Belfast Harlequins
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| Address | 45a Deramore Park,
Malone Road |
| Phone | (+ 44 28) 90 66 32 77 |
| Ground | Deramore / Grafton Arena |
| Capacity | 3000+ |
| bill@belfastharlequinsclub.com | |
| President 2006-2007 | Ronnie Gregg (Rugby)
Johnny Cash (Mens Hockey) |
| Professional Coaching Staff |  Jullian Stevenson (Hockey)
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| Sports | Rugby Union, Ladies Hockey, Mens Hockey and Squash. |
| Branch |  Ulster Branch of the IRFU
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| Location |  Belfast
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| Founded | 1998 |
| History | Merger of, North of Ireland Cricket and RFC and Collegians. |
| Club Colours | Navy, Sky Blue, Red and Maroon. |
| Other Names | 'Grafton Belfast Harlequins', 'Quins' |
| Affiliation | Methodist College Belfast |
| Hockey Kit |  |
| Rugby Kit |  |
Belfast Harlequins is a multi-sports club located off the Malone Road in south Belfast. The club name provides the overall umbrella for rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and squash. The club has close connections to Methodist College Belfast (MCB).
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[edit] Background of the Club
Belfast Harlequins was formed in 1999 with the merger of Collegians and North of Ireland Cricket and Football Club ('North'). The former clubs were two of the oldest and most distinguished clubs in Ireland. North sold its famous ground at Ormeau to pay for the redevelopment of the Deramore Park facilities.
The club uses a version of the Maltese cross that MCB uses as its sports logo, with the colours being those of Navy, Sky Blue, Red and Maroon. The North colours were traditionally Red, Blue and Black, with Collegians using Navy, White and Maroon.
At two Extra Ordinary General meetings held simultaneously in both North and Collegians, the members of both clubs voted to proceed with the merger to form the new club, Belfast Harlequins. As of 12.00 midnight, 18 November 1999, Belfast Harlequins came into to existence. The first Annual General Meeting of the new club took place in March 2000. The new Club House at Deramore was opened in June 2002 by the then Club President, Alison Watt, along with Jack Kyle OBE and Gilbert Paton
On and off the field all three sections of the Belfast Harlequins set-up have been successful. Pictures and memorabilia of both clubs and grounds is placed around the bar area and throughout the club. There is an active social scene, many parties and events take place throughout the season.
In looking to the future, the club runs Mens and Ladies Mini Hockey and Mini rugby schemes. The launch of an Under 16 team in Rugby, Under 15 and Under 12 teams in Mens Hockey and an Under 14 team in Ladies hockey should ensure a steady flow of players for the future.
[edit] Grounds
Deramore is located in the heart of South Belfast, flanked by the River Lagan and Lagan Meadows to the east and south, and overlooked to the north and west by large detached homes.
Deramore Park has 1 squash court, 3 rugby pitches, 1 cricket pitch, 1 synthetic hockey pitch, a 2 Bedroom Apartment for use by Foreign Players and one bowling green which Belfast Bowling Club owns and plays on.
In the summer of 2006, Belfast Harlequins hosted several sports in the Special Olympics Ireland Games. The games were held in Belfast for the first time in their history.
Deramore Park has been selected as a venue for the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Cup, which is being hosted by Belfast.
[edit] Cricket
In 2005, the cricket section left the Harlequins set-up and now plays at Stormont under the name of Civil Service North of Ireland. The original Collegians Cricket Club merged with Cooke Cricket Club to form Cooke Collegians at the end of the 1998 season prior to the merger with North. They play at Pirrie Park and the Shawsbridge Sports Complex.
[edit] Hockey
The Harlequins hockey sections essentially are that of Collegians as North of Ireland did not have a hockey section since prior to World War I.
[edit] Mens section
The Harlequins Mens 1st team play in Section 1 of the league set up of the Ulster Branch of the Irish Hockey Union. The Mens section currently fields 5 teams. The 1st team Coach for the 2006-07 season is former Irish International Jullian Stevenson, with the longstanding Nigel Harrison as Manager, and Jaime Steele as First XI Captain. The Mens Hockey Club have found themselves in a position similar to many others who play outside the Ulster Premier League in that it supplies players to Clubs in the top tier of league hockey.
