Homer's Odyssey - 16/01/09

[willie reynolds]

Fanciers Combine News Update: The Fanciers Combine intend to purchase a new transporter for the forthcoming season. As this transporter will be much smaller than the original one membership will have to be restricted to 60 members @ £5. The joining fee has to be paid before 18th January to either Cyril Beattie Tel: (028) 38 840486, Joe Brown Tel: 07709 077266 or Geoffrey Douglas Tel: (028) 38 327685. This is open to NIPA Sect E members only at the present time but the original transporter will be used for 2 x OB Open Races and 2 x YB Open Races per year, and these will be open to all fanciers in all other organizations.

The New North Flying Club: As the above club has not been in operation over the past seven years and even before that the membership was gradually decreasing every year, it has been decided to have a meeting of anyone with an interest. The Mid Antrim Combine have kindly let us have a short meeting before their Annual General Meeting at 8.00 pm on Wednesday 18th March 2009 in the Harryville HPS Clubroom, Antrim Road, Ballymena. With so many races now in the NIPA and INFC it appears there is no need for this organization so a decision will have to be made on its existence. Also, the Cups and whatever money is in the Bank Account. If anyone has an opinion on what should be done please attend this meeting.

Sammy Thompson (Former Chairman), Maurice Alexander (Former Secretary).

The officials and members of Ballymena & Dist are sad to learn that Sharon the wife of long time member Billy McKillen has passed away peacefully at hospital. Very sincere condolences to the family circle at this sad time. The wife of former member Sammy Maternaghan has also passed away, Sammy himself passed away a number of years back. I can well remember the many occasions he and brother Willie who also lived at Old Antrim Road made the results, Willie on one occasion topped the NIPA and Sammy would have been ever present through to France. Those were the days indeed, not many left now from that era.

Blackpool Bus Trip: Some seats are still available on the Robin Duddy bus going the Blackpool Show, leaving Ballyclare. Tel Robin: (028) 93 340603.

Portavogie HPS in the County Down had a very good turn-out for the Annual Charity Show held this year on Saturday 3rd January 2009. I will have details of the total amount raised over the weekend, I believe by Saturday it had reached around £2,000 and more to add. I believe it is going to the RNLI for the rescue service something the Fishing Port are very aware off and appreciate. What a day it turned out for the R Moore & Son partnership from Bangor winning all three classes and Best in Show. The judges for the event included Joe Devlin from Coalisland & Dist who done the Eyesign, Jeff Greenaway from Hills & Maze placed the cards in AA Cock Handled and the Donacloney pair of Timmy Mawhinney and Eddie Murray were in charge of the AA Hen Handled. The Portavogie club wish to thank all the fanciers who supported the event, and sponsored prizes including the Big Tambola.

Results Portavogie Charity Show: Eyesign 1st, 4th & HC R Moore & Son, 2nd D Jackson & Son, 3rd & Reserve B & G Cochrane, VHC N & T McMaster, Commended Brown & Shaw. Any Age Cock Handled 1st & 2nd R Moore & Son, 3rd B & G Cochrane, 4th & Commended L Young, Reserve D Jackson & Son, VHC & HC E Murray & Partner. Any Age Hen Handled 1st & 3rd R Moore & Son, 2nd, 4th & Reserve B & G Cochrane, VHC Pollock, Plunkett & Nelson, HC S Regan, Commended J & J Hollinger.

