The annual NIPA Ladies Night was held once again at the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick County Antrim on November 9, another packed house and a big prize display of cups, trophies and other awards. Not all of the winners were present but it was fitting that all eight of the NIPA Section Fanciers of the Year were in attendance to collect the top award of the year. Special guests included the Beattie Family from Tandragee who have been long time supporters of the NIPA and have recently sponsored the feeding. Chairman Lyndon Boyle got the proceedings underway just after 7.00pm, he welcomed the good turn-out from across all parts of Northern Ireland. The top table guests included Mr & Mrs Robert Reid Secretary RPRA (Irish Region), INFC past President and RPRA Councillor Sammy Thompson & Mrs Thompson, joined by NIPA officials President Ned Marshall (Killyleagh), Senior Vice President Diamond Carson (Banbridge) and Vice President Joe Kelly (Londonderry).

The Chairman congratulated the various winners including Alan Darragh from Cullybackey who won the NIPA Sect B Fancier of the Year award. This loft had an outstanding season also winning 1st & 2nd Open NIPA from Talbenny, and the J Moreland Memorial Cup for Champion Old Bird of the Year plus the Diploma sponsored by Chimney Corner Auctions. Up in the far North West the A & M Boyle partnership from Ballymoney won 1st Open NIPA from Roscrea and the next week from Clonmel Anthony McDonnell from the Coleraine Premier topped the NIPA for the first time ever. Anthony brought fame to the area when his Champion Bann King won the famous Kings Cup from Les Sables in 1963. At 634 miles it still remains as the longest ever flying winner. The Coleraine Premier HPS had a top season with A Strawbridge winning the Horace Devine Cup for 1st Sect A Lamballe OB Nat and then J L Madden won 1st Open NIPA in the Yearling Hens National flown from Barley Cove.

In East Antrim the Sect C Fancier of the Year award was won into Ballyclare by Sam & Alan Rodney, they had a fantastic season indeed. Arthurs & George from Ballycarry & Dist won 1st Open NIPA in the young bird race from Pilmore Beach with almost 17,000 birds competing. Anthony & Norman Lewis from Doagh & District won the J Campbell Memorial Trophy for 1st Sect C in the OB National for the second season on the trot and for good measure won the highly prizes Devine Memorial Cup for the Best 2 Bird Average in the same race. From Lamballe in France they scored 1st & 2nd Club, 1st & 3rd Sect C and 4th & 10th Open NIPA. D & J Armstrong & Son from Carrickfergus won the H McVeigh Cup for 1st Open NIPA Rosscarbery YB National, a well deserved success after another top season locally. G & L Simpson from Ligoniel & Dist lifted the Volvo trophy for 1st Open NIPA in the Fermoy 5 Bird Championship with young birds.

Roy Parkes & Son topped the NIPA from Tullamore the first time this has happened in Armagh City for well over 20 years, I do believe the last time 1st Open NIPA was won was by Ivan Parkes the father of Roy. A very dedicated loft this Roy has been Treasurer for many years and has the longest unbroken membership of the Armagh HPS. G Buckley & Son from Annaghmore won the NIPA Sect E Fancier of the Year award and 1st Open NIPA Lamballe OB Derby.

NIPA Fancier of the Year 2007

Sect A – M & R Hamilton Coalisland & Dist 239 Points, Sect A West – Alan Hall Omagh & Dist 275 Points, Sect B – Alan Darragh Cullybackey 128 Points, Sect C – S Rodney & Son Ballyclare & Dist 184 Points, Sect D – M & F Russell Dromore West End 181 Points, Sect E – G Buckley & Son Annaghmore 159 Points, Sect F – McGimpsey Bros Ards HPS 639 Points, Sect G – Donnelly Bros Newry City Inv 320 Points.

NIPA Young Fancier of the Year 2007 (RPRA Irish Region Trophy) won by Christopher Tweed Rasharkin & District. Runner-up (N Marshall Cup) no claim at present time. NIPA Old Bird of the Year - J Moreland Memorial Trophy won by A Darragh Cullybackey. NIPA Young Bird of the Year - Irish Region Trophy won by G Buckley & Son Annaghmore. Diplomas for Champion Old & Young Bird are sponsored by Chimney Corner Auctions.

Old Bird Trophy Winners 2007 were: H McCabe Cup Tullamore R Parkes & Son of Armagh vel 1226, G F Whiteside Cup Roscrea A & M Boyle of Ballymoney vel 1417, Gilmore & Beattie Cup Clonmel A McDonnell of Coleraine Premier vel 1768, S Calvert Cup Pilmore Beach Donnelly Bros of Newry City vel 1645, R Harkness Cup Pilmore Beach M & F Russell of Dromore WE vel 1612, Simpson Cup Talbenny (1) B Corley of Monaghan HPS vel 1062, Ledlie Cup Talbenny (2) A Darragh of Cullybackey vel 1336, Northern Bank Trophy Roscrea S Ogle of Drumnavaddy vel 1398, Vint Cup Talbenny (3) W Neill of Annaghmore vel 1418, McCrory Cup Sennen Cove R Williamson of Bondhill vel 1189.

