Farming Life - Wednesday 13/11/13

[willie reynolds]

Packed house for NIPA Ladies Night 2013 -

Chairman Alan Darragh from Cullybackey welcomed members and friends to a packed Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick last Friday to celebrate the racing achievements of the Mighty NIPA members in the past racing season. He invited President of the RPRA (Irish Region) Mr Sammy Thompson to say grace prior to the meal being served. Following the fantastic four course meal, Roast Beef & Yorkshire pudding, he thanked the hotel staff and then introduced the top table. Main guests included Neil Frazer of Frazer Animal Feeds in Banbridge, the major sponsor of the NIPA, from the RPRA we had as was mentioned Sammy Thompson (President) and the Secretary’s Mr & Mrs Robert Reid. They were joined by the visitors from the Ulster Federation in Belfast Mr & Mrs Paddy O’Neill and Fed Secretary Jimmy O’Hara, NIPA President Herbie Boyd (Dungannon) who will help present the awards, and NIPA Vice Presidents included Diamond Carson, Owen Donnelly and Joe Kelly and not forgetting NIPA Secretary and Assistant Fred Russell and Gregory McEvoy, all with their respective wives. Mr & Mrs Trevor Topping and son Robert represented the Irish National FC.

The NIPA presented their awards first, a big presentation with the major awards presented by Herbie Boyd and Paddy O’Neill, followed by the RPRA (Irish Region) awards presented by Jimmy O’Hara. Good to see that the vast majority of the winners were able to attend, many of those for the very first time.

National and Classic Winners 2013:
B. Fletcher & Son Cup – Rosscarbery OB National – Higginson & Johnston Lurgan Amateur. Vel. 1239
Stena Trophy – Fermoy Five Bird OB Championship – P & J Boal Dromore H.P.S. Vel. 2042
J. H. O’Neill Cup – Penzance OB Classic – J Greenaway Dromore H.P.S Vel. 1303
News of the World,McComb Cup & Pigeon Portal.Com Cup – Portland Old Bird National –
J Brush- Banbridge Social Vel. 1142
D. McNeilly Cup – Runner-up Portland Old Bird National – G Benson Lisburn & Dist H.P.S Vel.1140
McKeown Cup – Talbenny Young Bird National – R McKelvey Newry & Dist H.P.S Vel. 1218
H. McVeigh Cup – Rosscarbery YB National – Mr & Mrs Steevenson Dromara Vel. 1395
Northern Bank Cup – Yearling Hen National – Hanna & McClurkin Ligoniel H.P.S Vel. 1329
Northern Bank Cup – Yearling Cock National – Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel H.P.S. Vel. 1335
Volvo – Mallow Five Bird YB Championship – Lyons & Kennedy Hills & Maze Vel. 1244

Average Trophy winners 2013:
McCluggage Cup – Best Ave in all channel races including Nationals – J Brush Banbridge Social Vel. 1260
Scania Cup – Best Ave OB National & Classic races – D Calvin Bondhill Vel. 1186
Major Lewis Cup – Best Ave in all races England and Wales – D Calvin Bondhill Vel. 1216
Surgenor Cup – Best Ave 2nd Talbenny, Bude and Penzance – J Greenaway Dromore H.P.S Vel. 1294
Harper Cup – Best Ave OB & YB channel Nationals – J Brush Banbridge Social Vel. 1148
Devine Memorial Trophy – Best 2 Bird Ave OB National Portland - J Greenaway Bondhill H.P.S. Vel. 1088
Dickson Cup – Best Ave Bude and Fermoy young bird – Not Presented
Erwin Trophy – Best Ave all National and Classic races – D Calvin Bondhill. H.P.S. Vel. 1226
B. Fox Cup – Highest position obtained by any N.I.P.A. official, committee member or club delegate in OB National Portland – Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 20th Open Vel 1083
W. E. Diamond Cup – Best Ave Talbenny & Rosscarbery YB Nationals – R Cassells Edgarstown Vel. 1291
Agar Cup – First yearling in OB Classic race – J Greenaway Dromore H.P.S. Vel. 1303
Waring Trophy – Best Ave in all National races – J Brush Banbridge Social Vel. 1214
New North Trophy – Best average Penzance OB and Talbenny YB National- J J McCabe Newry & District Vel. 1257

