Farming Life - Wednesday 23/10/13

[willie reynolds]

Beattie Family Presentation -

The Seagoe Hotel in Portadown was the venue recently for an Open Pigeon Evening arranged by H Beattie & Son the local feed store at Tandragee. Cyril and the family had everything set up early before the guests arrived from across Ireland and visitors from Scotland including Rob Richardson and Scott Irving who had a very successful racing season in the Scottish Nat FC. Local scribes attending included Irish Rover of the Racing Pigeon Ronnie Johnston and Willie Reynolds, Homer of the BHW. An auction of gift birds raised well over £2,000, sold by Wesley Sawyers and New Kid on the Block Steve McGarry.

The Beattie Family have sponsored the main organizations for many years, also Glenavy Gold Wing and the North Coast Classic the Coleraine based One Loft Race. Members were present from all including for NCC Sean Diamond, for the Irish Nat FC the President Eugene Fitzgerald from Dublin and Secretary Trevor Topping and for the NIPA Secretary & Ass Secretary Fred Russell and Gregory McAvoy.
Prizes were presented for the various sponsored events, for INFC and NIPA it was Versele Laga bags of mixture.

Glenavy Gold Wing: D & J Campbell & Bigger 1826, A & R Milliken & Brady 1816, A & N Lewis 1789, J Young & Partners 1775, Doonan & McGuinness 1747, Cromie & Magee & Son 1740, Doonan & McGuinness 1739, G Parker & Son 1727, J & D Braniff 1717. D & J Campbell & Bigger from Eastway have just won the Sect C Meritorious Award, Best Overall Bird in RPRA (Irish Region) and NIPA Old Bird of the Year. Best NIPA Young Bird was won by M & T Griffith (Eastway).

INFC Friendship Nat Quimper: 1st Malachy Maguire & Son, Millvale, 2nd A & N Lewis Doagh & Dist, 3rd M Wilkinson Wilton Cross who also won the seasons National Champion.

NIPA Fermoy 5 Bird: Best in each NIPA Sect:
Sect A 45/203 – G & S Smith Cookstown 1987. Sect B 59/250 – Fleming Bros Crumlin 1976. Sect C 61/244 – Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel 2033. Sect D 46/214 – P & J Boal Dromore 2042. Sect E 81/372 – Higginson & Johnston Lurgan Amat 2001. Sect F 27/113 – Plunkett Pollock & Nelson Ards 2041. Sect G 39/184 – M/M G Mallen Banbridge Soc 2037. Sect H 32/128 – L Flanagan & Son Londonderry 1603.

Philip & Joe Boal are having an incredible season to date as is the NIPA Open Winner named ’Bijou’ (Diamond) a Blue hen she is sure to be a contender for the 0-250 Mileage award this year with the following performances 1st Club, 1st Section D and 26th Open NIPA Tullamore 14,773 pigeons; 1st Club, 1st Section D and 1st Open NIPA Fermoy 5 Bird 1,789 pigeons; 1st Club, 1st INFC North Section and 7th National 4,205 Pigeons; 4th Club, 4th Section D and 7th Open Roscarbery Hens National 1,341 pigeons; 5th Club, 11th Section D and 36th Open NIPA O/Bird Roscarbery National 6,212 pigeons; 13th Club, 40th Section D and 154th Open NIPA Fermoy 26,883 pigeons. It has just been confirmed the loft has won the Mileage Award with the RPRA (Irish Region).

Fred Russell replied on behalf of the NIPA and Eugene Fitzgerald on behalf of the INFC, members attending were among the elite of the sport of pigeon racing well done again to the Beattie Family.

News Update 21/10/13

The RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Award was won in the NIPA Sect B by Danny Dixon of Ballymoney doing velocity 1292 not far away from the Overall Winner. He won the Sect B plus the Overall Award in 2010 with his Double 5. The Ballymena & Dist team of W & J Smyth won the Sect B Meritorious Award in 2009, 2011 and 2012 a very good record. On a less happy note we send our sincere condolences to Danny Dixon on the passing of his brother Paddy, thought are with you and the family circle and this very sad time.

Mid Antrim Show Season –

Ballymena & District: The show season will commence on Monday 28th October with classes for Young Cocks and Young Hens Through the Wires, penning from 7.00pm. We look forward to seeing the usual clan of members and friends. Other local clubs should send their details in for inclusion, there might be some changes to the usual nights. Clubs should also forward details of the annual prize nights so we can make arrangements to cover the publicity.

Kells & District: The local club will have another Social Evening planned to take place in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim on Friday 1st November, pay at the door. Prior to the main event the Kells & Dist HPS will present the prizes for the year. It is hoped the night will include, Interview with a top loft, presentation from Loftcare in Doagh, Ryan Barr will be there with Diagnostic Kits, North Coast Classic will have Entry Packs for the race in 2014, the usual Pigeon Quiz & Photo Round, items from the past with old books, newspaper cuttings, scrap books, photos etc. Big Raffle as well, with plenty of prizes. The Hot Buffet will have a £10 entry or £5 to include tea or coffee and scone. This year an auction will be held for Macmillan Nurses Cancer Care, 75% going to the charity and the remainder retained by the club towards the running of the event. It’s quite a list from local lofts and England including. John Halstead, A & E Shephard, M/M Wooliss, John Puddlepatt and then locally Arnold Thompson (Ballyclare), Robin Duddy (Ballyclare), A & N Lewis (Doagh), J & A Wilson & Sons (Doagh), J Smyth & Son (Ahoghill), Crawford & Robinson (Larne), Martin Graham (Ballymena), Wesley Sawyers , Blair & Rankin (Ballymena), Young McManus & Sons (Ahoghill), Allen McBride (Harryville), Oroory Hill Stud, and from Ian Gill two grand-children from Champion “Dolly”.

Photo Captions

Joe Boal (r) collects the Fermoy 5 Bird award from NIPA Secretary Fred Russell.

A & N Lewis from Doagh & Dist 2nd Open INFC Quimper with Cryil Beattie.

Davy Campbell (l) and Hugh Bigger collect award for 1st Glenavy Gold Wing from Hilary Beattie at Seagoe Hotel in Portadown.