Homer's Odyssey - 20/02/09

[willie reynolds]

Nelson Weir wins Fancier of the Year Crown Yet Again !

The Famous Grouse public house and restaurant sited on the Loughgall Road on the outskirts of Portadown, played host to the Annual Dinner and Prize Distribution last Friday evening the 9th of January for what can only be described as one of the most competitive Combines in the UK. The Orchard Combine have now entered there 13th year of existence and continue to go from strength to strength and a lot of that recently is down to the hard working Secretary Sonya Beattie who received a standing ovation during the evening for her relentless efforts in keeping the Combine going in the right direction. The vast majority of the membership are members of the very competitive Section E of the mighty NIPA, which contains some of the biggest names ever to fly pigeons into Northern Ireland.

Celeste and I travelled down following a hectic week work wise, arriving well on time for the serving of the meal at 8.00pm despite appalling driving conditions. The organisational aspect of the evening was of the highest order, and on speaking to Sonya Beattie prior to the function she was full of praise towards her husband Alan Beattie who looked after so much of the pre function requirements. We had the pleasure of sitting beside Richard and Irene Donnelly part of the 2008 Friendship National winning team who as everybody knows race a good pigeon to their lofts on the outskirts of Newry City. Also seated at the top table was the treasurer of the Orchard Combine Mr Jeffery Hawthorne and Secretary Sonya Beattie.

Following a very impressive 4 course meal enjoyed by somewhere in the region of 100 attendees, stand in Chairman for the evening and former founder member of the Orchard Combine Dessie Graham took to the floor and upon welcoming everybody in attendance he introduced the quests who included Richard & Irene Donnelly and Adie & Celeste McCormick, he went on to elaborate on yet another very successful year for the Combine giving special praise to all the prize winners even the ones down the prize list, for as he quite rightly said when you consider that even finishing 18th, 19th or 20th in the Combine can more weeks than not put you in the top 50 of the NIPA Open with 20,000+ pigeons competing which is most often the case. To praise Sonya Beattie once again, for her paper work was well put together and every table had a prize distribution dinner card produced by Sonya herself to keep everybody informed on whom was winning what with the first three and their velocities mentioned for all the races, Sonya was also responsible for the printing of the Fancier of the Year points diplomas and the Y/Bird race diplomas. The cards on the tables was nothing like what Dessie was given to work from, it had all the detail on it including where all the fanciers just didn’t finish in the Combine, but both were they finished in the NIPA Section and Open result, with doing many dinner reports and checking up on performances for fanciers this can be a very long time consuming project. Unfortunately for me I hadn’t the sense to get the copy that Dessie was reading from at the end of the night so had to sit and go through all the results myself, and it was only then that you start to appreciate just how competitive this Orchard Combine is more weeks than not the members where featuring very highly in the NIPA Open result and indeed three fanciers went on to win NIPA Open’s during the course of 2008.

The man of the moment needs no introductions and I accompanied with my wife had pleasure of his company during most of the evening that being Nelson Weir of Loughgall, Nelson lifted the Orchard Combine Fancier of the Year Crown for a record 8th time last Friday evening, to a din of re-sounding applause from all in attendance. You could genuinely say that Nelson who lives in Loughgall which is about 10 miles to the west of Portadown Town Centre does not seek the glorification that flying achievements such as his should duly receive, and when I hit him with some questions during the course of the evening reference records and number of wins etc, he was very adamant that the races are their to be won, it just happened to be his year when all things fell into place. He like so many in the room were full of praise for the Combine and he openly admits that it is the members who make pigeon racing what it is today and the enjoyment only comes from what you are willing to put into your hobby and how you look at it. As he explained success is success but you wouldn’t be successful in anything unless you had competition, so in all Nelson was duly thanking his fellow pigeon fanciers for making the pigeon scene an enjoyable one for him winning or not winning, as he quite rightly admitted there is far more to be got out of pigeons than just winning races and he is more than happy to be surrounded by a wonderful array of fanciers that he can call friends. Nelson Weirs achievements this year are no different to the performances he has been putting up year in year out since the start of the 90’s. He races a superb team of the Fletcher FVW and Busschaerts from Tracey Andrews which have been an instant success from the start after purchasing six in 1993 and little or nothing else has been introduced into the stock loft since.

I have compiled a little research through the results database for 2008 and come up with the following for Nelson this is an example of what is required to become Orchard Combine Fancier of the Year. The first O/Bird race of 2008 was from Mullingar on Saturday 12th of April, the Nelson loft finished 1st Club, 23rd Section E NIPA 122 members sending 2,400 pigeons this was just a run out for the loft for the following week from Tullamore the loft finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Club to start in the NIPA Section E which had 3,637 pigeons competing he finished 1st, 17th and 30th. In the over-all NIPA Open result with 1,015 members sending 19,496 pigeons he finished 4th, 63rd and 139th Open. From Roscrea still in the O/Birds he finished 1st club before going on to Pilmore Beach for two consecutive weeks on the first visit he was to finish 1st, 3rd and 4th Club in the Section competing you must remember against the best fancier in the world namely Ronnie Williamson to name just one he finished 18th, 34th and 36th against 5,430 pigeons in the over-all NIPA result those three arrivals finished 26th, 53rd and 56th Open against just over 27,000 pigeons. The second stint at Pilmore was just as successful if not better in the Loughgall Club he took the first four positions, in Section E of the NIPA with 216 members sending 4,886 pigeons he finished 7th, 15th, 58th and 59th which seen him finish 13th, 25th, 118th and 121st Open NIPA with 21,745 pigeons competing. The loft was starting to hit form and as a team they were performing as Nelson has told me previously he doesn’t mind being late any week as long as the team performance is their, the following week if he needed any proof of this Talbenny the first cross channel event of the season was to answer just that, the loft finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th Club, in the Section E of the NIPA he finished 1st, 4th, 12th, 14th, 23rd, 49th, 61st and 102nd with 3,457 pigeons competing but the icing on the cake must surely have been the NIPA Open Result with 13,774 pigeons competing for the loft finished 1st, 4th , 13th, 15th, 27th, 56th, 68th and 128th.

