NIPA & AROUND

BY ADIE

The judges in very good spirits at the Lagan Valley RPC Annual show held in the local clubrooms last Wednesday. Show Secty Mattie Patton is included.

The end of season Annual Three in One Open Show for the Lisburn based Lagan Valley RPC took place in the local clubrooms on Wednesday 27th December. The top rated Spence Bros had a field day taking 1st and the Red Card in both the Handled and Through Wires classes with Harry Jennings & Sons dominating in the Eyesign. Best in Show was won by Spence Bros, Frankie McShane penned the Best Opposite Sex and to complete a perfect day Spence Bros had the Best Young Bird. The committee would like to thank the judges who had traveled down from Belfast and included Brian Foulis, Jim Braniff, Chris Foulis, Peter Martin and Mark Foulis. Jimmy & Jean again served up a top class Buffet and all those attending had a fantastic afternoon.

Handled Class – 1st, 4th, VHC & HC Spence Bros, 2nd R & A Gore, 3rd & Reserve D McShane & Son, Commended I Gibb & Sons. Through Wires Class – 1st, 2nd, Reserve & VHC Spence Bros, 3rd D McShane & Son, 4th R & A Gore, HC G Smyth, commended E Gorman. Eyesign Class – 1st, 4th & Reserve H Jennings & Sons, 2nd M Brady, 3rd G Smyth, VHC D McShane & Son, HC E Gorman, Commended J & D Coburn.

The judges in very good spirits at the Lagan Valley RPC Annual show held in the local clubrooms last Wednesday. Show Secty Mattie Patton is included.

LISBURN & DISTRICT HPS

Results Saturday 16th December. Any Age Cock (46 Birds) – 1st S English Blue w/f, 2nd R Topping & Son Blue, 3rd S McAllister & Sons Blue Ch, 4th & Reserve McKibben & Magee, VHC Smyth & Adams, HC W English, Commended S McAllister & Sons. Judge Doug Harbinson (Glenavy & Dist). Any Age Hen (33 Birds) – 1st J McKernan & Son Dark Ch, 2nd S McAllister & Sons, 3rd R Topping & Son Blue Ch w/f, 4th & Commended L Magee & Son, VHC & Reserve Spence Bros, HC S English. Judge D Harbinson, thanks for the generous special. Coloured Class Any Age (36 Birds) – 1st S McAllister & Sons Blue Ch Pied, 2nd S & M Gibson Red Pied, 3rd W English Pen Blue Pied, 4th S English, VHC & HC J McKernan & Son, Commended W Joss, Reserve S McAllister & Sons. Judges W & L Cole.

Results Saturday 30th December. Handled Class (124 Birds) – 1st & Commended L Magee & Son, 2nd J McKernan & Son, 3rd Smyth & Adams, 4th S McAllister & Sons, VHC & Reserve Spence Bros, HC W English. Judge Rodney Malcolmson (Newtownbreda). Eye Sign (124 Birds) – 1st M Laffin, 2nd & 4th L Magee & Son, 3rd & Reserve S & M Gibson, VHC J McKernan & Son, HC Smyth & Adams, Commended Spence Bros. Judge Timmy Mawhinney (Donacloney). Through Wires Class (124 Birds) – 1st, 3rd & HC Spence Bros, 2nd, VHC & Reserve S McAllister & Sons, 4th L Magee & Son, Commended W English. Judge Bobby Stevenson (Dromara). Best in Show L Magee & Son Blue Cheq Pied (h), Best Opposite Sex W English Red (c), Best Young bird S McAllister & Sons Blue Cheq (h).

Frankie McShane holds his Best Opposite Sex winner at the Lagan Valley Xmas Show.

BALLYLESSON HPS. The following are the results for the New Year's Day Show.

Through Wires – 1st & 4th A Cousins & Sons, 2nd & VHC W White & Son, 3rd & Reserve F Keery, HC P & C Johnston, Commended H Patterson & Son. Judges Andy & Ryan Milliken. Handled Class – 1st, Reserve & VHC J Patterson, 2nd A Cousins & Sons, 3rd F Keery, 4th H Ballantyne & Son, HC W White & Son, Commended K & B McConaghie. Judges Andy & Ryan Milliken. Eyesign Class – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, VHC & HC F Keery, Reserve A Cousins & Sons, Commended W White & Son. Judges Sam McAllister & Alec Benson. Young Bird Class – 1st, Reserve & HC F Keery, 2nd, 3rd & 4th J Patterson, VHC & Commended W White & Son. Judges A Milliken, A Benson & S McAllister. Best in Show won by Fleming Keery. Best Opposite Sex won by John Patterson.

The members of Ballylesson HPS wish to express their thanks to the judges Andy & Ryan Milliken, Alec Benson and Sam McAlister for their very generous special to be competed for in the first Young Bird race of 2007, and also their donation to the ballot. Our thanks also to Alex Crawford, although unable to attend due illness for his very generous donation to Ballylesson. Our thanks also to John and Susan Albert, John for sponsoring the Rosettes for the Show and Susan who supplied a spread fit for a King (King Prawn Albert that is). Susan not only supplies the food for the shows but also does it for the entire racing season and meetings and it is very much appreciated by the membership. The New Year Show itself was a tremendous success for Fleming Keery taking a total of 14 cards including BIS & Best YB and the overall quality of birds in the show was exceptionally high. Our thanks to Vice-President Paul Dobbin and Tom Marshall for their kind sponsorship, also to all the members that donated specials. Members are reminded that the Annual General Meeting will take place in the local Clubrooms on Saturday 3rd February 2007.

Largymore fancier Sammy Dowds with good pals Davy Coburn and at Lagan Valley show.

Coming up early in the New Year a Sensational Sale of the old original Frans Van Wildemeersch of Oakfield Lofts, a first time opportunity to obtain the very best of the late B Fletcher & Son. Sale date is Chimney Corner Football Club on Friday 12th January at 8.00pm, birds on view at 7.00pm contact Steve Telephone: 07737 275820.

McConnell’s of Doagh will be the venue of a Pigeon Moot to be held in the New Year, a major attraction for the East Antrim Area. Panel guests will include Stephen Brown from Dundonald EDC Fancier of the Year 2006, Colin Smyth (C & D Smyth) of Ballylesson, Henry Beattie Laurelvale former Kings Cup winner, P McCullough & Daughter Downpatrick INFC Nat Champions 2006 and Jonathan Buckley of G Buckley & Sons Annaghmore. Local Pigeon Photographer Sid Collins will chair the panel, the craic should be good. Cyril Beattie and Versele Laga will also be in attendance as will Pigeon Lab.com from Lurgan, the £4 entry will include a Light Supper. Date of the event is Friday 5th January at 8.00pm, venue as I said is McConnell’s of Doagh and doors open at 7.30pm.

The INFC Annual General Meeting will be held at the Lisburn Leisure Centre on Saturday 10th March 2007. Please note this change of date. The AGM of the NIPA will be one month earlier on 10th February, the next committee meeting is for Wednesday 3rd January in Dromore Town Hall at 7.30pm.

Waveney Lofts will have kits of youngsters for sale in 2007, orders will be taken in strict rotation. Also number of old birds for immediate sale, the very best long distance bloodlines. Contact Steve Tel 07737 275820 or Homer Tel: 07939 684876.

For Sale – T3 Clock with quick start and new battery fitted in 2005, just £200. Also two hampers, nest bowls etc. Telephone: 07817 420952. Seats are available on the Larne bus going to the Blackpool Show of the Year, contact Owen Donnelly Telephone: (028) 28 274185. Some seats are still available on the bus going to The Dutch Spring Show heading out on Friday 2nd March via Stranraer, Hull and Zeebrugge at cost £220, inc board etc. Coming home Sunday will include a visit to Lier Market and the Natural Breeding Station. More info contact John Hollinger Telephone: (028) 91 863536.

Adie McCormick

Ireland's Own Pigeon Auctions

Tel. 028 92604778