Homer's Odyssey/BHW Plus - 16/10/09
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:21 pm
When the Irish Nat Flying Club was formed it was the overriding desire that it would be the source of long distance racing into Ireland, in those early days that was a fact with the Kings Cup the longest race from France available, and same for the Young Bird Nat, to this day they remain the Blue Riband events for both old and young birds. We have of course added a number of other races, having now seven in total which gives a programme to suit all tastes.
Penzance for the Old Hens flown in conjunction with the Blue Riband YB Nat proved a very hard test, even for the old birds. The YB Nat was won by Donnelly Bros from Newry City an outstanding racing loft and what a result for Gregg Bros & McCandless from Ligoniel & Dist in Belfast, sending to the race for the first time they had an outstanding result with three birds on the day timed at 17.29pm, 18.31pm, 20.02pm and early second morning at 6.29am. They won 1st Open doing velocity 986 flying 311 miles also 6th, 13th and 14th Open. The loft wins the Alan Darragh Challenge Cup and Framed Diploma, Kevin Henderson & Son and R Fox win Vouchers sponsored by Gem Supplements.
Gregg Bros & McCandless Ligoniel 1st, 6th, 13th & 14th Open INFC winning £790
I made contact with Paul Gregg after this outstanding performance requesting some info on the birds and any observations on a race they were trying for the first time. Paul writes We have just tried the Old Hens National for the 1st time as we believe to get the Hens right for this race takes a lot of skill on the fanciers part to hold pigeons till this time of year, this is why this is the 1st year that we give it ago because we believed we got our hens just right.
1st Open Old Hens National was a Belg pigeon given to us by our good friends Frank & Ann Tasker to try out, we got her in late May last year give her a few races and this season she has had 6 inland races and 3 channel races with the NIPA in the old bird. We kept her going into the YB season with some special training with the help of Fred & Lee Russell. She was sent sitting 12 days on eggs. We would just like to thank Fred & Lee Russell for all the help they give us throughout the season, at this trying time for our family and also Ron Williamson and Frank & Ann Tasker for supplying all the pigeons that we clocked, or bred from their winning bloodlines.
6th Open has only been raced inland with the NIPA before this race, her sire is a grandson of Champion Ron-Ville-Millennium Superstar this cock has been a multi prize winning pigeon in our lofts over the years. The Dam is the Hen that is 14th Open in the Hens National, also being a multi prize winning hen for our lofts. She was sent sitting 14 days on eggs.
13th Open had been raced out to Sennen Cove with the NIPA and her sire was 1/2 Ron Williamsons sire being a direct son of Champion Ron-Ville Millennium Superstar 3 x 1st NIPA Opens with over 22,000+ birds, and dam is direct Frank & Ann Tasker, being a grand-daughter of the famous Filmstar a winner of 26 x 1st Clubs and 12 x 1st Feds. This hen was sent sitting 8 days on eggs.
14th Open had 8 inland races and 1 channel race with the NIPA. She is the dam of the 6th Open Hens National. Her sire and dam are direct from Frank & Ann Tasker, from his own Filmstar Family of birds, bred special for our stock lofts. Hen sent sitting 4 days on eggs Many thanks Paul it was indeed a Champion Performance!
K Henderson & Son Lurgan Social 2nd North Sect & 2nd Open on Vel 933 winning £272
Very few lofts across Ireland have reached the peak having top success not just racing but also in the show pen, Kevin is among the very best. His record at the Dublin Show just a few years back will take some beating 10 x Class Winners, Best in Show, Best Opposite Sex and Most Points in Show. As far a racing goes the Lurgan loft has been around the results for as long as I can remember, he has had a lot of success. This latest winner is a very good example, a big winner over a number of races since a young bird. The Blue hen is now two year old, as a youngster it won 4th Open in the Glenavy Gold Wing event collecting £500 and then finished 70th Open INFC Skibbereen. As a yearling she scored 13th Open in the NIPA Yearling Hen Nat and was flying 10 hours in the hard INFC Yearling Nat finishing 15th North Sect & 23rd Open from Sennen Cove recording velocity 898 for the 305 miles. All told this bird has won 4 races and around £1,000, she was sent to Penzance (302 miles) feeding 7 days. Earlier this year she made the prize list in the Rosscarbery Inl Nat, had a couple of races with the young birds and was trained private on every good day to Newcastle, very handy with Kevin working there. She was bred from a son of the lofts good Blue cock a winner of 3rd Open INFC Ylr another bird bred from this cock paired to a different hen was 12th Open in the Yearling Nat this year. The dam was Jan Aarden from birds obtained from Rob Jones of Wales, his old family of birds were McNeilly Delbars and they came through John Geary of Lurgan.
