EAST DOWN COMBINE

Reports by Clifford Browne

2014 Prize Night for EDC is NOVEMBER 21st

Already the 2014 racing season is fast becoming a distant memory and as the nights close in and we head into winter, with clocks going back this weekend as I write this, thoughts turn to prize distributions, shows etc. The East Down Combine will be holding their Annual Dinner & Prize Distribution in the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch on Friday November 21st and as published previously tickets are £22 for the Dinner of Christmas fayre and these tickets should be booked through Combine Secretary Sam Duke.

I’ll publish a full list of the winners at this time but congratulations to the Crossgar partnership of McCartan & Woodsides on retaining the title of EDC Fanciers of the Year for 2014 as well as West Section Fanciers of the Year and to D Croskery & Son for winning East Section Fancier of the Year. I’ll bring a full list of prize and trophy winners along with my report on the dinner.

Changing the subject for a moment, as many will know our Combine Secretary Sam Duke is on the move, moving house shortly from Crossgar to Killyleagh and will only initially be able to move a limited number of stock birds to his new location so will have to part with most of his birds. So now is the time to purchase that cock or hen which you might need. Sam’s birds have raced well for both him and others and I’ll have more about this shortly; in the meantime for more details why not give Sam a call.

Sam Regan reports from Around the Ards Peninsula

Harper and Young End Season with another Success

The final race in the East Down Combine’s racing calendar saw the last young bird race flown from Skibbereen, a distance of 260 miles on average home to lofts in the Ards Peninsula. Following delays due to overcast conditions at the liberation site the birds were released into an easterly wind along with the Belfast based Ulster Fed birds at 11.30 to race into the most easterly position of all Ireland. Being the last race for the Combine quite a few members had closed up for the season and numbers had dwindled to only 165 pigeons from Peninsula members leaving for the race point. Winners again were the Cloughey partners Drew Harper and Martin Young having had a great year especially with their young bird team and they had a total of four birds on the result sheet from this race with the winning pigeon ending 4th Open. The birds were well split up as the velocities between 1st and 14th cover a space of 160 plus ypm. Very well done to all the prize winners. The next best loft and runner up in the Amalgamation and taking 5th Open goes to the father and son team of Winston and Hugh McMaster of Ballywalter club, a loft also having had a great 2014 season.

Full Result 17/165

1st, 3rd, 5th, 12th Harper & Young 1330, 1255, 1237, 1197.

2nd, 6th. W.McMaster & son 1235, 1219.

4th, 10th. Ferguson & Wilkinson 1241, 1205.

7th. McCormick & Muckle. 1217.

8th, 14th. J.Rankin 1215, 1177.

9th, 13th. B&J.Donnan. 1213, 1187.

11th. B.Young.

3 Bird Club

1st & 3rd B & J.Donnan (B.C.) 1187, (C.) 1087.

2nd. McCormick & Muckle (A.B.C. Nom.) 1170.

Finally many thanks to The British Homing World and The Racing Pigeon editors and staff for producing excellent pigeon weeklies for yet another season. Also to our scribe Clifford Browne for yet another year’s great coverage of the East Down Combine clubs and members - greatly enjoyed (Thanks Sam - C.B.). And many, many thanks must go to our Peninsula Secretary/Treasurer Mrs Olive Adair for all her hard work throughout the year. She does an excellent job which is very much appreciated.

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