Community Games news
THE FIRST event for the new season’s busy calendar of Community Games events will take place this coming Thursday, February 9. IT is the Under-13 and Under-16 chess finals and they will be held in Kyle Forge, Crossabeg. The competition will start at 6.30 p.m. sharp.
Entries are also sought for a number of other events coming up fast, so please keep an eye on the closing dates. Below are those events needing your attention. UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, February 9: county chess finals in Kyle Forge, Crossabeg, starting time is 6.30 p.m.
Saturday, February 18: county draughts competitions in Bree Hall. Closing date for entries is February 11. Starting time is 6 p.m.
The swimming competition takes place at Enniscorthy pool on Wednesday, February 22. Warm up is at 5 p.m and the competition starts at 5.30 p.m. The closing date for entries is February 15.
The county final of the table quiz takes place in the Ferrycarrig Hotel on Thursday, March 2, with check in at 6.30 p.m and the competition starting at 7 p.m. Area Secretaries are asked to contact the co-ordinator, Anne, on 086-1980775 a few days beforehand to let her know how many teams they will have participating.
Saturday, March 11: county art and handwriting competitions in Castlebridge National School. The closing date is March 4. Areas will be notified of times of each event as soon as all the entries are with the county Secretary.
The county gymnastics event takes place in Gorey on April 2. At the time of going to press, the date is yet to be clarified. The closing date for entries is March 29. New routines are on the website.
Team events: any Area wishing to compete in badminton, futsal, spike ball, debating, tag rugby/ rugby, table-tennis or girls’ soccer should send in their entries to the county Secretary.
Entries are being taken for the cross-country and marathon events. Both will take place during the May festival on May 6, with entries needed by February 15.
The county will send boys’ and girls’ teams in the Under-12 and Under-14 cross-country competitions.
The boys’ and girls’ marathon is also going to take place at the May Festival, so Secretaries please take note. This competition is for the Under-16s and is a 7k run for both.
Some changes have been made that will make things easier for team managers.
At provincial level a competitor may participate in any number of team events, but after the provincial finals he or she must declare which team they are staying with. This rule applies to the May and August Festivals.
In May, a child may participate in one individual event plus one team event and one of marathon, cross-country, mixed distance relay, debating and a swim squad.
In August a child may participate in one individual event plus one team event plus athletics relay.
Debating is now designated a representative event – the age group changes to Under-14 and participants from any Area may now form a team.
There are some minor alterations to rules this year and they are highlighted in red in the rule book. Please check before you send out teams in competitions.
There are new routines for the gymnastic events and the sudden death rule in camogie and hurling applies in the event of a draw after extra-time.
Any child who starts before the signal in swimming will be disqualified.
Wexford Community Games welcomed delegates from the Kilanerin Area to the first county meeting of the year which took place on Monday of last week. We look forward to working with them and meeting the many participants during the coming months. Good luck to all.
It was also good to see so many Areas represented at this meeting.
A timely reminder once again that Garda vetting is required for all who work at any level with children in the Community Games movement.
If you are volunteering with Community Games in any capacity, as a team manager, an assistant manager, helper, or officer, you must be Garda vetted. The forms may be downloaded from the Community Games website: www. communitygames.ie