Farming Life - Wednesday 18/12/13

[willie reynolds]

KINGS CUP Grand National Night of the Year -

Once again the Stormont Hotel in Belfast provided the setting for the Annual Dinner Dance and Presentation of Prizes for the Irish National Flying Club. Like last year the weather was very kind to us as members and friends from right across Ireland gathered for this very special night.

Chairman David Black welcomed the special guests for the night, Anthony McDonnell and Sid Collins Sid is a life time vice President of the Irish National Flying Club while Anthony won the King’s Cup from Les Sables in 1963.
The Chairman asked for a minutes silence for all members of the club who had passed away during the year and made a special mention of the late James Maguire of the Grosvenor club who was a trophy winner this year.

The President Eugene Fitzgerald proposed a toast to the Patron Ronnie Johnston before the Chairman introduced the top table, Secretary Trevor Topping, Treasurer Davy Mawhinney, and their wives, President Eugene Fitzgerald, Special guests, Sid Collins, and Anthony and Lally McDonnell. David thanked Ronnie Johnston and his wife Alice for organising the event and for all the work they do in gathering the trophies in and preparing them for the night. He congratulated all the prizewinners especially the King’s Cup winner, Ron Williamson. David went on to thank all our sponsors, all the committee members and all the non committee members who help out at race marking and clock centres. He made a special tribute to secretary Trevor Topping and his family for all their hard work throughout the year and praised Tom Marshall and Willie Hore who work alongside him on the liberation team. The Chairman thanked the convoyer Jim McCrory and Ollie Gittens of Bude who is a big help with weather forecasts in that area.

Sid Collins said that it was an honour and a privilege to be asked to present the prizes as a former President of the INFC. Anthony McDonnell thanked the committee for inviting him to present prizes on the 50th anniversary of winning the King’s Cup. He said that he first joined the Flying Club in 1959 and the first bird he sent to the King’s Cup took 8 days to get home. He recalled that in 1960 he congratulated Larry Burns on winning the King’s Cup and when he handled the Cup he thought that would be the closest he would get to it. He told of how the pigeons were transported to the race then and how it was 12 days after the race before he knew that he had won the King’s Cup. Before proceeding to the prize distribution the Chairman congratulated Anthony and Lally on their 50th wedding anniversary as they got married just a few days after the King’s Cup win.

Mr Ronnie Johnston, Patron of the Irish National Flying Club was then called upon to act as MC for the Presentation of Prizes. Ronnie provided us with a wealth of knowledge on the various winners and of the history of the prizes, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed as he kept the crowd engrossed throughout the presentation.

As is customary with the Irish National Flying Club, the first prize to be presented was the Kings Cup by the previous year’s winner, G O’Reilly & Son Malahide. This year’s winner Ron Williamson Bondhill was greeted with a standing ovation.

Mid & East Antrim Holiday Shows -

Horseshoe HPS: The Larne based Horseshoe will have the usual Open Show on Boxing Day, Thursday 26th December with penning from Noon until 3.00pm. Six classes available Old Cock, Old Hen, Young Cock, Young Hen, OB & YB Eye-sign and specials for Best in Show and Best Opposite Sex. Prizes for all cards won. Unfortunately this year due to the numbers entering , they must restrict entries for NIPA Sect C lofts only. Please note as well all the winners will be verified. The Young Bird Sale which last year paid out a massive £2,400 will take place as usual, it you can’t make the show you can still enter birds. Entry has been set at £25 each or five birds for £100. In 2013 £200 was paid out in each Mass Liberation race and £1,000 in Fermoy. With the number of enquiries they expect to pay out even more in 2014. If you are unable to make the Boxing Day Show you can simply ring Raymond Tel: (028) 28276448 or Joe Tel: 07723 313342 and book your order.

Kells & District HPS: The show last week was called off due to the passing of Sadie Shanks and the members have expressed their sincere sympathy to the family. Husband Alan is the Treasurer in the Kells & Dist club and on behalf of the club runs the very success Social Night held at the Dunsilly Hotel. Sadie passed away at home after a short illness, the funeral service was last Friday in St Saviours Parish Church Kells, with interment afterwards in Connor New Cemetery. The annual Open Show 3 in 1 will take place as usual, Boxing Day which is Thursday 26th December, penning 11.00am until 2.00pm at £1 per bird. Prizes for all card winners, and Special for BIS and BOS. Kells & Dist members are asked to supply prizes, and please note the final show of the year will be held on Wednesday, classes for Eye-sign & Pieds.

Ballymena & District: The local club will host the Annual Mid Antrim Open Show to be held in their own clubrooms at Fountain Place in Ballymena on New Year’s day , Wednesday 1st January. Penning is from 12 Noon until 2.00pm a 3 in 1 for Old Bird and Young Bird. All birds from the local NIPA Sect B area, will be made welcome, an Open Show for Mid Antrim birds. All the usual Specials including Best in Show, Best Opposite Sex, Most Points and Best YB. All club members should supply prizes and any help would be appreciated. Remember the Open Show is being held in Ballymena & Dist Clubrooms.

Carrick & District Open Show – The Carrick & Dist Open Show will be held on New Year’s Day in their own clubrooms, that’s Wednesday 1st January 2014. Penning of birds is from 1pm – 2pm. Usual classes with prizes for all card winners, plus BIS & BOS awards. There will also be a Breeder/Buyer sale with the race to be flown from 2nd Fermoy. For those interested to participate and enter a youngster please contact Mr R Reid Tel: (028) 93 362051. All fanciers very welcome.

Doagh Open Show – An Open Show 3 in 1 for Old Birds is taking place in the Doagh Orange Hall on Saturday 21st December penning from 12.00pm until 2.00pm at £2 per pen. Top National judges are in attendance, tea, sandwiches etc. and all proceeds to the Doagh Cultural Society for the Building Fund. Lot of prizes for the winners, keep this date free.

Cullybackey HPS: Reminder that Cullybackey Open Show is to be held on Saturday 21st December in the Cullybackey club rooms. The classes are the following: Old and young birds T/W, Old and young birds handled, Old and young birds Eye-sign and Fancy T/W. Penning is from 11 to 1 and the sponsors are: Brian Herbison Concrete and pigeon supplies, H. Beattie and sons pigeon feed, Bridge Service Station Cullybackey , Frazers Animal Feeds and C + D McDowell Accounting Penny bridge. Cullybackey HPS takes no responsibility for pigeons lost during show. J. Greer and E. Davidson (club sec).We are running a search for a T3 Clock owned by the late John Lamont who raced in Cullybackey, was it out on loan?? Contact either Homer of Len Russell.

MARKETHILL HPS would like to thank all the fanciers who supported their Xmas show /sale who made it a great success on the 7th December, also Laurelvale HPS for the use of their clubrooms, all those who kindly donated pigeons and prizes and to the judges and auctioneer.
RESULT for the show: 1st R Telford Annaghmore , 2nd J Funston Laurelvale , 3rd P McCall Markethill , 4th R Telford Annaghmore , Reserve D Gallagher Armagh , VHC W McDowell Banbridge , HC J Trotter Laurelvale , Commended D Gallagher Armagh. Special YB - R Bell & Son Banbridge, Special Gay Pied - M McDowell.