The President David Black proposed a toast to the Patron Ronnie Johnston before the Chairman Clifford Browne introduced the top table, Secretary Trevor Topping and his wife Florence, Treasurer Davy Mawhinney, President David Black and his wife Janice and special guests, Mr Eugene Fitzgerald, outgoing INFC President 2013-2016 and Mr William Butler, Treasurer of the Irish South Road Federation. Clifford 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 winners, Mr & Mrs Magill. Clifford 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 paid a special tribute to secretary Trevor Topping and his family and treasurer Davy Mawhinney for all their hard work throughout the year. The Chairman thanked the convoyer Jim McCrory and his team for all their help and patience particularly during their protracted stay in France for the King’s Cup race. He paid tribute to the Race Controllers David Black, Tom Marshall and Noel Shields. Clifford concluded by thanking the management and staff of the Stormont Hotel for a lovely meal.
Eugene Fitzgerald speaking on behalf of the guests thanked the committee for their hard work and diligence which ensured that we had another successful season. He went on to say that winning a National was like winning an Olympic Gold medal in that you will always be remembered for your achievement. Eugene wished everyone a happy Christmas and New Year, with best wishes for the year ahead.
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, Herbie Thorpe, Boyne Valley. This year’s winners Mr & Mrs Roy Magill Muckamore were greeted with a standing ovation.
INFC 2016 CUP AND TROPHY WINNERS
King George V Challenge Cup, St Allouestre, Grand National Old Bird National winner Mr & Mrs R Magill Muckamore HPS velocity 723; Gilliland Cup, St Allouestre O.B, 1st IHU member after winner in Kings Cup race A.Kelly Skerries R.P.C. Vel. 703; Nelson Vase, St Allouestre O.B,1st RPRA member after winner in Kings Cup race K. Carson & Son Crumlin & District H.P.S. Vel. 681; East Down Combine Cup, St Allouestre O.B., 1st E.D.C. member in the Kings Cup race, P. Brown & Son Annsborough H.P.S. Vel. 613; Ulster Federation Cup, St Allouestre O.B., 1st Ulster Federation member in Kings Cup race, Jim Braniff Fortfield H.P.S. Vel. 667; NIPA Cup,St Allouestre O.B, 1st NIPA member in Kings Cup race, Mr & Mrs R Magill Muckamore HPS Vel 723; Joe Cullan Memorial Cup, St Allouestre O.B., 1st East Coast Fed. member in the Kings Cup race, A. Kelly Skerries R.P.C. Vel. 703; Billy Ingle Trophy, St Allouestre O.B.,1st Irish South Fed. member in the Kings Cup race, D. Browne Northside R.P.C. Vel. 408;
Harkness Rose Bowl, St Allouestre O.B., Best two bird average Kings Cup,
E. Murtagh & Sons Individual North Vel. 640; Joe Doheny Cup,St Allouestre O.B. Single Bird Challenge Kings Cup, E. Murtagh & Son Individual North. Vel. 617; Robinson Trophy, St Allouestre O.B., 14th position in Kings Cup, G. Benson Lisburn & District H.P.S. Vel. 606; McCloud Cup, St Allouestre O.B., 1st Yearling in the Kings Cup, K. Carson & Son Crumlin & District H.P.S. Vel. 681; Ronnie Johnston Challenge Cup, Skibbereen O.B Inland National, I. Parkes & Son Armagh H.P.S. Vel. 1346; Gerald Delaney Trophy, Skibbereen O.B.,Best section winning velocity after winning section, B. Corley Monaghan H.P.S. Vel. 1340; Framed Diploma, Skibbereen O.B., Lowest section winning velocity, J. J. Hurley Barrow Valley R.P.C. Vel. 1256; Friendship Cup, Quimper O.B., Friendship National, Rev. T.A.B. Sawyers & Son Banbridge H.P.S. Vel.1154; British Barcelona Club Trophy, Quimper O.B., 2nd position in the Friendship National,
