Under 12's league Winners

Under 12's won the 3rd division for the 2007/2008 season, winning 17 out of their 18 games. They will now be promoted to division 2 for a very tough next season. They were presented trophies at Castleford Civic Centre on Tuesday 27th May. Ryan Bailey and Jamie Jones-Buchanan presented the whole team with trophies and the league winners trophy. The league winners trophy has Wetherby Bulldogs engraved on it, and this is the first time for any team from Wetherby to win a league. This is a great achievement.

Well done to everyone who played for the Bulldogs thus season and a massive thank you to coach Mick Sebine and his assistant Gareth Hinchcliffe.

Come and join our open age team at Wetherby Bulldogs RLFC

 We are looking for new players, experience not essential. The Bulldogs play at the Sports Association, down on the Ings adjacent to the swimming pool in Wetherby.

Training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays down at the Ings and matches are played on a Saturday afternoon.

If you are interested call the coach, Kev, on 01977 675608.”

Under 13's Win Yorkshire Challenge Cup

Yorkshire Junior Rugby League Under 13's Challenge Cup Final
Chris Moyles Stadium (Post Office Road), Featherstone

Wetherby Bulldogs 40 - 20 Featherstone Lions

The Bulldogs went into the match as massive underdogs, playing a team in a higher division, in front of a partisan Featherstone crowd. Nerves were soon settled though as Dan Bent showed great enthusiasm and awareness
to cross the line from acting half. Billy Field converted on a day when his success rate was near perfection. This only served to wound the Lions and they responded with a try, quickly followed by a couple of near misses.
The Bulldogs re-grouped and Alex Foster scored following a great offload. However, the Lions roared back with two further tries to make it 12 -14 to them at the break.

Coach Paul Fields' half time team talk must have been inspirational, as the second half started with Wetherby scoring through Ben Finder and Alex Ganchev to take the lead, with Featherstone responding with a try out wide to narrow the deficit to just four points.  The clinching  moment of the game came with the Lions clawing at the Bulldogs defence near the line, Ben Finder intercepted and ran the length of the field with the pack closing in. He managed to swerve away near the 20 to virtually assure the victory with his try. By this time the Lions had been tamed and the Bulldog's
spirit showed through with a lovely run and try from Billy Field before Ben completed his hat trick.

WETHERBY BULLDOGS RLFC AWARDED CLUBMARK STATUS

Wetherby Bulldogs RLFC were awarded with the accreditation by Barry McDermott at half-time during the Leeds/St Helens game at Headingley last Saturday. 

Clubmark sets the standard for quality sports clubs. It is an accreditation scheme which stands for child protection and safety, quality coaching, equal opportunities and good management.
Clubmark is rapidly becoming the national standard for quality sports clubs.  More governing bodies of sport are adopting the scheme and nearly 1000 clubs have now achieved Clubmark.

Chairman of the Wetherby Bulldogs, Stuart Leighton said, “The club was formed 23 years ago and our first junior side was formed just 7 years ago.  We now have 5 junior sides ranging from Under 8’s to Under 14’s and I consider it a fantastic achievement that in such a short time we are able to compete with teams from areas steeped in Rugby League history”. 

Indeed, in the next few weeks both the Under 13’s and 14’s are playing in Cup Finals at Post Office Road, the home of Featherstone Rovers.  Further evidence of the progress the junior section is making is that 9 players have been selected to represent North Yorkshire and 2 for Leeds and District.

 Off the field, the last few years have been very significant in the Clubs’ history.  In particular, the joining with Wetherby Athletic FC to form the Wetherby Sports Association and after a lot of hard work, eventually gaining Lottery funding which enabled the development of the state of the art facilities at the Ings, a venture well supported by the local community.

Stuart furthered, “The development and progress made by the club doesn’t happen by accident.  It is the result of a tremendous effort made by a number of people, coaches, parents, volunteers and the committee and the Clubmark Award is the icing on the cake as recognition of that commitment.

“I’m confident that the systems and processes we have established will enable us as a family and community club, to continue to progress in the coming years and instil confidence in local parents that the caring environment at the club safeguards their children’s best interests.  We are always looking for new players to join both the Junior and Open Age teams and hopefully this award will encourage players to come down and see just what’s available.”

Photo L-R Back Row – Andrew Wilson, Rugby League Development Officer, Leeds City Council : Stuart Leighton  Wetherby Club Chairman : Amanda Picker former Wetherby Junior Club Secretary : Jordan Picker : Sam Hunter : Barry McDermott : Andy Hunter, Wetherby Director of Rugby

Photo L-R Front Row – Adam Burlingham : Daniel Bent : Ben Smith : Jamie Etheridge

SPIKE DEFIES THE COMPETITION!

Spike the Bulldog made his public debut on Sunday 29th April at Wetherby Racecourse in the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers Mascot Race.  Despite looking hot to trot he managed a miserable 61st placing from 62, cheated of the prize fund for last place by Lenny the City Gent from Bradford City AFC.

Raising funds for Sue Ryder Care and Wetherby Bulldogs Junior Rugby League Club wasn’t an easy task in the spring sunshine and he feels that the handicapping system left him with an unfair disadvantage, “I had to do all 5 jumps and obviously, being a small dog with limited leg length, the hay bales were a real struggle for me” 

Thanks to all who sponsored him, and for the substantial support on the day.  Sponsorship currently stands at around £450 but further donations to the club will be happily accepted, please contact the Junior Club Secretary on 07736 147479.

Club Mark

We are delighted to announce that Wetherby bulldogs have been awarded Club Mark status. The Club were presented with the certificate on Saturday 21st April at Headingley.

 North Yorkshire Service Area Under 12's & 13's

Congratulations to Matt Brewer, Ollie Day, Billy Field, Alex Foster, Alex Ganchev, Lewis Minikin and Scott Stevenson who were all selected to join North Yorkshire Service Area Under 13's training group 2007; and Greg Minikin for Under 12's training group 2007.

Well done from all at the club.

Great North Mascot Steeplechase on 29th April.

We are entering the above race at Wetherby Racecourse on Sunday 29th April. It should be a fun day out for the family.  Please come along and support the club.

See Vicky Peel for details.