Next up the NIPA held their Yearling Cocks and Hens National in the latter event Nelson finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 1st, 6th and 26th Section E and 5th, 22nd and 92nd Open NIPA yet another excellent performance. Fermoy followed as did Nelson’s excellent season he finished 1st and 3rd Club, 5th and 23rd Section E and 12th and 110th Open NIPA with 5,657 pigeons competing. South Wales and the return to Talbenny was next on the cards for the NIPA and Nelson on this occasion finished 3rd and 4th Club, 40th and 47th Section E with 2,756 pigeons competing and he went on that day to take 87th and 100th Open NIPA against 11,333 entries. Many would have been contemplating maybe this was a sign that hey had done enough for one season, but not Nelson Sennen Cove was next on the horizon and the team didn’t let the loft down finishing 1st, 2nd & 5th Club, 9th, 12th and 41st Section E NIPA with 2,378 pigeons competing in the over-all NIPA result these three arrivals finished 14th, 35th and 139th Open respectively with just short of 9,000 pigeons in competition. In the Classic event from the same race point once again a 1st, 2nd & 5th Club, this time in the Section result he finished 9th, 12th and 35th and ended up 12, 26th and 94th Open NIPA. The Y/Birds in 2008 just weren’t as prolific as what they were in 2007, that year Nelson recorded no less than 5 x 1st Combine success’s, you will have noticed that I haven’t included any Combine success’s yet in this report as I have all the races detailed for the Combine and will run through them once I have finished this results profile on the 8 x times Fancier of the Year Nelson Weir. Nelson had all the hard work completed in the O/Birds and when the Y/Birds started he was instantly knocking on the door once again. From Roscrea the loft finished 1st Club, 11th Section E with 5,539 pigeons competing this Club winner finished 79th in the over-all NIPA Open result competing against one of the biggest birdages of the Y/Bird programme 26,568. Nest up we have Tullamore a race point that proved successful for Nelson in the O/Birds proved just as successful with the Y/Birds the loft recorded 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 34th and 37th Section E NIPA with 3,565 pigeons competing, the over-all NIPA result wasn’t bad either finishing 38th, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 102nd and 106th Open with 683 members sending a combined birdage of 15,941 pigeons. The loft success followed from Tullamore to Fermoy as it did on the O/Birds on this occasion Nelson’s team were to finish 1st, 2nd & 3rd Club, 32nd, 60th and 70th Section E NIPA against 3,149 pigeons they all made the NIPA Open Result competing against 11,099 pigeons they finished 86th, 129th and 160th respectively. A couple of the INFC Results that I will touch on is the Yearling National where the loft finished 184th Open with 829 members from all over Ireland sending 4,173 birds and the other is the Skibbereen Y/Bird National towards the end of the year where the loft finished 79th, 81st and 202nd Open with some 3,400+ pigeons in competition. 2008 was yet another smashing season for one of the true gentlemen of the sport Nelson Weir of Loughgall and the warmth of applause around the room of the Famous Grouse cemented that fact.

Before I go now into all the races and mention the first three in the Combine Result I will list the over-all points table for the Orchard Combine in 2008. 1st with 421 points and Fancier of the Year in 2008 is Nelson Weir of Loughgall; 2nd with 373 points is the ever consistent Eamon Grew of Charlemont who I might add runs close to the title most years one of the all time consistent flyers in the area; 3rd with 257 points is the partnership of E Murtagh & Sons of Armagh; 4th Is yet again one of the respected Grew family this time on 240 points it is Patrick Grew who like his father had a smashing season; 5th on 231 points is former INFC National winner Sam Corrigan who had another impressive year at National and classic events; 6th on 230 points is the father and daughter loft that finished 2nd in the Glenavy Gold Ring Race in 2008 that being the G & A Campbell partnership of Armagh; 7th on 192 points is Roy Parkes & Son of Armagh once again; 8th Eamon & Matthew Curran of Armagh are next on 178 points; 9th falls to Cooney Bros of Monaghan on 175 points who finished 22nd Open in the INFC Y/B National in 2008; 10th on 150 points all achieved in Y/Birds I might add is Michael McGlinchey who had a very impressive season with the highlight finishing 33rd and 34th Open NIPA Pilmore Beach against 23,000+ pigeons; 11th on 139 points is William Corrigan who I was down to photograph during the Y/Bird season when he finished a very impressive 1st and 2nd Open from Tullamore with well over 6,000 pigeons competing; 12th on 126 points was Paddy Caughlan of Monaghan who had a very impressive season also with a couple of highlights being topping the Combine and finishing 56th Open in the Skibbereen O/B National with only four birds away and finishing 1st Combine 2nd Section and 16th Open Rosscarbery O/B National NIPA; 13th on 113 points is the Orchard Combine Chairman Stephen O’Brien who always has to be considered most weeks when he is competing. I see a number of credible performances put up by the loft which will be detailed in the next part of this report; 14th on 107 points and all again achieved in Y/Bird racing was the Armagh partnership of Ivan Parkes and Son; 15th went to D & C McArdle from Armagh on 95 points; 16th on 73 points we have from Markethill the partnership of Muldrew & Cummins who once again always have to be considered as Clonmel proved in 2008 when the loft topped the Combine finishing 11th Section and 78th Open against 26,149 pigeons; 17th on 73 points is the Combine Treasurer Jeffery Hawthorne (Hawthorne & Prescott); In 18th we have Brendan Corley of Monaghan; 19th goes to Anthony Geraghty of Armagh with 65 points and completing the top 20 we have the M McDowell & Son partnership of Markethill on 61 points.

