Pigeon Network

The NIPA French Diploma Awards were introduced around 20 years ago and in that time just a small number of birds have achieved repeated success at the distance. The awards are presented to birds that achieve positions in the Premier Old Bird National, usually flown from France. Scoring twice is Bronze Diploma and a fair number of those have been presented with just one season being missed. It gets more difficult for the Silver Diploma having to score three times and then the major prize the Gold Medal & Diploma when the Champions score for the fourth time.

The first Gold Medal & Diploma was won in 2000 by Murphy & Martin of Cookstown with Billy’s Pride, followed in 2001 by Speirs & Campbell of Cookstown with Tommie Girl and Alan Darragh with Golden Dreams. Only five have been won up to 2009, that includes B & M Gilmore who collected the major award in 2008 with “Champion Easton Gold” and Alan Darragh from Cullybackey holds the premier place with two. We missed out in the 2009 season, Sam Corrigan won with Champion Blue Boy in 2010 and we had two winners in both 2011 and 2012. In 2011 wins for the East Antrim loft of Elliott Bros Carrick & Dist and Champion Miss Consistence won for B McNeice & Sons of Lurgan Soc with positions including 4th & 7th Open NIPA. Two great distance lofts were added in 2012, C & L Fryers of Dromara and W G Neill of Annaghmore. Five winners in the first 10 years and although France has not moved we have had 5 in the last three seasons.

2007: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – Alan Darragh, Cullybackey HPS. Champion Betty’s Girl won 24th Sect B & 133rd Open NIPA Lamballe 04, 189th Open NIPA Portland 05, 9th Sect B & 102nd Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 15th Sect B & 146th Open NIPA Lamballe 07.

2008: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – B & M Gilmore, Ballyclare & District. Champion Easton Gold won 19th Sect C & 78th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 06, 41st Sect C & 147th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 4th Sect C & 22nd Open NIPA St Malo 08.

2010: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – Sam Corrigan, Loughgall. Champion Blue Boy won 28th Sect E & 115th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 7th Sect E & 23rd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 51st Sect E & 186th Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 29th Sect E & 69th Open NIPA St Malo 10.

2011: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – Elliott Bros, Carrick & Dist. Blue (c) GB06C-18624 won 59th Sect C & 178th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 37th Sect C & 194th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 2nd Sect C & 40th Open NIPA St Malo 10, 14th Sect C & 74th Open NIPA St Malo 11.

2011: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – B McNeice & Sons, Lurgan Social. Champion Miss Consistance won 28th Sect E & 116th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 15th Sect E & 50th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 5th Sect E & 7th Open NIPA St Malo 10 and 4th Sect E & 4th Open NIPA St Malo 11.

2012: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – C & L Fryers, Dromara HPS. GB06D-20639 won 5th Sect F & 103rd Open St Malo 09, 9th Sect F & 131st Open NIPA St Malo 10, 7th Sect F & 88th Open NIPA St Malo 11 and 8th Sect F & 141st Open NIPA St Malo 12.

2012: Gold Medal & Gold Diploma won by – W G Neill, Annaghmore. GB06D-42072 won 10th Sect E & 55th Open St Malo 08, 39th Sect E & 120th Open NIPA St Malo 09, 13th Sect E & 18th Open NIPA St Malo 10 and 40th Sect E & 150th Open NIPA St Malo 12.

NIPA Silver Diploma Awards –

Just for the record I have had a look at the Silver Diploma and this list reads. 1994 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1995 – J Logan Ballyclare & Dist and C Cameron Ballyclare & Dist. 1998 – Campbell & Francey Harryville. 1999 – J Geary & Son Lurgan Social, D McCullough & Son Kells & Dist and Murphy & Martin Cookstown. 2000 – A Darragh Cullybackey, N Weir Loughgall, E Campbell & Son Coleraine Premier and Speirs & Campbell Cookstown. 2001 – J & R Crawford Larne & Dist, W McClure Kells & Dist and J Carson & Son Corcreeney. 2006 – J McMurrough & Sons Corrigs, A Darragh Cullybackey, Furphy Bros Lurgan Soc and J Adamson Gilford & Dist.

