LIBERATIONS - Sat 1st August 2009

[willie reynolds]

The NIPA Sect B Clubs held an unprecedented meeting on Tuesday 28th July to review the race programme flown to date and the intentions for the rest of the season including this weekend. Almost all member clubs were represented at the meeting held on the fringe of the area at Chimney Corner Football Club in Antrim. There was good general discussion and a lot of views from having a release on our own to having mass liberations from race one. It was thought young birds this year started a week early and with this race cancelled or delayed this is what put the rest of the programme in trouble. Young birds should start as per the rules, on the third Saturday in July. There was also a lot of concern regarding clashing, not only in the NIPA but other organisations as well. I suppose looking at it the less liberations you have the less chance of clashing, clashing is not the sole problem, there was concern about sickness as well. Clubs were encouraged to put any resolutions of concern forward for discussion or indeed inclusion on the AGM Agenda. The strong feeling was that racing for the coming weekend should be from Tullamore for an Area Liberation that should include Sect A, B & C. This giving the longer flyers the chance to catch up, and this race will be followed by the first mass release from Roscrea and then continue with Clonmel (1) and (2). The thinking seems to be that the Fermoy race will be flown same day as Talbenny instead of the planned Tullamore, although they could fly Fermoy the week after Clonmel (1) and have Clonmel (2) the day of Talbenny. It will all depend how the season progresses. All local clubs have been encouraged to submit a race programme for discussion at the next meeting to be held on Tuesday 1st September with a view to making a decision on a programme the Sect B will submit to the NIPA before the end of September. This is the deadline for member clubs to put a programme forward, and the rules state “All race programmes submitted must include both an Inland and Cross Channel Nat race for both old and young birds.

The NIPA plan for the weekend should be Roscrea for Sect D, E & G, Tullamore for Sect A, B & C and probably Tullamore for Sect F & H. We will list further updates later when we have more info available. East Down Combine will move on to Mullingar and the 4th race for Ulster Federation is expected to be Kildare.

[willie reynolds]

The weather conditions as expected are giving concern not just early on but later we have rain coming in from the west and it is to be more windy. I do believe Sunday was to be a better day and no doubt that is part of the discussions going on. We will list more news later, and liberation times should there be any. Who would be a Race Controller in these circumstances?

Conditions do appear to have improved and release has been possible for most.

Confirmed Liberations: Ulster Fed in Kildare released at 10.15am. EDC in Mullingar released at 11.30am, wind SSW.

NIPA: Sect B, C and Top A in Tullamore at 10.45am. I understand this Lib time was 10.45 and not 10.30am as published earlier. Sect A West/H in Tullamore at 10.45am. Sect D, E, F, G and Bottom A in Roscrea at 11.15am Wind South West. NOTE this Liberation was at 11.15 and not 11.00am as published earlier.