Pigeon Network

NIPA Race programme for 2015 – Some 60 local clubs returned voting papers. In Old Birds Programme (1) flown last season had 278 votes while Programme (2), the modified one, had 452 votes. In the Young Birds Programme (3) flown last year had 379 votes while Programme (4), the modified one had 342 votes. We had a big vote to change the Old Bird programme and in a close finish the members decided to stick with the Young Bird programme flown last year (2014).

Old Birds: 11th April Tullamore, 18th April Tullamore, 25th April Roscrea/Thurles Area *, 2nd May Fermoy, 9th May Fermoy, 16th May Rosscarbery Inl Nat, 16th May Tramore Area, 23rd May Pilmore Beach, 30th May Talbenny, 6th June Penzance Classic, 6th June Rosscarbery Area, 13th June Bude, 13th June Rosscarbery Y/H & Y/C Nat, 20th June Penzance, 20th June Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, 26th June St Malo Nat (France), 26th June Roscrea/Thurles Area *.

Young Birds: 18th July Area Liberations, 25th July Area Liberations, 1st August Tullamore Mass Lib, 8th August Roscrea/Thurles *, 15th August Roscrea/Clonmel *, 22nd August Fermoy, 29th August Talbenny Nat, 29th August Roscrea/Thurles Comeback *, 5th September Fermoy, 5th September Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, 12th September Rosscarbery Nat.

NIPA Programme flown in 2015 –

Old Birds: 18th April Tullamore, 26th April (Sunday Race) Tullamore (2), 1st May (Friday Race) Roscrea, 9th May Corrin, 16th May Pilmore Beach, 23rd May Rosscarbery Inl Nat, 23rd May Roscrea Comeback, 30th May Talbenny, 7th June (HO Sunday) Rosscarbery, 7th June (HO Sunday) Sennen Cove Classic, 13th June Rosscarbery Ylr Nat, 15th June (Monday Race) Bude, 20th June Fermoy 5B, 21st June (HO Sunday) Penzance, 25th June (Thursday Race) St Malo Nat (France), 27th June Roscrea.

Young Birds: 19th July (HO Sunday)Area Liberations (1), 25th July Area Liberations (2), 1st August Tullamore Mass Lib, 8th August Roscrea, 15th August Roscrea (2) & Clonmel , 22nd August Fermoy, 29th August Talbenny Nat, 29th August Roscrea Comeback, 5th September Fermoy (2), 5th September Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, 12th September Rosscarbery Nat.

That was the decision for the 2015 racing season, and I have listed the programme actually flown in 2015, a lot of suggestions have been put forward for 2016 racing season , the details of the various race programmes discussed at the recent NIPA Committee on 17th November will be going out to each club for voting. When available I will publish here.

The NIPA had a Committee meeting in the Banbridge British Legion on Tuesday 15th December, main business was dealing with the results of voting from the member clubs of the race programme for 2016. It was decided that the voting would decide the next stage and those programmes that were 1st and 2nd for OB and YB would go back out to member clubs to be returned as usual for the AGM. Votes cast were as follows.

Old Birds: Programme (1) submitted by Dromore 45 Votes. Programme (2) submitted by Ards & Newry & Dist 248 Votes, Programme (3) submitted by Portadown & Drumcree 248 Votes, Programme (4) Existing 2015 Programme 139 Votes, Programme (5) submitted by Sect C Delegates 200 Votes.

The top two going out to clubs are: From Ards and Newry & Dist - 9th April Tullamore, 16th April Roscrea, 23rd April Fermoy, 30th April Fermoy, 7th May Corrin, 14th May Pilmore Beach, 21st May Rosscarbery OB Inl Nat, 21st May Roscrea Comeback, 28th May Talbenny, 4th June Talbenny, 4th June Rosscarbery Yearling Cocks & Hens Nat, 11th June Bude, 11th June Fermoy 5 Bird, 18th June Penzance & Penzance Classic, 24th June St Malo Nat (France).

From Portadown & Drumcree – 9th April Tullamore, 16th April Tullamore, 23td April Roscrea, 30th April Fermoy, 7th May Corrin, 14th May Rosscarbery Inl Nat, 21st May Talbenny, 21st May Rosscarbery Yrearling Cock & Hen Nat, 28th May Talbenny, 28th May Fermoy 5 Bird, 4th June Bude, 4th June Roscrea, 11th June Penzance, 18th June Sennen Cove Classic, 24th June St Malo Nat (France).

Votes cast for Young Birds: Programme (1) submitted by Dromore and Ards HPS, also Existing 2015 Programme 381 Votes, Programme (2) submitted by Newry & Dist and Sect C Delegates 226 Votes, Prgramme (3) submitted by Portadown & Drumcree 205 Votes.

The top two going out to clubs are: From Dromore and Ards HPS, also Existing 2015 Programme – 16th July Area Lib decided by each Sect, 23rd July Area Lib decided by each Sect, 30th July Tullamore (Mass Lib), 6th August Roscrea, 13th August Kilkenny/Gowran Park (New Site), 20th August Fermoy, 27th August Talbenny Nat, 27th August Roscrea Comeback, 3rd September Fermoy, 3rd September Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, 10th September Rosscarbery Nat.

From Newry & Dist and Sect C Delegates – 16th July Mullingar Top Half all Clubs Above 54:36:00, 16th July Tullamore Bottom Half all Clubs Below 54:36:00, 23rd July Tullamore Top Half all Clubs Above 54:36:00, 23rd July Roscrea Bottom Half all Clubs Below 54:36:00, 30th July Roscrea (Mass Lib), 6th August Kilkenny/Gowran Park, 13th August Fermoy, 20th August Talbenny Nat, 20th August Roscrea Comeback, 27th August Kilkenny/Gowran Park, 3rd September Fermoy, 3rd September Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, 10th September Rosscarbery Nat.