Just 18 winners from the first winner which was Champion Noel raced by Alan Darragh of Cullybackey, he won 1992 – 33rd Open NIPA, 1993 – 39th Open NIPA and 1994 – 13th Open NIPA. Adding the five winners in 2007, four in 2008, three in 2009, four in 2010, two in 2011 and four in 2012 brings the Silver Diploma total to 40.

2007: Silver Diplomas were won by – E Matchett & Sons Edgarstown 14th Sect E & 27th Open NIPA Portland 05, 18th Sect E & 79th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 8th Sect E & 37th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. Speirs & Campbell Cookstown Social 4th Sect A & 50th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect A & 28th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 7th Sect A & 142nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. B & M Gilmore Ballyclare & Dist 19th Sect C & 78th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect C & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 41st Sect C & 147th Open NIPA Lamballe 07. J & J Milligan Laurelvale 18th Sect E & 35th Open NIPA Lamballe 04, 12th Sect E & 44th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 30th Sect E & 122nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07. H Beattie Laurelvale 22nd Sect E & 55th Open NIPA Lamballe 04, 39th Sect E & 141st Open NIPA Portland 05 and 4th Sect E & 20th Open NIPA Lamballe 07.

2008: Silver Diplomas were won by – Diamond Bros Coleraine Premier 5th Sect A & 54th Open NIPA Portland 05, 6th Sect A & 93rd Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 17th Sect A & 114th Open NIPA St Malo 08. K Carolan Coalisland & Dist 3rd Sect A & 46th Open NIPA Portland 05, 13th Sect A & 78th Open NIPA St Malo 06 and 4th Sect A & 20th Open NIPA St Malo 08. T Leacock & Son Castledawson 7th Sect A & 37th Open NIPA St Malo 06, 8th Sect A & 162nd Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 9th Sect A & 65th Open NIPA St Malo 08. M/M Stevenson Dromara 15th Sect D & 176th Open NIPA St Malo 06, 7th Sect D & 59th Open NIPA Lamballe 07 and 8th Sect D & 176th Open NIPA St Malo 08.

2009: Silver Diplomas were won by – Gary Benson Lisburn & Dist (Little Gem) 8th Sect D & 142nd Open NIPA Portland 05, 10th Sect D & 208th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 8th Sect D & 137th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Sam Corrigan Loughgall (Blue Boy) 28th Sect E & 115th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 7th Sect E & 23rd Open NIPA St Malo 09, 51st Sect E & 186th Open NIPA St Malo 09. Jeff McMaw Carrick Social 29th Sect C & 99th Open NIPA Lamballe 07, 10th Sect C & 42nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 15th Sect C & 106th Open NIPA St Malo 09.

2010: Silver Diplomas were won by - Elliott Bros, Carrick & Dist. Blue (c) GB06C-18624 won 59th Sect C & 178th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 37th Sect C & 194th Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 2nd Sect C & 40th Open NIPA St Malo 10. S Graham & Son/McManus & Mullan, Ligoniel. (Champion Northern Echo) won 52nd Sect C & 162nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 10th Sect C & 71st Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 30th Sect C & 160th Open NIPA St Malo 10. W G Neill, Annaghmore. Blue (h) GB06D-42072 won 10th Sect E & 55th Open St Malo 08, 39th Sect E & 120th Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 13th Sect E & 18th Open NIPA St Malo 10. J Burrows, Eastway. Blue Ch Pied (c) GB06E-72796 won 20th Sect C & 62nd Open NIPA St Malo 08, 32nd Sect C & 181st Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 26th Sect C & 142nd Open NIPA St Malo 10.

2011: Silver Diplomas were won by - C & L Fryers, Dromara HPS. GB06D-20639 won 5th Sect F & 103rd Open St Malo 09, 9th Sect F & 131st Open NIPA St Malo 10, 7th Sect F & 88th Open NIPA St Malo 11. – B McNeice & Sons, Lurgan Social. (Champion Miss Consistance) won 28th Sect E & 116th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 15th Sect E & 50th Open NIPA St Malo 09 and 5th Sect E & 7th Open NIPA St Malo 10.

