We started the year with the usual new members signing up night. We had a good turn out and soon had most of our members re-signed up, in fact we were 18 members up on last year with 59 in total at the end of the year.
We were straight into competitions and we were beginning successfully. The Stone Ploughing Match gave pleasing results, and we won the 5-a-side Football. Simon Stubbs, Steph Birch and Jack Watson came 4th in the National Cookery Competition at Stoneleigh. We took part in the Mixed Hockey, which was enjoyed by all, and we also got two 3rd placings in Carcass Judging.
Lets not forget the social side with discos. These were well attended and enjoyed. We then had a Pool competition and went ice-skating, where most members could skate and the rest just sat on the ice or at the bar.
Then came the County AGM, where the Stone came away with 8 trophies. They included Best Chairman - Bryce Mackellar, Best Treasurer - Simon Wilson, Runner up Secretary - Alex Mackellar, Runner-Up Stone leader - Trevor Shelley, Stone Efficiency winners, Best Small Stone, First in Intermediate Stock Judging, and Two Tug Of War trophies.
Go-Karting was next, WELL! We had 5 drivers and 5 cars, 1 lost a wheel, 1 had tracking problems, 1 had no brakes, another ran out of fuel and then we all ran out of fuel before the finish. To calm things down we had an Aloe Vera night, which was well enjoyed especially by the girls. The Annual Whist Drive was then held, which was well attended by members as well as the general public. This then welcomed the Christmas party season.
February saw Competitions Day at the Showground, where Bryce got 1st for Male Member of the Year, Alex got 3rd for Female Member of the Year, Jack got 3rd for Junior Member of the Year, Boomer, Heather & Jack received 2nd in Junior Public Speaking, and Caroline, Simon, Bryce & John got 3rd for Brainstrust. These were closely followed by, 3rd for Stone Promotion and 4th in Clay Pigeon Shooting. Stone B team came 2nd in the Bar Skittles beaten by the NFU, and, in a delayed Ten-Pin-Bowling we came 2nd. The Fence Erecting competition saw Phil, Bryce and Jeff go through to West Midlands Area. which is where Simon Stubbs also got a 2nd in Website Design.
March held the Race Night, which was a fun night and raised nearly £300. April saw Stock Judging practices, which ended with the Intermediate Team placed 2nd and a Third overall.
Float building was also on the agenda, this year we did Blind Date, and in the face of stiff competition we were placed fifth. Then came Blackpool, and what happened there is very vague to me. A quick sober up for the Rally, which resulted in a few placements and a fun day for all, which was ended by yet another great disco. The County Show then arrived, which brought 2nd in the Stone Display and 3rd for Stars In Their Eyes for Alex and Hannah.
Then came Tug Of War, which we were building up to since February with endless training and numerous competitions, and in the words of Trev Shelley 'proper job!' as the lads came 1st in straight pulls as did the girls.
The Car Treasure Hunt proved successful, as Simon, Jack, Heather, Helen and I came 1st for Stone and second in Waterhouses. Then it was the Raft Race with our 3 rafts coming 1st, 3rd and 5th.
And finishing the year in true Stone tradition we celebrated with a Pub-crawl!!
Stones’s Worst Driver - Jeff Tabernor
Stone’s Best Dressed Person - Simon Wilson
Worst Dressed Person - Jeff Tabernor
Stone Pin-up - Max ‘The Bear’ Elsmore
Stone Heart-Breaker - Rob Kite and Anne Elkin
Stone’s Romeo & Juliet - Nicky Fitzpatrick and Phil Sutton
Stone’s Most Accident Prone Member - Jack Watson
Stone Look-alikes - Paul Stubbs - Jim off ‘American Pie’
Stone’s Favourite Activity - Tug of War and Drinkin!
Stone Motto - We wear red shirts because they match the colour of winning.
Stone’s Best Chat-up Lines - I’m a mate of Boomers (Charles Prinold); Is that a mirror in your bra, coz I can see my face in it!
Top Tips for Surviving a YFC year - 1 - Learn how to drink; 2 - Know when to stop drinking; 3 - Don’t drink.