Secretary Report 22/2023 -

[willie reynolds]

AGM - Glenavy on 11th February 2023 at 2.00pm. See further posts on Agenda and AGM Report

Northern Ireland Provincial Amalgamation 0f Racing Pigeon Societies
Secretary’s Report 2022/2023

2022 was a very challenging year for our Sport and Organisation Bird flu was at an all-time high, unfortunately it is still with us in 2023. Covid is still present possibly not the threat it was, however, please take as much care as possible when you are race marking and holding club meetings. Brexit is still around thankfully we are able to overcome all the procedures that have to be in place for Inland, channel and continental racing to proceed from Northern Ireland.

IN Northern Ireland WE FIND OURSELVES IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION THAN OUR PIGEON FRIENDS IN GB. Many people have to be thanked for all their assistance to us and our sport.

Our MLA`S at Stormont, the TD`S in the Irish Republic - The staff at Dublin Port, Rosslare and Interfrigo here in Northern Ireland - The staff at the Reddings and to Jim Blee and his staff at DAERA.

All of these people have been so helpful to you all in the NIPA, I would like to thank you all as members of the NIPA for your support in 2022 and especially the following Jim Ramsay your Race Controller Paul Howard your Transport Manager, Paddy McNeice Convoyer, Cormac O`Hare and Sammy Briggs our RPRA representatives. The members of committee who do their utmost to arrange pigeon racing for you all to enjoy. Trevor and Robert Topping, their assistance to me is very much appreciated. David West for his assistance in distributing ETS rings.

2023 is now here and we still face many problems, there will have to be suitable solutions found,
The problems facing us are easily seen in the accounts, the main one is FUEL WHICH HAS RISEN BY OVER 50% The number of pigeons being transported is well below our capacity, six transporters can carry up to 30,000 pigeons at the moment 20, 000 in any week is a good week. We need to find a solution how to collect all our pigeons with 4 transporters not an easy task

I have received no new race programmes for 2023, I will keep you updated on a programme and commencement date
You will shortly receive your accounts for 2022. The NIPA committee at the start of the Season agreed to budget up to a £30,000 loss on the previous year in the Number 2 account. We managed to keep within those figures turning a £11,879 Profit into a £12,047 Loss a turnaround of approx. £24,000
The Transport account shows a total increase of income from sections, the expenditure especially DIESEL rose by 51%, this figure will have to be addressed. The overall position shows a loss for 2022 of £12,047.21

The Number 1 account shows a surplus for the season of £19,987.25, this figure Transferred to the balance sheet shows an increase of around £7,900.
Our total assets total £715127.32 less our current liabilities of £19229.56 leaving a total of £695897.76.

The General account performed on paper very well this year - However, it will not do so in 2023.

The profit on UNIKON products will be a lot less than 2022 we have had a terrific increase in sales this year, and the profits made from this company over the past 14 years is well in excess of over £60,000. This amount of revenue has assisted all of you even if you are not a Unikon user, so I am disappointed with the negativity some of our members post about Unikon.

As we move forward into very uncertain times ahead you should be very proud of your Organisation finds itself in a very healthy position. Our sport faces great difficulties, we love our Sport, we must work hard together to protect it, unfortunately I believe we are doing the complete opposite and our sport is in decline.

I finish my report by wishing you all good health, an enjoyable season, we cannot all be winners, being fit and able to take part we should be very thankful. Regards to you all F C Russell Financial Secretary NIPA.