NIPA start Young Birds with Area Liberations

For the start of the young bird season the NIPA as usual had a series of Area Liberations, although the plan was that there would be just two, a top lib at Mullingar and the bottom part going to Tullamore.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Aug 2020, 08:15 BST
Ian Stewart from Randalstown, Stewart Bros had 1st, 2nd and 3rd,Ian Stewart from Randalstown, Stewart Bros had 1st, 2nd and 3rd,
Ian Stewart from Randalstown, Stewart Bros had 1st, 2nd and 3rd,

Sect F decided to go to Navan and the far flying Sect H including Derry City going to Mullingar. Birds were released in Navan, Mullingar and Tullamore on Saturday 8th August, a bit later then the normal start time. All clubs are operating under restrictions because of Covid 19, well done to the various teams across the whole country.

Area Liberation Results:

Section D & G Tullamore Area Lib (1) 100/3803 Lib 10.30am – Sands & Rice Ballyholland 1497, 1497, 1497, 1497, 1497, 1496, 1494, 1494, Ron Williamson Newry & Dist 1488, G Murphy Ballyholland 1488.

Geoff Surgenor had the top three in Kells on the same yard.Geoff Surgenor had the top three in Kells on the same yard.
Geoff Surgenor had the top three in Kells on the same yard.

Section E and Bottom Sect A Tullamore Area Lib (1) 109/4402 Lib 10.45am – J & E Calvin Annaghmore 1470, 1470, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore 1470, J & E Calvin 1467, P Boyd Annaghmore 1452, A craig Laurelvale 1451, Nelson Weir Loughgall 1449, C J & B Ferris Lurgan Soc 1446, 1446, 1446.

Section C Mullingar Area Lib (1) 92/3072 Lib 9.30am – D M G Ferguson Wheatfield 1386, 1385, P & M Travers Wheatfield 1384, D M G Ferguson 1384, McMurray & Anderson Ligoniel 1383, 1382, D McElhone Eastway 1382, McMurray & Anderson 1382, 1382, W O’Boyle Ligoniel 1382.

Section B & Top Sect A Mullingar Area Lib (1) 111/4025 – M Howard & Son Coleraine Prem 1374, 1373, J L Madden Coleraine Prem 1354, 1354, Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin Coleraine Prem 1347, J L Madden 1347, 1347, R Montgomery Windsor Soc 1346, 1345, J L Madden 1345.

Section F Navan Area Lib (1) 28/837 – C Healy Killyleagh Cent 1314, 1314, T & C Kilpatrick Killyleagh & Dist 1313, C Healy 1313, 1313, Gordon Bros & Son Killyleagh Cent 1309, 1308, 1308, 1308, 1307.

Rab Montgomery with his winning pigeon from Saturday's race from Mullingar. Rab had a good card winning the first 3 positions in the club as well as 8th, 9th and 16th in the Area Lib - Section B and part of Sect A (4025 birds).Rab Montgomery with his winning pigeon from Saturday's race from Mullingar. Rab had a good card winning the first 3 positions in the club as well as 8th, 9th and 16th in the Area Lib - Section B and part of Sect A (4025 birds).
Rab Montgomery with his winning pigeon from Saturday's race from Mullingar. Rab had a good card winning the first 3 positions in the club as well as 8th, 9th and 16th in the Area Lib - Section B and part of Sect A (4025 birds).

Section H Mullingar Area Lib (1) 80/1877 – M McGrinder Mourne & Dist 1314, 1314, 1312, 1312, 1311, D Canning Derry & Dist 1291, 1291, A Mitchell Amelia Earhart 1290, 1290, 1290.

NIPA Race/Date

Area Lib (1) Navan, Mullingar and Tullamore – Saturday 08/08/20, wind Lt East NE

NIPA Sect A Clubs

Roy Clements had the winner in Harryville, another bred from his Vermerburgen pair,Roy Clements had the winner in Harryville, another bred from his Vermerburgen pair,
Roy Clements had the winner in Harryville, another bred from his Vermerburgen pair,

Coleraine Premier HPS 10/452 – M Howard & Son 1374, 1373, J L Madden 1354, 1354, Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin 1347, J L Madden 1347. Big congratulations to Michael Howard & son taking the top two and 1st cut of the nom, Leslie Madden gets 2nd cut.

Coleraine & County Derry RPS - Terence McCrudden 1343, 1333, Bridget McCrudden 1331, W & W Murdock 1312.

Windsor Social 9/437 – Robert Montgomery 1346, 1345, 1340, Kenny Glass 1333, 1328, 1327. Congratulations goes to R Montgomery on taking the first three places from Mullingar.

NIPA Sect H Clubs

Richard McCracken won the first young bird race in Markethill.Richard McCracken won the first young bird race in Markethill.
Richard McCracken won the first young bird race in Markethill.

