Farming Life - Wednesday 12/02/14

[willie reynolds]

NIPA Meeting held in Mid Antrim -

A meeting for the NIPA Sect B Club Delegates & Officials was held in the Harryville HPS Clubrooms on Tuesday 4th February at 8.00pm. In the past the local NIPA Committee members have taken turns to arrange the local meeting, this time the arrangements were made by Ken Wilkinson from Antrim. Almost all the Sect B clubs were represented from Ballymoney and Rasharkin at the top end to Crumlin and Muckamore in the Antrim Area. It was the opportunity for the local members to have the NIPA Agenda explained in detail along with the proposed race programmes for both old birds and young birds, a number of the local clubs had meetings arranged to discuss same over the next number of days. The rules are that all member clubs are expected to call meetings to mandate Club Delegates on voting procedure at the AGM of the NIPA, this meeting has been arranged for this Saturday 15th February in Protestant Hall Glenavy at 2.00pm sharp.

Ken opened the meeting and first item discussed was the letter from Horseshoe HPS regarding the Resolution on a 50 Bird Limit in the ordinary weekly race programme. Since the item was not listed on the AGM Agenda no decision was taken at this time. A number of items were discussed and one in particular to our own area is regarding the release of racing pigeons close to the International Airport. This has been a problem for many years and there will be no sympathy for any fancier caught breaking this rule, a Resolution on the agenda is to impose a 5 Years Suspension.

It was also thought we should be careful in not taking decisions that would restrict our finances in the current situation with a heavy loss in the last racing season. There was some discussion on the ETS Rules, a meeting is to be set up to set procedures and it is expected they will be listed in the Rule Book. There is a Resolution to detail the expenditure on all Championship & National race’s, the Committee has already agreed that this be set at £3,000 for all races. There was a very short discussion on the various race programmes, no mention of the big cross channel programme put forward for old birds and a bit of concern on the race points being designated at the start of the young birds.

There was a suggestion that the Club Delegates vote at the AGM regarding the Race Programme but I think the feeling was that this is better decided at the club meeting and the number of votes for the various race programmes listed there. There was mention as well on the new award for Champion OB & YB in each NIPA Section.

Final item was the selection of NIPA Committee members for 2014, after the problems of last year in that the members must be Club Delegates it was then put to the meeting. Membership of the Committee remains the same as last year, Ken Wilkinson (New Antrim), Glen Magill (Muckamore), George McDowell (Kells & Dist) and Keith Kernohan (Harryville). The meeting close at 8.45pm.

NIPA Member clubs will vote on the Old Bird Race Programme, a choice between the 2013 Programme and the New Programme submitted by the NIPA Committee. For the Young Birds we have a choice between last season’s programme and one submitted by Newry & Dist. Voting Papers to be returned on or before AGM on 15th February.

Programme (1) – the OB Race Programme of 2013
April 12th Committee decide on race point, April 19th Tullamore, April 26th Roscrea, May 3rd Clonmel, May 10th Fermoy, May 17th Rosscarbery Inland Nat, May 24th Pilmore Beach, May 31st Talbenny, June 7th Talbenny, June 7th Rosscarbery Yearling Cock/Hen Nat, June 14th Bude, June 14th Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, June 21st Penzance, June 21st Penzance Classic, June 27th St Malo (France) Nat.

Programme (2) – the OB Race Programme Submitted by NIPA Committee
April 12th Tullamore, April 19th Roscrea, April 26th Roscrea, May 3rd Clonmel, May 10th Mallow, May 17th Rosscarbery Inland Nat, May 24th Talbenny, May 31st Bude, May 31st Rosscarbery Yearling Cock/Hen Nat, June 7th Truro, June 7th Mallow 5 Bird Championship, June 14th Mallow, June 14th Penzance Classic, June 21st Penzance, June 21st Roscrea Comeback, June 28th St Malo (France) National.

