Pigeon Network

The 66th Annual General Meeting for the NIPA will be held in the Protestant Hall, Glenavy on Saturday 26th February at 2.00pm sharp. It should be noted that only Delegates can vote or enter into the business of the meeting. Delegate Cards have been issued to each member club and these cards will be required in the recording of votes. Each Delegate must ensure to have his/her official Delegate Card for use during the meeting. No discussion on Resolutions. All clubs must hold a meeting on the Resolutions and mandate their Delegates on how to cast their vote.

Resolution No 1. Submitted by the NIPA General Committee.
That any prize money cheque not cashed within two years of issue will be deleted from records.

Resolution No 2. Submitted by the NIPA General Committee.
That NIPA General Rule 3e be deleted in its entirety. General Rule 3e reads: If necessary matters raised at Section Meetings may be referred to the Management Committee for their consideration.

Resolution No 3. Submitted by Ballymena & District HPS.
Delete General Rule 3e which states: If necessary matters raised at Section Meetings may be referred to the Management Committee for their consideration, and replace with a new General Rule 3e.

If necessary matters raised at Section Meetings, including any propositions, may be referred to the Management Committee for their consideration.

Resolution No 4. Submitted by Ballymena & District HPS.
The Yearling Cock and Yearling Hen race be replaced with a Yearling Race consisting of normal Open & Section positions. Delete part of General Rule 56 which states: “Except in Yearling Nationals where the maximum is 10 cocks and 10 hens”.

Resolution No 5. Submitted by Ballymena & District HPS.
National Races to revert back to being called Derby’s in General Rules 15, 24, 30, 37, 56, 61 and 63. Delete the word National and replace with Derby. In Race Rules 10, 11, 20 and 21 delete the word National and replace with Derby.

SECRETARY’S REPORT 2011

2010 for the NIPA was a very good season. Weather conditions proved difficult but manageable. The number of pigeons being transported was up on the previous year. This brought in more income, all of which ensured the balance sheet to stay in the black.

In 2010 we held all transporter costs, no increase. It’s now at least 5 years since we asked for an increase. You will be pleased to hear that I will be recommending to your Committee for 2011 for yet another freeze on charges. This should be welcome news to you all. However, this incoming year will see a very large hike in running expenses and we will be very fortunate if we break even this year. I would appreciate any comments from any club on how we could reduce costs for 2011.

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, Terry Mulgrew, ably assisted by Kieran. Drivers, Terry, Kieran, James, Sean, Darren – an excellent team in which I have complete confidence. The Race Committee Anthony, Ken and Alan 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 Mr Joe Kelly of Londonderry, we are all pleased to see that his health has improved and he has been able to join us at all meetings. May I again send good wishes from you all to our Chairman Mr Lyndin Boyle and Assistant Secretary Mr Ronnie Watson, may they soon be restored to good health. And finally, to our Vice Presidents and Committee members for all their assistance given to the NIPA, so you can enjoy the racing.

You will by now have received the Statement of Accounts for 2010. When you examine the accounts please feel free to ask any questions. The balance sheet shows a healthy increase in the value of the NIPA on paper at a staggering £618,652. May your organisation continue to grow from strength to strength. During 2011 we have given the go ahead to fit new drinking systems on the 3 rigid lorries at a cost of £15,750. This should be completed for the start of the 2011 race season. Also we are building a new Drag Trailer which will be a great assistance to us if we need the extra capacity.

The Committee is recommending to the Clubs that, for the first time the position of Press Officer will be split into two and are recommending that W Reynolds and S McGarry fill the posts.

Resolutions for your clubs consideration should be by now in your possession. I will endeavour to explain their relevance.

Resolution No 1. submitted by your General Committee to put a time limit of two years for anyone cashing their prize money cheque. After two years all outstanding cheques will be deleted off the systems and any prize money not cashed will be credited back to the NIPA.

Resolution No 2 & No 3 ask for the deletion of General Rule 3e. However Ballymena & Dist request it be replaced by new rule 3e which would allow resolutions to go forward from Section Meetings. I would remind you that the NIPA is constituted by Clubs and that only Clubs can forward a Resolution.

Resolution No 4 submitted by Ballymena & Dist that the present Yearling Hen/Cock National be replaced with a Yearling Race with a 20 bird limit.

