The NIPA French Diploma Awards were introduced around 15 years ago and in that time just a small number of birds have achieved repeated success at the distance. The awards are presented to birds that achieve positions in the Premier Old Bird National. Scoring twice is Bronze Diploma and a fair number of those have been presented with just one season being missed. It gets more difficult for the Silver Diploma having to score three times and then the major prize the Gold Medal & Diploma when the Champions score for the fourth time. The 2007 season was as good as any, 17 Bronze Diplomas, 5 Silver Diplomas and Alan Darragh from Cullybackey wins a Gold Diploma for the second time with “Champion Betty’s Girl”.
The first Gold Medal & Diploma was won in 2000 by Murphy & Martin of Cookstown with Billy’s Pride, followed in 2001 by Speirs & Campbell of Cookstown with Tommie Girl and Alan Darragh with Golden Dreams. Only five have been won up to 2009, that includes B & M Gilmore who collected the major award in 2008 with “Champion Easton Gold” and Alan Darragh from Cullybackey holds the premier place with two.
2007: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – Alan Darragh, Cullybackey HPS. Champion Betty’s Girl won 24th Sect B & 133rd Open NIPA Lamballe 04, 189th Open NIPA Portland 05, 9th Sect B & 102nd Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 15th Sect B & 146th Open NIPA Lamballe 07.
2008: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – B & M Gilmore, Ballyclare & District. Champion Easton Gold won 19th Sect C & 78th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 06, 41st Sect C & 147th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 4th Sect C & 22nd Open NIPA St Malo 08.
Sammy Thompson presents the NIPA Gold Medal & Gold Diploma award to B & M Gilmore at NIPA Ladies Night.
Just for the record I have had a look at the Silver Diploma and this list reads. 1994 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1995 – J Logan Ballyclare & Dist and C Cameron Ballyclare & Dist. 1998 – Campbell & Francey Harryville. 1999 – J Geary & Son Lurgan Social, D McCullough & Son Kells & Dist and Murphy & Martin Cookstown. 2000 – A Darragh Cullybackey, N Weir Loughgall, E Campbell & Son Coleraine Premier and Speirs & Campbell Cookstown. 2001 – J & R Crawford Larne & Dist, W McClure Kells & Dist and J Carson & Son Corcreeney. 2006 – J McMurrough & Sons Corrigs, A Darragh Cullybackey, Furphy Bros Lurgan Soc and J Adamson Gilford & Dist.
Just 18 winners from the first winner which was Champion Noel raced by Alan Darragh, he won 1992 – 33rd Open NIPA, 1993 – 39th Open NIPA and 1994 – 13th Open NIPA. Adding the five winners in 2007, four in 2008 and three in 2009 brings the Silver Diploma total to 30.
In 2007 Silver Diplomas were won by – E Matchett & Sons Edgarstown 14th Sect E & 27th Open NIPA Portland 05, 18th Sect E & 79th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 8th Sect E & 37th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. Speirs & Campbell Cookstown Social 4th Sect A & 50th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect A & 28th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 7th Sect A & 142nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. B & M Gilmore Ballyclare & Dist 19th Sect C & 78th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 41st Sect C & 147th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. J & J Milligan Laurelvale 18th Sect E & 35th Open NIPA Lamballe 04, 12th Sect E & 44th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 30th Sect E & 122nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. H Beattie Laurelvale 22nd Sect E & 55th Open NIPA Lamballe 04, 39th Sect E & 141st Open NIPA Portland 05 and 4th Sect E & 20th Open NIPA Lamballe 07.