Two Programmes to decide Programme A is last season and Programme B was submitted by Newry & District.

YB Programme A is last seasons
July 19th Area Liberations, July 26th Area Liberations, August 2nd Mass Liberation, August 9th Roscrea, August 16th Clonmel, August 23rd Fermoy, August 30th Talbenny National, August 30th Comeback Race, September 6th Fermoy, September 6th Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, September 13th Rosscarbery Inland National.

YB Programme B submitted by Newry & District
July 19th Mullingar Sections A, B, C & H, July 19th Tullamore Sections D, E, F & G, July 26th Tullamore Sections A, B, C & H, July 26th Roscrea Sections D, E, F & G, , August 2nd Roscrea Mass Liberation, August 9th Roscrea, August 16th Clonmel, August 23rd Fermoy, August 30th Talbenny National, August 30th Tullamore, September 6th Fermoy, September 6th Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, September 13th Rosscarbery Inland National.
Club votes to be returned on or before 15th February 2014.

North Coast Classic – The One Loft Race based in Coleraine are up and running for the new race season. Entry Forms can be downloaded from the Website in the Race Info Section, it can be put in the post if requested. Contact Sean Tel: 07548 607756 or Willie Tel: 07709 089233.

Due to ill health a Complete Clearance Sale is to be held for Trevor Greenaway of Gilford & District. In two parts the sale will be held in the Banbridge British Legion on Thursday 13th February and Thursday 20th February at 8.00pm, birds on view from 7.00pm. Sale will include stock from a number of top lofts, Soontjen through Frank Sheader and Trevor Ford, Vandenabeele from Harmony Lofts, Willie Tass, Drum lines from Cock Crow Lofts, Terence McCrudden, son and daughter of the famous 147 of John Patterson which has already bred a 1st Open winner. All the above plus 2nd Talbenny YB Nat, 4 x 1st Sect winners etc. Tel: 07831 560399.

For Sale – Young birds from the Ace Cullybackey loft of Reid Bros & McCloy who had a best ever season racing in 2013 with a top result of 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the Mid Antrim Combine Portland. Good deals for larger numbers. Telephone Harry on Mobile: 07784 123056.

INFC – The AGM has been set for Lisburn Leisure Centre on Saturday 1st March, the Agenda and Balance Sheet should be with all members this week. Entry Forms will be enclosed for the Single Bird Challenge, a free entry once again and a pay-out of £2,000. A fantastic entry last year with the Joe Doheny Cup won by Billy McCaw (Ballymoney), in the Kings Cup race from St Allouestre. Fanciers can download Application Forms from the INFC Website www.infc.co.uk

H Gormley & Son (Monaghan) – Loft for Sale 25ft x 8ft with 4 Sections and a Corridor, with front walk-way. Within reason delivery can be arranged. Tel: 000353 858588809.

HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com


Photo Captions

Dixon 12 Bird Montage: The fantastic Lambrechts based at Ballymacaldrick Lofts of Danny Dixon.

gb10b-6602: “Suarez” Blue Cheq (c) GB10B-6602
9th Sect B & 129th Open NIPA Talbenny (1) 918/13,771
2nd Sect B & 21st Open NIPA Talbenny (2) 838/10,137
6th Sect B & 73rd Open NIPA Penzance 814/9,235
5th Sect B & 45th Open NIPA Penzance Classic 390/3,147
RPRA (Irish Region) Award 2013 – Vel 1292
Raced by Danny Dixon, Ballymoney HPS.

gb1204f22010: Blue (c) GB04F-22010
“Channel Vista Prince”
1st Open NIPA Talbenny
YB National 771/4865 – Vel 1390
Owned by Danny Dixon, Ballymacaldrick Lofts.

gb13c03505: Blue (h) GB13C-03505
“Moneyspinner”
1st Open NCC Rosscarbery plus £12,000
Bred by Karl Murphy
Raced by Cookstown Sizzlers.