Farming Life - BHW - RP - 06/11/20
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:54 am
I would be sure I am going to have a lot of space available for the pigeon column over the next number of weeks and months and I will be looking articles of top winners, I have already send out a number of Loft Feature Questions and hopefully they will be sent back shortly. Not everyone is interested in publicity and race for fun, that’s ok the little write ups are just a bit of fun anyway giving an insight into winning fanciers birds and preparation for performance. Each year its impossible to cover each and every big performance, I just usually try my best. This season with all the problems we are going to have plenty of time. Before racing in 2020 I covered a few lofts and a small number did not supply info, maybe they will re-consider. We need to start with ace lofts, those who lift Top/Highest Prize-winner, after that major race winners and major award winners. Our interest would also include the various Fancier of the Year awards and then locally Champion Birds of the Year. We can also look back and I will feature any old news supplied and when time permits lift out a lot of my old archive, it will be the excuse to tidy things up. With no club presentations I will cover seasons report on the winners and maybe add some photos, or new ones if supplied. There will be nothing supplied that won’t be used although it will take time, but I think I will have to stay within the bounds of NIPA lofts and Irish Nat FC. Fanciers can supply on behalf of others who might not be up to date with computers, mobile phones etc with text and photos. If really stuck, info can be supplied by post. Everything is posted on our website as well for those that are modern.
7 Towers Championship (Ballymena) -
Ballymena & District HPS have never made any decision about joining and competing in the local Seven Towers Championship and had previously raised some matters regarding the criteria for joining. I had some recent communication from the acting secretary Jamie Greer as below and before the start of a new racing season the details will be put to the Ballymena & District club members.
There has been no issue upon any of this until today so may I ask why? this information as far back as I can remember was published in the paper to let people know. We are in no way picking and choosing who we let in or who gets in the points and results. If any member who falls within that catchment wishes to join, they are more than welcome to ask myself.
As was stated at the formation of the Seven Towers Championship and still remains the same the following was the criteria that was published at the time, the only difference now being that Cullybackey is no longer the Centre: 1. To compete in the Seven Towers Championship the following criteria must be met, the individual member must have a Ballymena address (BT42, BT43, BT44 As listed as Ballymena postcodes), the individual member must race in a club with a Ballymena address and the individual must race mark through Cullybackey centre in all National and Classic races. No double duplicating will be possible to claim prizes, individual Members who are outside these boundaries but have been accepted into a club which falls in these parameters before the Seven Towers creation in 2018, will be allowed to compete. Anybody who meets these criteria we look forward to another successful season racing together.
For any further information or if you would like to publish something please contact Jamie Greer.
Email: jamieg21314@gmail.com
Phone: 07706 584029.
RPRA (Irish Region) Awards 2020 – The deadline for the claims was the end of October, Secretary Noel Higginson will have the winning list shortly.
The following are the Mileage Awards up for competition - (a) 0-250 Miles. (b) 251-450 Miles. (c) Over 450 Miles. (d) Best Single Bird Performance, Old Birds or Young Birds. (e) Young Fanciers over 8 years but under 16 years on 1st January for any of the above awards. (who are competing in races in their own right). Age to be stated on application. (f) Best Single Bird Performance as above Talbenny & Bude, Claims from Club Secretaries for this award, winners will be listed in each NIPA Section, ie. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H.
The winners in 2019 locally, that were put forward for the overall competition done very well and a number of cups and trophies were brought back to Northern Ireland from the Blackpool Show earlier this year in both the Adult and Young Fancier category’s, the return for 2019 was outstanding.
Guy Barrett Trophy – Regions forward nominations for the Guy Barrett Trophy, which is awarded to the young fancier considered the most outstanding overall, based on performance, their attitude to the sport and how the young fancier help the club. For 2019 the Guy Barrett Trophy is awarded to Keelie Wright of Craigavon in Northern Ireland. Extract from the nomination: Keelie is an active member of Lurgan Social HPS. She is on the clock committee and sets the ETS up, rings brought through it and baskets. She in now responsible for doing the club results on the ETS and laptop for the club, to send to the NIPA Hq. She also does the crates, handles birds and loads the lorry. Keelie is also one of the top show fanciers and in 2018-19 won 47 prizes in 7 shows.
(The BBC have filmed Keelie for a programme due out in 2020 on CBBC. It shows her preparations on race night, the bird’s arrival and processing results. The focus is on promoting the sport). At Blackpool Keelie collected the Guy Barrett Trophy and medallion.