Resolution No 4. submitted by Ballymena & Dist to revert our Nationals back to Derby’s. I do not understand their reasoning as the NIPA is open to all of Northern Ireland and our race winners are worthy to be called National winners. This decision is up to you but I have taken advice from Mr Boyle who confirms that NIPA races were called Nationals and to prove this the McKeown Cup for Talbenny is engraved as YB National. This cup was presented in 1945 (formation year of the NIPA).

This completes the Resolutions nothing too controversial. Remember your club must hold a meeting to discuss the Resolutions and mandate your Delegate/s. It just leaves me to wish you all a good and successful season racing. Yours in Sport, Fred Russell.

The agreed Old Bird Race Programme for 2011.

Sat 9th April Tullamore, Sat 16th April Tullamore, Sat 23rd April Roscrea, Sat 30th April Clonmel, Sat 7th May Fermoy, Sat 14th May Rosscarbery OB Inland Nat, Sat 21st May Fermoy, Sat 28th May Talbenny, Tuesday 31st May Yearling Nat Cock/Hen Rosscarbery, Sat 4th June Talbenny, Sat 4th June Fermoy, Sat 11th June Bude, Sat 11th June Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, Sat 18th June Penzance & Penzance OB Classic, Friday 24th June St Malo OB National.

Clubs will have to vote on the programme for young birds, the existing programme as always and a jointly agreed programme submitted by Larne & Dist and Londonderry RPS.

Young Birds existing programme: Sat 9th July Training Toss Mullingar (2 Liberations) ie. Top Half Clubs above 54:36, Bottom Half Clubs below 54:36. Sat 16th July Tullamore Official Race (2 Liberations, as above), Sat 23rd July Tullamore (Mass Liberation), Sat 30th July Roscrea, Sat 6th August Roscrea, Sat 13th August Clonmel, Sat 20th August Fermoy, Sat 27th August Talbenny YB Nat, Sat 27th August Tullamore, Sat 3rd September Fermoy & Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, Sat 10th September Rosscarbery YB Inland National.

Young Bird programme submitted by Larne & Londonderry: Sat 9th July Training Toss Navan (Area Liberations), Sat 16th July Navan, Mullingar, Tullamore (Area Liberations), Sat 23rd July Tullamore, Mullingar (Area Liberations), Sat 30th July Tullamore (Area Liberation), Sat 6th August Roscrea (Mass Liberation), Sat 13th August Clonmel (Mass Liberation), Sat 20th August Fermoy (Mass Liberation), Sat 27th August Talbenny YB Nat, Sat 27th August Tullamore, Sat 3rd September Fermoy & Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, Sat 10th September Rosscarbery YB Inland National.

Sections will have to notify the NIPA Secretary of their preferred Liberation Site for Area Liberation.

NIPA – Low Key AGM

The 66th AGM for the NIPA was held in Glenavy on Saturday 26th February, it had been delayed for one week due to the accounts not being ready because the person involved had been in hospital. Unfortunately with the INFC meeting brought forward by one week, we had a clash of dates and I do believe it did effect the attendance. After a delayed start the voting details were released regarding the racing season, old birds had been confirmed already but for the young birds there was a choice of two programme’s. The one submitted jointly with Larne & Londonderry was dominated by Area Liberations, the members however decided to stick with the old programme from the season previous. Not all clubs had returned their voting papers, from those that did the voting was roughly 2-1 in favour of the standing programme. It’s an impossible task to satisfy the whole of a big organization and I suppose in this regard mid-week tosses could be some sort of fall back position.

The agreed programme’s are as follows, to be confirmed by the next committee meeting to be held on Monday 15th March.

The agreed Old Bird Race Programme for 2011.

Sat 9th April Tullamore, Sat 16th April Tullamore, Sat 23rd April Roscrea, Sat 30th April Clonmel, Sat 7th May Fermoy, Sat 14th May Rosscarbery OB Inland Nat, Sat 21st May Fermoy, Sat 28th May Talbenny, Tuesday 31st May Yearling Nat Cock/Hen Rosscarbery, Sat 4th June Talbenny, Sat 4th June Fermoy, Sat 11th June Bude, Sat 11th June Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, Sat 18th June Penzance & Penzance OB Classic, Friday 24th June St Malo OB National.

Young Birds programme: Sat 9th July Training Toss Mullingar (2 Liberations) ie. Top Half Clubs above 54:36, Bottom Half Clubs below 54:36. Sat 16th July Tullamore Official Race (2 Liberations, as above), Sat 23rd July Tullamore (Mass Liberation), Sat 30th July Roscrea, Sat 6th August Roscrea, Sat 13th August Clonmel, Sat 20th August Fermoy, Sat 27th August Talbenny YB Nat, Sat 27th August Tullamore, Sat 3rd September Fermoy & Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, Sat 10th September Rosscarbery YB Inland National.

