Farming Life - Wednesday 20/11/13

[willie reynolds]

NIPA – Fancier of the Year 2013

The annual awards were presented at the recent Ladies Night and the competition attracts a good deal of interest among the top lofts over the racing season. Points are awarded over various races and the award is won in each of the 8 NIPA Sections by the loft with Most Points. In the big Sections it works out at 45 Points for 1st going down to 1 Point for 45th place, only the best bird counts for each loft. In 2012 a change was made to the format when previously points were counted for the entire season the NIPA introduced separate awards for Old Birds and Young Birds to add to the Overall Fancier of the Year award. This has proved to be a great success and it takes some effort to win all three titles in the one year.

Last season out of the 8 NIPA Sections only two lofts won all three competitions, Bingham & Seaton in the East Antrim Sect C who enjoyed a best ever racing season and Donnelly Bros from Newry City former NI Fanciers of the Year. In 2013 all three competitions were won by G & S Smith of Cookstown, Jeff Greenaway Dromore, and Ronnie Witherow of Limavady. G & S Smith of Cookstown have won Sect A Fancier of the Year three in a row, 2011 with 252 Points, 2012 with 287 Points and 2013 with 303 Points. Around Antrim the big winners were in Crumlin & District with the top lofts of Fleming Bros and McConville Bros winning Fancier of the Year in the NIPA Section B. Following a great season in the young birds McConville Bros won YB Fancier of the Year with 295 Points. Yet again the ace racer in the local area was Fleming Bros, at the present time they are the loft to beat. Old Bird Fancier of the Year in Section B, and the overall Section B Fancier of the Year in 2013, with 620 Points. They can add that to the list having won this top award in 2009 with 258 Points, 2011 with 689 Points and 2012 with 654 Points, that’s racing of the very highest order. Sect D in recent seasons has been dominated by Jeff Greenaway, winner in 2001, 2002 with 669 Points, 2004 with 706 Points, 2005 with 719 Points, 2009 with 220 Points, 2012 with 803 Points and 2013 with 789 Points. Plunkett Pollock & Nelson of Ards were winners in 2012 with 578 Points, and again in 2013 with 549 Points. Donnelly Bros from Newry City have a big record as well, every year back to 2000 and probably before that as well. Points winning total recently were 2010 with 819 Points, 2011 with 867 Points, 2012 with 801 Points and 2013 with 700 Points.

N.I.P.A. Old Bird Section Fanciers of the Year 2013:

Section A – G & S Smith Cookstown 194 Points; Section B – Fleming Bros Crumlin 443 Points; Section C – D & J Campbell & Bigger Eastway 505 Points; Section D – J Greenaway Dromore HPS 507 Points; Section E – D Calvin Bondhill 497 Points; Section F – McGimpsey Bros Ards HPS 372 Points; Section G – Donnelly Bros. Newry City Inv. 480 Points; Section H –R Witherow Limavady 177 Points.

N.I.P.A. Young Bird Section Fanciers of the Year 2013:

Section A – G & S Smith Cookstown Social 109 Points; Section B – McConville Bros. Crumlin & Dist. 295 Ponts; Section C – McClurkin & McCoubrey Ligoniel HPS 275 Points; Section D – J Greenaway Dromore HPS 282 Points; Section E - P McCall Markethill HPS 224 Points; Section F – H McAvoy Ards HPS 256 Points; Section G – T & K Mawhinney Donacloney HPS 241 Points; Section H – R Witherow Limavady 95 Points.

N.I.P.A Overall Section Fanciers of the Year 2013:

Section A – G & S Smith Cookstown Social 303 Points; Section B – Fleming Bros. Crumlin & Dist. 620 Points; Section C – D & J Campbell & Bigger Eastway 749 Points; Section D – J Greenaway Dromore HPS 789 Points; Section E – D Calvin Bondhill Social 696 Points; Section F – Plunkett, Pollock & Nelson Ards HPS 549 Points; Section G – Donnelly Bros. Newry City Inv. 700 Points; Section H – R Witherow Limavady 272 Points.

N.I.P.A Young Fancier of the Year 2013:

R.P.R.A. Irish Region Trophy won by Delaney & McCambridge of Ashfield; Runner-Up – Ned Marshall Cup won by Ellie Marshall of Comber.
Season Reports are welcome from any of the above lofts and these will be featured over the next number of weeks, racing details and individual bird’s performance including breeding.

