Battalion Blog

Over the festive period twenty eight teams representing fourteen Boys’ Brigade Companies of Coleraine and District Battalion assembled at the University of Ulster Sports Complex for their annual 5-a-side football competition. The event was organised by Ivan Morrison (Battalion Recreation Convener) and Martin McCook (Tournament Official). Robert Black, a former BB officer of the Battalion, officiated as referee. The fifteen teams competing in the Junior Competition (forms1 to 3) were drawn into four sections and this created some notable performances by the teams from 1st Drumachose, 5th Coleraine, 1st Kilrea, 2nd Limavady and 1st Portrush in the early group games. It took a penalty shoot out between 1st Kilrea and 1st Portrush to produce the four eventual sectional winners who would progress to the semi-final stage. The outcome of both these matches had to be decided by penalties which saw 2nd Limavady eliminate 5th Coleraine and 1st Kilrea over power 1st Drumachose. The f

The boys of the Coleraine & District Battalion Boys’ Brigade took part in their recent Annual Volleyball Competition hosted in St. Patrick’s Hall, Coleraine. Owing to the increased entry the competition was played over two nights. Ten junior teams (forms 1 to 3) competed on the first evening and also ten senior teams (forms 4 to u6) battled it out on the following evening. The standard of play was high and resulted in many close fought fixtures. The initial stages of the competition were played in two leagues of five teams with the top two qualifying to the semi-final knockout stage. The eventual winners were 5th Coleraine in the Junior event and 1st Kilrea in the Senior event but all teams performed well and produced great entertainment over the both evenings. This was a tremendous advert for the BB with the boys demonstrating true determination in a sporting manner and exercising friendly enthusiasm throughout the tournament. Our sincere thanks are expressed to Ivan Morriso

The Coleraine & District Battalion of the Boys’ Brigade held its first competition of the new session with an outing to the Ten Pin Bowling Alley at the Coleraine Jet Centre. A good turnout of almost 120 boys took part, occupying 20 lanes. Competition between the boys was keen and all involved had a very enjoyable and fun packed evening. Junior Winners 5th Coleraine Senior Winners 2nd Limavady Local Company 5th Coleraine came out on top of eight teams in the Junior Event (forms 1 to 3) scoring a respectable total of 483 points. Second place went to the boys of 1st Ballywatt Company who accumulated a score of 431 points. Individual prizes were won by Trevor Scott (2nd Limavady) who obtained the highest score of 112 points and runner-up was Stephen Kelso (1st Tamlaght O’Crilly) with 109 points. Joshua Greene (5th Coleraine) triumphed by winning the prize for the highest number of Strikes & Spares. Limavady teams dominated play in the Senior Event (forms 4 to U6) with the boys of

The results for Company and Senior Section events in the 2008-2009 season were as follows... Winners Runners-up Badminton Division 1 2nd Coleraine 5th Coleraine Division 2 1st Garvagh 10 Pin Bowling Junior C Shields (5th Coleraine) S Leahy (1st/3rd Portstewart) M Donaghy (1st Ballywillan) R Jamison (5th Coleraine) Senior J Purcell (1st Balteagh) G Armstrong (1st Garvagh) Volleyball Junior 1st Coleraine 2nd Coleraine Senior 1st Portrush 1st Kilrea 5-a-side Football Junior 1st Coleraine 1st Garvagh Senior 1st Garvagh 2nd Coleraine Masterteam 1st Ballywillan Orienteering 1st Garvagh 2nd Coleraine (B) Scripture Exam 1st Balteagh

The battalion results for the Junior Section in the year 2008-2009 were as follows... Indoor Games - 2nd Coleraine Quiz Kids - 1st Kilrea 5-a-side Football (indoor) - 1st Aghadowey Figure Marching - 2nd Limavady 5-a-side Football (outdoor) - 1st Ballywillan

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 2008-2009 session. Gareth Irwin   (1st Balteagh) Richard Irwin   (1st Balteagh) Andrew Scott (1st Balteagh) James Taylor   (1st Coleraine) Michael Wallace (1st Coleraine) Andrew Boyd  (2nd Coleraine) Andrew Cunning  (2nd Coleraine) Brent Haslett  (2nd Coleraine) Conor McMullan  (2nd Coleraine) Christopher Cunningham (5th Coleraine) Ben Cartwright  (1st Drumachose) Matthew Haslett  (1st Drumachose) Andrew Gilmore  (1st Kilrea) Adam Keys  (1st Limavady) Connor McGoldrick   (2nd Limavady) Ryan Montgomery (2nd Limavady) And congratulations to Graham Thompson (2nd Limavady) who has qulified through the King George VI Officer Cadet Scheme in July 2009.

I would like to extend an invitation to Boys’ Brigade Companies throughout Northern Ireland to visit leading ferry company Stena Line’s terminal in Belfast to undertake a fundraising exercise. The Sea Cadets ran a very successful event at our terminal in West Bank Road over the Easter period where they collected money in the car lanes (this was tallied with them washing car/van windscreens) and the departure lounge for an hour prior to two of our daily HSS departures to Scotland (1220 and 1710). We would be happy to accommodate any BB Companies who would like to undertake a similar windscreen washing/collection exercise (the summer months are our busiest period of the year). Incidentally, the Sea Cadets raised approx £450 per day over three days. From our point of view our customers are provided with an extra service before boarding the ship, while the BB Companies get to raise lots of money. It’s a win-win for both of us.If any BB Company is interested in fundraising in this way co