2012: Silver Diplomas were won by – P Dunlop, Edgarstown. GB08E-32665 won 22nd Sect E & 31st Open NIPA St Malo 10, 32nd Sect E & 110th Open NIPA St Malo 11 and 47th Sect E & 173rd Open NIPA St Malo 12. W G Neill, Annaghmore. GB07D-25296 won 40th Sect E & 99th Open NIPA St Malo 10, 30th Sect E & 96th Open NIPA St Malo 11 and 8th Open Sect E & 29th Open NIPA St Malo 12. Donnelly Bros, Newry City Inv. GB06B-34752 won 2nd Sect G & 35th Open NIPA St Malo 08, 10th Sect G & 79th Open NIPA St Malo 11 and 4th Sect G & 12th Open NIPA St Malo 12. Ward & McIntosh, Downpatrick GB08D-17743 won 17th Sect F & 163rd Open NIPA St Malo 10, 18th Sect F & 192nd Open NIPA St Malo 11 and 3rd Sect F & 107th Open NIPA St Malo 12.


Diplomas Awarded 2012 -

Bronze Award Twice in O.B. National Prizes.

B. McCammon
Ballycarry H.P.S
GB09C 41475
2011 St. Malo 153rd Open 31st Section C.
2012 St. Malo 166th Open 42nd Section C.

K. Carolan
Coalisland & Dist.
GB09C 10442
2011 St. Malo 43rd Open 3rd Section A.
2012 St. Malo 10th Open 1st Section A

A Hall
Omagh & Dist.
GB06K 31407
2011 St. Malo 176th Open 4th Section H
2012 St. Malo 117th Open 3rd Section H

A. Carson & Son
Beechpark Social
GB07T 25972
2010 St. Malo 46th Open 26th Section E
2012 St. Malo 191st Open 53rd Section E.

B. & M Gilmore
Ballyclare & Dist. H.P.S
GB09B 42378
2011 St. Malo 7th Open 1st Section C
2012 St. Malo 99th Open 23rd Section C

K. Henderson & Son
Lurgan Social
GB07L 43146
2010 St. Malo 42nd Open 21st Section E.
2012 St. Malo 14th Open 3rd Section E.

J. Rock
Harryville H.P.S
GB08A 08782
2011 St. Malo 29th Open 2nd Section B
2012 St. Malo 57th Open 9th Section B

S & N Lester
Laurelvale H.P.S
GB09L 06289
2011 St. Malo 65th Open 27th Section E
2012 St. Malo 53rd Open 15th Section E

G. Marshall
Cookstown Social
GB10C 37647
2011 St. Malo 30th Open 2nd Section A
2012 St. Malo 138th Open 2nd Section A

K. Shannon
Dungannon & Dist. H.P.S
GB10C 1531
2011 St. Malo 164th Open 14th Section A.
2012 St. Malo 152nd Open 6th Section A

B. McArdle & Sons.
Banbridge H.P.S
GB09B 37044
2010 St. Malo 82nd Open 7th Section G
2012 St. Malo 93rd Open 11th Section G

J. Beck
Drumnavaddy Inv.
GB10B 16869
2011 St. Malo 60th Open 8th Section G
2012 St. Malo 52nd Open 8th Section G

A. McAteer & Sons
Ballyholland H.P.S
GB08A 29773
2011 St. Malo 22nd Open 2nd Section G.
2012 St. Malo 2nd Open 1st Section G.

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

P. Dunlop
Edgarstown H.P.S
GB08E 32665
2010 St. Malo 31st Open 22nd Section E
2011 St. Malo 110th Open 32nd Section E
2012 St. Malo 173rd Open 47th Section E.

W. Neill
Annaghmore H.P.S
GB07D 25296
2010 St. Malo 99th Open 40th Section E.
2011 St. Malo 96th Open 30th Section E.
2012 St. Malo 29th Open 8th Section E.

Donnelly Bros.
Newry City Inv.
GB06B 34752
2008 St. Malo 35th Open 2nd Section G
2011 St. Malo 79th Open 10th Section G
2012 St. Malo 12th Open 4th Section G

Ward & McIntosh
Downpatrick H.P.S
GB08D 17743
2010 St. Malo 163rd Open 17th Section F
2011 St. Malo 192nd Open 18th Section F
2012 St. Malo 107th Open 3rd Section F

As always we are looking details of the France Diploma winners, to feature over coming weeks. HOMER.