The NIPA Ladies Night will be held at the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick on Friday 13th November and tickets are also available for the INFC Dinner and prizes to be held at the Stormont Hotel, Belfast on Friday 27th November. Please make payment with orders from either Trevor or Ronnie good value at £26, and accommodation can be reserved at the Stormont Hotel, £75 Double Room B&B, same as last year and finally please return all cups to Fred and Ronnie ASAP.
Robin Duddy presented the INFC with a new trophy that was flown for this season. The criteria was 3 Bird Nomination Sennen Cove Yearling National and 3 Bird Nomination Penzance YB National, you will agree a formidable task. Congratulations to the first winner of the trophy, former Kings Cup winner Geoffrey Douglas of the Wilton Cross club in Lurgan. At the National Dinner in the Stormont Hotel on Friday 27th November Geoffrey will collect his trophy and £1,000 prize money. Runner-up was J Dowey & Sons from Tandragee who gets £200 and in 3rd place another former YB National winner, McCartan & Woodside of Crossgar. Many thanks to Robin who made up the short-fall in the payout, next year this 3 Bird Nomination will have a £10 entry.
WHO WILL IT BE? Simple Question it may seem, but after one of the most open and spread out pigeon seasons success wise I have seen in a number of years with a shared balance of success spread throughout the country, and with a result of 3 2 last year between two fanciers the judging, for this years event to find the Northern Ireland Fancier of the Year could prove to be the most difficult to date. For so many years it has more times than not been a land slide in one direction or another, last year proved to be very close, with Ronnie Williamson outshining Donnelly Bros of Newry to lift the crown for a record amount of times.
The Panel of five has been the same for the last number of years and I have every confidence they will once again select the leading loft for 2009, from a number of applications which we expect to have by post no later than Friday 23rd of October 2009, all applications must be received in writing and posted to Willie Reynolds, 47 Staffa Drive, Ballymena, County Antrim. BT42 4EH, any loft from any organisation can make a claim which makes the winning of this much sought after award all that more prestigious the award also takes into consideration both your main organisation racing results and the INFC results obtained by your loft.
The winner will be announced as usual at the Annual Pigeonnetwork.com Quiz Night of the Year which is planned this year for Friday 6th of November starting at 7.30pm and once again at the Ballyclare Comrades Football Club, in Ballyclare. Tickets for the event are priced once again at £5 which includes a buffet. Tickets as normal are expected to go well among or loyal supporters, with Mr Bill Cowell (Bilco) and RPRA Committee man Fred Bloor just to name a couple of our panellists from out first event which gathered so much media attention in some quarters making a welcome return once again this year the ever consistent Ronnie Johnston with a mind of information and stats has once again agreed to be Compere for the event.
2009 is in fact the 10th Anniversary for http://www.pigeonnetwork.com a site established all those years ago when pigeon men using computers was somewhat scarcer than it is now. During that time the site has went from strength to strength and is now owned out right by Adie McCormick a local scribe who has contributed greatly to the pigeon scene as far as scribing goes over the last number of years. Ray Delaney in Texas, USA past owner remains at the helm in regards to web design and layout and the website now boasts some 200 Clubs from across Ireland who list their Club results within hours of any said race finishing, this allows Adie and Homer and the team to publish these said results within days of the race being completed, the site also has a number of top contributors who add weekly articles to the site making it one of the most visited just not in Ireland but around the world.