Carrick & District HPS enjoyed good weather and a bumper Show & Sale at the clubrooms on New Years Day, some 200 birds were penned in the show and the sale for the Breeder/Buyer race raised around £1,400. These events are an important part of the club funding for each year and they have again got away to a good start. It turned out a super day for the event organizer Robert Reid, he and wife Yvonne won two classes and collected both Best in Show and Best Opposite Sex. M/M Reid have been showing well all season and won the Red Card in Old Cock and Old Hens, from Springvale Montgomery & Kirk had 1st Young Hen and Turkington Bros 1st Young Cock. Mid Antrim visitors done well with Russell Bros from Cullybackey 1st YB Eyesign with a bird that had already won at Cullybackey and Kells and W & N Gilbert from Harryville took 1st OB Eyesign. Judges included Timmy Mawhinney from Donacloney, Joe Vage Dromore and Simon Millar from Randalstown. The Best in Show winner was a worthy Champion for 2009, it has won 5 x 1sts since a young bird and included was Sennen Cove earlier this year. His dam won 1st Old Hen and BOS, a daughter of the cock was 2nd in Young Hens and a son won BIS at Carrick in 2007. What a fantastic line of winning birds. Well done to Robert & Yvonne hard workers for our sport and the top winners on my first visit to the Carrick Open Show. Montgomery & Kirk from Springvale won the 1st Young Hens, a bird that has won numerous cards in 2007 which included 1sts. Nice to meet Raymond Hamilton again, R & H Hamilton have been doing well all season, and take 2nd here in both Eyesign classes. Carrick & Dist wish to thank the following sponsors for their donations to the Annual Open Show. Horseshoe HPS, Larne & Dist HPS, R Fenton, Farm Feeds Doagh, N J Arthurs and W Elliott. Also R Shelton, C Greenfield, Millar Butcher Ballyclare, Donnelly Butcher Larne, D Wallace, Woodford Fly Fishery and Ardboley Boarding (Catering). Robert Reid thanked all the members who supported the show, all those who supplied prizes for the ballot and birds for the sale. They would also wish to thank Ballycarry & District HPS for the loan of their Show Pens.

Results Carrick Open Show: Old Cocks 1st M/M R Reid, 2nd & 3rd N J Arthurs, 4th Arthurs & George, VHC C Shaw, HC F Simpson, Commended Doonan & McGuinness. Old Hens 1st & 2nd M/M R Reid, 3rd Arthurs & George, 4th & Commended N J Arthurs, VHC E Gilliland, HC F Simpson. Young Cocks 1st Turkington Bros, 2nd, 3rd & VHC M/M R Reid, 4th George & Hall, HC C Shaw, Commended Brown & Shaw. Young Hens 1st Montgomery & Kirk, 2nd Russell Bros, 3rd & Commended N J Arthurs, 4th C Shaw, VHC M/M R Reid, HC W & N Gilbert. OB Eyesign 1st W & N Gilbert, 2nd R & H Hamilton, 3rd, 4th, VHC, HC & Commended Russell Bros. YB Eyesign 1st, 3rd, 4th & VHC Russell Bros, 2nd & HC R & H Hamilton, Commended C Shaw.

RJ Auctions: Firstly Happy New YEAR. A Sale of 2009 youngsters from top fanciers and studs will take place in Protestant Hall Glenavy on Saturday 17th January at 2.30pm. A prize for the Best Performance of a young bird sold at the sale is donated by Ronnie Johnston. All proceeds will be going to the Hall Renovation Fund.

A complete Clearance Sale will be held on behalf of the late Gerald Irvine (G & M Irvine) in Carrick Social R.P.C. club rooms on Friday 16th January at 8pm. Hopefully more details of birds etc later. Gerald was in pigeons a lifetime with much success particularly at the distance. His old family of Gits pigeons are still present in the loft amongst other birds bought in from some top lofts all over the UK and Ireland. With around 60 lots on offer there will be something for everyone. Come and have a look on the night - everything must go.

As usual for the last number of years the RPRA (Irish Region) Awards are presented at the NIPA Ladies Night, this time Mrs Thompson was invited to conduct the various presentations. The Meritorious Awards are available in each NIPA Section, for Individual Bird performance over two cross channel races which were Talbenny (2) and Sennen Cove.

Section winners were: Sect A K Carolan Coalisland & District Vel 1372, Sect A West A Hall Omagh & District Vel 1228, Sect B D Dixon Ballymoney HPS Vel 1362, Sect C Grattan Bros Eastway HPS Vel 1365, Sect D D Jackson & Son Kingswood HPS Vel 1331, Sect E R & G & G Donaldson Portadown Inv Vel 1387, Sect F McGimpsey Bros Ards HPS Vel 1315, Sect G Donnelly Bros Newry City Vel 1387. Overall winner was R & G & G Donaldson of Portadown Invitation.

RPRA (Irish Region) Mileage Awards. 0-250 Miles won by Ron Williamson, Bondhill, 251-450 Miles won by Donnelly Bros Newry City, Over 451 Miles won by Graham Andrew Springvale Social.

