Farming Life - Wednesday 23/03/11

[willie reynolds]

Emerald Classic News Update -

A big Open Day at the lofts based at Unit 5, Croftburn Farm, 2 Ballylinney Road in Ballyclare will be held on Saturday 26th March which will fit in nicely with those visitors attending the Spring Fayre being held on the same day at the Six Mile Leisure Centre in Ballyclare. If you have never been to the loft it is something to see, John might even be able to persuade you to enter a bird in the International One Loft race regarded by many as the best in the UK & Ireland. John was able to tell me last week that the entries for this year are filling up fast and birds were due from a number of countries this week including Germany, Belgium and Holland. John has good contacts in many parts of the world, including recently Poland.

It's that time of year again for entering your birds into the Emerald Classic International One Loft Race. This year we have the option of getting birds collected and transported to Ballyclare from various parts of Southern Ireland. If you wish to avail of this option, arrangements can be made by contacting Ger Roche, Templemore, County Tipperary on 087-6829699 or Maurice O'Donnell, Dungarvan, County Waterford on 087-6973861.

Maurice entered 12 pigeons last year and was 1st in Hotspot 4 and 6th & 8th in Hotspot 5. He had 11 pigeons entering the final race, 7 of which returned with great results, such as 25th Open and 10th Overall Ace pigeon. On speaking with Maurice recently he has said he will be re-entering the race again this year as he was very impressed with the conditions that the pigeons were kept in.
I would like to congratulate Maurice O' Donnell on finishing 116th and 392nd in the Sun City Million Dollar One-Loft Race, South Africa.
Loft is filling up fast with entries already in from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Saudi, Canada & Holland. Further entries are booked from Romania, Moldova, Malta & Spain. NB: Loft closes on the 2nd week of May full details available on www.emeraldclassic.co.uk

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our good friends Mark & Naomie Kitchenbrand on winning this years Million Dollar Pigeon Race with their pigeon "Victor" bred by Alfons Klaas from Germany in what turned out to be a very erratic Final race due to the heavy rain encountered by the pigeon on their return journey to Sun City, with only 14 birds in the first hour and 50 birds making it home on the day from the 2575 birds basketed.

Mark & Naomie pictured, who made a visit to the Emerald Classic International Lofts are renowned for purchasing "BIRDY" the winner of 10th Open, 1st Knockout, 1st Grand Averages, 1st Hotspot Averages in the 2008 Million Dollar Race for a staggering £54,000, (€108,000).
A big congratulation also goes to M & D Evans who finished 3rd, Darren Peters who finished 5th and Rune Rasmussen our representative for Denmark, Norway & Sweden who finished 6th. Darren Peters has also recently won a car in the Derby Arona One-Loft race when his bird was some 44 minutes clear of 2nd Open, 2nd UK bird for Team Lemon Power. The final race is still to come!

Mid Antrim Combine AGM –

The AGM for the locally based Mid Antrim Combine was held last week in the Harryville HPS Clubrooms in Ballymena, it was good that we had representation from each member club. In attendance were Ahoghill Flying Club, Ballymena & District, Broughshane & District, Cullybackey HPS, Harryville HPS, Kells & District, New Antrim Amalgamated, Randalstown HPS and Rasharkin & Dist.

Chairman Robert Service who was in hospital this time last year opened the meeting and thanked the members for their good wishes and gifts at the time, he invited the secretary George McDowell to read the minutes of the previous meeting. These were passed on a show of hands as were the accounts which had just over £200 available for the coming season and no increase required of the membership. The NIPA Vice Chairman Alan Darragh was invited to conduct the election of officials for 2011, it was a case of same again with the posts filled as in the previous season. Chairman Robert Service (Harryville) and Secretary George McDowell (Kells).

In a meeting following the AGM there was some discussion on the Diplomas, maybe adding the cup winners, with the race winners. Or additionally presenting separate Diplomas for the cup and trophy winners. It was decided to leave things as they were. Some discussion also on donations of cup and specials. RPRA Rule 186 Trophies & Specials was brought to the attention of the meeting. It reads: All conditions in respect of the Trophies or Specials, together with the wishes of the donors, must be entered in the Minute Book before the races for which they are awarded commence. The MAC is affiliated to the RPRA and must adhere to the rules, something to keep in mind regarding trophies and specials. The meeting should consider as well electing Delegates to attend each meeting of the RPRA (Irish Region).

With no other business the meeting closed and the members are now looking forward to the new race season starting on April 9. Clubs should return all results as usual to Homer. Ballymoney HPS clocks should be returned ASAP, and remember Race Sheets must be with each club secretary two weeks before racing.

ATTENTION ALL RACING PIGEON FANCIERS

Annual Grand Charity Auction In Aid of Southern Area Hospice.
Date: Saturday 2nd April 2011.

Venue: Ballyholland GAA Club, Newry. Time(s): Viewing 7pm / Sale starts 8pm

On offer, a top selection of youngsters donated by some of the finest lofts in
Northern Ireland who without hesitation have once again supported this very worthy cause.
If you are interested in donating a youngster or are looking more details of what is on offer, feel free to call: Pat McAteer Tel: 07789846028.

Training Season for 2011

Joe & Mark Brown Training - The local transporter will start operations on Monday 28th March every day prior to racing, weather permitting of course. After that each week, Monday to Thursday to Newry and Ardee. Collection points and times etc as before with usual stops at Bleary 9.45am and Gilford 10.ooam. Birdage will be a nominal 10p, very good value and Joe can be contacted at any time Tel: 07709 077266.

Tom Cairns (Glengormley) intends to train birds to Skerries (Dublin) each Saturday morning between 14th May and 25th June especially with the long distance races in mind. Pick-up points will include Corr’s Corner Roundabout 7.00am until 7.30am, Park Centre 8.00am until 8.30am. Tel: 07973 113710.

Homer training will be starting very soon end March/early April. Birds can be left with Danny Dixon (Dunloy) for collection at 8.20am then Ballymoney HPS Clubrooms at 9.00am (Ballybracks Business Park), calling on way back at Rasharkin (Main St), Cullybackey, and Ahoghill HPS Clubrooms, approx 10.00am. Contact me on my Mobile. Tel: 07538 238364. Weather permitting we will be going weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we update weekly on www.pigeonnetwork.com