Homer's Odyssey/BHW Plus - 30/10/09

[willie reynolds]

NIPA French Diploma Awards – Highly Prized

The NIPA French Diploma Awards were introduced around 15 years ago and in that time just a small number of birds have achieved repeated success at the distance. The awards are presented to birds that achieve positions in the Premier Old Bird National. Scoring twice is Bronze Diploma and a fair number of those have been presented with just one season being missed. It gets more difficult for the Silver Diploma having to score three times and then the major prize the Gold Medal & Diploma when the Champions score for the fourth time. The 2007 season was as good as any, 17 Bronze Diplomas, 5 Silver Diplomas and Alan Darragh from Cullybackey wins a Gold Diploma for the second time with “Champion Betty’s Girl”.

The first Gold Medal & Diploma was won in 2000 by Murphy & Martin of Cookstown with Billy’s Pride, followed in 2001 by Speirs & Campbell of Cookstown with Tommie Girl and Alan Darragh with Golden Dreams. Only five have been won up to 2009, that includes B & M Gilmore who collected the major award in 2008 with “Champion Easton Gold” and Alan Darragh from Cullybackey holds the premier place with two.

2007: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – Alan Darragh, Cullybackey HPS. Champion Betty’s Girl won 24th Sect B & 133rd Open NIPA Lamballe 04, 189th Open NIPA Portland 05, 9th Sect B & 102nd Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 15th Sect B & 146th Open NIPA Lamballe 07.

2008: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – B & M Gilmore, Ballyclare & District. Champion Easton Gold won 19th Sect C & 78th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 06, 41st Sect C & 147th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 4th Sect C & 22nd Open NIPA St Malo 08.

Just for the record I have had a look at the Silver Diploma and this list reads. 1994 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1995 – J Logan Ballyclare & Dist and C Cameron Ballyclare & Dist. 1998 – Campbell & Francey Harryville. 1999 – J Geary & Son Lurgan Social, D McCullough & Son Kells & Dist and Murphy & Martin Cookstown. 2000 – A Darragh Cullybackey, N Weir Loughgall, E Campbell & Son Coleraine Premier and Speirs & Campbell Cookstown. 2001 – J & R Crawford Larne & Dist, W McClure Kells & Dist and J Carson & Son Corcreeney. 2006 – J McMurrough & Sons Corrigs, A Darragh Cullybackey, Furphy Bros Lurgan Soc and J Adamson Gilford & Dist.

Just 18 winners from the first winner which was Champion Noel raced by Alan Darragh, he won 1992 – 33rd Open NIPA, 1993 – 39th Open NIPA and 1994 – 13th Open NIPA. Adding the five winners in 2007, four in 2008 and two in 2009 brings the Silver Diploma total to 29.

In 2007 Silver Diplomas were won by – E Matchett & Sons Edgarstown 14th Sect E & 27th Open NIPA Portland 05, 18th Sect E & 79th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 8th Sect E & 37th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. Speirs & Campbell Cookstown Social 4th Sect A & 50th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect A & 28th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 7th Sect A & 142nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. B & M Gilmore Ballyclare & Dist 19th Sect C & 78th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 41st Sect C & 147th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. J & J Milligan Laurelvale 18th Sect E & 35th Open NIPA Lamballe 04, 12th Sect E & 44th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 30th Sect E & 122nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. H Beattie Laurelvale 22nd Sect E & 55th Open NIPA Lamballe 04, 39th Sect E & 141st Open NIPA Portland 05 and 4th Sect E & 20th Open NIPA Lamballe 07.

In 2008 Silver Diplomas were won by – Diamond Bros Coleraine Premier 5th Sect A & 54th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect A & 93rd Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 17th Sect A & 114th Open NIPA St Malo 08. K Carolan Coalisland & Dist 3rd Sect A & 46th Open NIPA Portland 05, 13th Sect A & 78th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 4th Sect A & 20th Open NIPA St Malo 08. T Leacock & Son Castledawson 7th Sect A & 37th Open NIPA St Malo 06, 8th Sect A & 162nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 9th Sect A & 65th Open NIPA St Malo 08. M/M Stevenson Dromara 15th Sect D & 176th Open NIPA St Malo 06, 7th Sect D & 59th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 8th Sect D & 176th Open NIPA St Malo 08.

