Coventry Bears

Sunday 25 November 2007 saw the Carvell Coventry Bears AGM sign off another highly successful year in style. This year saw the Bears turn out two Men’s teams, and under 11, 13 and 15’s and a Women’s team, with the Men’s team having 100% success in the Rugby League Conference Midlands Premier division only to lose narrowly in the Grand Final.

The AGM was well attended and signed off the club accounts; since darker days in 2005, and with two years of careful stewardship and generous support from sponsors and members the accounts have now moved into the black. Other highlights include Ron Banks’ unanimous re-election as Chairman, Dr John Cummings replacing Kevin Hayes as Club Secretary, Debbie Drake remains as Secretary of the Women’s section and Ty Watson continues as Head Coach. With the settled financials and an experienced committee on board the club can now look optimistically to 2008 and beyond and have further exciting developments to announce in the coming weeks.

The full list of playing achievements for 2007 is:

• 100% winning record in the RLC Premier Midlands
• Winners RLC Premier Midlands Final
• Runners up in the National RLC Premier Grand Final
• Academy team made the RLC regional play-offs
• Women’s team made the Midlands Final
• Under 15’s undefeated
• Winners of the Kilkenny 9’s

Success on the field was matched by success off the field, and the the full honours list is:

• Rugby League Conference ‘Club of the Year’
• Ty Watson – ‘Coach of the Year’ in the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sports Awards
• Ron Banks – RLC ‘Lifetime Achievement award’
• Kevin Hayes – Rugby League ‘Midlands Volunteer of the Year’
• Debbie Drake – Rugby League ‘Midlands Young Volunteer of the Year
• Alan Robinson: Full Ireland RL International cap
• Tim Stevens (Ireland) and Scott Clendenning-Fenton (Scotland) ‘A’ RL International caps
• Alex Brown and Iestyn Pratt – England Lionhearts 2007
• Stuart Lee – RLC Premier top try scorer
• Graham Healey – RLC Premier top points scorer