Farming Life - Wednesday 03/11/10

[willie reynolds]

Mid Antrim show season started last weekend, Cullybackey first away on Saturday with classes for Young Cocks and Young Hens, judged Through the Wires. The judges were Simon Millar from Randalstown and George Price from Harryville. The class winners were J & J Greer winning for the Cullybackey HPS and visitors from Harryville W & N Gilbert had a good night and got the Red Card in the Young Hens. This Saturday the classes are for Old Cock and Old Hen T/W, all fanciers welcome. Ballymena & District started last night (Monday), the opening classes were for Young Cock and Young Hen T/W to be followed next Monday with classes for OC and OH T/W. Photos from the shows will be most welcome, we already have arrangements to cover Ballymena, Broughshane and Harryville.

Broughshane & Dist are each Tuesday starting on 2nd November with classes for Old Cocks and Young Cocks T/W, penning from 7.15pm and all welcome. Kells & Dist are the usual Wednesday starting on 10th November with Young Cock T/W. Harryville dates are the usual Thursday starting on 4th November with classes for Old Cock & Young Cock T/W to be followed by 11th Nov Old Hen & Young Hen T/T, 18th Nov OC & YC Handled, 25th Nov OH & YH Handled, 2nd Dec OB & YB Eye-sign, 9th Dec Old & Young Pairs, 16th Dec Card Winners & Fancy. Open Show will be held in Harryville HPS Clubrooms on Saturday 4th December, more on this later. Ahoghill Flying Club will start on 5th November, classes Young Cock and Young Hen T/W to be followed by Old Cock & Old Hen T/W on 12th November.

Lurgan Social are running a series of shows commencing Monday 1st November with classes Any Age Cock or Hen judged Through the Wires. Special for Best Young Bird, penning from 7.15pm, entry 50p per bird. A grand turnout for the 1st show of the season with a display of well turned out birds. Result. 1, 2, 3, 4, J Douglas & son, Reserve T &K Mawhinney, VHC Furphy & Cairns, HC B&A Brown &Shaw, Com S Curran. Special Best YB Marty Rice. Next weeks show Any age cock or hen with Special for best YB. Thanks to judges Liam Prunty & Bobby Creaney.

Lisburn & District first show night has been arranged for Tuesday 23rd November with classes for Any Age Cock or Hen T/W, penning from 7.00pm until 8.00pm. Members must show a minimum 6 birds per show to qualify for Show Specials in 2011.

KELLS & DISTRICT HPS – For the first time Kells & Dist will host a Pigeon Moot/Quiz in the Dunsilly Hotel Antrim (just off the M2 Dunsilly Roundabout). A perfect venue for such an event to be held on Friday 5th November entry £10 to include Hot Buffett Meal or £5 without the meal. Due to start at 8.00pm the evening will include presentation of Kells & Dist awards. INFC President Syd Collins will chair an all star panel which will include Ronnie Johnston, Roy Irwin, Anthony McDonnell, Alan Darragh, and Peter Martin. The Annual Open Show will be held again on Boxing Day, this year on Monday 27th December. Neal Adams (Hilltop) has some special deals at present including 5 x Bags 4 Seasons at £40. Tel: (028) 25648425 or Mobile: 07599 706717.

The popular Dublin Show will be held at the Irish Kennel Club Exhibition Centre close to the Dublin Airport on Saturday 6th November, the show birds are penned the night previous and a big entry is expected as usual from Northern Ireland. Kingswood HPS based in Belfast is running a coach to the Dublin Pigeon Show this Saturday the 6th of November, leaving Belfast at approx 9am - returning leaving Dublin approx 5pm – they have approx 4 spaces left at a cost of £20 each, we can pick up by stopping en route if required between Belfast & Newry – Joe said Join us for a bit of craic, if interested phone Joe on 07840405876.

NIPA Section/Area meeting

The NIPA Sect B meeting took place in the Harryville HPS Clubrooms in Ballymena on Wednesday 27th October at 8.00pm, the vast majority of clubs were represented at this end of season meeting. Alan Darragh was elected to chair the meeting and George McDowell took notes to submit to the NIPA. The first item under discussion was the nomination of Committee members to run and be involved in the two local Race Centres at Cullybackey and Muckamore. George McDowell (Kells) will remain in position at Cullybackey to be assisted by Keith Kernohan (Harryville) who is to replace Alan Darragh. Muckamore will remain as last season with Ken Wilkinson (Chimney Corner) and Glen Magill (Muckamore).

A number of items were discussed and I will list them in the order they were raised firstly it was the publication of race results and the delay in getting same. I do understand the local result for Sect B that we used to get at the race weekend and which was used for local publicity, was more often than not unavailable, not as it was previous. The last YB Nat result for Rosscarbery was delayed but that does not mean the whole season and over 30 results were all late. The perception was that they were and that is not true, I would go as far as to say most results were published earlier than previous, and that took a lot of effort. Have a look at the race date and then check the website, the date is there when listed, and I am sure it will surprise a lot who are thinking the opposite. I am not saying everything about the results is perfect, what would help immensely if the same late clubs each week would fax their results like the vast majority the weekend race result could be available on either a Sunday or Monday. This is where we have one major hold up, and it could be so easily fixed. The delivery and publication of the results via the computer and e-mail would be another big and quick step, this debate will no doubt be for another day. It was also proposed we revert back to having the major race results published in the BHW as happened, a number of years back. The NIPA need to be listed with the other top organisations across the UK, and not stuck in small columns at the back of the book.

