Holman Wins All Saints Open in Style

         L.Holman The 2013 All Saints 

               Golf Open Champion

The All Saints Golf Open Championship took place at Leasowe Gold Course on the Wirral on Monday 22nd July. The course would be a real test for the All Saints lads as this was a Lynx course and many are used to Parklands courses. The course had not seen any water for over three weeks due the hot and humid weather. This made the course that much more difficult as the fairways were bone hard. If you hit a straight shot the roll could be very generous, however anything not straight would find its way into unforgiving rough.

The greens were in great condition, and they were very quick. 

          J.Mullholland and J.Corrie,       with Leasowe Castle in the background

J.Mullholland was the defending champion from 2012, and there was also two previous winners in the running with L.Holman and D.Woods. The tournament would be scored using the Stapleford scoring system and the lowest handicapped player was L.Holman. This meant he would need to bring his A game if he was to become victorious.

       Mr Parry, J.Shepherd, & B.Dillon

         on their way to the Stud Bar

The weather conditions were perfect for Lynx golf. The sun shone all day, and the wind didn't come into play. The course is situated on the Wirral coast and the views across the Mersey are spectacular.

The tournament was won by L.Holman. He was just three over par for his gross score, and he destroyed the field on the Stapleford scoring system. This is a tremendous achievement as he has only played this course once before. He was a thoroughly deserved winner. He was very consistent from tee to green. He holed a majestic eagle on the second hole. After hitting a solid tee shot in to an A1 position on the fairway, he fired in a mid iron to the green that had back spin, which skipped in to the hole.

The longest drive and nearest the pin trophies were both won by Year 10 student K.Walker.

        K.Walker longest drive and nearest 

                         the pin winner

The award presentation took place in the Leasowe club house. Stunning panoramas of Merseyside on such a beautiful day can be seen from the balcony are over looking the 18th green.

It was here that L.Holman was handed the coveted gold All Saints Open trophy.

    Winner L.Holman collecting the trophy

The day could not have went any better. The lads were a credit to themselves, family, and the school. The staff at Leasowe were very complimentary about the boys, which was great to hear. 

       Team photo of all the competitors

A huge thank you to Leasowe staff and club captain for arranging our competition. 

          Play it cool, trigger play it cool!

Looking forward to seeing some new players coming through from lower school to challenge next year and beyond. Best wishes to departing students from Year 11 who have been the best possible ambassadors for All Saints sport. You will be missed and hope to hear from you often. 

Year 10 Sports Day

Sports Days continued on 12^th July for the Year 10QPE Block (P2) and 10JPE Block (P3). The weather again was excellent throughout, and the boys and girls who took part showed enthusiasm and were highly motivated throughout.

There were individual boy and girls winners for each event, however there were also points awarded for each House. Here is a full breakdown of who won what on the day. You may notice that some pupils won more than one event which takes some doing.

Event	YR 10Q Block (P2)	Yr 10J Block (P3)
High Jump	Boy: H.DUFFY Girl: R.HOPLEY	Boy: M.VELLOZA Girl: M.GUY-SMITH
Obstacle Race	Boy: J.WELSH Girl: M.CARNEY	Boy: R.CAILLES Girl: C.TYNAN
Shot Putt	Boy: J.WELSH Girl: R.HOPLEY	Boy: D.NODWELL Girl: M.GUY-SMITH
Javelin	Boy: E.NAVIS Girl: R.HOPLEY	Boy: S.ROBERTS & J.WAYMAN Girl: T.DAVIES & M.GUY-SMITH
Discus	Boy: E.NAVIS Girl: C.SEARY	Boy: T.LEIGH           Girl: M.GUY-SMITH
Long Jump	Boy: R.HOLMES Girl: M.CARNEY	Boy: M.WOLINKSI Girl: M.GUY-SMITH
Triple Jump	Boy: R.HOLMES Girl: M.CARNEY	Boy: D.BROWNE    Girl: M.GUY-SMITH
Hurdles	Boy: H.DUFFY Girl: M.CARNEY	Boy: D.NODWELL Girl: C.EDWARDS
80 Sprint	Boy: D.GITTENS Girl: M.CARNEY	Boy: J.KNOX Girl: M.GUY-SMITH
Target Throw	Boy: N.COUCH Girl: M.JONES	Boy: A.WHITE &     A.KILDARE & M.VELLOZA Girl: C.JONES

THE WINNING HOUSES FOR EACH HALF YEAR GROUP WERE:

10QPE BLOCK (P2)	10JPE BLOCK (P3)
1st  Saints         10 pts	1st Kings                9 pts
2nd Trinity          6 pts	2nd Benedict          7 pts
3rd  Benedict      3  pts	3rd Trinity              5 pts
4th  Kings           0 pts	4th Saints               3 pts

Sports Day 11th July at All Saints

Sports Days continued on 11^th July for the Year 9JPE block and 8JPE Block. The weather was fantastic throughout, and the whole day could not have went any better.

There were individual boy and girls winners for each event, however there were also points awarded for each House. Here is a full breakdown of who won what on the day. You may notice that some pupils won more than one event which takes some doing.

