kelly who helped a tired Alex finish the run.
While our not so Kwik Cricket team was winning their event, our boys & girls were getting to grips with the Rules of Gaelic 7’s. The talk on the side line was; was Francis allowed to sub on as a girl because of his shorts? And would the overhead goal that Ross scored in the style of Wayne Rooney make it to Sky Sports news?
Due to the heat, the planned obstacle race was abandoned , so the finale of the day was the North V South Gaelic 7’s Match which was a close run thing with the North winning by a point.
The turnaround at the hotel was a lot more relaxed on Friday, some of the team taking the chance to use the excellent leisure facilities.
When we got back on the bus Francis told us that we were the winning team, but in the best tradition of the friendly games no overall winner would be announced, we knew we were all winners.
Team Scotland returned to the Storemont Pavillion suited & booted and were a credit to their country, with a few kilts in the party just in case the other nations had forgotten how good we can look when we try. After the speeches we had a lovely meal followed by an excellent comedian.
When the disco started the dance floor was packed all night, a great time was had by all. When we returned to the hotel for the last time everybody mingled into the wee small hours in the bar, with some of the guests from the wedding in hotel joining in with the craic.
When we left on Saturday morning we were depleted in numbers as a few had decided to fly home. Thankfully the weather had cooled a bit and the drive back to Larne was uneventful. We could have done without a delay of an hour in the ferry leaving, last on, the bus had to reverse on to the ferry which meant we were first off. Unfortunately when the ferry docked at Cairnryan half of our team were stuck in queue’s trying to get back down the stairs & had a bit of a panic on when the bus drove off without them, as no cars could get off before the bus did.
When we were all back on board we headed off for home, stopping briefly for supplies at the first village we came to. A special mention must go to Jamie at this point who thought he would try to bring a super soaker onto the bus , that was never going to happen!
There was good banter all the way home rounded off by a few Tartan Army songs from the boys up the back of the bus.
More than half of the Scottish team had never met each other before, or been to a Celtic Games, but they pulled together for each other & all did their country proud.
Anne Young
7/6/11 |
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