RPRA (Irish Region) AGM held

Any member wishing to be on the Irish Nat FC Committee were requested to attend the RPRA (Irish Region) meeting to be nominated.

Those attending the meeting included S G Briggs President, J Serplus Vice President, J Burrows Vice President, A C McGrugan Kingsmoss, W Reynolds Ballymena, W Knowles Kingsmoss, C O’Hare Ballyholland, G Delaney Dromore, A Thompson Ballyclare, D Suitters Doagh, R Service Ballymena, G Robinson Carrick, R Duddy Ballyclare, N Higginson Ballyclare, Alan Larkin Wilton Cross, and Paul Larkin Portadown & Drumcree. Apologies: Sammy Thompson plus, P Dunlop, E McGimpsey, W Seaton, and N Lewis.

The President Sammy Briggs opened the meeting by welcoming the members and he asked them firstly to stand in memory of those members and friends deceased in the past year. Cormac O’Hare was asked to read the minutes of the previous meeting. These were passed with no matters arising.

The suspension was lifted on R Russell & Son of Lisburn & District. Item 4 was the Appeal of L O’Neill v Larne & District. The club were represented by Adrian Beggs and David Bowen. The club were of the opinion, since L O’Neill & Son did not appeal the Larne & Dist decision the case should not be heard. When it was decided it was in order to hear same the Larne & Dist reps left the meeting. L O’Neill & Son were re-instated in Larne & District.

Under AOB 2019 the costs of the court case were confirmed at over £16,000 and the suspension imposed on the nine members, who had been suspended by their own union, had been lifted by the RPRA (Irish Region). All those involved in the case were thanked for their work over many months including Fred Russell, and the General Committee who had attended many meetings, some at short notice. There was a fairly long discussion on the RPRA Awards and it was good to report a very successful 2019 with top awards presented at the Blackpool Show details which had been published earlier. The Guy Barrett Trophy for Young Fancier of the Year was won by Keelie Wright of Lurgan Social, Adult Long Distance 451 Miles and over. 1st Prize awarded to J Murtagh & Son of Newry, John received the Queen’s Coronation Cup, a medallion and a cheque for £100. Louis Massarella Trophy (best performance by a young bird). For 2019 the trophy is awarded to Bingham & Seaton of Ligoniel in Belfast, the second time they have won the cup in five seasons. We need to ensure all the top winners are able to attend the presentation and also have a delegation present to assist with the publicity.

After a tea break the business continued with the Annual General Meeting. The minutes of the 2019 AGM were read and passed. The Accounts were discussed at length and since the RPRA do a yearly audit it was thought we could save the Audit Fee of £480 and revert back to a local team of three who would set out the annual accounts. With no other 2019 business we moved to the election of officers and President Samuel Briggs thanked the members for their support over the last year.

Cormac O’Hare was nominated to conduct the election. Resignations were received from Fred Russell, Campbell McGrugan, Billy Knowles and Norman Lewis. These were accepted with regret, a number had long service.

The following officials were elected for 2020: Life Vice-Presidents - S Thompson, S G Briggs, J Serplus, R Reid and A C McGrugan. President S G Briggs, Vice Presidents J Serplus, and G Delaney. Chairman C O’Hare. Secretary/Treasurer Noel Higginson, 44 Green View, Parkgate, Ballyclare, Co Antrim BT39 OJP. Tel: (028) 94 439481. Mobile: 07518 748717. Email: [email protected]

Councillors to RPRA: S G Briggs NIPA, and C O’Hare Ballyholland with Reserve G Delaney Dromore. Auditor: Ron McKelvey. PO: W Reynolds Ballymena.

Irish Region Committee includes: S Thompson, S G Briggs, R Reid, W Seaton, W Reynolds, J Burrows, C O’Hare, D Suitters, G Delaney, R Service Ballymena, G Robinson Carrick, J Conlane Kingswood and J Serplus Laurelvale.

INFC (RPRA) Management Committee: W Reynolds Ballymena, P Dunlop Edgarstown, C O’Hare Ballyholland, J Serplus Laurelvale, P Smith Individual Dublin, R Duddy Ballyclare, A Thompson Ballyclare, C Lyons Hills & Maze, D Suitters Doagh, E McGimpsey Ards, N Lewis Doagh, A Larkin Wilton Cross, G Simmons Edgarstown. R Service Ballymena replaced G McDowell.

