Diary Dates - Events Winter 2015

[willie reynolds]

A local fancier in the Lisburn area had a stock pigeon escape from his loft. GB2014L-47524, please contact Tel: (028) 92 602203.

The fancy should be aware this is the time of the year to claim various awards. The RPRA (Irish Region) details are listed in the recent BHW, all claims by 3rd October. Mileage Awards are as usual – 0-250 Miles, 251-450 Miles, Over 450 Miles, Best Single Bird Performance OB or YB, Young Fancier for any of the above 8-16yrs racing on own. Finally Club Secretary to submit claims for Single Bird Performance Talbenny (2) & Penzance. Application Forms available from Region Secretary with SAE to M/M Reid, 131 North Road, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim. BT38 7QJ.

Claims for all the NIPA Average Cups and various awards must be made inside 14 days from the final race, deadline date is this weekend Saturday 26th September. Secretary George McDowell Secretary of Mid Antrim Combine must have all claims and trophies by 26th September. Old Bird Inland Average, Cross Channel Average, Old Bird Ave, B Eagleson Memorial Cup best average Talbenny, Penzance Classic, Bude and Penzance, Old Bird of the Year, Young Bird Ave, New North Cup best average Bude & Talbenny YB, Combine Average, Young Bird of the Year.

NIPA require all cups and trophies to be returned, in a clean condition please and same goes for the INFC, these can be returned to Trevor Topping or Ronnie Johnston or left with either Tom Marshall or Robert Kirkwood. The Annual Dinner & Prize presentation will be held as usual in the Stormont Hotel in Belfast on Friday 27th November, NIPA Ladies Night will take place on Friday 13th November in the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick.

NCC Sales –
With the final race flown the next big events are the annual sales with all the returned birds in the final race sold at auction. The first two sales booked are as follows: Sale (1) Saturday 26th September and Sale (2) one week later on Saturday 3rd October. Both Sales start at 3.00pm with birds on view from 2.00pm. The venue as usual is Chimney Corner Football Club, Randalstown Road, Antrim. All the birds will be On-line for all to pre bid who cannot attend, the final bid On-line will be the opening bid in the live sale room. Each Sale On-line will close at Midnight on the evening prior to the sale in question. To view the Sale List of all birds on offer log on to http://www.pigeoncraic.com or http://www.northcoastclassic.co.uk – To view all the lots on offer log into http://www.pigeoncraic.com/auctions.

Downpatrick HPS will hold a Charity Moot in Murphy’s Bar at Market Street, Downpatrick on Friday 2nd October at 7.30pm. Top panel on the night with Chairman, New Kid on the Block Steve McGarry, the panel members include Cyril Beattie, Davy Campbell and Jim Braniff. The night will include a top class auction a very select draft of gift birds kindly donated by top winning fanciers. All Lots to be listed on the Pigeoncraic auction site prior to the sale. Admission £5 payable at the door, Light Supper provided. All proceeds to the MS Society, further details contact Philip McCullough Tel: 07784 991 904.

The NI Winter Fayre will take place on Saturday 17th October in the Six Mile Leisure Centre, Ballyclare. Limited stalls available, contact Steve Tel: 07737 275820. More details to follow.

Larne & District will hold a Pigeon Moot on Friday 23rd October in ther local clubrooms at Old Glenarm Road, Larne. Top guest for the event is Willem de Bruijn and entrance is by ticket only £7 (inc supper). MC for the evening will be Chris Moore from Ballymena, there will also be an auction of a select draft of birds kindly gifted to the club plus one from Willem de Bruijn himself. For more details contact Rab Mills Tel: 07763 532325 or Larne & Dist Chairman Mark McCormick Tel: 07540 187478.

The Kells & Dist annual Social Evening this year will take place on Thursday 29th Oct 2015 again in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim. There will be a Charity Sale of 2016 yb’s this year in aid of \\\"Chest, Heart & Stroke\\\", while the rest of the evening incl interview/panel is to be arranged, Top ybs already promised, Syd Collins again as MC, no entry fee, but as usual hot buffet at £10 and tea/coffee/scone, etc at £5 for those who don\\\'t want a big meal. Raffle as usual, final details to follow.