Young Bird Trophy Winners 2007 were: B Hunter Cup Roscrea M & F Russell of Dromore WE vel 1680, W V Troughton Cup Clonmel Donnelly Bros of Newry City vel 1327, S Montgomery Cup Pilmore Beach Arthurs & George of Ballycarry & Dist vel 1559, McIlwaine Cup Tullamore P Lue & Son of Downpatrick vel 1729, S Inglis Cup Fermoy G Buckley & Son of Annaghmore vel 1290.

Average Cup & Trophy Winners 2007 were: Erwin Trophy Best Ave in all Nat & Classic races won by G Buckley & Son Annaghmore vel 1238, B Fox Cup Top placed official etc Lamballe OB Nat won by A Darragh Cullybackey 7th Open, Waring Trophy Best Ave all Nat races won by G Buckley & Son vel 1306, W E Diamond Cup Best Ave Talbenny & Rosscarbery YB Nat’s won by E Matchett & Sons Edgarstown HPS vel 1551, McCluggage Cup Best Ave all cross channel races inc Nat’s won by G Buckley & Son vel 1127, Dickson Cup Best Ave Bude OB & Pilmore Beach YB 25th Aug won by Donnelly Bros Newry City vel 1476, Harper Cup Best Ave Lamballe OB & Talbenny YB Nat won by G Buckley & Son vel 1139, Surgenor Cup Best Ave Talbenny (2), Bude & Sennen Cove won by R Williamson Bondhill vel 1240, Scania Cup best Ave Lamballe & Sennen Cove OB Classic won by G Buckley & Son vel 1062, Agar Cup First Yearling in OB Classic Sennen Cove won by R Williamson vel 1189, Major Lewis Cup Best Ave all races from England & Wales won by Donnelly Bros vel 1210, Devine Memorial Trophy Best 2 Bird Ave Lamballe OB Nat won by A & N Lewis Doagh & Dist vel 1031.

National & Classic winners were: B Fletcher & Son Cup Rosscarbery OB Inl Nat won by D & I Edgar Dromore HPS vel 1730, Stena Trophy Mallow 5 Bird Championship won by T & C Kilpatrick Killyleagh & Dist vel 1369, J H O’Neill Cup Sennen Cove OB Classic won by R Williamson Bondhill vel 1189, Volvo Trophy 5 Bird Championship YB Fermoy won by G & L Simpson Ligoniel vel 1289, McKeown Cup Talbenny YB Nat won by E McKnight Portadown Inv vel 1354, H McVeigh Cup Rosscarbery YB Inl Nat won by D & J Armstrong & Son Carrick vel 1845, News of the World, McComb & Pigeon Portal.com Cups Lamballe OB Nat won by G Buckley & Son Annaghmore vel 1107, D McNeilly Memorial Cup runner-up Lamballe OB Nat won by S Ogle Drumnavaddy vel 1063, Northern Bank Cup Yearling Hen Nat Barley Cove won by J Campbell Cookstown vel 1221, Northern Bank Cup Yearling Cock Nat Barley Cove won by J L Madden Coleraine Premier vel 1258.

Section Trophy Winners 2007

Sect E: E & J McCambley Cups -Talbenny (1) won by B Corley Monaghan vel 1062, Talbenny (2) - won by M Brown Dollingstown vel 1319, Talbenny (3) - won by W Neill Annaghmore vel 1418, Sennen Cove - won by R Williamson Bondhill vel 1189, Lamballe - won by G Buckley & Son Annaghmore vel 1107. Sect A: H Devine Cup Lamballe – won by A Strawbridge Coleraine Prem vel 1023. Sect B: Leslie Mairs Memorial Cup Lamballe - won by Houston Bros Randalstown vel 1038. Sect D: H McVeigh Cup Lamballe - won by Russell Bros Dromara vel 1046. Sect F: A Brown & Family Cup Lamballe – won by Fulton & Dickson Ards vel 922. Sect G: Norman Girvan Memorial Cup Lamballe - won by S Ogle Drumnavaddy vel 1063.

The Bronze, Silver and Gold Diplomas will be featured next time as will the various RPRA (Irish Region) awards.

Homer & Adie

Adie McCormick
Ireland’s Own Pigeon Auctions
www.pigeonnetwork.com
Tel. 028 92 604778.