Farming Life - Wednesday 19/10/11

[willie reynolds]

Mid Antrim Show Scene -

The Mid Antrim Show Season is being arranged, and after giving it a miss last time Randalstown HPS are back with their series on the usual Friday evening starting on 11th November with classes for Young Cock and Young Hen Through the Wires. They will continue with 18th Nov OC & OH T/W, 25th Nov YC & YH Handled, 2nd December OC & OH Handled, 9th Dec Old Pairs and Young Pieds and finish on Friday 16th December with Young Pairs and Old Pieds. Please note the Randalstown shows start with the young bird classes. Ballymena & Dist will operate as before each Monday starting on 31st October with classes for Young Cock and Young Hen Through the Wires. With a number of new members racing it is hoped they will bring a few birds to each show and we also look forward to inviting visitors. Penning is from 7.30pm until 8.00pm and it should be the usual good craic during the judging. Harryville HPS will start on Thursday 3rd November with classes for Young Cock and Old Cock Through the Wires. The Harryville series will continue each Thursday with penning from 7.30pm until 8.00pm through to 15th December. The annual Open Show will be held in the Harryville Clubrooms first Saturday in December. Visitors to all the shows will be made most welcome. Cullybackey HPS will start the show season on Saturday 29th October usual arrangements and the first classes for Young Cock and Young Hen Through the Wires. The annual Dinner & Prize night will be held on Friday 28th October, the venue this year is the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena.

Mid Antrim Combine have released the list of awards won in the 2011 racing season, these will be presented at the local club prize nights. Old Bird Inland Ave won by Alan McBride, Harryville vel 1470, Cross Channel Average won by Blair & Rankin Ballymena & Dist vel 1191, OB Average won by Jimmy Rock Harryville vel 1282, B Eagleson Memorial (1st 3 Cross Channel races) won by W & J Smyth Ballymena & Dist vel 1176, McIlhagga Memorial Cup 1st MAC St Malo won by H & R McCloy Cullybackey vel 1612, YB Average won by Alan Darragh Cullybackey vel 1476, Combined Average O/B & Y/B won by J & N Simpson Broughshane & Dist vel 1181, Bird of the Year won by W & J Smyth GB08B 10313 (107 Points), New North Cup Best Ave Bude OB & Talbenny YB Nat won by McFall & McManus New Antrim vel 1296, Les Mairs Cup O/B Fancier of the Year won by Alan Darragh (497 Points), Champions League won by Simon Millar Randalstown, Club Shield O/B won by Cullybackey HPS (99 Points), Club Shield Y/B won by Harryville HPS (66 Points).

Harryville HPS Clubrooms at the Antrim Road in Ballymena will host an NIPA Sect B meeting for the local club delegates on Wednesday 26th October at 8.00pm.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN IRELAND - The sensational Leo Van Rijn family of B & K Hawes and Lee Fribbins coming to Sarsfield RPC, Lally Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 on Sunday 23rd October at 4.00pm, birds on view from 2.00pm. This will be the first sale of the year for Ireland's Own Pigeon Auctions and queries should be directed to either Homer Tel: 07538 238364 or Adie Tel: 07921 883997. As usual we will take any Commission Bids, the full Sale List will be available on www.pigeonnetwork.com. In the meantime see the article on B & K Hawes in the RP dated 30/09/11 and see below the article published in the Pictorial.

Kells & Dist HPS have another Social Evening planned to take place in the Dunsilly Hotel on Friday 4th November, pay at the door. They had a very successful night last year and this time the major guests include John Preece from Cwmtillery, the Preece Bros & Sons loft have won several 1st Nat into Wales. The guest panel will also include Gerald Delaney and Davy Black from Dromore in County Down and from the Irish Nat FC Patron Ronnie Johnston and President Syd Collins. Prior to the main event the Kells & Dist HPS will present the prizes for the year.

NIPA members should claim immediately for France Merit Awards, twice OB Nat St Malo for the Bronze, three times for Silver and four times for Gold. Claims should also be made for the Young Fancier of the Year. The annual Ladies Night will take place in the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick on Friday 11th November. Tickets should be booked with Secretary Fred Russell Tel: (028) 92693913. All cups and trophies should be returned ASAP and in a clean condition.

Major Sale for Joe Brown in Glenavy.

Joe Brown from Dollingstown has a sale booked to take place in Glenavy on Saturday 29th October from 2.00pm. All the Darkness Youngsters are for sale including the many prize winners also a large number of the older stock birds that have bred numerous winners over the last number of years. Approx 90 birds in total and price on each pen, Joe will be there himself to explain the strains involved and the winning done and he will take orders for 2012 young birds these are usually sold out every year. A day not to be missed in Glenavy, Sat 29th October.