Amelia Earhart 8/180 – Andy Mitchell 1290, 1290, 1290, 1283, 1283, 1282. Well done to Andy Mitchell taking the first seven positions in the club. Jimmy Quigley takes the pools

Derry & District 16/336 – D Canning 1291, 1291, T & D McDaid 1298, A McCrudden 1283, E McEleney 1272, P Hegarty 1269.

Foyle RPS 6/179 – S Malone 1285, Sean Keeney 1268, 1267, S Malone 1267, 1266, Sean Keeney 1263.

Limavady 11/288 – Ronnie Witherow (4).

Londonderry PRS 4/45 - Leo Flanagan & Son 1248, 1206, 1202, Michael McGrath 1182, 1169.

Maiden City 12/337 – R Lyle 1287, Coyle Bros 1286, R Lyle 1276, P McLaughlin 1275, F Ramsey 1272, R Lyle 1267. Well done to Robert Lyle putting four in the Top 10 in today’s Area lib, Proves the hard work and the Jeyes Fluid can get the job done.

Rasharkin winner William McFetridge timed his blue hen a gift bird from clubmate Mark Milliken at 10.48am flying 105 miles.Rasharkin winner William McFetridge timed his blue hen a gift bird from clubmate Mark Milliken at 10.48am flying 105 miles.
Rasharkin winner William McFetridge timed his blue hen a gift bird from clubmate Mark Milliken at 10.48am flying 105 miles.

Mourne & District – Michael McGrinder 1314, 1314, 1312, 1312, 1311, D Booth 1283.

Strabane & District 19/319 – Jay Walsh 1283, 1279, Neil McGavigan 1255, Declan McNulty 1239, Neil McGavigan 1237, Thomas Ferguson 1215. Well done to Jay Walsh taking 1st and 2nd place. Jay deserves this performance as he puts a lot of work into his pigeons, it’s good to have young bird racing underway and Declan McNulty had a good race with five in the Top 10 and Neil with two.

NIPA Sect B Clubs

Ahoghill Flying Club 10/395 – Young McManus & Sons 1285, 1285, 1283, 1261, Chris Young 1261, Young McManus & Sons 1258. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Young McManus & Sons 1283, Chris Moore 1131.

Ballymena & District HPS 7/238 – Blair & Rankin 1304, 1303, J Eagleson & Sons 1268, G Bell 1266, J Eagleson & Sons 1253, 1253. Bertie Blair wins the first young bird race and has the best two birds in the town. He timed his blue hen at 10.47am for the 102 mile fly to the lofts at Chichester Park in Harryville. Sire is from McGimpsey Bros of Newtownards and the dam is from Gibb Lofts. This Lambrechts hen has now bred 4 x 1st winners. This was Bertie’s second win of the season having topped the Combine from Corrin in June.

Ballymoney HPS 10/470 – D & H Stuart 1342, D Dixon 1336, 1336, Brown & Stewart 1297, 1296, D & H Stuart 1287. Congratulations to D and H Stuart on winning today from Mullingar also 1st Dervock RPS.

Ballymoney West Combine 4/158 – Brown & Stewart 1297, J McDowell & Sons 1233, M Gamble & Son 1230, W Blair 1121.

Dervock RPS 2/114 – D & H Stuart 1342, 1287, D Devenney 1276.

Broughshane & District 6/144 – R Wylie 1315, 1190, M Neilly 1150, T & M Morrow 1142, 1142, G Johnston 1063.

Cullybackey HPS 6/194 – J McNaghten & Son 1288, A Darragh 1272, 1272, 1272, 1272, C & R McIntyre 1268. Race winner is Iain McNaghten, timing his cheq hen at 10.50am, This hen is a sister to Iain’s blue pied hen that flew so well for him last year as a young bird. Well done Iain, great start.

Harryville HPS 9/304 – R H Clements 1270, K & K Kernohan 1259, R H Clements 1230, G Price 1230, J Millar & Son 1228, D Craig 1225. Well done Roy winner was of a son of the Vermerburgen pair x g/dtr of Sagan

Kells & District HPS 7/246 – Surgenor Bros 1239, 1239, 1239, C & D Jackson 1224, Surgenor Bros 1220, Gregg Bros 1215,. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – H Boyd 1159, Gregg Bros 1154, H Turkington 1152.

Muckamore HPS 9/409 – Alan Steele 1312, S & N Maginty 1309, 1248, J & J Bones & Yates 1239, 1239, A Steele 1224.

Randalstown 6/203 – Stewart Bros 1281, 1275, 1269, F & G & J Dickey 1237, 1194, 1190,

Rasharkin & District – Rasharkin & District HPS 11/302 – W McFetridge 1332, H Cubitt 1332, 1332, W McFetridge 1326, T Whyte 1324, W & J McLean 1301. Danny Dixon 1336.53, 1336.06.