INFC (RPRA) Appeals Committee: J Brown Blackwatertown, J Burrows Eastway, and W Knowles Kingsmoss. Mr & Mrs Reid who had long service in the role of Secretary/Treasurer were thanked for their dedicated service to the Irish Region.

Item 5 no new clubs but resignations from Glen, Abbey, and South Belfast.

The Region Delegates meeting followed. The RPRA One Loft race will increase entries up to 1,500 birds and revert back to holding the young birds to race as Yearlings in 2021. It was decided the School entries would be submitted by Tom Cairns and Gerald Delaney. We need to arrange a change of signing regarding cheques and Irish Region will donate a cup to the NIPA as part of its 75th Anniversary Celebrations, RPRA will also be approached. It is hoped to get clarification from the RPRA at the next meeting regarding the new Insurance Scheme.

Delegates were mandated to vote as follows regarding RPRA Resolutions. Support 7.1, 7.2, 7.5, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12, 7.14, 7.15, and 7.16. They will vote against 7.3, 7.4, 7.6, and 7.13.

Affiliation Fees for 2020 – Clubs, Single Members, Individual Members and each Partnership Member all £12.00. Must be paid through one Society Cheque and made payable to Royal Pigeon Racing Association – Irish Region. Societies in arrears at 1st March 2020 will be called upon to pay an extra 50p per Member and £10.00 for Club. Willie Reynolds PO.

INFC Annual Meeting in Lisburn

The 70th Annual General Meeting will be held in the Lagan Valley Leisure-Plex, Lisburn Leisure Park, Governors Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim, BT28 1LP on Saturday 29th February 2020 at 2.00pm sharp.

The Agenda for the meeting will include proposed changes to race points, the Kings Cup Grand Nat will increase by £1 per bird going up to £6.

The Skibbereen YB Nat has been changed back to be the last race due to be flown on Saturday 19th September. The Duddy Challenge which had been for a 3 Bird Nom will in future be presented to the furthest flying member in the YB Channel Nat open prizes.

Please note the annual subscriptions are as follows. Existing Member are £20.00 payable through your club, new member £25.00 payable through your club. Individual member paying direct are £30.00, and new Individual member paying direct £35.00. The closing date is 12th April 2020.

Agenda: 1. Apologies, 2. Minutes of the 2019 AGM, 3. Secretary Report, 4. Convoyers Race Reports 2019, 5. Passing of Accounts, 6. Election of Officers. 7. Notices of Motion.

Submitted by D & H Kirkpatrick membership No 688

7.1 The Yearling National is flown from Exeter

Submitted by the INFC Management Committee

7.1 The Yearling National is flown from Sennen Cove

Submitted by D & H Kirkpatrick membership No 688

7.2 The Kings Cup race is flown from Fougeres

Submitted by the INFC Management Committee

7.2 The Kings Cup race is flown from St Allouestre

Submitted by D & H Kirkpatrick membership No 688

7.3 The Friendship National is flown from Coutances

Submitted by the INFC Management Committee

7.3 The Friendship National is flown from Plougastel-Daoulas or Lamballe race advisors to decide based on weather reports for release day.

Submitted by D & H Kirkpatrick membership No 688

7.4 The young bird channel national is flown from Exeter

Submitted by the INFC Management Committee

7.4 The young bird channel national is flown from Penzance

Proposed race dates 2020:

Skibbereen Old Bird Inland Tuesday 26th May, race mark Monday; Yearling Wednesday 10th June, race mark Monday; Kings Cup Friday 3rd July, race mark Tuesday; Young Bird Cross Channel Wednesday 2nd September, race mark Monday; Skibbereen YB Inland Saturday 19th September, race mark Thursday.

Voting on various race points should ensure a full attendance as it usually does when changes are proposed. Queries on the Accounts should be in the Secretaries hands in writing or by E-Mail at least three days before the AGM.

Obituary

From the members of Crumlin and District - It is with regret I have to report the death of Alan Lindsay (affectionately known as Ally) highly esteemed former member of Crumlin and district homing pigeon society and brother of Forbes Lindsay.

Ally had been unwell for a number of years. His father had also raced pigeons in Crumlin, Kaygo Lindsay. I remember one race from Rosscarbery. The day started well but just about the time the birds were due home the weather turned and a storm blew in. As I stood watching out through a window of my loft I saw a lone racer battling against the wind and rain. It flew on past and down to Ally’s loft to be the winner that day.

Ally was a friendly character about the club, always laughing and joking.

