D Croskery & Son are 2016 Fanciers of the Year

[willie reynolds]

EAST DOWN COMBINE NEWS by Clifford Browne

D Croskery & Son are 2016 Fanciers of the Year

The 2016 racing season is now behind us but those who have been successful have now to receive their rewards and for the East Down Combine this will happen at the Annual Dinner on the 18th November at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel Ballynahinch and one of the top Combine awards is that of Fancier of the Year and this year the Winners are the Annsborough partnership of D Croskery and son on 1486 points and they were also East Section Fanciers of the Year on 591 points as well as winning both IHU Meritorious Medals and these performance will be subject of an article towards the end of the Year with a complete loft report .

West Section Fanciers of the Year were B Hogg & Sons on 596 points and a complete list of all winners will accompany the report of the Dinner.

East Down 2 bird News

The results of the final two races in the 2 bird club were:

2nd Skibbereen y/b derby flown on 10/9/16
1st K&B Mc Conaghie & son 1648 pools £8
2nd W Mc Master & son 1581 pools £6
3rd B Hogg & sons 1564
4th Mackey & Lockhart 1553 pools £4
5th Harper & Young 1549 pools £2
6th W Mc Master & son 1549
7th Angus & son & Mc Conkey 1536
8th C & D Smyth & sons 1508
9th J Kirk & sons 1492
10th S & K Duke 1423
11th Mc Cartan & Woodsides 1422
12th Gordon bros & sons 1417
Congratulations to Winston McMaster & son Hugh who had both their entries in the result.

Talbenny y/b Derby flown on 4/9/16
1st Cowan & Mc Cartney 1183 (3rd Open )
2nd K&B Mc Conaghie & son 1071 pools £7
3rd A& A Cheevers 1143
4th J Patterson 1115 pools £5
5th A & A Cheevers 1021
6th Mackey & Lockhart 935
7th J Mc Greevy 919

Well done Alex and Anne Cheevers who had both birds recorded from this Channel Derby whilst the Ballylesson partnership of K & B McConaghie & son who were 1st and 2nd open EDC in the Talbenny Derby finished 2nd in the 2 bird club with their fourth bird timed at 20th Open and they also won the 2 bird club from the 2nd Skibbereen Derby

McComb Family raise £9,200 for Charity

Earlier this Year the McComb family of Killyleagh had a charity sale to raise funds for the Alzheimer\'s and Parkinson\'s societies in memory of family member, the late Tommy McComb. An amazing £9,200 was raised from this sale and a number of other fund raising events which the family organised.
Recently some members of the family were at Stormont to take part in the Alzheimer’s walk and then to present the cheques to the two charities which they had raised this money for.
The McComb family would again like to thank all those who supported the events which they ran and thank all the lads who either donated birds or bought birds.

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Pigeon Fanciers what are you doing on Thursday nights this winter?

This is the question posed by Nicky McCavera who is organising a novel weekly Thursday night pigeon event in the Old Downpatrick Pigeon Club Room - Irish Street car park, Downpatrick starting on - Thursday 20th October and will operate along similar lines to a car Boot sale except in this case it is a pen or pens which you purchase and will work as follows ;
1. Purchase a pen for £5 or 3 for £10.
2. Place your pigeon or details of what you wish to sell in the pen.
3. Price is optional. It\'s your pen so you decide.
4. You keep 100% of any sale.
Nicky says you can sell your surplus pigeons, and not only pigeons - clocks, baskets, DVD\'s, books or any pigeon accessories you wish to sell. On October 20th, the opening night, a Former Kings Cup Winner & twice National Champion will have 3 selected Pigeons for sale. There will be free tea & coffee each night and there is plenty of Car parking facilities available.
Going by the name of N & A\'s Pigeon Trader for further details please contact Nicky on 07753828175.
So there is a chance to do something new on a Thursday night this autumn and winter.