Page 32 - Bellfort Magazine 2025

‘it was the love for an oval shaped ball instilled and shared by parents and

grandparents, a wider family circle or friends that sparked an interest in grassroots
rugby at club level’

For the majority of this rugby team most were introduced to rugby in their very early days… it was

the love for an oval shaped ball instilled and shared by parents and grandparents, a wider family
circle or friends that sparked an interest in grassroots rugby at club level… those links forged (through

rascals and minis) over the years to support the development of Club Rugby and School Rugby at
Youth Level.

I shared with the team that it was one of my personal ambitions, as Principal, to support coaching

staff, led by Mr Kelly, and make it possible that we could harness a group of young rugby players the

whole way to Kingspan, not to watch Ulster, but to play competitively, in March 2024 we achieved
this ambition!

I can share that we now have strong squads in the Under 13s, Under 14s and Under 16s Team with a

combined turnout of 70 players.
Links forged with Ballymena Rugby Club support the opportunities for all players, male and female.

Mid-week training at the College coupled with Club Rugby is a proven model that supports success

across the community.
As this season opens up who knows what is in store for the season of 2024/25!

There have been several other sporting achievements with football, hockey, and netball. Hockey

continues to grow with pupils now travelling to the Ballymena Show Grounds weekly to train. Others
developed their skills and routines through Gymnastics and Trampolining incorporating complex

manoeuvres.

Football achievements were played out through a series of Football ‘blitzes’ with several of the
Dunclug Teams, playing others from the Mid-Antrim Association, reaching the semi-finals. Girl’s

football has become increasingly popular, with several teams competing in Futsal and outdoor

tournaments held throughout the year, again, reaching the semi-finals. Other ‘friendly’ fixtures took
place throughout the year with Slemish and Cullybackey… on both occasions the girls came home
with a win. The future is bright for this group!

Other enrichments and extra-curricular activities included participation by many in Athletics, the
Cross-Country Championships, Ulster Schools’ Cross-Country and the District Track and Field
Championships. For a more in-depth report delve into the Sports Section of the Bellfort Magazine –

Issue 13.