Farming Life - Wednesday 26/10/11
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:18 pm
I got a call last week giving me the sad news that our long time member and highly esteemed Chairman Joe Devlin had passed away suddenly the previous evening. He had some health issues in the previous few months and had been attending hospital and in fact had an appointment at the Royal Victoria the next day. A couple of days earlier I had been discussing the setting up of the club for the Show Season and as always he was getting this done. A painter and decorator to trade Joe had lived for a time in both Randalstown and Kells before moving to Ballymena and living on the Toome Road. He was a dedicated and long time member of the local Ballymena & District HPS and a great worker for the club, always present at any event that was being held. He kept a small team of birds and hardly a season passed when he did not win a few races, he did enjoy flying the bird’s right through to the longer distance races. A good number of the fancy representing the local clubs attended the funeral last Saturday, following Requiem Mass he was buried at St MacNissi’s Church in Randalstown. An unmarried man Joe will leave a big void at the Ballymena & Dist HPS, the officials and members extend their sincere sympathy to his sister Mary and family circle at this very sad time.
Mid Antrim Show Scene
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 this Friday 28th October, the venue this year is the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena.
Ballymena & District HPS - 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 as usual. Penning is from 7.30pm until 8.00pm and it should be the usual good craic during the judging.
Broughshane & District - the new show series begins on Tuesday night 1st November with classes for Old Cocks and Young Cocks through the wires. Next week Tues 8th Nov Old Hens and Young Hens through wires penning between 7.30 and 8.00pm Everyone welcome at the clubrooms in the Community Centre, Broughshane. The annual dinner and prize distribution will be in the Michelin Athletic Club on Saturday night the 19th November, all cups to be returned to secretary Harry Smyth asap for engraving etc.
Kells & District - will 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. Fees for entry are £10 with hot food or £5 if just attending the Moot.
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.
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.
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. It is hoped that delegates will be able to attend from all clubs, it should be noted as well that any decisions made at Sect Meetings can no longer be made at NIPA Committee meetings, or placed directly on the AGM Agenda. Any proposals for that must come forward from club meetings and only club meetings. A backward step in my view but we must abide by the majority vote. In February Ballymena & Dist had included on the NIPA Agenda Resolutions arising from the previous Sect B Meeting, we had some confusion about dates etc and these items were withdrawn at the AGM. They had been properly put forward and as indicated at the time will come forward again.
As Resolution for a New General Rule 3g Ballymena & Dist will propose. If necessary matters raised at Section Meetings, including any Propositions, may be referred to the Management Committee for their consideration.
Also new Resolution: The Yearling Cock and Yearling Hen Race to be replaced with a Yearling Nat consisting of normal Open & Sect positions. Delete part of General Rule 56 which states “Except in Yearling Nationals where the maximum is 10 Cocks and 10 Hens”. That is the business outstanding from the last time, no doubt there will be lots more, Sect E has already held a meeting and I am sure other areas will follow.
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, all darkness birds other than performance pigeons £35 and the old stock birds, most having bred winners over the years from £25. 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, doors open at 2.00pm.
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.
Bert & Marco Braspenning Sale at Sarsfield
Will we ever forget the sale that was arranged for the same venue last November, the day of the heavy snow it took us one hour to travel the 10 miles to Antrim and with the situation not getting any better we turned back and the birds were eventually sold at Blackpool. The Braspenning Family promised to return, very good news and a super draft of top stock will go under the hammer at Sarsfield RPC on Sunday 30th October, birds on view from 2.00pm and sale at 4.00pm sharp. All the details including Sale List can be viewed at www.pigeonnetwork.com
Cookstown’s Mr National
The Parkview Lofts of Vernon Thom have been competing at club and national level for as long as I can remember, and not without success. Vernon has had pigeons for most of his life and during his racing career to date his greatest passion has been National racing with both the INFC and NIPA. I cannot remember a year when he has not been in the results at national level. Vernon himself is a modest pigeon fancier and so I have taken it upon myself to highlight some of his achievements both past and up to the present. The Lofts have won 3 Open Races; in one of these he won a car. Vernon has won no less than 38 Section A diplomas within the mighty NIPA and an impressive 69 prize positions in Derby’s and National races. Over the years Vernon has had some memorable successes with incredible pigeons. In the year 2000 Vernon was 4th Section A, 8th Open NIPA in the Young Bird Derby flown from Swansea, the pigeon was so fresh on return from this race that he sent it to the Penzance Young Bird National 5 days later where it put up another sterling performance to take 8th Open INFC in a very tough race with only 47 birds recorded on the day. In 2005 Vernon had a pigeon that recorded 12th Open Wade Bridge Young Bird National and in 2009 a pair of nest mates won 79th and 93rd Open Penzance Young Bird National. One of these pigeons, 22122, won 33rd Open Friendship National St Malo as a yearling and was timed in this years Kings Cup. The above pigeons are Kenyon bloodlines all bred from the one pair of pigeons steeped in the bloodlines of Portavogie Lass. The majority of Vernon’s family of pigeons cultivated over the years are Cattrysse bloodlines and a pair of stock pigeons from this line bred a pair of nest mates in 2010 that won 1st and 2nd Club, 71st and 75th Open INFC Penzance Young Bird National. These nest mates are closely related to the pigeon he timed from the 2011 Talbenny Young Bird National and which was sent on to the INFC Penzance Young Bird National to take a cracking 14th Open in this race. Vernon’s pigeons regularly put in gutsy performances and in 2009 he timed a Cattrysse yearling pigeon at 22.23pm from St Malo to take 1st Club, 56th Open NIPA, this pigeon was clocked in near darkness and would have been missed by Vernon but for his ETS System. The work required to keep a top notch team of pigeons competing at this level is hard work and Vernon has reluctantly decided he must reduce stock numbers in order to continue to enjoy his pigeon racing. Vernon is reducing the number of his pigeons with a draft of 49 lots which will take place in the near future. The pigeons for sale are all top quality brothers, sisters etc to his winning pigeons and I have handled this draft of pigeons which are in fantastic condition and absolutely the type of pigeon that will breed pigeons to score from down Ireland right out to the Kings Cup.