NIPA Champion Old Bird of the Year 2013 and J Moreland Memorial Trophy won by P & J Boal of Dromore HPS. NIPA Champion Young Bird of the Year 2013 and The Irish Region RPRA Trophy won by M & T Griffith of Eastway HPS.
P & J Boal Blue (h) GB12D-06027 won 1st Club, 1st Sect & 26th Open NIPA Tullamore; 13th Club, 40th Sect & 154th Open NIPA Clonmel; 5th Club, 11th Sect & 36th Open NIPA Rosscarbery Nat; 4th Club, 4th Sect & 7th Open NIPA Rosscarbery Ylr Nat; 1st Club, 1st Sect & 1st Open NIPA Fermoy 5 Bird. Outside the NIPA, 1st North Sect, 7th Nat INFC Skibbereen Inl Nat 469/4205 flying 236 miles.
M & T Griffith Blue (c) GB13E-28002 won 1st Club Area Lib (2) & 1st Sect; 1st Club, 7th Sect & 52nd Open NIPA Roscrea; 2nd Club, 4th Sect & 23rd Open NIPA Clonmel; 1st Club, 3rd Sect & 24th Open NIPA Mallow.
N.I.P.A. President’s Cup for merit and achievement won by Johnny Brush, Banbridge Social.

Any of the major winners should feel free to submit a report giving details of the bird and the loft for publication and same goes to any photos taken either at the presentation or at the loft.

Banbridge Breeder/Buyer & Gold Ring Races –
I now have the results of the Banbridge events following the YB Races and the end of the year. The Banbridge Breeder/Buyer event was flown from Penzance Grand Nat in conjunction with the INFC, £2,000 was up for competition. 1st G & C Quinn (Milltown) £500, breeder was J Mount & Son (Milltown) also £500. 2nd R Carson & Son (Banbridge) £300, breeder R Carson & Son also collecting £300. 3rd B McAvoy (Banbridge) £200, breeder N Black & Son (Dromara) also £200. A fantastic total of £2,000 paid out, congratulations to all the winners and all those who supported the event. Banbridge Social Gold Ring was flown in the INFC Skibbereen YB Nat, £1,300 was paid out here. 1st Mickey Croskery (Annsborough) £600, 2nd Mark Brown (Blackwatertown) £400, 3rd Wayne Doonan (Dromore) £200, 4th C McArdle & Sons (Banbridge) £100. Congratulations again to all winners.

Larne & District HPS – The Annual Monster Show will take place in the clubrooms at Old Glenarm Road, Larne, Co Antrim on Saturday 30th November 2013. Penning 10am – 1pm, Judging 2pm – 5pm, Prize Distribution 5.30pm. Entry Fee £1 per bird - Judges from Top Lofts.
Six Classes: Old Cocks, Old Hens, Young Cocks, Young Hens, Old & Young Bird Eye-sign (may be duplicated). Best In Show £100 and Best Opposite Sex £50.
Prizes For All Classes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd – Bag Of Feeding , 4th Feeding Trough, VHC Hormoform, HC Grit & Mineral, C Tin of Roses.
There will be a Monster Show Auction – On offer a select draft of youngsters donated by local fanciers - £1,000 Prize-money to be raced for from Rosscarbery National or equivalent race and open to all NIPA Members. Mr Ryan Barr (Pigeon Diagnostics) will be in attendance to carry out any throat swabs & dropping testing. Local clubs should let me have details of the show series and prize night details for publication.

Reduction Sale for Kevin Downey of Beechpark: Kevin has to cut numbers, most of the stock birds and ex racers. Strains include Grondelaer, De Croix, Van de Veken etc, looking for a quick sale. Two Lofts with Aviary attached, 8 x 6ft and 6 x 5ft, best offer secures. Kevin Downey has had a lot of success in the last two seasons, his stock is first class. Tel: 07533 573174.

Photo Captions

01.31.00 - David Calvin from Bondhill, major winner at the NIPA Ladies Night. Top cups including Erwin Trophy for Best Ave all Nat & Classic Races.

23.25.38 - Reid Bros & McCloy from Cullybackey won the B Fox Cup for Portland.

bmenaycyhh - Latest winners in Ballymena & Dist G Eagleson and D Craig with judges Albert & Tom Young.