POTP '07 - Review, Day Three
Sunday was the third and final day of Party on the Pitch 2007. The weather was a little cooler, but the entertainment on offer was as good as it had been on the two days before! Sunday was also the day for the Justin Hales Memorial match between Bletchley Vets and Milton Keynes Vets.
It was on this day that we very nearly ran out of beer... The first of the real ales had been exhausted the day before, and it wasn't possible to lay any more of this on (the process of settling the casks etc takes 4-5 days), so we had to beg and borrow beer from other sources. Our thanks go to dayla for opening up their depot on a Sunday morning just for us!
Joining the funfair on pitch 2 was the KorfBall demonstration provided by the Milton Keynes Bucks Korfball Club Korfball is a mixture of Handball, netball and Basketball, and was first played in Holland.
The live music kicked off on the 1st XV pitch with Linda Watkins & Godfrey providing some perfect tunes for a bank holiday Sunday afternoon.
The Midnights were the next band on stage. This was only their second public performance, but Bletchley's own 'Harvey Goldsmith', Pete Garrett, was confident that they'd put on a strong performance. He wasn't wrong. The Milton Keynes indie band are welcome back to Manor Fields anytime...
R.S.I. (Unplugged) had been forced to pull out, leaving a gap in the programme. Fortunately, one of the visitors to Manor Fields stepped forward and gave a great performance with guitar and voice. 'Raz' was part of a touring party of rugby players from Manchester Metropolitan University known as Crewe & Alsager Old Boys. they had hoped to play Rugby 7s, but instead they enjoyed the beer and the music...
Joe Garrett was next on stage. This was his second slot, having played with fellow ACM Guildford student Sarah McLellan 24 hours earlier. There were one or two more Bob Marley numbers, along with other songs entirely appropriate for a sunny afternoon.
While the music was playing, Bletchley Vets took to the field to play their counterparts from Milton Keynes. 'Vet' rugby is played between teams made up of players who are 35 and older, but many of the guys on the pitch are still regular players, some at 1st XV level. This match was of particular significance as it was the Justin Hales Memorial Game. Justin, who died after a sudden illness on 18 June, was a Bletchley player (ex-3rd XV Captain) but had represented Milton Keynes earlier in his rugby career.
The match was played over four 15 minute quarters, and with both clubs having large squads (Bletchley 35+) there were mass team changes at each break. Bletchley took an early lead, clocking up two converted tries to nil, but they allowed MK back into the game. The home team were 14-21 down with minutes to go when Club Chairman Chris Goodman thought he was through. Despite a magnificent swallow drive near the posts, the referee failed to be impressed and awarded the visitors a scrum...
Bletchley came close to levelling the game, but the referee's whistle blew with Milton Keynes still 7 points ahead.
Arrangements had been made for an engraved plate and a glass decanter (kindly provided by The Last Drop Limited) to be awarded to the winners of this memorial match, which it is planned will be an annual fixture for Bletchley and Milton Keynes.
Simon Morphy presented the trophies to Milton Keynes on behalf of Justin's wife Emma and their children after the match.
Bletchley Vets have promised to win the plate and decanter back next year...
Stone Breaker hadn't been on the programme, but they deserved their place on stage... The four musicians came on late afternoon when the warm weather and the beer was enough to lull most people to sleep... However, Stone Breaker played and people heard 'em!
Anyone who visited Manor Fields over the three days couldn't have failed to have noticed the many volunteers in their navy and maroon 'Party on the Pitch' crew t-shirts. Whether it was assisting with car-parking, serving beer, manning stands, or looking after the sound gear, Bletchley RUFC people were there.
Two of the volunteers heavily involved with the weekend are pictured right - (Sorry Nikki and Debs, I couldn't resist the temptation to include this picture! - Mike)
The man who had coordinated the event was Pete Renson, AKA Bletchley's Director of Fundraising & Marketing and U-11 Assistant Coach. One of the stands that had been running throughout the weekend was the stocks (very popular in the hot weather), and Pete's fellow volunteers decided that as the event had been such a success he really should give them a go. There was no shortage of kids ready to help throwing the sponges, but it's probably the final dowsing with slops that will remain in the memory of those that were there...
Pilfa Confession Box followed Stone Breaker on stage. Tea time is probably not the most enviable slot around, but this band weren't deterred. They came on stage, played their music, and people listened!
Trash Monkey were on after Pilfa Confession Box. On their MySpace site they describe their music as punk/rock/alternative. It was all of that, and more...
It was getting dark when Dry Till Friday came on, and the temperature was definitely cooler. However, this MK-based rock/grunge band was never going to use that as an excuse to put on a quiet show. Dry Til Friday didn't disappoint - they made the most of their time on stage and the audience showed their appreciation...
One of the unexpected successes of Party on the Pitch was the camp in the corner next to the Ouzel. If the stuff going on on the 1st XV pitch was mainstream, then this was Bletchley's very own 'Fringe'. A little community had grown up over the weekend, tents popping up daily and even a horsebox (Derek prefers it to be called his 'Wanabago'). The organisers are already figuring that a larger piece of ground will be needed for 2008...
The penultimate band of the night, and of party on the Pitch 2007, was Hello Hallelujah. Hello Hallelujah is another MK-based band (who would have thought that there would be so much local talent?).
The last band of the show was Terrapin Trainstation. The previous two nights had all ended with great shows, and Sunday was no different. It had been a long day and it was definitely getting colder, but the music was great and people stayed to listen to this band to the end.