A lot of members have been complaining for a long time about the main races being called Nationals, there was a good reason for that in the fact our birdage and size generally merited a more prestigious position, hence Nat and not Derby. The point has been raised and will get a full hearing, maybe we will agree a compromise. The meeting also asked that in the major races we on the Pigeon/Phone Line list with liberation details the members, birds and race monies.

With a major improvement on the roads through Ireland the thinking is that in the future we can travel to the longer races in Co Cork on the day prior to liberation. Collections will probably be earlier if this were agreed, and it may well be. There is a lot of feeling about just too many races, especially during the month of June, a proposal from this meeting is to scrap the Yearling Nat for Cocks and Hens. We will see just what they make of this, we have had no great success with this event since introduction, is it time for removal?

Another interesting thought was about two Penzance races on the same weekend, the proposal from the meeting was to just retain the Penzance Classic with birds race marked at the Centres. Automatic water system on all transporters was raised and this is to be the case for the new season, there was also some discussion regarding training old birds in the early part of the young bird programme.

If we get reports from seven other Section Meetings the next NIPA Committee meeting will have to start in the afternoon, only joking I am all for discussion. In the new race season it has already been agreed that the Press Officer and publicity in general will be done jointly with Homer and Steve McGarry.

The NIPA Ladies Night will be held at the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick on Friday 12th November, tickets at £30 should be ordered from Fred Russell. Tel: (028) 92693913 or Mobile: 07833 070371. Trophy winners should make every effort to attend. All cups and trophies should be returned ASAP to allow time for engraving etc. The Bronze/Silver Diploma List has already been published, if you are not listed place your claim with Fred Russell immediately.


Although the Gold Medal award was not won in 2009 season we made up for that with 3 x Silver Diplomas and a massive 21 x Bronze Diplomas. Following the very successful St Malo in 2010 won by W G Neill from Annaghmore we now have available the French Diploma awards, won this time in every section of competition.

2010: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – Sam Corrigan, Loughgall. (Champion Blue Boy) won 28th Sect E & 115th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 7th Sect E & 23rd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 51st Sect E & 186th Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 29th Sect E & 69th Open St Malo 2010.

In 2010 Silver Diplomas were won by: S Graham & Son, McManus & Mullen, Ligoniel & Dist (Champion Northern Echo) 52nd Sect C & 162nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 10th Sect C & 71st Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 30th Sect C & 160th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. W G Neill, Annaghmore 10th Sect E & 56th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 39th Sect E & 120th Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 13th Sect E & 18th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. Jimmy Burrows, Eastway 20th Sect C & 62nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 32nd Sect C & 181st Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 26th Sect C & 142nd Open NIPA St Malo 2010. Elliott Bros, Carrick & Dist 59th Sect C & 178th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 37th Sect C & 194th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 2nd Sect C & 40th Open NIPA St Malo 2010.

In 2010 Bronze Diplomas were won by – S Killen & Sons, Cloughey 3rd Sect F & 54th Open NIPA St Malo 2009, 3rd Sect F & 81st Open NIPA St Malo 2010. G K Porter, Glenavy 11th Sect F & 40th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 8th Sect B & 62nd Open NIPA St Malo 2010. C & L Fryers, Dromara 5th Sect F & 103rd Open NIPA St Malo 09, 9th Sect F & 131st Open NIPA St Malo 2010. J Rankin, Millisle 2nd Sect F & 39th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 7th Sect F & 112th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. S Corrigan, Loughgall (Grizel Lady) 39th Sect E & 199th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 29th Sect E & 51st Open NIPA St Malo 2010. W G Neill, Annaghmore 38th Sect E & 117th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 27th Sect E & 48th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. A Hughes & Sons, Lisburn & Dist 192nd Open NIPA St Malo 09, 6th Sect D & 77th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. B & L Dodds, Carrick Social 8th Sect C & 63rd Open NIPA St Malo 09, 21st Sect C & 127th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. R & J Conlane, Kingswood 1st Sect D & 77th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 5th Sect D & 72nd Open NIPA St Malo 2010. Elliott Bros, Carrick & Dist 59th Sect C & 178th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 37th Sect C & 194th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Mr & Mrs G Robinson, Carrick & Dist 23rd Sect C & 74th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 20th Sect C & 131st Open NIPA St Malo 2010. C & L Woodside, Ballyclare 42nd Sect C & 130th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 38th Sect C & 190th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. J Greenaway, Bondhill 6th Sect E & 12th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 8th Sect E & 10th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. J Greenaway, Bondhill 30th Sect E & 91st Open NIPA St Malo 09, 32nd Sect E & 64th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. D Houston & Son, Broughshane 8th Sect B & 32nd Open NIPA St Malo 09, 35th Sect B & 196th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. N Lusty, Muckamore 46th Sect C & 139th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 16th Sect C & 109th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. Bingham & Seaton, Ligoniel 43rd Sect C & 131st Open NIPA St Malo 08, 12th Sect C & 90th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. Bingham & Seaton, Ligoniel 29th Sect C & 170th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 24th Sect C & 135th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. L Magee & Son, Lisburn & Dist 3rd Sect D & 90th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 10th Sect D & 149th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. W McClure, Kells & District 168th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 2nd Sect B & 15th Open NIPA St Malo 2010. H & R McCloy, Cullybackey 191st Open NIPA St Malo 09, 23rd Sect B & 121st Open NIPA St Malo 2010.