Glengarth Sevens
Encyclopedia
The Glengarth Sevens was an annual 7 a-side rugby union tournament held at Davenport Rugby Club
The first Glengarth Sevens was held in 1967 at Headlands Road, home of Davenport Rugby Club. Its celebrated its 21st anniversary in 1987 which was to be the last Glengarth Sevens held at Davenport rugby club.
, a Bramhall sub-committee of the society was formed with one of its main objectives being fundraising. It was thought best to organise events which would be annual to raise regular income. At the time, a member of the Bramhall sub-Committee, Michael Hodgson, was Captain of Davenport Rugby Club.
The club was approached through, then President Norman Harris, by George Jackson and Michael Hodgson with the properstioion of organising an annual seven a side rugby competition. George had a ready made carrot to dangle in that he said he could get David Watkins
, then of Newport RFC and the 'Prince of all Sevens Players' to bring a side for the first tournament. It was decided to form a joint committee to organise the event and so the 'Glengarth Sevens' was born.
England Rugby International, Eric Evans
was invited to become President and remained throughout providing continuous encouragement, inspiration and leadership. The England players of his era rated Eric as the finest Captain they had played under and the team went on to win the Grand Slam in 1957 and Tripple Crown in 1958.
The tournament was very fortunate to have a number of dedicated sponsors but the most valuable contribution was made by Davenport Rugby Club and its members who worked so hard to make the Glengarth Sevens a national success and a very highly respected seven a side rugby tournament. The 21 years of the Glengarth Sevens raised more than £60,000.
Many famous teams and players entered the Glengarth Sevens. Players like David Watkins
, Andy Irvine, Les Cusworth
, Phil Bennett
, Peter Winterbottom
, Steve Smith, Fran Cotton
and many others; teams like Orrell, who won the competition 8 times and guest sides such as the Public School Wanderers, who won it 4 times. Famous memories include legendary British and Irish Lions Captain, Willie John McBride
running onto the Davenport 1st XV pitch with a lion cub from Longleat
.
1967 - David Watkins Seven
1968 - Loughborough University
1969 - Croeso '69
1970 - Loughborough University
1971 - Orrell
1972 - Orrell
1973 - Public School Wanderers
1974 - Orrell
1975 - Orrell
1976 - Orrell
1977 - Sale
1978 - Welsh Select Seven
1979 - Public School Wanderers
1980 - Orrell
1981 - Orrell
1982 - Blackheath
1983 - Public School Wanderers
1984 - Public School Wanderers
1985 - Orrell
1986 - Waterloo
Davenport Plate
1967 - St. Helens
1968 - Sale
1969 - Wilmslow
1970 - Wilmslow
1971 - Middlesbrough
1972 - St. Helens
1973 - Lymm
1974 - Manchester
1975 - Wakefield
1976 - Fylde
1977 - Wilmslow
1978 - Anti-Assassins
1979 - Orrell
1980 - Public School Wanderers
1981 - Public School Wanderers
1982 - Public School Wanderers
1983 - Blackheath
1984 - Selkirk
1985 - Sale
1986 - Harlequins
Stockport R.U.F.C
Stockport Rugby Union Football Club was founded in 1923 as Davenport R.U.F.C, the name changing in 1992. The club play home matches at the Memorial Ground, Headlands Road in Bramhall, Stockport...
The first Glengarth Sevens was held in 1967 at Headlands Road, home of Davenport Rugby Club. Its celebrated its 21st anniversary in 1987 which was to be the last Glengarth Sevens held at Davenport rugby club.
How it all began
In June 1966 the North East Cheshire Society for Mentally Handicapped Children opened their day care centre at 'Glengarth' in Station Road, Marple, Stockport. As a number of the children who attended lived in BramhallBramhall
Bramhall is a suburb of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of about 25,500.Research by the University of Sheffield has placed Bramhall as the "least lonely" place in Britain. Bramhall is also regarded as an affluent area where most residents...
, a Bramhall sub-committee of the society was formed with one of its main objectives being fundraising. It was thought best to organise events which would be annual to raise regular income. At the time, a member of the Bramhall sub-Committee, Michael Hodgson, was Captain of Davenport Rugby Club.
