Two Cumnock Rugby Players In Rio - That Would Shake Them Up In Ayrshire Junior Football

The Cumnock Rugby club crest

THIS has been a super week for lowly Cumnock Rugby Club. On Tuesday night they were voted Community Club of the Year at the Glasgow Warriors' end of season awards night, then, on Thursday, no less than two Cumnock alumni, Mark Bennett and Gavin Lowe were named in the 25-strong “long list” from which the eventual 12-man Team GB Sevens squad for the Rio Olympics will be chosen.

If talent is any criteria, Mark Bennett will be Rio-bound

 

Marko is, I would say, pretty-much a shoo-in for the final Rio squad, but, I reckon the relatively-unsung Lowe also has a chance of being on the 'plane to South America. The pair played together as boys at Cumnock, so, don't be surprised if this familiarity gets them both picked.

But Gavin Lowe could make it a Cumnock double

Their selection, plus the Community Award is a big boost for two of the Cumnock guys in particular, Harry Reilly, the Club Development Officer, and Morton Houston, who runs their Mini and Midi sections. These two hard-working arch-enthusiasts deserve to see their work honoured by the Community Award and the success of two of their “pupils”.

The Team GB long list is:

GB Sevens Men:

Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Bibby, Tom Bowen, Phil Burgess (all England Sevens), Sam Cross (Wales Sevens), James Davies (Scarlets), Alex Davis, Richard de Carpentier (all England Sevens), Jamie Farndale (Scotland Sevens), Alex Gray, Charlie Hayter, Warwick Lahmert (all England Sevens), Ollie Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins), Gavin Lowe (Scotland Sevens), Ruaridh McConnochie, Tom Mitchell (both England Sevens), Luke Morgan (Wales Sevens), Dan Norton (England Sevens), Scott Riddell,
Mark Robertson (both Scotland Sevens), James Rodwell (England Sevens), Joe Simpson (Wasps), Luke Treharne (Wales Sevens), Marcus Watson (Newcastle Falcons).

The GB Sevens squad will be led by the following management group in Rio:

Simon Amor (Team GB Sevens Head Coach), Gareth Williams (Team GB Sevens Assistant Coach), Stevie Gemmell (Team Leader), Dan Cooper (Performance Analyst), Dan Howells (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Jo Larkin (Doctor), Remi Mobed (Physio)

In addition the following staff will support the programme over the first seven weeks: Ali Little (Physio, Scotland Sevens), Eifion Roberts (Strength and Conditioning, Wales Sevens) and Adam Fuge (Performance Analyst, Wales Sevens)

GB Sevens Women Update:

A squad of 23 GB Sevens players continue to train full time under Team GB Head Coach Simon Middleton and Assistant Richie Pugh.   On going Olympic preparations will be supported by Rugby Europe’s tournament in Kazan (11-12 June) and an invitational event in Tignes (14-16 July).

GB Sevens Women:

Claire Allan, Natasha Brennan, Abbie Brown, Rachael Burford, Heather Fisher, Victoria Fleetwood, Natasha Hunt, Jasmine Joyce (Wales Sevens), Stephanie Johnston (Scotland Sevens), Megan Jones, Alex Matthews, Fran Matthews, Sarah Mckenna, Katy Mclean, Marlie Packer, Alice Richardson, Emily Scarratt, Emily Scott, Michaela Staniford, Danielle Waterman, Joanne Watmore, Kay Wilson, Amy Wilson Hardy *Laurie Harries (Wales Sevens) has been withdrawn from the squad through injury

GB Sevens Women Management Group:

Simon Middleton (Team GB Head Coach), Richie Pugh (Team GB Assistant Coach), Nicky Ponsford (Team Leader), Zoe Eaton (Team Manager), Dave Gardner (Analyst), Paul McGinley (Physio), Katie James (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Joe Larkin (Doctor) and Celia Gillbe (Assistant Physio). 

In addition coach Susie Appleby (England Sevens) will continue to support the programme through this final preparation period.

AYR'S Masonhill Crematorium was packed to capacity on Thursday morning, for Gordon Strachan's funeral. Even Scottish Internationalists were forced to stand as West of Scotland rugby convened to honour one of the good guys. The teaching profession was also well-represented, and not just by “Big Ugly's” fellow Gymmies.

For some of us, it was a case of: “Ah thocht ye were deid”, as we bumped into old foes we had not seen for years, while former team-mates of Gordon's came up from England, and frae awe the airts o' Scotland to see him off in style.

There was a lot of laughter through the tears, with former Ayr president Brian McNally delivering an excellent eulogy. He was taken far-too-soon, we will miss him, but, Big Gordon was sent on his way in style.

IN CASE you missed them, the full list of Glasgow Warriors End-of-Season Awards, alluded to above, were:

                              McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season – Simone Favaro
 

Denholm Oilfield Services Players' Player of the Season – Leone Nakarawa
 

Cameron House Young Player of the Season – Zander Fagerson
 

Capital Document Solutions Most Improved Player of the Season – Ali Price
 

The Famous Grouse Coaches Award – James Eddie
 

Harper Macleod Test Player of the Season – Stuart Hogg
 

Al Kellock Leadership Award, sponsored by Malcolm Group – Mike Blair
 

ScottishPower Community Club of the Season – Cumnock RFC
 

BT Try of the Season – Duncan Weir v Munster