In 2009 Silver Diplomas were won by – Gary Benson Lisburn & Dist (Little Gem) 8th Sect D & 142nd Open NIPA Portland 05, 10th Sect D & 208th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 8th Sect D & 137th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Sam Corrigan Loughgall (Blue Boy) 28th Sect E & 115th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 7th Sect E & 23rd Open NIPA St Malo 09, 51st Sect E & 186th Open NIPA St Malo 09.

To keep the record sort of up to date I will list the Bronze Diploma winners from 2007, 2008 and 2009. Should any be missed please let me know.

In 2007 Bronze Diplomas were won by – Crawford & Robinson Larne & Dist 44th Sect C & 179th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 17th Sect C & 62nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. A Hall Omagh & Dist 1st Sect H & 9th Open NIPA Portland 05 and 1st Sect H & 50th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. J Hughes & Son Portavogie HPS 4th Sect F & 49th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 2nd Sect F & 47th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. W Neill Annaghmore 42nd Sect E & 169th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 23rd Sect E & 96th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. Gillis Gamble & Radcliff Laurelvale HPS 14th Sect E & 53rd Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 10th Sect E & 42nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. J Dowey & Sons Laurelvale HPS 38th Sect E & 154th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 41st Sect E & 172nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. N Armstrong Ligoniel & Dist 37th Sect E & 158th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 36th Sect C & 125th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. K Murray Killyleagh & District HPS 13th Sect F & 171st Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 7th Sect F & 100th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. J McKernan & Son Lisburn & Dist 11th Sect D & 121st Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 11th Sect D & 135th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. A Darragh Cullybackey HPS 2nd Sect B & 26th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 2nd Sect B & 7th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. M/M Stevenson Dromara 7th Sect D & 72nd Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 7th Sect D & 59th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. O Jackson Annaghmore 34th Sect & 144th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 3rd Sect E & 18th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. G McKenna Eastway 26th Sect C & 102nd Open NIPA Portland 05 and 3rd Sect C & 18th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. E McKnight Portadown Inv 41st Sect E & 183rd Open NIPA Portland 05 and 2nd Sect E & 4th Open NIPA St Malo 06. Thompson Bros Glenarm & Dist 19th Sect C & 62nd Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 28th Sect C & 84th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. A McAteer Ballyholland 6th Sect G & 88th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 2nd Sect G & 3rd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. T Leacock & Son Castledawson 7th Sect A & 37th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 8th Sect A & 162nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. E Niblock Bessbrook 13th Sect G & 131st Open NIPA Lamballe 04 & 3rd Sect G & 16th Open NIPA Lamballe 07.

In 2008 Bronze Diplomas were won by – Diamond Bros Coleraine Prem 5th Sect A & 54th Open NIPA Portland 05 and 6th Sect A & 93rd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. B & M Gilmore Ballyclare & Dist 25th Sect C & 78th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 5th Sect C & 25th Open NIPA St Malo 08. Grattan Bros Eastway HPS 16th Sect C & 58th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 65th Sect C & 195th Open NIPA St Malo 08. J Burrows Eastway HPS 23rd Sect C & 75th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 6th Sect C & 26th Open NIPA St Malo 08. J McMaw Carrick Social 29th Sect C & 99th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 10th Sect C & 42nd Open NIPA St Malo 08. P Boyd Annaghmore 21st Sect E & 94th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 42nd Sect E & 213th Open NIPA St Malo 08. S Corrigan Loughgall 28th Sect E & 115th Open NIPA Lamballe 08 and 7th Sect E & 23rd Open NIPA St Malo 08. J Trotter Laurelvale 35th Sect E & 139th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 21st Sect E & 121st Open NIPA St Malo 08. R McVeigh Corrigs HPS 14th Sect F & 180th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 18th Sect F & 204th Open NIPA St Malo 08. Agar Bros Portavogie 6th Sect F & 87th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 3rd Sect F & 28th Open NIPA St Malo 08. Donnelly Bros Newry City Inv 10th Sect G & 96th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 14th Sect G & 152nd Open NIPA St Malo 08. M Conlon & Sons Banbridge Soc 12th Sect G & 104th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 17th Sect G & 205th Open NIPA St Malo 08.

