Back
Awards night 2026
Malcolm Knowles4 May - 11:00
A review of the 37th awards night, and long may it continue.
Awards Night
Hull Ionians hosted the 37th awards night at Brantingham Park, to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of individual players in the senior teams and to honour those who have done exceptional work to benefit all within the club.
Due to financial constraints, the evening was hosted and compered by President Pat Wilson (a man who has introduced more words into the English language than Shakespeare) in his inimitable style. Despite all that it turned out okay, long may it continue.
Apparently, there was someone who could have M/Ced the evening for free, but there were unjustified concerns that the occasional comment may have been construed as slanderous or otherwise unacceptable. Fortunately, there is always the written word, which at best is a liability and at worse plain libellous.
So here we go. Strap yourselves in, sound advice needed and, in some cases, heeded by some of those assembled for the evening, as we review the night.
Events got underway with an air of trepidation. For the first time in many a year (21 for those who are interested) we were presented with steak pie prepared by someone other than the legendary Bob.
Bob had cooked 25,500 pies in the kitchens, replete with 9 secret ingredients. How would new chef Mark’s crust fair in comparison? Favourably, as it happens. The chef is gone, long live the chef!
Once dinner was over and done (pudding was a nice slice of cheesecake) Pat set about entertaining, informing and educating us all, as He went straight into the award ceremony. Because he is a former DJ there was music involved. Sensibly, he didn’t orchestrate the intros himself. Less wise, he entrusted them to Jon Barratt. It could have been worse.
First up for adulation, as is tradition, were the colts. Colts coach, Steve Hoggarth, outlined the issues faced early in the season; incorporating two age groups into one team to counter declining numbers, but he said it was ultimately successful with the team winning the Yorkshire Shield and having two lads represent Yorkshire.
The young lads fully embraced the smart/casual dress code, tidy ties up top and decided casual garments down below.
Colts award winners –
Yorkshire representatives – Adam Boothby and Kajimimi Ashaolu.
Forward of the Year – Dominyaks Stanevicious.*
Back of the Year – Tom Swift.
Ray Cole Award – Tom Swift.
*Please tell me his nick name is Sid.
Pat then called upon Anthea Kouris to review the women’s season. Anthea wasn’t available so in her absence her sister, Athina, stood in.
Athina delivered an honest and amusing reflection of the season, four games won, but also said it’s not all about winning but being with a great group. She also paid tribute to the coaches for their patience and understanding. The ginger one has run out of both, now having “paternal responsibilities”, so is stepping down. Shame.
Ben Raynor, another of the coaches, joined Anthea, to say something and hand out the coach’s award.
Women’s winners –
Most improved player – Lauren Coupe.
Players player - Kate Sims.
Coaches player – Amy Knott.
Ben Raynor stayed on to do a double shift, (there will be no cheap jibes about the unfamiliarly of the concept to a hospital consultant), as he reflected on the Ramblers season.
I don’t recall any mention of their results, but they never called a fixture off. That is an outstanding achievement these days. Thanks were duly offered to the Uni. lads who helped make it possible.
Ramblers Awards –
Rambler of the Year – Karl Andrew.
Players player – Ted Mottram.
With a good deal of apprehension the evening moved on to the Buccaneers. Could Ziggy see it through to the dawn chorus? With blessed relief, fortunately not.
He was remarkably brief and succinct. Obviously, in anticipation of a three -hour monolog I had switched off, but I believe David slew Goliath in a field near Pontefract, nepotism is rife in the side and one player at least needs punching. But JUST WIN BABY.
Buccs winners –
Coach’s player – Alex Edwards
Player’s player – Will Dearing
It was then time for Head of Rugby, Malik Holden, to consider the performance of the first team.
Because he is such a nice lad he graciously thanked those who had helped him through-out the season and congratulated the other teams in the club for their successes. Modesty prevented him mentioning his own contribution to the side; he was the top try scorer this season.
Mal was delighted with the overall performance through-out the season, particularly the victory up at Tynedale and the win at Rossendale and is looking for a better finish than fourth in next season’s league.
Ist team award winners –
Coach’s player – Ben Stephenson.
Player’s player – Adam Brankley.
Both awards were richly deserved. Stiv had been Mr Consistency and Raw bone a suicidal revelation. He won a similar award last season at newly relegated Hull (which shows the enormity of his loss) and rumour has it he is joining Hullensians to get the set.
Pat moved proceeding smoothly on to the final three awards.
Club awards –
Dave Barraclough award – Owen Hanson-Church
President’s award – Andy Rowden
Hull Ionian of the Year Natalie Acton
The Dave Barraclough award is given to the young lad most likely to become a choir boy, Andy Rowden won because he is still cutting the grass too short after 25 years and Natalie was presented with the award for, amongst other things, preventing Steve Hoggarth from swearing.
El Prezidente then treated us to a game of heads or tails. With a huge prize at stake there was the usual amount of cheating and it was won by club Captain and possibly the worse culprit, Joe Makin.
