Touch tournament for Pendine this weekend
Wales Touch Association (WTA) are holding their flagship annual beach tournament on Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September 2012.
The beach is historically revered for its land speed record attempts but this is a completely different ball game – without a ball!
Touch Rugby (usually known simply as Touch) is based on the full contact Rugby League/Union but is a recognised sport in its own right.
The beach is historically revered for its land speed record attempts but this is a completely different ball game – without a ball!
Touch Rugby (usually known simply as Touch) is based on the full contact Rugby League/Union but is a recognised sport in its own right.
It is widely popular in the southern hemisphere and is becoming increasingly popular in Wales with leagues and teams in Cardiff, Swansea, Llanelli, Bridgend, RCT and Wrexham among others.
For the first time, the Pendine tournament will be delivered in conjunction with Cyffwrdd Gorllewin Gwyllt (Wild West Touch) formed earlier in 2012 in order to promote Touch in West Wales.
Gorllewin Gwyllt Director, Matthew Adams said: “I'm really looking forward to being part of the Pendine tournament, having heard great things about it over the last 10 years. We're hoping to bring our local knowledge and expertise to the event and help inspire some of the locals to get involved. We also aim to attract some of the teams already playing Touch in west Wales to play in Pendine for the first time.
“The tournament takes place a couple of weeks after the conclusion of the European
Touch Championships, so many of the players that have been representing their countries will be coming along to bring another season to a close in a social environment. We’re also welcoming new player’s young and old to take part in our Family Touch Festival.’
The Family Touch Festival is a chance for mums, dads, aunties, uncles and even grand-parents to join their children and friends to form a team to play in a family tournament with qualified Touch coaches on hand to pass on their knowledge. Touch is one of the very few team’s sports where this can happen due to the minimal contact and very low risk of injury.
Another new addition to the event, now in it’s tenth year, is the schools tournament.
Opening the weekend on Friday 28th September, will be the 5x60 Carmarthenshire
Secondary Schools Under 16 Tournament. Boys and girls will take to the beach to
compete, as Kate Williams, from Carmarthenshire’s Sports Development Unit said: “We wanted the young people of Carmarthenshire to have the chance to experience
playing in a mixed Touch tournament. We’re expecting boys and girls from across the
county to come together to represent their schools in mixed teams. This is the first time we’ve run a mixed tournament, so all the players and staff are really looking forward to it.”
With many of the WTA players, coaches and officials present during the tournament, it’s possible that some new talent will be unearthed, WTA Development Director Matt Enoch said:”We have already picked up two players that have represented Wales in the Touch World Cup and European Championships from the Llanelli module and we know that west Wales is a talent hot spot. We’re on the look out for players that show potential who will be asked to join a development centre where we aim to produce future internationals. Pendine will be a great place for players to show us what they can do.”
The 2012 tournament will also be helping to celebrating the recent opening of the Wales Coast Path. Pendine sits on part of the route between Amroth and Laugharne and
Countryside Rangers will be offering visitors the chance to go on guided walks during the tournament. As Countryside Access & Recreation Manager, Eirian James said: “With the opening of the Wales Coast Path it is now possible to walk all the way along the stunningly beautiful Carmarthenshire Bay. We’ll be offering visitors free guided walks throughout the tournament weekend so that they can sample some of the amazing views on offer.”
For those that don’t wish to play Touch there will be a number of other activities available, such as the guided walks, sand sculpture and the mobile climbing tower from Pendine Outdoor Education Centre. The Centre will be open during the weekend and offer a wide variety of exciting activities such as climbing, high ropes, abseiling among others, as well as accommodation.