The Cornish Connection Cup will also be presented on the evening of the pigeonnetwork.com Quiz Night this is presented to the lowest winning velocity by a Northern Ireland loft from Cornwall, looking over the results tonight one that will be hard to beat is that of Greg Bros & McCandless of Ligoniel who topped the INFC Open from the Old Hens National. Also to be presented will be the Irelands Own Pigeon Auctions sponsored Mid Antrim Combine Champions League Diploma.
A Cracking night in store and one that will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of pigeonnetwork.com and of course see the 2009 Northern Ireland Fancier of the Year announced.
Local Shows will commence very soon, most clubs participate and dates have been set for both Harryville HPS and Ballymena & District. Harryville have the usual Thursday date starting 5th November with classes for Old Cock & Young Cock Through Wires to continue each week until 17th December. The annual Open Show is marked in for Saturday 5th December, the week before Belfast. Ballymena & District will operate on the usual Monday starting on 2nd November with classes for Young Cock & Young Hen Through Wires.
The full list for Harryville HPS is as follows, remember each Thursday. Nov 5th Old Cock & Young Cock Through Wires, Nov 12th Old Hen & Young Hen Through Wires, Nov 19th Old Cock & Young Cock Handled, Nov 26th Old Hen & Young Hen Handled, Dec 3rd Old Bird & Young Bird Eyesign, Dec 10th Old Pairs & Young Pairs, Dec 17th Card Winners & Fancy.
Secretary Edrick Davidson from Cullybackey HPS phoned to tell me that firstly the annual Dinner & Prize night will be held in the Michelin Athletic Club in Ballymena on Friday 6th November, cups and trophies should be returned immediately. The shows will have the usual Saturday night slot and commence on 24th October with classes of Young Cock & Young Hen Through Wires.
The RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Awards are presented in each NIPA Section, for individual bird performance from two cross channel races, in 2009 Talbenny (2) & Penzance. Section winners were: Sect A Gerald Marshall Cookstown Social Vel 1072, Sect A West No Claim, Sect B W & J Smyth Ballymena & Dist HPS Vel 1063, Sect C Tommy Peel Carrick Social Vel 1037, Sect D M & F Russell Dromore WE Vel 1065, Sect E Geoffrey Douglas Wilton Cross Vel 954, Sect F Jackie Crossan Downpatrick Vel 919, Sect G Donnelly Bros Newry City Vel 1045. Overall winner was Gerald Marshall Cookstown Social.
RPRA (Irish Region) Mileage Awards. 0-250 Miles won by Jefff Greenaway, Dromore HPS, 251-450 Miles won by M Maguire & Son, Millvale, Over 451 Miles won by Kevin Carolan, Coalisland.
Young Fancier Mileage Awards. 0-250 Miles won by Jason Scott of Springvale, 251-450 Miles won by Lucas McNeill of Rasharkin & District. The RPRA (Irish Region) Young Fancier of the Year 2009 was won by Lucas McNeill.
Best YB Performance 2009 was won by Donnelly Bros of Newry City. Best all Round Performance 2009 was won by M Maguire & Son of Millvale. All the RPRA Awards will be presented at the NIPA Ladies Night to be held in the Templeton Hotel on Friday 13th November.
