Homer's Odyssey/BHW Plus - 19/02/10

[willie reynolds]

The NIPA have reported another very good season and the AGM will be held in Glenavy on Saturday 20th February at 2.00pm, Joe & Mark Brown will be holding their Annual Sale of young birds (complete first round), door open at Noon in the downstairs hall. This sale of birds has been a top success the last couple of years, last time he sold out in minutes. They will have around 90 birds from their winning stock, just £25 each, and buy Ten get one bird Free. Danny Dixon has some spare yearling hens from his top bloodlines Tel: 07770 778015 and Martin Graham will have youngsters from all his winning lines, sprint and distance Tel: (028) 25 637929. Need advertising, please get in touch. Everything is listed on www.pigeonnetwork.com

All clubs must hold a meeting on the Resolutions and mandate their Delegates on how to cast their vote. The Secretary Fred Russell had a massive job in getting all paper work prepared for the annual meeting, it was a job very well done. George McDowell looked after the printing and delivery and we all send best wishes to both Chairman Lyndin Boyle and Ass Secretary Ronnie Watson who have both been in hospital and missed the mad rush at this time of the year.

N.I.P.A. Resolutions.

Resolution No 1. Submitted by the NIPA Committee

Delete General Rule 41
That in Old Bird racing each member's pigeons are spread as evenly as possible over all the crates. In Young Bird Racing with the exceptions of National and Championship races members are permitted to have their own crates.

And replace with a New General rule 41

That in Old and Young Bird Racing each member's pigeons are spread as evenly as possible in all crates.

Resolution No 2. Submitted by the NIPA Committee

Delete General Rule 61
In National and Championship Races a maximum of 16 Cocks per crate and 18 Hens per crate, except the Old Bird National, where there will be a maximum of 10 Cocks per crate and 12 Hens per crate, this is to apply to all NIPA centres.


And replace with a new General Rule 61-
In National and Championship Races a maximum of 16 Cocks per crate and 18 Hens per crate, except the Old Bird Channel National, where there will be a minimum of 14 birds per crate.

Resolution No 3. Submitted by the NIPA Committee

Allocation of prizes will be awarded on the basis of Birdage as follows:

The Old Bird National from France. 1 prize in ten birds entered - Open & Sections.
Young Bird Cross Channel. 1 prize in fifteen birds entered - Open & Sections.
All other Nationals, Championship and Classic Races. 1 prize in twenty birds entered - Open & Sections.

Resolution No 4. Submitted by the NIPA Committee

Delete General Rule 62
Confirmation of the results with the workings of the first six velocities, verification cards, ETS printouts and official result from giving the number of members and birds competing with the number of crates sent and also the first 18 positions with members IR Number and name must be forwarded via the transporter on the racing marking night. This result must also contain confirmation of the winning pigeon being confirmed at club level.

And replace with a new General Rule 62-
Confirmation of club result must be faxed to the N.I.P.A. Secretary on the official result form within 24 hours of the race. The result envelope must be posted to the Secretary to arrive not later than four days after the race.

Secretarys Report 2010

2009 for the NIPA racing was reasonably good. The old bird season needed a few changes to suit weather conditions and our young bird season was without a hold over. We transported more pigeons than the season before which in turn brought in more income. All of this helps the balance sheet to stay in the black. In 2009 we held all transport costs for crates at the 2008 prices. It is now at least four years since we asked for an increase. You will be pleased to hear I will be recommending to your Committee that for 2010 there will be no increase in transport charges. This should be welcome news to you all.

Without the assistance of many people it would be impossible for me to oversee the smooth running of our Organisation. The Race Controller Ivan Mawhinney, a most difficult job, well done! The Transport Manager Terry Mulgrew for keeping the transporters in tip-top condition. Convoyers Jim McDonald and Terry Mulgrew for looking after our pigeons and assisting the Race Controller. Drivers Jim, Terry, Kieran, Colum, James, Sean and Don an excellent team of which I have complete confidence in. The Race Committee Anthony McDonald, Ken Wilkinson, Alan Darragh for their expertise in deciding up to two or three days before race date if we should continue or delay liberations. A very difficult job, well done. The President, Vice President, Chairman, Committee Members and my Ass Secretary for all the assistance given to the NIPA so you can enjoy your racing.

May I send good wishes and a speedy recovery to good health to our Vice President Joe Kelly of Londonderry, Chairman Lyndin Boyle of Dromore and Ass Secretary Ronnie Watson of Dromore. I sincerely hope to see you all at the AGM on Saturday 20th February 2010.