First race in the O/Bird programme for the Orchard Combine was from Mullingar 1st Nelson Weir 1522, 2nd & 3rd Eamon Grew 1502 & 1498. Nelson went on to finish 23rd Section E. Tullamore next 1st Nelson Weir 1091, 2nd Roy Parkes & Son 1072 and 3rd Richard Mulligan 1069, these three went on to win 1st, 3rd and 4th Section E 3637 Birds and 4th, 19th and 22nd Open NIPA Respectively against 19,496 pigeons; Roscrea 1st E Murtagh & Sons 1763, 2nd O Toal & Son 1750, 3rd N Weir 1744 the Murtagh loft finished 18th Section 4393 birds and 91st Open NIPA 23,557 birds, O Toal & Son made the Section E result finishing 38th. Clonmel was next up on the 4th of May 1st Muldrew & Cummings 1860, 2nd Eamon Grew 1843, 3rd Roy Parkes & Son 1833, they finished 11th, 28th and 40th respectively in the NIPA Section E result with 4535 pigeons competing, the Combine winner was the only loft (Muldrew & Cummings) to make it into the NIPA Open result finishing 78th Open with 1191 members sending 26,149 pigeons. Paddy Grew stole the show the following week from Pilmore Beach finishing 1st & 2nd Combine on 1416 & 1404 with Roy Parkes & Son from Armagh in 3rd on 1402. They finished 2nd, 9th and 11th Section E with 5,430 birds competing in the over-all NIPA Open Paddy was very unlucky to be piped to 1st Open finishing 2nd with his 2nd combine pigeon finishing 11th Open and Roy Parkes and Son coming in at 15th Open some achievement with 27,000+ pigeon sent by one of the biggest competing membership totals of 2008 in the NIPA 1,232. The Rosscarbery O/B National with the NIPA was the next big event of the season and the Orchard Combine on this occasion was won by Paddy Caughlan on 1534, 2nd was Sam Corrigan on 1518 and Eamon Grew in 3rd on 1514, in the Section they finished 2nd, 8th and 12th and in the over-all NIPA Open with 6,900 pigeons competing they finished 2nd, 11th and 15th Open respectively some achievement for the Combine members. Back to Pilmore Beach on the 24th of May and the man in question was back to the fore Nelson Weir winning the Combine with a velocity of 1201, Stephen O’Brien from Monaghan finished 2nd and 3rd on 1191 and 1190, once again these were excellent achievements as far as the NIPA was concerned for the three pigeons finished 7th, 10th and 12th against 4,886 pigeons in the Section E result and in the NIPA Open 13th, 19th and 21st with 1168 members sending 21,745 pigeons. The Irish National Flying Club held their first race of 2008 from Skibbereen this being the O/Bird Inland National on the 30th of May topping the Combine just like he did in the NIPA O/B Inland National was Paddy Caughlan from Monaghan on a Velocity of 1235ypm 2nd went to M McDowell & Son of Markethill on 1221 with E Murtagh & Sons of Armagh in 3rd on 1210ypm, Paddy Caughlan finished 56th Open with M McDowell & Son of Markethill filling the 80th position in the over-all open result.with The 1st day of June seen the NIPA Transporters and indeed all organisations from here in Talbenny in South Wales for the first cross channel event of the season Nelson Weir was to lead the field in the Combine little was he aware on just what this race was to behold for him. Nelson finished 1st and 3rd Combine with Cooney Bros of Monaghan in 2nd spot, Velocities were 1302, 1287 and 1286 respectively, in the Section the three birds finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd Section E against 3,457 birds, going onto the over-all Open well Nelson Weir that day with a handful of pigeons that finished 1st, 4th, 13th, 15th, 27th, 56th, 68th and 128th against 13,774 pigeons. Cooney Bros of Monaghan who finished 2nd in the Combine and 2nd Section went on to finish 3rd Open over-all another cracking result for the Orchard Combine. The NIPA now for a number of years have run a Yearling cocks and Yearling Hens National event from Pilmore Beach, in 2008 from the Yearling cocks National Sam Corrigan topped the Combine on a velocity of 1504, 2nd was B & A Beattie & Son on 1479 and 3rd was Roy Parkes & Son on a Velocity of 1477, in the Section result all three finished 16th, 29th and 31st, with Sam finishing 66th Open and B & A Beattie & Son finishing 95th Open against 1,118 pigeons. The Yearling Hens National seen 1st and 2nd for Nelson