Portrush Lifeboat Blog

Portrush Lifeboat Blog: Raft Race 2011

2011-05-08T21:11:00.001+01:00

Portrush Lifeboat Blog: Raft Race 2011
www.portrushraftrace.co.uk

Portrush Lifeboat Blog: Raft Race 2011

2011-05-08T21:11:00.000+01:00

Portrush Lifeboat Blog: Raft Race 2011
www.portrushraftrace.co.uk

Portrush Lifeboat Blog: Raft Race 2011

2011-05-08T21:08:00.000+01:00

Portrush Lifeboat Blog: Raft Race 2011
New Web page for the Raft Race

Pictures of Raft Race

2011-04-28T23:31:00.002+01:00

The Raft Race peole are appealing for photos from Raft races in years gone by for thier new web page....if you are happy to share, can you send to press@portrushlifeboat.com?
Much appreciated!!

Raft Race 2011

2011-04-28T23:24:00.002+01:00

Hi Everyone
This year is the 30th Anniversary of Portrush CharityRaft Race. Dates are 28th and 29th May 2011 and there is a whole programme of events organised. Thanks once again to the Causeway Coast SPAR retail group...Martin Culbertson, Kenny Bradley and Wesley Wilkinson and the rest of the SPAR guys!

Need to get building folks as the big day is looming...............New Raft race website is being organised ...watch this space!!
More info to follow

Portush Lifeboat Station

2011-04-27T21:18:00.002+01:00

Hi Everyone
We are updating our website, so by the summer 2011, we will have more info, pictures etc. e will have up to date information on shouts and rescues. Anything you'd like to see give us a shout on press@portrushlifeboat.com
Many thanks

Update On Portrush

2009-12-05T13:48:00.002Z

Hi Everyone
Sorry w have been quiet on this page for a while...Just to let you know we have a page on Facebook, so will regular updates events, news etc posted there as well as getting our web page sorted again
Any suggestions, pictues etc will be gratefully received
Please e-mail to judy@portrushlifeboat.com
By the way, planning has started for Raft Race 2010 already...Thanks again to Causeway SPAR Reatila Group for their very generous sponsorship once again. We are also looking for people to help us with the organisation of RR so please let us know if there's anything you can do!
Thanks
JB

Pictures of Raft Race 2009 (thanks Michael Hunter)

2009-05-28T20:28:00.005+01:00

SPAR RNLI CHARITY RAFT RACE 2009

2009-05-25T17:47:00.004+01:00

HELLO & THANK YOU ALL YOU 2009 RAFTERS!

Thanks so much for taking part on Saturday in the worst conditions imaginable! We had 83 rafts which has been one of our best entry fields so far in the history of the event!
Results and updates are being prepared at the minute to go on our main page.

The Raft Race Committee and the crew of Portrush Lifeboat Station would like to sincerely thank you and your supporters for turning out on Saturday.

Our provisional total stands at £25k so far and we are still waiting on money to come in!
Many thanks to SPAR retail our sponsors, Coleraine Borough Council,all the people who manned the Spring Stalls, Longmountain Gallery for the art exhibition and our friends in the Press who are always so supportive.

Thanks again everyone and remember next years race will be on Saturday 29th May 2010!!

FLORA LONDON MARATHON

2009-04-30T12:35:00.002+01:00

Well done to Andrea McGrattan and Jonathan Lyttle our Coastguard colleagues who completed the London Marathon on Sunday 26th May in aid of the RNLI. Jonathan said it was a fantastic experience and the RNLI gave them great support, before, during and after the event.

Update SPAR Portrush Raft Race

2009-03-21T13:00:00.003Z

RAFT RACE 2009

The Raft Race Committee are delighted that SPAR will be our main sponsor for this year. Thanks to the Local Spar Group for their support so far.

Entry packs are now available by e-mailing judy@portrushlifeboat.com, or by ringing the Raft Race Hotline number on 07969814605

Registration will be on the day 23rd May between 10am and 2pm only and beach slots will be allocated on a 1st come 1st served basis, so the earlier you register the better.

GET BUILDING EVERYONE FOR THE PORTRUSH LIFEBOATS!!

DUCK DIVE

2009-03-13T15:29:00.002Z

Don't Forget the Annual St Patrick' s Day Duck Dive at the Herring Pond in Portstewart. The fun starts at 1pm when the eejits will take to the water to raise funds for Portrush Lifeboat Station.
Early indications are that the weather will be good and the Two Portrush Lifeboats will be there to keep an eye on proceedings. This will be the first Duck Dive outing for the 'William Gordon Burr' as it was our replacement lifeboat that was on duty last year.

Thanks to all the organisers of the Duck Dive from all at Portrush Station...See you all on Tuesday 17th!

