Countdown to this year"s Winter Games

We are approaching the closing date for the County Winter Games which will take place on January 15. The following panel forms MUST be with the County Secretary by the closing date: Badminton, Draughts, Chess, Indoor Soccer and Table Tennis.Only panel forms received by this date will be included in the draw and competitions will commence almost immediately as all County Finals must be completed by February 15 to register winning teams with Leinster. The co-operation of all team managers to play their games on time and in a friendly and sporting manner will be greatly appreciated.National Finals in AthloneWe are looking forward to the first of the 2009 National Finals which takes place in Athlone on May 22/24 and will comprise of the following activities: Art & Model Making, Badminton, Chess, Choir Under 13 and Under 16, Drama/Comedy Sketch, Cross Country, Culture Corner, Draughts, Group Music, Group Singing, Handball, Indoor Soccer, Modern Disco Group Dance, Projects, Recitation, Group Dance, Irish or Contemporary, Solo Modern Dance, Solo Music, Solo Singing, Table Tennis, Under 14 Quiz and Sport Induction.Get your entry forms in for the above competitions now, don"t leave it to the last moment. Give the County Games Committee time to set out dates and venues and make life a little easier for all concerned.Sport And Culture ActivitiesParents, are your children taking part in healthy sport and culture activities? If they are, great, then please contact your local area committee members. If they are not and you would like them to, then you should contact the Community Games R.T.D. Officer, Brid at 087 2584691 or 087 7755984 immediately.There is something for every boy and girl in Community Games with over 40 different activities and every child in your local community should be involved. To introduce your children to sport and cultural activities is most important for their development and well being and it only takes a small number of dedicated parents to ensure that all the children in your community enjoy their favourite pastimes with their friends.Project CompetitionsThere are three very varied categories in the 2009 Project competition, Under 11, Under 13 and Under 16."Games From Around The World" under 11: The aim of this project is for you to find out about new cultures in your community through play and games. Find out about different games played in different countries around the world. Show jus and tell us what you learned."Road Safety" under 13: Design a campaign to promote road safety. Tell us, * Who is the campaign aimed at? *What behaviour are you trying to change e.g. wearing a seatbelt, not using your mobile when driving? * How you will influence people, what methods will you use e.g. radio, newspaper, schools, etc."Coping With Stress" under-16: Put together a guide for young people on coping with stress. Think about * How to identify stress; * What causes stress? * Ways of reducing stress. * How to cope with stress. * Services and supports in your local area.Area Secretaries are asked to let us know by the end of January if their area is entering a project in order that we can set up a closing date for a county competition. More details later.Leinster FinalsCounty winning teams will play their first and second Leinster rounds in February and semi-finals and finals on Sunday, March 29 in Carlow and the Outdoor Leinster Finals in Carlow on July 11.Adult QuizDue to the small number of entrants in this quiz last year, it had to be cancelled. However, for 2009 the Adult Quiz is rescheduled to take place on April 4 in Athlone. Area team panel of 6: 3 under 17 (on 31st July) and 3 over 17. Team of 4: 2 under 17 and 2 over 17. Entry fee, €40 for one team; €60 for 2 teams and €75 for 3 teams.The competition will consist of 10 rounds of 10 questions. There will be some questions on Community Games during he course of the Quiz.Closing date for entries plus fee to county Secretary, January 25. Rules and panel form on request.Let us hear from your areaThere are still a small number of Areas who have not sent in their affiliation/insurance fees and they must be received before they can take part in the upcoming games. We would also like to hear from parents or adults in a number of lapsed areas, i.e. Ballinderry, Auburn/Town Centre, Rathowen, Streete, St. Patricks and Milltownpass with a view to setting up a meeting to discuss the possibility of providing the children of the above Areas with healthy sport and recreational activities. You can contact Brid at 087 2584691 or 087 7755984 anytime.Closing Date County Entries 31st March - Art & Model Making, Projects, Recitation, Culture Corner, Comedy Sketch. Solo Modern Dance, Set Dancing/Trad. Irish, Modern Dance Group, Group Singing, Under-14 Quiz, Cross Country, Sports InductionOnly completed panel forms received by the closing date will be accepted - No Late EntriesCopy of Birth/Baptismal Cert. should accompany panel forms if boy or girl is not already registered.Winter Team Games programme must be completed by 15th February in order to register with Leinster.Summer Team Games programme must be completed by 16th May in order to register with Leinster.Dates and Venues for County Finals in Art & Model Making, Gymnastics, Swimming and Under 14 Quiz will be announced later.Progressive 25Our thanks to all card players who come along and support Community Games every Monday night at the Community Games Centre. Winners December 22: Jack Keena, Mary Manning, Peter Whelan, Jack Doolin, Barbara Shanaghan, Nancy Keoghan, Jim Murtagh, Mick Keogh, Larry O"Rourke, Martin Glynn. Last Game, Peggy Egerton, Seamus Lyons.The Winter League ended on a three-way tie between Judy Murtagh, Des Yeoman and Jack Doolin. The new League got underway on Monday night.SympathyThe County Committee and all our Monday night card players would like to offer deepest sympathy to the family and friends of a very popular card player and supporter, Mary Martin from The Downs who passed to her eternal reward.