Rasharkin’s Danny Dixon takes plaudits at awards night

Secretary George McDowell has released the list of top awards won in the past racing season, what a year it was for Danny Dixon of Rasharkin & District.

He lifted most of the cup and trophies including all the average awards. Old Bird Inland Average vel 1566, Cross Channel Average vel 993, Old Bird Average vel 1293, Eagleson Memorial Cup best average Talbenny, Bude, Thuro and Penzance vel 1008, New North Cup best average Bude & Talbenny YB vel 1332, Young Bird Average vel 1407 and finally Combine Average vel 1493.

On top of that in one of the best results for the loft the William McIlhagga Memorial Cup for the best bird from St Malo. Danny Dixon with a bird early on the second morning finished 1st Club, 1st MAC, 1st Sect B & 2nd Open NIPA St Malo OB Nat 404/1304 recording velocity 842 with “Danske Kid”.

No surprise he was also the winner of the Leslie Mairs Old Bird Fancier of the Year collecting 618 Points.

Rasharkin & District win the Club Shield for Old Birds with 100 Points and Ballymena & District with 65 Points win the YB Club Shield for the second time in three seasons.

Steele & McNeill won the Champions League for Rasharkin & District and this loft also had Old Bird of the Year with GB13R-18121. Jimmy Rock from Harryville who won the Talbenny YB Nat for Mid Antrim had the Young Bird of the Year with “Rockies Boy” GB14H-12939.

Norrie Sharpe Clearance Sale - While out and about recently I paid a visit to Norrie. After a break from the sport Norrie restarted a couple of seasons ago with his sole aim to fly the distance events. In his hey day ,

Norrie won everything that was possible to win at the sprint to middle distance events and on restarting he decided that he would concentrate on the long distance races.

With this in mind he purchased nothing but the best and his present stock were sourced directly from the following fanciers N Black & Son, Alan Darragh, House Of Aarden , Novara Stud , Tom Marshall and P & C Swindell , to whom he has nothing but praise for the calibre of birds that they supplied him.

He also sourced out a few Van Loons , a family close to Norries heart, considering this family of birds were responsible for numerous winners for Norrie .

I viewed the birds and must say that they were awesome and their bloodlines sourced was nothing but top drawer breeding . Unfortunately Norrie’s health has not been great recently and with much reluctance he has decided that he must give up his beloved sport.

With this in mind, a complete clearance sale will be held in two parts. Part (1) Saturday 11th October - Venue: Chimney Corner Football Club, Auctioneer Steve McGarry Tel: 07737 275820.

Rutten Sale in Glenavy – A Sale has been arranged for one of the top lofts in Europe, Theo & Raymond Rutten with the best of the Janssen’s recent winners of 1st National Chantilly. Venue is Glenavy Protestant Hall on Saturday 11th October at 2.30pm, with birds on view from 1.30pm. Full Sale List in the BHW, also loft featured in the Racing Pigeon 19/09/14. This is a super sale of all the direct Janssen lines, this loft have the very best and a selection of birds for Wal Zoontjes. Auctioneer is Ronnie Johnston, Tel (028) 90 483625. E-mail: theirish.rover@btinternet.com

Social Night for Kells & District - Kells & Dist HPS have another Social Evening planned to take place in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim on Friday 24th October, pay at the door. Included Raffle and small Charity Sale, always a great night.

Prior to the main event the Kells & Dist HPS will present the prizes for the year. Update- Interview with Cyril & Hilary Beattie on their pigeon racing successes and experiences, presentation by top vet organised by Cyril & Hilary on diseases, nutrition, etc, Charity Auction of 2015 YB’s put up by top local fanciers- Diamond Bros, Jimmy Rock, J & N Simpson, D & R Turkington, Blair & Rankin, Brian Swann & Son and others being organised, raffle and if time permits open forum as well, as a couple of presentations.