Farming Life -Wednesday 30/01/13

[willie reynolds]

The Annual General Meeting of the RPRA (Irish Region) will be held in the Clarion Hotel, 75 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus on Saturday 2nd February 2013 starting at 1.00pm. If any member wishes to be on the INFC Committee please attend the RPRA Annual General Meeting to be nominated. The Agenda consists of the usual elements. 1. Minutes of the previous AGM (2012). 2. Matters Arising. 3. Statement of accounts for 2012. 4. Any other business 2012. 5. Election of Officers for 2013. 6. New Clubs. 7. Proposal by Committee that all awards be given out at the Irish Region AGM.

Following the AGM there will be a Region Delegates meeting and then at 3.00pm a General & Appeal Committee meeting. Under Any other Business we have the closing date for RPRA Awards down for discussion. Another major item is electing the RPRA Delegates and making decisions on the various resolutions set for the RPRA meeting to be held in Coventry at the end of February. Looks like another very interesting, long day.

The next big meeting will be the NIPA to be held on Saturday 16th February at 2.00pm sharp in the Protestant Hall in Glenavy. The Agenda for this will appear shortly and all clubs are expected to call meetings and mandate their delegates on voting. The INFC will be at the Lisburn Leisure Centre on Saturday 2nd March 2013. More details on both meetings later, last Wednesday a Select Committee met with the INFC Secretary Trevor Topping to plan the way forward and on the same evening the NIPA Committee had a meeting in Dromore.

N.I.P.A SECRETARY`S REPORT 2012/2013

Hi everyone it`s this time of year again when I have to prepare a report on what has taken place in 2012 and look forward in anticipation to a new season in 2013.

The inland race programme was excellent weather conditions reasonably good and we enjoyed some excellent racing, could it continue? The answer to that question was no, once the weather broke it just continued to be cold with rain. Not good conditions for racing.

Channel racing proved to be extremely difficult, the race controller did a wonderful job and we raced every week.

The Old Bird National turned out to be one of our better ones. The weather held and well over 200 pigeons homed on the day. Many more made it home the next morning.

Our race controller decided for personal reasons that he could not continue in his position and stepped down from race controlling.

On behalf of us all I would like to thank him for the dedication he put into his work so that we could enjoy our racing. Ivan will be a hard act to follow.

The NIPA is currently looking to fill the post of race controller. If you are interested please speak to the President, Chairman or any member of committee.

For the young bird season a team of dedicated fanciers took over race controlling. They did a very good job.

On your behalf I sincerely would like to thank them

Young Bird racing and training proved to be very challenging. Somehow we got through it and I hope you all enjoyed the season past. We look forward to a new season which will commence very shortly. I hope weather conditions are more settled in 2013.

Before commenting on our balance sheet I must thank everyone who assisted me during the year. Without their help my job as secretary would be much more difficult to do

The President Vice Chairman and all members of the committee who do their utmost that this organisation runs as smoothly as possible

The Transport Manager Terry Mulgrew. Terry has never let me down and I have full confidence in him.

The Convoyer and our Drivers all excellent workers who do a brilliant job at looking after your pigeons.

The race controlling team of Ivan, Alan, Anthony, Ken, David and Gerard.

My very good friends the Sec. of the Irish National Flying Club Trevor Topping and his son Robert. They both have taught me a lot this year and have brought my computing skills on to new levels. They have assisted in updating the system along with Willie Martin of Bangor. I still have some way to go.

Met Erin who take a healthy interest in our sport. The many fanciers I be in contact with during a race day their assistance is very much appreciated.

To everyone in Southern Ireland, Wales, England, Channel Islands and France. Thank you.

Finally the club secretary`s and treasures. Thank you for your assistance and I must not leave out my assistant Gregory and everyone who calls at the NIPA Headquarters.

To everyone else who assisted the NIPA during 2012. On Behalf of all our members I sincerely wish to thank you all.

