Pigeon Network

Having completed three seasons as Chairman Syd Collins was then installed as President for another three, it was his idea that the INFC should consider holding a second presentation that would include the various Merit Awards now up for competition. I think these new awards were proposed by former Secretary Allan McDonald and they do indeed look like a good idea, the Merit Award going to birds twice a prize-winner in the two top races from France, The Friendship Nat and the Blue Riband Kings Cup. Its something for the fancier to aim for in the first instance, in the Kings Cup the really consistent birds go on for the Hall of Fame Diploma (three times) and then the big one, the Gold Medal (four times). The main presentation night with the dinner etc was fully booked last time and it was getting impossible to extend the presentation of the many cup which have increased over recent years.


The Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim was packed on Friday 7th January for the inaugural presentation with over 30 Diplomas including the French Diploma presented each season by the INFC Patron Ronnie Johnston. The winner of this in 2010 was a rising star from Loughgall, Willie Corrigan the brother of the ace distance fancier Sam Corrigan. Willie was 17th Open INFC in the Kings Cup from Vannes in 2009, and one year later was to score two more top places. I should have said the French Diploma is awarded in Northern Ireland for the best Average Old Bird Derby & Kings Cup. It was a very tight finish with just the odd point taking Willie ahead of two other top lofts in the Portadown area Ron Williamson (Bondhill) and Paul Dunlop (Edgarstown) both lofts former Derby winners from France. In the NIPA St Malo Willie timed a 4 year old Blue cock all the top bloodlines from his brother Sam to finish 8th Open NIPA, the bird was sent sitting eggs. In the second leg one week later he timed a 2 year old Blue w/f cock sent feeding big youngsters to finish 12th Open INFC from Vannes. This bird was bred from a grand-son of John Greenaway’s famous Iron Lady when paired to a Staf Van Reet hen from Brownlee, Nee Sons & Ward.



Over 150 members and friends attended from across Ireland and the special guest was Chris Gordon from Pontefract in England a former winner of the Kings Cup and an RPRA Councillor. A number of the older members were invited and included Paddy Arthurs from Dundalk and from Mid Antrim Tom McCallum from Ballymena and James Anderson from Cullybackey. Chris Gordon presented the various awards assisted by President Syd Collins and Chairman Eugene Fitzgerald from Dublin.



The local winners included Willard Reid (Cullybackey) 15th & 37th Vannes, R J Elliott (Ballymoney) 76th & 233rd Vannes, Bill McClure (Kells) 156th & 122nd Vannes, Billy McCaw (Ballymoney) 127th & 161st Vannes, Bill McClure (Kells) 46th & 127th Vannes, Mr & Mrs Magill (Muckamore) 206th & 185th Vannes and Alan Darragh (Cullybackey) 221st & 119th Vannes. From East Antrim Robin Duddy (Ballyclare & Dist) 140th & 117th Vannes and C & L Woodside (Ballyclare & Dist) 5th Open Picauville Friendship & 65th Open St Malo Friendship.



The evening after supper finished with a Moot Question & Answer, David Black and Alan Darragh joined the panel. This night should be the first of many to come, I think it was a bigger success than many expected and in the future different things might be added. The full list of winners.



P. Dunlop - Edgarstown H.P.S.
Blue Chequer Hen GB06E 66887
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 119th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 13th Open
P. Dunlop - Edgarstown H.P.S.
Blue Pied Hen GB07E 55248
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 16th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 39th Open
A. Hughes & Sons - Lisburn & District H.P.S.
Blue Chequer Hen GB05X 83524
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 25th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 66th Open
A. Hughes & Sons Lisburn & District H.P.S.
Blue Chequer Cock GB07S 79267
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 68th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 113th Open
Glen. Buckley & Son - Annaghmore H.P.S.
Blue W/F Hen GB08A 31264
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 2nd Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 201st Open
W. Catherwood & Sons Ballynahinch H.P.S.
Kenny – B
Dark Chequer Cock GB04D 06060
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 181st Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 195th Open

G. O’Reilly & Son Malahide & District H.P.S.
The Pic
Blue Chequer Cock IHU03S 104298
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 124th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 28th Open
W. Reid - Cullybackey H.P.S.
Blue Cock GB04C 14713
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 15th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 37th Open
Ward & McIntosh - Downpatrick H.P.S.
Julius Caesar
Black Chequer Hen GB06D 36601
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 112th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 73rd Open
R. J. Elliott - Ballymoney H.P.S.
Northern Lady
Blue Chequer Hen GB04B 78236
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 76th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 233rd Open
N. Black & Son - Dromara H.P.S.
Blue Cock GB07D 08739
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 241st Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 153rd Open