Most went home after the music finished, but others stayed to party further into the night. However long it went on for, it must have been good because there wasn't a pint of beer left for the Volunteers' party the next day!
It was on this day that we very nearly ran out of beer... The first of the real ales had been exhausted the day before, and it wasn't possible to lay any more of this on (the process of settling the casks etc takes 4-5 days), so we had to beg and borrow beer from other sources. Our thanks go to dayla for opening up their depot on a Sunday morning just for us!
Joining the funfair on pitch 2 was the KorfBall demonstration provided by the Milton Keynes Bucks Korfball Club Korfball is a mixture of Handball, netball and Basketball, and was first played in Holland.
The live music kicked off on the 1st XV pitch with Linda Watkins & Godfrey providing some perfect tunes for a bank holiday Sunday afternoon.
The Midnights were the next band on stage. This was only their second public performance, but Bletchley's own 'Harvey Goldsmith', Pete Garrett, was confident that they'd put on a strong performance. He wasn't wrong. The Milton Keynes indie band are welcome back to Manor Fields anytime...
R.S.I. (Unplugged) had been forced to pull out, leaving a gap in the programme. Fortunately, one of the visitors to Manor Fields stepped forward and gave a great performance with guitar and voice. 'Raz' was part of a touring party of rugby players from Manchester Metropolitan University known as Crewe & Alsager Old Boys. they had hoped to play Rugby 7s, but instead they enjoyed the beer and the music...
Joe Garrett was next on stage. This was his second slot, having played with fellow ACM Guildford student Sarah McLellan 24 hours earlier. There were one or two more Bob Marley numbers, along with other songs entirely appropriate for a sunny afternoon.
While the music was playing, Bletchley Vets took to the field to play their counterparts from Milton Keynes. 'Vet' rugby is played between teams made up of players who are 35 and older, but many of the guys on the pitch are still regular players, some at 1st XV level. This match was of particular significance as it was the Justin Hales Memorial Game. Justin, who died after a sudden illness on 18 June, was a Bletchley player (ex-3rd XV Captain) but had represented Milton Keynes earlier in his rugby career.
The match was played over four 15 minute quarters, and with both clubs having large squads (Bletchley 35+) there were mass team changes at each break. Bletchley took an early lead, clocking up two converted tries to nil, but they allowed MK back into the game. The home team were 14-21 down with minutes to go when Club Chairman Chris Goodman thought he was through. Despite a magnificent swallow drive near the posts, the referee failed to be impressed and awarded the visitors a scrum...
Bletchley came close to levelling the game, but the referee's whistle blew with Milton Keynes still 7 points ahead.
Arrangements had been made for an engraved plate and a glass decanter (kindly provided by The Last Drop Limited) to be awarded to the winners of this memorial match, which it is planned will be an annual fixture for Bletchley and Milton Keynes.
Simon Morphy presented the trophies to Milton Keynes on behalf of Justin's wife Emma and their children after the match.
Bletchley Vets have promised to win the plate and decanter back next year...
Stone Breaker hadn't been on the programme, but they deserved their place on stage... The four musicians came on late afternoon when the warm weather and the beer was enough to lull most people to sleep... However, Stone Breaker played and people heard 'em!
Anyone who visited Manor Fields over the three days couldn't have failed to have noticed the many volunteers in their navy and maroon 'Party on the Pitch' crew t-shirts. Whether it was assisting with car-parking, serving beer, manning stands, or looking after the sound gear, Bletchley RUFC people were there.
Two of the volunteers heavily involved with the weekend are pictured right - (Sorry Nikki and Debs, I couldn't resist the temptation to include this picture! - Mike)
The man who had coordinated the event was Pete Renson, AKA Bletchley's Director of Fundraising & Marketing and U-11 Assistant Coach. One of the stands that had been running throughout the weekend was the stocks (very popular in the hot weather), and Pete's fellow volunteers decided that as the event had been such a success he really should give them a go. There was no shortage of kids ready to help throwing the sponges, but it's probably the final dowsing with slops that will remain in the memory of those that were there...
Pilfa Confession Box followed Stone Breaker on stage. Tea time is probably not the most enviable slot around, but this band weren't deterred. They came on stage, played their music, and people listened!
Trash Monkey were on after Pilfa Confession Box. On their MySpace site they describe their music as punk/rock/alternative. It was all of that, and more...
It was getting dark when Dry Till Friday came on, and the temperature was definitely cooler. However, this MK-based rock/grunge band was never going to use that as an excuse to put on a quiet show. Dry Til Friday didn't disappoint - they made the most of their time on stage and the audience showed their appreciation...
One of the unexpected successes of Party on the Pitch was the camp in the corner next to the Ouzel. If the stuff going on on the 1st XV pitch was mainstream, then this was Bletchley's very own 'Fringe'. A little community had grown up over the weekend, tents popping up daily and even a horsebox (Derek prefers it to be called his 'Wanabago'). The organisers are already figuring that a larger piece of ground will be needed for 2008...
The penultimate band of the night, and of party on the Pitch 2007, was Hello Hallelujah. Hello Hallelujah is another MK-based band (who would have thought that there would be so much local talent?).
The last band of the show was Terrapin Trainstation. The previous two nights had all ended with great shows, and Sunday was no different. It had been a long day and it was definitely getting colder, but the music was great and people stayed to listen to this band to the end.
Most went home after the music finished, but others stayed to party further into the night. However long it went on for, it must have been good because there wasn't a pint of beer left for the Volunteers' party the next day!
Labels: POTP07
