MORE than 1,000 players and 2,000 adults descended on Allington Field for Chippenham's annual mini-rugby festival on Sunday.

Teams from Avon, Cleve, Ealing, Keynsham, Marlborough, Stroud, Swindon, Wootton Bassett , Rhiwbina joined the host club's youngsters for the tournament for players aged seven to 12.

Ray Lewis, chairman of Chippenham's mini section, was delighted with the success of the event. "If last year's event was competitive, this year's was even more so. There were some strong individual performances in certain age groups from our local rivals Keynsham and Cleve and a real challenge was presented to all the age groups by the Ealing tourists and Rhiwbina, providing some fantastic quality rugby.

"I would like to thank Mike Fellows from the Sytner Group (Mercedes Benz), who has sponsored this event for the last three seasons, which is tremendous." Fellows said: "This is the third year that the Sytner Group (Mercedes-Benz Division) has sponsored the Chippenham mini festival and each year it gets better. The organisation of the event by Chippenham RFC is first class and the day ran like clockwork due to the planning and preparation that went by Ray Lewis and his team.

"Feedback from parents and players on the day was very positive and everyone appreciated the attendance of Andrew Higgins from Bath who presented the medals and trophies in the afternon. "We sponsor Andrew throught Mercedes-Benz of Bath and it is important that through our relationships we can benefit rugby at grass roots level with the starts of the future."

  • Report and pictures in Friday's Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News