In 2008 Silver Diplomas were won by – Diamond Bros Coleraine Premier 5th Sect A & 54th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect A & 93rd Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 17th Sect A & 114th Open NIPA St Malo 08. K Carolan Coalisland & Dist 3rd Sect A & 46th Open NIPA Portland 05, 13th Sect A & 78th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 4th Sect A & 20th Open NIPA St Malo 08. T Leacock & Son Castledawson 7th Sect A & 37th Open NIPA St Malo 06, 8th Sect A & 162nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 9th Sect A & 65th Open NIPA St Malo 08. M/M Stevenson Dromara 15th Sect D & 176th Open NIPA St Malo 06, 7th Sect D & 59th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 8th Sect D & 176th Open NIPA St Malo 08.
In 2009 Silver Diplomas were won by – Gary Benson Lisburn & Dist (Little Gem) 8th Sect D & 142nd Open NIPA Portland 05, 10th Sect D & 208th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 8th Sect D & 137th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Sam Corrigan Loughgall (Blue Boy) 28th Sect E & 115th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 7th Sect E & 23rd Open NIPA St Malo 09, 51st Sect E & 186th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Jeff McMaw Carrick Social 29th Sect C & 99th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 10th Sect C & 42nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 15th Sect C & 106th Open NIPA St Malo 09.
Ace racer Kevin Carolan from Coalisland (l) won the Silver Diploma in 2008 and this season was 1st Open St Malo OB National.
Diamond Bros from the Coleraine Premier won the Silver Diploma last year.
To keep the record sort of up to date I will list the Bronze Diploma winners from 2007, 2008 and 2009. Should any be missed please let me know.
In 2007 Bronze Diplomas were won by – Crawford & Robinson Larne & Dist 44th Sect C & 179th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 17th Sect C & 62nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. A Hall Omagh & Dist 1st Sect H & 9th Open NIPA Portland 05 and 1st Sect H & 50th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. J Hughes & Son Portavogie HPS 4th Sect F & 49th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 2nd Sect F & 47th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. W Neill Annaghmore 42nd Sect E & 169th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 23rd Sect E & 96th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. Gillis Gamble & Radcliff Laurelvale HPS 14th Sect E & 53rd Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 10th Sect E & 42nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. J Dowey & Sons Laurelvale HPS 38th Sect E & 154th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 41st Sect E & 172nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. N Armstrong Ligoniel & Dist 37th Sect E & 158th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 36th Sect C & 125th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. K Murray Killyleagh & District HPS 13th Sect F & 171st Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 7th Sect F & 100th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. J McKernan & Son Lisburn & Dist 11th Sect D & 121st Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 11th Sect D & 135th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. A Darragh Cullybackey HPS 2nd Sect B & 26th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 2nd Sect B & 7th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. M/M Stevenson Dromara 7th Sect D & 72nd Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 7th Sect D & 59th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. O Jackson Annaghmore 34th Sect & 144th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 3rd Sect E & 18th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. G McKenna Eastway 26th Sect C & 102nd Open NIPA Portland 05 and 3rd Sect C & 18th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. E McKnight Portadown Inv 41st Sect E & 183rd Open NIPA Portland 05 and 2nd Sect E & 4th Open NIPA St Malo 06. Thompson Bros Glenarm & Dist 19th Sect C & 62nd Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 28th Sect C & 84th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. A McAteer Ballyholland 6th Sect G & 88th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 2nd Sect G & 3rd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. T Leacock & Son Castledawson 7th Sect A & 37th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 8th Sect A & 162nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. E Niblock Bessbrook 13th Sect G & 131st Open NIPA Lamballe 04 & 3rd Sect G & 16th Open NIPA Lamballe 07.