It has been a pleasure to be your secretary. This is my 35th. Year. I know I cannot please everyone but I do my best. Not forgetting our Chairman Lyndin Boyle. I believe he will be 90 this year. His health is very good and he still likes to be brought up to date at what is going on. Over the many years well over 60 he has been a great ambassador for our organisation and sport of racing pigeons.

You have now in front of you our balance sheet for 2012. Your capital account shows that your organisation is worth £640,990.88 an increase over 2011 of £15,573.

I have recommended to your committee that once again we will hold our transport costs for 2013. It is now 6 years since we increased prices.

During the year we spent a lot of money on refurbishing the transporters £23,864 to be precise. All transporters are now the same spec. A further £10,904 was spent on updating and modernising the watering system on all transporters. Watering pigeons now is done by just flicking a switch and the water runs freely to all parts of the transporters. This should now put an end to the unjustified complaints that your pigeons are not been watering. It is over to you now. You have the job to learn them to drink.

The crates many of which were in need of repair. We spent £9,205 on them during 2012 a lot of money. I ask everyone to be more careful in the handling of crates and if any are in need of a slight repair please feel free to do it at club level

Your new headquarters is now complete with a further £4,000 being spent. It is a privilege to work in it. The office is modern, warm and comfortable after 30 years in a cold portakabin.

All of this work totalled £47,973 and you have not been asked or levied a penny this can only be done if you keep a strong and healthy balance sheet

You all should take pride in your organisation and what it can and does achieve.

There are many figures to be gone through please feel free if you do not understand any of them or you need further clarification. Please contact me before the AGM and I will endeavour to assist in any way I can

The resolutions are now in front of you two from Horseshoe H.P.S. and two from the committee. Nothing too controversial in them.

I have been asked by the committee to try and explain to you why they are recommending you to support their two propositions.

Firstly Bude and Penzance asking the members to race mark all pigeons at centres. There are a number of reasons for this request.

Yes economics do play a part. Normally 7 Transporters do a collection. Doing it this way only 3 will be needed. Sending out 7 for collection and transferring crates from lorry to lorry to make 3 is a lot of work done late in the evening if it is wet it is a miserable job to do and then expect the drivers to continue to drive to the race point.

If this is what you want the only boat we can catch is Rosslaire to Fishguard which means that somewhere on route to Bude & Penzance the Birds have to be watered and Fed before continuing their journey on. Arriving at the release point late into the evening where they have to be watered again.

If transporters can collect pigeons at centres for these two races we can catch the Dublin ferry which will allow our pigeons to arrive at the race point early afternoon when they can be watered fed and rested for a release the next day.

Much better arrangements for the welfare of pigeons

New drivers driving hours come into play and it is much easier to comply with the law leaving from Dublin

The committee understand some resentment from members at asking for these new arrangements. I assure you they would not be asking for your support if they felt that these new conditions were not essential. I hope now that the reasons have been explained to you. Your club will support them.

The other resolution is asking for your support and reverting back to race marking for the Inland O.B. National and the Young Bird National Rosscarbery races to a Thursday evening for a Saturday Liberation.

Last year we race marked two races on the Friday evening it was a logistical nightmare. It does leave the possibility of human error and the pigeon is put into the wrong crate or even worse the wrong crate on the wrong lorry

The Committee members who run the centres are not happy with the workload and burden put on them. It is an enormous amount of work and planning especially if you are in charge of a large centre.

To collect National pigeons first it does mean whether you like it or not at many centres a much earlier collection. This does not suit working Man. Their jobs come first.

The majority of the Committee feel you will have a better National Race if the birds are rested at the race point and not rushed down the road arriving in the early hours and being released a few hours later

If you want two races on the one day and many of you do, please vote for this resolution.

