The President David Black proposed a toast to the Patron Ronnie Johnston before the Chairman Leonard McCavery introduced the top table, Secretary Trevor Topping and his wife Florence, President David Black and his wife Janice and special guests, Mr Davy Mawhinney and his wife Pamela. Davy had been treasurer of the Irish National Flying Club for 30 years and since being elected in 1987Davy had handled around 5½ million pounds for the club. Leonard 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, Liam McCalll. Leonard 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 for all their hard work throughout the year. The Chairman thanked the convoyer Jim McCrory and his team for all their help and patience in the face of some difficult race decisions. 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.
Davy Mawhinney speaking on behalf of the guests thanked the committee for their hard work and diligence which ensured that we had another successful season. Davy said that he had thoroughly enjoyed his time working with the INFC and had made many lifelong friendships but he felt this was the right time for him to move on to spend more time with his family and to enjoy his grandchildren. He went on to provide a very meaningful and witty speech. He concluded by wishing everyone a happy Christmas and New Year.
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, Mr & Mrs Roy Magill, Muckamore. This year’s winner Mr Liam McCall, Wicklow was greeted with a standing ovation.
INFC 2017 CUP AND TROPHY WINNERS
King George V Challenge Cup, St Allouestre, Grand National Old Bird National winner L McCall Wicklow South Road velocity 1343; Gilliland Cup, St Allouestre O.B, 1st IHU member after winner in Kings Cup race J Doheny Malahide & Dist.R.P.C. Vel. 1313; Nelson Vase, St Allouestre O.B,1st RPRA member after winner in Kings Cup race G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S. Vel. 1251; East Down Combine Cup, St Allouestre O.B., 1st E.D.C. member in the Kings Cup race, A Crawford Ballylesson H.P.S. Vel. 1262; Ulster Federation Cup, St Allouestre O.B., 1st Ulster Federation member in Kings Cup race, K Doherty Fortfield H.P.S. Vel. 1114; NIPA Cup,St Allouestre O.B, 1st NIPA member in Kings Cup race, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S. Vel 1251; Joe Cullan Memorial Cup, St Allouestre O.B., 1st East Coast Fed. member in the Kings Cup race, J Doheny Malahide & Dist. R.P.C. Vel. 1313; Billy Ingle Trophy, St Allouestre O.B.,1st Irish South Fed. member in the Kings Cup race, J Cullen Bray Invit R.P.C. Vel. 1221;
Duddy Extreme Distance Trophy, St Allouestre O.B. Furthest flying member in the King’s Cup Open prizes, Nevin Bros Coleraine Premier, 524 miles, 160th Open, Vel 794; Harkness Rose Bowl, St Allouestre O.B., Best two bird average Kings Cup, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S Vel 1208; Joe Doheny Cup,St Allouestre O.B. Single Bird Challenge Kings Cup, L McCall Wicklow South Road, Vel 1343; Robinson Trophy, St Allouestre O.B., 14th position in Kings Cup, R Fewings Rathnew R.P.C. Vel. 1200; McCloud Cup, St Allouestre O.B., 1st Yearling in the Kings Cup, M Hughes Edgarstown H.P.S. Vel 1233; Ronnie Johnston Challenge Cup, Skibbereen O.B Inland National, P Keegan & L Darling Doneycarney R.P.C. Vel I673; Gerald Delaney Trophy, Skibbereen O.B.,Best section winning velocity after winning section, J Gregory & Sons Colin H.P.S. Vel. 1648; Framed Diploma, Skibbereen O.B., Lowest section winning velocity, C Nolan Carlow & Dist R.P.C. Vel. 1642; Friendship Cup, Lamballe O.B., Friendship National, C & H Beattie Gilford & Dist H.P.S. Vel.904; British Barcelona Club Trophy, Lamballe O.B., 2nd position in the Friendship National, John Greenaway Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel. 900; John Millar Logistics Trophy, Lamballe O.B., 1st member in the section not winning the Open, Gregory Bros. Rathnew R.P.C. Vel. 853; Henry Beattie & Son Trophy, Lamballe O.B., Best two Bird Average Friendship National, T Marshall & Son Newtownbreda H.P.S. Vel. 446; Ervine Trophy, Best Average O.B. Nationals Lamballe and Saint Allouestre, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S. Vel 909; Nelson Corry Trophy, Sennen Cove O.B., Yearling National, J Douglas & Son Lurgan Social H.P.S. Vel 1360; James McGrugan Memorial Cup Sennen Cove Yearling National, Section winner not winning the Open, B Szakala Drogheda Invitation R.P.C. Vel 1281; Sam Buckley Memorial Cup, Best two bird average Sennen Cove Yearling National, P Hope Edgarstown H.P.S. Vel 1335; Charles Ingle Memorial Trophy, 10th Open position Sennen Cove Yearling National, D & R Turkington Doagh & Dist H.P.S. Vel. 1331; J.M.K. McGugan Perpetual Cup, Penzance Y.B. Channel Grand National, J Greenaway Dromore H.P.S. Vel 