Portadown Invitation awards for 2009 are as follows. R & G & G Donaldson, Hagan & Rowney won McKnight Memorial Trophy (INFC Ylr & YB Skibbereen), G A Willis Trophy (Highest Points all Nationals), Presidents Trophy (Skibbereen YB Nat), R Hagan Memorial Cup (Talbenny (2) O/B), Cassells Cup (Talbenny YB Nat), Robert Rowney Mem Cup (Best Ave NIPA Y/B Nats), Denny Cup (Young Bird Ave). Allan McDonald won Fletcher Cup (Rosscarbery O/B Nat), Marley Cup (St Malo O/B Nat), Hutchinson Cup (Old Bird Ave), Hyde Cup (Cross Channel Ave), Tayto Cup (Combined Ave), Robert Willis Trophy (All Nationals), H Beattie & Son Special (Yearling & Talbenny Nationals). E McKnight won R Ruddell Rose Bowl (Yearling Nat), Invitation Trophy (Talbenny (1) O/B), Prentice Cup (Penzance O/B), Manulife Cup (Penzance O/B Classic), Kernan Cup (Bird of the Year). P Breen won Redmanville FS Trophy (Rosscarbery Y/B Nat), R Wilson Memorial Cup (Penzance Y/B Nat), Mackay Cup (Lowest Winning Velocity), McCallum Trophy (Fermoy 5 Bird Y/B). M Livingstone won Invitation Cup (O/B Inland Average), S Gough Cup (1st Y/B Race), Tweenway Trophy (Mallow 5 Bird). W Cannaway won J Livingstone Memorial Cup (Combined Points). W Cooke won Comuprint Cup (Rosscarbery Y/B Nat). M Ebbitt won Guinness Cup (Bude O/B). A Fearon won Millennium Cup (Kings Cup Pluudren/Vannes).
Ards HPS winners for 2009 - Inland O/Bird Ave won by Plunkett & Pollock & Nelson, Cross Channel Ave won by McGimpsey Bros, Y/Bird Ave won by Plunkett & Pollock & Nelson, Highest Prize Winners won by Plunkett & Pollock & Nelson.
Banbridge Social HPS Secretary Davy Robinson has sent me the result of the clubs Breeder/Buyer Race from Skibbereen National. Total payout £1,700 was as follows. 1st Capper Bros vel 1397 Breeder & Buyer winning £800, 2nd P McCullough vel 1308 Buyer winning £200, J Abernethy Breeder winning £200, 3rd T Lennon & Son vel 1279 Breeder & Buyer winning £300, 4th B McGrath vel 1266 Breeder and T Lennon & Son Buyer both winning £100. Corrected Result.
The Ulster Federation winners list of 2009 includes the following Millar Gold Cup won by Tom Cahill from Cork. Fancier of the Year from Wheatfield Joe & David Braniff. Joe & Linda Smyth (Grosvenor) Penzance 2 Bird Average, Calderwood & Waite (Shankill & District) Best Ave All Derbies, Spence Bros (Lagan Valley) Dickson Cup St Malo, Hughes Cup St Malo, and News of the World Cup St Malo, H Jennings & Sons (Lagan Valley) J Rice Cup r/u St Malo, Calderwood & Waite (Shankill & Dist) IHU Cup St Malo & Skibbereen Ave, Spence Bros St Malo 2 Bird Ave Coburn Cup, Inter Society Shield for top Ulster Fed Club 2009 won by Grosvenor HPS, Calderwood & Waite H Maginty Cup Ave Skibbereen, Penzance & St Malo, Paul & Kathleen McCarthy (Grosvenor) Skibbereen YB Derby Shield, Tom Brown (East End) 1st East St Malo, Dickie Smyth & Son (Shankill & District) - Skibbereen OB Championship, Robert & Ashley Gore (Lagan Valley) Talbenny YB Derby, Billy & Eileen Carson (Grosvenor) Fermoy 5 Bird Championship.
Homer. Mobile: 07939 684876
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk
Robin Duddy holding his new trophy which will be presented for the first time at the INFC annual prize night. See text.
Homer with brother Mike who was home recently on holiday from Orlando in the USA. He was a former secretary in the Harryville HPS and we raced as Reynolds Bros. Long time back that, almost 40 years ago.
Kevin Henderson from Lurgan Social winner of 2nd Open INFC Old Hens Nat, a big winner in the show pen as well.
Bill Cowell the infamous 'Bilco' presents Ronnie Williamson with the 2007 N.Ireland Fancier of the Year Award who will it be in 2009?
Top year for Wilf Evans of the Evans & Leahy partnership.
Joe Brown congratulates Robert Major on another cracking year looking on is Skibbereen National winner Geoffry Douglas.
The 2009 Ulster Fed Y/Bird Derby Winner Robert Gore pictured with the 2009 NIPA Section D Fancier of the Year Jeff Greenaway.
Malachy & son Mark Maguire of Millvale in Newry are INFC National Champions for 2009.
