Rugby Union spectacular set for Paton Field as Royal Marines join in fun

May 25 2011 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

MAY has always been a great sporting time for Wirral and none more so than for Caldy Rugby Club, proud home of the longest continuous running rugby sevens competition in the country, which this year takes place on Sunday May 29.

Year on year since 1943 crowds have flocked to the glorious National Trust setting of Paton Field in Caldy to witness some truly momentous rugby. Many will remember the glory days of the 90s when crowds hugged the touchline and jostled for a view from the bank as the Fijian and Samoan national sides battled it out with UK teams for the coveted Okell Shield.

As the game went professional and the cost of attracting national sides put them out of the reach of most clubs the Sevens inevitably became a quieter affair. But these days a continuing surge in popularity of the sevens game has meant something of a revival for Caldy who are now catching the scent of renewed success for what has always been one of the most popular sporting events in the North of England.

Says Roger Flashman, long-time organiser of the tournament: “The Caldy Sevens has always been a solid fixture in the rugby calendar but I must admit as a rugby man it does lift the spirits to be seeing such vigour and excitement return to the game, particularly at Caldy. The response from teams across the UK has invoked a real buzz about this year’s tournament.”

And an exciting addition to this year’s event is the Š‘Caldy 7s Go Commando Challenge’ staged by corporate team-building specialist ‘Go Commando’

The contest will bring the added excitement of a strongman battle as well as more of an all-round Highland Games feel to this already very popular Bank Holiday weekend rugby tournament. Go Commando is run by Greg Pye a former Royal Marine Commando. Greg has a comprehensive understanding of what motivates, energises and unites a strong and effective team. So what does he have planned for the teams?

The Caldy 7s go Commando Challenge requires teams of 4 to compete against organisations such as the police, fire, military, strength and conditioning gyms, martial arts and boxing gyms and rugby clubs, completing 7 challenges including all the strong man favourites such as Fingals Fingers - Ša classic strength and speed test where the teams will have to raise and tip secured and pivoted Telegraph poles ranging from 3.5m to 5.5m; the 4 x 4 Pull - Šall four members must pull a 4 x 4 vehicle uphill between two points and the Pulk Run - wearing chest harnesses, team members must run a course dragging a specially constructed Pulk of considerable weight.

And there’s a strongman competition for the juniors as well. Go Commando have constructed a replica course suitable for those aged 7 – 15 with a handicap system that will enable all ages to have great fun testing their strength safely over the 7 challenges.

Enter as an individual or as a team and entry is free. However Go commando would like to encourage each competitor to make a donation to Help for Heroes. You will simply be required to fill in an entry form on the day which must be signed by a parent if the participant is under 16.

And as well as all the sporting fun there will be percussion and dance from the SambAfriq Samba band, Irish folk music, great food, public beer tent and some stunning stunts from professional cheerleaders ‘Panache’ who are hotfooting it from the Bradford Bulls stadium.

For information go to www.caldyfrc.com