In 2008 Bronze Diplomas were won by – Diamond Bros Coleraine Prem 5th Sect A & 54th Open NIPA Portland 05 and 6th Sect A & 93rd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. B & M Gilmore Ballyclare & Dist 25th Sect C & 78th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 5th Sect C & 25th Open NIPA St Malo 08. Grattan Bros Eastway HPS 16th Sect C & 58th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 65th Sect C & 195th Open NIPA St Malo 08. J Burrows Eastway HPS 23rd Sect C & 75th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 6th Sect C & 26th Open NIPA St Malo 08. J McMaw Carrick Social 29th Sect C & 99th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 10th Sect C & 42nd Open NIPA St Malo 08. P Boyd Annaghmore 21st Sect E & 94th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 42nd Sect E & 213th Open NIPA St Malo 08. S Corrigan Loughgall 28th Sect E & 115th Open NIPA Lamballe 08 and 7th Sect E & 23rd Open NIPA St Malo 08. J Trotter Laurelvale 35th Sect E & 139th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 21st Sect E & 121st Open NIPA St Malo 08. R McVeigh Corrigs HPS 14th Sect F & 180th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 18th Sect F & 204th Open NIPA St Malo 08. Agar Bros Portavogie 6th Sect F & 87th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 3rd Sect F & 28th Open NIPA St Malo 08. Donnelly Bros Newry City Inv 10th Sect G & 96th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 14th Sect G & 152nd Open NIPA St Malo 08. M Conlon & Sons Banbridge Soc 12th Sect G & 104th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 17th Sect G & 205th Open NIPA St Malo 08.
In 2009 Bronze Diplomas were won by - In 2009 Bronze Diplomas were won by - G Benson Lisburn & Dist (Little Gem) 8th Sect D & 142nd Open NIPA Portland 05, 10th Sect D & 208th Open NIPA St Malo 08. M Graham Ballymena & Dist (Sunnyhill Supreme) 4th Sect B & 30th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 36th Sect B & 200th Open NIPA St Malo 09. S Graham Son & McManus Ligoniel & Dist 52nd Sect C & 162nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 10th Sect C & 71st Open NIPA St Malo 09. Gregg Bros & McCandless Ligoniel & Dist 69th Sect C & 210th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 5th Sect C & 48th Open NIPA St Malo 09. G Hawthorne Millisle 10th Sect F & 123rd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 125th Open NIPA St Malo 09. R Strain & Son Millisle 1st Sect F & 14th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 4th Sect F & 89th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Mr & Mrs D Suitters Doagh & Dist 14th Sect C & 50th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 4th Sect C & 43rd Open NIPA St Malo 09. Elliott Bros Carrick & Dist 7th Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 2nd Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 09. A Hughes & Son Largymore 7th Sect D & 173rd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 4th Sect D & 98th Open NIPA St Malo 09. R J Elliott Ballymoney 12th Sect B & 88th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 3rd Sect B & 17th Open NIPA St Malo 09. W G Neill Annaghmore 10th Sect E & 56th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 39th Sect E & 120th Open NIPA St Malo 09. S Corrigan Loughgall (Checker Lady) 25th Sect E & 147th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 3rd Sect E & 7th Open NIPA St Malo 09. M & R Hamilton Coalisland 5th Sect A & 32nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 11th Sect A & 167th Open NIPA St Malo 09. K Carolan Coalisland 1st Sect A & 12th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 5th Sect A & 45th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Surgenor Bros Kells & Dist 9th Sect B & 60th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 6th Sect B & 38th Open NIPA St Malo 08. Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel & Dist 18th Sect C & 66th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 27th Sect C & 160th Open NIPA St Malo 09. J Burrows Eastway 20th Sect C & 62nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 32nd Sect C & 181st Open NIPA St Malo 09. Mark Maguire & Son Newry & Dist 3rd Sect G & 39th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 19th Sect G & 203rd Open NIPA St Malo 09. G McKenna Eastway 60th Sect C & 181st Open NIPA St Malo 08, 31st Sect C & 179th Open NIPA St Malo 09. A Darragh Cullybackey 7th Sect B & 43rd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 26th Sect B & 150th Open NIPA St Malo 09. R Williamson Bondhill 2nd Sect E & 5th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 4th Sect E & 8th Open NIPA St Malo 09. M/M G Robinson Carrick & Dist 23rd Sect C & & 74th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 20th Sect C & 131st Open NIPA St Malo 09. S Watson Castledawson 122nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 171st Open NIPA St Malo 09.