Calderwood & Waite Shankill H.P.S. Vel. 1147; John Millar Logistics Trophy, Quimper O.B., 1st member in the section not winning the Open, P Rock & Son Skerries R.P.C. Vel. 1068; Henry Beattie & Son Trophy, Quimper O.B., Best two Bird Average Friendship National, Calderwood & Waite Shankill H.P.S. Vel. 1122
Ervine Trophy, Best Average O.B. Nationals Quimper and Saint Allouestre, A. McAteer & Sons Ballyholland H.P.S. Vel. 759; Nelson Corry Trophy, Sennen Cove O.B., Yearling National, B. Smyth & Son Rathnew R.P.C. Vel. 1294; James McGrugan Memorial Cup Sennen Cove Yearling National, Section winner not winning the Open, M. Conlon & Sons Banbridge H.P.S. Vel. 1258; Sam Buckley Memorial Cup, Best two bird average Sennen Cove Yearling National, P. Murray Killyleagh & District H.P.S. Vel. 1142; Charles Ingle Memorial Trophy, 10th Open position Sennen Cove Yearling National, John Trotter Laurelvale H.P.S. Vel. 1186; J.M.K. McGugan Perpetual Cup, Penzance Y.B. Channel Grand National,
M. Robinson Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel. 1631; William Erwin Memorial Cup, Penzance, 1st South Section in Channel Y.B. National, D. Mooney Dublin North County R.P.C. Vel. 1480; De-Scheemaecker Trophy,.Penzance Y.B., Best Two bird average in Channel Y.B. National, S. Clarke Doagh & District H.P.S. Vel. 1495; Tom Marshall Trophy, Skibbereen Y.B. Inland National, Dobbs Bros. Wexford North & South R.P.C. Vel. 1653; Framed Diploma, Skibbereen Y.B. Inland National Middle section winner, A. Mason Donnycarney R.P.C. Vel. 1514; Framed Diploma, Skibbereen Y.B. Inland National North section winner, J. Douglas & Son Lurgan Social H.P.S. Vel. 1451; J. Gilmour Memorial Cup, Best Average St Allouestre O B and Sennen Cove Yearling Nationals,C. & L. Fryers Dromara H.P.S. Vel. 774; A. Darragh Cup Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling and Quimper Friendship Nationals, Donnelly Bros Millvale H.P.S. Vel. 1103; Jarvis Cup, Best Average Penzance and Skibbereen Y.B. Nationals, M. Robinson Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel. 1417; Rhead Trophy Best Average, St Allouestre O.B. and Penzance Y.B. Nationals, N. Lusty Muckamore H.P.S. Vel. 750; Diamond Cup,Best Average St Allouestre O.B., Sennen Cove Yearling and Penzance Y.B. J. Greenaway Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel. 787; Harkers Trophy, Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling and Penzance Y. B. Nationals, M. Robinson Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel. 1298; Robin Duddy Trophy. Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling and Penzance Y B National (three bird nomination), M. Robinson Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel. 1216; Charles Hunniford Memorial Trophy, Best Average (North Section) Skibbereen O.B. & Y.B. Nationals, J. Douglas & Son Lurgan Social H.P.S. Vel. 1458; The New North Cup , Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling, St Allouestre Kings Cup, Quimper Friendship, Penzance Young Bird Nationals, J. Greenaway Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel. 833; President’s Cup, Best Average St Allouestre Kings Cup, Sennen Cove Yearling, Penzance Y.B. and Skibbereen Y.B. Nationals, J. Greenaway Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel 842; De-Scheemaecker Trophy, Runner Up Best Average All National Races, A McAteer & Sons Ballyholland HPS Vel 841.91; Erwin Trophy, Best Average All National Races, J. Greenaway Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel. 903;
Hall of Fame Diploma awarded for a pigeon three times in the King’s Cup prizes presented to E. Murtagh & Sons Individual North, Blue Bar hen GB11E 06756, 2013 - 178th; 2014 - 23rd; 2016 - 10th.
