EAST DOWN COMBINE
with Clifford Browne
50th racing season commences 8th April 2017
With only a few weeks to go now until the start of the 2017 season I thought this might be a good time to reflect on the fact that this is the 50th season for the East Down Combine, the first racing season having been in 1967 and Dorothy Smyth has sent me a photo from back then of some of the pioneers of the Combine and I thought a little background might be of interest to readers.
It all began back in 1966 when there was a growing feeling amongst a number of Fanciers in the East Down area that they were off the main line of flight of other organisations and there was a growing movement looking towards an independent organisation and this manifested itself on October 18th 1966 when representatives from interested clubs in the East Down area met in the Newtownards clubrooms and from this meeting the East Down Combine was formed. (I well remember this meeting)
The first office bearers were PRESIDENT -Major McIntyre ( Dundonald) CHAIRMAN -W Kernohan (Ballynahinch) V/CHAIRMAN- R Johnston (Dundonald) SECRETARY-J Truman (Newtownards ) TREASURER - R Orr ( Portavogie) .
Members joining what was to be known as the East Down Combine made a £2 per head loan to the Combine for the purchase of what was to be Ireland’s first pigeon road transporter which was bought from Taylors of Chester at a cost back then of £3,300 and Newcastle’s Paddy Cunningham was appointed as driver.
The area covered by the Combine was from Bangor in the North to Annalong in the South and Portavogie in the East to Ballylesson in the West a total of some 21 clubs applied to join and this figure has remained fairly static although the membership of most of the clubs has fallen over the years .
Racing costs in those far off days was 5p per bird and another thing which the Combine introduced was a widows fund the originator of this was Mr West of Newtownards with each club having a box for donations in their clubrooms .
Over the last 50 years the Combine has gone through many ups and downs which included having the transporter burnt out, No racing from the South because of fowlpest when the North road had to be flown and dealing with the vagaries of the weather , good races and some not so good ,but throughout it all the East Down Combine has felt like a family organisation and credit for this must lie with those pioneers who got together back in 1966 . Congratulations on reaching the 50 year mark and may the EDC continue to go from strength to strength.
Eddie Newcombe
Back in the early days of the Combine I had the pleasure of meeting Eddie Newcombe when with Jock Reid they were over in Belfast (Jock moved to Donaghadee and from there raced with the EDC) but as we know Eddie moved to Malta but such was his interest in the EDC that he presented the Combine with a lovely Trophy ,known as the Newcombe Trophy and this was to be awarded for -best average last 4 old birds ( cross channel events) and the last 2 young bird races ,which makes it one of the most difficult trophies to win .
We were all saddened to learn of Eddie’s recent death and on behalf of myself and the Combine can I extend sincere sympathy to the family at this sad time .
East Down Combine Breeder/Buyer 2017
I must have had a couple of Senior moments when I first put in the notices for the Combine Breeder/buyer and the 2 bird Golden ring for old birds, getting my year’s mixed up ,so as a timely reminder of both ---The East Down Combine is again running their Breeder/Buyer competition and the relevant information on this for everyone is ;
Only EDC members can buy birds ,but NIPA and Ulster Fed members can enter birds for sale with a maximum of 2 birds per member.
There will be 4 Prizes ,1st -50% , 2nd 25%, 3rd -15% 4th 10%
50% to breeder & 50% to buyer
To be raced for in the 1st Skibbereen YB Derby
Auction will be held in the Temple Golf & Country Club on Thursday 30th March 2017
Auction time 8pm
Auctioneer Doley Croskery
IMPORTANT : 1)The buyer must race the bird to their loft
2) Birds Ring numbers cannot be changed under any circumstances
3) All Breeder/Buyers must be claimed on the Derby Envelopes
The address of the Temple Golf & Country club is 66 Church Road
Temple
BT27 6UP
For further information contact Dorothy Smyth on 07789231086
This event last year saw the winners C & D Smyth & sons who bred and raced the winner lift a cheque for £1714 so it is a competition well worth having an entry for
East Down2bird News
NEW FOR 2017
The 2 bird club are also going to hold a Golden Ring event for Old birds and this will be flown on the 6th OB race of the 2017season and will be run on exactly the same lines as the young Bird event with entries being with the Secretary by the 2nd OB race of the season .