Always a hard man to keep down current record holer of 5 x 1st National Alan Darragh was once again in the top ten of a National result.
Paul Gregg (l) of Gregg Bros & McCandless with good friend Ronnie Williamson.
Penzance for the Old Hens flown in conjunction with the Blue Riband YB Nat proved a very hard test, even for the old birds. The YB Nat was won by Donnelly Bros from Newry City an outstanding racing loft and what a result for Gregg Bros & McCandless from Ligoniel & Dist in Belfast, sending to the race for the first time they had an outstanding result with three birds on the day timed at 17.29pm, 18.31pm, 20.02pm and early second morning at 6.29am. They won 1st Open doing velocity 986 flying 311 miles also 6th, 13th and 14th Open. The loft wins the Alan Darragh Challenge Cup and Framed Diploma, Kevin Henderson & Son and R Fox win Vouchers sponsored by Gem Supplements.
Gregg Bros & McCandless Ligoniel 1st, 6th, 13th & 14th Open INFC winning £790
I made contact with Paul Gregg after this outstanding performance requesting some info on the birds and any observations on a race they were trying for the first time. Paul writes We have just tried the Old Hens National for the 1st time as we believe to get the Hens right for this race takes a lot of skill on the fanciers part to hold pigeons till this time of year, this is why this is the 1st year that we give it ago because we believed we got our hens just right.
1st Open Old Hens National was a Belg pigeon given to us by our good friends Frank & Ann Tasker to try out, we got her in late May last year give her a few races and this season she has had 6 inland races and 3 channel races with the NIPA in the old bird. We kept her going into the YB season with some special training with the help of Fred & Lee Russell. She was sent sitting 12 days on eggs. We would just like to thank Fred & Lee Russell for all the help they give us throughout the season, at this trying time for our family and also Ron Williamson and Frank & Ann Tasker for supplying all the pigeons that we clocked, or bred from their winning bloodlines.
6th Open has only been raced inland with the NIPA before this race, her sire is a grandson of Champion Ron-Ville-Millennium Superstar this cock has been a multi prize winning pigeon in our lofts over the years. The Dam is the Hen that is 14th Open in the Hens National, also being a multi prize winning hen for our lofts. She was sent sitting 14 days on eggs.
13th Open had been raced out to Sennen Cove with the NIPA and her sire was 1/2 Ron Williamsons sire being a direct son of Champion Ron-Ville Millennium Superstar 3 x 1st NIPA Opens with over 22,000+ birds, and dam is direct Frank & Ann Tasker, being a grand-daughter of the famous Filmstar a winner of 26 x 1st Clubs and 12 x 1st Feds. This hen was sent sitting 8 days on eggs.
14th Open had 8 inland races and 1 channel race with the NIPA. She is the dam of the 6th Open Hens National. Her sire and dam are direct from Frank & Ann Tasker, from his own Filmstar Family of birds, bred special for our stock lofts. Hen sent sitting 4 days on eggs Many thanks Paul it was indeed a Champion Performance!
K Henderson & Son Lurgan Social 2nd North Sect & 2nd Open on Vel 933 winning £272
Very few lofts across Ireland have reached the peak having top success not just racing but also in the show pen, Kevin is among the very best. His record at the Dublin Show just a few years back will take some beating 10 x Class Winners, Best in Show, Best Opposite Sex and Most Points in Show. As far a racing goes the Lurgan loft has been around the results for as long as I can remember, he has had a lot of success. This latest winner is a very good example, a big winner over a number of races since a young bird. The Blue hen is now two year old, as a youngster it won 4th Open in the Glenavy Gold Wing event collecting £500 and then finished 70th Open INFC Skibbereen. As a yearling she scored 13th Open in the NIPA Yearling Hen Nat and was flying 10 hours in the hard INFC Yearling Nat finishing 15th North Sect & 23rd Open from Sennen Cove recording velocity 898 for the 305 miles. All told this bird has won 4 races and around £1,000, she was sent to Penzance (302 miles) feeding 7 days. Earlier this year she made the prize list in the Rosscarbery Inl Nat, had a couple of races with the young birds and was trained private on every good day to Newcastle, very handy with Kevin working there. She was bred from a son of the lofts good Blue cock a winner of 3rd Open INFC Ylr another bird bred from this cock paired to a different hen was 12th Open in the Yearling Nat this year. The dam was Jan Aarden from birds obtained from Rob Jones of Wales, his old family of birds were McNeilly Delbars and they came through John Geary of Lurgan.
