Mullingar Handball Club planning active age tournament
Gerry Baker Handball Festival
Mullingar Handball Club age active members have a great weekend planned for October 21 and 22.
The age active members, known locally as the ‘youth’ club, meet every Monday to play ball and have a cuppa. One of the members celebrated his 81st birthday this year and he says he looks forward to Monday evenings as it is his only evening to leave the house.
They don’t play competitively; they play for the enjoyment, keeping active and of course the chats and banter.
They have arranged a tournament so as they could meet players from around the county and province to play a bit of ball. Going back to the traditional handball, it would usually have been the centre attraction of village festivals. It was played until it got dark and everyone later retired for a ceilí and a sing-song.
With the musicians in the group, they couldn’t leave out dinner and a trad session.
From a handball perspective, they are arranging a 40x20 doubles tournament and a plate competition will be played in the One Wall court.
Anybody over the age of 60 can enter, as long as they are registered members of a club.
Once all entries are in, the organisers will arrange the teams so as they will be as even as possible. The rules of play will be adjusted to suit their abilities and ensure everyone gets an opportunity.
They have the community pharmacist of the year booked in to complete free health checks; a personal trainer and world bodybuilding champion are booked to advise on appropriate exercises for the varying abilities; a nutritionist who works with national and international athletes is booked to provide advice on diet and nutrition and dinner in the Annebrook House Hotel on Saturday, October 21, will be followed by a trad session, to include come and try sessions to attract new members and the Gerry Baker Tournament as the main event.
Anyone from Westmeath who played in their younger years and wishes to return is welcome to play and there will be come and try handball sessions for those who have never played before.
The club received €200 from the North Midlands Credit Union Social and Cultural Fund, €360 from Age and Opportunity and they were lucky to have won the Age Friendly award with Westmeath County Council.
Costs have been kept low so the entry fee is only what is being charged for the dinner in the Annebrook and the grants will cover the cost of equipment, a ball for anyone who signs up for the come and try session, tournament T-shirts for those who play in the tournament, medals, and refreshments in the club for both days. The club will also be contributing to the costs.
Players can enter through Eventbrite. Player entry includes tickets for dinner and tournament T-shirt. Come and try tickets are free and available at the link below.
Additional tickets for dinner and/or tournament T-shirts can be purchased through Eventbrite also.