NIPA Sect E Clubs

Annaghmore – J & E Calvin 1470, 1470, G Buckley & Son 1470, J & E Calvin 1467, P Boyd 1452.

Armagh HPS – D C & P McArdle 1432, 1426, 1392, 1392, 1380, P Campbell 1368. Well done to D C& P McArdle first five in Armagh HPS - Well done to all.

Bondhill Social – Capper Bros 1436.

Edgarstown 8/320 – J Trotter 1456, S & E Buckley 1421, 1416, R & J McCracken 1399, P Hope 1395, S & E Buckley 1395. Well done Jonny on your first win in the club and getting off to a great start with the YBs. It was also great clocking from S & E Buckley seven birds in the Top 10, well done to all in result.

Gilford & District – Tom Wilson 1429, 1429, Moody Bros 1417, A Feeney & Son 1410, O Fitzpatrick & Son 1401, A Feeney & Son 1400.

Laurelvale – Alan Craig 1451, 1435, 1401, 1396, 1379, 1379. Laurelvale HPS Tullamore. Congratulations to Alan Craig.

Loughgall – Nelson Weir 1449.

Lurgan Social – C J & B Ferris 1446, 1446, 1446, 1446, Sean Curran 1445, 1445. Congratulations to Barry Ferris Lurgan Social HPS taking first four spots in first young bird race from Tullamore.

Markethill – R McCracken 1441, J & H Muldrew & McMurray 1416, 1403, 1399, 1397, R McCracken 1395. Well done Richard on winning the first young bird race.

Monaghan 11/536 – R Mulligan 1350, 1343, B Corley 1324, P Tierney 1278, 1278, 1277. Congratulations to Richard Mulligan who took the first two today from Tullamore.

Portadown & Drumcree – J Whitten & Son 1396, 1395, 1395, Larkin Bros 1361, J Sterritt 1381, J Whitten & Son 1380. 2 Bird Club - 1. J Whitten & Son, 2. Larkin bros Nomination won by Larkin Bros A great start to the YB bird racing for Jay & myself today with a great card of pigeons. Big well to done Paul Larkin (Larkin bros) and Jonathan Sterritt finishing in the Top 10.

Wilton Cross – H T & J Larkin 1438, Toman & Hamill 1436, H T & J Larkin 1431, Toman & Hamill 1431, D Fagan 1431, Toman & Hamill 1431. The junior Larkins showing us all the way today, with Harry Tom and Joseph clocking a blue Louis Thijs cock to take the spoils from Tullamore.

1st & 2nd in MAC Mullingar for Danny Dixon

Mullingar in Co. Meath was the venue for the first young bird ace of the season. Birds were liberated on Saturday 8th August at 08.30am in little or no wind. Rasharkin fancier Danny Dixon has the best two birds in the Mid Antrim Combine with just over 1,600 birds competing. He timed his winning red cock at 10.54am for the 109 miles fly to the village of Dunloy. Sire is a son of “Heartbreaker” when paired to his Gert Heylen Jackpot Hen while the dam is a daughter of “Heartbreaker”. Danny’s second bird a blue chequer w/f hen timed just seconds behind is from a brother of “Heartbreaker” when paired to a daughter of the “Quiverman” This is the Dixon lofts second Combine win of the season have topped it from the tough Bude. Last weeks St Malo National Combine winner Harold Cubitt is again well placed winning 4th & 5th Combine. Mervyn Egleson PO.

Mid Antrim Combine Mullingar 48/1615 - D Dixon Rasharkin 1336, D Dixon 1336, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1332, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1332, H Cubitt 1332, W McFetridge 1326, T Whyte Rasharkin 1324, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1304, Blair & Rankin 1303, W & J McLean Rasharkin 1301, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1289, Steele & McNeill 1288, Young & McManus Ahoghill 1285, Young & McManus 1285, Young & McManus 1283, A, C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1283, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1281, N Bradley Rasharkin 1279, N Bradley 1279, Stewart Bros 1275, R H Clements Associate 1270, Stewart Bros 1269, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1268, T Whyte 1267, George Bell Ballymena 1266, Young & McManus 1261, Chris Young Ahoghill 1261, Young & McManus 1258, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1254, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1253

Mid Antrim Combine YB Points. Week 1 - D Dixon Rasharkin 29, W McFetridge Rasharkin 23, H Cubitt Rasharkin 23, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 15, T Whyte Rasharkin 9, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 9, W & J McLean 6, Young & McManus Ahoghill 6.

