Trillick and District members look back at a successful year

CLUB Leader Colin McKinley welcomed everyone to the

Trillick & District YFC’s annual Friends and Sup-

porters Night and introduced guest speaker Richard Beattie, YFCU Vice President and a member of Finvoy YFC.

Everyone repeated the YFCU pledge, which was followed by comprehensive reports of another very successful year for the club delivered by Club Leader Colin, Secretary Megan Birney and Treasurer Jamie McCutcheon. The PRO William Graham also compiled a PowerPoint presentation illustrating the club activities during the season.

Club meetings included keep fit, an assault course and bouncy castle, a floral art demonstration, the YFCU Home Management competition, farm safety and an exchange night with West Fermanagh YFC. Members also enjoyed outings to Airtastic, Lets Go Hydro and the Golf Driving Range at Sion Mills.

At the Tyrone Efficiency Awards, Megan was awarded first secretary, Jamie McCutcheon was judged first treasurer and William Graham first PRO. The club was declared second in the Top Club competition.

Also at the Tyrone County Dinner, the club was awarded the membership retention shield and placed third in the Superclub Competition. Trillick & District was also delighted to be placed in the top 10 of the YFCU Club of the Year Award.

This season Shannen Vance has acted as Tyrone County Chairman and Jake Cunningham as County Treasurer. Shannen has been re-elected for the 2022/23 season with Megan Birney as County PRO. Club members also serve on the YFCU central committees.

Congratulations were extended to those gaining first places at Northern Ireland Level – Laura Sproule, Colin McKinley and Timothy Keys, who were awarded first place at the YFCU Group Debating Competition, and to Judith McKinley, who was awarded first place in the YFCU Impromptu Public Speaking Competition. Jamie McCutcheon also gained first place at the Royal Ulster Beef and Lamb Show at Balmoral and Shannen Vance was placed first at the NI Final of the YFCU Presentation/Demon-stration competition.

The Club Choir, under the direction of Rebecca Mulligan and accompanied by

Anne Keys, was awarded third at the YFCU Choir Competition and the audience he-

ard its rendition of ‘Shallow’ and

‘Mamma Mia’, which it sang for the compet-ition.

In the summer Peter Graham will travel to Wales on a YFCU short term exchange. Senior members also had the opportunity to attend the YFCU Agri Food Conference held at Galgorm Manor Hotel.

Despite ongoing Covid restrictions, club members hosted a car treasure hunt and a quiz, once again in aid of the Palliative Care Unit, which also received a cheque from the 2021 Quiz, and held a Christmas dinner in the Bridge Inn.

Members also donated to the YFCU President’s Christmas appeal and to a recent YFCU appeal for help for Ukraine. Also an online facebook raffle for a Kenwell Engineering fire pit raised money for club funds.

The club congratulates Club President Rachel

Law and husband Richard on the birth of dau-

ghter Poppy, Judith McKin-ley and David

Oliver (Dun-given YFC) on their mar-

riage, Rebec-ca Mulligan and Colin McKinley and Emma Gibson and Robert Getty (Moycraig YFC) on their en-gagements

Before presenting an impressive num-ber of proficiency awards and NI,

County and Club

trophies, Mr Bea-ttie congratulated the club on the

season’s success-es. He also encouraged members to take advantage of the opportunities available to YFC members and encouraged them to try some new activities in the coming season. He concluded by extending good wishes for the new season.

Following the awards members presented a varied programme of entertainment.

Sketches performed were ‘Fruit Salad’ with the cast of Amy, Chloe, Kirsty, Sophie, Eloise and Leah, and ‘Waiting for a Train’ by Charlie and David supported by Amy and Kimi.

The evening concluded with the club entry for the 2022 Tyrone Rosebowl based on an idea by Mark Gibson. Mr Beattie awarded ‘Best Performance on the Night’ to the Rosebowl cast!