Weir with Roy Parkes finishing 3rd and 4th in the Club, the Section result finished 1st & 6th for Nelson and 19th & 20th for Richard all were placed in the Open result with Nelson finishing up 4th and 22nd and Richard Parkes & Son 68th & 69th Open. From Fermoy Roy Parkes & Son kept up the pressure and finished 1st Combine on Vel 1551 ahead of Patrick Grew on 1526 and Nelson Weir in 3rd on 1520, in the NIPA Section E result the three pigeon in question finished 1st, 2nd and 5th and in the over-all NIPA Open making it three NIPA Open wins for the Combine boys Roy Parkes & Son of Armagh finished 1st Open with Patrick Grew ending up 6th and Nelson Weir 12th Open with 5,657 pigeons competing. Talbenny in South Wales was the return venue for some of the transporters as the Fermoy race previously mentioned was flew on the same day, from Talbenny it was some what of a different picture as Eamon & Matthew Curran nipped in to spoil what would have been a day to remember for the Parkes partnership the Curran boys finished 1st Combine with the Parkes loft in 2nd and Eamon Grew in 3rd, all three pigeons finished 6th, 35th and 36th Section respectively finishing from a convoy of 11,333 pigeons 16th, 72nd and 74th Open NIPA. As the distance increased this time from Bude it was the turn of Patrick Grew once again to top the Combine on a velocity of 1260, Stephen O’Brien finished 2nd on 1255 and E & M Curran on 1242, these three pigeon made both excellent positions in the Section and Open of the NIPA finishing 24th, 28th and 38th Section and 33rd, 39th and 62nd Open against 8,634 pigeons. The Mallow 5 Bird event was flown on the same day Roy Parkes was back to his best topping the Combine result sheet with a velocity of 1433, 2nd was Stephen O’Brien on 1423 who was keeping up his rich vain of form, in 3rd we had Gerard and Amy Campbell on 1419, like so many times in 2008 all made the NIPA Section E result finishing 2nd, 4th and 6th and in the over-all NIPA Open result 24th, 43rd and 49th against 2411 pigeons. The Irish National Flying Club was to have its Yearling National event from Senne Cove and what a difficult race this turned out to be for the Combine members Richard Mulligan topped the combine on a velocity of 893ypm with Sam Corrigan finishing runner-up on 874 and O Toal & Son partnership from Armagh taking up the 3rd spot on 841ypm all three pigeons finished in the over-all Open result with Richard Mulligan finishing 26th Open and winning £719, Sam Corrigan a former National winner himself ended up 50th Open and collected £123 with the Toal partnership in 103rd position lifting £32. Next up and nearing the end of the O/Bird season was a trip to Sennen Cove in Cornwall for the NIPA and back to the top in emphatic style was Nelson Weir taking the first two in the Combine on 1399 and 1381ypm in 3rd was Brendan Corley of Monaghan on 1319. Nelson Weir finished 9th and 12th Section E and 14th and 35th Open NIPA against 8,740 pigeons. In the Classic event that is run in conjunction with the main NIPA race it was a 1st and 2nd again for Nelson with G & A Campbell coming in on 3rd place all three finished well in the NIPA Section with Nelson Weir finishing 9th and 12th and Gerard and Amy in 23rd position, the NIPA Open also ended up promising for them with 3,216 pigeons competing in the Classic the three pigeons finished 12th, 26th and 36th respectively. St Malo in France was to complete the O/Bird awards for the Orchard Combine and lifting the red card was the partnership of P Campbell & Sons of Armagh on a Velocity of 1033, next was that man again Sam Corrigan of Loughgall on 1001ypm and finishing 3rd we have the E Murtagh & Sons loft of Armagh on 585ypm, all three made both the NIPA Section E result as they did in the over-all NIPA Open Result in the Section the three birds finished 5th, 7th and 22nd and in the Open against 1,668 pigeons they respectively finished 17th, 23rd and 128th Open which was once again a very good result in what was a difficult enough race. Lastly I must mention Willie Corrigan’s achievements from the INFC O/Hens National from Sennen Cove as Willie took the first three in the Combine result and finished 33rd Open with his first arrival on a velocity of 604ypm.