Collegians achieved a place in the top section of the Ulster Senior League on two occasions in the 1972-73 and 1988-89 seasons. The results were unhappy however as they were quickly relegated back to the lower league.
In the first season at the new artificial turf pitch at Deramore in 2000-2001 the Belfast Harlequins Mens Team won the Linden Cup.
The 2007-2008 season will mark the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the mens hockey section. It is planned to celebrate this landmark with a series of events, including a special match between the 1987-88 Senior League Section Two winning team and a 1st XI select team.
[edit] Notable Players and Administrators
Alan Green of BBC Radio 5Live fame spent a few seasons on Collegians First XI prior to pursuing his career in England. He was the first player for Collegians ever to be sent off in a competitive fixture. Players such as former Ireland Under-21 goalkeeper Iain Kelly, Cecil Andrews, Philip Duke, Ivan Kerr, Alan Smith, David Hutchison and Kevin Ryan formed the backbone of Collegians hockey teams over many years.
The club has had one full Irish International in Ian Kirk-Smith, who gained several full Caps whilst still a Collegian before moving on to Lisnagarvey. The Club has also had several players capped at Ulster Junior level.
On the administrative front Peter Wood served as President of the Ulster Branch of the Irish Hockey Union in 1999.
[edit] Development
In 2006 coaching sessions for Under 15 and Under 12 teams recommenced after a seven year gap. Approximately fifty boys come to Deramore each week for coaching with Bruce Irwin and Carl Allen.
[edit] Ladies section
The Harlequins Ladies play in Section 1 of the Ulster Women's Hockey Union League. The Women's club is the largest in Ulster fielding 7 teams every Saturday.
The ladies 1st XI has not won a major trophy or competition in its history. The closest was in the Ulster Shield campaigns of 1945, 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2004 when the 1st XI were beaten Finalists. The Plate competition for first round losers in the Ulster Shield has been won on several occasions.
Home games are played on artificial turf at Deramore Park or The Brook Activity Centre and occasionally on shale at Pirrie Park.
[edit] Notable Players and Administrators
Belfast Harlequins that have represented Ireland at full international level include Jenny McDonough and Suzanne Beaney. Numerous players have and continue to represent Ulster at various levels. Currently Jenna Watt represents Ulster at Under-18 and Helen Stevenson for Ulster and Irish Under-18 teams. Helen is 1st XI goalkeeper for Harlequins and Methody.
The club has provided a number of Ulster administrators such as former Ulster Women's Hockey Union Presidents Gerry Gray and Leslie Spence. Coaches include Alison Watt who is the current Ulster Under-21 Women's Coach.
[edit] Development
Youth hockey is organised by Roisin Larmour, who coaches an Under 14 team that plays in Section 1 of the Under 14s league. The partnership with the school, the 1st XI captain and Methody hockey coach Kelli Thorton, has seen more players coming into the club at all levels.
[edit] Rugby
The Rugby Club field 6 senior teams, an U20 team and an Under 16 team, who all play in their Respective leagues within the Ulster Branch. The 1st Fifteen in 2006-07 play in Division 1 of the All-Ireland League.
In 2003 the Rugby Club signed a three year sponsorship deal worth a six figure sum with Grafton Recruitment, re-naming the 1st, 2nd and U20 XVs the Grafton Belfast Harlequins, this deal was extended in 2006 to cover one more season. It is expected that the Lagan Group will step up to take on the role of lead sponsor, for the 2007-2008 season.
The Grafton Belfast Harlequins most successful season was in 2004-2005. They finished third in the league table and played at Landsdowne Road in Dublin in the end of season play-offs. Unfortunately they lost narrowly in the Final to Shannon after a poor defensive display in the first half of the game. This is closer than a North or Collegians team had ever come to putting their hands on the Trophy.
