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Winter Sports - Rugby





All three sports can be played at Shaw’s Bridge simultaneously thanks to an earlier decision to construct a water based international standard hockey pitch at the complex


with their identities intact, yet allowing the overall costs of running the complex to be shared.


An executive, called the Shaw’s Bridge Sports Association, was set up to manage the grounds. Members from both Cooke Rugby Club and Instonians sit on this executive which has a rotating chair each year. Both clubs still testify this initial agreement has proved to be a very successful arrangement within what they claim to be the best multi sports club complex in Ireland. Whilst Cooke Rugby Club focuses on rugby, Instonians, which shifted to open memberships a number of years ago, has three main sporting sections, rugby, cricket and hockey, all which enjoy senior status. All three sports can be played at Shaw’s Bridge simultaneously thanks to an earlier decision to construct a water based international standard hockey pitch at the


complex, which is managed by Inst Hockey Ltd.


The Instonians Cricket Club was founded in 1932 for past pupils and members of staff at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. It continued as a separate organisation until the amalgamation of Instonians Rugby Football, Cricket and Athletic Clubs on 1st April 1962, when the combined sections were known as just Instonians. Then, on 31st May 1979, the name was changed again to Instonians Rugby Football and Cricket Club, and again on 1st April 1988, the Instonians Men’s Hockey Club joined up and the title reverted back to Instonians.


The club, more easily recognised as simply Instonians, sold its Shane Park and moved to the Shaw’s Bridge complex in 1999. As mentioned, the Shaw’s Bridge Sports Association is the body that runs the complex and appointed two grounds convenors, one from each club, to help maintain and enhance the playing fields and facilities.


Ian Dickie is the grounds convenor from the Instonians side, and representing the Cooke Rugby Club is Stephen Elliott. The association also appointed a head groundsman to be its man on the ground each day to carry out all the daily chores required in a complex of this larger size. The challenge of looking after such a prestigious sports complex lies in the hands of twenty‐seven year old Scott Porter who hails from Belfast.


This is currently Scott’s fourth season at Shaw’s Bridge. He originally started working at the grounds as an apprentice on a youth training scheme. When the previous groundsman retired, Scott was lucky enough to be offered the job and that is where he has stayed ever since.


“I’m originally from a farming background and learning to take care of the land comes naturally to me,” said Scott. “I have always had a strong interest in looking after sporting grounds and I have a brother involved in


34 I PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018


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