Raughton Head YFC travelled to Retford, Nottinghamshire to represent the Northern Area in the National Semi-Finals of the Entertainments Competition.  They had qualified by winning rounds at District, County and Northern Area with their Entertainment based on an agricultural show.

 Competing on the day were Buxton YFC, Leighton Buzzard, Stamfordham and Ponteland and Raughton Head.

 After a tense adjudication Raughton Head were placed 1^st with Stamfordham/Ponteland 2^nd and Buxton 3^rd Raughton Head and Stamfordham/Ponteland will now compete at the National Final at the Opera House, Balckpool on Sunday 8^th May against Brecknock YFC, and 2 teams form the Southern Semi-Final.

 If you would like to support Raughton Head, tickets can be ordered through the NFYFC office on 02476 857200.

“Should cookery lessons in school be compulsory?”; “Do you agree with the increase in university fees?”; “Should pesticides be banned?”; These were some of the topics debated by the finalists of the Cumbrian Young Farmers Senior Brainstrust competition.

 Judges Mrs Susie Bagot and Miss Alison Sisson said they had enjoyed the discussions and were particularly impressed with all 6 chairmen.

 The Midland Bank Perpetual Trophy was presented to the winners from Kent Estuary YFC, Dennis Sharp, Daniel Asplin, Bob Lawrence and David Mallinson. Carlisle YFC were place 2^nd, Aspatria 3^rd and Skelton 4^th.

Cumbrian Young Farmers proved they are the best public speakers in the North of England when they competed against Young Farmers from Durham, Northumberland, Yorkshire, East Riding and Lancashire at Whitby in the Northern Area Sports and Speaking Finals.

 Cumbria won the Junior Member of the Year, Emma Armstrong, Caldbeck; Senior Member of the Year, Craig Brough, Raughton Head; Creative Writing, Rachel Edminson, Longtown; Intermediate Just A Minute, Lisa Bowe, Emma Salthouse and Josie Mitchinson of Raughton Head and  Senior After Dinner Speaking, Lisa Mason, Dennis Sharp, Daniel Asplin, Craig Brough and Tom Redmayne.

 Caldbeck’s Laura Potts, Amy Clarke, Sarah Gate and Ben Wilde won the swimming and Raughton Head’s 60 strong cast won the Entertainment Competition.

 Laura Potts and Ben Wilde plus Emma Armstrong came 2^nd in Junior Speaking and Laura was also 2^nd in Junior Member of the Year.

Skelton’s Juniors, Mark-Lucas Winspear, Flora Blackburn and Elaine Holme were 2nd in Junior Reading; Chelle Buchanan, Julie and Emily Jenkinson and Sam Tyson from Drigg YFC were 2^nd in Jazz Dancing and Pennine’s Ladies 5 a-side Football team of Megan Robinson, Hayley Pattinson, Charlotte Bell, Aimee Wilson and Laura Smithson were also placed 2^nd.

 County Chairman, Craig Brough said “ It has been a brilliant weekend with fantastic results. I am really proud of all the members who put so much time and effort into these competitions. All these members will now compete at National Finals.”

80 Young Farmers’ competed in the County Final of the “Pub Quiz” at the George Hotel, Penrith.  They took part in 7 rounds of questions including general knowledge, sports & science, current affairs, music and a picture round.

 County Vice-President, Mr Nick Utting presented the prizes to winners, Jan Booth, Lucy Mason and Emma Littlewood who were a joint team from Kent Estuary and Crook.  Skelton YFC came =2^nd with Pennine YFC. Skelton’s team were Kirsty Irving, Steve Wilson, Dan Bargh and Jenny Kindleysides.  On the Pennine team were Nicola Steadman, Mark Curr, Darren Clarke and Tom Graveson.

 All 3 teams go through to the National Final at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on 8^th May.

The County Final of Cumbria Young Farmers’ Clubs Efficiency with Safety Competition was held at Newton Rigg College, Penrith.

 Judges Dave Ross, Paul Clarke and Henry Schultz observed the teams attaching a pneumatic corn drill, header trailer and spring tine harrow to tractors, calibrating the drill, replacing the header knife and harrow tines and taken to the field ready for work.

 Shelagh Hickson from the Red Cross staged a mock farm accident for one of the team members to deal with.

 Eden Valley YFC won the competition, with Carlisle 2^nd and Raughton Head 3^rd.

 These three teams will compete at the Northern Area Field Day against the 6 Northern Counties on 18^th June at Houghall College, Durham.

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL STOCKMANSHIP

COMPETITION

To be held at Park House Farm, Heversham on

Thursday 21 April, 2011

at 7.00 pm

Further information/enquiries about the event can be obtained from Christine Knipe, Chief Executive, Westmorland County Agricultural Society, Lane Farm, Crooklands, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7NH.  Telephone:  015395 67804  Fax:  015395 67011.

The Theatre-by-the-Lake, Keswick resounded with laughter at the weekend when the Cumbria Young Farmers’ Clubs preformed the County Final of their Entertainment Competition to capacity audiences.

 Presenting their adjudication on the final night judges, Dolores McQuillan and Lynne Lang praised the hundreds of young people who had taken to the stage and their helpers and supporters.

 Summing up the performances they started their adjudication with Skelton YFC who in their presentation of “School Daze” had something for everyone.  Soloist Mark-Lucas Winspear was particularly commended.

 Next Crook’s performance set in “Crooklins” with “yellowcoats” was praised for their Dating Mime and Midget Gems singers.  Unicyclist Joe Dobson was given a special mention and cast member Tom Redmayne was presented with the best actor award.

 Drigg YFC’s “The Animal Fair” was “really colourful and exciting and the face-painting and costumes were exceptional”.

 Brampton YFC’s “Rainbow” had excellent live music and the unicorns, Adam Gass and Naomi Little danced and sang beautifully.

 St Harold’s Residential Home” by Kent Estuary YFC was “an absolute hoot” with the award for best actress going to Lisa Mason, manager of the home.

 Finally, Raughton Head YFC had over 60 performers on stage in their production “The Show”.  This performance made the audience and the judges smile with a busy day at the local show.  The bull, George Mitchinson, received praise from the judges as did the motor cycle display team with Michelle Baxter as the grannie on the mobility scooter.

 The final results were: 1^st Raughton Head, 2^nd Drigg, 3^rd Kent Estuary, 4^th Brampton.  The top 3 teams will compete at the Northern Area Final at Whitby Pavillion on 19^th & 20^th March.