The NIPA Ladies Night will be held at the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick on Friday 13th November and tickets are also available for the INFC Dinner and prizes to be held at the Stormont Hotel, Belfast on Friday 27th November. Please make payment with orders from either Trevor or Ronnie good value at £26, and accommodation can be reserved at the Stormont Hotel, £75 Double Room B&B, same as last year and finally please return all cups to Fred and Ronnie ASAP.
Robin Duddy presented the INFC with a new trophy that was flown for this season. The criteria was 3 Bird Nomination Sennen Cove Yearling National and 3 Bird Nomination Penzance YB National, you will agree a formidable task. Congratulations to the first winner of the trophy, former Kings Cup winner Geoffrey Douglas of the Wilton Cross club in Lurgan. At the National Dinner in the Stormont Hotel on Friday 27th November Geoffrey will collect his trophy and £1,000 prize money. Runner-up was J Dowey & Sons from Tandragee who gets £200 and in 3rd place another former YB National winner, McCartan & Woodside of Crossgar. Many thanks to Robin who made up the short-fall in the payout, next year this 3 Bird Nomination will have a £10 entry.
WHO WILL IT BE? Simple Question it may seem, but after one of the most open and spread out pigeon seasons success wise I have seen in a number of years with a shared balance of success spread throughout the country, and with a result of 3 2 last year between two fanciers the judging, for this years event to find the Northern Ireland Fancier of the Year could prove to be the most difficult to date. For so many years it has more times than not been a land slide in one direction or another, last year proved to be very close, with Ronnie Williamson outshining Donnelly Bros of Newry to lift the crown for a record amount of times.
The Panel of five has been the same for the last number of years and I have every confidence they will once again select the leading loft for 2009, from a number of applications which we expect to have by post no later than Friday 23rd of October 2009, all applications must be received in writing and posted to Willie Reynolds, 47 Staffa Drive, Ballymena, County Antrim. BT42 4EH, any loft from any organisation can make a claim which makes the winning of this much sought after award all that more prestigious the award also takes into consideration both your main organisation racing results and the INFC results obtained by your loft.
The winner will be announced as usual at the Annual Pigeonnetwork.com Quiz Night of the Year which is planned this year for Friday 6th of November starting at 7.30pm and once again at the Ballyclare Comrades Football Club, in Ballyclare. Tickets for the event are priced once again at £5 which includes a buffet. Tickets as normal are expected to go well among or loyal supporters, with Mr Bill Cowell (Bilco) and RPRA Committee man Fred Bloor just to name a couple of our panellists from out first event which gathered so much media attention in some quarters making a welcome return once again this year the ever consistent Ronnie Johnston with a mind of information and stats has once again agreed to be Compere for the event.
2009 is in fact the 10th Anniversary for http://www.pigeonnetwork.com a site established all those years ago when pigeon men using computers was somewhat scarcer than it is now. During that time the site has went from strength to strength and is now owned out right by Adie McCormick a local scribe who has contributed greatly to the pigeon scene as far as scribing goes over the last number of years. Ray Delaney in Texas, USA past owner remains at the helm in regards to web design and layout and the website now boasts some 200 Clubs from across Ireland who list their Club results within hours of any said race finishing, this allows Adie and Homer and the team to publish these said results within days of the race being completed, the site also has a number of top contributors who add weekly articles to the site making it one of the most visited just not in Ireland but around the world.
The Cornish Connection Cup will also be presented on the evening of the pigeonnetwork.com Quiz Night this is presented to the lowest winning velocity by a Northern Ireland loft from Cornwall, looking over the results tonight one that will be hard to beat is that of Greg Bros & McCandless of Ligoniel who topped the INFC Open from the Old Hens National. Also to be presented will be the Irelands Own Pigeon Auctions sponsored Mid Antrim Combine Champions League Diploma.
