Thanet Wanderers Community Open Day is a big success

The sun shone and lots of youngsters had fun enjoying the various activities set up on St Peters Recreation Ground.

Host for the day Jay Sanford announced the programme and Kelly Green from Club sponsors The Gym got things underway with an all club warm up. The Gym had set up an activity marquee which proved very popular with a rowing machine challenge to test your stamina and a Thors Hammer Challenge to test your strength. Just right to set the competitive spirit ready for the new season. Thanks to Kelly and to her colleagues Luke Skelton and Alex Green for their contribution to the day.

The welcome desk was manned by Emma Plumridge and Nathalie Thorn who was also the representative for main club sponsors London Array. Lots of the activities were manned by players and coaches of today and of the past. Many thanks to them all for helping to make the day such a success.

Those who manned the popular water slide were glad of the increasingly hot sun but those players in the match between Wanderers U15 and U16 teams found it tough going on the hard pitch. Drinks and food were available all day courtesy of Kelly and Gerry and the clubhouse team.

At the end of the activities scores were totalled by Geoff Redmond who then welcomed and thanked everyone who had attended or taken part in running it. He particularly thanked club sponsors London Array, Miles and Barr and St Lawrence College for their support of the day and throughout the season. In a packed clubhouse the coaches of each age group announced their Super Star of the day. Each winner was presented with an engraved plaque by Club President Colin Whiteley to mark their achievement. The winners of the three categories at the Super stars activities run by John Keohane were also rewarded with a £25 JD Sports voucher presented by John who reminded parents to be sure to continue to bring their young people to play rugby at Thanet Wanderers.

The club owes a big vote of thanks to the club’s Marketing and Sponsorship Director Peter Ruranski for taking on the running of the Community Open day at such short notice and steering it to a successful outcome. Much help came from the club Juniors Coaches and Annemarie the safeguarding officer. Unfortunately Peter had to leave the event early but fortunately Geoff Redmond was there to seamlessly take over and ensure that everything continued to run smoothly. Many thanks to Geoff and Jay Sanford who assisted him throughout the day.

17 September 2019