The Y/Bird season started a week earlier in 2008 and first for the Orchard Combine was Tullamore on the 20th of July and it was the turn of the Markethill outfit of K & R Black to rise to the top lifting 1st and 2nd spot with Nelson Weir in 3rd velocities 1312, 1310 and 1278. Onwards and upwards the combine went and the next week the race point was Tullamore and with Sam Corrigan making the list so often I suppose it was only logical that his brother William would start to challenge and that he certainly did, finishing 1st and 2nd Combine with D & C McArdle finishing 3rd, with myself and Homer doing the weekly reports for the paper and with results coming in thick and fast to our website www.pigeonnetwork.com we new that Willie Corrigans velocities were good as the two birds both arrived and were clocked within a split second of each other both finishing with a velocity of 1620ypm, they did in fact win 1st and 2nd Section and 1st and 2nd Open NIPA and as for the McArdle bird they finished 3rd Section and 3rd Open NIPA, what a result for the Combine. Tullamore was the venue the following week which took us into the month of August 1st Orchard Combine was Ivan Parkes & Son of Armagh on 1754, 2nd and 3rd went to the E Murtagh & Son partnership once again and completing the hat trick for the Armagh Club. Roscrea was to follow and it was the turn of the Fancier of the Year Nelson Weir to resurface taking the red card on a velocity of 1441, followed in second place by Michael McGlinchey on 1419 and Willie Corrigan in 3rd on 1417, Nelson’s winner made both the Section and Open result finishing 11th and 79th respectively with 26,568 pigeons competing in the over-all Open. We were back in Tullamore on the 17th of August and it was the turn of the father and daughter partnership that are G & A Campbell of Armagh they finished 1st Orchard Combine on 1729ypm with Nelson Weir finishing 2nd & 3rd on 1720 and 1717. The Campbell pigeon finished 11th Section E and 21st Open NIPA 15,941 pigeons competing, Nelson Weirs two arrivals also made it into the Section and Open result or should I say four as he timed four with a light all finishing 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th Section and 38th, 42nd, 43rd and 44th Open. Pilmore Beach was next on the calendar for the Y/Birds and it was the fancier from Charlemont named Michael McGlinchey who stormed out in front to record a 1st and 2nd Combine with E Murtagh & Sons of Armagh finishing 3rd. All three made the Section E result finishing 12th, 13th and 69th with over 5,000 pigeons competing they also all made the NIPA Open result finishing 33rd, 34th and 140th with over 23,000 pigeons competing. The Murtagh loft was to go one better the next week from Tullamore a recorded a 1st Orchard Combine on a velocity of 1257ypm followed closely by Cooney Bros of Monaghan in 2nd and Sam Corrigan in 3rd, once again all these fine racers made the NIPA Section E result finishing 8th, 9th and 11th and they also finished highly in the over-all Open result finishing 62nd, 67th and 73rd with 10,476 pigeons competing. Mullingar was the last race to take place during August and this was the Talbenny Y/B National pigeons that were brought home due to continuing bad weather in Wales, these were liberated in Mullingar and a clean sweep of the Combine was enjoyed by the G & A Campbell team from Armagh who took the first three on velocities of 1442, 1441 and 1441. They finished 40th, 41st and 42nd Section and 95th, 97th and 99th Open NIPA with 4,175 pigeons competing. Fermoy was next up for the fancy and it was the Gerard Campbell buddy Eamon Curran who stole the show on this occasion (the banter must have been good) E & M Curran took 1st and 2nd on 1297 and 1274 with Michael McGlinchey coming in 3rd on 1266. Eamon Curran finished 2nd and 10th Section E and 8th and 32nd Open NIPA with 677 members sending 11,099, Michael McGlinchey’s good arrival finished 15th Section E and 45th Open NIPA. The Fermoy 5 Bird Championship is held in conjunction with the Fermoy race and 1st on this occasion was Nelson Weir on 1197 with Willie Corrigan in 2nd on 1193 and the partnership of B & A Beattie & Son in 3rd with a velocity of 1186. Unusually the NIPA and INFC both had their Y/Bird Nationals flown on the same day this being the 12th of September and to add one further the O/Hens National was flown in conjunction with the INFC Y/Bird National they were in Sennen Cove while the NIPA where in Rosscarbery. For the NIPA event Eamon Grew was to end triumphant winning 1st Combine on 1266 and 170th Open NIPA, 2nd combine was Ivan Parkes & Son from Armagh they finished 196th Open NIPA and 3rd Combine just outside of the Open result on 1246 was E & M Curran with 535 members sending 4,329 pigeons. The Irish National Flying Club event from Sennen Cove was proving that little bit more difficult and coming out on top in the Combine and finishing 3rd also was Cooney Bros of Monaghan who finished a very impressive 22nd Open on a velocity of 1026ypm winning £368 with their 1st arrival their second bird home was outside of the prizes on a Velocity of 653ypm, in 2nd was Sam Corrigan who just excels at these races, Sam finished 93rd Open winning £123. The final race of the Y/Bird programme was the INFC Y/B Inland National from Skibbereen date was the 20th of September, 1st and 2nd was the man of moment and the Fancier of the Year for the eighth time Nelson Weir on 1521 and 1520 with E & M Curran in 3rd on a velocity of 1514ypm. All three birds finished well in the over-all National result finishing 79th, 81st and 98th.

