DESPITE the ongoing pan-demic, Kilrea YFC has still been kept busy during the autumn and winter months, welcoming the return of face-to-face meetings and plenty of competition success.
Back in September the club held the annual Car Wash in Kilrea Livestock Market Yard. Thank you to HA McIlrath for the use of the yard and equipment. Also to the members who came and got soaked while making an attempt to wash every car in Kilrea and making sure they were left sparkling.
September also saw the anticipated return of face-to-face meetings for the winter programme, one of which was a pizza making evening at the Alexanders, where a few new faces were welcomed to the club.
October was a very busy month for the club and saw the boys’ senior football team lace on their boots and take to the pitch for the inaugural YFCU boys’ football title at Desertmartin Football Club. Unfortunately, Kilrea were beaten semi-finalists. Well done to Coleraine Junior boys for winning the fair play award.
Kilrea’s exciting winter pro-gramme continued with a trip out to Kartsport Karting Centre in Ballymoney. We don’t think any club members will be taking over from Max Verstappen anytime soon, but a great night’s craic was had by all. Thank you to everyone at Kartsport for making it such a fun night for everyone.
The public speaking heats were also held in October at Magherafelt High School, kindly sponsored by NFU Mutual. Congratulations to all members who took part and a special mention must go to assistant club leader Steven Arthur, who was placed first in the Prepared 21-25 category, and club leader Adam Alexander, who was placed joint first in the Impromptu 21-25 category. Adam went on to win this category overall in the finals at the end of October.
The Home Management com-petition was also held in October, where members had to decorate four cupcakes, make a poster promoting their club and put someone in the recovery position. Well done to Juniors Cameron McDonald, Abigail Scott and Niamh Brookman and Seniors Ellen Alexander, Jill Halliday and Robyn McCaughan for making it through to the second stages.
County Londonderry Show comp-etitions were also held at the end of October, where members participated in the Home Industry and Farm and Home Safety competitions. The judges had a very difficult job, but Kilrea Junior Abigail Scott wowed the judges with her shortbread and was placed second in her class. Club leader Adam Alexander also placed third in the Home Safety 21-25 age category.
In November members travelled to Magherafelt High School to compete in the Floral Art Heats which showcased some very creative arrangements.
With 2020 being such a strange and unusual year, Kilrea was unable to celebrate the club’s 75th anniversary in the manner it had originally planned. However, despite the slight delay, everyone got their glad rags on and were absolutely delighted to welcome all members past and present, including family and friends, to the 75th Anniversary Dinner at Roe Park Resort, Limavady, on November 20, 2021.
Club leaders were delighted to have youngest and eldest members Abigail Scott and John McAleese in attendance to continue the tradition of cutting the cake at the anniversary dinner. A huge thank you must go to Darren Cumberland Photography for capturing the memories of the night, and everyone who made the event possible by showing their continued support for the club by attending the event or donating prizes to the raffle.
A diesel power washer kindly donated by McIntyre’s Tools and Equipment was auctioned on the night with the proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation.
On Sunday, December 19, Kilrea
YFC participated in a charity bag pack in Tesco, Ballymoney.
Members helped the local com-munity pack their last minute Christmas shopping for a very worthwhile cause, raising a fur-ther £316 for the British Heart Foundation.
The club was honoured to continue to help such a wonderful charity and contribute to such a worthwhile cause.
Rounding off another successful year for Kilrea YFC was a roving supper in December. Members pulled on their favourite Christmas jumpers and travelled to Victoria Rankin’s for starters, Judith Laughlin’s for the main course and Steven Arthur’s for dessert and were all well and truly stuffed.
The club would like to thank everyone for their continued support throughout 2021 and hopes everyone had a lovely Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
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