News and Press Releases

Cowichan Rugby logo

July 9, 2010

PARKING LOT/GROUNDS PROJECT. (July)

Successful bidder for the next phase of the Cowichan Rugby Grounds project was Stan Holman. Stan has done a terrific job to date with the installation of 2.5 more acres of sand base turf and underground infrastructure.

This part of the project will see the front end of the property getting a much needed face lift. For years, the parking lot has been a bit of an eyesore (mostly in the wet months) and this will certainly clean things up. The important factor is that we forecast our parking spaces will jump by 50% over the old parking lot with the better organization.

The project is underway as of today and the way Stan is moving quickly, by month's end we should have this wrapped up.

Please feel free to drop by and view the progress.

The major components of the job include;

-Clean all debris, rock and rubble off the current 2 acre parking site.
-Dig out 30 ft. of the berm located on the west side of the parking lot. (create room for 20 more parking spaces)
-Install drains and fill in the hole with on site material.
-Raise the current parking lot 12 inches with trucked in gravel that will be compacted..
-Swale the parking area so that all water runs into the middle on a 1.9% grade.
-Install 3 catch basins and 8" drain which will run in a line from the field to Herd Rd. at the low point of the swale
-Dress the inches of compacted fill gravel with another 4" of crushed gravel to create the parking surface. Grade to levels.
-New height of parking surface will be 16" above the old grade.
-Move temporary light pole next to hole to an area between parking lot and field.
-The hole will be made into sand based turf creating another 6000 sq. ft of field space and area for future stands. (drainage, irrigation etc to be installed)
-The area between the clubhouse and Ken Brown's fence will have about 2' of fill taken out. Big chunk of concrete removed.
-Area between clubhouse and parking lot (where Art's camper used to be) will be dropped and swaled so water will flow past the clubhouse. Big rock removed.
-Drain pipe placed in swale between clubhouse and fence to take gutter water and flow water away from clubhouse.
-Playground equipment to be placed in this area. (We will organize the refurbishment and surface with pea gravel at a later date)

The goal is to have a well organized, neat and tidy all weather gravel parking lot that drains properly. The surface will be conditioned so that in the future asphalt can be laid with no problem. The drainage around the clubhouse will keep our basement dry and create an organized play area for the kids.

FENCING PROJECT (August)

Once the parking lot has been completed we will be installing a heavy duty 6' high chain link fence across the property. The idea here is;

a) Security of our investment in the playing surface. (Keep vehicles off the field)
b) Security of the inner workings of the grounds in general. (Clubhouse, Concession etc)
c) Better access control for events. (ie: Spectators come in and park, then pay the entry fee as the walk through the main gate)

FENCE PLAN

-From east property line straight across between parking lot and field to point where angle starts.
-Angled parallel and along back of concession that will see concrete walkway behind concession inside the fence.
-As the fence passes the back of the concession it will be angled again straight across between the bunker and clubhouse and into the neighbor's fence on the west side.
-4' Gate placed near front entrance of clubhouse
-4' Gate placed between clubhouse and concession.
-4' Main Gate will be between the concession and the parking lot.
-There will be a small 4' fence installed between the clubhouse and the new 6' fence in order to secure the playground.

GOAL POSTS

The old set has been refurbished and painted and we have the second set completed and painted and the plan is to have them installed in mid August. We will survey their positions to get it right.

SYNOPSIS

When the property project was planned over two years ago, we figured there was almost 2 acres of wasted space and another 1 acre of under utilized space.

As of this September, and we open with the Resurrection of the Cowichan 7's, every square inch of the grounds will be utilized in making property more efficient for playing and participating in rugby. It will be much easier to maintain with long, straight lines of grass or gravel instead of the hodgepodge of ditches, mounds, debris, bush etc. we have seen in the past.

CLUB KIT

Wendy from Kukri met with Sherry, Bob and Barb today to discuss future planning regarding kit. The new jerseys for this year will be an upgrade weight and thread count etc) from last season and will still see the green and black traditional stripes but with a little flair top modernize them. The women's team will also be outfitted with new jerseys this fall season.

2010-2011 SEASON

On the Senior side of things we will run the Premier Men, 1st Div. Men and 3rd Div Men the 1st Div Women.

The Juniors will run Minis, U-19 Men, U-18 Women, U-17 Boys and U-15 Boys.

The regular season will start on Saturday Sept 11th for the Senior teams. Training for the senior men will commence in one month.

Games coming up

-Saturday, August 28th: Wayne Peace Memorial game @ Nanaimo (Over 40's and Premier Men)
-Saturday/Sunday Sept. 4/5: Cowichan 7's. Two day event, and finals for the BCRU 7's. There will be a social, competitive and Women's component to the event.
-Saturday, Sept. 11th: Premier Men, 1st Div Men, 1st Div Women opening league games.

WOMEN'S TOUR FUNDRAISER LUAU

Get out your grass skirts and coconut bras, and come on down to the Cowichan Rugby Club (1860 Herd Rd, Duncan) this Saturday, July 10th! Gates open at 5pm.

For the low price of $20 you will be provided with an authentic pig roast smorgasbord, a variety of mini game events, and live entertainment! Dinner will be served around 6pm, with games throughout the evening and the band Cookie Monster kicking off around 8pm. Please BYO chair and outdoor games if you'd like, but no outside liquor (if you are found with non-event beverages you will be escorted out).

Tickets sales are limited, but still available through Sherry Spence (250 709 5673), Jess Redlick (250 732 0884) or Audrey Park (250 416 1002). Tickets are also available for purchase at Just Jakes restaurant in Duncan, or for sale the evening of the Luau at the gate.

All for now.

JJ