PRIZE TIME FOR HARRYVILLE HPS

The special guests were former Secretary Maurice Alexander and wife Margaret, top prize-winners were Jack Millar and son Derek who race to lofts at Cromkill on the main Antrim Road.

Harryville have had a recent AGM and a new team are looking forward to the new race season, Chairman is Robert Service, Secretary Matt Wray based at Moat Road, Treasurer Jackie Millar, Ring Secretary Robert Alexander and Race Secretary Keith Kernohan. George Connolly has returned to Broughshane but racing last season at Harryville won the Combined Average in Harryville.

Margaret Alexander presented cups and trophies to the following:

J Millar & Son won – Highest Prize-winner Cup, Combined Inland Ave, Combined Points, Old Bird Inland Ave.

George Connolly won – Best Ave First 4 Cross Channel Races, Best Ave Talbenny (1) & (2), Best Ave Bude & Penzance, Best Individual Bird, Old Bird CCA, Best Ave All Derby Races, Best Ave OB & YB Derbies, Best Ave St Malo and YB Talbenny & Rosscarbery, Most Points all Derby Races, Best Ave YB Clonmel (1) & (2), Best Ave Penzance OB & Talbenny YB, Best Ave Comeback Races, Old Bird Ave, Combined Average, Tlabenny (2) & Sennen Cove Ave, National Points Average.

R H Clements won – Young Bird Ave, Best Ave 2 x YB Derby Races, Best Ave 1st OB & 1st YB Races. Jimmy Rock won – Best Ave Penzance YB Nat & 2 x YB Derbies, Most Points all France Races, Old Bird National. R Alexander & Son won – Best Ave 2 YB Nationals, Inland Nat Skibbereen. Billy Ramsey won Yearling Nat also 1st Mid Antrim Combine. W McIlveen won – 1st Three YB Races.

Old Bird winners: Rosscarbery – A McBride, Rosscarbery – J Millar & Son, Penzance – G Connolly, Fermoy – G Connolly, Bude – R H Clements, Talbenny – G Connolly, Fermoy – G Connolly, Talbenny – Wray & McFadden, Rosscarbery – G Connolly, Fermoy – R H Clements, Tullamore – A McBride, Clonmel – A McBride, Roscrea – A McBride, Clonmel – J Millar & Son, Tullamore – A McBride, Tullamore – R H Clements.

Young Bird winners: Tullamore – W McIlveen, Talbenny – G Connolly, Fermoy – G Connolly, Clonmel – T Johnston & Son, Roscrea – J Millar & Son, Tullamore – R Alexander & Son, Tullamore – W McIlveen & Son, Mullingar – R H Clements.

Mid Antrim Combine Old Birds: R H Clements 1st Tullamore 96/1173 vel 1977, A McBride 2nd Roscrea 126/3235 vel 1817, G Connolly 3rd Rosscarbery Inl Nat 95/610 vel 1863, Wray & McFadden 2nd Talbenny (1) vel 1767, G Connolly 3rd Talbenny (1) vel 1767, R H Clements 3rd Bude 76/617 vel 1623, G Connolly 1st Fermoy 5 Bird 55/234 vel 1741, G Connolly 3rd Fermoy 5 Bird vel 1726.

Mid Antrim Combine Young Birds: R Alexander & Son 2nd Tullamore (2) 111/2479 vel 1860.

MAC Irish Nat Races: George Connolly 1st Skibbereen Old Bird vel 1521, Billy Ramsey 1st Sennen Cove Yearling Nat vel 1143, Jimmy Rock 1st Penzance YB Nat vel 703.

Thanks to Chairman Robert Service who supplied me with the prize list, Robert had a recent spell in hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery to full health.

* INFC members should note that the deadline for the Single Bird Challenge is Wednesday 17th March, the entry form along with 5 should be sent to David Black, Tel: 07876 157706 on queries. The latest member list for the Single Bird Challenge is available to view on the Discussion Forum (INFC) on www.pigeonnetwork.com

* I have been asked to explain the INFC Robin Duddy Challenge. Members pay a 10 Fee, then enter one, two and no more than three birds for firstly the Yearling Nat and then later in the year for the YB Nat Penzance. It’s the Best Ave over the two races, your first nominated bird timed in the Yearling Nat counted with your first nominated bird timed in the YB Penzance. It is not necessary to enter three birds, many lofts send less that three to the race, the main point is that three birds is the limit for the Robin Duddy Trophy. Hope that helps a bit. Its going to be another very interesting year and members should pay attention to the on-going discussions.

* The AGM for Mid Antrim Combine will be held in the Harryville HPS this Wednesday 17th March at 8.00pm. Two Delegates from each club to vote on proposals.

* Its birthday greetings to man about town Tom McMaster of Wilson Crescent in Harryville, 70 candles on his cake this week and still not retired. Well done Tom and may you see many more, I am sort of catching up myself.

* John Lowry of Crumlin will start training week commencing Monday 5th April, he can provide single crates for the fanciers, usual collection arrangements. Tel: (028) 94 459014 or Mobile: 07710 447262. Homer hopes to be ready for the start of old bird racing, training on demand, more details on this later.

Homer