Farming Life - Wednesday 26/02/14

[willie reynolds]

INFC – The AGM has been set for Lisburn Leisure Centre on Saturday 1st March at 2.00pm sharp, the Agenda and Balance Sheet should be with all members this week. Entry Forms for the Single Bird Challenge were enclosed with the AGM Agenda, a free entry once again and a pay-out of £2,000. We had a fantastic entry last year with the Joe Doheny Cup won by Billy McCaw (Ballymoney), in the Kings Cup race from St Allouestre. Return the entry sheet to David Black, 11 Drumiller Hill, Dromore, Co Down BT25 1EP before 17th March. All Membership Forms for the 2014 season must be back with the Secretary by 28th April, there is no late date for joining. If required individual forms can be downloaded from the INFC Website www.infc.co.uk
The agreed race programme for 2014 is as follows: Tuesday 27th May Skibbereen North, Wednesday 11th June Yearling Sennen Cove, Friday 4th July Grand Nat Kings Cup St Allouestre, Friday 11th July Friendship OB Nat Quimper, Wednesday 3rd September YB Grand Nat Penzance, Saturday 20th September YB Skibbereen North. The following Resolutions are on the Agenda.

Submitted by the Committee.

6.1) Replace present clock rule 8. Clock to be returned to the clock station together with Verification Envelope fully completed, (measurement etc.) within 3 hours after timing first bird. Members travelling more than 50 miles will be allowed four hours, plus one hour for every other 50 miles, they have to travel. (When it is deemed all major prizes and pools have been won clock will be checked at the discretion of the clock centre manager, and secretary as per rule 16). Clock station officials to record a) time of arrival at the clock station/ centre, b) where applicable receptacle numbering showing and indented clock number. Clocks returned late will be given clocks check off time for birds arrival time/s.

With New Clock rule 8. Clock to be returned to the nearest clock station together with Verification Envelope fully completed, (measurement etc.) within three hours after timing first bird. Members travelling more than 50 miles to their nearest clock station will be allowed four hours, plus one hour for every other 50 miles they have to travel. (When it is deemed all major prizes and pools have been won clock will be checked at the discretion of the clock centre manager, and secretary as per rule 16). Clock station officials to record a) time of arrival at the clock station/ centre, b) where applicable receptacle numbering showing and indented clock number. Clocks returned late will be given clocks check off time for birds arrival time/s.

6.2) Replace present rule 21: Annual subscriptions must be paid and returned before 28th April each year. No applications will be considered after 28th April. New member’s £10.00 joining fee, plus annual subscription.

With new rule 21: Annual subscriptions must be paid and returned before 28th April each year. No applications will be considered after 28th April. New member’s £10.00 joining fee, plus annual subscription. Any member paying his/her subscription individually will incur a £5.00 charge to cover administration and postage costs. Applicable from 2015 season.

6.3) Replace present rule 22a: New members joining must fly a minimum of 150 miles in any national race they compete in. Members changing address this also applies. (Not to apply to existing members pre 2002).

With new rule 22a: Members must fly a minimum of 100 miles in any national race they compete in. Members changing address this also applies to. Report will follow.

Ballymena & District HPS – We had a big turn-out of members for the AGM which was held in the clubrooms early in February. The team of officials remains almost as last year and both items on the agenda passed. Two prizes only down Ireland has been done away with and in future the Top Prize-winner will be calculated only on the NIPA race programme. We will publish a separate prize list for the INFC, birdage for these races has been set at £1 with all monies paid out. Racing members are now around the two dozen mark, we welcome the return of J Eagleson & Sons former Nat & Derby winners, Hugh Surgenor and W & N Gilbert who will take us through to France. Also for young birds the imminent return of Vasilie Popovici and maybe one more to be confirmed. We lost two members in the last season with the passing of Billy Rankin who raced in partnership with Bertie Blair and then our great show member Jack Balmer. I have asked as many members as possible to register a bird for the INFC Single Bird Challenge, hopefully in 2014 we can set more big records at the distance.
Race Sheets should be completed and over the next number of weeks the clubrooms will be open for a few designated nights to sort out the ETS clocks and others. Members will be kept informed, not all the work required can be done in one night, or indeed one week.

Grosvenor HPS – Please note the first of 3 Sales for the Grosvenor Breeder/Buyer will take place in the Grosvenor Clubrooms on Friday 14th March. The race as usual will be the Skibbereen YB National with the Irish Nat FC, 2013 was a record pay-out.

NIPA – The first Committee Meeting of the new season has been arranged for Thursday 27th February to take place in the NIPA Headquarters in Dromore starting at 7.30pm sharp. New members elected include A Houston and A Hughes from Lisburn & Dist, D Mawhinney Beechpark and G Delaney Ashfield. Business will consist of Finance, Objection from Horseshoe and Applications for membership of the NIPA.

Pigeon Moot - A Pigeon Moot will be held on Friday 28th February in Banbridge British Legion commencing at 7.30 pm. The panel on the night consists of Mark Gilbert, Joe Doheny and Gerald Delaney. A top International Panel and a good night can be expected. Entrance by ticket is £5 with supper included. Everyone welcome - Further details contact Wesley Sawyers Tel: 07831 560399.

Millisle Moot: Thanks to everyone who helped make the recent Millisle & Dist Annual Moot the best in the history of the event. The panel was outstanding Alan Darragh, Sean Diamond, Harry McCloy and Neil Frazer. The Chairman Chris Moore was outstanding, the best I have heard, and everyone was of the same opinion. The food was superb more than we could eat. Many thanks to all who helped, brought prizes for the ballot etc. To Eleanor and Olive who carried out the ballot and to Jean who carried out the hard work. We would like to thank all those who attended, and the owner and staff of the First and Last Bar, Millisle. Is there a better venue? I doubt it.

H Gormley & Son (Monaghan) – Loft for Sale 25ft x 8ft with 4 Sections and a Corridor, walk way along front. £750 or Euro 900. Within reason delivery can be arranged. Tel: 00353 858588809.

Photo Captions

At Millisle Moot from (l) Alan Darragh, Sean Diamond, Jim Braniff, Harry McCloy and Neil Frazer.

Cookstown Sizzlers won the 2 Bird Average at the NCC One Loft Race.