1st Ballywatt Company have recently returned from their Camp at the Glenbrook Guide Centre in the Peak District. The 10 boys and five staff (including their cook!) spent seven days at the site which is approximately five hours from Stranraer Port in Scotland. They found the site in a lovely location and very well maintained. The week's programme included various sports, competitions, worship and swimming. The camp also included a trip to Old Trafford where they say they " never saw a lawn like it at Old Trafford – carefully guarded – couldn’t even hover over it, let alone walk on it!! ". Also on the agenda was a day at Alton Towers. Both trips were within about one hour of the camp site at Glenbrook. The boys and staff had good weather for the most part, with a few heavy showers. They said they would highly recommend the site adding that they took our own canvas but think that canvas can be hired. " All in all a good week. " Details provided by Rev Ivan Hunter

The annual Junior Section Outdoor 5-a-side competition too place on Saturday 6th June 2009. The event was held at Coleraine's Rugby Avenue Playing Fields with 12 teams from across the battalion taking part. The overall winners were 1st Ballywillan (pictured). They beat runners-up 2nd Coleraine after a penalty shoot-out in the final game. Congratulations to all those who took part. Submitted by Lex Smith (Junior Section Secretary). Photo thanks to Andrew Drennan (1st Ballywillan).

Queen's Badge Conference and Holiday Leadership Course to be held in June in Northern Ireland. A Queens Badge Conference will be held in Templepatrick for Queens Badge Advisors, Queens Badge Tutors, Battalion Secretaries, Brigade Training Officers, Battalion Training Officers, Captains and other interested Officers. More... A Holiday Leadership Course is being held in Castledawson those from other Battalions who wish to attend, will be made very welcome. More... For further information, including contact details, please see the Battalion Training page here .

Junior Section  boys from across the Coleraine and District Battalion came together at Castleroe Wood to plant 125 trees to celebrate the Boys' Brigade  125 Anniversary. The 25 boys and 10 officers met at Castleroe Wood on the Curragh Road on the morning of Saturday 21 March to plant a mixture of native oak and Scots pines. By  Lex Smith , Battalion Junior Section Secretary

       The results for Division One of the 2008/2009 Battalion Badminton season are in. Congratulations to all those who took part. Photographs can be found on our Bebo Group . 2nd Coleraine Company 5th Coleraine Company 1st Coleraine Company

    Four Companies from the Coleraine & District Battalion of the Boys’ Brigade took part in the first outdoor competition of 2009. The Orienteering event was held in Garvagh Forest and was won by the local 1st Garvagh Company (pictured) who completed the course in 41 mintes. They were closely followed to the finish line by two teams from the previous winners 2nd Colerine. Also taking part were teams from 1st Dunluce and 1st Kilrea Companies. The competition was organised set up by Ivan Morrison (Battalion Recreation Convener) who presented the prizes to the successful winners on the day. More photographs on Bebo...

The Coleraine & District Battalion will be hosting a non-residential Youth Leader Training (YLT) course. The programme will run over two Saturdays at Macosquin Presbyterian Church Hall . Saturday 14th March 2009 Saturday 21st March 2009 Courses will commence at 9.45 AM and end at 8.00 PM. To fulfil the course requirements, attendance at both sessions is required. To be eligible for Youth Leader Training an applicant must be at least 18 years of age. Registration forms can be downloaded from Northern Ireland District website. Click here .

The 2009 Northern Ireland District Camp will take place at Crawfordsburn Country Park on the southern shores of Belfast Lough. There is an excellent infrastructure for the size of camp we anticipate with a wide range of activities available on-site or near-by. DATES & TIMES We anticipate arrivals between 6.00pm and 8.00pm on Tuesday 30 June, with the first activity at 8.30pm. Camp will close at 2.30pm on Sunday 5 July. ACTIVITIES The programme will include: Watersports, canoeing and raft building; Adventure activities abseiling, orienteering and pioneering; Competitions go-kart racing, archery, and par 3 golf; Sports, football, softball, volleyball, etc... and a few visits to local places of interest. CAMP STRUCTURE In order that no one will be overwhelmed by the numbers we are expecting at camp, there will be a number of ‘villages’ with about 40 boys and 8-10 staff in each. Most of the activities will be on a village basis, but there will be times each day when the whole camp wil

On Thursday 26th February the Mayor of Coleraine Borough Council will hold a reception for the Coleraine and District Battalion in honour of the 125th Anniversary of the Boys' Brigade . Arrangements: Boys and Officers in full uniform are asked to meet at the Cloonavin Council Offices, Portstewart Road ( click here for map ) no later than 7pm and refreshments will be served. Companies are permitted to send a party of five, at least one Officer and hopefully at least one boy from each section. The evening will last approximately 11/2 hours. For further information contact Alan Morrison (Battalion Secretary) via his or the battalion email address.

During the festive period twenty eight teams representing thirteen Boys’ Brigade Companies of Coleraine and District Battalion descended on the University of Ulster Sports Complex for their annual 5-a-side football competition. The event was organised by Ivan Morrison (Battalion Recreation Convener) and Martin McCook (Tournament Official). Robert Black, a former BB officer in the Battalion, officiated as referee. Junior Winners Senior Winners Junior 5-a-side winners 1st Coleraine Company, included are Martin McCook (Tournament Organiser), Robert Black (Referee) and Rev. Trevor McCormick (Battalion President). Senior 5-a-side winners 1st Garvagh Company, included are John McFadden (Company Captain), Robert Black (Referee) and Rev. Trevor McCormick (Battalion President). Junior Tournament Sixteen teams competed in the Junior Competition (under 14). There were notable performances by 1st Kilrea (4-0) and 1st Garvagh ‘A’ (3-0 and 4-1) in the early group games and it was these two teams al