Young Fancier Short Distance 0-250 Miles. 1st Prize awarded to Ellie Marshall of Comber. Her Blue Pied (c) GB17L-83 had 6 top results inc. 2nd Club at 143 miles with 82 birds competing. Ellie received a trophy, a medallion and a cheque for £50.
Young Fancier Middle Distance 251-450 Miles. 1st Prize awarded to Keelie Wright of Craigavon. Her Blue (h) NEHU18Z-07 won 4th Club & 13th Sect at 253 miles with 3,464 birds competing. Keelie received a trophy, medallion and a cheque for £50.
Adult Middle Distance 251-450 Miles. 3rd Prize awarded to Jeff Greenaway of Dromore. His Blue Cheq (c) GB17D-42 won 1st Club & 1st Open at 433 miles with 1,351 birds competing. Jeff received a medallion and a cheque for £40.
Adult Long Distance 451 Miles and over. 1st Prize awarded to J Murtagh & Son of Newry. His Dark Ch (h) IHU17N-60 won 1st Club & 1st Open at 459 miles with 2,478 birds competing. John received the Queen’s Coronation Cup, a medallion and a cheque for £100.
Louis Massarella Trophy (best performance by a young bird). For 2019 the trophy is awarded to Bingham & Seaton of Belfast. Their Blue (h) GB19X-10 won 1st Club & 59th Open at 144 miles with 16,409 birds competing. Billy and Leo received the trophy and a medallion. They had already won this famous trophy in 2015 with “Mighty David”.
Thanks to Sammy Briggs for the copy of awards won at the Gala Evening.
Johnny Murtagh, Newry – Wins Queen’s Coronation Cup - It is without doubt 2019 will be a year that Ballyholland fancier Johnny Murtagh won't forget for a long time. Johnny won the most coveted title in all of Ireland, the Blue Riband Grand National King's Cup and within a week nearly won the INFC Friendship National from Lamballe (426 miles) placing 4th Open. Johnny also won another coveted title within the RPRA - the "Queen's Coronation Cup" having won first place long distance award for over 451 miles with "Annie" the winning hen. Annie is a Dark Chequer hen IHU17N-23160 gifted from Johnny’s good friend James Cleland of Annsborough and she was bred from the best long-distance lines James has. Annie won 1st Club and 1st Open from 459 miles against 2,478 birds, after 11 hours 45 minutes on the wing. Johnny received the Queen's Coronation Cup, a medallion and a cheque for £100.
The award was due to be presented at the RPRA awards night held in Blackpool at the 2020 Show of the Year Gala Evening and awards ceremony and although he was in Blackpool there was a mix-up in the invitation. Johnny was presented recently with the award by Mr Sammy Briggs RPRA (Irish Region) President, late but very much appreciated. J W Reynolds, RPRA (Irish Region) PO.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: homerbhw@gmail.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk
www.elimarpigeons.com
7 Towers Championship (Ballymena) -
Ballymena & District HPS have never made any decision about joining and competing in the local Seven Towers Championship and had previously raised some matters regarding the criteria for joining. I had some recent communication from the acting secretary Jamie Greer as below and before the start of a new racing season the details will be put to the Ballymena & District club members.
There has been no issue upon any of this until today so may I ask why? this information as far back as I can remember was published in the paper to let people know. We are in no way picking and choosing who we let in or who gets in the points and results. If any member who falls within that catchment wishes to join, they are more than welcome to ask myself.
As was stated at the formation of the Seven Towers Championship and still remains the same the following was the criteria that was published at the time, the only difference now being that Cullybackey is no longer the Centre: 1. To compete in the Seven Towers Championship the following criteria must be met, the individual member must have a Ballymena address (BT42, BT43, BT44 As listed as Ballymena postcodes), the individual member must race in a club with a Ballymena address and the individual must race mark through Cullybackey centre in all National and Classic races. No double duplicating will be possible to claim prizes, individual Members who are outside these boundaries but have been accepted into a club which falls in these parameters before the Seven Towers creation in 2018, will be allowed to compete. Anybody who meets these criteria we look forward to another successful season racing together.
For any further information or if you would like to publish something please contact Jamie Greer.
Email: jamieg21314@gmail.com
Phone: 07706 584029.
RPRA (Irish Region) Awards 2020 – The deadline for the claims was the end of October, Secretary Noel Higginson will have the winning list shortly.
