FL Wed 28/10/15 - Last Column this year

The News Letter, now in its fourth century of continuous publication, has come a long way since it first saw the light of day in 1737. On a visit to Northern Ireland, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth described the longevity of the newspaper as "an achievement in which the people of Northern Ireland can take great pride". Pigeon News is featured in the Farming Life supplement each Wednesday.
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willie reynolds
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Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:44 pm

FL Wed 28/10/15 - Last Column this year

Post by willie reynolds »

Show Season KO - The Mid Antrim show season commenced on Monday evening, Ballymena & Dist HPS had classes for Old Cock and Old Hens, November dates are as follows. 2nd November Young Cock & Young Hen, 9th November Yearling Cock & Yearling Hen, 16th November Old Pairs & Young Pieds, 23rd November Young Pairs & Old Pieds, 30th November Red, Mealy & Grizzle all judged Through the Wires. Show Specials are paid for each race in the old bird racing season with £50 up for grabs in Rosscarbery and Penzance. For this, one bird to be nominated each night, which must be in the pen, 30p per bird and penning from 7.00pm. Contact Willy Gilbert Tel: 07761 323459. The opening night was dominated by W & N Gilbert winning most cards, plus both Red Cards and the Special for BIS with a Dark hen that won 6 x 1sts last season. Old Cocks T/W (58 birds) – 1st, 3rd, 4th, Reserve & Commended W & N Gilbert, 2nd Russell Bros, VHC W & J Smyth, HC B Herbison. Old Hens T/W (63 birds) – 1st, 2nd, 4th, VHC & Commended W & N Gilbert, 3rd & HC Russell Bros, Reserve B Herbison. The judges travelled down from Muckamore, Bobby Bethel and Tom Fleming, the raffle was won by Thomas McFall. Club member Harry Richmond is recovering at home after a spell in hospital, were all send our very best wishes.

The Kells & Dist annual Social Evening this year will take place on Thursday 29th Oct 2015 again in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim. The line-up at Kells now finalised – (1) Interview with 2015 INFC Champions - Collins & Douglas, (2) Talk by Gerald Delaney on the famous Willy Jacobs strain, (3) Interview with Harry McCloy - Messrs Reid Bros & McCloy, (4) Charity Auction with approx. 15 x 2016 young birds bred from some top class fanciers. Included Alan Darragh, Mr & Mrs B McNeilly, Bertie Blair, Terrence McCrudden, Leonard McCaw, Paddy McManus & Son, A & N Lewis, Willie McCaw, Surgenor Bros, Thompson Bros, James Walker, Brian Swann & Son, John McConnaghy, Mr & Mrs D Suitters, J Millar & Son, T Shanks & Son. Syd Collins again as MC, no entry fee, but as usual Hot Buffet at £10 and Tea/Coffee/Scone etc. at £5 for those who don\'t want a big meal. Raffle as usual, and all proceeds to Chest, Heart & Stroke.

Cullybackey HPS – The Annual dinner and presentation of awards will be held on Friday 30th October in Toast Cullybackey, all cups etc. should be returned. The show series will commence on Saturday 31st October with classes for Young Cock & Young Hen T/W and the Annual Open Show on Saturday 19th December. News from Harryville HPS is they intend to hold two Open Shows for lofts in the NIPA Sect B, the Old Bird 3 in 1 on Saturday 7th November and the Young Bird 3 in 1 on Saturday 21st November.

Chimney Corner Football Club in Antrim will be the venue for a Halloween Special for Hofken UK on Saturday 31st October starting at 3.00pm with birds on view from 2.00pm. Kevin Parsons from Newcastle-upon-Tyne will have a very select draft of 50 birds, pre-bidding will be on-line at www.pigeoncraic.com. Commission bids Tel: 07737 275820.

Davy Calvin of Bondhill - Watch out for a first ever sale for one of Ireland’s leading lofts, David Calvin of Bondhill in Portadown, just confirmed as the NIPA Section Fancier of the Year for 2015, that’s now 3 seasons on the trot. He will offer for sale a superb draft of some 50 x 3rd round young birds on Saturday 7th November in Glenavy Protestant Hall at 2.30pm with birds on view from 1.30pm. The D Calvin loft has enjoyed another brilliant year, down the land, across the channel, and out to France winning the French Diploma for Best Average St Malo OB National and INFC Kings Cup St Allouestre. In the Penzance YB Grand National the loft clocked three birds to win £2,500 and had twenty birds home out of 20 birds in the NIPA Talbenny YB National. For further details Tel David on (028) 38 334742 or Auctioneer Ronnie Johnston Tel: (028) 90 483625. The birds for sale are from his famous stock birds including from top breeder “Stud50”, this family have bred 100’s of winners!

