“My son offered me a ticket because he said his wife couldn’t go and I thought it would be a good night then all of a sudden I hear my name being called.”
The outgoing Hornby Rugby Club president said it was quite a surprise.
“It was an amazing feeling, totally overwhelming.”
Mr Catchpole, who was born and raised in Hornby, first joined the club in 1959 as an under-5 player.
A talented first-five eighth, he moved through the ranks at the club and made his senior debut the year Hornby was promoted to the top-flight of Christchurch rugby in 1975.
He played senior rugby until 1983.
He then joined a fourth grade A side which went unbeaten for five seasons and a total of 83 games.
He was still playing into his 40s but joined the committee as club captain in 1998 and became president in 2005, a position he held until the end of this winter.
“The timing was right, it’s been 60 years in the club and I retire from work at the end of the year so it just felt right.”
“Hornby has always been home for me, we moved out of the area five years ago and went to Prebbleton but I still work in Hornby.
“My favourite saying is that we give people a chance to get involved and participate.
“The club has been a big part of my life and I’ve made life-long friends, people I see regularly for a drink on a Friday night.”
Mr Catchpole, who was made a life member in 2012, said he would still be a regular on the sidelines.
“The great thing is that I’ll be able to go and watch any games I want now but I’ll certainly still be around the place, it’s like a second home.”
