Rain stops play

However, last week Falkirk Community Trust cancelled the Battalion booking for our
annual cross country com-petitions at Callendar Park on February 6 as the condition of the park is unsafe, with more rain expected. Possible rearrangement for a week later clashed with some companies plans to use the schools being off to facilitate trips. (Hopefully we will hear of such excursions such as 1st Denny and Dunipace from Westpark Church, off to Dalguise).

However, by postponing the new basketball com-petition and weather dependant, the cross country may be possible for February 20, for it is important to have a chance not just for so many boys to compete but for the convenor to assess the abilities of runners and choose teams to represent us in the BB Scottish event on March 19 in Stirling.

Wet weather is further affecting things for our companies, for Russell Croal from 3rd Falkirk (Peoples Church) informs me that their planned annual adventure to Scott Lodge, the Dundee Battalion Outdoor Centre in Glen Clova, Angus, has also had to be cancelled, as, following recent storms the centre is without electricity and water supplies; also the adjacent river damaged the access road, all of which will have to be put right before bookings may be rescheduled.

Two planned battalion events on the February 27 should not be affected by the weather, or is that tempting fate? The annual swimming gala for both Junior and Company Sections must indeed have it ‘wet’ and the ‘Building Your Skills’ leader’s training course on the same day should be cosily indoors.

I received a picture of the 1st Larbert (West Church) junior five-a-side teams recently victorious in the battalion event and am reminded of the need for companies to send photos of their boys to Neil McLennan of 2nd Bo’ness (St Andrew’s Church) for inclusion in the roll call part of ‘TurnaBBouT’.