Farming Life - Wednesday 15/02/12
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 2:03 pm
Ahoghill Flying Club Dinner & Awards
17th Season Top Prizewinner for Paddy McMamus
As has been the form for the past number of years the Ahoghill FC celebrated the 2011 race season with the Annual Dinner & Prize Presentation held once again in the Ballymena United Social Club at Warden Street on Saturday 11th February. With the local football team having won an Irish Cup match earlier in the day there was plenty of activity at the venue. Secretary Albert Young was an early arrival and had everything set up to perfection in the main hall.
Chairman Tom Young welcomed a good turn-out of the members and friends and welcomed the guests that included once again local scribe Homer and Rosie.
Following the dinner Tom said the members had another very successful season, he thanked Ann’s Kitchen for providing a very nice dinner, and the Social Club Committee for the use of the hall. He also thanked the members for the assistance through the race season and all those who helped out with the shows and supplied the prizes and those who supplied eatables including Mrs Stevenson. In the race season the club thanked Brooke Supplies, who again sponsored the 2 Bird Club competition. Winners here for the first time were Jimmy Smyth & Son followed by Mr & Mrs Robinson, A & N Young, Young McManus & Sons, Jimmy Orr & Son and John Balmer assisted as ever by his dad Cowan who had flu during the week and put in a big effort to attend the prize night. Yet again they brought a big party to the dinner and his daughter Wilma Alexander who carried out the presentation of awards was thanked for the fund raising events over the year, greatly appreciated. The Chairman drew attention to the loss of a member during the season, young Steven Lowry passed away at a tragic young age and the members observed a moment’s silence in his memory.
As far as the weekly racing was concerned it was much as usual with Young McManus & Sons mostly to the fore winning something like 9 x 1sts and Top Prize-winner for a record 17th season on the trot. That takes some doing and Homer mentioned this in his round up of the local results. The leading lofts were Paddy McManus, followed by J Smyth & Son, A & N Young, Mr & Mrs Robinson, D Lowry & Sons, J Orr & Son, D Stevenson and Charlie Young.
A total of 3 Mid Antrim Combine Diplomas were won in the early part of the Old Bird programme, Young McManus & Sons won 1st Combine from Roscrea and Rosscarbery Inland Nat and on the same day A & N Young had 1st Combine from Roscrea. Albert was telling me he was lucky to have the ETS set up, delayed getting back home from a trip into town some birds including the winner were already in the loft on his return. Paddy McManus was 3rd Comb & Sect in the race from Talbenny doing velocity 1039, D Lowry & Sons won Bude and A & N Young finished 2nd Comb & Sect in both Penzance and the duplicate OB Classic finishing 9th Open on velocity 1262 collecting £350. Mr & Mrs Robinson won the St Malo OB National, recording velocity 937 they finished 194th Open NIPA. I have a bit more detail on the earlier results. From Roscrea in April Paddy McManus doing velocity 1527 had 1st Comb & Sect and 88th Open NIPA with 30,000 birds competing. Three weeks later they had the early bird in the Rosscarbery Nat finishing 1st Comb, 2nd Sect & 283rd Open NIPA. In the comeback Roscrea on the same day A & N Young had 1st Comb & 2nd Section.
Racing with the Irish Nat FC Jimmy Smyth & Son were best in the Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove to finish 6th Comb, 96th North Sect & 153rd Open INFC. The loft had a second arrival and others in the result included D Lowry & Sons and Mr & Mrs Robinson. Moving to the Grand Nat Kings Cup flown again from Plaudren/Vannes the best bird was timed again by Charlie Young to finish 4th Comb, 62nd North Sect & 68th Open INFC. Charlie had a second bird in the clock, M/M Robinson were placed and J Smyth & Son had two in race time. Penzance YB Grand Nat was won locally but it was the usual hard race, best birds were timed by Young McManus & Sons doing velocity 686 finished 109th North Sect & 143rd Open INFC, J Smyth & Son doing velocity 515 finished 141st North Sect & 188th Open INFC.
Another fantastic season for Ahoghill Flying Club, best wishes to the members in the new season and thanks again for the invite to the dinner and prize night.
AGM for the Mighty NIPA
The Annual General Meeting of the NIPA the 67th since the formation will take place in the Protestant Hall, Glenavy on Saturday 18th February at 2.00pm sharp. It should be noted that only Club Delegates can vote or enter into business of the meeting, the official Delegate Cards are used for voting. No discussion is allowed on Resolutions.