British Legion Sale -

In the Banbridge British Legion Hall a superb draft of pigeons for sale on Friday 21st October 2011 at 8-00pm, birds on view from 7-00pm. Gift birds have been donated by all top lofts in the country Alan Darragh, Ron Williamson, Willie Neil, Gerald Delaney, Bingham & Seaton to name a few. All proceeds raised are for Legion Building Fund. Diamond Carson has all the details.

Sheader Soontjen’s in Glenavy

Frank Sheader is sending one of his best drafts of his World Famous Soontjens to Ireland, it will be the last for some time. Many young stock birds will be included for the first time, “Irish Rover” Ronnie Johnston as usual will be auctioneer. It will be a Monday Night Spectacular in Glenavy, 31st October at 7.30pm. 2010 was another great year, 1st Open NEHU Bourges at 570 miles was 50% Sheader Soontjen, the Irish YB Grand Nat from Penzance 2nd Open winner at 330 miles was 50% Sheader Soontjen and Ronnie Johnston himself racing in Dundonald won 1st Club, 4th Open East Down Combine Fermoy winning the club by six minutes the Blue Cheq hen bred by Frank Sheader. Phone Frank for more details – Tel: 01944 710384.

Mid Week Racing - A Topical Question

We had A Bit of Craic recently regarding arranging of mid-week racing, it appeared there was a high level of interest in the Belfast Area. A very good idea in my opinion, short mid-week racing helping to keep the sport alive and at the same time some level of competition for those interested. Others will just use the races for training, the idea has been tried before. The big NIPA tried this, a fair number of years back mind you, I suppose it was quite successful, and more recently Sect E had mid-week racing for a couple of years, quickly going out of fashion. Up in the far flying North West the City of Derry Fed have been having races for years and this gives the local fanciers good competition over and above what is on offer weekly by the NIPA. It is something I think that can be a success arranged on a local basis for those interested, most lofts now have the ETS systems and not the same trouble timing in the birds. Race checking can be after work, for those lucky enough to have a job. Discussion on this subject should be developed, our birds are bred for racing.

RPRA News Update

Something else for the fancy to think about, the RPRA will be putting up an Award in 2012 to celebrated HM The Queen Anniversary, I seem to remember the INFC introduced the Yearling Nat the last time we had something like this and it remains one of the best races to this time in the INFC. I had put forward the idea myself with the late L O Barr. We need a race where all the RPRA Members in Ireland can take part, and we need to decide on awards, maybe with everything else Framed Diplomas for Area Winners with a photo of the bird. It needs discussion at the local level, the decision will be made early next year. The Region Secretary Robert Reid would like to tie down a deadline for claims for the various award’s, this should not be a problem. The NIPA can be asked to place an Award Notice in their Race Book, we should also place an advert for the Irish Region in the BHW as other GB Regions do, this both to cover meetings and notices for the various awards. I see a suggestion as well that the RPRA have a Web Page for each local Region to publish news items etc, another move in the right direction.

NIPA France Diplomas - Awarded for birds in the NIPA Old Bird Nat result from France, this year we have two Silver Diploma (3 times), and two Gold Diplomas (4 times).

Silver Award three time in O.B. National prizes.

C. & L. Fryers Dromara GB06D 20639

2009 St. Malo 103rd Open 5th Section F.

2010 St. Malo 131st Open 9th Section F.

2011 St. Malo 88th Open 7th Section F.

B. McNeice & Sons Lurgan Social Miss Consistance GB05L 28858

2008 St. Malo 116th Open 28th Section E.

2009 St. Malo 50th Open 15th Section E.

2010 St. Malo 7th Open 5th Section E.

Gold Medal awarded for four times in O.B. National prizes.

Elliott Bros. Carrick & District. Blue Cock GB06C 18624

2008 St. Malo 178th Open 59th Section C.

2009 St. Malo 194th Open 37th Section C.

2010 St. Malo 40th Open 2nd Section C.

2011 St. Malo 74th Open 14th Section C.

B. McNeice & Sons Lurgan Social Miss Consistance GB05L 28858

2008 St. Malo 116th Open 28th Section E.

2009 St. Malo 50th Open 15th Section E.

2010 St. Malo 7th Open 5th Section E.

2011 St. Malo 4th Open 4th Section E.

NIPA Ladies Night Friday 11th November 2011 in the Templeton Hotel Templepatrick.

Tickets available from Fred Russell. (028) 92693913 evenings.