News Letter Sport - Sat 03/04/10

[willie reynolds]

Weather wise the long winter break is complete, although you would hardly think it, and the pigeon racing season is getting ready for the off. The opening race of the NIPA old bird programme will be flown from Tullamore in County Offaly on Saturday 10th April. Training, weather permitting, will be in full swing over the Easter Holiday period.

With the Easter Holiday and the weather the way it has been some clubs have indicated they will not be sending the first race, any club not sending the first week should contact Ivan Mawhinney Tel: (028) 38 882322. I have a number of contact numbers for Secretary Fred Russell. From 9.00am until 4.00pm Tel: (028) 90 234805. From 8.00pm any night Tel: (028) 92 693913. Mobile: 07833 070371. Only these numbers to be used, no others, thank you.

Ballycarry & District sale will be held in the clubrooms on Wednesday 7th April @ 7.30pm, sale open to members in Carrick Social RPC, Carrick & District HPS & Ballycarry HPS.

Fanciers in the Southern Region are organising a series of Young Bird Auctions in aid of funds for the Southern Area Hospice, Ballyholland GAC in Newry is the venue on Saturday 3rd April at 8.00pm. For further information on the Newry Sale please contact Pat McAteer Tel: 07789 846028. All pigeon fanciers are asked to support the sale to help raise much needed funds for the Hospice. The youngsters will be ready for racing this season.

Newtownbreda Pigeon Club is the venue for a Triple YB Sale with 60 young birds at workingman’s prices, Saturday 3rd April at 3.00pm. Ian Gill who owns the very best of Ian Stafford Van Reet & Jos Thones, winners reported from many top flyers. Andy Milliken (A & R Milliken) Soontjen, Maris & Busschaert. Andy has been winning many positions in Ulster Fed, NIPA & INFC 1st North Sect & 2nd Open Skibbereen etc. Brian Foulis has Janssen lines from B & R Hogg, and J Gerrard a dynasty of pigeons that have won Ulster Fed, EDC and NIPA top prizes for 15 years. Further info Tel: Brian 07746 930072 or Andy 07764 158942.

Ballynure & District will have the annual Breeder & Buyer Sale in the Larne & Dist HPS Clubrooms, Glenarm Road in Larne on Wednesday 7th April, penning at 7.30 and sale at 8.00pm. The race will be the Rosscarbery YB National, £600 has been paid out each year and all fanciers are welcome.

Ronnie Johnston will auction birds at two sales that have been arranged on behalf of Allanah Donnelly who is just 7 years old and a Leukaemia Sufferer. Dates are Thursday 8th April in the Banbridge British Legion and Monday 12th April in the Newtownbreda Clubrooms. Fantastic selection of top quality Young Birds direct from some of Ireland’s leading lofts, will be ready to race.

Glenarm & District HPS will have their annual Breeder & Buyer Sale in the Larne & Dist HPS on Thursday 15th April at 8.00pm. The race will be Fermoy and prizes £100 for Breeder and £250 for the Buyer. All fanciers welcome.

A Building Fund Sale in aid of Downpatrick HPS will take place in the Newtownbreda Clubrooms on Monday 19th April at 8.00pm. The club have a top selection of youngsters promised from top lofts, penning is from 7.00pm.

Lost: In the Crumlin area Blue cock GB07C 45220, Tel: Tel: (028) 94 459014 or Mobile: 07710 447262. Found: Dead at Larne Harbour IHU10S 52849.

When the season starts clubs should furnish their results to me as in the past for general publicity, if you can supply extra details that will help a lot, as will the odd photo. We have always relied on a number of area scribes to supply local news for various publications, including weekly newspapers and the fancy press as well. This as usual will be listed in the organisation report for each race, and remember we work to very tight deadlines. There is more to do than will ever be possible to be done, we can only try our best, to ensure your result is listed get the details to Homer, space is also available for all club’s to list results at no charge on www.pigeonnetwork.com