March saw a new committee elected at the Nithsdale Young Farmers Club AGM which marked the start of their participation in the many activities planned for the forthcoming year of 2017/18.
First of all the club participated in D&G district Talent Spot Competition ( main Image), being placed 2nd in the overall competition with our front of curtain Jamie Young coming 1st. They then went onto West Area Talent Spot at the SECC in Glasgow.
We held our annual New Members night in March also which brought along lots of new faces and members.
April was a busy month for the club, with the return of Sunday Night Sports at Duncow, always well attended with various sports on offer. The club had sports teams at various events throughout April, with the football team gaining 1st at Crossroads YFC Sports, a win over Stewartry YFC at the first Scott Carson Memorial match and the D&G district Rugby 7’s tournament in Stranraer saw the boys coming 1st and 6th and the girls competing in the first ever girls 7’s to gain a 2nd place and a spot at the new West Area 7’s competition in July.
April also brought along the D&G Calf rally, a great event where members were successful across the board.
The club had an outing to Energi Trampoline Park in Carlisle, we had 43 members attend. Followed by a great turnout for our Quiz Night which raised over £800 for club funds and an amount of the money was donated to our members who were accepted to travel this summer through the SAYFC.
In May we held our first Stock Judging of the year at Muirside Farm by kind permission of the Howie family, we saw a great display of Dairy Cattle with over 70 people taking part in the competition.
Annandale YFC held their Sports event in May at the Barony College, we had 3 football teams and 2 hockey teams entered, in the football the club came away with 3rd prize and in the hockey they brought home 1st.
We were lucky enough to get a great summers evening for our Mock Auction at West Mains Farm, by kind permission of the Cruickshank and McKenzie families. Another great turnout for the club to see an excellent show of modern and vintage machinery. Thanks must also go to Gordon’s and Dalgliesh’s for the donation of prizes.
Ayr show in May was the first event on the calendar for the junior and senior Handicrafts teams who showcased their ‘School Days’ and ‘Abracadabra’ themed pieces. We also had a team competing in the Stock Judging.
Dumfries Cornets Club held their Charity Football 5-asides tournament at Palmerston Arena in May, the club came a respectable 3rd place and also gained the Sportsmanship Award.
D&G District Rally was held on the 20th May, the club came 2nd overall, with a 1st in the Ladies Judging and a number of individual prizes gained as well.
May saw the first time Lower Nithsdale enter a team for a Tug ‘o’ War competition, with a girls’ team entered at Lesmahagow Show.
We held our 2nd Dairy Stock Judging of the year at the start of June at The Kerricks Farm, kindly hosted by the Campbell family. We had a massive turnout of 114 people taking part across the club and open competitions.
D&G District Sports was a great success for the club, with the football, netball and volleyball teams all qualifying for West Regional Competitions. The football team brought home 1st place with the netball and volleyball teams bringing home 2nd places.
Guid Nychburris Day saw our very own Chairman Ben McClymont taking on official duties as Courier to the Cornet Ben Radley and Cornets Lass Evan McLean. The club also had a float entered in the parade in the evening.
The Royal Highland Show saw both Handicrafts Teams competing again with their displays. We also had members competing in the Young Farmers Stockmanship and many competing with their own stock throughout the show. Handicrafts convenor Lizzie Smithard was the only female competitor from D&G forward for the national Stockmanship competition.
On to the Sheep Stock Judging now at the beginning of July, we saw a great display of Suffolk sheep at High Drum Farm, by kind permission of the Haining family, a great turnout from members and our open competition was again well attended.
West Regional Sports day finally arrived with the club having teams out for football, netball, volleyball and girls joining a mixed D&G squad for rugby 7’s. We clinched 3rd in the football and the 7’s rugby saw the D&G team bringing back a 4th.
The next sporting event for the club is West Beach Volleyball on Friday 21st July.
As previously mentioned we have a few members away on International Travel this year through the SAYFC. First of all it was Hazel Murray back in may who went on a two week exchange to Ireland, she had a great time.
Currently we have two members away on exchange, Heather Murray is in Canada at the moment, our secretary Emma Harper is in Colorado and last year’s secretary Lucy McClymont is on an adventure to New Zealand. We hope you have all enjoyed your travels and best of luck to Heather, Lucy and Emma as your adventure continues.
Ben McClymont and Billy Hiddleston, we would like to wish you both good luck on your upcoming trip to China in August.
Our next event is a farm walk at Slacks Farm, by kind permission of the Kincaid family on the 28th July.
August will sure to be another busy month for the club, starting with Dumfries show where we have two handicrafts teams competing, three Tug ‘O’ War teams competing and many members competing with their own stock in cattle, sheep, and equestrian classes across the show. It is guaranteed to be a great day out so come along to see what happens and pop into the Young Farmers tent and see what’s going on. There will also be a limited number of tickets on sale for the Dumfries Show After Party, which will be held at Palmerston Arena, 6pm – 12am, we are sure this will be a fantastic evening for all, remember, it’s not just for those who wear wellies!