SPAR PORTRUSH RNLI RAFT RACE 2009

2009-03-13T15:18:00.002Z

Application packs are now ready for the Raft Race which will be held on 23rd May 2009.

Those of you who have already contacted us via the website will have your packs very soon. Everyone else can order a pack via e-mail on judy@portrushlifeboat.com

Lifeboat Management Group Open Meeting

2008-06-18T20:39:00.002+01:00

Portrush Lifeboat Management Group will be holding their Annual Open Meeting next Thursday 26th June at 19.30hours in the Lifeboat House in Kerr Street. At this meeting you will get an update on the operations, financial and fundraising activities plus a report from Headquarters. Everyone welcome to attend. If you are intending to come please contact us via our website or on mobile 07736923936

UTV Documentary Airs 20th June

2008-06-16T19:02:00.005+01:00

The seven part series on Portrush Lifeboat Station will be aired from Friday 20th June at 8pm on UTV. "Portrush Sea Rescue" will feature rescues and clips from volunteer crew members talking how being a member of the Lifeboat crew has become a way of life for them.

Riverfest Competition 15th June 2008

2008-06-16T12:15:00.005+01:00

Well done to the Portrush Lifeboat Team who came 3rd in the Riverfest kayaking competition. Our team members were Kelly Allen, Nick Christie, Greg Lockhart, and David Conley. Thanks to crew member Ivan Bell who mentored the team.
Congratulations!

UTV Documentary: "Portrush Sea Rescue"

2008-06-09T20:16:00.005+01:00

Watch this space for news about the Ulster Television programme on Portrush Lifeboat Station.

Documentary film maker Iain Webster spent last summer with the crew of the Lifeboat Station. We will soon be able to announce details of when this series will be shown.

RNLI Awards Ceremony

2008-06-01T17:29:00.003+01:00

Congratulations to our fundraisers who received awards at the Annual RNLI Award ceremony in Cultra on Thursday 29th May. It was a beautiful evening, enjoyed by all. Philip McNamara Coxswain from Donaghadee presented the awards to

Jean Burgess the super sales lady in the Portrush Shop-I dare you to get out without buying something!
Ernie Shields, Portrush: Gerry Doran Ballycastle: All Bronze Awards
Adrian Park who sadly died in April also received a bronze award for his work for the RNLI
Dorothy Weeks who got a Silver badge for a great job in boosting sales in the Portrush Shop
Rodney Byrne, Portrush Branch and David Cheal, Coleraine Branch also received Silver Awards for their unstinting support and work for the RNLI.
Congratulations from the Management Team and Crew in Portrush

Raft Race 2008 Results

2008-05-25T10:29:00.006+01:00

The weather was there, the crowds were there and the atmosphere was most definitely there! At the ASDA PORTRUSH CHARITY RAFT RACE in aid of the RNLI.

The new Portrush Lifeboat ‘The William Gordon Burr’ was shown off on her first PR exercise with 2nd Deputy Coxswain Des Austin at the helm, whilst the other 2nd deputy Cox Mark Mitchell did the commentary from the South Pier explaining about her history.

The craic amongst the rafters on the beach was great and when the Field Gun went off the race was on! However, nobody was going to beat those boys from the Hawthorne Inn! They were on a roll - all that practising on the River Bann had paid off.

All in all it was a super day.

Position	Team Name	Raft Number
1	Hawthorne inn	33
2	Brian Matchett & Sons Fabrication	72
3	Portstewart AMS	3
4	Turd De France	51
5	Sure and Steadfast	39
6	White Lightning 1	38
7	Catch Me If You Can	79
8	C R Morrow.com	71
9	Wind Power	30
10	Pulse 2	25

Prize-winners

Position	Team Name	Raft Number
1st Overall	Hawthorne Inn Portglenone	33
Best Dressed Team	The Black Albatross (NHS Richard Henry Belfast)	54
Best Named Raft	Boom or Bust (Armstrong & Gordon Estate Agent)	4
Most Sponsorship	Croaking Crusher (Northstone Quarry)	63
Most Heroic Failure	Motor Floater	9

Junior Raft race

1st	Jenny Mairs & Sophie McCoy
2nd (JOINT)	Erin Smith & Daniel Smith
2nd (JOINT)	Simon King & Mathew Bertenshaw

Winner Children’s Fancy Dress

Catherine Minford as Elizabeth from Pirates of the Caribbean (also the best dressed lady on the day!)

Raft Race 2008

2008-05-24T18:00:00.001+01:00

Thank you to everyone who made RR08 one of the BEST EVER! We all had a super day and hope you had too! The sun shone and the craic was mighty. You were fantastic competitors!
A BIG Thank you to ASDA who again sponsored us, we couldn’t have done it without you
Also to Coleraine Borough Council Big thanks!
But mainly thanks to all you MAD rafters - you never cease to amaze us!