Well I must round off this report by congratulating the Orchard Combine on a very professional prize giving, it was one of the largest displays I have been at in recent years and credit must be given when it is due. I trust I didn’t bore you with a very heavily researched and detailed report, it takes around a couple of days to complete by the time you check through all the results and then set about writing the report. Very enjoyable (now and again) and it was nice to write about fanciers from an area of the country that was somewhat starved of publicity for a number of years, this of course is not the first event that I have been invited to by the Orchard Combine, but thankfully I got their in the end. I will pen off by firstly hoping I didn’t leave anybody out and if I did sincere apologies, and on closing I would like to wish the Orchard Combine continued success in 2009 which I have no doubt with Sonya Beattie at the helm, things look good.

Northern Ireland Show Racer Society: The above held their final show of the season in Ballymoney HPS, 175 birds were penned and judged through the wires and handled by the Ballymena Ace Robert Alexander, many thanks to him. Old Cock T/W – 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th & 8th Rouke & Christie, 3rd Edgar & Wiggins, 5th P McArdle, 6th R Montgomery. Old Hen T/W – 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th Rouke & Christie, 4th Edgar & Wiggins, 6th R Montgomery, 7th P McArdle, 8th A Wiggins. Young Cocks T/W – 1st, 2nd, 5th & 8th Rouke & Christie, 3rd P McArdle, 4th Edgar & Wiggins, 6th R Montgomery, 7th A Wiggins. Young Hens T/W – 1st A Wiggins, 2nd P McArdle, 3rd Edgar & Wiggins, 4th, 7th & 8th Rouke & Christie, 5th & 6th R Montgomery. Old Cock Handled – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Rouke & Christie, 6th S Pearce, 7th A Wiggins, 8th Edgar & Wiggins. Old Hen Handled – 1st M Kelly, 2nd Edgar & Wiggins, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th Rouke & Christie, 4th A Wiggins. Young Cock Handled – 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th & 7th Rouke & Christie, 3rd A Wiggins, 6th Edgar & Wiggins, 8th P McArdle. Young Hen Handled – 1st A Wiggins, 2nd, 4th, 5th & 8th Rouke & Christie, 3rd M Kelly, 6th P McArdle, 7th Edgar & Wiggins. Yearling Cock Handled – 1st Edgar & Wiggins, 2nd, 3rd & 5th Rouke & Christie, 4th S Pearce, 6th A Wiggins, 7th P McArdle. Yearling Hen Handled – 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th & 6th Rouke & Christie, 3rd A Wiggins, 7th Edgar & Wiggins, 8th M Kelly. Coloured Hen Handled – 1st & 2nd A McCook, 3rd & 7th Rouke & Christie, 4th Edgar & Wiggins, 5th P McArdle, 6th A Wiggins, 8th S Pearce. Coloured Cock Handled – 1st M Kelly, 2nd & 3rd Rouke & Christie, 4th, 7th & 8th A McCook, 5th P McArdle, 6th A Wiggins. Young Fancier Cock Handled – 1st S Pearce, 2nd & 3rd R Wiggins, 4th & 8th R Newton, 5th, 6th & 7th T Montgomery. Young Fancier Hen Handled – 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th R Newton, 2nd & 5th R Wiggins, 3rd & 8th D Adair. Young Racer Hen – 1st, 6th, 7th & 8th W Neill, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Edgar & Wiggins. Best Young Bird – A Wiggins. Best Yearling – Edgar & Wiggins. Best OB and Reserve BIS Robert Christie. Best in Show – A Wiggins. Congratulations to all the winners and all members who supported the Show Series.

The Northern Ireland Show Racer Society annual dinner and prize night was held in early February in the local Ballymoney United Social Club. Awards presented by Jennifer Neill were as follows. Champion Cock – Rouke & Christie. Champion Old Hen – Edgar & Wiggins. Champion Old Bird – Rouke & Christie. Champion Young Cock – A Wiggins. Champion Young Hen – Edgar & Wiggins. Champion Young Bird – A Wiggins. Champion Yearling – Edgar & Wiggins. Best Old Bird T/W – Rouke & Christie. Best Young Bird T/W – Rouke & Christie. Best Yearling T/W – R Montgomery. Best Colour Bird – A McCook. Most Points in One Show – Rouke & Christie. Most Points Overall – Rouke & Christie. Most Cards in One Show – Rouke & Christie. Most Cards Overall – Rouke & Christie. Best International – Edgar & Wiggins. Best International Young Fancier - R Wiggins. Young Fancier Most Cards – R Wiggins. Young Fancier Most Points – D Adair. Best Young Fancier – 1st R Wiggins, 2nd D Adair, 3rd R Newton, 4th T Montgomery, 5th S Pearte. Prize-winners – 1st Rouke & Christie, 2nd Edgar & Wiggins, 3rd A Wiggins, 4th P McArdle, 5th R Montgomery, 6th A McCook, 7th M Kelly, 8th W McClean. NISR Champion Show Racer – Edgar & Wiggins. NISR Fancier of the Year – Rouke & Christie.

John Edgar and Michael & Robert Wiggins traveled to the Dublin Show in November and brought home the Best in Show Cup competing against 700 pigeons winning with an old Yellow Cock. It is the first time a member of the NISR Society has won the top prize bringing it home to the North West Triangle.

Millisle & District will host a Pigeon Moot in the Ards Sailing Club on the Portaferry Road about 3 miles from Ards itself on Friday 20th February. A top class club, bar, plenty of parking, hot meal served. Pay at the door, just £5 and the Pigeon Moot will be chaired by Ronnie Johnston Irish Rover of the Racing Pigeon. Other panel members include David Black a former Kings Cup winner, Mo McCorriston a top lady racer from Dromore and NIPA Secretary Fred Russell who should be able to answer plenty of questions regarding ETS. Also on the panel Michael Watts who is a top local Vet, all in all a top night guaranteed.

Banbridge HPS will have the annual Panel/Supper Night & Auction in the Banbridge British Legion on Friday 27th February at 8.00pm. All fanciers welcome, £2 pay at the door.