Young Fancier Mileage Awards. 0-250 Miles won by Conor Magill New Antrim Amalgamated, 251-450 Miles won by Christopher Shaw Dromore West End. Over 450 Miles won by Christopher Tweed Rasharkin & District. The RPRA (Irish Region) Young Fancier of the Year 2008 was won by Conor Magill.

Best YB Performance 2008 was won by Ron McKelvey of Newry & District. Best all Round Performance 2008 was won by Ron Williamson of Bondhill. We look forward now to January and the RPRA 2008 Annual Awards Presentation to be held in the Tower Ballroom at Blackpool Show weekend. The Irish Region have performed well before, what this time????

Despite a publicity embargo some of the top winners have been listed on the web in recent days, it includes congratulations to the Bondhill Ace flyer Ron Williamson who has won the overall GB Award in the Short Distance and the Best all round performance. It is worth noting that the winning performance was only established at the Irish Region after an objection and the work of Secretary Robert Reid in sorting out the problem was invaluable. What a record of achievement Ron Williamson has, among the many awards he wins the Selby Thomas Memorial Trophy for Adult Short Distance for the 4th time and the Tony Cornwell Trophy for Best all round performance for the 3rd time. All this and other results will be confirmed in Blackpool.

A meeting of the Irish Region Appeals Committee was held in the Coast Road Hotel in Carrickfergus on Saturday 22nd November, it was the first time this venue was used and the members were impressed. Minutes of the last meeting a few weeks earlier were read and passed. Suspension was lifted on Paul Swindell. Three appeals were down for consideration and decisions were: D Parr v A Beattie, the meeting found in favour of D Parr under Rule 117 RPRA. The penalty imposed was 5 years suspension. K Wilkinson v W Reynolds and A McCormick, the unanimous decision of the committee was that K Wilkinson had a reason for complaint, but that W Reynolds and A McCormick had made a genuine mistake. No other action was to be taken. A Beattie v D Parr, legal action was pending and this case was deferred. The usual 21 days were set for any appeal to the decisions. Both new clubs on the agenda were accepted Beach Park HPS and South Belfast HPS, a late application for Ballynahinch HPS was also agreed pending no objections to the advert for new clubs. All new clubs must furnish rules and conditions as part of membership.

IRELAND VISIT BY MIDLANDS ACE

How pleased I was to meet up with the Midlands National Flying Club Ace Keith Morgan of Warsop (Morgan & Elton) who recently flew in to view the exquisite lofts that have been newly built and erected at the Gibb & Byrne Stud in Lisburn. Keith Morgan as many will know had a year to remember in 2008 for he finished the Combined Average Winner, the O/Bird Average Winner and the Long Distance Average Winner in the Midlands National Flying Club in 2008 also he won the O/Bird Averages, Y/Bird Averages, Channel Averages, Combined Averages and Bird of the Year just not in the Midlands South Road Classic Club but also the Notts and Derby Border Federation, also to crown off a record year which included a record number of 1sts he won a Gold Medal in each of the Channel Championship Races both from Fourgeres and Messac in the O/Birds and also won a Gold Medal from Picauville in the Y/Birds. Keith over recent times has become a good friend of Ian Gibbs and Ian has purchased many of Keith Morgans top pigeons and continues to source pigeons on a yearly basis, these have proved to be an inspiration in such a short space of time as you would come to imagine with the record that the Morgan & Elton partnership have had over recent years at all levels of competition.

The Gibb & Byrne Stud consider themselves to be very fortunate to own some of the best pigeons ever bred and raced over the years by this masterful team that are Morgan and Elton they include the 31 Cock, The 47 Hen, Champion Dawn, The 66 Hen, The 10 Cock these just to name a few. With very few of this family ever coming onto the market demand is very high for what is regarded as a class family of award winning pigeons that are doing it from every distance right to the 500 mile mark, with of course Keith winning the Long Distance Average Award in 2008 with the Midlands National Flying Club this was judged on the best average achieved from Bergerac & Saintes which was a combined distance of 1098 to the Morgan & Elton lofts in Warsop.