R. McIlroy & Son - Carrickfergus & District H.P.S.
Blue Chequer Cock GB06C 18319
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 56th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 38th Open
S. G. Briggs - Lisburn & District H.P.S.
Smokey 79 Blue Hen
GB07L 25279
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 118th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 90th Open
W. McClure - Kells & District H.P.S.
Home Again
Blue Chequer Hen GB02K 09025
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 156th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 122nd Open
W. McClure - Kells & District H.P.S.
Blue Chequer Hen GB05K 12212
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 46th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 127th Open
W. McCaw - Ballymoney H.P.S.
Greystone Girl
Blue Chequer Hen GB07B 47887
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 127th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 161st Open
A. Fearon - Portadown Invitation H.P.S.
Blue Hen GB06P 06497
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 178th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 240th Open
E. Niblock - Bessbrook H.P.S.
Tom
Blue Cock GB03S 18295
Vannes King’s Cup 2006 48th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 217th Open


G. & J. O’Hare - Crossgar H.P.S.



Black Cock IHU06N 9653

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 145th Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 208th Open



Ron. Williamson - Bondhill Social H.P.S.



Blue Cock GB06B 06036



Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 23rd Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 140th Open



Ron. Williamson - Bondhill Social H.P.S.



Blue Chequer Cock GB07B 05233



Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 94th Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 186th Open



J. Waring & Son - Lisburn & District H.P.S.



Blue Chequer W/F’s Cock GB03L 28415



Vannes King’s Cup 2006 114th Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 196th Open



J. Waring & Son - Lisburn & District H.P.S.



Blue Chequer Cock GB03L 28447



Vannes King’s Cup 2006 53rd Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 25th Open



D. Croskery & Son - Annsborough H.P.S.



White Hen IHU05N 11429



Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 193rd Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 88th Open



C. & L. Woodside - Ballyclare & District H.P.S.



Blue Hen GB07B 43620



Picauville Friendship National 2009 5th Open

St. Malo Friendship National 2010 65th Open



M. Robinson - Bondhill Social H.P.S.



Blue Chequer Cock GB02B 31141



Vannes King’s Cup 2006 34th Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 133rd Open



Mr & Mrs R. Magill - Muckamore H. P. S.



Chequer Pied Cock GB07E 66367



Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 206th Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 185th Open



Darragh - Cullybackey H.P.S.


Blue Bar Cock GB08C 13275



Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 221st Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 119th Open



Mr & Mrs P. & K. Braniff - Colin H.P.S.



Mary-Kate



Blue Chequer Hen GB06C 62466



Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 245th Open

Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 59th Open



Mr & Mrs P. & K. Braniff - Colin H.P.S.

White Head

Dark Chequer Pied Hen GB07C 51223
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 231st Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 36th Open
R. Duddy - Ballyclare & District H.P.S.
Cloughan Rain Blu
Blue Hen GB07B 43740
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 140th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 117th Open
G. & T. Ritchie - Edgarstown H.P.S.
Suzie
Blue Pied Hen GB06D 41927
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2009 209th Open
Plaudren Vannes King’s Cup 2010 239th Open

Rasharkin Prize Night held in Kilrea

Rasharkin and District HPS held their annual dinner and presentation in The Manor Golf Club, Kilrea. Chairman Harold Cubitt thanked all those present and The Manor Golf Club for an excellent meal. The main prizes were as follows; Highest prize winner Milliken and Barkley won: O/B channel average, O/B yearling hens national, O/B yearling cocks national. Steele and McNeil won O/B knockout cup, O/B inland average, James McFetridge Memorial Sprint Cup, Penzance cup, O/B league, O/B nom cup, O/B of the year, Y/B nom cup. H Cubitt won Y/B 5 bird championship, Y/B national NIPA, Y/B league, Y/B average, Y/B of the year,best average two Y/B nationals. Tony Simpson won INFC young bird national Penzance. A C & T Tweed won Y/B knockout cup, Y/B channel national NIPA. J & D Surgenor won O/B national NIPA. W. McFetridge won O/B 5 bird championship. A total of £1,000 was paid out in prize money. The club would like to thank their main sponsers for all their help in 2010 , Leck Scaffolding N.I. Ballymoney, Noel Twaddle Contracts Ballymoney, J F Car Sales Ballymoney, BRS Cars Cullybackey. Photos courtesy Ballymoney Times.