That’s it…and long may it continue.
Hull Ionians hosted the 37th awards night at Brantingham Park, to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of individual players in the senior teams and to honour those who have done exceptional work to benefit all within the club.
Due to financial constraints, the evening was hosted and compered by President Pat Wilson (a man who has introduced more words into the English language than Shakespeare) in his inimitable style. Despite all that it turned out okay, long may it continue.
Apparently, there was someone who could have M/Ced the evening for free, but there were unjustified concerns that the occasional comment may have been construed as slanderous or otherwise unacceptable. Fortunately, there is always the written word, which at best is a liability and at worse plain libellous.
So here we go. Strap yourselves in, sound advice needed and, in some cases, heeded by some of those assembled for the evening, as we review the night.
Events got underway with an air of trepidation. For the first time in many a year (21 for those who are interested) we were presented with steak pie prepared by someone other than the legendary Bob.
Bob had cooked 25,500 pies in the kitchens, replete with 9 secret ingredients. How would new chef Mark’s crust fair in comparison? Favourably, as it happens. The chef is gone, long live the chef!
Once dinner was over and done (pudding was a nice slice of cheesecake) Pat set about entertaining, informing and educating us all, as He went straight into the award ceremony. Because he is a former DJ there was music involved. Sensibly, he didn’t orchestrate the intros himself. Less wise, he entrusted them to Jon Barratt. It could have been worse.
First up for adulation, as is tradition, were the colts. Colts coach, Steve Hoggarth, outlined the issues faced early in the season; incorporating two age groups into one team to counter declining numbers, but he said it was ultimately successful with the team winning the Yorkshire Shield and having two lads represent Yorkshire.
The young lads fully embraced the smart/casual dress code, tidy ties up top and decided casual garments down below.
Colts award winners –
Yorkshire representatives – Adam Boothby and Kajimimi Ashaolu.
Forward of the Year – Dominyaks Stanevicious.*
Back of the Year – Tom Swift.
Ray Cole Award – Tom Swift.
*Please tell me his nick name is Sid.
Pat then called upon Anthea Kouris to review the women’s season. Anthea wasn’t available so in her absence her sister, Athina, stood in.
Athina delivered an honest and amusing reflection of the season, four games won, but also said it’s not all about winning but being with a great group. She also paid tribute to the coaches for their patience and understanding. The ginger one has run out of both, now having “paternal responsibilities”, so is stepping down. Shame.
Ben Raynor, another of the coaches, joined Anthea, to say something and hand out the coach’s award.
Women’s winners –
Most improved player – Lauren Coupe.
Players player - Kate Sims.
Coaches player – Amy Knott.
Ben Raynor stayed on to do a double shift, (there will be no cheap jibes about the unfamiliarly of the concept to a hospital consultant), as he reflected on the Ramblers season.
I don’t recall any mention of their results, but they never called a fixture off. That is an outstanding achievement these days. Thanks were duly offered to the Uni. lads who helped make it possible.
Ramblers Awards –
Rambler of the Year – Karl Andrew.
Players player – Ted Mottram.
With a good deal of apprehension the evening moved on to the Buccaneers. Could Ziggy see it through to the dawn chorus? With blessed relief, fortunately not.
He was remarkably brief and succinct. Obviously, in anticipation of a three -hour monolog I had switched off, but I believe David slew Goliath in a field near Pontefract, nepotism is rife in the side and one player at least needs punching. But JUST WIN BABY.
Buccs winners –
Coach’s player – Alex Edwards
Player’s player – Will Dearing
It was then time for Head of Rugby, Malik Holden, to consider the performance of the first team.
Because he is such a nice lad he graciously thanked those who had helped him through-out the season and congratulated the other teams in the club for their successes. Modesty prevented him mentioning his own contribution to the side; he was the top try scorer this season.
Mal was delighted with the overall performance through-out the season, particularly the victory up at Tynedale and the win at Rossendale and is looking for a better finish than fourth in next season’s league.
Ist team award winners –
Coach’s player – Ben Stephenson.
Player’s player – Adam Brankley.
Both awards were richly deserved. Stiv had been Mr Consistency and Raw bone a suicidal revelation. He won a similar award last season at newly relegated Hull (which shows the enormity of his loss) and rumour has it he is joining Hullensians to get the set.
Pat moved proceeding smoothly on to the final three awards.
Club awards –
Dave Barraclough award – Owen Hanson-Church
President’s award – Andy Rowden
Hull Ionian of the Year Natalie Acton
The Dave Barraclough award is given to the young lad most likely to become a choir boy, Andy Rowden won because he is still cutting the grass too short after 25 years and Natalie was presented with the award for, amongst other things, preventing Steve Hoggarth from swearing.
El Prezidente then treated us to a game of heads or tails. With a huge prize at stake there was the usual amount of cheating and it was won by club Captain and possibly the worse culprit, Joe Makin.
That’s it…and long may it continue.
Further reading