Charity Presentation -

Following the very successful Open Night held at the Seagoe Hotel in Portadown a cheque presentation followed on Wednesday 13th November at the same venue when guests were invited to an early morning breakfast. INFC Patron Ronnie Johnston and Auctioneer Steve McGarry were unable to attend, but those present included Homer and Wesley Sawyers joined by the staff from H Beattie & Son. The total amount raided, including donations at the Social Night were £2,920, and this was made up to £3,000 with the cheque presented to Emma McNeill of the Meningitis Research Foundation. Many thanks to all those involved including those who presented birds from their best. The birds were donated by Tom Marshall, M Maguire & Son, Paul Dunlop, Jeff Greenaway, Jackie Waring, Danny Dixon, W Neill & Sons, Wesley Sawyers, Maurice Wilkinson, Joe Doheny (Dublin) and Scott Irvine Jnr (Scotland). Thanks to the Auctioneers S McGarry and W Sawyers and all those who purchased the stock and thanks to the Beattie Family for the arrangements, Cyril, Hilary and Gillian Bleckley.
Show Scene -

Ballymena & District: For the third show on Monday night the pens were well filled with another entry of over 100 birds, judges had travelled in from Ahoghill Secretary Albert Young and his brother Tom. Two of the clubs good racers were successful with Dennis Craig 1st in the Young Hens and BIS, while George Eagleson collected his third Red Card winning a class each week to date. His Blue Cheq cock also won the class T/W two weeks earlier.
Young Cocks Handled (55 Birds) – 1st & VHC G & A Eagleson, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd MDC Magill, 4th M/M M Sempey, Reserve D Craig, HC J Letters, Commended B Herbison. Young Hens (60 Birds) – 1st & BIS D Craig, 2nd, Reserve & VHC W & J Smyth, 3rd B Herbison, 4th McAlonan Bros, HC M/M M Sempey, Commended W & N Gilbert. The raffle was won by D Magill. For week 4 the old birds were judged handled, judges were the ace racers from Kells & District Jeff Surgenor and Davy Scott. MDC won the BIS for the second time, their Cheq Pied cock was the sire of the Young Hen winner of BIS last week for Dennis Craig. The old hen winner was a Dark Cheq, Tom McAlonan was telling me she was the winner of three races cross channel. With the weather not getting much better the entry was down a little. Willie Gilbert won the Raffle. Old Cocks Handled (40 Birds) – 1st MDC Magill, 2nd, 3rd & 4th G & A Eagleson, Reserve McAlonan Bros, VHC, HC & Commended W & N Gilbert. Old Hens Handled (37 Birds) – 1st McAlonan Bros, 2nd MDC Magill, 3rd & Commended G & A Eagleson, 4th M/M M Sempey, Reserve & VHC W & J Smyth, HC W & N Gilbert. Classes next week Monday 25th November are Old Pairs & Fancy.

Kells & District HPS: The show season is underway each Wednesday evening, the first classes were for old birds. Alan Barkley & Son penned the winner of Old Cocks T/W while George McDowell was the Winner in the Old Hens T/W. Old Cocks T/W (109 Birds) – 1st, 4th & Reserve A Barkley & Son, 2nd & 3rd B Swann & Son, VHC G McDowell, HC Surgenor Bros, Commended J Getty. Judges - J Graham (Kingsmoss) and J Dawson (Eastway). Old Hens T/W (99 Birds) – 1st G McDowell, 2nd, 3rd & Commended A Barkley & Son, 4th & VHC Surgenor Bros, Reserve Scott & Clements, HC B Swann & Son. Judges - B Blair (Ballymena) and L Mullan (Harryville). Wednesday Young Cocks T/W.

Cullybackey HPS: The second show attracted a good entry of 125 birds in two classes judged by Ballymena & Dist Fanciers M/M M Sempey. Russell Bros won the Old Cock T/W while Brian Herbison took the Red Card and BIS in the Old Hens T/W. Old Cocks T/W (64 Birds) – 1st Russell Bros, 2nd Gibson & Dickey, 3rd & Reserve Reid Bros & McCloy, 4th E Davidson, VHC B Herbison, Commended D & R Turkington. Old Hens T/W (61 Birds) – 1st, 2nd, VHC & HC B Herbison, 3rd & Commended Russell Bros, 4th N & S Anderson, Reserve & Commended Russell Bros. The third club show took place with 7 members penning 50 birds in the young pair and 58 in old pair. The judges were Albert Young and Chris Moore from Ahohgill. Gibson & Dickey won the Old Pairs and J & J Greer had the Red Card in the Young Pairs and BIS. Young Pairs T/W (50 Birds) – 1st & 4th J & J Greer, 2nd & Reserve Gibson & Dickey, 3rd Russell Bros, VHC N & S Anderson, HC B Herbison, Commenced Reid Bros & McCloy. Old Pairs T/W (58 Birds) – 1st & Commended Gibson & Dickey, 2nd & Reserve Reid Bros & McCloy, 3rd J & J Greer, 4th & HC Blair & Rankin, VHC Russell Bros. Saturday - Young cocks and Hens handled.

Photo Caption Attached
photo (5): The Beattie Family present a cheque for £3,000 to the Meningitis Research Foundation. ED Maybe a better photo in the Portadown Times.
jgreer: Jamie Greer wins the BIS at Cullybackey, with judge Albert Young.