2018 Season Report -

[willie reynolds]

As the days lengthen and with spring fast approaching nature is busy preparing for the season ahead. Also preparing for the season ahead is the Irish Homing Union National Flying Club. Being one of the biggest clubs on the island of Ireland preparation is constant in order to provide Irish Homing Union members with a National that they can be proud of. At the helm of this great organisation is Chairman and Kilkenny native Mr. Michael Murphy, alongside is our very own Corkonian and Secretary/Treasurer namely Mr. Richie Mullane. These gentlemen along with President Mr. George Guilfoyle and a superb committee are working tirelessly and are to be commended for their efforts thus far on their journey. The Irish Homing Union National Flying Club is now beginning to make great strides and I'm certain the best is yet to come. Being our very own IHU National we would encourage all members of the IHU to get on board and support this great Organisation, it is your very own IHU National Flying Club after all. Recently our state of the art transporter was giving a bit of TLC and what a result was had with a pair of magnificent curtains fitted to both sides of the transporter, special mention of thanks and huge gratitude goes to Waterford member Mr. Derek Walsh and European pigeon website (E.P.W.) for their fantastic sponsorship support. To add to this a beautifully designed logo was added to the rear of the transporter and thanks on this occasion go to the gifted Eddie Barry from our capital city of Dublin. None of this would have been possible without the help of two men, namely John Heffernan and Peter Cleary, also from Dublin who do Trojan work for the Irish Homing Union National and the sport in general having dedicated most of their lives to the sport, well done lads. In preparation for the season ahead we will shortly have our Annual general meeting and all members are encouraged to attend. Last but not least we would like also to pay special thanks to all those who played there part working hard in the various National marking stations, it is much appreciated and also a big thanks to our members for your support as without you it cannot be. Notice to all members....The Irish Homing Union National Flying Club A.G.M. will be held on the 23rd of February 2019 and will commence at 2.30pm sharp at the clubhouse hotel in Kilkenny. With a very bright future in store for this National we would once again remind all IHU members that this is your very own National, come on board with us and let's continue to make this great National what it deserves to be and what the members deserve it to be, so onwards and upwards and best wishes to all members going forward. To close this article the committee of the Irish Homing Union National Flying Club would like to say congratulations and well done to all the winners and participants in all IHU NFC races during the 2018 season, the following are the top 3 open positions of each race.

19th of May (Valentina Island, old birds)

1st - M Maher & family (Portlaoise), vel 1651.255
2nd - M Maher & family (Portlaoise),vel1651
3rd - J & J Caribini (Dublin), vel 1643.521

31st of May (Penzance (1), old birds)

1st - T. Boyle (Dublin), vel 1050.868
2nd - Dempsey & O' Keefe (Arklow), vel 905.342
3rd - J. Heffernan (Dublin), vel 857.95

23rd of June (Penzance (2), old birds)

1st - P. Dowling (Kilkenny), vel 1342.368
2nd - L Conran (Kilkenny), vel 1311.079
3rd - L Conran ( Kilkenny), vel 1264.855

29th of June (St.Malo, old birds)

1st - Noel Grant & Son (Balbriggan), vel 1066.408
2nd - P. Dowling (Kilkenny), vel 547.506

18th of August (Castletown, young birds)

1st - Gary & Mark Doyle (Arklow) vel 1676.662
2nd - D. Walsh (Waterford), vel 1673.459
3rd - C O'Sullivan (Waterford) vel 1672.959

9th of Sept (Talbenny, young birds)

1st - P. Keegan & L Darling (Dublin), vel 1261.970
2nd - P. Rock & Son (Dublin), vel 1149.650
3rd - P. Rock & Son (Dublin), vel 1148.030

15th of Sept (Valentia Island, youngbirds)

1st - Dylan & Daniel Boylan (Dublin), vel 1533.105
2nd - Safet Duran (Dublin15),vel 1524.635
3rd - Dylan & Daniel Boylan (Dublin),vel 1482.473