Dictionary definition of the word ‘Countrysider’: n. Vibrant, competitive youth, fun-loving, well-behaved junior Young Farmer who is up for a challenge. Participates in Conservation, Bowling Stockjudging, Rounders, Tractor driving, Public Speaking, Bricklaying, Camping - in fact will take part in most activities as long as mum or dad or anyone will take them!

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

DATE	VENUE	COMPETITION / EVENT
30TH AUGUST - 3RD SEPTEMBER	OAKLANDS MANOR, BUXTON, DERBYSHIRE	Are you 14 - 17 ?? Do you fancy doing some outdoor activities too numerous to mention ??
Sunday 24th January	No 10, Bowthorpe, Norwich	Ten Pin bowling - booking in at 1.15 pm
Sunday 21st February	Quasar, Norwich	Lazerquest Challenge - booking in at 10.45 am to start play at 11.00 am
Thursday 15th April	Norfolk Showground	Spring Fling - tickets from the showground or EDP (these go fast )
Friday 16th April		Countrysiders Ball - tickets now being sold - please call county if you would like to attend - tickets £18.00
Thursday 29th April	Easton College Sports Centre	Bidwells Quest - 7.00 pm start
Sunday 9th May		Farm Event - starting at 10.00 - programe out
28th-30th May	Salhouse Broad	Countrysiders Campout - Thank you to the members and helpers for making it such a great weekend
Sunday 6th June	Easton College Open Day	Pre Rally - see pre rally competitions page
Sunday 11th July	Norfolk Showground	YFC Rally - details on Rally page

If you would like a Countrysider's Polo shirt - please click on the to download

the order form

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT COUNTRYSIDERS - READ ON

The Annual Ball

The Countrysiders arrive looking like film stars! The photographer is there to capture the glamour. The girls look spectacular in their posh frocks with their high heels and hairdo’s and the guys are magnificent with their white shirts and bow ties. After cocktails on arrival the party goers tuck in to a three course dinner that is served by a fantastic collection of senior YFC members who work frantically on the cocktail bar in between courses. After the meal there is the disco hosted by our very own Dereham Senior member Rob Copeland. The partygoers dance their socks off the rest of the evening to a glorious amount of cheesy music with YMCA, Grease and loads of others which are probably older than they are!

The Annual Campout

There was no problem making sure the campsite was orderly in May 2008 – the Countrysiders put their tents up along the stripes on the lawn! This along with luxury trailer type Portaloos very much set the scene for this year’s Campout by kind invitation of John & Melinda Raker of Croxton Park, near Thetford. Needless to say we had a wonderful time. Eighty enthusiastic Countrysiders rolled up their sleeves on Saturday morning (after not much sleep Friday night!) and went off in groups of 8 to 12 with their group leaders and helpers to set about their first task of the day.

As every year there was a wide variety of jobs to be done. A new pond had been dug out and was ready to be planted. The Countrysiders climbed onto a trailer and were taken to the pond plant nursery on the farm, collected several trays of pond plants and then took them to the new pond which hadn’t been completely filled with water. This made planting very easy! The following morning much to the Leaders surprise the pond had been filled with water and planting just got a whole lot messier!

There were lots of other tasks to be done which all involved hard work and loads of fun. As always our grateful thanks go to our hosts and all the Leaders and Helpers who help towards making this weekend the success is always is.

Competitions – Lots of!

You name it – and we will have a go at doing it, and if we can turn it into a competition so much the better! There are 3 blocks of competitions throughout the year. In the first block there is the Winter competitions day, held at Easton College and include comps such as Indoor Hockey, Drama, and mince pies. Also, in January there is a swimming gala. In block 2 there is Ten Pin Bowling and the Bidwells Quest – a quiz and hands on competition. In block 3 there is the Farm Event which includes stockjudging, tractor driving plus lots more! Also there is the Pre-Rally competitions day which usually has Rounders amongst other things and then there is the biggest Comps day of the Year which is called The Rally. This is held in July at the Royal Norfolk Showground and every club from around the County – all the Senior clubs and all the Countrysider clubs - are there competing in the hundreds of competitions on offer. It finishes with a variety of sports in the afternoon which are all a bit mad and really good fun. Lots of trophies are there to be won and everyone wants to win something!