Irish National AGM
INFC Annual meeting held in Lisburn –
The 73rd AGM for Irish Nat Flying Club was held in the Lagan Valley Leisure Plex, Lisburn Leisure Park, Governors Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim. BT28 1LP on Saturday 15th March 2025. The event had to be delayed by one week due to a double booking. Despite this another poor attendance with under 50 recorded from across Ireland. The Chairman Cormac O’Hare welcomed the members and firstly requested we stand for a moment in memory of those members and family members who had passed away in the last year.
The Secretary Trevor Topping read the minutes of the previous A.G.M. held in 2024.The minutes were accepted as a true record as to what took place.
Secretary’s Report for the 2024 season.
I would like to thank the following sponsors during the past season Bamford’s Top Flight, Natural Grains, H. Beattie & Son \ Beattie Bird and Pet Foods, Home Farm Pigeon Supplies and Danny Dixon Dunloy, also to the BHW for the discount on publishing rates for race results. The sponsorship special prizes are greatly appreciated by all the club members.
2024 will go down in history as one of the most difficult experienced for many years. Three races had to be rescheduled due to poor weather, Skibbereen old birds one week Friendship National one week and Penzance young birds ten days. A lot of time and effort was put in to getting racing. I congratulate all national race winners and prize winners during the past season. The race advisors, Peter McKeown, Nigel Gordon and Jim Armstrong persevered all season and got reasonable racing. Thanks for all your efforts when the weather caused problems, the race advisors had to make some very difficult decisions with dates having to be changed and the Friendship national having to be moved to Penzance which created lots of difficulties. Thanks to Jim Armstrong who is stepping down from his role as race advisor.
The annual prize distribution was held once again in 2024 in the Stormont Hotel Belfast with Ronnie Johnston making the necessary arrangements, numbers were lower than normal. The awards were presented by Mr. Jim McCrory who has given over fifty years’ service transporting and convoying pigeons to release points.
I wish to thank the committees of the East Down Combine and Ulster Federation for assistance with transport during the 2024 season. On behalf of the members, I wish to thank all of those committee members and club members who helped at the race markings, clock settings and checking’s and the race controllers. Also, thanks to Jim McCrory, Vincent McCrory, Martin McCrory, Brian McCrory and Gareth Ward for their great work and assistance in transporting the pigeons along with Paddy Cullen. Also, many thanks to management of Danescroft Equestrian Centre for their cooperation and assistance at the marking centre. I would like to point out that only for the cooperation of those involved in transport and the Equestrian Centre it would have been impossible to reschedule racing.
I personally thank the officials, committee members, press officer and any members who helped me during the season and the past twenty-five years. Thanks to Bertie and Tom Marshall, who have been removed from the I.H.U. management committee after over 40 years’ service. I hope we all have a successful 2025 season.
Convoyer’s race reports. The convoyer’s race reports were available for inspection. The reports cover travel route taken and times of rest and feeding and watering of the pigeons. The weather conditions at the release site at time of release and observations at the release site and on the return journey. For the second year no report on the INFC Charity Show held in Lisburn last December.
Accounts for 2023.
The audited accounts for 2023 were sent out to all members in the 2024 race entry form booklet. The closing balance for 2023 was £53,654. The accounts for 2023 were adopted by those present at the meeting.
Election of officers for 2025.
Patron Mr Ronnie Johnston President Mr W. Sawyers (RPRA). Senior Vice President (I.H.U) to be confirmed. Junior Vice President Mr J. Serplus (R.P.R.A). Life Vice Presidents Mr J. Doheny, Mr J. Hughes, Mr R. Johnston, Mr D. Black, Mr S. Collins, Mr E. Fitzgerald and Mr C. Browne.
The new leadership team for Irish Nat FC 2025 President Wesley Sawyers, Chairman Cormac O’Hare and joint Secretaries Nigel Goron and Gary Donaldson.
Chairman Mr C. O’Hare Ballyholland, Secretary to be confirmed. Treasurer vacant.
Press Officer Mr W. Reynolds Ballymena & District. Tel Mobile 07538 238364. E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Race advisors: Mr P. McKeown Dundalk, Mr J. Trinble Annalong; Mr N. Gordon Castlebellingham. Auditor Mr P. Alister Lisburn.
Management committee from R.P.R.A.
A. Thompson Ballyclare, E. McGimpsey Ards, R. Duddy Ballyclare, J. Serplus Laurelvale, C. O’Hare Ballyholland, C. Lyons Hillsborough & Maze, G. Donaldson Edgarstown, R. Service Ballymena, A. Larkin Meadows, N Lewis Doagh, P. Dunlop Edgarstown, G. Simmons Edgarstown, R. Topping Lisburn, R. McCracken Markethill, R. Turkington Doagh.
Management committee from I.H.U.
J. Trimble Annalong, D. D McKee Dundak, K Anderson Ardee, W. Waite Shankill, B. P Arthurs Boyne Valley, B. McLoughlin Annalong, L. Wilson Shankill, P. McKeown Dundalk, R. Trimble Ballylesson, A. Smith Ardee, B. Crawley Ardee, N. Gordon Dundalk, D. Devine Skerries, V. Flood Dublin North East.
Appeals Committee.
R.P.R.A. To be confirmed
I.H.U. To be confirmed
Finance Committee. To be confirmed. Website To be confirmed.