A Cracking night in store and one that will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of pigeonnetwork.com and of course see the 2009 Northern Ireland Fancier of the Year announced.
Local Shows will commence very soon, most clubs participate and dates have been set for both Harryville HPS and Ballymena & District. Harryville have the usual Thursday date starting 5th November with classes for Old Cock & Young Cock Through Wires to continue each week until 17th December. The annual Open Show is marked in for Saturday 5th December, the week before Belfast. Ballymena & District will operate on the usual Monday starting on 2nd November with classes for Young Cock & Young Hen Through Wires.
The full list for Harryville HPS is as follows, remember each Thursday. Nov 5th Old Cock & Young Cock Through Wires, Nov 12th Old Hen & Young Hen Through Wires, Nov 19th Old Cock & Young Cock Handled, Nov 26th Old Hen & Young Hen Handled, Dec 3rd Old Bird & Young Bird Eyesign, Dec 10th Old Pairs & Young Pairs, Dec 17th Card Winners & Fancy.
Secretary Edrick Davidson from Cullybackey HPS phoned to tell me that firstly the annual Dinner & Prize night will be held in the Michelin Athletic Club in Ballymena on Friday 6th November, cups and trophies should be returned immediately. The shows will have the usual Saturday night slot and commence on 24th October with classes of Young Cock & Young Hen Through Wires.
The RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Awards are presented in each NIPA Section, for individual bird performance from two cross channel races, in 2009 Talbenny (2) & Penzance. Section winners were: Sect A Gerald Marshall Cookstown Social Vel 1072, Sect A West No Claim, Sect B W & J Smyth Ballymena & Dist HPS Vel 1063, Sect C Tommy Peel Carrick Social Vel 1037, Sect D M & F Russell Dromore WE Vel 1065, Sect E Geoffrey Douglas Wilton Cross Vel 954, Sect F Jackie Crossan Downpatrick Vel 919, Sect G Donnelly Bros Newry City Vel 1045. Overall winner was Gerald Marshall Cookstown Social.
RPRA (Irish Region) Mileage Awards. 0-250 Miles won by Jefff Greenaway, Dromore HPS, 251-450 Miles won by M Maguire & Son, Millvale, Over 451 Miles won by Kevin Carolan, Coalisland.
Young Fancier Mileage Awards. 0-250 Miles won by Jason Scott of Springvale, 251-450 Miles won by Lucas McNeill of Rasharkin & District. The RPRA (Irish Region) Young Fancier of the Year 2009 was won by Lucas McNeill.
Best YB Performance 2009 was won by Donnelly Bros of Newry City. Best all Round Performance 2009 was won by M Maguire & Son of Millvale. All the RPRA Awards will be presented at the NIPA Ladies Night to be held in the Templeton Hotel on Friday 13th November.
Portadown Invitation awards for 2009 are as follows. R & G & G Donaldson, Hagan & Rowney won McKnight Memorial Trophy (INFC Ylr & YB Skibbereen), G A Willis Trophy (Highest Points all Nationals), Presidents Trophy (Skibbereen YB Nat), R Hagan Memorial Cup (Talbenny (2) O/B), Cassells Cup (Talbenny YB Nat), Robert Rowney Mem Cup (Best Ave NIPA Y/B Nats), Denny Cup (Young Bird Ave). Allan McDonald won Fletcher Cup (Rosscarbery O/B Nat), Marley Cup (St Malo O/B Nat), Hutchinson Cup (Old Bird Ave), Hyde Cup (Cross Channel Ave), Tayto Cup (Combined Ave), Robert Willis Trophy (All Nationals), H Beattie & Son Special (Yearling & Talbenny Nationals). E McKnight won R Ruddell Rose Bowl (Yearling Nat), Invitation Trophy (Talbenny (1) O/B), Prentice Cup (Penzance O/B), Manulife Cup (Penzance O/B Classic), Kernan Cup (Bird of the Year). P Breen won Redmanville FS Trophy (Rosscarbery Y/B Nat), R Wilson Memorial Cup (Penzance Y/B Nat), Mackay Cup (Lowest Winning Velocity), McCallum Trophy (Fermoy 5 Bird Y/B). M Livingstone won Invitation Cup (O/B Inland Average), S Gough Cup (1st Y/B Race), Tweenway Trophy (Mallow 5 Bird). W Cannaway won J Livingstone Memorial Cup (Combined Points). W Cooke won Comuprint Cup (Rosscarbery Y/B Nat). M Ebbitt won Guinness Cup (Bude O/B). A Fearon won Millennium Cup (Kings Cup Pluudren/Vannes).