The Fanciers Combine report a good membership for a new racing season, the race programme will be published just as soon as it is available. In 2009 the members will be using a new transporter and the old one will continue to be used for a number of Open Races.
Banbridge Social Breeder/Buyer sale will take place in the local British Legion Hall at 8pm on Friday 13th March. Last season the club paid out between £1,400 and £1,500 and expect this season to be something similar. Race will be the INFC Skibbereen due to be flown on Saturday 19th September.

Coalisland & District will be moving to new clubrooms and to assist a fund raising Squeaker Sale will be held on Wednesday 18th March in Annaghmore. Birds have been promised from numerous top lofts, more details will be published later. Please note the sale has been brought forward by one day.

The Young Bird Sale for the Renovation Fund at Glenavy Protestant Hall will be held on Wednesday 25th March starting at 7.30pm. Birds are donated by a number of top lofts including various Studs. Auctioneer is Ronnie Johnston and he is to sponsor a prize for the Best Performance of a young bird purchased.

Laurelvale HPS will have a Young Bird Sale in aid of new clubrooms to be held on Friday 27th March at 7.30pm in the Banbridge British Legion. Auctioneer is Ronnie Johnston. All members to notify Clive, Robert or Jeffery on or before 21st February for advert purposes.

Doagh & District HPS: The annual Y/Bird Breeder/Buyer Sale will be held in the Linfield Club, Ballyclare on Thursday 2nd April kick off 8pm. Over £1,000 is paid out every year, and with youngsters promised from many of the top local lofts, plus top English lofts we are hoping that this year will be even better than before. Remember Cards only, Minimum bid £20 and open only to NIPA Section C lofts. 40% to Breeder, 40% to Buyer and 20% for Club. All ring numbers to be with the Doagh Secretary John Wilson by 30th May 2009, and the race will be the Rosscarbery NIPA Y/Bird National.

Escaped a Blue hen, in the Craigavon area, ring number NEHU O5NY 2462, reward for return. Tel: (028)38 832476.

Entries for the 2009 "North Coast Classic" based in Coleraine, County Londonderry are coming in at a steady rate with entries from England, Scotland and Wales, not to mention the International One-Loft enthusiasts from Belgium, Germany and USA who have all indicated their intention to compete in this new event. Local support has been overwhelming and many fanciers from all over Ireland are now registered.

All fanciers interested in this extremely professionally run event should have a look over the web site www.pigeonnetwork.com where you may download the entry form, rules and regulations, and see the latest report by Adie.

Entry forms can also be obtained from the office Tel: (028) 70 326460, Mobile: 07651 063236. The race will be Cork City to Coleraine some 240 miles on 6th September 2009, the RPRA License No is IR01/09.

Trevor said on Monday “We will have our first intake next weekend as a few fanciers now have young birds ready. Anyone who wishes can come along on Saturday 21st February may do so as the main building work will be completed although some 'cosmetic' work will still need doing! However, I don't think the young birds will be too perturbed if everything is not perfect when they arrive! Fanciers using the lane are asked to PLEASE drive carefully”.

The 64th Annual General Meeting of the NIPA was held in Glenavy on Saturday an added attraction was a sale for Joe & Mark Brown from Dollingstown who sold their complete team of young birds in under 8 minutes, must be the quickest ever sale held in Glenavy. The lads wish to thank all fanciers who gave support and wish them all the very best with the stock purchased. On the meeting itself I though a few less were in attendance but still represented most clubs across Northern Ireland. All items on the agenda passed the only item to fail was confirming the arrival from France within one hour of timing in, this was a fair enough idea but the members were not interested at this time. Drug testing will be carried out on all the top winners and later this week a deputation from the RPRA will visit the Crumlin based Randox Company to see how this is carried out and report back to Council. Prizes have been frozen for birdage charges for the fourth season on the trot the Race Crates will be £9 for all races Inland and Cross Channel. The membership fee is increased by £1 lifting it to £15 and the Club fee remains at £21. Almost all the officials were returned to office with Billy Seaton from Ligoniel & Dist included in Sect C and Sam Corrigan added to Sect E for looking after the Loughgall Centre. Eamon Grew raised some matters outstanding for Charlemont and the NIPA Committee will be dealing with the new correspondence which might just take us back to square one.

Resolutions Submitted by the N.I.P.A. Committees

1. New Rule 7A
If any member has a complaint concerning the NIPA they must take it to their club in the first instance. If the majority in the club support their complaint, the club will lodge the complaint with the NIPA on their behalf. This will then be considered at the next and following meeting of the Committee. Only complaints received in writing will be considered. For 62 – Against 18.

2. New Rule 11B
On the day of liberation in the Old Bird French National all members or their representative must confirm the time of their arrival by telephone to their centre official or NIPA office within one hour. For 23 – Against 58.

3. New Rule 22A
Any member requesting permission to race mark and have and have their clocks ETS set and checked at an alternative centre must make an application in writing each year before racing commences, giving the reason for their request. For 62 – Against 16.

4. New Rule 49B
The results in one club only may be included in any claim for NIPA trophies. For 62 – Against 19.

5. Delete existing Rule 43B and replace with New Rule 43B. All clubs must submit their race result to the NIPA office by Email, fax or hand delivery within three days of the race being flown. Late results will not be included in the official results. For 66 – Against 16.