In 2009 Bronze Diplomas were won by - G Benson Lisburn & Dist (Little Gem) 8th Sect D & 142nd Open NIPA Portland 05, 10th Sect D & 208th Open NIPA St Malo 08. M Graham Ballymena & Dist (Sunnyhill Supreme) 4th Sect B & 30th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 36th Sect B & 200th Open NIPA St Malo 09. S Graham Son & McManus Ligoniel & Dist 52nd Sect C & 162nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 10th Sect C & 71st Open NIPA St Malo 09. Gregg Bros & McCandless Ligoniel & Dist 69th Sect C & 210th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 5th Sect C & 48th Open NIPA St Malo 09. G Hawthorne Millisle 10th Sect F & 123rd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 125th Open NIPA St Malo 09. R Strain & Son Millisle 1st Sect F & 14th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 4th Sect F & 89th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Mr & Mrs D Suitters Doagh & Dist 14th Sect C & 50th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 4th Sect C & 43rd Open NIPA St Malo 09. Elliott Bros Carrick & Dist 7th Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 2nd Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 09. A Hughes & Son Largymore 7th Sect D & 173rd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 4th Sect D & 98th Open NIPA St Malo 09. R J Elliott Ballymoney 12th Sect B & 88th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 3rd Sect B & 17th Open NIPA St Malo 09. W G Neill Annaghmore 10th Sect E & 56th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 39th Sect E & 120th Open NIPA St Malo 09. S Corrigan Loughgall (Checker Lady) 25th Sect E & 147th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 3rd Sect E & 7th Open NIPA St Malo 09. M & R Hamilton Coalisland 5th Sect A & 32nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 11th Sect A & 167th Open NIPA St Malo 09. K Carolan Coalisland 1st Sect A & 12th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 5th Sect A & 45th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Surgenor Bros Kells & Dist 9th Sect B & 60th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 6th Sect B & 38th Open NIPA St Malo 08. Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel & Dist 18th Sect C & 66th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 27th Sect C & 160th Open NIPA St Malo 09. J Burrows Eastway 20th Sect C & 62nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 32nd Sect C & 181st Open NIPA St Malo 09. Mark Maguire & Son Newry & Dist 3rd Sect G & 39th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 19th Sect G & 203rd Open NIPA St Malo 09. G McKenna Eastway 60th Sect C & 181st Open NIPA St Malo 08, 31st Sect C & 179th Open NIPA St Malo 09. A Darragh Cullybackey 7th Sect B & 43rd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 26th Sect B & 150th Open NIPA St Malo 09. R Williamson Bondhill 2nd Sect E & 5th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 4th Sect E & 8th Open NIPA St Malo 09.

The Pigeonnetwork.com Night of the Year planned for the Ballyclare Comrades Football Club on Friday 6th November has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. All future enquiries for Adie should be directed to Homer at Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683, Mobile: 07939 684876 or via E-Mail: reynoldshomer@aol.com

This Saturday all the original lines of the famous Frank Sheader Soontjens will be back in Northern Ireland at Glenavy Sale KO 2.30pm. A Complete Clearance Sale for Glen McNeilly Ballyclare will be held over two Saturday Dates in Glenavy, 14th & 21st. The McNeilly Family are moving to France. This is an outstanding team of mainly distance pigeons that have continued to score at the highest level, Blue Pied cock 8th Open Lamballe and Blue w/f cock 101st & 122nd Kings Cup two very good examples. Further details from Glen Tel: (028) 93324316, Commissions to RJ Tel: 90 483625

Ireland’s Own Pigeon Auctions have started in the Sarsfield (Dublin) to continue on Friday 30th Oct an entire Clearance Sale for Jason Campbell (Cookstown) followed on Monday 2nd Nov a special draft from Nelson Weir (Loughgall). Prior to the sale you can bid online at www.pigeonnetwork.com and the closing bid there is the starting bid in the hall. Commission bids also welcome by telephone. Call Homer Tel: 07939 684876.

The Royal British Legion Hall in Banbridge will host a super fund raiser, all proceeds to help refurbish the premises, Diamond Carson has obtained a top selection of birds from across the whole country. The sale will take place on Friday 30th October, birds on view at 7.00pm and sale KO at 8.00pm. If you wish to donate a bird or obtain any more information contact Diamond Carson Tel: 07813 265311.