Ladies prizes won by I. Parkes & Son, B. Smyth & Son, Mr.& Mrs. R. Magill, Rev. T.A. B. Sawyers & Son, M. Robinson, Dobbs Bros.;
Framed Diplomas sponsored by Sawyers & Co Estate Agents Banbridge, St Allouestre Single Bird Challenge, 1st E. Murtagh & Sons Individual North, 2nd Norman Thompson Comber Central H.P.S., 3rd Malachy Maguire & Son Millvale H.P.S.
King’s Cup Merit Awards 2016, awarded for a pigeon twice in the King’s Cup prizes presented to: Cormac O’Hare & Son Ballyholland HPS Blue Cheq hen GB 14 B 09040, 2015 - 210th, 2016 - 60th; Mulcahy Bros Cork North West, ‘Lorraine’, Grizzle hen IHU 11 S 087640, 2013 – 89th, 2016 – 65th; A McAteer & Sons Ballyholland HPS, ‘Drum Cove Cheeky Boy’ , Blue Bar cock GB 13 B 33618, 2015 – 107th Open. 2016 – 27th Open; S McAllister & Sons Lagan Valley HPS, ‘The OL’ Fella’, Dark Cheq cock IHU 12 N 18786, 2013 – 170th, 2016 – 69th; A Thompson Ballyclare & Dist HPS, Blue Pied hen GB 13 B 24476, 2015 - 28th, 2016 – 56th; N Black & Son Dromara HPS, Blue Pied hen GB 13 B 48524, 2015 – 24th, 2016 – 68th; Capper Bros Bondhill, Blue hen GB 13 B 04352, 2015 - 29th , 2016 - 40th; Joe Doheny Malahide & Dist, ‘Big Bob’, Blue Cheq cock GB 13 V 03257. 2015 – 203rd, 2016 – 45th; B & M McGilly Annaghmore HPS, ‘Brian’s Boy’ GB 13 B 04373, 2015 – 138th, 2016 – 33rd, Malachy Maguire & Son Millvale HPS, ‘Lady Patricia’ Blue Cheq hen GB 13 E 26047, 2015 – 48th, 2016 – 18th:
Friendship National Merit Awards 2016, awarded for a pigeon twice in the Friendship National prizes presented to: Jim Robinson Edgarstown HPS, ‘Anville King’ Blue Cheq cock GB 13 E 03475, 2015 – 37th, 2016 – 111th , David Coulter Glenavy & Dist HPS, Blue Cheq hen GB 10 H 37543, 2013 – 82nd, 2016 – 42nd; G O’Reilly Malahide & Dist RPC, ‘Riverview Ash’ Ash hen IHU 13 S 147980, 2015 – 101st, 2016 – 48th; S Corrigan Loughall HPS, ‘Grizzle Boy’ Grizzle cock GB 12 L 19645, 2015 – 97th, 2016 – 69th; John Ramsey & Son Grosvenor HPS, ‘Betsy’ Blue Cheq hen IHU 13 N 29169; 2015 – 108th, 2016 – 59th; Mark Ewbanks Banbridge Social HPS, ‘Josephine’ Blue Cheq hen GB 13 B 34946, 2015 – 67th, 2016 – 46th; A McAteer & Sons Ballyholland HPS, ‘Drum Cove Pied’ Blue Bar Pied cock GB 14 B 09102, 2015 – 53rdt, 2016 – 18th; H Silcock Dromara HPS, Grizzle cock GB 13 D 24642, 2015 71st, 2016 – 10th; N Black & Son Dromara HPS, Blue Cheq W/F cock GB 13 D 24110, 2015 – 109th, 2016 – 37th:
More photos and reports over next few weeks. Thanks to Willie Reynolds for the photos for this report. The annual general meeting of the INFC will be held in the Lagan Valley Leisureplex Lisburn on Saturday 4th March 2017 at 14.00hrs. Any notices of motion to be with the secretary on or before 31st December 2016.
Brendan McLoughlin
INFC Press Officer