Club Leader Colin proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Beattie for acting as guest speaker, to everyone who helped the club in numerous ways over the year and special thanks to the members who contributed to a very successful season and to Friends and Supporters Night and to the very appreciative audience.

Thanks were extended to retiring Club Leader Colin and Public Relations Officer William, who received gifts in recognition of all they have done while in office.

Gifts were also presented to club auditor Florence Barrett, Rebecca and Anne for their work with the choir and to Mrs Griffin and Pauline Armstrong, Club Secretary Megan and Treasurer Jamie have been re-elected for the 2022-23 season, the new Club Leader is Timothy Keys and Jane McGrade takes on the role of PRO.

Proficiency Certificates 2020-21 (ended in May 2021)

Jake Cunningham – Floral Art & Ulster Young Farmer

Emma Gibson – Floral Art

Peter Graham – Prepared Public Speaking

William Graham – Presentation Demonstration

Jane McGrade – Ulster Young Farmer

Colin McKinley – Floral Art & Prepared Public Speaking

Judith Oliver – Demonstration Presentation, Floral Art, Home Management, Prepared Public Speaking & Ulster Young Farmer

Rebeccca Mulligan – Ulster Young Farmer

Lauren Vance – Prepared Public Speaking

Shannen Vance – Demonstration Presentation, Prepared Public Speaking & Ulster Young Farmer

Club cups 2021

Ivan Kee Cup for Home Management – Jane McGrade

Vernon Carson Cup for Senior Club Participant – James Vance

Trillick YFC Trophy for Junior Club Particpant – Harry James Henderson

Erne Insurance Shield for Ulster Young Farmer – Jack Henderson

Junior Floral Art – Sophie Gibson

Henderson Cup for Senior Floral Art – Emma Gibson

Christopher Crane Cup for Junior Stockjudging – Charlie Henderson

Andrews Agricultural Cup for Beginner Stockjudger – Eimear Dunne

Joe Funston Cup for Senior Stockjudging – Jamie McCutcheon

John Gray Cup for Junior Public Speaking – Harry James Henderson

Adrian Faris Cup for Senior Public Speaking – Judith Oliver

Harper Adams Trophy for Members Member – Megan Birney

Fairbain Cup for Highest Attendance – four members who only missed one meeting: Dale McCutcheon, Calum Baxter, Charlie Henderson and Sophie Gibson

James Brunt Cup for Best performance on the night – The Rosebowl Cast

County cups 2021

Prepared Public speaking 25-30 – Judith Oliver

Demonstration Presentation 21-25 – William Graham

Demonstration Presentation 25-30 – Shannen Vance

Dairy Stock Judging 18-21 – Jamie McCutcheon

Dairy Stock Judging 25-30 – Shannen Vance

Beef Stock Judging 18-21 – James Vance

Sheep Stock Judging 25-30 – Judith Oliver

Farm Safety, Senior Male – Colin McKinley

Live to Dead, 18-21 – Jamie McCutcheon

Membership Retention Shield – Trillick & District YFC

Efficiency awards

Top Secretary – Megan Birney

Top Treasurer – Jamie McCutcheon

Top PRO – William Graham

Northern Ireland Cups

Impromptu Public Speaking – Judith McKinley

Choir Festival – 3rd Trillick & District

Group Debating 21-25 – 1st Place – Laura Sproule, Timothy Keys and Colin McKinley; 3rd Place Megan Birney, Jack Henderson and Matthew McCay.

Certificates

Presidents Award – Jamie McCutcheon, Megan Birney, Colin McKinley, Shannen Vance, Rebecca Mulligan, Judith Oliver.

First Aid – Jane McGrade, Jamie McCutcheon, Megan Birney.

AQA

Shannen Vance – Beef, Dairy & Sheep Stock Judging, Football, Public Speaking, Tag Rugby and volunteering as treasurer.

Megan Birney – Beef, Dairy & Sheep Stock Judging, Football, Tag Rugby.