Event	YR 9J Block	Yr 8J Block
High Jump	Boy: T.MARTIN Girl: L.ATKINSON	Boy: J.CONLEY Girl: L.WILLIAMS
Obstacle Race	Boy: J.FERGUSON Girl: J.L.JAGO	Boy: S.FAGAN Girl: T.PRICE
Shot Putt	Boy: R.WOODS Girl: L.ATKINSON	Boy: L.BURKE Girl:M.SAUNDERSON
Javelin	Boy: J.ARTHUR Girl: L.ATKINSON	Boy: J.DUKE Girl: L.HULME
Discus	Boy: J.ASHWORTH Girl: J.L.JAGO	Boy: L.BURKE           Girl: E.McINTOSH
Long Jump	Boy: L.GLASSCOTT Girl: J.L.JAGO	Boy: J.WOIJS Girl: C.BLACKWELL –TOMLINSON
Triple Jump	Boy: L.LACEY Girl: J.ARTHUR	Boy: J.WOIJS    Girl: C.BLACKWELL –TOMLINSON
Hurdles	Boy: L.LACEY Girl: J.L.JAGO	Boy: J.CONLEY Girl: L.WILLIAMS
80 Sprint	Boy: C.WINTERSON Girl: C.LAIRD	Boy: A.HAND Girl: E.McINTOSH
Target Throw	Boy: L.FORSHAW Girl: H.KING	Boy: S.FAGAN Girl: A.WALSH

THE WINNING HOUSES FOR EACH HALF YEAR GROUP WERE:

9JPE BLOCK	8JPE BLOCK
1st  Benedict         7 pts	1ST  Trinity           12 pts
Joint 2nd  Saints    5 pts	Joints 2nd Saints    4 pts
Joint 2nd Trinity   5 pts	Joints 2nd Benedict 4 pts
3rd  Kings              2 pts	3rd  Kings             1 point

Day 6 of Liam Corrigan's Blog from Portugal Refereeing in the Iber Cup

                                    Players getting ready for the customary handshake

Last night I received an email to inform me I will be officiating on two Quarter Finals at a ground called 'Dramatico' just around the corner from the hotel, I will give you a clue, the ground certainly lived up to its name, dramatic!!

I was on the early games with 3 other Liverpool officials, an early start, up at 6:30am for an 8:30am kick off, I was pleased as I thought it would not be so warm, think again, at least 24 degrees by kick off time. Both games were under 15's, and both Spanish Vs Portuguese, do I need to explain the rivalry?
First game was a local Spanish team vs a local Portuguese side, I was assistant referee. It started off relatively quiet...until the Portuguese spectators arrived singing, blasting vuvuzelas and waving flags! Bearing in mind this was at 8:30am in the morning. They did not stop util the final whistle and beyond. The game started quiet, but always keeping in the back of your mind the temperature of the game could rise in a second, one tackle and it could all go up. So half time comes and goes 2:0 to the Spaniards, keep it up we say. Then, 15 minutes to go the Portuguese team score, 2:1, game on. I then disallowed a goal for offside against the Spaniards, which would have made it 3:1. As the Portuguese pushed on they left themselves open at the back. The ball gets pinged forward to the Spanish striker who makes a run from his own half and slots it to seal the game 3:1.

Well, As quick as you can say Nando's, the Portuguese team charged at me and the refeee wanting the goal disallowed for offside, they argued he wasn't in his own half. The spectators behind then turned aggressive, chants in Portuguese towards me and the other officials. How quickly a carnival atmosphere can change, 70+ people all directing their anger at you! So the full time whistle came, cue the charge from the Portuguese players towards us 3 officials as we gathered in the centre circle, they were in our faces screaming 'Cheat' (Other words I can't write in this, use your imagination) we were confronted by all of the coaching staff also.

So as we made our way off to the tunnel, which was down the stairs, underneath the stand in which the Portuguese where gathered, they then started booing, whistling showing their disgust, the Spanish spectators were clapping us as they were pleased, obviously. Just as we went under the stand we were pelted with water & bottles from above as we took cover in the dressing room. The players then came banging on our changing room door, screaming, shouting!! This was a real surreal 5 minutes. This is a regular occurrence abroad when refereeing football matches, which shocked me! So a quick rest, water break and kit change before the second game! Athletico Madrid give a footballing lesson to a local Portuguese team, 3:0 in which it could have been more, a nice game after such a tough earlier game.

The team from the Previous game who caused us officials grief waited till the end of the second game so that they could see us as we made our way out of the ground, for one last chant towards us!
The finals are played tomorrow, so I shall see if I am appointed to a fixture, either way it has been a great week in which I have learnt a great deal to take back home with me to use in my game, in my natural surroundings!

Ps-I got confirmation off the 4th official, my decision to allow the goal to stand was correct. Phew!

Day 5 of Liam Corrigan's Day from Portugal Refereeing at the Iber Cup

Change of shirt today. If you wear Orange people will notice you.

