The time of training on a Wednesday evening has changed due to a group following us at 9 o’clock. As the pitch is free before us the ground staff suggested that we begin at 7:30 in order to ensure we get a good hour of training in. Therefore if everyone could try and get down to the pitch at about 7:20 -7:30 this would be great.

Thanks to everyone who attended the fund raiser and ga games on Thursday night. Though the results never went for the lads and the girls would have enjoyed a more competitive game, i’m sure everyone was glad for the run out on a great field. Big thanks to Turlough and Pat English for all their efforts in getting the pitch organised and ready for play.

The Race Night was a huge success with with everyone having a great time and some well needed funds pumped into the club to try and get some more functions and activities under way for the rest of the year. The personal highlight for myself was seeing the high roller table of Rory Mallen and Felim Bolster chicken out of the auction race at 600 dirhams and lose the prize of 1750 dhs. Nice bit of TRICKERY by Mark Nolan there.

A meeting will be held over the weekend regarding the allocation and availability of tickets for the St. Patricks day ball. All paid up GAA members (those who paid their 300dhs pitch fees) will get a ticket and we are striving for them to receive one extra one as well. We will then try to find tickets for all playing members who are yet to pay their pitch fees.

Could you reply to me if you would like to go to the ball and state whether you are a paid member and if you aree bringing another person. Due to the demand for tickets it is unreasonable to get more than one extra ticket as a member though people who are going on their own may wish to use their extra ticket to bring another player along.

For anyone who is unable to get a ticket an alternative ticket is being made available which would allow people to enter the ball at 11 o’clock. Some players and supporters have suggested that people book The Garden(7th floor) at the Crown Plaza for their meal and then enter the ball. If you choose this option you will not be missing any of the entertainment at the ball as the meal and speeches usually drag on until after 11 o’clock anyway. Again if you feel this would suit you could you please let me know ASAP as Tahdg needs to work out numbers.

Thanks again for all your support on Thursday and take care. If there are any urgent queries about the ball call me on 050 7214682
Take care
Ben Kehoe (Scouse)

For those of you who are interested in buying tickets for the St. Patrick’s Day Ball on March 13 at the Crowne Plaza, please note the following:

• The reception will be at 19.00.
• Because there are two live acts (Misty, a 4-piece band direct from Ireland, and Emerald Elvis, back by popular demand) the meal will need to start at 20.30 sharp.

Tickets

Tickets cost 330 Dhs for Mmbers and 380 Dhs for Non-members.
Tickets will go on sale next week on Monday 3, March for Members and Wednesday 4, March for non-members.
The box office will be at Cappucinos in the Crowne Plaza from 19.00 – 21.00 on both days.
To avoid double booking names of those attending the Ball will need to be provided on the night.
No ticket will be issued without payment.
Tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis; no tickets will not be held on promise.

Membership

Current members can renew their membership on March 3 – this will enable them to buy tickets at member’s rates.
New members can join on March 4 only – this will enable them to purchase tickets at member’s rates on March 4.

Members can buy for non-members on March 3 but the extra tickets will be at non-member’s rates.

Looking forward to seeing you there for a great night!  Here is a link to a poster you can download: St Pat’s Ball (PDF, 500kb)

Well boys and girls

A busy few weeks coming up with preparations for the St. Patrick’s Day ball and March holidays on everyone’s minds.

Before all that we have our next round of games on thursday the 28th of February. Dubai will be travelling down to play the next round of our championship and the team from muscat in Oman will also be joining us so we would like to see good numbers to give these guys a game and thank them for travelling all the way here.

After the matches will be the annual race night fundraiser in the Crowne Plaza. The format of this years races will be as such:

1. each race will contain 8 horses and each horse will cost 50 dirhams (excluding race 7).
2. half of the takings will go to the club and the other half will go to the winner of the race.
3. as long as a full race card has been completed there can be more than one race card and so more than one winner in each race though the split will be the same as point 2.
4. race 7 will be an auction with syndicates bidding for the horses. highest bid gets the horse and the split in winnings is the same as point two.

There will also be a raffle on the night for two 500 dirham vouchers for the malls in Abu Dhabi. The entrance on the door is 50 dirhams and this entitles all entrants to a buffet meal provided by the Crowne Plaza.

Attached to this e-mail are the race cards, if you think you could sell a whole race card in your place of work then print it off and get it to me by next Tuesday, Feb 27.  (Don’t all choose race 1 as we would like to spread the excitement out+don’t choose race 7 as that is for the auction at the end of the nite only.

My mobile is 0507214682. Likewise if your place of work is interested in sponsoring any of the races we would happily attach their name to the race on the night.

We would love to see as many of you at either the football or the race night as participation is what keeps the club going.

Details of the time and venue of the match next week will follow shortly as soon as we can confirm the pitch.

Have a great weekend
Ben Kehoe

Declan our esteemed single figure handicapper has once again organised a golf outing in Al Ain for the 21st of March.

Anyone who went on the last outing will know the craic that was had both one the course and after in the Horse and Jockey.

If you are interested in going can you contact Declan at 050 3236804 or at declan.madden@hct.ac.ae
 
The cost will be round Dh220 which will include 18 holes, buggy and practice balls (if we ever arrive on time to use them!)
 
Thanks and see ye at the whiskey tasting

James