News

On Friday 16^th August 2013, Belfast Eagle had their first two day summer camp for all cadets of Belfast Eagle. On the Friday, cadets participated in orienteering, swimming and camping near Antrim. Before cadets were able to go to bed on the Friday, cadets had to set up camp which involved putting up tents and creating a camp fire. Once camp was set up, cadets enjoyed a barbecue and toasting marshmallows on the camp fire.

After a long night and lack of sleep, cadets on the second day had the enjoyment of making rabbit soup and participating in Archery. For the rabbit soup, half of the cadets peeled, chopped and cooked all the vegetables while the other half had the task of gutting three rabbits which involved the removal of legs, head, hair and insides.

Overall, all the cadets that attended the camp highly enjoyed themselves and are looking forward for future unit camps. Belfast Eagle would like to thank all of the staff that gave up their free time to make the camp possible and to Mark and Michelle Hunter for allowing us to use their garden to camp

On Saturday 10^th August 2013, Belfast Eagle Sea Cadets completed one of their annual big packs in Tesco on the Ballygomartin Road, Belfast between 1100 – 1800. Cadets showed up in their best uniforms and pulled together to ensure that they packed as many bags as possible during the stores busiest trading day.

After all the hard work that both cadets and staff put into packing, Belfast Eagle Sea Cadets were able to raise an amazing £892.47. This money will help towards the completion of Belfast Eagle’s new unit and towards training of cadets.

Belfast Eagle would like to thank Tesco on the Ballygomartin Road for allowing us to carry out the bag pack, the cadets and staff for giving up their free time to help out and to the customers of Tesco for their generosity, without all these people, this money could not have been raised

Belfast Eagle would like to congratulate AC Rachel Hanna, OC Courtney Dougan, CDT Connie Dalton and CDT James Moore on receiving their Level 1 Power Boating qualification. To gain this, these four cadets had to attend a two day course between Saturday 3^rd August and Sunday 4^th August. During these days, all four cadets had to complete a number of theory lessons, carry out a number of manoeuvres and undertake a practical assessment.

During the Northern Area Summer Camp, 21^st – 27^th July, both LC Amy Kingston and APOC Nikita McCoubrey both received their Rowing Coxswain and Rowing Instructors qualifications. To gain this, both cadets had to travel to Scotland and spend a week shadowing other Rowing Instructors, teaching cadets how to row and undertake a practical assessment.

Belfast Eagle would like to congratulate these two cadets on their new qualifications and the hard pre work they done to ensure they gained this qualification.

CANOEING
Five cadets from Belfast Eagle Sea Cadets Unit made a stunning performance at this years National Sea Cadet Regatta in London. The four weeks of gruelling training three nights a week surely paid off for Eagle.

(AC) Alex Walker came back to Eagle Unit with two Gold medals, stealing first place in the Senior Girls Doubles and Girls Open Relay race. (POC) Lewis Tipping topped a personal best gaining silver in the Senior Boys Doubles. (OC) Rachel Hanna and Amy Kingston teamed up together and got a dramatic first place win against their rival SW area. Again Rachel, Amy and (Cdt) Courtney Dougan did the N. Ireland District and their unit proud coming in second place. The three cadets narrowly missed another gold medal in a exciting display of teamwork and sheer determination!

The green shirts undoubtedly dominated the day, winning four out of five trophies on offer and merely missing the fifth by one point! The N. Ireland cadets stole the regatta, in total bringing home at 22 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze medals. Out of the 24 strong team, every cadet came home with at least one medal each. For the first time in 10 years the N. Ireland team beat all their rival U.K areas and proudly brought home ‘The Armitage Trophy’ (the overall Kayaking Trophy).