Doagh & District HPS will be having their annual Moot in McConnells of Doagh on the 8th January, a date for the diary. The panel will be Brian & Ricky Hogg of Newtownbreda, East Down Combine Fancier of the Year 2004 and 2005, J & J Hollinger (Millisle) one of Irelands top long distance fliers, and Davy Campbell (Campbell & Bigger, Glengormley), NIPA Section C Fancier of the Year 2008 and 2009. UK rep for Benzing will also be there giving a ETS demonstration and anyone wishing to purchase the Benzing ETS will be able to at the price of £198. There will also be a light supper and ballot, £5 per head to pay at door.

Mid Antrim Show Scene – Dates & Results

Cullybackey HPS - The annual Dinner & Prize night will be held in the Michelin Athletic Club in Ballymena on Friday 6th November, cups and trophies should be returned immediately and tickets paid by Wednesday 4th November. The shows will have the usual Saturday night slot and started last weekend with classes of Young Cock & Young Hen Through the Wires.

Young Cocks T/W (62 Birds) – 1st, 3rd & VHC J & J Greer, 2nd & Commended Reid Bros & McCloy, 4th N & S Anderson, Reserve Cochrane Bros, HC H & R McCloy. Young Hens T/W (61 Birds) – 1st, 2nd & VHC H & R McCloy, 3rd Russell Bros, 4th Reid Bros & McCloy, Reserve J & B Balmer, HC & Commended N & S Anderson. Judges: Tom McAlonan (Ballymena & Jackie Steele (Rasharkin). Saturday – Old Cock & Old Hen T/W.

Broughshane & District HPS - Show Series starts on the usual Tuesday slot, 3rd November with classes for Old Cock & Young Cock Through the Wires followed with 10th November Old Hens & Young Hens Through the Wires, 17th November Old Bird Eye-sign & Young Bird Eye-sign plus Y/Bird Mated Pairs, 24th November Old Bird Mated Pairs & Fancy Class, 1st December Old Cocks Handled & Young Cocks Handled, 8th December Old Hens Handled & Young Hens Handled. All outside members are very welcome to attend the shows. The Annual Dinner and Prize Distribution is Saturday 12th December in Michelin Club Ballymena. All cups need to be returned to the club for engraving.

Ballymena & District HPS - Will operate on the usual Monday night starting on 2nd November with classes for Young Cock & Young Hen Through the Wires.

Kells & Dist will start on Wednesday 4th November, penning in the local clubrooms until 8.00pm and all classes Through the Wires. The first class of Young Cocks will be followed on 11th Nov Young Hens, 18th Nov Old Cocks, 25th Nov Old Hens, 2nd December Mated Pairs and 9th December Eye-sign & Pieds. The Annual 3 in 1 Open Show will be held on Saturday 26th December, the usual big event for Boxing Day.

Harryville have the usual Thursday date starting 5th November with classes for Old Cock & Young Cock Through Wires to continue each week until 17th December. The annual Open Show is marked in for Saturday 5th December, the week before Belfast.

It is my sad duty to report the passing of Old Hand Staffy Carmichael proprietor of the famous Carmichael Public House in Ballyeaston, a very popular spot for the local East Antrim fancy and for many visitors from around the world. Staffy will be a sad loss, his Public House was a relic from the last century and a massive bit of local history has passed on. To the family circle very sincere condolences from the entire pigeon fancy.

Lisburn & District – The opening show will be held on Saturday 14th November Any Age Cock/Hen with penning from 7.00pm until 7.30pm. Members must show a minimum of 6 birds per show to compete for Specials in 2010. Further shows will be held on 21st Nov, 5th Dec with the big New Year Special Show to be held on 2nd January. Special thanks to Sammy Briggs who is going to supply the prize for the ballot each week. Will members please note AGM is on 08/12/09 (Part 1).

Downpatrick HPS will have a YB Gold Ring Race to be flown from Mallow on 25th August 2010, the event only open to lofts competing in the NIPA Sect F and the East Down Combine Sect East. Rings must be purchased at £10 per ring with a 500 Bird limit, 70% of the fund will be paid in prizes. For all the details and ring orders Tel: 07809 746628 or Tel: 07596 042961.

Willie Reynolds
NIPA Press Officer.
Tel/Fax (028) 256 44683

Mobile: 07939 684876
E-mail: reynoldshomer@aol.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk