Our History
Business partners Ralph Zoing and Howard Marshall were determined to raise funds for two charities close to their hearts - Ataxia UK and Reach.
They were also determined that any activity they undertook or event they organised for the purpose of raising those funds should be fun and inclusive. And so, with a shared love for rugby and the connections Ralph had built up in the game over the years, a rugby-related event seemed like a no-brainer!
The pair then hit upon the idea of creating a tag rugby tournament that allowed normal, rugby-loving folk of all playing abilities to play alongside some of the biggest rugby stars in the country – and thus Swing Low was born!
The inaugural tournament took place at Harrogate RUFC’s Claro Road ground, with each of the nine teams entered by local businesses, rugby clubs and groups of friends bolstered with a star player: among them internationals Iain Balshaw, Martyn Wood, Mathew Tait, John Bentley and Duncan Hodge.
The tournament went off like a firecracker, with the general atmosphere and the variety of the event - with its full bar and a barbeque, stalls and activities to keep the kids royally entertained - just as memorable.
And, when the four-course gala dinner, charity auction and entertainment went off just as well in the evening - with the event as a whole raising a staggering £19,000 for the charities in a single day - Ralph, Howard and everybody else were convinced that Swing Low should be held on an ongoing basis.
The event, now held every two years, has since featured and received the support of, among other players, Simon Easterby, Tim Stimpson, Paul Sampson, Apollo Perelini, Leon Lloyd, Geordan Murphy, John Callard, Matt Perry and Henry Paul; and been hosted by Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallagher, Laura Hamilton and Ian Robertson, the rugby commentator who shouted those immortal words in the dying seconds of the 2003 World Cup Final: “Jonny Wilkinson kicks for World Cup glory...”.
In all, Swing Low Sweet Charity has raised well over £100,000 for Ataxia UK and Reach, and continues to be an event that appeals to a wide cross-section of people, whether they be amateur players themselves or spectators looking for a family-friendly and fun day out.
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