Chairman for the meeting Alan Darragh called order and asked that all members had signed the attendance book, he then called for a moments silence in respect of members who had passed away in the previous season. This included long standing Assistant Secretary Ronnie Watson whose funeral service had been held a couple of days earlier in Dromore Cathedral.

The meeting may have started a bit late but it moved on at high speed with the Secretary Fred Russell reading the minutes of the previous AGM.

These were accepted as a true record with nothing arising, as was the Secretary’s Report which had been sent to all clubs and published in the Fancy Press, then the accounts and we had no other 2010 Business. All items were pushed through very quickly, as was the case the year previous.

Joe Kelly from Londonderry had been installed as the new President for 2010/2011 and was again invited to conduct the remainder of Election of Officials. Joe has had poor health for the past number of months but has improved and is looking forward to his second season as NIPA President, he thanked the members very sincerely for their support. Alan Darragh from Cullybackey had been added last season to the post of Vice President to follow Senior Vice President Herbie Boyd from Dungannon. The remaining Vice Presidents are Malcolm Livingstone (Portadown), Ned Marshall (Killyleagh) and Diamond Carson (Banbridge).

All the top positions remained un-changed. Chairman Lyndin Boyle, Vice Chairman Alan Darragh, Financial Secretary Fred Russell, Assistant Secretary (to be filled later), Fleet Supervisor Terry Mulgrew, Convoyers Jim McDonald and Terry Mulgrew. Press Officer Willie Reynolds/Stephen McGarry, Race Advisor Ivan Mawhinney, Auditors Robinson & Co (Portadown). RPRA Delegates – F Russell, J Hollinger and S McGarry (Reserve)

For the Finance, Transport and General Purposes Management Committee most remained unchanged with Sect B & D the only ones involved in a vote between members. A further meeting is to be held in Sect G to fill the position left vacant by the resignation of Tommy Mooney. Sect A & H: A McDonnell, H Boyd, P McLaughlin. Sect B: K Wilkinson, G Magill, G McDowell, K Kernohan. Sect C: R Reid, D Campbell, W Ferguson, W Seaton, D Smyth, S McGarry. Sect D: J Vage Jnr, G McEvoy, and new members for Lisburn J McCready & B McKibben. Sect E: K Henderson, J Parr, G Campbell, S Corrigan. Sect F: P Murray, V Pollock, R Thompson. Sect G: D Carson, J Donaldson.

The meeting continued moving on to Resolutions, no discussion is allowed since all member clubs had local meetings to mandate their Delegates on voting procedure.

Resolution No 1. Submitted by the NIPA General Committee.

That any prize money cheque not cashed within two years of issue will be deleted from records. Carried unanimously.

Resolution No 2. Submitted by the NIPA General Committee.

That NIPA General Rule 3e be deleted in its entirety. General Rule 3e reads: If necessary matters raised at Section Meetings may be referred to the Management Committee for their consideration. Carried 37 For, 18 Against.

Before the Ballymena & Dist items came up some points were raised regarding RPRA Rules and the amount of time changes had to be put forward before an AGM. The Chairman was minded to either rule all Resolutions out including the two already passed or to vote on them all. At this stage Ballymena withdrew their Resolutions and indicated they would be put back up for next year. The Ballymena items were a mixture of items raised at a Sect B meeting and some of their own. On a vote already passed on Saturday the meeting agreed to Delete General Rule 3 and take away the right of Sect Meetings to refer items to the Management Committee.

The Ballymena & Dist Resolution is to put it back in, slightly modified to include Resolutions. We should encourage debate, that has always been my opinion for what its worth, and allow more people to have an input into changes. The Sect B Meeting had one quarter of the attendance at the NIPA Annual meeting, yet had no mandate to put forward issues raised. With the decision on Resolutions cut short, the Annual General Meeting was closed.

The Chairman opened a Delegates Meeting for some discussion. A point was brought forward regarding the Welfare of the birds especially at race points. This issue has been raised before and I have no doubt the next Committee Meeting will put in place a role of work that ensures everything regarding the welfare of the birds en route to race points and especially liberation are carried out satisfactorily and without complaint. Some question on the loading of the transporter at various locations including Derry City. It was felt the drivers should have the responsibility and make decisions on loading. With a lot of the Delegates already leaving, and no further points raised the meeting came to a conclusion.