Farming Life - Wednesday 28/03/12

[willie reynolds]

Season of Celebration for Flying Club –

The INFC with 2,000 plus members across Ireland are looking forward to a season of celebration, remember the closing date for membership is Saturday 28th April. Membership fee is £15 for existing members and for those not members in 2011 the fee is £25. Forms for new members are available for download on www.infc.co.uk

A new Clock Station has been agreed for Cork City adding to those already established in Southern Ireland at Balbriggan, Stillorgan and Wexford. All arrangements have been made for the new racing season and £2,000 has been added to the prize list for the Yearling Nat and Friendship Nat. The Yearling Nat was introduced to the race programme as a Jubilee Race in 1977 from Penzance and won by Toland & Campbell of Lurgan, since then it has become one of the most popular and well supported races of each season. I well remember the late LO Barr and myself putting this race forward at the AGM at the time. It was officially added to the race programme in 1978 and the first winner of the Nelson Corry Cup was the late W V Troughton from Gilford. In 2012 the Yearling Nat will be a Diamond Jubilee event with Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals going to 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open INFC and a further addition of a Free Nom with 10 Prizes of £100.

The Friendship Nat which in 2012 will be flown from Quimper will be the Olympic Friendship Nat and additional awards will be the same as those for the Yearling Nat, Medals for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open plus 10 Prizes of £100 in the Free Nomination.

PO Brendan McLoughlin will cover the detailed report. Francis Scullion has been doing studies on young bird racing performance and as last year requests any members with spare birds should contact Francis Tel: (028) 85 567078. He hopes to present the findings for last year at a Veterinary Meeting in April.

Banbridge Social Golden Ring 2012 –

The Banbridge Soc Gold Ring Race for 2012 will be the Skibbereen YB Nat and open to all lofts in Northern Ireland. Rings are £10 each and all monies and ring numbers must be registered at the club on the Friday evening of the first young bird race. Prize divides are 50%, 30% and 20% and the club are expecting a lot of interest. Contact – Kenny Mallen Tel: 07737 521355, Terence Lennon Tel: 07711 409205 or Gary Mallen Tel: 07709 287793.

Coleraine & County Derry RPS –

The local club have arranged a Young Bird Sale to take place in the Sperrin Sport & Social Club in Coleraine, on Friday March 30th at 8.00pm, birds will be on view from 7.00pm. Birds have been presented from many top lofts both in the local area and across Northern Ireland. A Sale not to be missed!

Charity Young Bird Sale in Lurgan -

A Grand Charity YB Sale has been arranged by Kevin Henderson of Lurgan to be held in the Lurgan Social HPS Clubrooms, North Street Lurgan on Wednesday 18th April at 8.00pm, birds on view from 7.00pm. All proceeds are in aid of Cancer Research, Auctioneer is Ronnie Johnston. It’s a massive list of birds that have been presented, the highest quality of Irish Lofts including a host of NIPA 1st Open winners and INFC Nat winning lofts. Each and every one are thanked for their generosity, and all Carrier Boxes were kindly supplied by Frazer’s Animal Feeds (Banbridge). For further details contact Kevin Henderson Tel: (028) 38 327274 or Mobile: 07786 602341. Full list of lofts available at www.pigeonnetwork.com

East Antrim Training 2012 -

A new addition for the training this season operating in the Doagh/Ballyclare area, Billy Bissett started OLD BIRD training last Saturday from Banbridge and Newry. Birds will be liberated on Saturday & Sunday from Banbridge & Newry then weekly from Newry every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, collecting birds at the following locations:-

8.00am Dennison’s Commercials on the B94 Hillhead Road at its junction with the A57 Templepatrick Road. 8.15am Millvale, Ballynure Road Ballyclare. 8:30am Ballyclare HPS Club Rooms, Harrier Way Ballyclare. 9.00am Kelburn Park, Burnside Road Doagh. 9.15am Doagh Village, Anderson Park & Station Road. 9.30am Lindsays Corners then via Ballyrobert. 9.45am Corr’s Corners Hotel Car Park.

Birds will be transported in individual crates which can be used daily by an individual for the entire season therefore reducing the risk of disease. To accommodate those fanciers who start work early in the morning, bird’s can be hampered earlier, or the night before, by prior arrangements.

Training for Sennen Cove, Old Bird Derby's, and Kings Cup races will be carried out during May, June & July each Saturday from Malahide Co Dublin, details to follow later. For further information please call Billy on Mobile: 07749 481499.

* Joe & Mark Brown Training - The local transporter will start operations on Saturday 31st March every day prior to racing, weather permitting of course. After that each week it will be, Monday to Thursday to Newry and Ardee. Collection points and times etc as before with usual stops at Bleary 9.45am and Gilford 10.00am. Birdage will be a nominal 15p, very good value and Joe can be contacted at any time Tel: 07709 077266.

Around Mid-Antrim

Kells & Dist HPS have a meeting arranged for this Thursday 29th March for collection of Race Sheets, Vaccination Sheets, Clocks, Joining Fees etc at 8.00pm. Ballymena & Dist HPS Clubrooms will be open on Tuesday 3rd April at 8.00pm to set up the ETS Systems, clocks etc and collection of any Race Sheets, Vaccination Forms etc. James Harris will be doing a bit of ETS Training for the various clocks. Race Sheets, Vaccination, and ETS Sheets should be with the club Secretary 14 days before racing, Ballymoney Secretary Derek McMullan has asked for all sheets to be returned by Thursday 29th March.

Local training will be starting around the end March/early April and a new addition this year will be Tom McAlonan of the Ballymena & Dist, he will be heading out each day from Glaryford. Contact him for details. Tel: 07561 417232. Homer will be covering the same route as last season, at Ballymoney Clubrooms leaving at 9.00am each day, going to Oxford Island. His collection route will include Rasharkin, Cullybackey, Ahoghill, Randalstown, Antrim and Crumlin. All details will be listed on website www.pigeonnetwork.com or Tel: 07538 238364.

* Sale arranged by Cyril Beattie to benefit the sport, bidding On-Line NOW at www.pigeonnetwork.com Sincere thanks to all who have presented birds and made donations, all greatly appreciated. Birds to suit any persons Stock Lofts. Any further details required contact Cyril Beattie. Tel: (028) 38840486. Mon-Frid 9.00am until 5.00pm and Saturday 9.00am until Noon.

Doagh Eye-sign Show -

The Doagh Orange/Community Hall will host a Pigeon Eye-sign Extravaganza on Friday 30th March at 8.00pm a Video Show followed by a discussion with the local expert on the subject by Gerald Delaney of the Oroory Hill Stud in Dromore. Irish Stew will be served and entry is just £2.00. Frazers Animal Feeds will have a stall with some bargains on the night guaranteed. Ryan Barr will also be in attendance covering droppings and health topics etc. It should be a very interesting evening, especially those interested in the popular Eye-sign Theory re breeding and racing.

Philip Boal Dromore holding his INFC Skibbereen winner. See latest P & J Boal Loft Feature at www.pigeonnetwork.com