As previously mentioned Keith arrived in Lisburn to see the new lofts that had been built at the Gibb & Byrne Stud and what a spectacle they are in total the combined lofts measure 48ft x 18ft with tiled roofs and are fully coated in Mahogany PVC with purpose built Velux Windows fitted along the front and on the roofs with fitted aviaries along the full length of the back. A great level of thought was put into the lofts in the way that they are designed internally, with many sections within sections so to speak, and all leading one way or another to the aviaries at the back. They as you would come to imagine with the way that Gibb & Byrne go about things are fitted out to the highest standard from the roof to the floor, many trips to the continent have paid off for when entering the lofts you are theoretically taking a step into some of the finest lofts that are available in Europe and full credit must be given to all parties involved on what has turned out an utterly brilliant job of the highest perfection.

Of course it is no less than what such class stock pigeons deserve, as the Gibb & Byrne Stud have visited and purchased many class pigeons from many of the leading lights in Europe including KEES BOSUA lines of the DE KEES, KLEINE FIGO & THE KANNIBAAL also the incredible MARIJKA VINK of Holland, then we have HUGO KIPP who has been the Long-Distance Champion of Germany a massive 7 times. Some exceptional pigeons have been sourced from ANDREAS DRAPA - Middle Distance Champion off Germany also from Belgium they own many outstanding pigeons from the GEERT VAN HOVE-UYTTERHOEVEN team winners of 5 x 1st Nationals and 7 x New Cars, also recently they have purchased a complete round of pigeons from the electrifying FRANS VAN TILBORGH, also they own an incredible collection of the HERMAN CEUSTERS Dynasty from MARINA VANDEVELDE which includes no less than nine direct children from the Champion that is SAMSON. Of course we can not forget about were it all started and one of the families that continues to produce winners year in year out at all levels of competition are the Jos Soontjens, the Gibb & Byrne Stud are Europes No 1 Source for Direct Jos Soontjens and are home to many of the modern day champions including THE STATESMAN, MISS ATOM, THE SCHOULAR, THE BL WITPEN, THE STUD, THE DANDY COCK, DE 916 also CHAMPION STRAUSS a winner of multiple 1sts and four RPRA Awards these just a few of a vast amount of class pigeons belonging to this exceptional family at stock. Must also mention, that the Gibb & Byrne Stud have a vast collection of pigeons also sourced from Ganus & Fox over the last number of years. The pigeon from Peter Fox were responsible for the Gibb & Byrne team winning the Europa Classic One Loft Race in 2007 and a cool £30,000 with Champion Pacemaker Also during 2008 the Gibb & Byrne team purchased one of the best racing pigeons ever in the EDC bred and raced by none other than the masterful John Patterson of Ballylesson he was "The 147" winner of 1st Club, 1st Section, 1st Open EDC Skibbereen Classic 1,187 Birds; 1st Club, 3rd Section, 4th Open EDC Fermoy 6,107 birds; 2nd Club, 6th Section, 6th Open EDC Thurles 4,894 Birds; 1st Club, 1st Section, 1st Open EDC Thurles 6,312 pigeons; 1st Club, 1st Section, 3rd Open EDC Tullamore 3,833 Birds. Plus Many more positions. The "147" was also EDC Bird of the Year in 2006. The team also purchased the full brother to "The 147" namely "The 718" who was a winner of 1st Club, 1st Section and 1st Open East Down Combine Mallow 5,541 pigeons.

Both partners run very successful feeding business Henry Byrne in the Southern Ireland and Ian Gibb in Northern Ireland, Ian also works Full-Time for Bombardier Aerospace as a Supervisor which can see him work considerable long hours with early morning starts and many late evenings, fortunately Ian has a very able son in Peter who looks after the day to day running of the Feed business and looks after the many pigeons within the Stud especially at this time of the year and more so this year with many of the leading stock pairs now moved within the new lofts and all the work that is involved getting them used to new boxes etc.

