Farming Life - Wednesday 27/03/13

[willie reynolds]

Derry & Dist 1st Prize Night -

Time once again to dust off the laptop and get back to putting a few articles together. With the new season upon us, the weather is really poor at present and will most likely see training put on hold for many, as they wait for things to warm up a bit and a change from the biting easterly winds. Even as I write this article, we all have one eye on the weather, as snow is forecast for this, the third week in March. That said it isn’t uncommon to have snow at Easter and even at the start of April. I can remember a number of years ago when the NIPA had to put racing back due to snow and that was in the second week of April.
This week I was invited up to the Derry and District clubs presentation, which was held in the local Rocking Chair Bar. This is the clubs first presentation night, having only formed last year. It was good to see so many of the clubs own members in attendance supporting the club and also a good showing of members from most of the other local clubs.
The night got underway, with Chairman Stephen Barker, welcoming all the members from the Derry and District, and all those who had come from other clubs. A special welcome was extended to the well-known local flyer Pat McLaughlin who would be presenting the winners with their trophies. A special mention also went to all the members who made the night possible, through raising money from their young bird sale and to all the local fanciers who donated young birds and indeed purchased young birds at the sale.
A big thank you also to all the people who sponsored the club this year including, Liam Friel, Hugh Hegarty, The Telstar Bar, Anthony Gillen, McCausland Feeds, and Colm McConomy. I hope I haven’t missed anybody out. One last word of thanks to Brendan Duffy and staff of the Rocking Chair who yet again did a super job.
On then to the prizes, and first up was Joe Ebbs, who had a quiet season by his standards, winning the old bird Fermoy race. Joe would be a man more known for his channel performances.
Next to receive his trophy, was Eddie Mc Eleney who won the Roscarberry Old Bird National, a super fly and a nice race to win.
The next trophy was the new and very impressive St Malo trophy, which was won by Colm Mc Conomy and son. Colm is no stranger to winning the big one and always excels at the channel events.
Next up, was the first of the multiple prize-winners, Danny Cooley who had a very good season and wins Fermoy and Talbenny.
On then to Maxi Chism and Son, who although not long in the sport, are proving to be top fliers and very hard men to beat. Maxi takes four wins, including Roscrea, two Fermoy’s and a Talbenny.
Jim Ramsey and son Gary were next up, having won five races which included the Yearling National, the Roscarberry Young Bird National and three Tullamores.
Next to the table, one of the towns top fliers Kieran Reid who had a super season winning five races including Tullamore, Roscrea, Clonmel and Fermoy. Kieran also had a great win from Penzance, having the only bird in the club in race time.
Last but not least, we had the Derry and Districts top flyer, Anthony McCrudden. Again, another of the town’s top fliers, Anthony takes six wins, including Tullamore, Roscrea and Fermoy old birds and Roscrea, Fermoy and Talbenny young birds. Anthony’s young bird from Talbenny, was in fact the only day bird.
A good night then for all the members and visitors, and the first of many for the Derry and District.
As I said at the start of the piece, the new season is here again, and hopefully all the clubs will drop me an e-mail each week with their winners and perhaps a bit of info about the winning birds etc. A few photos of the clubs members would also be very handy as I can keep them on file and pull them out each week as I need them. It’s not hard to sort out and they can be e-mailed to me when you get them.
Well here’s to a good season for everybody, and I hope you all get a win somewhere along the line.
billyknox@btinternet.com

Kevin Henderson, Lurgan Social

Kevin Henderson is another dedicated worker for the sport, a Committee Member of the NIPA Sect E he has been for a number of years the Centre Manager in the Lurgan Centre getting great assistance from Denis Lyness and a team of good workers. I hope to feature Lurgan this year in my list of early results from around the country now they are getting up to speed with computer, e-mail and photos to my phone. In his hey-day Kevin cleaned up at all the major shows and he can race a bit as well. Last season the loft had major results and the end of the old bird season from Penzance and St Malo. From Penzance the loft won 1st Club, 3rd Sect & 3rd Open NIPA recording velocity 1380. In the duplicate Penzance OB Classic the loft finished 1st Club, 3rd Sect & 3rd Open NIPA 478/3,249 plus £304 and 4th Open in the Queens Jubilee Race, a race won by G & A Campbell of Armagh HPS.
His good 5yo Blue Pied cock was to win a Bronze Diploma in the NIPA from St Malo in France. 2011: 21st Sect E & 42nd Open NIPA 504/1597 doing velocity 1510. 2012: 3rd Sect E & 14th Open NIPA 464/1408 doing velocity 1351. Total winnings were £360. Two great results Kevin, best wishes for 2013.
Lurgan area lost one of its ace fanciers recently with the passing of Jackie Patience who raced the famous Kenyon birds and Busschaerts. He won 1st Open NIPA in the Bude smash of 1991 but no doubt his greatest achievement was winning 1st and 2nd Open Kings Cup Grand National from Rennes in 1995 with two great hens “Lady Virtue” and “Miss Mac”. The latter bird was bred by his close friend Allan McDonald of Portadown who himself was also a Kings Cup winner. Jackie was Ass Secretary to Allan at the Irish Nat FC for a number of years, and served the sport well during his time at the RPRA (Irish Region). He was an authority on the rules and gave good advice on many occasions. He was a fancier who gave a lot to the sport and enjoyed great success include winning the Blue Riband of the sport the Kings Cup. Even in failing health he was a regular attender at the INFC race marking. He will be sadly missed by his wide circle of friends in the sport. Homer.

Old Bird racing starting soon -

First race of the new season will be flown weather permitting on Saturday 13th April from Tullamore, the weather at present is more Winter than Spring and will have delayed training. This would usually start around the Easter Holiday weekend, keep in contact with those who provide training services. Ballymoney HPS have requested the members return Race Sheets, and Vaccination Forms and Clocks to the Secretary ASAP. The NIPA Rule 18 states all Race Sheets must be with each club secretary at least 14 days before race marking. All birds listed must be the bonafide property of each member as per RPRA Rules 102 and 103. Where a member uses ETS a signed copy of the assignment print out has to be with the secretary 14 days before racing commences. The NIPA will also enforce RPRA Rule 121 on any member found not wing stamping their birds, or the birds having name and address rings instead. With new regulations this year concerning the drivers working time, it was not possible with the present collection arrangements to have the Comeback Races as part of the main race programme. Due to the fact there is a demand for them and that the one on Talbenny (2) weekend will not be flown due to the Yearling Nat for Cock and Hens on the same day, it was decided to leave the other two as optional races. Although the NIPA will produce a result and award Sect & Open Diplomas they don’t count in any average or for Fancier of the Year. Mid Antrim Combine decided at its AGM to not count them in the averages and I have learned they won’t publish a result either. Birds will be rung at member clubs and collected at Marking Centres. No decision has been made yet regarding the Kings Cup venue, a strong contender is Nort-sur-Erdre which is down below Rennes, the distance to Ballymena is 552 miles approx. Bird found dead at Ballee GB12B-10424, the ring is registered to Broughshane & District.