Big-hearted councillors raise over £2,000 for two charities

Big-hearted councillors raise over £2,000 for two charities

28 October 2015

TWO big hearted politicians have raised over £2,000 in the latest of their sporting challenges.

Billy Walker, from the DUP, and the SDLP’s Terry Andrews picked up the golf clubs on Saturday to raise money for the Killyleagh Youth In Centre and the Alzheimer’s Society.

It is the second charity challenge put on by the battling councillors after they raised several thousand pounds last year in a special challenge boxing match held in Killyleagh.

Bright Castle Golf Club was the venue on Saturday when over 65 local golfers joined the councillors over the parkland course. But while the experienced golfers set off on the normal 18 holes, the inexperienced politicians agreed to play the best of three holes.

Councillor Andrews got off to a slow start and it took councillor Walker just two holes to claim victory.

Councillor Walker scored an eight at the par four compared to councillor Andrews’ 15 strokes. Any hope of a fightback disappeared at the next hole when councillor Andrews found the bunker and struggled to get out. 

Challenge referee Chris Hagan said: “For two people who had never swung a golf club before, it was great fun and needless to say, full of laughs.

“I think councillor Walker had taken secret lessons, how else can you explain the absence of fresh air shots and a close to par opener? So if councillor Andrews wants to lodge a protest, we will look at it.

“Seriously councillors Andrews and Walker have shown again that they have big, big hearts which is why so many people, including councillors from all parties, supported their efforts. They are leading by example. On behalf of the young people of Killyleagh, Shrigley and district I would thank them for their fundraising efforts which we will use to take the kids on bus trips and provide extra activities.

“The challenges for next year are coming in already — a bake off, a skiff boat race across the harbour bay and a 100 metres dash down Killyleagh High Street,” said Chris.

The councillors have thanked everyone who took part in the day and who supported them through sponsorship and fundraising.

“Without the sponsors and the people who supplied the prizes for the ballot the event wouldn’t have been such a success,” said councillor Walker.

“Even though on the day I gave ‘Tiger’ Andrews a hammering, it was all about the charities and it was our privilege to be able to help them. The Killyleagh Youth Drop In takes many youngsters off the streets and all on a shoestring budget so it was great to be able to do a little to help.”

And he revealed the golf competition may become an annual event, probably in June while the pair are up to do other challenges in October and are open for suggestions.

Councillor Andrews they were delighted to have raised almost £2,000 which will go to two very good causes.

“Billy may have won but the real winners were the charities,” he said. “I would like to thank the management of Bright Castle who couldn’t have been more welcoming to us. It was a great day.

“There have been a number of suggestions for our next challenge, including a sponsored slim, although Billy has already ruled that one out.”

In the golf competition, Ciaran Connolly was the winner of the initial cup competition. The runner up was Malachy McVeigh. The ladies winner was Barbara Ennis and the runner up was Rebecca Morrison. The winner of lowest gross was Michael Baggley.

The winner of the draw, open to all golfers who took part, for two tickets to the Irish Open at the K Club next year was Dale Baker.

The presentations were made by the chief executive of Newry, Mourne and Down Council, Liam Hannaway.

The ballot winners were: David Brogan, M Devlin, Karl Mason, Liz Murray, Alastair Jess, Eamon King, Linda Ennis, Chris Hagan, Judith Harper, Paddy Cushnahan, Ciara Toman and Ann Morrison.