Raft Race 2008 Programme

2008-05-19T09:37:00.001+01:00

YES! It's Raft Race time again and I have it on good authority (WELL Rose Neill on BBC News) that the weather is going to be good. We seem to have a lot of entries this year so it is shaping up to be a really good weekend.

Remember we will take entries tomorrow right up to 3pm if you have the entry fee. This money all goes to the RNLI and helps to train our volunteer crews and to keep our two Lifeboats operational.

We are very pleased this year to unveil our new Lifeboat 'The William Gordon Burr' who will be carrying out her first public relations duty tomorrow with the crew.

On Sunday after the Church Service in the beautifully restored Town Hall in Portrush (everyone welcome), there is the first ever Beach Volleyball Competition organised by Brian Moore of Club Soi... Northern Ireland v The Rest of the World. Portrush Lifeboat Crew might even be persuaded to try their hand at this!

The History Book From Laura to Katie written by our Station historian Hugh McGrattan will be on sale in the lifeboat shop and this really is a beautiful informative book for anybody to have in their collection.

So Come to Portrush this Bank Holiday Weekend and enjoy the atmosphere of Raft Race 2008!

Download the Programme of Events here. Any queries call the RR08 Hotline 07969814605, our e-mail us at the station judy@portrushlifeboat.com

RNLI Fundraising Art Sale

2008-05-16T09:54:00.001+01:00

On the evening of Friday 23rd May from 5 to 9pm and throughout Raft Race day on Saturday 24th May, long mountain gallery.com will be holding a sale of Irish art to raise funds for the RNLI.

The sale will be held in the Portrush Town Hall and will have a very interesting and varied range of approximately 100 pieces of artwork available. Artists will include Edith McClelland, Terence Butcher, Charles Conlon, Amanda Millar, Markey Robinson, Derek McAfee, David Wight, Ruth Irvine, Colin Gibson, Michelle Carlin, J P Rooney, J McKendry, Sam McClarnon and others.

All purchases will be available for collection between 4 and 6pm on Saturday 24th at the Portrush Town Hall.

Some of the artwork that will be available at the sale can be previewed by visiting www.longmountaingallery.com

For more information call Alastair on 07737065577 or email info@longmountaingallery.com

There will also be charcoal prints on offer of the famous picture of the Lifeboat leaving Portrush Harbour in the Storm

The William Gordon Burr

2008-05-13T09:45:00.005+01:00

Portrush Lifeboat crew are pleased to announce that our new Lifeboat has been confirmed. The William Gordon Burr was confirmed on Monday night at the crew meeting as our new permanent replacement for 'The Katie Hannan'.

The William Gordon Burr has been in Portrush before as relief for Katie so the crew are not unfamiliar with her.
The boat has been on 62 services and saved 6 lives, so the record is good. The crew and team at the Station are delighted to have a permanent lifeboat and have already completed their first service from Portrush with newly appointed second Deputy Coxswain Desmond Austin at the helm.
The crew are indebted to Mrs Norah Burr from Yorkshire who left the legacy to the RNLI in memory of her son.

More Pictures here.

A History of Portrush Lifeboat Station

2008-05-07T21:09:00.006+01:00

Hugh McGrattan, archivist and historian for Portrush Lifeboat Station has written a book detailing the long history of the history of Portrush Lifeboat Station. In his book Hugh covers the lifeboats, talks about crew and characters and some of the more notable services that have taken place. The pictures contained in the book themselves tell a story, and were a surprise to many who gathered at the Lifeboat House for the official launch.

The book was officially launched by Paul Clarke from UTV on 1st May with crew members, family, friends and supporters of the Lifeboats in attendance.

The evening was a great success and Hugh spent the evening signing books and chatting with people who had contributed one way or another to the book.

The book itself is comprehensive in that it finishes with the Grounding of 'The Katie Hannan' on Rathlin Island in January 2008. On the front of the book is a beautiful painting of the lifeboat by Hugh's friend Dr Desmond Millar.

The book is now on sale in the Lifeboat Shop at a cost of £15 (all proceeds going towards the RNLI).

Belfast Marathon

2008-05-05T18:00:00.001+01:00

Well done to our marathon Teams and two individual runners who took part in the Belfast Marathon on 5th May. The weather was beautiful and we had a great day. Thanks to David Boyd of Roadside garages who once again sponsored the Team Bus.
And for those of you who are dying to know YES! Anthony DID RUN!!
You can still sponsor the teams at www.justgiving/portrushlifeboats
We'll let you know how much we raised when all monies are in.

If you want to run for us in the Dublin Marathon, please let us know!