There are two race programmes submitted for voting they are very similar it is up to you to choose your preference. The Nipa programme is using Pilmore Beach this Year instead of Fermoy. The thinking in that is Pilmore Beach is on a better line for future channel races

I Hope this report is of some help to you, sometimes I wonder if anybody takes any notice. Have a wonderful 2013 and that all your hopes are achieved. Please forgive any errors in typing or spelling as I have already said in my report I am on a learning curve and I hope it is upwards

Fred Russell
Secretary Northern Ireland Provincial Amalgamation of Racing Pigeon Societies

Email: nipapigeons@hotmail.co.uk

Resolutions Submitted:

Resolution No.1: Submitted by Horseshoe HPS -
Delete General Rule 37 which states The final date for receiving a proposed race programme is the end of September.All race programmes submittted must include both an inland and channel national race for old and young birds.
Insert a new General Rule 37 which states.The final date for receiving a proposed race programme is the end of October All race programmes submitted must include both an inland and channel national race for old and young birds.

Resolution No.2: Submitted by Horseshoe HPS -
In all races birds be collected at individual club`s except in the case of National Races where they will be collected at centres

Resolution No.3: Submitted by Northern Ireland Provincial Amalgamation Committee -
In Bude & Penzance all club`s and their members must race mark their pigeons at centres

Resolution No.4: Submitted by Northern Ireland Provincial Amalgamation Committee -
Race marking for the OB Inland and Young Bird Nationals refert to a Thursday for a Saturday Liberation.

Race Programmes for voting:

Old Bird Race Programme No1. Submitted by Horseshoe H.P.S.
April 13th. Tullamore
April 20th. Tullamore
April 27th. Roscrea
May 4th. Clonmel
May 11th Fermoy
May 18th. Rosscarbery O.B. Inland National
May 25th. Fermoy
June 1st. Talbenny
June 4th. Rosscarbery Yearling Hen/Cock National
June 8th. Talbenny
June 8th. Fermoy
June 15th. Bude
June 15th. Fermoy 5 Bird Championship
June 22nd. Penzance
June 22nd. Penzance Classic
June 28th. Quimper Old Bird National


Name of Club Submitting vote ____________________________________

Number of Votes. _______________________________________________


Old Bird Race Programme No 2 Submitted by The Northern Ireland Provincial Amalgamation Committee
April 13th. Tullamore
April 20th. Tullamore
April 27th. Roscrea
May 4th. Clonmel
May 11th. Fermoy
May 18th. Rosscarbery O.B. Inland National
May 18th. Pilmore Beach Come Back Race
May 25th. Pilmore Beach
June 1st. Talbenny
June 8th. Talbenny
June 8th. Rosscarbery Yearling Hen/Cock National
June 15th. Bude
June 15th. Fermoy 5 Bird Championship
June 22nd. Penzance
June 22nd. Penzance Classic
June 28th. St. Malo 0ld Bird National


Name of Club Submitting Vote____________________________________________

Number of Votes ______________________________________________________


Signed By Club Official_________________________________________________
Young Bird Race Programme submitted By Horseshoe H.P.S

Race Programme No 3
July 20th. Area Liberations
July 27th. Area Liberations
Aug 3rd. Tullamore Mass Liberation
Aug. 10th. Roscrea
Aug 17th. Clonmel
Aug 24th. Fermoy
Aug 31st. Talbenny Young Bird National
Aug 31st. Tullamore Come Back
Sept 7th. Fermoy/ Fermoy 5 Bird Championship Race
Sept. 14th. Rosscarbery Young Bird National


Name of club Submitting Their Votes___________________________________________

Number of votes ___________________________________________________________

Young Bird Race Programme Submitted by The Northern Ireland Provincial Amalgamation Committee

Race Programme No 4
July 20th. Area Liberations
July 27th. Two Area Liberations Top Half/Bottom Half
Aug 3rd. Mass Liberation
Aug 10th. Roscrea
Aug 17th. Clonmel
Aug 24th. Fermoy
Aug 31st. Talbenny Young Bird National
Aug 31st. Tullamore Come Back Race
Sept 7th. Fermoy
Sept 7th Fermoy 5 Bird Championship Race
Sept. 14th. Rosscarbery Young Bird National


Name of Club Submitting Their Votes ______________________________________________


Number of Votes________________________________________________________________


Signed by Club Official

Voting Papers must be returned on or before the AGM. ON The 16th February 2013.
F. Russell Sec N.I.P.A

The INFC race programme for 2013 is as follows:

Skibbereen OB Inland Nat Tuesday 28th May (race mark Monday)

Sennen Cove Yearling Nat Wednesday 12th June (race mark Monday)

TBA Kings Cup Friday 5th July (race mark Tuesday)

Quimper Friendship Nat Friday 12th July (race mark Tuesday)

Penzance YB Nat Wednesday 4th September (race mark Monday),

Skibbereen YB Inland Nat Saturday 21st September (race mark Friday).

