Kevin Henderson, Lurgan Social
Kevin Henderson is another dedicated worker for the sport, a Committee Member of the NIPA Sect E he has been for a number of years the Centre Manager in the Lurgan Centre getting great assistance from Denis Lyness and a team of good workers. I hope to feature Lurgan this year in my list of early results from around the country now they are getting up to speed with computer, e-mail and photos to my phone. In his hey-day Kevin cleaned up at all the major shows and he can race a bit as well. Last season the loft had major results and the end of the old bird season from Penzance and St Malo. From Penzance the loft won 1st Club, 3rd Sect & 3rd Open NIPA recording velocity 1380. In the duplicate Penzance OB Classic the loft finished 1st Club, 3rd Sect & 3rd Open NIPA 478/3,249 plus £304 and 4th Open in the Queens Jubilee Race, a race won by G & A Campbell of Armagh HPS. The Penzance bird was bred by the Dollingstown ace flyer Davy Mawhinney, one of his famous Vandenabeele family that have had great success.
His good 5yo Blue Pied cock was to win a Bronze Diploma in the NIPA from St Malo in France. 2011: 21st Sect E & 42nd Open NIPA 504/1597 doing velocity 1510. 2012: 3rd Sect E & 14th Open NIPA 464/1408 doing velocity 1351. Total winnings were £360. Two great results Kevin, best wishes for 2013.
Lurgan area lost one of its ace fanciers recently with the passing of Jackie Patience who raced the famous Kenyon birds and Busschaerts. He won 1st Open NIPA in the Bude smash of 1991 but no doubt his greatest achievement was winning 1st and 2nd Open Kings Cup Grand National from Rennes in 1995 with two great hens “Lady Virtue” and “Miss Mac”. The latter bird was bred by his close friend Allan McDonald of Portadown who himself was also a Kings Cup winner. Jackie was Ass Secretary to Allan at the Irish Nat FC for a number of years, and served the sport well during his time at the RPRA (Irish Region). He was an authority on the rules and gave good advice on many occasions. He was a fancier who gave a lot to the sport and enjoyed great success include winning the Blue Riband of the sport the Kings Cup. Even in failing health he was a regular attender at the INFC race marking. He will be sadly missed by his wide circle of friends in the sport. Homer.