More details at www.pendineoutdoors.co.ukSchedule:
Friday 28, 10am - 2pm - 5x60 Carmarthenshire Secondary Schools Under 16 Mixed
Tournament
Saturday 29, 10am - 4pm (approx) - Men's Open and Women's Open competitions
Sunday 30 10am - 4pm (approx) - Mixed Open competition and Family Touch Festival
For further information about Touch and Pendine registration details, go
to www.gorllewingwyllt.com or www.facebook.com/wildwesttouchContacts:
Matt Adams (Gorllewin Gwyllt) - 07966 235450 matt@gorllewingwyllt.comMatt Enoch (WTA) - 07983 620962 matthew.enoch@wales.gsi.gov.ukGethin Williams (Pendine OEC) - 01994 453659 gjwilliams@sirgar.gov.uk
For the first time, the Pendine tournament will be delivered in conjunction with Cyffwrdd Gorllewin Gwyllt (Wild West Touch) formed earlier in 2012 in order to promote Touch in West Wales.
Gorllewin Gwyllt Director, Matthew Adams said: “I'm really looking forward to being part of the Pendine tournament, having heard great things about it over the last 10 years. We're hoping to bring our local knowledge and expertise to the event and help inspire some of the locals to get involved. We also aim to attract some of the teams already playing Touch in west Wales to play in Pendine for the first time.
“The tournament takes place a couple of weeks after the conclusion of the European
Touch Championships, so many of the players that have been representing their countries will be coming along to bring another season to a close in a social environment. We’re also welcoming new player’s young and old to take part in our Family Touch Festival.’
The Family Touch Festival is a chance for mums, dads, aunties, uncles and even grand-parents to join their children and friends to form a team to play in a family tournament with qualified Touch coaches on hand to pass on their knowledge. Touch is one of the very few team’s sports where this can happen due to the minimal contact and very low risk of injury.
Another new addition to the event, now in it’s tenth year, is the schools tournament.
Opening the weekend on Friday 28th September, will be the 5x60 Carmarthenshire
Secondary Schools Under 16 Tournament. Boys and girls will take to the beach to
compete, as Kate Williams, from Carmarthenshire’s Sports Development Unit said: “We wanted the young people of Carmarthenshire to have the chance to experience
playing in a mixed Touch tournament. We’re expecting boys and girls from across the
county to come together to represent their schools in mixed teams. This is the first time we’ve run a mixed tournament, so all the players and staff are really looking forward to it.”
With many of the WTA players, coaches and officials present during the tournament, it’s possible that some new talent will be unearthed, WTA Development Director Matt Enoch said:”We have already picked up two players that have represented Wales in the Touch World Cup and European Championships from the Llanelli module and we know that west Wales is a talent hot spot. We’re on the look out for players that show potential who will be asked to join a development centre where we aim to produce future internationals. Pendine will be a great place for players to show us what they can do.”
The 2012 tournament will also be helping to celebrating the recent opening of the Wales Coast Path. Pendine sits on part of the route between Amroth and Laugharne and
Countryside Rangers will be offering visitors the chance to go on guided walks during the tournament. As Countryside Access & Recreation Manager, Eirian James said: “With the opening of the Wales Coast Path it is now possible to walk all the way along the stunningly beautiful Carmarthenshire Bay. We’ll be offering visitors free guided walks throughout the tournament weekend so that they can sample some of the amazing views on offer.”
For those that don’t wish to play Touch there will be a number of other activities available, such as the guided walks, sand sculpture and the mobile climbing tower from Pendine Outdoor Education Centre. The Centre will be open during the weekend and offer a wide variety of exciting activities such as climbing, high ropes, abseiling among others, as well as accommodation.
More details at www.pendineoutdoors.co.ukSchedule:
Friday 28, 10am - 2pm - 5x60 Carmarthenshire Secondary Schools Under 16 Mixed
Tournament
Saturday 29, 10am - 4pm (approx) - Men's Open and Women's Open competitions
Sunday 30 10am - 4pm (approx) - Mixed Open competition and Family Touch Festival
For further information about Touch and Pendine registration details, go
to www.gorllewingwyllt.com or www.facebook.com/wildwesttouchContacts:
Matt Adams (Gorllewin Gwyllt) - 07966 235450 matt@gorllewingwyllt.comMatt Enoch (WTA) - 07983 620962 matthew.enoch@wales.gsi.gov.ukGethin Williams (Pendine OEC) - 01994 453659 gjwilliams@sirgar.gov.uk
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