Loft news: pigeon prizewinners revealed

Ballymena & Dist enjoyed probably a best ever season with G & A Eagleson winning the OB Inland Average, W & J Smyth won the Eagleson Memorial Trophy and had the Bird of the Year, both for the second year running and Blair & Rankin won the YB Average and Combined Average.

Alan Darragh was the easy winner of the Old Bird Fancier of the Year and Cullybackey also won the highly prized Champions League Trophy. Jimmy Rock from Harryville won the Cross Channel Average and the OB Average.

Mid Antrim Combine Awards 2012 – Mid Antrim Combine have released the list of awards won in the 2012 racing season. Cups and trophies should be returned to Secretary George McDowell ASAP, to allow time for engraving etc.

Old Bird Inland Ave won by G & A Eagleson, Ballymena & Dist vel 1340, Cross Channel Average won by Jimmy Rock, Harryville vel 1241, OB Average won by Jimmy Rock, Harryville vel 1300, B Eagleson Memorial (1st 3 Cross Channel races) won by W & J Smyth Ballymena & Dist vel 1258, McIlhagga Memorial Cup 1st MAC St Malo won by Alan Darragh, Cullybackey vel 1361, YB Average won by Blair & Rankin, Ballymena & Dist vel 1504, Combined Average O/B & Y/B won by Blair & Rankin, Ballymena & Dist vel 1191, Bird of the Year won by W & J Smyth GB08B 10313 (117 Points), New North Cup Best Ave Bude OB & Talbenny YB Nat won by J Millar & Son, Harryville vel 1357, Les Mairs Cup O/B Fancier of the Year won by Alan Darragh (795 Points), Champions League won by Reid Bros & McCloy, Cullybackey, Club Shield O/B won by Cullybackey HPS (110 Points), Club Shield Y/B won by Ballymena & Dist (79 Points).

The RPRA (Irish Region) awards were completed at the recent meeting held in the Clarion Hotel in Carrickfergus. Meritorious Awards are made for single bird performance over two old bird cross channel races from Talbenny and Penzance.

This year the overall winner across the 8 NIPA Sections was the Armagh HPS partnership of G & A Campbell with a bird that topped the NIPA from Penzance and won 1st Open in the RPRA Jubilee Race in June.

RPRA MERITORIOUS AWARDS 2012-10-02

Awarded for best single bird performance 2nd Talbenny & Penzance 2012

Section A – Kevin Carolan – Coalisland – 1304

Section B – W & J Smyth – Ballymena & Dist – 1309

Section C – A & N Lewis – Doagh & Dist – 1303

Section D – Russell Bros – Dromara – 1323

Section E – G & A Campbell – Armagh HPS – 1355

Section F – Jackie Crossan – Downpatrick – 1267

Section G – T. Mooney & Son – Millvale – 1219

Section H – Alan Kelly – Omagh & Dist – 1113

Overall Winner – G & A Campbell – Armagh HPS

RPRA MILEAGE AWARDS 2012

0 – 250 Miles – Gregg Bros & McCandless – Ligoniel & Dist

250 – 450 Miles - P & C Swindell – Newry City

450 Miles Plus – W.G.Neill – Annaghmore

RPRA BEST ALL ROUND PERFORMANCE AWARDS 2012

Champion Old Bird Award – Bingham & Seaton – Ligoniel & District

Champion Young Bird Award – T & K Mawhinney – Donaghcloney

Ballymena & District HPS: The club will be holding a Pigeon Moot with top guests at the Ballymena United Social Club, Warden Street on Thursday 25th October at 8.00pm. It’s a number of years since the club have run this sort of night and the venue should be handy enough for fanciers in this particular area, the town has always enjoyed good support.

Supper is at half-time followed by a small sale of top quality late-breds from well-known lofts, and other friends of the club. Pay at the door, just £4.00. Guests attending from the East Down Combine will include Joe Cromie and Paddy Lue, and Chairman for the evening will be Adie McCormick. Special guest will be Sean Diamond the CEO of the popular North Coast Classic One Loft Race based in Coleraine. For details contact Ballymena Chairman Tom McAlonan Tel: 07561 417232 or Secretary Willie Reynolds Tel: 07538 238364.

Dates for the Winter Show series will be set soon, they start on Monday 30th October with classes for Young Cock & Young Hen T/W and the Open Show will take place as usual on New Year’s Day which is Tuesday 1st January 2013. The annual dinner and prize distribution will be a week earlier on Friday 4th January 2013. Members should give their ring orders to Mrs Sempey. All the arrangements are in the hands of the clubs hard working Events Committee.

Kells & District HPS: Have another Social Evening planned to take place in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim on Friday 26th October at 8.00pm, pay at the door. Entry including supper is £10, just £5 entry without supper. Raffle to be drawn at event with prizes 1st £100, 2nd £50 and 3rd Basket of Fruit. There will be a display of Memorabilia including photos from the past. INFC President Syd Collins will Chair the proceedings assisted by Ronnie Johnston, “Irish Rover” of the Racing Pigeon. The evening will include an interview with Wesley Sawyers a Gold Medal winner in the Kings Cup and a Video Show. Ryan Barr will explain the business behind his Belfast based Pigeon Diagnostics re improving health and performance. Free Test Kits for all attending, and Shoping Voucher to be raffled from H Beattie & Son. Prior to the main event the Kells & Dist HPS will present the prizes for the year. The evening will finish with questions to the panel of guests.

Ireland’s Own Pigeon Auctions: Will have a Sale in Glenavy on Friday 19th October for Dave Aiken of Lincoln, some 40 Star Lots, birds on view at 7.00pm, sale at 8.00pm. All the info is at www.pigeonnetwork.com - the pedigrees, sale list and results that this family of birds have won over recent years. Commission bids to Homer Tel: 07538 238364. His web address is www.atkinpigeons.co.uk

Bookings are now being taken for tickets to the Annual NIPA Ladies Night to be held at the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick on Friday 9th November. Secretary Fred Russell has requested that all cups and trophies are returned ASAP, and in a clean condition. The list of award winners will be published very soon.

NCC ONE-LOFT SALES - The second Auction of the one loft entrants will be held in Glenavy on Saturday 6th October 3.00pm – Birds On View from 2.00pm. The 3rd Sale will be held on Saturday 13th October, same times same venue. At present a sale is being arranged for the North-west area – Watch press for details. All lots will be offered On-line prior to the auction, with the closing bid online the opening bid in the live Sale Room. All lots will be offered on the pigeon craic auction site www.pigeoncraic.com/auctions Please note new website address- If you wish to download a SaleLlist for each sale visit the site www.pigeoncraic.com go to top of page - Click on Download Section and then visit the NCC One Loft Sale Section.