The club was approached through, then President Norman Harris, by George Jackson and Michael Hodgson with the properstioion of organising an annual seven a side rugby competition. George had a ready made carrot to dangle in that he said he could get David Watkins
David Watkins
David Watkins may refer to:*David Watkins , Member of the Australian House of Representatives 1901–1935...
, then of Newport RFC and the 'Prince of all Sevens Players' to bring a side for the first tournament. It was decided to form a joint committee to organise the event and so the 'Glengarth Sevens' was born.
England Rugby International, Eric Evans
Eric Evans
Eric Evans was the captain of the England rugby union team from 1956 to 1958.He was born on Edge Lane in Droylsden and attended Audenshaw Grammar School. He first played for Old Aldwinians RUFC in the late 1930s and during the war joined Sale RUFC...
was invited to become President and remained throughout providing continuous encouragement, inspiration and leadership. The England players of his era rated Eric as the finest Captain they had played under and the team went on to win the Grand Slam in 1957 and Tripple Crown in 1958.
The tournament was very fortunate to have a number of dedicated sponsors but the most valuable contribution was made by Davenport Rugby Club and its members who worked so hard to make the Glengarth Sevens a national success and a very highly respected seven a side rugby tournament. The 21 years of the Glengarth Sevens raised more than £60,000.
Many famous teams and players entered the Glengarth Sevens. Players like David Watkins
David Watkins
David Watkins may refer to:*David Watkins , Member of the Australian House of Representatives 1901–1935...
, Andy Irvine, Les Cusworth
Les Cusworth
Les Cusworth is a former English rugby union footballer and current Argentine Director of Rugby.-Education:He was educated at Normanton Grammar School and the West Midlands Teacher Training college....
, Phil Bennett
Phil Bennett
Phillip Bennett was a Welsh international rugby union fly half from 1969 to 1978. His flair and range of tricks, including his famous sidestep and swerve, meant he was a firm favourite with crowds.-Rugby career:...
, Peter Winterbottom
Peter Winterbottom
Peter James Winterbottom , is a former England rugby union footballer who played as an openside flanker. He was England's most-capped openside until being overtaken by Neil Back in 2003...
, Steve Smith, Fran Cotton
Fran Cotton
Francis Edward Cotton is a former English rugby union prop forward who played for England and the British Lions. His clubs included Coventry R.F.C. and Sale. After retiring, he remained in rugby administration and founded a clothing company...
and many others; teams like Orrell, who won the competition 8 times and guest sides such as the Public School Wanderers, who won it 4 times. Famous memories include legendary British and Irish Lions Captain, Willie John McBride
Willie John McBride
William James McBride, MBE, better known as Willie John McBride is a former rugby union footballer who played as a lock for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He played 63 Tests for Ireland including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times — a record that gave him 17...
running onto the Davenport 1st XV pitch with a lion cub from Longleat
Longleat
Longleat is an English stately home, currently the seat of the Marquesses of Bath, adjacent to the village of Horningsham and near the towns of Warminster in Wiltshire and Frome in Somerset. It is noted for its Elizabethan country house, maze, landscaped parkland and safari park. The house is set...
.
Previous winners of the Glengarth Sevens
Main Event1967 - David Watkins Seven
1968 - Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
1969 - Croeso '69
1970 - Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
1971 - Orrell
1972 - Orrell
1973 - Public School Wanderers
1974 - Orrell
1975 - Orrell
1976 - Orrell
1977 - Sale
1978 - Welsh Select Seven
1979 - Public School Wanderers
1980 - Orrell
1981 - Orrell
1982 - Blackheath
1983 - Public School Wanderers
1984 - Public School Wanderers
1985 - Orrell
1986 - Waterloo
Davenport Plate
1967 - St. Helens
1968 - Sale
1969 - Wilmslow
1970 - Wilmslow
1971 - Middlesbrough
1972 - St. Helens
1973 - Lymm
1974 - Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
1975 - Wakefield
1976 - Fylde
1977 - Wilmslow
1978 - Anti-Assassins
Anti-Assassins
The Anti-Assassins Rugby Union Football team was an invitation team that selected players from the northern counties of England to play friendly charitable matches locally and to go on tour...
1979 - Orrell
1980 - Public School Wanderers
1981 - Public School Wanderers
1982 - Public School Wanderers
1983 - Blackheath
1984 - Selkirk
1985 - Sale
1986 - Harlequins