23 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 42
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RURALYOUTH
FARMWEEK
FEBRUARY 07 2019
Young farmers on a slippery slope
O
N Saturday, January 5, a group of
members from Young Farmers clubs
across Northern Ireland travelled to
Val Thorens in France to enjoy a week of
skiing on the YFCU Ski Trip.
It had been several years since the last
YFCU ski trip but with the YFCU President
James Speers taking a theme of ‘embracing
change’, the idea was raised to organise
a trip in 2019. The response was an
overwhelming yes, setting the wheels in
motion for a fantastic ski trip to France.
The YFCU ski trip was booked through an
experienced company, NUCO travel, who
organised the flights, accommodation and
evening activities, making the trip fun and
stress-free for all involved.
This combined with fantastic skiing
conditions and facilities, suited to all levels
of skier from beginner to advanced, meant all
the YFC members enjoyed a great week away
regardless of their previous experience or
skiing ability.
The trip also coincided with similar trips
organised by Scottish Young Farmers’ Clubs
and Harper Adams University in England,
giving the YFCU members the opportunity
to catch up with colleagues from across the
water.
Kilrea Young Farmers’ Club member
Timothy Davidson said: “We had an
absolutely fantastic week away! Val Thorens
is the biggest ski resort in Europe with over
600km of piste. It is a world of skiing for
both beginners and seasoned professionals,
making it a great all-round trip for everyone.
I cannot recommend this trip enough and
encourage all clubs to tell members and
friends about it for next year, we want to
make sure the numbers go up and the trip
can grow next year!”
RIGHT: YFCU President James Speers with
fellow YFC members enjoying the YFCU ski
trip in Val Thorens.
Spectacular Strictly worth
all the sweat and fake tan
CHEQUE: Gleno Valley Young Farmers’ Club members and staff from Ballymena Mart hand over the cheque to ‘Friends
of the Cancer Centre’.
Gleno YFC Fatstock
cancer charity auction
raises over £22,300
F
OLLOWING a successful fatstock show, sale and charity
auction in November, Gleno
Valley Young Farmers’ Club
members, alongside Ballymena
Livestock Market staff, were delighted
to present £22,372.54 to ‘Friends of
the Cancer Centre’.
This substantial amount of money
will help to fund life-saving and lifechanging projects that make a real
and lasting difference to the lives of
thousands of local people affected by
cancer in Northern Ireland.
Many thanks to judge Sam Carlisle,
Border Meats, Lockerbie, along with all
of the sponsors who once again were
more than generous. These sponsors
included Newport Collection, Clare
Vet Group, Fane Valley, Norbrook
Laboratories, Danske Bank, NI
Limousin Club, Moore Concrete,
Ballinaskeagh Grains, DJ McKee &
Sons, and Jacksons Butchers.
Butchers Best Champion, sponsored
by Clare Vet Group, was awarded to M
BREED CHAMPION AWARDS AND
SPONSORS
CHAROLAIS (Fane Valley) - P
Woodside, Carrickfergus;
reserve - L Ervine, Newtownabbey
LIMOUSIN (NI Limousin Club) JCB Commercials, Newtownards
(Supreme Champion);
reserve - W &S Keenan, Crossgar
BRITISH BLUE (Moore Concretes) E Loughran, Cookstown;
reserve - R Miller, Moneymore
BRITISH BLONDE (Ballinaskeagh
Grains) - W & S Keenan, Crossgar;
reserve - I Wilson, Islandmagee
NATIVE BREED (DJ McKee &
Sons) - R McKeown, Templepatrick
(Shorthorn); reserve - W.J Ervine,
Newtownabbey
YFC CLASS (Danske Bank) - I
Wilson, Islandmagee;
reserve - I Wilson, Islandmagee
& B Johnston, Toomebridge, with a
Limousin heifer sold for £2,600.
Supreme Champion was awarded
to JCB Commercials, Newtownards,
with a Limousin heifer, selling for
£2,700 to Sam Carmichael for McKee’s
Butchers, Maghera.
Reserve
Champion,
sponsored
by Newport Collection, went to I
Wilson, Islandmagee, with a Limousin
bullock sold for £1,580, again to Sam
Carmichael for McKee’s Butchers,
Maghera.
Congratulations to R Miller, Moneymore, for top sale price of the
evening for a Limousin heifer which
sold for £3,103 to Kelly O’Kane.
The event could not have been such
a success without all the generous
donations and support before and
during the event. Gleno Valley YFC
would once again like to extend a
massive thanks to the Ballymena
Market staff, show and sale sponsors
and all those who donated auction/
raffle prizes or gave generous
donations, along with everyone who
came to support the event on the
night.
YOUNG farmers from across
Northern Ireland donned their
dancing shoes once again at
Crown Plaza Hotel on Saturday,
January 19, in a bid to win the
‘Strictly’ glitter ball. Kindly
sponsored by Barclays, the
evening extravaganza saw County Down Young Farmers’
Clubs welcome a crowd of over
700, made up of sponsors, family
and friends, to support this
year’s dancers.
The enthusiastic and appreciative audience were dazzled
with a vast array of steps and
styles including the Samba,
Cha Cha, Jive, Charleston, Paso
Doble and Smooth.
In preparation for the big
night the committed couples
had undergone a strict regime
each Monday evening since last
November. After blood, sweat
and a lot of fake tan the dancers
were certainly ready to put on a
spectacular show!
The couples took to the stage
and showcased their talents in
true young farmers’ style to raise
funds for Alzheimer’s Society
and County Down YFC.
The event was hosted by
past YFCU President Roberta
Simmons of Rathfriland YFC,
past Vice President Harry Crosby
of Spa YFC and current Vice
President Andrew Patton, from
Newtownards YFC. Assisting
with the evening’s entertainment
were the wonderful judges:
Karen Patterson from the BBC
and past County Down Young
Farmer James Trotman, Agri
Manager for Barclays, Janet
Plunkett, Fundraising Manager
for Alzheimer’s Society in
Northern Ireland, and Zita
McNaugher, current YFCU Deputy President.
Competing couples George
Porter and Laura Sproule,
Matthew Ney and Rebecca
Nelson, Chris Reid and Sarah
Robinson, Harry Walker and
Emma Connolly, James Gilpin
and Emma McAnea, Ward
Patterson and Sarah Reid,
Richard Kennedy and Jessica
Lee, Harry Hamilton and Louise
McAnea, Graham Annett and
Sarah Graham wowed the crowd
with their twinkle toes, however
it was James McCaulay and
Kirsty Burrows from Spa YFC
who danced their way to the top
with their energetic Charleston
to be crowned Strictly Winners
2019.
The organising committee
led by County Down YFC
Chairperson Linzi Stewart and
Secretary
Kristina
McKeag
would like to extend their
thanks to everyone who helped
make the night such a success,
particularly to sponsors, hosts,
judges, family and friends and
last but not least the dancers; the
stars of the show!
SUPPORT: James McCauley and Kirsty Burrows pictured with sponsors
from Reid Feeds and James Douglas and Sons, agri contracts.