Race programme agreed for 2025. Tuesday 27th May Skibbereen Old Bird, Wednesday 11th June Sennen Cove Yearling, Saturday 28th June or 29th St Allouestre Kings Cup Grand Nat, Saturday 5th July or 6th St Malo/Plougastel Friendship Nat, Wednesday 3rd September Penzance YB Grand Nat, Saturday 20th September Skibbereen YB.
Rule changes and adjustments.
Rules.
Meetings.
11. Meetings of the management committee shall be convened from time to time to deal with business as may be convenient.
12. The Annual meeting of the Club shall be in March each year, members to be advised of the time, date and venue on the club web site at least fourteen days before the date. All notices of motion shall be in the hands of the Secretary by 31st December. The proposer must be in attendance. All notices of motion to be published on the club web site with the notice for the meeting.
Finance.
24. At the end of each financial year the accounts shall be prepared, audited and submitted to the members not later than seven days before an Annual General Meeting.
27. General running costs of the club shall were possible be made by cheque. No purchase or payments shall be made unless it is for general expenses connected with races or administration of the club and vouched for. No other purchase or payments shall be made without the expressed permission of the Management Committee or in necessity the Chairman and President.
Racing Rules.
6. Race results shall be published on the club web site, giving full particulars of winning pigeons, together with distance flown. Winning pigeons to be verified for proof of ownership, liberated outside the loft and seen to re-enter. In some cases, it may be required to check loft locations and check distances flown. Misleading information will entail disqualification.
7. Cups & Trophies winners will be advertised on the club web site and were possible in the press and members will have seven days to object.
18. That in all I.N.F.C. races there are three race advisors, representing the south section and the north section to work with the convoyer in keeping him informed of weather conditions expected on line of flight. The convoyer will have an input in the decision to liberate.
All the Rule Changes were accepted and the Notice of Motion from the Management Committee carried. The Skibbereen old bird and young bird races are now only North & South Section. (Middle Section) has been removed.
Please note Annual Subscriptions for 2025.
Existing member £30.00 or euro’s €37.50 payable through your club.
New member £30.00 or euro’s €37.50 payable through your club.
Any Individual member paying direct £40.00 or euro’s €50.00.
Any New individual members paying direct £40.00 or euro’s €50.00.
The management committee have decided that no notices for the meeting will be posted in 2025 due to the current situation with the postal delivery service.
Single Bird Challenge King’s Cup 2025
Entry is £10.00 or €12.50
Entry forms can be downloaded from the web site. NOTE Deadline was 17th March 2025.
Irish Nat FC 2025 – Tuesday 27th May Skibbereen Old Bird, Wednesday 11th June Sennen Cove Yearling, Saturday 28th June or 29th St Allouestre Kings Cup Grand Nat, Saturday 5th July or 6th St Malo/Plougastel Friendship Nat, Wednesday 3rd September Penzance YB Grand Nat, Saturday 20th September Skibbereen YB.
Message on Facebook from Alan Larkin.
INFC secretary - It gives us great pleasure to announce the new joint secretaries of the INFC. Nigel Gordon and Gary Donaldson. The applicants came together and agreed to move forward in partnership to run our club into the future. We would like to acknowledge the long service of Trevor Topping and family for the past 25 years and thank them for the same. Congratulations to Nigel and Gary, and let’s move forward into the future to strengthen the Irish National Flying Club. Yours in sport. C O’ Hare and W Sawyers.
Mid Antrim update - Due to an objection MAC Chairman Robin Service has ordered that the AGM be reconvened to be held in the Ballymena & District HPS clubrooms on Wednesday 16th April at 7.30pm. Every club was represented at the earlier meeting and hopefully we get another full attendance.
Included on the agenda a Resolution from Ballymena & District HPS. Propose that any new member applying to join the Mid Antrim Combine be vetted by the Delegates of the existing member clubs, to have a Ballymena address and are not permitted to double duplicate to compete. Meeting date Wednesday 16th April at 7.30pm.
NIPA 2025 Race Programme as per website 23rd March
OLD BIRDS:
19/4/25 Kilbeggan
26/4/25 Roscrea
3/5/25 Cloughmartin
10/5/25 Fermoy
17/5/25 Grenagh (6039)
24/5/25 Dunmanway OB Inland Nat
24/5/25 Kinsale (6040)
31/5/25 Dale
7/6/25 Dale
7/6/25 Fermoy 5 Bird
14/6/25 Bude
14/6/25 Dunmanway Yearling Nat
21/6/25 Penzance & Classic
21/6/25 Cloughmartin
27/6/25 St Malo/ Plougastel
YOUNG BIRDS:
19/7/25 Kilbeggan
26/7/25 Kilbeggan
2/8/25 Roscrea
9/8/25 Cloughmartin
16/8/25 Fermoy
23/8/25 Kinsale & 5 Bird
30/8/25 Dale YB Nat
30/8/25 Roscrea
6/9/25 Grenagh
13/9/25 Dunmanway YB National. A meeting has been arranged for Tuesday 25th which will bring the membership up to date on what transport is available to NIPA in transporting the pigeons into Southern Ireland for 2025 and the UK in 2026. The secretary has stated the options available will not be welcomed by the membership. Watch out for the details from this important meeting, it don’t look good.
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This season winner Dinny Kinsella collects the |
Geoffrey Douglas from The Meadows in Lurgan won |
Mooney Ylr NatD Mooney from Dublin North County |
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Danny Dixon from Ballymoney wins the J M K McGugan cup |
National Champions (Best Ave all races) 2024 |
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“Misty Lad” Kings Cup Grand National winner for Dinny Kinsella. |
“Venus” YB Grand Nat Penzance winner for Danny Dixon. |
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
