Farming Life - Wednesday 26/01/11

[willie reynolds]

The NIPA held a committee meeting the week prior to the Blackpool Show, Alan Darragh was in the chair. The main item was that the accounts were not complete due to illness of a key member of staff at Robinson & Co and it was thought best and necessary to postpone the AGM planned for February and set a new date of 26th February, a note going to all member clubs. A further meeting will be held to set the agenda and approve the accounts etc. A race programme had been submitted from Larne & Dist and Londonderry RPS a compromise of both programmes along with the existing programme will be put out for voting. A number of items had been put forward to appear on the agenda from Larne and Lisburn & Dist, the items listed as a result of the Sect B meeting were ruled out of order due to the fact the local clubs, or most of them, had not held meetings and that resolutions can only be submitted by member clubs for listing at the AGM. In the past the NIPA did hold Delegate Meetings for the complete membership and items agreed here were indeed submitted for inclusion at the AGM. It may take a new resolution from a member club to go forward and try to modify the rules already in place to have local area input. I have always been in favour of local meeting to help keep the membership informed, unfortunately the idea never really took off and very few meetings were ever held, in most areas never at all.



Millisle & Dist have arranged a Charity Quiz night for Friday 11th February in the First & Last Bar in Millisle starting at 7.30pm. Irish Rover Mr Ronnie Johnston will be in the chair and the panel will be David Braniff, Mickey McConville, Wesley Sawyers and Bill Millen. It hould all be very interesting, tickets are £5 incluning a small buffett and a select draft of birds will be sold. Chairman John Hollinger of Millisle & Dist thanked the panel and he said the doners of the birds gave without hesitation. Well done to all concerned, it should be a great night in Millisle.



Dutch National Show –

John Hollinger from Millisle is arranging his now annual trip to England & Belgium next year from Friday 4th March 2011. Foxwood Lofts at York will have a visit on the Friday, then Saturday it’s the Dutch National Show plus Karel & Daniel Boeckx the best Sprint/Middle Distance lofts in Belgium. Sunday 6th is the visit to the famous Lier Market plus the equally as famous Natural Breeding Station, both Lier and the Breeding Station are a Must See, I have been there. Monday on the way back a visit to the top loft of Neebro Stud in Richmond, winners reported from the visit last year and Foxwood Lofts have had many winners reported in Ireland. Cost is £240 and very limited seats are available. Contact John Hollinger Tel: (028) 91 863536, Mobile 07784 409893.

Springvale Gold Ring -

Springvale Social Golden Ring Result - 1st S Rodney & Son 1487 plus £750, 2nd A Gault 1467 plus £150, 3rd G & L Simpson 1435 plus £100. Many thanks to all involved with the Gold Ring Race, all those who supported the event from Rosscarbery and many congratulations to the various winners. We are all looking forward to the 2011 Golden Ring, and rings will be available from the start of the year. Just 100 rings will be sold at £20 each and £1,000 paid out in tree cuts with £750 to the winner. Open to the NIPA Clubs in Sections B & C. Contact Campbell McGrugan, Tel: (028) 93 340981.