Please note these dates can be changed to avoid periods of unfavourable weather. (race rule 19).

Banbridge HPS Pigeon Moot:

Banbridge HPS are holding a moot in the British Legion, Banbridge on Friday 15th February 2013 at 7.30pm.

The panel will consist of Brian Sheppard the first ever winner of an International Race into the UK with “The Legend”. Alan Darragh, Cullybackey, five times National Winner and Gerald Delaney, Oroory Hill Stud, “Mr Skibbereen”. Ryan Barr Pigeon Diagnostics (improving Health and Performance) will give a talk on how to develop and maintain a healthy race team.

There will be a small Auction of 2013 young birds donated by some members of Banbridge HPS and some friends of the club. Entrance will be £5.00 and will include supper. Everybody welcome. Further information please call Wesley Sawyers on Tel: 07831560399.

Millisle & District – Annual Pigeon Moot:

Millisle & District annual moot will be held at 7.30pm on Friday 15th February 2013

Venue: FIRST AND LAST INN, MAIN STREET, MILLISLE.

Top panel including Chairman Ronnie Johnston (Irish Rover), Tommy Moorehouse 1st & 5th OB Nat and over 50 x 1st Open Irish SR Federation, Dave Ward (Dublin), Sid Collins (INFC President) and first loft to time two birds flying over 500 miles in 2012, and R Moore & Son (Bangor) 28 x 1st Sect and 5 x 1st Open EDC and 5 Times Sect Fancier of the Year in last 12 Seasons.

Top class supper included, Lounge & Bar facilities. Some top class young birds for sale. Wine – Dine – and Learn. Further info contact John Hollinger Tel: 028 (91) 863537 – MOBILE: 07784409893.

Bricon System:

Gerry Toner from the Glen Inv club in Belfast has a Bricon System for sale. What it is the Glen club wants all the members using the same clocking system they use Tipes I have a Bricon. I was wondering if you would know anyone looking for a good system, there is one speedy clock, two 27 ins pads and connecting cable, one double power pack, one single power pack, and one wall holder. I am asking £350 for it, it cost over double that few years back. It’s all in perfect order. Will you give me an E- mail, if you hear of anyone looking one. Thanks.

Obituary:

Fanciers in North & Mid Antrim and across the NIPA will be saddened to learn that Willie Neill has passed away at the advanced age of 83 years. He was the uncle of Terrence McCrudden and he and Tapy who was the driver, convoyed the NIPA birds for several years, at that time the NIPA Secretary was the late Horace Devine who lived in Ballymoney. It is with some sadness we record the passing of Joe Vage of Dromore, long time fancier and involved with the NIPA at the very highest level. He passed away at the Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn following a period of illness. He held the post of Transport Manager for many years and before that was Ass Secretary during the reign of the late Sam Halliday. I will always remember Joe at the NIPA Ladies Night, every year he must have been the first on to the floor and the last to sit down. In the early days Joe Vage & Son timed many winners to the lofts at Maypole Park and Joey junior is following the tradition, NIPA Committee member and Centre Manager in Dromore, and won 1st Open NIPA in 2012. Very sincere condolences to the Vage Family circle at this sad time. Joe Topley from Ashfield another Old Hand has passed away recently, he was a regular visitor to the NIPA office in Dromore. Getting up to date Crumlin & Dist lost some members, both Eddie Whiteside and his son Hugh in a fortnight, and around the same time Jimmy Galloway who just loved his pigeons and over the past couple of years I called and took his birds to Oxford Island, just a short fly up the road. Rain, hail or snow, he never missed. Again, very sincere condolences to both family circles.