EAST DOWN COMBINE
Reports by Clifford Browne
Moot raises £1470 for EDC Bereavement Fund
One of the early funds which the East Down Combine set up after its formation was a widow’s fund which is known now as the EDC Bereavement fund and this year the Committee held a very successful moot as a fundraiser for this very worthy cause which was held on Friday October 24th in Magee’s lounge in Crossgar and proved to be a fantastic night. The Committee give a very special thanks to the panel Ron Mc Kelvey, Peter Martin, Owen Markey and Chairman Wesley Sawyers who each gave a very detailed account of how they manage their team of birds throughout the whole year which was very well received by the large audience. A light supper was served and one of the other main events of the evening was the sale by auction of 14 gift birds auctioned by Wesley Sawyers and the total sum raised for the fund was a magnificent £1470 with the top price of the night being a bird sold to a Scottish fancier for £210 from the lofts of Ballylesson’s C&D Smyth & Sons who had enjoyed another excellent season in 2014 finishing in 3rd place in the Fancier of the Year competition.
John Patterson top prize-winner at Ballylesson
Friday October 17th was the Ballylesson Dinner and Prize Distribution which was again held this year in the clubrooms of the Ballylesson club. The evening started with a beautiful 4 course meal supplied by Hilltop Caterers after which the club Chairman welcomed everyone and congratulated all those who had done well throughout 2014 with members having won the Combine Open on several occasions. Secretary John Albert then called upon the club’s vice President Alan McWilliams to present the trophies and cups.
The club’s top prize-winner for 2104 was that super fancier John Patterson who at the age of 87 surely must be an inspiration to all - well done John. From the montage of photos of the night it can be seen that many of the members shared in the prizes.
With the presentation over the remainder of the evening was given over to dancing and chat, the music being supplied by John Lawson.
East Down2bird News
Although the 2 bird dinner is some way off, the winners of the 2014 season are as follows and we will have a closer look at these after the prize night:
LEAGUE A S REGAN - 26 points shared with F. GILMORE also 26 points
LEAGUE B J PATTERSON 24 points
LEAGUE C S&K DUKE 30 points
LEAGUE D C HEALEY 28 points
GIBSON CUP S&K DUKE
OLD BIRD INLAND AVG W Mc MASTER & SON
OLD BIRD SKIB CLASSIC F GILMORE
PENZANCE CUP D Mc NABB & PARTNERS
ST MALO O/B CUP J CLELAND
CHANNEL AVG J Mc GREEVY
OLD BIRD COMBINED AVG J&R YOUNG
OLD BIRD K.O J McGreevy
OLD BIRD OF THE YEAR J McGreevy
1st SKIBBEREEN Y/B DERBY J YOUNG & PARTNERS
2nd SKIBBEREEN Y/B DERBY W Mc MASTER & SON
TALBENNY Y/B DERBY K&B Mc CONAGHIE & SON
2nd MOUNT CHARLES GORDON BROS & SONS
COMBINED AVERAGES C HEALEY
Y/B OF THE YEAR S&K DUKE
YOUNG BIRD AVERAGE Mc CARTAN & WOODSIDES
The club extends a sincere thanks to the following for their sponsorship to the club in 2014
J SAVAGE (PIGEON VITALITY)
H BEATTIE & SON
R KIRKWOOD
Well that’s it for this week and my thanks to Dorothy Smyth for the photos for this article.
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