Last Saturday afternoon we were delighted to host a small party from Montreal who dropped into the Club as a bit of a diversion on their trip to the World Cup in Japan. The group were led by former Selby player Mike Magee, a well known and much loved member who has been central in helping to organise significant sponsorship for no fewer than four of our Club Tours to North America.

We have met up with Mike in St Louis, Boston and Montreal (twice, in 2004 and 2016) and it was a great opportunity for us to say a big “Thank you” to Philippe, the owner of the Belle Gueule-McAuslan brewery for the hospitality shown to us on our last visit. As well as celebrating his Birthday (complete with chocolate cake and a video of best wishes from the staff back home), Philippe had the opportunity to look round our exceptional facilities and conduct his own research by sampling a number of our beers and ciders. The Strongbow Dark Fruits was a particular favourite and, as it is not something that is available yet in Montreal, gave the guys a distinct advantage to get ahead of the field when they eventually get back to work at their own Brewery.

Another Montreal member who dropped in to see us was John Dennett (who unfortunately had to leave before the photo was taken). Anyone who was on either of our Montreal Tours will fondly remember the Hog Roast and other water based activities that John kindly hosted at his weekend retreat down by the lake. John had been over to Ireland on a Golfing Holiday and, given that Selby is so close (in comparison to distances covered in Canada at least) felt a trip over to visit us was too good an opportunity to miss!

As expected, a further invitation to tour Montreal for a third time was extended and, if there is a group of players and members out there prepared to take up the baton, I can assure them that they will receive plenty of assistance from our friends over in Canada and that the welcome they receive will be every bit as warm as it was on our previous 2 visits.