Coleraine Triangle Mullingar - M Howard & Son Coleraine Prem 1374, M Howard & Son 1373, J L Madden 1354, J L Madden 1354, Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin 1347, J L Madden 1347, 1347,R Montgomery Windsor Soc 1346, 1345, J L Madden 1345, T McCrudden Coleraine & Co Derry 1343, J McSeveney Coleraine Prem 1343, 1342, 1341, R Montgomery 1340, J L Madden 1340, 1334, T McCrudden 1333, K Glass Windsor Soc 1333J L Madden 1333.

Foyle Valley Combined Mullingar – D Canning Derry & Dist 1291, D Canning 1291, A Mitchell Amelia Earhart 1290, A Mitchell 1290, A Mitchell 1290, T & D McDaid Derry & Dist 1288, R Lyle Maiden City 1288, Coyle Bros Maiden City 1286, S Malone Foyle 1285, A McCrudden Derry & Dist 1283, A Mitchell 1283, Jay Walsh Strabane 1283, A Mitchell 1283, A Mitchell 1282, Jay Walsh 1279, R Lyle 1276, P McLaughlin Maiden City 1275, F Ramsey Maiden City 1272, A Mitchell 1272, E McEleney Derry & Dist 1272.

City of Derry Federation Mullingar – D Canning Derry & Dist 1291, D Canning 1291, A Mitchell Amelia Earhart 1290, A Mitchell 1290, A Mitchell 1290, T & D McDaid Derry & Dist 1288, R Lyle Maiden City 1288, Coyle Bros Maiden City 1286, S Malone Foyle 1285, A McCrudden Derry & Dist 1283, A Mitchell 1283, A Mitchell 1283, A Mitchell 1282, R Lyle 1276, P McLaughlin Maiden City 1275, F Ramsey Maiden City 1272, A Mitchell 1272, E McEleney Derry & Dist 1272, J Quigley & Son Amelia Earhart 1269, J Quigley & Son 1269.

RPRA Awards for 2020 – With a restricted old bird programme and with the Penzance birds returned to Ireland for a liberation in Fermoy the Individual Bird Performance in the various NIPA Sections will be the races from Talbenny and Bude.

Claims should be made to the RPRA (Irish Region) Secretary Noel Higginson.

The following are the Mileage Awards - (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. Application Forms are available from the Region Secretary, Noel Higginson, 44 Green View, Parkgate, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. BT39 OJP. Tel: (028) 94 439481. E-Mail: [email protected]

2020 Breeder/Buyer Update for Drumnavaddy

The club’s annual 2020 Breeder/Buyer race will be flown from the NIPA Skibbereen YB NAT, This decision has been taken due to no INFC racing this season at the minute because off the government restrictions what didn’t allow mass gathering, Drumavaddy Inv HPS will keep you updated with date when confirmed by the NIPA. Thanks for your support. Drumavaddy Inv HPS.

Obituary: Lindsay Forbes

It is with deep regret that I have to inform the Northern Ireland pigeon world of the passing of Forbes Lindsay, a highly esteemed former member of Crumlin & District H.P.S. Forbes was a pigeon man through and through. His father Hugh and brother Alan had also been pigeon men. He loved his birds and pigeon sport like no other and it was sad to see him sell up a couple of years ago due to illness. He particularly loved the art of long-distance pigeon racing and when valued birds came up for auction he had no difficulty in putting his hand in his pocket to acquire such bloodlines. He knew good birds when he saw them. In the pigeon club he would take part in many a pigeon debate and was not afraid to voice his opinion on such matters. In earlier days Forbes liked to go fishing and kept fit by running around the roads of Crumlin.

Forbes’s funeral was a private family affair carried out in line with the Covid 19 restrictions on Wednesday 5th August 2020. On behalf of the members of Crumlin & District Homing Pigeon Society I offer our sincere condolences to his wife Patricia and to all his family circle, he will be sadly missed. John Lamb Chairman.

Obituary: Suitters Davy

INFC Secretary Trevor Topping has just phoned with the sad news that Davy Suitters from Doagh, a long serving INFC Committee member has passed away. He was also a long time involved with the RPRA (Irish Region) and was a dedicated representative for the members in East Antrim for over 20 years. Racing as Mr & Mrs Suitters in Doagh & Dist their small team of distance birds excelled and the loft were regular visitors to Muckamore Centre during the INFC Nationals, They won the Friendship National in 2014 from Quimper, a hard race with the winning velocity 600ypm and just 11 birds back in race time. They also won the National Champion award, best Average in all National Races, in a period when East Antrim lofts won three in a row. M/M Suitters in 1998, W McClelland for Doagh & Dist in 1999 and C & L Woodside from Ballyclare & District in 2000. Davy did his share of duties at race marking and him and the wife were ever present at the Annual Dinner in Belfast, he will be sadly missed. On behalf of the entire membership sincere condolences to his wife Frances and family circle at this very-sad time. Willie Reynolds.