After the enormous success of the first ever Goonvean Games in summer of last year, we looked forward to the second games with much anticipation. And it didn’t disappoint.
The Goonvean Games II took place on the 11th of July – which was set to be a scorcher, with temperatures exceeding 30°C. Despite the heat, everyone turned up and gave it their all. We had a fantastic turnout, with ten teams vying for the top spot in the tournament – and some healthy intra-company competition along the way.
It was truly a day to celebrate Goonvean, the Group, and the values we’ve been fostering since their introduction over a year ago.
Dura-ID had the chance to pit their two teams against each other in a North vs South showdown
1. Connecting
The Goonvean Games represent an important opportunity for the teams themselves to connect with each other and spend a bit of time outside of the office. Colleagues from across the Group were able to make it – some who travelled from as much as four hours away. It was fantastic to spend quality time with people we often don’t get to see outside of focussed meetings and team calls.
Participants from Jades Electrical Components and Atwell Labellers enjoying the lawn bowls between softball matches
After the fun and games, we all shared a mouth-watering hog roast, kindly provided by North Devon Hog Roast. It was a good reminder of the old saying “sharing food is sharing life”. All the organisation it takes to make the Goonvean Games happen is more than worth it when you get feedback like, “This day showed what being part of a team really means.” (Gareth Williams, Atwell Labellers)
2. Courage
At Goonvean, we strive to challenge and empower ourselves. At the games we all challenged ourselves to move and stretch a little out of our comfort zones in our attempt at a group warmup given by the fantastic Ellie Foster (Simply Pilates and Stretch), who kindly donated her time to support us on the day. Courage and determination were evident in both the coordination we managed as a Group and the difficultly of some of the bends and stretches on display!
Ellie Foster, owner of Simply Pilates and Stretch, warming up the (already warm!) Goovean Gamers
We also reflected on the incredible charity fundraising efforts made across the Group this year. These monumental efforts have included 60-mile hikes, smashing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge despite yellow weather warnings for rain, daring sky dives, and martial arts marathons.
3. Caring
We are passionate at Goonvean about the connection that comes from being part of a group and caring about others. The games were started as part of our renewed focus on giving back to our communities, from the charities we support to the communities within our Group.
Caring is one of the Group’s most important values; and our chosen charities, Children’s Hospice South West and The Rotherham Hospice, are at the core of this value. It’s hard to not care when we heard from Nicky Brown about her son Oliver, and the journey they have been on with Children’s Hospice South West right by their side.
It also made for a wonderful moment when our charity fundraising partners turned up with enough ice pops to keep a small army cool in a heatwave – an example of caring at it’s very best.
Hayley Wallbank (left) and Daniela Hopkins from Children’s Hospice South West brought the energy and the ice pops
We’d also like to give an enormous thank you to Cullompton Cricket Club for having us back for the games for the second year running. They were fantastic hosts, and did their utmost to keep everyone cool and refreshed on a very hot day.
Worthy winners
In the end, Dura-ID’s team from the North took the win after they beat Precision Casting in the final. The entire day raised a further £2,500 for our charity partners, which we couldn’t be prouder of.
I would like to thank everyone who attended the event and put in the effort to make it the most fantastic day – we organise these events, but it’s the people who make them so special.
