East Down Combine News
with Clifford Browne
EDC prepares to mark 50 years.
November 17th is the date this year for the East Down Combine?s Annual Dinner /prize night and this promises to be a very special night as it marks the end of the 50th season for the Combine and I know that a number of the founder members will be with us on that night and it will be great to welcome them to enjoy an evening with the organisation which they helped form back all those years ago and to see that it is still a healthy going concern ,despite all the changes over those years and the decline in the pigeon fancy in general . A full report will follow after the evening which this year is being held in the very popular Temple Golf and Country Club which is where the Ballylesson club held their recent prize night and my thanks to Dorothy Smyth for the details and photos of their very successful night .
John Patterson Tops Prize list at Ballylesson
The Ballylesson club help their Annual Dinner and Prize night on Friday October 27th in the Temple Golf and Country Club .This is an excellent venue for these events with great staff and wonderful food and this year proved no exception and the club extends it?s thanks to the Chef and staff who provided a fantastic meal ,the choice being either Roast Sirloin or Turkey and Ham with all the trimmings .
Unfortunately club Secretary John Albert was unable to attend being confined to bed with the flu so it was chairman Paul Johnston who undertook the duties of the evening and he first of all welcomed everyone to the evening and thanked all those who had made the club run so smoothly during the year . He welcomed the club President Mervyn Patterson and his wife who were the chief guests of the evening and called on Mervyn to present the prizes .
The top prize winner this year, as last year ,was the ever youthful John Patterson who at 90 is still as enthusiastic as ever and had no less than 11 club firsts and this included 2 x 1st Open EDC and we will hear more of John?s great season when he returns to this venue on November17th for the Combine?s Annual dinner where he will receive the award of Fancier of the Year for the 2017 season but more of this then . Two other club members had also topped the Combine during the 2017 season , K & B McConaghie &son with their Talbenny YB Derby achievement and Stephen and Aaron Casement with 1st open from the 1st Skibbereen YB Derby .
After all the prizes had been presented the Ballylesson members moved to the lounge and enjoyed the rest of the night ,chatting and dancing to Stephen Beckett an easy to listen to Country & Western group and once again this prize night was enjoyed by all .
BOBBY ALLISON
Sadly staying with Ballylesson the club were saddened to learn of the passing of one of their members Robert ( Bobby ) Allison and have forwarded on the following Tribute. ? It is with much sadness that I have to announce the death of our dear member Bobby Allison . Bobby was a life long member of Ballylesson H.P.S. where he raced in partnership with his son Mark but at the beginning of this year his health was not good and he had to go into a nursing home and sadly passed away on the 29th of October with his family by his side ,so fly high my friend now safe in the arms of his beloved wife Hazel ----All the members of Ballylesson HPS xx.?
******************
BENNETT FERGUSON
It was with deep regret that I learnt of the recent death of Bennett Ferguson who raced with Harry Wilkinson as Ferguson & Wilkinson firstly with the Millisle & District Club of which Bennett was a founder member and its chairman for many years and then latterly the partnership raced in the Donaghadee club and in both clubs they were known for some outstanding performances over the years both at club and Combine and Peninsula Amalgamation level and I extend sincere sympathy to his wife Maureen ,his sons , his brother George and the wider family circle .
**************************
With the racing season now well over news of club dinners ,shows etc most welcome to as always .