In 2009 the NIPA teamed up with Randox Laboratories to test for drug enhancing products in pigeons. There were many tests carried out during the season. The method used was to test feather and swab tests. I am pleased to inform you all pigeons tested were clean of drugs.

I would also like to thank the RPRA Drugs Committee for assisting us with the costs of the tests.

I eagerly await their report on Drug Tests for 2010 and what changes they recommend.

Healthy pigeons are all we want to see, however sickness is still a problem, especially young birds.

For 2010 the NIPA will use the product on its transporters and is recommending it to all Clubs and members to purchase the product known as Loft Care.

The product can be purchased from the NIPA for £5 for a 5 litre container being a discount of £3 per container.

If you wish to keep your loft and baskets clean of bacteria you should contact us for the supplies.

The uptake has been excellent.

ETS is ever increasing in popularity with you. I would like to thank you all for introducing ETS into our sport and Organisation with little or no objections.

I still feel very grieved that Pigeon Fanciers in Northern Ireland cannot receive grants from various bodies in the UK which handout thousands of pounds to Clubs on the mainland.

We are all a part of the UK and we should al be treated equally. Can any one help? I have tried and got nowhere. Why should we be told awards for all except if you are a Pigeon Fancier in Northern Ireland.

You will, by now, have received the Statement of Accounts for 2009.

When you examine the accounts, please feel free to ask any questions.

The Accounts show the NIPA received bank interest of £4949.00, a surplus of £6398.00 on the Transporter Account and a small deficit on the General Account of £193.95; increasing your Capital Account for the year by £11,153.00 to stand at £586,287.00.

Yes, you have a very healthy balance sheet. Your Organisation is in a very strong financial position with current assets totaling £429,678.00 and fixed assets of £156,608.00.

May your Organisation continue to go from strength to strength. You should all be very proud of what you have accomplished over the years.

Pigeon Racing is on the decline. There seems to be very little we can do about it. Membership will continue to fall, Clubs will get smaller and will have to amalgamate to survive.

The next ten years will see a decline in membership and Clubs. Very difficult but necessary decisions will have to be made to deal with the ever changing position our sport finds itself in.

You will have a copy of the resolutions. They contain nothing to controversial.

Resolution (1) is quite straight forward; The Committee have submitted the resolution to find out the true feeling of the Membership. The Committee have ongoing problems with the existing rule and the way the Clubs are implementing the rule.

If you are in favor of members having their own Crates Vote against this resolution and if you feel they should not be allowed their own Crates Vote for this resolution.

Resolution (2) is basically to do with the number of pigeons per crate for our Old Bird National French Race.

The present number gives us a logistical problem if we have had good racing and their is an increase in entry. Anywhere else in the UK you would have to pre-enter the race up to 2 weeks in advance. If you would have to do this we would know exactly what numbers to expect. However, we do not pre-enter and we do not know the numbers until the transporters arrive after collection.

We have brought the transportation to France down from 5 days to 2 days. Surely 14 birds per crate is quite sufficient. With the extra birds per crate it would eliminate any problems in arranging the transportation.

Resolution (3) wishes to allocate prizes on the basis of birds being entered.

There is no problem with this resolution, it will take more time to allocate the Prize List and this would hold up the result for about 2 hours.

The Prize list would in all probability increase in most races, but not all. For example, OB Inland National would increase from its present 207 positions to 300 plus, but please bear in mind it is the same pot money and prizes will be reduced in value.

The question you must ask yourself is more prizes less prize money per prize.

Resolution (4) the arrangements put in place last year were simply unworkable. They were designed to speed up the result. In fact, they made it much worse and it will have to be replaced with some new arrangements.

If it is possible faxing the result on the official result sheet it would mean a full result ready for a Sunday.

This completes the resolutions. Nothing to controversial. Remember your Club must hold meeting to discuss the resolutions and mandate your delegate(s).

Finally, I wish to bring to the attention of All Clubs regarding the payment of carriage charges. The Clubs will be issued with a new envelope. Printed on the front of the envelope will be a number of questions all of which will assist me.

This envelope, which will contain your Clubs cheque for carriage charges, will have to be handed to the transport driver before he leaves your Club Room. No envelope, no cheque. There will be no collection the following week. No more posting your cheque. No more enclosing it in your duplicate envelopes.

While I am on the subject of envelopes, please use the correct envelope. If it says duplicates only, please only duplicates in the envelope. Rubber rings only, please only rubber rings in the envelope. Race results only, please only race results in the envelope and finally, transport charges only, please only your Club cheque in the envelope.

Far too many are simply using the first envelope they put their hands on. All these envelopes are designed to assist the Secretary. I would appreciate your assistance.