Ards HPS winners for 2009 - Inland O/Bird Ave won by Plunkett & Pollock & Nelson, Cross Channel Ave won by McGimpsey Bros, Y/Bird Ave won by Plunkett & Pollock & Nelson, Highest Prize Winners won by Plunkett & Pollock & Nelson.
Banbridge Social HPS Secretary Davy Robinson has sent me the result of the clubs Breeder/Buyer Race from Skibbereen National. Total payout £1,700 was as follows. 1st Capper Bros vel 1397 Breeder & Buyer winning £800, 2nd P McCullough vel 1308 Buyer winning £200, J Abernethy Breeder winning £200, 3rd T Lennon & Son vel 1279 Breeder & Buyer winning £300, 4th B McGrath vel 1266 Breeder and T Lennon & Son Buyer both winning £100. Corrected Result.
The Ulster Federation winners list of 2009 includes the following Millar Gold Cup won by Tom Cahill from Cork. Fancier of the Year from Wheatfield Joe & David Braniff. Joe & Linda Smyth (Grosvenor) Penzance 2 Bird Average, Calderwood & Waite (Shankill & District) Best Ave All Derbies, Spence Bros (Lagan Valley) Dickson Cup St Malo, Hughes Cup St Malo, and News of the World Cup St Malo, H Jennings & Sons (Lagan Valley) J Rice Cup r/u St Malo, Calderwood & Waite (Shankill & Dist) IHU Cup St Malo & Skibbereen Ave, Spence Bros St Malo 2 Bird Ave Coburn Cup, Inter Society Shield for top Ulster Fed Club 2009 won by Grosvenor HPS, Calderwood & Waite H Maginty Cup Ave Skibbereen, Penzance & St Malo, Paul & Kathleen McCarthy (Grosvenor) Skibbereen YB Derby Shield, Tom Brown (East End) 1st East St Malo, Dickie Smyth & Son (Shankill & District) - Skibbereen OB Championship, Robert & Ashley Gore (Lagan Valley) Talbenny YB Derby, Billy & Eileen Carson (Grosvenor) Fermoy 5 Bird Championship.
Homer. Mobile: 07939 684876
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk
Robin Duddy holding his new trophy which will be presented for the first time at the INFC annual prize night. See text.
Homer with brother Mike who was home recently on holiday from Orlando in the USA. He was a former secretary in the Harryville HPS and we raced as Reynolds Bros. Long time back that, almost 40 years ago.
Kevin Henderson from Lurgan Social winner of 2nd Open INFC Old Hens Nat, a big winner in the show pen as well.
Bill Cowell the infamous 'Bilco' presents Ronnie Williamson with the 2007 N.Ireland Fancier of the Year Award who will it be in 2009?
Top year for Wilf Evans of the Evans & Leahy partnership.
Joe Brown congratulates Robert Major on another cracking year looking on is Skibbereen National winner Geoffry Douglas.
The 2009 Ulster Fed Y/Bird Derby Winner Robert Gore pictured with the 2009 NIPA Section D Fancier of the Year Jeff Greenaway.
Malachy & son Mark Maguire of Millvale in Newry are INFC National Champions for 2009.
Always a hard man to keep down current record holer of 5 x 1st National Alan Darragh was once again in the top ten of a National result.
Paul Gregg (l) of Gregg Bros & McCandless with good friend Ronnie Williamson.