The East Down Combine 2 Bird club held their Annual Dinner and Prize Distribution on January 26th 2018 and once again this year the event was held in the very popular Temple Golf & Country Club and this was an event which I had very much been looking forward to but sadly this nasty flu like cold bug which is doing the rounds caught me and prevented me and a number of others from being present on what was once again a super evening with a really top class meal for which this venue is famous . I am indebted to Dorothy Smyth and Francis Gilmore for details of the evening which started with the chairman Francis Gilmore welcoming those present and extended a special welcome to the chief guests for the evening Cyril and Hilary Beattie . Francis also thanked all the club Secretaries who had helped each week forwarding results etc and congratulating all the seasons winners and concluded by hoping everyone would have a very enjoyable evening .
After the meal Hilary Beattie was invited to present the prizes ,which were won as follows:
League Winners ;
League A R Moore & Son 24points
League B McComb Bros 26points
K & B McConaghie & son 26points
League C B C T Foulis & Gill 26points
League D A & A Cheevers 24points
League E J Kirk & Sons 26points
Gibson Cup (overall league winners -shared this year with)
McComb Bros ,K & B McConaghie & Son , B C T Foulis & Gill & J Kirk & Sons
Old Bird Inland Average J Patterson
Old Bird Skibbereen Derby B C T Foulis & Gill
Mallow Derek Wishart Classic B C T Foulis & Gill
Old Bird Channel Average B C T Foulis & Gill
Old Bird Combined Average B C T Foulis & Gill
Penzance B C T Foulis & Gill
ST.Malo O/B Derby J & R Young
O/B of the Year B C T Foulis & Gill
Old Bird K/O J & R Young
1st Skibbereen YB Derby A Cousins & sons
2nd Skibbereen YB Derby Harper & Young
Talbenny YB Derby McComb Bros
2nd Thurles Harper & Young
50th Anniversary Cup
4th & 5th OB and 5th & 6th YB Mackey & Lockhart
Young Bird Average Harper & Young
Young Bird of the Year Harper & Young
Combined Average B C T Foulis & Gill
Best Avg O/B Derby and 2 Y/B Derbies J & R Young
GOLD RING Mallow OB 6th May 2017
1st B C T Foulis & Gill £150
2nd Gordon Bros & sons £ 90
3rd Grieves & Morrison £ 60
2nd Thurles YB 27th Aug 2017
1st Harper & Young £150
2nd Gordon Bros & sons £120
3rd Gordon Bros & sons £ 70
After the presentation the format of the evening is that instead of music, members are free to chat to old friends ,a ballot is run and a small draft of 2018 Yb birds were auctioned and thanks here goes to Wesley Sawyers who was the auctioneer . All in all it was a most enjoyable evening and one I was sorry to miss .
UPCOMING EVENTS
Staying with the 2 bird club the AGM will be held on the 12th Feb 2018 in the War Memorial Hall Crossgar .
The Combine Breeder/Buyer will be held on the 30th March 2018 ,further details will follow .
DUNDRUM FIRE
The recent fire which started in a derelict house in Dundrum and destroyed several houses and Sammy Foster’s Lofts and birds is at present still under investigation and Sammy is unable at present to put up a new shed . I mention this because the number of offers of Young Birds has been overwhelming and Sammy is very grateful to all who have rallied round from around the UK . Keith Maguire of the Dundrum club is assisting Sammy and he can be contacted on 02843751324 or Sammy Foster can be contacted on 07808060127 or 02843751705 (after 7pm) for anyone wanting to contact him direct . Once again the generosity of the pigeon fraternity has been seen at it’s very best .
********************************
Clifford Browne