Mid Antrim Show Scene
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 this Friday 28th October, the venue this year is the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena.
Ballymena & District HPS - 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 as usual. Penning is from 7.30pm until 8.00pm and it should be the usual good craic during the judging.
Broughshane & District - the new show series begins on Tuesday night 1st November with classes for Old Cocks and Young Cocks through the wires. Next week Tues 8th Nov Old Hens and Young Hens through wires penning between 7.30 and 8.00pm Everyone welcome at the clubrooms in the Community Centre, Broughshane. The annual dinner and prize distribution will be in the Michelin Athletic Club on Saturday night the 19th November, all cups to be returned to secretary Harry Smyth asap for engraving etc.
Kells & District - will 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. Fees for entry are £10 with hot food or £5 if just attending the Moot.
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.
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.
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. It is hoped that delegates will be able to attend from all clubs, it should be noted as well that any decisions made at Sect Meetings can no longer be made at NIPA Committee meetings, or placed directly on the AGM Agenda. Any proposals for that must come forward from club meetings and only club meetings. A backward step in my view but we must abide by the majority vote. In February Ballymena & Dist had included on the NIPA Agenda Resolutions arising from the previous Sect B Meeting, we had some confusion about dates etc and these items were withdrawn at the AGM. They had been properly put forward and as indicated at the time will come forward again.
As Resolution for a New General Rule 3g Ballymena & Dist will propose. If necessary matters raised at Section Meetings, including any Propositions, may be referred to the Management Committee for their consideration.
Also new Resolution: The Yearling Cock and Yearling Hen Race to be replaced with a Yearling Nat consisting of normal Open & Sect positions. Delete part of General Rule 56 which states “Except in Yearling Nationals where the maximum is 10 Cocks and 10 Hens”. That is the business outstanding from the last time, no doubt there will be lots more, Sect E has already held a meeting and I am sure other areas will follow.
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, all darkness birds other than performance pigeons £35 and the old stock birds, most having bred winners over the years from £25. 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, doors open at 2.00pm.
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.
Bert & Marco Braspenning Sale at Sarsfield
Will we ever forget the sale that was arranged for the same venue last November, the day of the heavy snow it took us one hour to travel the 10 miles to Antrim and with the situation not getting any better we turned back and the birds were eventually sold at Blackpool. The Braspenning Family promised to return, very good news and a super draft of top stock will go under the hammer at Sarsfield RPC on Sunday 30th October, birds on view from 2.00pm and sale at 4.00pm sharp. All the details including Sale List can be viewed at www.pigeonnetwork.com
Cookstown’s Mr National
The Parkview Lofts of Vernon Thom have been competing at club and national level for as long as I can remember, and not without success. Vernon has had pigeons for most of his life and during his racing career to date his greatest passion has been National racing with both the INFC and NIPA. I cannot remember a year when he has not been in the results at national level. Vernon himself is a modest pigeon fancier and so I have taken it upon myself to highlight some of his achievements both past and up to the present. The Lofts have won 3 Open Races; in one of these he won a car. Vernon has won no less than 38 Section A diplomas within the mighty NIPA and an impressive 69 prize positions in Derby’s and National races. Over the years Vernon has had some memorable successes with incredible pigeons. In the year 2000 Vernon was 4th Section A, 8th Open NIPA in the Young Bird Derby flown from Swansea, the pigeon was so fresh on return from this race that he sent it to the Penzance Young Bird National 5 days later where it put up another sterling performance to take 8th Open INFC in a very tough race with only 47 birds recorded on the day. In 2005 Vernon had a pigeon that recorded 12th Open Wade Bridge Young Bird National and in 2009 a pair of nest mates won 79th and 93rd Open Penzance Young Bird National. One of these pigeons, 22122, won 33rd Open Friendship National St Malo as a yearling and was timed in this years Kings Cup. The above pigeons are Kenyon bloodlines all bred from the one pair of pigeons steeped in the bloodlines of Portavogie Lass. The majority of Vernon’s family of pigeons cultivated over the years are Cattrysse bloodlines and a pair of stock pigeons from this line bred a pair of nest mates in 2010 that won 1st and 2nd Club, 71st and 75th Open INFC Penzance Young Bird National. These nest mates are closely related to the pigeon he timed from the 2011 Talbenny Young Bird National and which was sent on to the INFC Penzance Young Bird National to take a cracking 14th Open in this race. Vernon’s pigeons regularly put in gutsy performances and in 2009 he timed a Cattrysse yearling pigeon at 22.23pm from St Malo to take 1st Club, 56th Open NIPA, this pigeon was clocked in near darkness and would have been missed by Vernon but for his ETS System. The work required to keep a top notch team of pigeons competing at this level is hard work and Vernon has reluctantly decided he must reduce stock numbers in order to continue to enjoy his pigeon racing. Vernon is reducing the number of his pigeons with a draft of 49 lots which will take place in the near future. The pigeons for sale are all top quality brothers, sisters etc to his winning pigeons and I have handled this draft of pigeons which are in fantastic condition and absolutely the type of pigeon that will breed pigeons to score from down Ireland right out to the Kings Cup.