EAST DOWN COMBINE
Reports by Clifford Browne
46th Annual EDC Prize Night & Dinner
It’s hard to believe but Friday November 15th was the 46th Annual Dinner and Prize Distribution of the East Down Combine which was formed way back in 1966. This year just over one hundred members, family and friends of the East Down Combine met in the Millbrook Lodge Hotel to award the prizes for the 2013 season.
A lot of hard work goes into the preparation for these dinners ensuring that all trophies are returned from the previous year and then correctly allocating them and Sam Duke who is the Combine’s hard working Financial Secretary did a magnificent job in getting the correct award to the right fancier.
The evening got underway with the chairman Len McCavery asking me to say Grace after which we all enjoyed a first rate turkey dinner. After the meal Len McCavery got the prize distribution underway and introduced the top table and the chief guest for the evening Combine President Colin Watson who was accompanied by his wife, but before asking Colin to present the prizes Len gave a short account of the 2013 season and extended thanks to a number of people - the office Bearers and the general Committee for all their assistance throughout the season and once again Marshall Bird Foods for supplying the feeding for the 2013 season, the drivers, convoyers and race Controllers, the Weather Committee and the Press Officers and Jim Cleland for the upkeep of the crates. One of the highlights of this evening is the award of East Down Combine “Fancier of the Year” and this year the Crossgar partnership of McCartan & Woodsides were the recipients of this prestigious award for 2013 having been previous runners up and I hope to have more on this partnership and their performances in this column in the near future.
Once again this year after the meal and presentation of the prizes it was time to chat and catch up with old friends or dance to music supplied by “Cloud Nine” and once again I trust I have not missed anyone from the very extensive list of winners and can I extend my own congratulations to all the winners on their outstanding performances.
I have included a selection of photos this week of prize winners from the night and will have more in future weeks, so if your picture does not appear this week it should do so before Christmas.
East Down Combine Cup Winners 2013
Ringland Classic Cup - Skibbereen Classic - McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar)
Kilpatrick Cup - 1st Talbenny - McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar)
Wm Lowry Cup - 2nd Talbenny - Mackey & Lockhart (Ballylesson)
Derek Wishart mem. Classic Cup - Fermoy - P McCartan (Annsborough)
Taylor Cup - Bude - Not Flown
McCausland Cup - Penzance - W McMaster & son ( Ballywalter)
H & S Muckle Cup - Penzance Classic - J McGreevy (Crossgar)
MacMillan Mem. Cup - Portland O/B Derby - S Brown & sons (Dundonald)
E Carlisle Cup - 5th Old Bird race (Fermoy) - Harper & Young (Cloughey)
Castlewellan Show Cup - 5th YB Race - Gordon Bros & sons (Cloughey)
Jefford Memorial - Lowest Inland vel - McComb Bros ( Killyleagh Central) vel 1342
R Johnston Cup - 1st Skibbereen YB Derby - Gordon Bros & sons (Cloughey)
Skibbereen Cup - Ken McConaghie Skibbereen YB Derby - Gordon bros & sons (Cloughey)
McNeil Mem.Cup - OB National King’ s Cup - S Milligan & dtr (Tyrella)
Charity Shield - Talbenny YB Derby - K & B McConaghie & son (Ballylesson)
Average Cup Winners 2013
Brown cup - Old Bird average - S Brown &Sons (Dundonald) vel 1378
McCartan Memorial - Old Bird Inland Average - Gordon bros & sons (Cloughey)
L& A Fields Mem.cup - Best Average over OB Classic and OB Derby - S Brown & Sons (Dundonald)
Mrs Magee Cup - Young Bird average - Gordon Bros & sons (Cloughey)
D Logan Cup - Best Average Penzance & 2nd Skibbereen YB Derby - W McMaster & son (Ballywalter)
Channel Averages-North region Cup - Best Average over 3 Channel races
S Brown & sons (Dundonald)
R Moore & Son cup - Best average over channel championship races - W & L Robinson (Hillfoot)
McCloud Cup - best average over all Derbies - W & N Cully (Portavogie)
Newcombe Trophy - Best average last 3OB and Last 2 YB races -McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar)
Edward Hardy Mem Cup - Best average over last OB race and last YB races - W McMaster & son (Ballywalter)
Marie Cromie Mem.Cup - Best Average over YB Inland Derbies - Gordon Bros & sons (Cloughey)
R Russell mem. Cup - Best average channel races and Old bird Derby - S Brown & sons (Dundonald)
Morrow Cup - Under 21 Fancier of the Year 2013 - R & K O’Neill (Drumaness)
Ian Cousins Memorial Cup - Best O/B Classic & 2 Y/B Inland Derby Races - Gordon bros & Sons (Cloughey)
H Morrow Memorial Cup - Fancier of the Year 2013 - McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar) 1494 points
Framed Diplomas for EDC Members performance in the INFC 2013
Skibbereen Old Bird National - 1st EDC Member- R Irwin (Dundonald) 22nd North Section
Sennen Cove Yearling National - 1st EDC Member -K Rooney, son & dtr (Annalong) 3rd Open 3rd North Section
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup - 1st EDC member - S Milligan & dtr (Tyrella) 13th open 12th North Section
Quimper Friendship National - 1st EDC Member - G & J O’Hare (Crossgar) 17th open
Penzance YB National-- 1st EDC Member - C & J Healy (Killyleagh Central) 66th open 62nd North Section
Young Bird Skibbereen National - 1st EDC Member - R Irwin (Dundonald) 13th North section
Champion Pigeons 2013
Old Bird - S Brown & sons (Dundonald)
Young Bird -Gordon Bros & sons (Cloughey)
Achievement Award Winner 2013 (for bird placed 3 times in OB Derby result)
L & H Fields (Hillfoot)
S Killen & Sons (Cloughey)
Framed IHU Meritorious awards for 2013
1st Talbenny & 2nd Mount Charles - S Brown & Sons (Dundonald)
2nd Talbenny & Penzance - McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar)
3 bird Channel Championship 2013
1st Talbenny - S Brown & Sons (Dundonald)
2nd Talbenny - Mackey & Lockhart (Ballylesson)
Bude - NOT FLOWN
Penzance W & L Robinson (Hillfoot)
Club championship points
Old Bird Season - Crossgar H.P.S. 132points
Young Bird Season - Cloughey H.P.S. 130 points
East Section Fancier of the Year 2013 M Croskery (Annsborough) 587 points
West Section Fancier of the Year 2013 McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar) 597 points
East Down Combine Breeder/Buyer winners 2013
Breeder T Topping & son
Buyer D & R Topping
DIPLOMAS FOR EAST DOWN COMBINE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013
OLD BIRD INLAND CHAMPION Gordon Bros & sons (Cloughey) 187 points
O/B/I WEST SECTION CHAMPION McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar) 80 points
O/B/I/EAST SECTION CHAMPION Gordon bros & sons (Cloughey) 67points
OLD BIRD CHANNEL CHAMPION S Brown & sons (Dundonald) 141 points
O/B/C WEST SECTION CHAMPION S Brown & Sons (Dundonald) 70 points
O/B/C EAST SECTION CHAMPION M Croskery (Annsborough) 41points
YOUNG BIRD CHAMPION Gordon bros & sons (Cloughey) 322 points
Y/B EAST SECTION CHAMPION Gordon Bros & sons (Cloughey) 174points
Y/B WEST SECTION CHAMPION J Young & ptnrs (Dundonald) 126 points
East Down Combine Centre Prizewinners
Crossgar: McCartan &Woodsides (Crossgar) - Skibbereen Classic
J McGreevy (Crossgar) - Portland OB Derby
Gordon bros & sons (Cloughey) - 1st SkibbereenYB Derby
Gordon Bros & Sons (Cloughey) - 2nd Skibbereen YB Derby
D Croskery & son (Annsborough) - Talbenny YB Derby
Ballywalter Harper & Young (Cloughey) - Skibbereen Classic
L Young (Portavogie) - Portland OB Derby
McCormick & Muckle (Millisle) - 1st Skibbereen YB Derby
S Regan (Ballywalter) - 2nd Skibbereen YB Derby
W & N Cully (Portavogie - Talbenny YB Derby
Newtownbreda: L McKinstry (Dundonald) - Skibbereen Classic
S Brown & sons (Dundonald) - Portland OB Derby
F Gilmore (Comber Social) - 1st Skibbereen YB Derby
A Cousins & sons (Ballylesson) - 2nd Skibbereen YB Derby
K & B McConaghie & son (Ballylesson) - Talbenny YB Derby
Open and Section winners 2013 - Old Birds:
Mullingar - 1st open 1st West Section - J Patterson (Ballylesson)
8th Open- 1st East Section - R Moore & son (Bangor)
Tullamore - 1st open - 1st East section--McComb Bros (Killyleagh Central)
1st West section 10th open - R Hunter (Ballynahinch )
1st Mount Charles - 1st open 1st East section - B & J Donnan (Portavogie)
9th Open 1st West section - McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar)
2nd Mount Charles 1st open - 1st West section - C & D Smyth & sons (Ballylesson)
5th Open - 1st East Section - D & K McCutcheon (Donaghadee)
1st Fermoy - 1st open 1st East Section - Harper & Young (Cloughey)
16th open - 1st West Section - D Brennan (Hillfoot)
Skibbereen Classic - 1st Open 1st West section - McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar)
2nd open 1st East section - McComb Bros (Killyleagh Central)
1st Talbenny - 1st open 1st West Section - McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar)
2nd open - 1st East section - J Maguire & ptnrs (Dundrum)
2nd Talbenny - 1st Open 1st West Section - Mackey & Lockhart (Ballylesson)
4th open - 1st East section - K Rooney, son & dtr (Annalong)
Fermoy Classic - 1st Open - P McCartan (Annsborough)
2nd Fermoy - 1st Open 1st West section - R Irwin (Dundonald)
7th Open - 1st East section - R Moore & son (Bangor
Penzance - 1st Open - 1st East section - W McMaster & son (Ballywalter)
2nd Open - 1st West section----J McGreevy (Crossgar)
Penzance Classic - 1st open 1st West Section - J McGreevy (Crossgar)
3rd open 1st East Section - R McDowell & son (Annsborough)
Portland O/B Derby - 1st Open 1st West section - S Brown & sons (Dundonald)
4th open 1st East section - L Young (Portavogie)
Young Birds
1st Navan - 1st open 1st West section - J Young & ptnrs (Dundonald)
22nd Open - 1st East section - Gordon bros & sons (Cloughey)
2nd Navan - 1st open 1st West Section - J Young & ptnrs (Dundonald)
5th open - 1st East Section - S Regan (Ballywalter)
Mullingar - 1st Open 1st East Section - B Young (Portavogie)
1st West Section - J Young & ptnrs (Dundonald)
Tullamore - 1st open - 1st West Section - McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar)
2nd open - 1st East Section - Gordon bros & sons (Cloughey)
1st Mt Charles - 1st open - 1st East Section - Gordon bros & sons (Killyleagh Central)
33rd open - 1st East Section - T Horner & sons (Crossgar)
Fermoy - 1st open 1st East Section - Gordon Bros & sons (Killyleagh Central)
11th open 1st West Section - T McConnell (Dundonald)
1st Skibbereen YB Derby - 1st Open 1st East section - Gordon Bros & sons (Cloughey)
2nd open - 1st West section - Caskey & Adair (Crossgar)
Talbenny YB Derby - 1st open 1st West Section - K & B McConaghie & son (Ballylesson)
3rd Open 1st East Section - D Croskery & son (Annsborough)
2nd Mt Charles - 1st open 1st East section - Gordon bros & sons (Killyleagh Central)
23rd open 1st West section - J Young &ptnrs (Dundonald)
2nd Skibbereen - 1st Open 1st East section - Gordon Bros & sons (Cloughey)
Y/B Derbyn - 3rd open 1st West section - S & K Duke (Crossgar)
East Down2bird News
Secretary Stephen Logan has forwarded me the result of the Golden ring scheme run at the end of the young bird season which was:
1st Gordon Bros & sons £200
2nd B Young £100
3rd J &R Young £ 70
Full results of leagues and Cup winners will follow shortly.
Sam Regan reports from Around the Ards Peninsula
Reminder of Forthcoming Peninsula Amalgamation Event
The Annual presentation of prizes and Show for the Peninsula Amalgamation and 3 bird club will take place on Saturday December 7th 2013 in the Portavogie Pigeon club. The Show will have 3 classes - Any age Hen (handled), Any age Cock (handled) and eyesign with a £10 entrance fee which covers all 3 classes. Birds can be penned from 12noon with judging commencing at 1.30pm, please note these times.
Would all Peninsula members who won trophies in 2012 please make sure that these are returned to the Secretary Mrs Olive Adair prior to December 7th. It is hoped that there will be a good turnout of members for this the final event of the Amalgamation’s year and enjoy a day out and the facilities which the Portavogie club have.
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Well that’s it for this week and I’ll close with an early mention of the Bangor open Christmas show which will be held on December 28th In the Portavogie clubrooms, further details nearer the time.
Photo Gallery
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