The following are the Mileage Awards up for competition - (a) 0-250 Miles. (b) 251-450 Miles. (c) Over 450 Miles. (d) Best Single Bird Performance, Old Birds or Young Birds. (e) Young Fanciers over 8 years but under 16 years on 1st January for any of the above awards. (who are competing in races in their own right). Age to be stated on application. (f) Best Single Bird Performance as above Talbenny & Bude, Claims from Club Secretaries for this award, winners will be listed in each NIPA Section, ie. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H.
The winners in 2019 locally, that were put forward for the overall competition done very well and a number of cups and trophies were brought back to Northern Ireland from the Blackpool Show earlier this year in both the Adult and Young Fancier category’s, the return for 2019 was outstanding.
Guy Barrett Trophy – Regions forward nominations for the Guy Barrett Trophy, which is awarded to the young fancier considered the most outstanding overall, based on performance, their attitude to the sport and how the young fancier help the club. For 2019 the Guy Barrett Trophy is awarded to Keelie Wright of Craigavon in Northern Ireland. Extract from the nomination: Keelie is an active member of Lurgan Social HPS. She is on the clock committee and sets the ETS up, rings brought through it and baskets. She in now responsible for doing the club results on the ETS and laptop for the club, to send to the NIPA Hq. She also does the crates, handles birds and loads the lorry. Keelie is also one of the top show fanciers and in 2018-19 won 47 prizes in 7 shows.
(The BBC have filmed Keelie for a programme due out in 2020 on CBBC. It shows her preparations on race night, the bird’s arrival and processing results. The focus is on promoting the sport). At Blackpool Keelie collected the Guy Barrett Trophy and medallion.
Young Fancier Short Distance 0-250 Miles. 1st Prize awarded to Ellie Marshall of Comber. Her Blue Pied (c) GB17L-83 had 6 top results inc. 2nd Club at 143 miles with 82 birds competing. Ellie received a trophy, a medallion and a cheque for £50.
Young Fancier Middle Distance 251-450 Miles. 1st Prize awarded to Keelie Wright of Craigavon. Her Blue (h) NEHU18Z-07 won 4th Club & 13th Sect at 253 miles with 3,464 birds competing. Keelie received a trophy, medallion and a cheque for £50.
Adult Middle Distance 251-450 Miles. 3rd Prize awarded to Jeff Greenaway of Dromore. His Blue Cheq (c) GB17D-42 won 1st Club & 1st Open at 433 miles with 1,351 birds competing. Jeff received a medallion and a cheque for £40.
Adult Long Distance 451 Miles and over. 1st Prize awarded to J Murtagh & Son of Newry. His Dark Ch (h) IHU17N-60 won 1st Club & 1st Open at 459 miles with 2,478 birds competing. John received the Queen’s Coronation Cup, a medallion and a cheque for £100.
Louis Massarella Trophy (best performance by a young bird). For 2019 the trophy is awarded to Bingham & Seaton of Belfast. Their Blue (h) GB19X-10 won 1st Club & 59th Open at 144 miles with 16,409 birds competing. Billy and Leo received the trophy and a medallion. They had already won this famous trophy in 2015 with “Mighty David”.
Thanks to Sammy Briggs for the copy of awards won at the Gala Evening.
Johnny Murtagh, Newry – Wins Queen’s Coronation Cup - It is without doubt 2019 will be a year that Ballyholland fancier Johnny Murtagh won't forget for a long time. Johnny won the most coveted title in all of Ireland, the Blue Riband Grand National King's Cup and within a week nearly won the INFC Friendship National from Lamballe (426 miles) placing 4th Open. Johnny also won another coveted title within the RPRA - the "Queen's Coronation Cup" having won first place long distance award for over 451 miles with "Annie" the winning hen. Annie is a Dark Chequer hen IHU17N-23160 gifted from Johnny’s good friend James Cleland of Annsborough and she was bred from the best long-distance lines James has. Annie won 1st Club and 1st Open from 459 miles against 2,478 birds, after 11 hours 45 minutes on the wing. Johnny received the Queen's Coronation Cup, a medallion and a cheque for £100.
The award was due to be presented at the RPRA awards night held in Blackpool at the 2020 Show of the Year Gala Evening and awards ceremony and although he was in Blackpool there was a mix-up in the invitation. Johnny was presented recently with the award by Mr Sammy Briggs RPRA (Irish Region) President, late but very much appreciated. J W Reynolds, RPRA (Irish Region) PO.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: homerbhw@gmail.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk
www.elimarpigeons.com