1055; William Erwin Memorial Cup, Penzance, 1st South Section in Channel Y.B. National, P. J. Corcoran & Son Balbriggan R.P.C. Vel 902; De-Scheemaecker Trophy, Penzance Y.B., Best Two bird average in Channel Y.B. National, J Greenaway Dromore H.P.S. Vel 1048; Tom Marshall Trophy, Skibbereen Y.B. Inland National, Leonard & De Ridder FBI Individual South Vel. 1417; Framed Diploma, Skibbereen Y.B. Inland National Middle section winner, D Tierney Sarsfield R.P.C. Vel. 1358; Framed Diploma, Skibbereen Y.B. Inland National North section winner, Mr & Mrs G. Delaney Dromore H.P.S. Vel 1193; J. Gilmour Memorial Cup, Best Average St Allouestre O B and Sennen Cove Yearling Nationals, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S. Vel. 1241; A. Darragh Cup Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling and Lamballe Friendship Nationals, John Greenaway Bondhill Social H.P.S. Vel 1009; Jarvis Cup, Best Average Penzance and Skibbereen Y.B. Nationals, J Greenaway Dromore H.P.S. Vel 1103; Rhead Trophy Best Average, St Allouestre O.B. and Penzance Y.B. Nationals, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S. Vel. 1150; Diamond Cup,Best Average St Allouestre O.B., Sennen Cove Yearling and Penzance Y.B. G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S. Vel 1170; Harkers Trophy, Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling and Penzance Y. B. Nationals, J Greenaway Dromore H.P.S. Vel. 1114; Robin Duddy Trophy. Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling and Penzance Y B National (three bird nomination), No Winner 2017; Charles Hunniford Memorial Trophy, Best Average (North Section) Skibbereen O.B. & Y.B. Nationals, H McAvoy Harmony H.P.S. Vel 1356; The New North Cup , Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling, St Allouestre Kings Cup, Lamballe Friendship, Penzance Young Bird Nationals, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S. Vel 980; President’s Cup, Best Average St Allouestre Kings Cup, Sennen Cove Yearling, Penzance Y.B. and Skibbereen Y.B. Nationals, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S. Vel. 1156; De-Scheemaecker Trophy, Runner Up Best Average All National Races, Donnelly Bros Millvale H.P.S. Vel. 763; Erwin Trophy, Best Average All National Races, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore H.P.S. Vel 1035:
Hall of Fame Diploma awarded for a pigeon three times in the King’s Cup prizes presented to A McAteer & Sons Ballyholland H.P.S. Blue Bar Cock GB13 B 33618, 2015 - 107th; 2016 – 27th; 2017 – 162nd; A Thompson Ballyclare & Dist. H.P.S. Blue Pied Hen GB 13 B 24476, 2015 – 28th, 2016 – 56th, 2017 – 153rd:
Ladies prizes won by: P Keegan & L Darling, J Douglas & Son, L McCall, C & H Beattie, Jeff Greenaway, Leonard & De Ridder:ll, 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 L McCall Wicklow South Road, 2nd Burns Bros Comber Social H.P.S., 3rd J McLoughlin Blanchardstown R.P.C.
King’s Cup Merit Awards 2016, awarded for a pigeon twice in the King’s Cup prizes presented to: Parkin & Cairns Castlebellingham R.P.C. Blue hen IHU 14 S 79432, 2016 – 58th, 2017 – 19th; Fintan Moran Malahide & Dist. R.P.C., ‘Aoife M.’, Red hen, IHU 13 S 67299, 2016 – 35th, 2017 -107th; McKeown & McEvoy Castlebellingham R.P.C. Blue cock, IHU 13 S 4040, 2016 - 38th, 2017 – 116th; A Darragh Cullybackey H.P.S. Blue Cheq cock, GB 13 S 00627, 2015 – 188th, 2017 – 211th; D Dixon Ballymoney H.P.S., ‘Danny’s Girl’, Blue Cheq Pied hen, GB 14 B 05292, 2015 – 71st, 2017 – 206th; Kenna & Finn Arklow R.P.C., Red Cheq hen, IHU 12 S 27327, 2015 – 124th, 2017 – 115th; Joe Doheny Malahide & Dist. R.P.C., ‘Shane’, Blue Cheq cock, GB 13 V 03179, 2016 – 62nd, 2017 – 60th; N Lusty Muckamore H.P.S. ‘Edith’ Blue Pied Hen, GB 13 E 15606, 2016 – 55th, 2017, 104th:
Friendship National Merit Awards 2017, awarded for a pigeon twice in the Friendship National prizes presented to: I Parkes & Son Armagh H.P.S., ‘Sadie’, Blue hen, GB 14 A 07523, 2016 – 4th, 2017 – 14th; T Mooney & Son Millvale H.P.S. Blue White hen, GB 14 E 15600, 2016 – 25th, 2017 – 13th; John Greenaway Bondhill Social H.P.S. ‘The 49 cock’ Blue cock, GB 12 B 03249, 2016 – 38th, 2017 – 2nd; Donnelly Bros Millvale H.P.S., ‘Faith’, Blue hen, GB13 C 48883,
More photos and reports over next few weeks. Thanks to Willie Reynolds for the photos for this report.
Brendan McLoughlin - INFC Press Officer
Mr & Mrs Magill from Randalstown present the Kings Cup to winner in 2017 Mr Liam McCall.
National Champions in 2017 were G Buckley & Son from Annaghmore.
Kevin Douglas from Lurgan Social won the Nelson Corry Cup for 1st Yearling National.
C & H Beattie from Gilford won the Friendship Nat from Lamballe in France.
Jeff Greenaway from Dromore won the YB Nat from Penzance and Best 2 Bird Ave for the second time.