Superstar Sports Staff at Ballyclare High School
By Ballyclare High School on 8 April, 2019
Well done to current members of staff Mr Corry, Mr McKeever and Mr Clotworthy on successfully reaching sporting finals. Mr Corry in his first ever Irish Hockey Cup Final and in the captain’s role and another Ulster Rugby Towns’ Cup Final at Kingspan for Mr McKeever and Mr Clothworthy.
This time last year was very different for Mr Corry as he was finishing his last round of chemotherapy. Since then he has received the all clear from testicular cancer, got engaged, bought a house and led our girls to the Schools’ Cup Final.
James Corry states “I am just delighted to be captaining Lisnagarvey at the Irish Senior Cup Final in May at Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club. Hockey is a massive passion of mine and it allows me to relax after work, it can be difficult when rushing from school hockey to my club matches on a Saturday but worth it. I am very grateful for all the support from school and my club and feel both have allowed me to keep busy and get back to full fitness. This year has also been very special working with the girls’ and boys’ teams here in school and watching them develop.”
Father of two, Gary Clotworthy is Head Coach of Ballyclare High School Medallion rugby side and is getting ready for his second consecutive Towns’ Cup Final having won last year against Portadown. It has been a very busy rugby season for him at club level and he has been called into the initial Ulster Juniors squad.
“The highlight for me this season was getting the opportunity to work as a head coach of the medallion rugby team, I feel the team really developed as the season went on and if it hadn’t been for a few issues going against us I feel we could have walked away with some silverware. I could not have done this without the support of Jordan McKinstry as my forwards coach, Mr McKeever helping with coaching and fixtures and parents Graham Ferguson and Simon Baird.
“At club level the highlight was having such a successful season and now getting to defend our Towns’ Cup Trophy on Easter Monday at Kingspan. Our success has been down to the hard work our coaches and players have displayed it has also been great working and playing alongside fellow school coaches Aaron Playfair, Jordan McKinstry and Matthew Coulter.”
Special mention goes to Mike McKeever for the time and effort he puts in to rugby in Ballyclare High and Ballyclare Rugby Club. As Director of Rugby in Ballyclare High School he has moved mountains in regards to the opportunities available for both boys and girls and as a result the numbers playing are higher than ever. He is a huge believer in the power of sport as a means of developing young people. Mr McKeever has fully immersed himself in our community through his work at the Rugby Club for not just the 1stXV but also in his commitment to shaping progress at all levels. 16 players out of the 22-man squad for the Towns’ Cup Final are ex BHS players.
Best wishes to Gary Clotworthy and Mike McKeever first up on the Monday 22nd April 2.30 kick off and to James Corry on the 12th May, hopefully plenty of school and town support from Ballyclare will come out to support you all.