A Voting Paper for the 2012 Race Programme has been sent to each member club and must be returned to the Secretary Fred Russell before the AGM on Saturday 18th February. All told we have four programmes and clubs must return the number of votes for each, an OB & YB Prog submitted by the NIPA Committee and an OB & YB Prog submitted by Ligoniel HPS.
NIPA Committee OB Race Programme 2012. April 14th Tullamore, April 21st Tullamore, April 28th Roscrea, May 5th Clonmel, May 12th Fermoy, May 19th Rosscarbery OB Inl Nat, May 26th Fermoy, June 2nd Talbenny, June 5th Rosscarbery Yearling Hen/Cock Nat, June 9th Talbenny, June 9th Fermoy, June 16th Bude, June 16th Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, June 23rd Penzance, June 23rd Penzance OB Classic, June 29th St Malo OB National.
Ligoniel HPS OB Race Programme 2012. April 14th Tullamore, April 21st Tullamore, April 28th Roscrea, May 5th Clonmel, May 12th Clonmel, May 19th Pilmore Beach, May 26th Rosscarbery OB Inl Nat & Roscrea Comeback, June 2nd Talbenny, June 6th Rosscarbery Yearling Hen/Cock Nat, June 9th Talbenny, June 9th Clonmel Comeback, June 16th Bude, June 16th Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, June 23rd Penzance, June 23rd Penzance OB Classic, June 29th Quimper OB National.
NIPA Committee YB Race Programme 2012. July 21st Official Race Mullingar, Tullamore. Two Liberations Top Half - Clubs Above 54 36’, Bottom Half – Clubs Below 54 36’. July 28th Tullamore Mass Liberation, August 4th Roscrea, August 11th Roscrea, August 18th Clonmel, August 25th Fermoy, September 1st Talbenny Nat, September 1st Tullamore, September 8th Fermoy and Fermoy 5 Bird, September 15th Rosscarbery Nat. Before YB Racing the Secretary will meet with all NIPA Sections to finalise the arrangements for the Area Liberation.
Ligoniel HPS YB Race Programme 2012. July 21st Mullingar Area Lib Sect C, July 28th Tullamore Area Sect C, August 4th Roscrea Mass Liberation, August 11th Roscrea, August 18th Clonmel, August 25th Pilmore Beach, September 1st Talbenny Nat, September 1st Tullamore Comeback, September 8th Fermoy and Fermoy 5 Bird, September 15th Rosscarbery Nat. Other NIPA Sections to determine their own release point for the Area Liberations.
17th Season Top Prizewinner for Paddy McMamus
As has been the form for the past number of years the Ahoghill FC celebrated the 2011 race season with the Annual Dinner & Prize Presentation held once again in the Ballymena United Social Club at Warden Street on Saturday 11th February. With the local football team having won an Irish Cup match earlier in the day there was plenty of activity at the venue. Secretary Albert Young was an early arrival and had everything set up to perfection in the main hall.
Chairman Tom Young welcomed a good turn-out of the members and friends and welcomed the guests that included once again local scribe Homer and Rosie.
Following the dinner Tom said the members had another very successful season, he thanked Ann’s Kitchen for providing a very nice dinner, and the Social Club Committee for the use of the hall. He also thanked the members for the assistance through the race season and all those who helped out with the shows and supplied the prizes and those who supplied eatables including Mrs Stevenson. In the race season the club thanked Brooke Supplies, who again sponsored the 2 Bird Club competition. Winners here for the first time were Jimmy Smyth & Son followed by Mr & Mrs Robinson, A & N Young, Young McManus & Sons, Jimmy Orr & Son and John Balmer assisted as ever by his dad Cowan who had flu during the week and put in a big effort to attend the prize night. Yet again they brought a big party to the dinner and his daughter Wilma Alexander who carried out the presentation of awards was thanked for the fund raising events over the year, greatly appreciated. The Chairman drew attention to the loss of a member during the season, young Steven Lowry passed away at a tragic young age and the members observed a moment’s silence in his memory.
As far as the weekly racing was concerned it was much as usual with Young McManus & Sons mostly to the fore winning something like 9 x 1sts and Top Prize-winner for a record 17th season on the trot. That takes some doing and Homer mentioned this in his round up of the local results. The leading lofts were Paddy McManus, followed by J Smyth & Son, A & N Young, Mr & Mrs Robinson, D Lowry & Sons, J Orr & Son, D Stevenson and Charlie Young.