His passing is deeply regretted by all the members of Crumlin & District HPS and we offer our sincere condolences to all his family circle. John Lamb Chairman.

Last week I reported on the sudden passing of Jim Speirs from Cookstown and it had been reported on social media that the birds at the loft had been stolen.

I am pleased to now report following a call from Jims daughter that this was fake news and that no such incident took place.

Sorry about that bit of confusion, a better outcome than had been first reported.

Randalstown HPS – Awards 2019

Secretary John Millar has as usual supplied a list of the 2019 season winners, the result of the year was achieved by Chairman Hugh Boyd who timed his winner now named “Bleachgreen Dawn” early on the second morning from St Malo in France.

Old Bird winners: 13/04 Mullingar Stewart Bros 1-3 vel 1593 (20th MAC), 20/04 Tullamore Stewart Bros 1-3 vel 1516, 28/04 Roscrea J Millar 1st & 2nd vel 1425, 04/05 Gowran Park N Percy & Son 1246 beat John Millar by decimal point, 11/05 Fermoy Stewart Bros 1st & 2nd vel 1298 (3rd MAC), 18/05 Corrin J Millar 1-6 vel 1217 (1st MAC), 02/06 Gowran Park W & W Gilbert vel 2019, 09/06 Talbenny J Millar 1st & 2nd vel 1548 (5th MAC), 15/06 Bude Stewart Bros vel 1430 (5th MAC), 22/06 Penzance Stewart Bros vel 1518 (8th MAC), Penzance Classic Stewart Bros vel 1518 (8th MAC).

Hugh Boyd from Randalstown, Chairman of the local club was making the news in Mid Antrim having timed many birds from France over the years but this latest one might be the one of the best finishing 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 2nd Sect B and 3rd Open NIPA.

In 2015 season Hugh Boyd recorded his winning bird at 16.35hrs flying 467 miles for velocity 1430 finishing 1st MAC, 1st Sect B & 3rd Open NIPA 434/1477 a fantastic result, 1st Section twice in 5 seasons in very different races.

This year he timed a five year old Blue Cheq hen which was a late bred, not raced in its first two seasons and as a 2 year old its first race was Rosscarbery 250 odd miles. The base of the loft goes back to birds obtained from the late George McWilliams out and out distance.

As I said earlier the bird was timed at 5.44am while he was down checking the loft and ETS, flying 467 miles he recorded velocity 955ypm.

Ahoghill Centre St Malo 36/129 – Mr & Mrs Sempey Cullybackey 973, H Boyd Randalstown 955, C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 855, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 670.

Young Bird winners: 21/07 J Millar 1-2 vel 1318 (2nd & 3rd MAC), 27/07 Tullamore Stewart Bros vel 1373, Friday 02/08 Tullamore J Millar vel 1365, Sunday 11/08 Gowran Park J Millar vel 1212, 17/08 Fermoy Stewart Bros vel 2005 (24th MAC), Sunday 25/08 Fermoy J Millar vel 1436 (22nd MAC), Monday 02/09 Talbenny Nat J Millar 1-3 vel 1420 (4th MAC), 07/09 Corrin J Millar 1-4 vel 1086 (9th MAC), 14/09 Skibbereen Nat J Millar 1st & 2nd vel 1861 (8th MAC).

Cups & Trophies were presented as follows:

John Millar won – Tom Cotter Trophy Highest Prize-winner, Inland Ave, Millar Shield 3rd & 4th OB, Castledawson Cup Talbenny (2), McKay Cup 1st & 2nd YB, McKeown Cup Talbenny YB Nat, Lowest winning vel YB, Adair Shield Ave 2 x YB Derbies, McComb Trophy Corrin, W J Bell Cup Skibb YB Nat, YB Ave, Champion Young Bird, M/M Magill Shield YB Points.

Stewart Bros won – John Kyle Cup 1st & 2nd OB, BOCM Trophy Barleycove Nat, S Millar Cup Bude, P Marrion Cup Lowest winning vel channel, G Kissick Cup Ave Bude & Penzance, Penzance Cup, Gribben Cup Penz Classic, Joe Boyd Cup CCA Talbenny, Bude & Penz, Yearling Nat Cup, YB Nat Penzance, Champion Old Bird.

Hugh Boyd won – Clanmore Cup St Malo OB Nat, Channel Ave inc St Malo, Old Bird Average.

W & W Gilbert won – J Shaw Cup 1st Talbenny.