6. Confirmation of the results with the workings of the first six velocities. Verification cards, dials, ETS printouts and official result form giving the number of members and birds competing with the number of crates sent and also the first 18 positions with members IR number and name must be forwarded via the transporter on the following race marking night. This result must also contain confirmation of the wining pigeon being confirmed at club level. For 74 – Against 7.

7. New Rule
In National, Classic, Championship and all NIPA Open Races the Winners will be drug tested by feather within one week. Refusal to allow a test will mean automatic disqualification and mat entail suspension. For 83 – Against 0.

8. New Rule 18A
When a member uses E.T.S. A signed copy of the assignment print out must be in the hands of the Club Secretary 14 days before racing commences for old birds and young birds respectively. For 81 – Against 0.

Old Birds: 11th April Tullamore (1), 18th April Tullamore (2), 25th April Roscrea, 2nd May Clonmel, 9th May Fermoy (1), 16th May Rosscarbery Inl Nat, 23rd May Fermoy (2), 30th May Talbenny (1), 6th June Talbenny (2), 6th June Fermoy (3), 13th June Bude, 13th June Mallow 5 Bird Championship, 20th June Sennen Cove, 20th June Sennen Cove Classic, 26th June St Malo (France) Nat, 27th June Rosscarbery Yearling Nat Cock/Hen.

Young Birds: 11th July Navan or Mullingar for Sections A, H, B, C & F. 11th July Tullamore for Sections D, E & G. 18th July Navan or Mullingar for Sections A, H, B, C & F. 18th July Tullamore for Sections D, E & G. 25th July Tullamore for Sections A, H, B, C & F. 25th July Roscrea for Sections D, E & G. 1st August Roscrea, 8th August Clonmel (1), 15th August Clonmel (2), 22nd Fermoy (1), 29th August Talbenny Nat, 29th August Tullamore, 5th September Fermoy and Fermoy 5 Bird Nom, 12th September Rosscarbery Nat, 19th September Fermoy.

Let’s hope it’s third time lucky for this year’s INFC/BHW Single Bird Challenge. There was probably nobody any more disappointed than ourselves when for the second year in succession the King’s Cup did not take place, but let me assure everyone that the whole INFC committee are doing everything in their power to make sure the King’s Cup takes place this year. Therefore the Single Bird Challenge this year is a bit the lottery or the scoop6, there is a double rollover. Hopefully everyone will have received their Single Bird Challenge entry form this week, those who entered the last two Challenges will have a paid stamp on their form and have a free entry so please check your form before sending payment. Previous entrants can enter the same bird again or a new one if they wish. New entrants can send their form along with their £5 entry fee to David Black. My name and address is on the entry form. All entries should be with me by the 17th March. The Joe Doheny Cup is waiting for the winner plus framed Diplomas go to the first three birds, kindly sponsored by W. Sawyers & Co. Banbridge. If anyone has any queries call me Tel: 07876 157706.

The AGM of the RPRA (Irish Region) was held in the Dromore Leisure Centre, Lurgan Road, Dromore, County Down on Saturday 7th February, despite poor weather conditions with a lot of frost and snow a fair number of members were present. President Lyndon Boyle opened the meeting and firstly asked the members to stand and observe a moments silence in respect of those who had passed away in the previous year.

Secretary Robert Reid was then invited to read the minutes of the previous AGM which were passed as a true record. The accounts were also passed and the Irish Region has remained in a healthy financial state with surplus for the year at just under £1,430. The internal audit was carried out by Diamond Carson (Banbridge) and Anthony McDonnell (Coleraine Premier). The financial statement for the Irish Region was prepared by Adrian Hall & Co from Hillsborough, Chartered Accountants. Lyndon Boyle was thanked for again keeping a detailed report of the season’s workings and setting out the Statement of Accounts, the Irish Region account is very sound. Under AOB 2008 it was asked if the three new clubs fulfilled their obligation to supply their conditions and members etc inside 7 days. Beech Park was outside the time but it was agreed to accept the clubs explanation that they waited until after the NIPA meeting to confirm an up to date list of membership.

Vice-President Sammy Thompson was invited to conduct the election of officials for 2009. Some changes were made to the Region Committee but all the top places remained unchanged, a number of apologies were received prior to and at the start of the AGM.

President Mr Lyndon Boyle. Vice President’s Samuel Briggs, Sammy Thompson and Alan Darragh. Secretary’s M/M Robert Reid, 131 North Road Carrickfergus, Co Antrim. BT38 7QJ.

Irish Region Appeals Committee: R McCracken, J Serplus, E Marshall, D Carson, A Darragh, W Knowles, A C McGrugan, J Burrows, M Gibson, R Reid, S Briggs, L Boyle, S Thompson, T Davidson, W Reynolds, B Kelly, G Delaney, C O’Hare, W Seaton, G McDowell and D Spence.

INFC Committee: P Smith, W Knowles, A Darragh, D Black, P Gault, R Duddy, C O’Hare, D Suitters, W Reynolds, C Lyons, M Wray, L Woodside, G Shaw, G McDowell and B Stevenson. Reserve G Delaney. INFC Appeals Committee: S Cairns, J Burrows and R McCracken.

RPRA Delegates: L Boyle, S Thompson and reserve A Darragh. Auditors Adrian Hall & Co. Press Officer: W Reynolds.

Willie Reynolds
NIPA - Press Officer
Tel/Fax (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 079396 84876
E-mail: reynoldshomer@aol.com
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk