Battalion Blog

Twenty teams representing ten Companies of the Coleraine and District Battalion recently took part in the Boys’ Brigade Annual Volleyball Competition. All three courts of St. Patrick’s Hall in Coleraine were a hive of activity as boys demonstrated their “spiking and volleying” skills against each other. The event was organised by Ivan Morrison (Battalion Recreation Convener) and John McFadden (Tournament Official) and was played off in two age groups. The Junior tournament produced some excellent play from the beginners with 1st Coleraine, 2nd Coleraine, 1st Kilrea and 1st Macosquin all qualifying for the knock-out semi-final stage. The holders 1st Coleraine firstly overpowered 1st Kilrea in the semis and then went on to retain their title after coming from behind to beat local rivals 2nd Coleraine by two sets to one. Senior Winners - 1st Portrush A Junior Winners - 1st Coleraine The Senior tournament was a more competitive contest and a marvel to watch. After ten hard fought league

Are you a member of Boys’ Brigade, aged 16 or over (no upper age limit) and interested in being part of a team of volunteers, travelling to India in August 2009? After a successful Trip in 2007 there is an opportunity for The Boys’ Brigade to be part of a longer term relationship with Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland, supporting their work in Madurai, India and seeing how the community can grow and develop with our encouragement and support.   In 2007, The Team built two homes alongside the families who now live in them and saw first-hand, the impact of their support. We now have the opportunity to build a further TEN homes; the special focus of this project is to help ten disadvantaged women and their families living in substandard housing in the Madurai District.   Partnering with Habitat means that the family will not only have a new home but new skills and confidence, research has also shown children do better at school and there are significant health benefits for all the fam

  The Boys’ Brigade movement was 125 years old in October and one way in which the Coleraine & District Battalion decided to celebrate this very important anniversary was to hold a Ten Pin Bowling Competition for Company Section boys. The event was held at the refurbished Jet Centre and attracted an entry of 144 boys and officers. The evening was competitive but also fun packed, with prizes available for the top three in forms 1 to 3 and 4 to 7. Spot prizes were also awarded to players who achieved at least two strikes. Forms 1 to 3. Shann Leahy (1st Portstewart) 125 Conor Shields (5th Coleraine) 125 Mark Donaghy (1st Ballywillan) 116 Ross Jamison (5th Coleraine) 116 Mark Blair (1st Macosquin) 113 Forms 4 to 7. James Purcell (1st Balteagh) 135 Glen Armstrong ( 1st Garvagh) 130 Robert McFaul (1st Macosquin) 119 Ben Cartwright (1st Drumachose) 119 The competition was organised by the Battalion’s Recreation Convener – Ivan Morrison, who has to be congratulated for ru

Congratulations to the following young men and their Officers on the achievement of The Boys' Brigade's premier award - The Queen's Badge, during the 2007-2008 session. Christopher Carson (1st Ballywatt) David Oliver (1st Balteagh) David Ferguson (2nd Coleraine) Zhanzhan Tom He (2nd Coleraine) Stuart McAleese (1st Drumachose) David Boyd (1st Garvagh) Ashley Moore (1st Garvagh) Jordan Webster (1st Garvagh) Gareth Blair (2nd Limavady) Graham Thompson (2nd Limavady) Thomas Kelso (1st Tamlaght O'Crilly) Michael Stewart (1st Tamlaght O'Crilly) We also congratulate Jordan Webster (1st Garvagh) who has qulified through the King George VI Officer Cadet Scheme 2008

The Coleraine & District Battalion of the Boys' Brigade recognised the services of one of its outstanding office bearers at their recent Annual Officers Dedication Service in Ballywatt. John Mairs who for the past 20 years served the Battalion as its Queen's Badge Adviser was presented with a BB engraved cut glass candle light on his retirement from the position. [left to right] Rev. Trevor McCormick (Battalion President), Mrs Emily Mairs, Mr John Mairs, Alan Morrison (Battalion Secretary/Vice President). Several hundred boys have benefited greatly from John's guidance and encouragement over those years and have gone on to achieve their Queens Badge which is the highest award available inthe BB movement. In making the presentation, the Rev. Trevor McCormick (Battalion President), thanked John for his faithful and dedicated commitment to this work and for the many hours of devoted service he gave in offering advise to the boys.

An information evening was held by the Battalion for Officers and Senior Section boys in First Kilrea Presbyterian Church Hall. Walter Lambe was on hand to guide those in attendance through the new Challenge Plus and Discover programmes.   PowerPoint Presentations are available to download... Discover Programme (.ppt/6MB) Challenge Plus Programme Review (.ppt/6MB)

Results fro the Battalion Volleyball tournament. Junior 1st Coleraine - Winners 2nd Coleraine - Runners-up Senior 1st Portrush - Senior Winners 2nd Coleraine - Senior Runners-up

These are the results from the Battalion Company Section Orienteering 2007-08 event. The winners were 2nd Coleraine A Winners. Second place went to 2nd Coleraine. Third place was 1st Dunluce.

These are the results from the Company Section Junior and Senior 5-a-Side Football competition held at the University of Ulster at Coleraine. Junior 1st Tamlaght Winners of Junior 5-a-side Football. 1st Dunluce Runners-up. Senior 1st Garvagh Winners of Senior 5-a-side Football. 5th Coleraine B Runners-up