22nd Arran Tara Flag Football Tournament a winner for many

For 22 years, teacher Paul Bolton has organized the Arran Tara Flag Football tournament at Tara’s elementary school in Arran-Elderslie.

This year, 48 teams of some 300 students from 15 regional schools converged at the Tara school’s outdoor grounds to take part in the tournament.

It was a cold blustery day but that didn’t deter the students or the more than 100 parents, teachers and chaperones from bundling up and taking in the games.

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“The kids have such a good attitude where everybody gets along,” said Bolton, “and they can hardly wait for this day.  I started having requests in September and when registration opened, it was filled in 20 minutes.  We have students from approximately a dozen schools from as far away as Mildmay, Markdale, Wiarton, Hepworth, Walkerton, Port Elgin and Owen Sound to name a few.”

“We’ve also had great community support and sponsorship,” added Bolton.  “The musical group, the Trews autographed a vinyl record for auction and a member of The Official Trews Fan Network bought it for $150, and Roy Roedger personally donated $250.  In addition, Tara Minor Soccer, provided the necessary ‘porta potties’ before their own season began, and the Grade 8’s also held a food sale throughout the day and donated $100 from that.  So all in all, we have over $2,000 that will go toward the Grade 8’s trip to Ottawa, the Pinball Clemons Foundation that provides marginalized and racialized youth with educational resources and options to integrate into the mainstream of society, and also to the Tara Food Bank.  A great day and the largest turn-out in our 22 years!”

At the end of the day, the winners in the three divisions were:

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