With the good weather forecast to continue into the weekend, the 39th Guinness Carrick Sevens organising committee are prepared for some of the biggest crowds seen at Woodlawn. The tournament kicks off this Friday at 6pm, with the Samurai U19s competition. Eight teams will take part including last years winners the Big Cats, who are made up of pupils from Belfast Royal Academy. Their Belfast rivals Campbell College will be wanting to have a say, under the OCs name, while local schools Carrick Grammar, Larne Grammar and Belfast High School will be looking to cause an upset. Scottish visitors Telford College are making their annual pilgrimage to the town, while Carrickfergus coach Warren McClean will be wanting to finish another successful season on a high.
The Saturday sees twenty four teams taking part in the Guinness Open, which kicks off at midday. Local representation comes from Lisburn, CIYMS, Larne, Ballyclare and BHSFP, along with a number of sides from the host club, that include the Wreckin Boys, Reapers, Warriors, Simply Class and Tropic Thunder. The Ulster Exiles will be looking to go one better and make the main final, while a number of Fijian sides will add their own unique brand of sevens to the event. The touring sides will as always be making an impact either on the pitch or in the bar, with Wigtonshire, Forresters, Harbury, Portobello and Telford College turning out. This year the organisers have encouraged all sides to select only Qualifying league players to make this a truly junior competition.
On Sunday we have the strongest men’s tournament in recent years in the Manvik Premier competition which will kick off at midday. Recently promoted AIL clubs Dungannon, Belfast Harlequins, City of Derry and Instonians will be bringing strong squads, with 2006 winners Malone, accompanied by Queens, Ards and Ballymena all wanting to walk a way with the £1000 first prize. Over the last number of years some of the current Ulster players such as Chris Henry, Paul Marshall, Craig Gilroy and last years man of the tournament, Conor Gaston have made big impacts in this tournament and this year should be no different. Indeed all younger spectators should be able spot a number of the current Ulster squad wandering through the crowds.
Running alongside the men’s competition will be the Abbey Insurance Ladies 10s, with eight teams from across Ulster looking to knock Cooke off the crown they have held for the last four years. Favourites for this will be City of Derry but Belfast Harlequins will be wanting one of their two teams to be in the mix at the end of the day. In total just under £5000 of prize money will be up for grabs amongst the forty eight teams over the weekend, with cup, plate and bowl trophies being available in all four competitions.
Off the pitch the action will be just as busy with bouncy castles and face painting for the kids. Then in the evening we have dance music and a Captain Morgan’s promotion in the Guinness Marquee (£5 pay at the door) on the Friday, live music with Rio on the Saturday and finally the Untouchables on the Sunday.
All weekend we have plenty of parking adjacent to the site, so make the day or weekend of it and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the biggest rugby tournament in Ulster. For more information go to www.carricksevens.co.uk or join us Facebook at the Guinness Carrick 7s.