I woke up to the hottest day since we arrived 38* Degrees knowing that I will be officiating in 3 tough looking play off matches, and I was right. I was with 3 other officials from Liverpool which was great to know, we have worked with each other before and also being close friends.
So we arrive at Fontainhas, knowing that we will have our work cut out with both heat and the games.
4th July, Independence Day in America, first up I have a Canadian U15's team Vs USA U15's, they received 3 independence cards off myself, all yellow in colour. 0-0 a tense, timid affair which dwindled out to a penalty shootout in which the USA team on 3-2 on penalties. To say I was tired was an understatement, never been dripping with as much with sweat as I was at the end, my pink top was drenched. I was glad to have two English speaking teams, I felt more comfortable getting my point across with the players. Around 150 spectators were present, chanting throughout the Queen song 'We Will Rock you'.
2nd game I was assistant referee, Croatian team U15's vs Spanish Local Team, the referee did remarkably well keeping a lid on the game, he done well to keep it to 8 yellows and a Red. Both teams did not like physicality shall we say. By this point I was running on empty. 3:0 to the Spaniards.
3rd game, Portuguese Local Team Vs Columbian Team U15's, eventful? Yes, yes it was! Columbian manager was a real scary guy, didn't speak a word of English, but could he shout? The players were constantly getting an ear bashing from him, he would not be allowed to coach in this manner back home! The game was a high tempo, passion pot, nobody stopping for breath! As assistant on this game I had a major incident in which I needed to inform the referee of what had happened as he could not physically see the incident. On my say so, the referee gave a red card to a Columbian player for an elbow off the ball. The Portuguese spectators were constantly on the referees back, as well as the two assistants so when full time game, Columbines winning 3:1, the Portuguese were hurling abuse at us, in which we ignored...until we got in the tunnel which was empty at time, and we belted out 'Always look on the bright side of life' this was a release of emotions after a very tough day, this was a real nice way to end a challenging but a successful day in which the match incidents have provided us with a lot of learning/development points. So the taxi home back to the hotel for food and the longest lie down you can imagine after that day!
Now a shower, change of clothes and a stroll down to the beach front, in which me and the other 3 officials from today will enjoy a few glasses of something...(Ahem) as the sun goes down on a fantastic day...

One of the venues where the games have been taking place

Liam Corrigan's Blog Day 4 from Lisbon, Portugal

Refereeing team getting ready for action in Iber Cup

Well, what could have been another great day refereeing turned out to be nothing short of a sightseeing tour of the Coast in Portugal.

Both games were cancelled due to one team not turning up in the first, and both not turning up for the second. Firstly I had travelled to Carcavelos along the coast for the game. Only for it to be called off. I then jumped the train back and got a Taxi from the station to the Hotel. Then for my second game me and the two other English lads headed off to Fontainhas. Off, again.

The journey there was a right disaster due to not being able to find the right bus and when we did finally get the Bus we got off at the wrong stop. So my Spanish came into good use when bumping into a group of Spaniards to ask the way to the field. We got stopped by a man who we didn't really trust, he offered us a lift to the ground but we decided to walk being slightly wary. (Turns out he was the groundsman).

So we eventually made our way to the ground, belting out songs as we went, you name it we sung it! We then headed back to our hotel, stopping off at possibly the poshest Pick'N'Mix shop which I was massively pleased about!!

Tomorrow the knockout games start, so hopefully soon I shall receive an email with my name next to a game, we shall see...

Day 3 of Liam Corrigan's blog from Portugal

                                              Me centre hogging the limelight. Typical ref!

Day 3 of Liam Corrigan's blog from Portugal

After another humid night, I woke as the second day of the tournament began. The morning was again spent by the pool relaxing with some food before I set off to the Jamor complex which is a few miles down the coast from the hotel. I set off at 12:45pm for a 3:45pm kick off, Hamburg Vs FC Belenese. Germany Vs Portugal, a good game was surely on the cards.
I spent an hour at the Cafe in the Jamor complex chatting to some Swedish referees who provided me with a useful insight into how football is played in Sweden , quite similar to back home actually, a culture who likes a tackle and also an Abba tune.
Hamburg had arrived slightly late for a 3:45ko, there bus was late. I then had another problem as they had the same colour socks as FC Belenese, blue. This problem was sorted, eventually, as my German is not the best. What a game it was. 1-0 to FC Belenese, a turn up for the books, a wonderful solo goal, the celebrations from the players and fans showed how much it meant, the scorer was in tears. Vuvuzelas were being hooted throughout, with the Germans not liking the carnival atmosphere.

Communicating with the players is one of the hardest things to do, combined with the heat of around 30 degrees. Most of my communication with the players is done through hand signals, body language and whistle tone to get the message across to the players of what I expect from them. I had 3 cautions during this game, one for a tug of the shirt, the second for a player that had made 3 poor tackles and the other, kicking the ball away.
What amazes me the most is the passion from the spectators, it means something to them, drums, vuvuzelas, club chants and flags all done in a positive manner. Completely different compared to back home. Job done for the 2nd day. I sloped off back to the dressing room, sorted myself out and had a refreshing Ice Tea in the cafe chatting to some players from the PSG team. (One of whom claims to be friends of David Ngog, remember him?
So as I now chill out in the hotel room, I wait to see what fixtures I will be appointed to tomorrow...