A total of 3 Mid Antrim Combine Diplomas were won in the early part of the Old Bird programme, Young McManus & Sons won 1st Combine from Roscrea and Rosscarbery Inland Nat and on the same day A & N Young had 1st Combine from Roscrea. Albert was telling me he was lucky to have the ETS set up, delayed getting back home from a trip into town some birds including the winner were already in the loft on his return. Paddy McManus was 3rd Comb & Sect in the race from Talbenny doing velocity 1039, D Lowry & Sons won Bude and A & N Young finished 2nd Comb & Sect in both Penzance and the duplicate OB Classic finishing 9th Open on velocity 1262 collecting £350. Mr & Mrs Robinson won the St Malo OB National, recording velocity 937 they finished 194th Open NIPA. I have a bit more detail on the earlier results. From Roscrea in April Paddy McManus doing velocity 1527 had 1st Comb & Sect and 88th Open NIPA with 30,000 birds competing. Three weeks later they had the early bird in the Rosscarbery Nat finishing 1st Comb, 2nd Sect & 283rd Open NIPA. In the comeback Roscrea on the same day A & N Young had 1st Comb & 2nd Section.
Racing with the Irish Nat FC Jimmy Smyth & Son were best in the Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove to finish 6th Comb, 96th North Sect & 153rd Open INFC. The loft had a second arrival and others in the result included D Lowry & Sons and Mr & Mrs Robinson. Moving to the Grand Nat Kings Cup flown again from Plaudren/Vannes the best bird was timed again by Charlie Young to finish 4th Comb, 62nd North Sect & 68th Open INFC. Charlie had a second bird in the clock, M/M Robinson were placed and J Smyth & Son had two in race time. Penzance YB Grand Nat was won locally but it was the usual hard race, best birds were timed by Young McManus & Sons doing velocity 686 finished 109th North Sect & 143rd Open INFC, J Smyth & Son doing velocity 515 finished 141st North Sect & 188th Open INFC.
Another fantastic season for Ahoghill Flying Club, best wishes to the members in the new season and thanks again for the invite to the dinner and prize night.
AGM for the Mighty NIPA
The Annual General Meeting of the NIPA the 67th since the formation will take place in the Protestant Hall, Glenavy on Saturday 18th February at 2.00pm sharp. It should be noted that only Club Delegates can vote or enter into business of the meeting, the official Delegate Cards are used for voting. No discussion is allowed on Resolutions.
A Voting Paper for the 2012 Race Programme has been sent to each member club and must be returned to the Secretary Fred Russell before the AGM on Saturday 18th February. All told we have four programmes and clubs must return the number of votes for each, an OB & YB Prog submitted by the NIPA Committee and an OB & YB Prog submitted by Ligoniel HPS.
NIPA Committee OB Race Programme 2012. April 14th Tullamore, April 21st Tullamore, April 28th Roscrea, May 5th Clonmel, May 12th Fermoy, May 19th Rosscarbery OB Inl Nat, May 26th Fermoy, June 2nd Talbenny, June 5th Rosscarbery Yearling Hen/Cock Nat, June 9th Talbenny, June 9th Fermoy, June 16th Bude, June 16th Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, June 23rd Penzance, June 23rd Penzance OB Classic, June 29th St Malo OB National.
Ligoniel HPS OB Race Programme 2012. April 14th Tullamore, April 21st Tullamore, April 28th Roscrea, May 5th Clonmel, May 12th Clonmel, May 19th Pilmore Beach, May 26th Rosscarbery OB Inl Nat & Roscrea Comeback, June 2nd Talbenny, June 6th Rosscarbery Yearling Hen/Cock Nat, June 9th Talbenny, June 9th Clonmel Comeback, June 16th Bude, June 16th Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, June 23rd Penzance, June 23rd Penzance OB Classic, June 29th Quimper OB National.
NIPA Committee YB Race Programme 2012. July 21st Official Race Mullingar, Tullamore. Two Liberations Top Half - Clubs Above 54 36’, Bottom Half – Clubs Below 54 36’. July 28th Tullamore Mass Liberation, August 4th Roscrea, August 11th Roscrea, August 18th Clonmel, August 25th Fermoy, September 1st Talbenny Nat, September 1st Tullamore, September 8th Fermoy and Fermoy 5 Bird, September 15th Rosscarbery Nat. Before YB Racing the Secretary will meet with all NIPA Sections to finalise the arrangements for the Area Liberation.
Ligoniel HPS YB Race Programme 2012. July 21st Mullingar Area Lib Sect C, July 28th Tullamore Area Sect C, August 4th Roscrea Mass Liberation, August 11th Roscrea, August 18th Clonmel, August 25th Pilmore Beach, September 1st Talbenny Nat, September 1st Tullamore Comeback, September 8th Fermoy and Fermoy 5 Bird, September 15th Rosscarbery Nat. Other NIPA Sections to determine their own release point for the Area Liberations.