Monday Night Spectacular in Newtownbreda –
The Newtownbreda HPS Clubrooms will be the venue on Monday 9th November at 7.30pm for a sale on behalf of John Wheatcroft and Willy McClelland. A select draft of just 35 young birds from their Herman Ceusters, Dick van Dyck, Danny van Dyck, Marijke Vink and for the first time in Ireland the Harry Kruger y/b’s. John is known as the master breeder having been to all the major Belgium and Dutch lofts and buying from their best. He purchased stock birds from Heremans Ceusters and Dirk van Dyck in 2004 and in 2009 purchesed young birds from Danny van Dyck’s world famous “Kanon”

Willy and John purchased some of Marijke Vinks principal breeders like the Brother Tips, Beauty 66, nest sister to Double Header 1st Open Peronne 32,775 birds. They also bred “Rocco” for Marijke and the pair bred her Argenton winner! John will also sell for the first time 10 off the famous Hardy Kruger’s – not to be missed! A few testomials: Jeff Greenaway has a Cock 200 which has bred 2nd YB National, 1st Open NIPA and Bird of the Year. Alan Darragh winner of 1st INFC Yearling Nat is a Van Dyck. Two off the Up North Combine top lofts have enjoyed much success with John’s birds. Trevor Taylor of Marsey & Taylor said they were the best pigeons I have raced. Naylor & Richardson won 1st Open UNC Maidstone 17,164 birds and Bird of the Year in Up North Combine – Gordon said I never had better pigeons. John Wheatcroft can be contacted Tel: 01773 810323.

Lurgan Social Shows - Lurgan Social series of shows begin on Monday 2nd November. Classes are any agecock or hen Through Wires, with a special for best Young Bird. Penning is from 7pm to 8pm.
Ards HPS Annual Show will be held in the Portavogie Clubrooms on Saturday 28th November with penning from 12 until 2.00pm. Open to all the fancy in NIPA Sect F and East Down Combine members. Three Classes for Any Age Hen Handled, Any Age Cock Handled and Eye-sign. Top judges, and prizes for all cards. A sale of 2016 Young Birds to be held after the show.

Clubs should note Rule 37 for the NIPA. The final date for receiving a proposed race programme is the end of October. All race programmes submitted must include both an Inland and Channel National Race for old and young birds. The NIPA require all cups and trophies to be returned, in a clean condition, NIPA Ladies Night will take place on Friday 13th November in the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick. Plunkett Pollock & Nelson of Ards set the record in Sect F, winning Fancier of the Year four seasons in a row. Jeff Greenaway of Dromore has 4 in a row in Sect D now 9 in total, its 3 in a row for D Calvin of Bondhill in Sect E and what about G & S Smith of Cookstown Social, their 5 in a row might just be a record in Sect A!

Windsor Social (Coleraine) presented the awards for the 2015 racing season as follows. R & J Parke 30 points 1st, R McCook 29 points 2nd, Willy Horner 27 points 3rd, Old Bird winner Scott & Son , Young Bird winner R McCook. The awards were presented by good friend Willy Bond from the North Coast Classic.

East Down Moot in Crossgar -
The EDC held a moot in Magee\'s Lounge in Crossgar on Friday night 23rd October what a fabulous night it turned out with the lounge packed. Very special thank you to all who donated pigeons for the sale, all the buyers, and all those who supported the night. Special thank-you also to the panel Sid Collins, Roy Irwin, Trevor Griffiths, and the very capable and knowledgeable chairman Wesley Sawyers who also conducted the sale of birds in a very professional manner. Thank you also to John & Dean Kirk, Francey Gilmore and anyone else who contributed to making the night such an outstanding success. Also not forgetting John Hollinger who although not feeling the best attended with the PA system. The final total of £2,500 was made up from entry charge, sale of birds and very generous donations from fanciers and friends. The cheque will be presented to Professor Joe O\'Sullivan from Friends of the Cancer Centre Belfast City Hospital at the East Down Combine Dinner Dance in Millbrook Lodge Hotel on Friday 20th November. Many thanks, Dorothy Smyth.

Fanciers interested in showing their Fancy Breeds should contact Andy McCook Tel: 07780 888162. Ballymoney Fancy Pigeon Club will have six shows in the Ballymoney HPS Clubrooms with Northern Ireland Show Racer Society.

Photo Captions
Willy Gilbert won both classes at the opening shows for Ballymena & District, included are the judges Bobby Bethel (l) and Tom Fleming.
Windsor Social members at the prize presentation in Coleraine.
Top Prize-winners were R & J Parke, prize presented by Willy Bond.
Robert McCook, Windsor Social runner-up.
Willy Horner a close 3rd in Windsor Social.
Davy Calvin of Bondhill, NIPA Sect E Fancier of the Year 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Stud50, top breeder and young birds in the D Calvin sale.
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