Winning teams at NFYFC’s Sports Day have attributed their victories to teamwork and putting in plenty of practice before the finals.
Gemma Day, a dairy farmer from Rea Valley YFC in Shropshire, was part of the winning Ladies' Rounders team and said as a new member to the club this year, the competition had helped form new friendships.
It brought us together as friends. It’s something outside of farming. As much as we all love it, when it’s something you do all day, every day, you can get tunnel vision a bit. It’s nice to come away from it and do something different. It’s great for teamwork and being active.
Gemma Day
Rea Valley YFC
The team practised in the run up to the final – playing against neighbouring club Whittington and Owestry YFC and with a local rounders club.
“Two of the members of the team came up with a plan and decided what everyone’s strengths were and put people in different places, depending on what they were good at,” explained Gemma.
“I was quietly optimistic as we did well at the County Sports Day. I don’t think we were expecting to win but we thought we might get to the semi final. It was really good when we did win. It was a really good day, the weather was great, which helps, and the grounds were lovely.”
The Men’s winning Hockey team was made up of a mixture of clubs from Lincolnshire – but most players had some level of hockey experience.
Alexander Armstrong, a member of Wragby YFC, plays for a local hockey club and so jumped at the chance to take part in the competition for YFC.
Most of us play hockey outside of young farmers and we all knew each other so we worked well as a team. I usually go for the sports competitions in YFC because I play hockey outside of YFC, so whether it’s football or rugby, I’ll go for it!
Alexander Armstrong
Wragby YFC
Despite regular practises with their respective hockey clubs, the Lincolnshire team of young farmers hadn’t managed to play a match together before the national final.
“We hadn’t really practised before we got to the final. Having experience in the sport helped. Some of the teams were good, which shocked us a bit, but we pulled through,” said Alex who is a big fan of the sports competitions in YFC.
“It’s definitely a good thing that YFC offers sports competitions. You have a lot of speaking competitions but some people might not be into that, they might be a more sporty person.”
Seven YFC members from Yorkshire beat off nine other teams to win the Mixed Basketball competition. All the members who are aged between 10 and 16 years old, won the trophy for the County.