It just leaves me to wish you all a good and successful season racing.

The Irish Nat FC annual meeting will be held in the Lagan Valley Leisure Plex, Lisburn on Saturday 27th February at 2.00pm. At the recent INFC Committee meeting David Black (Dromara) was selected as the next Vice-President.

Two Resolutions are listed for decision both submitted by The Committee. (6.1) Replace Rule 21 with new rule. New Rule 21 Annual subscription must be paid and returned before 28th April each year. New members £10.00 joining fee plus annual subscription. No applications for membership will be considered after 28th April.

Present Rule 21 reads Annual subscriptions must be paid and returned before 30th April each year. Members paying after this date will be required to pay an additional fee of £2.00. No applications will be considered after the 14th May. New members £10.00 joining fee plus annual subscription.

(6.2) The Old Hens National be excluded from the National Averages.

The proposed race programme for 2010 is as follows. Skibbereen OB Inland Nat Tuesday 25th May (race mark Monday), Sennen Cove Yearling Nat Wednesday 9th June (race mark Monday), Plaudren/Vannes Kings Cup Friday 2nd July (race mark Tuesday), St Malo Friendship Nat Friday 9th July (race mark Tuesday), Penzance YB Nat Wednesday 8th September (race mark Monday), Penzance Old Hens Nat Wednesday 8th September (race mark Monday), Skibbereen YB Inland Nat Saturday 18th September (race mark Friday).

Queries in respect of the accounts should be in the secretarys hands, in writing, at least three days before the AGM. Only queries in writing will be considered at the AGM.

BHW/INFC Single Bird Challenge

By this weekend all INFC members will have received their statement of accounts, also included in the envelope is their BHW/INFC Single Bird Challenge entry form, these should be completed and returned to me by 17th March along with the £5 entry fee. Also included in the envelope is the Robin Duddy Trophy entry form, to win this trophy a member nominates three birds on their Yearling National entry sheet, it is the first of these three birds which counts, they also nominate three birds on their Penzance Young Bird National sheet and again the first bird home counts towards the two race average, the total cost of entry is £10. The closing date for entries is the race marking night of the Yearling National, Monday 7th June. If any member wants to send both entries together they can do so. Any potential new members or any member with any questions should contact David Black on Tel: 07876 157706 on details of how to enter.

Roland Janssens Experience Robert Morrow has purchased the best of the best. AT Stock he only has a few pairs of the Rolands, but what he has are top class blood lines, the quality of the stock birds are a credit to the master of sprint, Roland Janssen. A very limited number of 2010 young birds for sale at £100 each. Contact Robert Morrow Tel: 07794 194549.

Banbridge will have the annual Panel/Supper & Sale in the local Royal British Legion on Friday 19th February at 8.00pm, admission just £2. Top night guaranteed.

Banbridge Social annual Breeder & Buyer Sale will be held in the local Royal British Legion on Friday 12th March, last season £1,700 was paid out over four prizes. The race will be flown from Skibbereen in conjunction with the Irish Nat FC. Contact Gary Tel: (028) 40 669825.

Breeder/Buyer Sale for Drumnavaddy Invitation will take place on Thursday 18th March in Banbridge British Legion .Race to be flown from Fermoy. Birds donated from many top lofts. More info will be available in the next few weeks. Contact - Davy Tel: 07593 666757, Brendan Tel: 07547 802590, or Kenny Tel: 07737 521355.

Old Hand James Anderson from Cullybackey had the shock of his life over the weekend when he discovered a break-in to his lofts in the rear gardens and all his top racers and stock birds taken. There has been a spate of break-ins in the North Antrim area over recent weeks, previously it was prize hens that were being taken. I have no reason to believe the thefts are connected, it just leaves the owners with a lot of un-necessary stress, and gives the sport a bad name. Its not something that happens very often and thank goodness for that, James had been so looking forward to this seasons top races including the famous Kings Cup where he had some hope of maybe doing well. Although Jimmy now is an advanced age the loft has a long history of top success, he has previously won the Old Bird and Young Bird derbies with the NIPA and has a long list of top National positions through to France. Now he only keeps a small number of birds and likes to enter a few in a select number of events, just 16 birds were taken and two others killed and left in the loft. The young bird section of the loft was not touched, it looked liked the culprits knew what they were looking for. They will be hardly pleased to hear the whole episode was caught on a number of cameras and are now part of the PSNI investigation. It happened around 11.00pm on Friday night and took just 8 minutes. The Ring Number of all birds missing will be published very soon, if anyone can help they are asked to contact the police.

Willie Reynolds
NIPA Press Officer
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk