EAST DOWN COMBINE

Reports by Clifford Browne

Majority Favour Annalong’s Race Programme for 2015

The East Down Combine held its AGM on Saturday January 10th January 2015 in the War Memorial Hall in Crossgar when there was a fair turnout of members in attendance and with the meeting being held in a smaller, newer hall at the back of the main hall this was filled in what I can only describe as very comfortable surroundings indeed.

The Combine chairman Len McCavery got the proceedings underway just after 2pm and after welcoming all members present requested a minute’s silence for those who had passed away since the previous year’s meeting.

Apologies were then received and recorded and the Financial Secretary Sam Duke was then requested to read the minutes of the previous AGM which were passed as a true record of that meeting.

The meeting then moved on to the first item on the Agenda which was the Chairman’s Report from Len McCavery and in a very comprehensive report all the Officials, Centre Officials and General Committee were thanked for all their hard work and support throughout the season. Colin Smyth (vice chairman) was thanked for his help and Len had a special word of thanks for Sam Duke who had put in a tremendous amount of work as Financial Secretary. The outgoing President Paddy Burns was thanked for his contribution to the Combine throughout his year in office.

Len then thanked the PROs for all their work throughout the season keeping the Combine to the forefront in many areas and he had a special word for Trevor McKelvey who has retired from the sport during the year after a lifetime in pigeons and who had been Race Controller and a PRO for many, many years and he thanked Trevor for his outstanding contribution over those years. He next thanked the Transport Committee, Race Controllers & Drivers & Auditors.

The Weather Committee were thanked for all the work they had put into making decisions regarding basketing days etc which although not always popular were made in the best interests of the membership based on the information available to them at the time, and congratulated Roy Irwin who had done so well as Race Controller in his first year, which from a weather aspect had been particularly difficult. Len went on to thank Marshall Feeds for once again supplying the on board feeding throughout the season.

In conclusion Len extended congratulations to all the 2014 prize winners. Once again the Chairman’s report was well received by all those present.

The next two items were the Secretary and Treasurer’s reports and as Sam Duke combines both roles as Financial Secretary he combined his reports. Starting with the Secretary’s report Sam reiterated what Len had said by way of thanking all those who worked so hard for the Combine and he had a special word of thanks for Len McCavery for his role as chairman of the Combine in 2014 and Paddy Burns for his year as President. He also had a special word of thanks for Dorothy Smyth for the outstanding amount of work she had put in over the year especially with the organisation of the Breeder/Buyer, the Fundraiser for the Bereavement Fund and the annual Dinner. He also thanked all the club Secretaries and Treasurers for their assistance throughout the past season and extended his congratulations to all the prize winners of 2014. Sam informed the meeting that the Website which is now running well had proved very popular and informed members that the combine would in 2015 be able to inform members of liberation times to their mobile phones and also other messages of importance but he did mention that there would probably be a nominal charge for this service to the fancier.

Moving on to look at the accounts and financially it had been another good year and the bottom line was an excess of income over expenditure of £3,500. Sam then went through the various other items of income and expenditure as well as the Balance Sheet in detail and then invited questions or comments from the floor but as his explanations had been very detailed the Accounts were passed with no questions from the floor.

Brendan McLoughlin then spoke on behalf of the Combine Auditors and endorsed what Sam had explained to everyone, stating that the Combine were very fortunate to have an excellent Treasurer with the books being prepared and kept in a very professional manner. This was further endorsed by the Combine’s other auditor Colin Watson.

Under 2014 correspondence was a letter informing the meeting of the demise of the Drumaness Mills club owing to falling membership and this was received with regret although the few remaining members of the club had been able to join other clubs.

The next item was the election of Office Bearers for 2015 and Len McCavery invited Ronnie Johnston to conduct this part of the meeting. Ronnie congratulated the 2014 prize winners and drew the meeting’s attention to how fortunate the Combine was in having administrators of such quality and dedication. The principal Office Bearers elected for the 2015 season are as follows:

PRESIDENT Mervyn Irvine

VICE PRESIDENT Francis Gilmore

JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT John Albert

CHAIRMAN Len McCavery

V/CHAIRMAN Colin Smyth

FINANCIAL SECRETARY Sam Duke

RACE CONTROLLER Roy Irwin

Assistant Race Controller Mrs Dorothy Smyth

PROs Ronnie Johnston

Brendan McLoughlin

Mrs Dorothy Smyth

Clifford Browne

Dorothy Smyth was elected as Press Officer to fill the vacancy left by Trevor McKelvey’s retirement from the sport.

There were three additions to the General Committee as three members of the existing committee were standing down. Joining the General Committee in 2015 were Gerry Black, Brian Young and Jim Young. Colin Watson was relinquishing his role as auditor and Sean Milligan was elected to this position.

With the election of the Office Bearers complete it was then time to look at the new business of the afternoon which mainly involved a number of propositions relating to the 2015 race programme. A number of race programmes were received,all very similar in nature with only minor variations and these were for Old Birds.

The 2014 East Down Combine Old Bird Race Programme automatically on the 2015 Agenda.

Mullingar, Tullamore, 1st Mt. Charles (Nenagh) 2nd Mt Charles, (Nenagh) 1st Mallow Skibbereen Classic, 2nd Mallow, 1st Talbenny, 2nd Talbenny & Derek Wishart Memorial Classic Pilmore Beach 15 bird limit (on the same day), Bude, Penzance and Penzance Classic, St. Malo Old bird Derby.

Proposal (A) submitted by Ballylesson HPS

Mullingar, Tullamore, Thurles, 1st Tramore, Pilmore Beach, Skibbereen Classic, 2nd Tramore 1st Talbenny, 2nd Talbenny & Derek Wishart Memorial Classic Pilmore Beach 15 bird limit (on the same day), Bude, Penzance and Penzance Classic, St Malo Old Bird Derby.

Proposal (B) submitted by Bangor RPC

Mullingar, Tullamore, 1st Thurles, 2nd Thurles, Mallow, Skibbereen Classic, Clonmel, 1st Talbenny, 2nd Talbenny & Derek Wishart Memorial Classic Mallow 15 bird limit (on the same day), Bude, Penzance and Penzance Classic, St Malo Old Bird Derby.

Proposal (C) submitted by Annalong HPS

1st Tullamore, 2nd Tullamore, 1st Clonmel, 2nd Clonmel, 1st Pilmore Beach, Skibbereen Classic, 2nd Pilmore Beach, 1st Talbenny, 2nd Talbenny & Derek Wishart Memorial Classic Pilmore Beach 15 bird limit (on the same day), Bude, Penzance and Penzance Classic, St Malo Old Bird Derby.

Proposal (D) submitted by The East Down Combine General Committee

Mullingar, Tullamore, 1st Clonmel, 2nd Clonmel, 1st Pilmore Beach, Skibbereen Classic, 2nd Pilmore Beach, 1st Talbenny, 2nd Talbenny & Derek Wishart Memorial Classic Pilmore Beach 15 bird limit (on the same day), Bude, Penzance and Penzance Classic, St Malo Old Bird Derby.

When put to the meeting Annalong’s proposal was carried by a large majority.

Moving on to the Young Bird programme and again there were a number of propositions the first being the 2014 programme which was automatically there for 2015.

1st Navan, 2nd Navan, Mullingar, Tullamore, 1st Mt. Charles (Nenagh), Mallow, 1st Skibbereen Young Bird Derby & Talbenny Young Bird Derby (on the same day), 2nd Mt. Charles (Nenagh), 2nd Skibbereen Young Bird Derby.

Proposal (A) submitted by Ballylesson HPS.

Navan, Mullingar, 1st Tullamore, 2nd Tullamore, 1st Thurles , Pilmore Beach, 1st Skibbereen Young Bird Derby & Talbenny Young Bird Derby (on the same day), 2nd Thurles, 2nd Skibbereen Young Bird Derby.

Proposal (B) submitted by Bangor RPC.

Navan, Mullingar, 1st Tullamore, Roscrea, 1st Thurles, Mallow, 1st Skibbereen Young Bird Derby & Talbenny Young Bird Derby (on the same day),2nd Thurles 2nd Skibbereen Young Bird Derby.

Proposal (C) submitted by Annalong HPS.

1st Navan , 2nd Navan, 1st Tullamore, 2nd Tullamore, 1st Clonmel, Pilmore Beach, 1st Skibbereen Young Bird Derby & Talbenny Young Bird Derby (on the same day), 2nd Clonmel 2nd Skibbereen Young Bird Derby.

Proposal (D) submitted by The East Down Combine General Committee.

1st Navan , 2nd Navan, Mullingar, Tullamore, 1st Clonmel, Pilmore Beach , 1st Skibbereen Young Bird Derby & Talbenny Young Bird Derby (on the same day), 2nd Clonmel, 2nd Skibbereen Young Bird Derby.

The Annalong Proposal was carried again by a large majority. The 2015 race programme commencing on the 2nd Saturday in April is:

Old Birds

1st Tullamore

2nd Tullamore

1st Clonmel

2nd Clonmel

1st Pilmore Beach

Skibbereen Classic

2nd Pilmore Beach

1st Talbenny,

2nd Talbenny & Derek Wishart Memorial Classic Pilmore Beach 15 bird limit (on the same day)

Bude

Penzance and Penzance Classic

St Malo Old Bird Derby

Young Birds

1st Navan

2nd Navan

1st Tullamore

2nd Tullamore

1st Clonmel

Pilmore Beach

1st Skibbereen Young Bird Derby & Talbenny Young Bird Derby (on the same day)

2nd Clonmel

2nd Skibbereen Young Bird Derby

The final item of business was a proposal from Ballylesson HPS as follows:

“When Saturday hampering is taking place that bird pick up times change to 3 hours before Thursday or Friday hampering time.” After some discussion this proposal was put to the vote and was defeated.

As this was all the business of the afternoon the chairman closed the meeting after thanking everyone for their attendance.

BALLYNAHINCH SHOW ROUND UP

The Ballynahinch club has held a series of shows and the results are to hand. On November 17th Willie McVeigh judged classes for Old Cocks and Old Hens Through the wires the results of which were:

OLD COCKS THROUGH THE WIRES

50 birds penned

1st M Roberts, 2nd D&R Topping, 3rd H Wallace ,4th D&R Topping, RES D&R Topping, VHC C Lavery & Son, HC S&P Logan, C W Hayes & Son.

OLD HENS THROUGH THE WIRES 46 birds penned

1st D&R Topping, 2nd H Wallace, 3rd W Hayes & Son, 4th E McLaughlin, RES W Hayes & Son, VHC M Roberts, HC D&R Topping, C R Hunter.

Then on the 24th November Gerald Adair judged classes for any age cocks and any age hens and cards were won as follows:

Any Age Cocks Through the wires 60 birds penned

1st D&R Topping, 2nd D&R Topping, 3rd R Hunter, 4th J Gillespie & Son, RES H Wallace, VHC W Hayes & Son, HC J Gillespie & Son, C J Abernethy.

Any Age Hens Through the wires 61 birds penned

1st D&R Topping, 2nd C Lavery & Son, 3rd W Hayes & Son, 4th C Lavery & Son, RES E McLaughlin, VHC J Gillespie & Son, HC C Lavery & Son, C R Hunter.

Then on the 7th December it was the turn of the young birds through the wires with judges Gary Lyttle, Eric Plunkett and Halliday bros. The results were:

Young Cocks Through the wires 36 birds penned

1st W Hayes & Son, 2nd H Wallace, 3rd D&R Topping, 4th R Hunter, RES D&R Topping, VHC E McLaughlin, HC Burns & O'Neill, C D&R Topping.

Young Hens Through the wires 42 birds penned

1st W Hayes & Son, 2nd W Hayes & Son, 3rd H Wallace, 4th D&R Topping, RES C Lavery & Son, VHC E McLaughlin, HC E McLaughlin, C E McLaughlin.

The following week on the 14th of December the club held a show for matched pairs through the wires with the task of judging being undertaken by Joe Cromie Senior and Joe Cromie Junior. A total of 48 pairs were in the pens cards were awarded as follows:

1st D&R Topping, 2nd D&R Topping, 3rd W Hayes & Son, 4th J Abernethy, RES W Hayes & Son, VHC Burns & O'Neill, HC D&R Topping, C J Abernethy.

The final show of the 2014 series was a 3in1 Christmas Show held on Saturday 27th of December when 141 birds were in the pens for judges Paul McCartan (of the McCartan & Woodsides partnership winner for the second year running of the EDC fancier of the year award) ably assisted in the judging by Paddy Murray and Dermot Walsh from Crossgar. The results were:

Through the wires

1st W Hayes & Son, 2nd R Hunter, 3rd W Hayes & Son, 4th D&R Topping, RES D&R Topping, VHC W Hayes & Son, HC D&R Topping, C R Hunter.

Handled

1st W Hayes & Son, 2nd W Hayes & Son, 3rd H Wallace, 4th W Hayes & Son, RES H Wallace, VHC D&R Topping,  HC D&R Topping, C C Lavery & Son.

Eyesign

1st H Wallace, 2nd D&R Topping, 3rd D&R Topping, 4th E McLaughlin, RES D&R Topping, VHC D&R Topping, HC H Wallace, C H Wallace.

Best in show H Wallace

Best opposite sex H Wallace

Best young bird C Lavery & Son

The Club would like to thank all the judges throughout the show season for their time and all who donated prizes and refreshments in the Christmas show. The show season was enjoyed by all members in the club.

Well that’s it for this week. Next week I’ll have a piece on my recent return to the Crossgar Fanciers of The Year, McCartan & Woodsides. My thanks to Sid Collins and Robert Topping for photos etc for this week.

 

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