The 2006-07 season has been a struggle. Despite sitting top of the Ulster League, the club have been under a period of renewal and in the AIL, have struggled to get points. Some of the Junior teams, in particular the 5th XV, partake in the more social scene of club rugby having their own website and nights out together.
[edit] Squash
In Squash, Belfast Harlequins have an Irish Junior International in Ben Craig.[citation needed] The team play in the top section of the Ulster League and have had quite a successful run since the new court at Deramore was opened.
[edit] Collegians and North of Ireland Cricket and Rugby Club
Collegians was the name for Rugby Union, Hockey and Cricket sections. The Rugby Club celebrated its centenary in 1990. The Ladies Hockey Section commenced play under the Collegians name in 1896 until around 1906 and then they played for many years on a non-competitive basis under the name of Methodist College Old Girls. The Ladies resumed play under the Collegians name in 1942. The Collegians men's hockey section is much younger, commencing play in 1967. During the 1950s and 60s Collegians also fielded a highly successful Basketball team that won several cups.
Debate grew from the 1960s onward over the opening of club membership to all. Change finally came over a period from 1988-1990, with each section adopting their own change date. Initially there was a quota imposed to try to preserve the ethos of the Club, but the quota system was quickly dispensed with.
Collegians Rugby Club won the Senior Cup on 8 occasions, the Senior League 7 times and the Junior Cup 7 times.
Deramore Park was home to Collegians and Methodist College since 1919 until the school purchased Pirrie Park from Harland & Woolf in 1932. Deramore Park was bequested in Trust for the use of Collegians by Mr C W Neill in 1941. The Board of Trustees was required to consent to the merger in order to allow the continued use of Deramore Park by the new club. Prior to World War I Collegians were known as the Rosetta Men as they played their home games at Rosetta Park close to the current Ravenhill ground of Ulster Rugby.
North was one of the oldest clubs in the British Isles. They were participants in the first recorded rugby game in Ulster when they played a 20-a-side match against Queen's College, Belfast. The ground at Ormeau was steeped in history, having hosted many an Irish cricket international. The Ormeau ground was also host to many hockey and lacrosse international matches until the 1930s. Records show a history of Lawn Tennis at Ormeau, the games played in the early 1900s lead to the formation of a club for some seasons at the historic ground.
North Rugby Club won the Senior Cup on 18 occasions, the Senior League 17 times and the Junior Cup 9 times.
In 1998 North Rugby Club was relegated from Division 1 of the All-Ireland League and Collegians were relegated out of the League altogether by finishing at the foot of Division 4. The new rugby club was permitted to retain the standing of the former North club for the start of the 1998/99 season. The league positions of Collegians were retained under the Belfast Harlequins name by the hockey sections.
[edit] Achievements
- 1998-1999
- 1999-2000
- 2000-2001 Mens 1st XI Hockey, Linden Cup Winners. 1st XV Ulster Senior Cup Winners
- 2001-2002 Winners of All Ireland Rugby League Division 2
- 2002-2003 1st XV Ulster Senior League Winners, Mens 3rd XI Hockey Junior 5 Cup
- 2003-2004 RFC Club of the Year, 1st XV Ulster Senior League Winners, 2nd XV Ulster Junior Cup Winners, Winners U20 Roland Barr Competition, Winners of McCrea Cup, YMCA Cup and the Crawford Cup. Mens 4th XI Hockey Minor Cup. Mens 5th XI Hockey Strabane Cup, Mens 3rd XI Hockey Junior 4 Cup
- 2004-2005 Finalists in All Ireland Rugby League Division 1, Mens 3rd XI Hockey Junior 3 Cup
- 2005-2006 1st XV Ulster Senior Cup Winners, Mens 4th XI Hockey Down County Cup.
[edit] External reference
Websites: Belfast Harlequins Rugby Belfast Harlequins Hockey Methodist College Belfast
[edit] Sources
Belfast Newsletter, The Northern Whig, Belfast Telegraph, Collegians Club Centenary Brochure, 'Farewell to Ormeau' North of Ireland Cricket Club Brochure. CKA
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