With all this in mind and the awesome amount of work involved it doesnt leave much time for racing pigeons, but all in all Ian Gibb & Sons had another successful year flying with the Derriaghy HPS, I count in the last couple of years with little effort they have been top prize winners with a total of 31 x 1sts in all competition and of course three RPRA Awards under their belt. Some of their results for 2007 and 2008 are as follows excluding the awesome list of Club results:-

2007 Old Birds NIPA Roscrea 22nd Sect D 133/3,100, velocity 1318. Barley Cove Yearling Hen 5th Sect D and 90th Open NIPA 278/1,035, velocity 1067. Mallow 5 Bird Championship 2nd Sect D and 10th Open NIPA 534/2,272, velocity 1343 plus £330.

2007 Young Birds NIPA Roscrea 1st Sect D and 3rd Open NIPA 547/14,785, velocity 1934. Clonmel 2nd & 13th Sect D and 37th & 103rd Open NIPA 23,014 birds competing, velocity 1260. Pilmore Beach 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 11th & 12th Sect D and 15th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 26th & 28th Open NIPA 846/16,880, velocity 1528. Tullamore 26th & 41st Sect D and 119th & 150th Open NIPA 421/8,219, velocity 1026. Fermoy 29th & 38th Sect D and 118th & 157th Open NIPA 715/11,440, velocity 1236. Fermoy 5 Bird Championship 4th & 6th Sect D and 29th & 42nd Open NIPA 327/1,369 plus £280. Rosscarbery Nat 11th & 16th Sect D and 49th, 71st, 174th & 207th Open NIPA 536/4,143 plus £320.

Irish National FC 2007 Skibbereen North YB Nat (246 miles) 19th, 39th, 157th & 159th North Sect and 19th, 39th, 157th & 159th Open INFC 450/4,011 plus £250.

2008 Old Birds NIPA Mullingar 22nd Section D 98/1685; Tullamore 10th Section D 111/2244 105th Open 1015/19,496; Roscrea 3rd Section D 136/2735 12th Open 1184/23,557; Clonmel 16th Section D 137/3193 108th Open 1191/26149; Pilmore Beach 31st Section D 139/3241; Talbenny (1) 22nd Section 108/1740 and Talbenny (2) 12th Section D 115/1411.

2008 Young Birds NIPA Tullamore 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Section D, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th & 19th Open 99/2323; Tullamore (2) 9th Section D 38th Open NIPA 1024/26,833; Tullamore (3) 14th, 24th and 35th Section D 62/1309 130th Open NIPA 683/15,941; Pilmore Beach 21st Section D 158th Open NIPA 962/23,023; Mullingar 9th Section D, 91st Open 623/4,175; Tullamore (4) 1st Section D 58th Open NIPA 515/10,476 and Rosscarbery Y/Bird National 1st Section D finishing 6th Open 535/4329 pigeons.

Irish National FC 2008 Skibbereen North OB Nat (246 Miles) 6th North Section and 6th Open winning £379 354/2413.

Many fanciers will recall the success of Champion Kevin last year for Ian Gibb & Sons he was the Irish Region RPRA winner of the 0 - 250 Mile Award, The Irish Region RPRA Best Single Y/B Performer 2007 and went on to be the over all Best Y/B in the RPRA 2007 which netted the partnership the very highly sought after Massarella Cup The Blue Cheq Cock won the following positions Tullamore 1st Club, 2nd Section 11th Open 5,422 birds; Roscrea 1st Club, 1st Section 3rd Open 14,785 birds; Pilmore Beach 4th Club, 8th Section, 21st Open 16,880 birds; Tullamore 1st Club, 26th Section 119th Open 8,219 birds; Fermoy 1st Club, 29th Section, 118th Open 11,440 birds; Fermoy Five Bird 1st Club, 4th Section, 29th Open; Skibbereen North INFC 1st Club, 159th Open 4,011 birds. Well Kevin was put onto the road in 2008 to make sure it was no fluke and he duly obliged before being retired to the stock loft from Roscrea in 2008 he finished 1st Club, 3rd Section D 136/2735 and finished 12th Open NIPA with 1184 sending 23,557 pigeons.

Many thanks to the Gibb & Byrne team for their hospitality and invite down to firstly view the new lofts and secondly to handle the many stock pigeons and to put the icing on the cake this was my first time meeting up with the Midlands National Ace Keith Morgan and I am already looking forward to meeting up once again come Blackpool in 2 weeks time.

HOMER. Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683 or
Mobile: 07939 684876.
E-mail: reynoldshomer@aol.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk