KINGDOM RACING PIGEON ASSOCIATION
by Stuart Bowman
2011 PRIZE PRESENTATION
Grace and I attended the Presentation of the Kingdom Racing Pigeon Association recently to applaud the 2011 winners. The Main Guests for the evening were Peter and Jean Virtue from Cockburnspath. The function was held at the Gilvenbank Hotel Glenrothes, and fanciers had travelled from near and far with great anticipation. Before the staff served up a very good meal Chic Dinsdale said Grace. After the Meal, Kingdom President Peter Penman got down to business and introduced the main guests for the evening, Mr & Mrs Peter Virtue. Pete was lavish in his praise reminding everyone of Peter's many successes over the years at the top level. We are beginning to lose count of Peter Virtue's 1st National wins but to bring us right up to date he was 1st Open Reims Gold Medal Race and 1st Open Arras both this year with the SNRPC, which sums up the quality of pigeons racing to the Copath loft!
L-R: SNR Vice President George Harley, Jean Virtue, multiple national winner & main guest Peter Virtue & Mr & Mrs Penman.
Before asking Peter Virtue to say a few words, Pete Penman asked everyone to pause and raise their glass for the Late Jessie Keir our Secretary who passed away in mid September. Pete reminded us that Jessie had been in the sport a long time flying with Husband Jimmy and were a force to be reckoned with. He also went on to say how much she will be missed as the amount of work she had done in the past was unbelievable (three decades); a true worker for the sport!
Peter Virtue was then reintroduced and received a very warm round of applause before going on to make a short speech. He thanked the Kingdom for inviting Jean his good lady and himself along as guests. Then went on to say how much he respected fanciers in the Fife area past and present for their outstanding performances put up over the years in National racing. He was quick to remind us that some of Fife's household names are still with us and how much he liked competing against the Kingdom's fanciers knowing how competitive we are! Peter then wished the Kingdom members the best of luck for 2012 season!
The President Pete Penman then asked Peter Virtue to present the prizes to the winners.
The winner of the first trophy up for grabs was to Davie Wilson who won 1st Open Wanstead Flats and the 2-Bird Ave (1st &7th Open) with birds bred down from Murrry & Ramsay Dundee. Next up was John Ellis who won the following. John won the Cory Mara cup for 1st Open Arras, and the D Murray Memorial trophy and the 2-Bird Ave for 1st & 5th. The winner was also 1st Sect SNRPC and 4th Open. From the YB Open at Wakefield John took the first 5 places and won the Future Trophy, the A & S Crawford trophy for 1st nom bird the 2-Bird Ave trophy which is the Jock Armour memorial. John also won the OB Ave and the Jimmy Keir memorial trophy for most points. Not content at that John also won the Scribes Award for best Ave Wanstead Flats & Arras. Quite some haul.
P. Virtue, P. Penman & Davie Wilson - 1st Open Wanstead Flats.
Next up was George Anderson who won the Combined Ave and the J & J Keir & Son trophy for 1st Yearling in the Association from Arras. Next up was Pete Penman SNR who won the Owen Shaw Trophy for the YB Ave in what was a fantastic YB season for him. I really enjoyed taking a photo of the Three Petes and had to get Pete Vitue in the middle to separate them! Pete maybe your dad will tell you how to win it next year if you clean it all winter for him!!!
Davie Whyte came forward to collect the D&J Keir Trophy for 1st bird in the Association from Reims with the SNRPC. Davie was also 1st Sect 2nd Open which was terrific and only beaten by one Peter Virtue. I hope he bought you a drink Davie! Next up for his Awards was Dave Burns who had a Dream race with the SNRPC from Fontenay not only having the first Association bird but the first three places in the Section and the only three in the Section on the day which has never been done before. To put the icing on the cake Davie was 1st Open National with his Blue Hen and also 3rd and 7th Open a truly wonderful performance and richly deserved! Davie received thunderous applause when he came up to collect the Helen Anderson Memorial Trophy (new trophy) My Little Lady Trophy (Extreme Distance Award) for best Ave Fontenay & Reims, The Channel King Award for best Ave Reims Fontenay & Arras also The Masters Award for best Ave Fontenay & Arras. Without doubt one of Scotlands success stories in National racing during 2011!
Jim Benvie came forward to collect the John Mackenzie Trophy for 1st Association Bird from the SNRPC YB National at Peterborough where Jim won 1st Sect, 9th Open with a Darkness youngster. Jim Anderson then came forward to collect the trophy for 1st Nom bird from Wanstead Flats, the K & M Crawford best Ave all SNRPC races and the Challenge trophy best Ave all Association Open races & SNRPC races.
From the difficult SNRPC Wanstead Flats race it was my old mate John Mackenzie had the 1st Association bird and also won 1st Sect, 14th Open. Unfortunately John could not attend, but Ian McClaren was there to step in for his club mate. John Anderson won The Earn Your Corn Award for best Ave Reims & Arras he also won Presidents cup ( New Cup) presented to the Kingdom by Mr & Mrs Penman for best Ave by the same pigeon from the last two Kingdoms OB Open races from Wanstead Flats & Arras. This would not be easy but John managed it with his pigeon winning 29th Open Wanstead Flats and 2nd Open Arras. Unfortunately John also could not attend as he was away on holiday. Hope you had a good time John! Ian McClaren also collected Johns trophies for him. Finally Jim Anderson was asked up again for winning Fancier Of The Year in the KRPA after a very consistent season. Very well done Jim!
Pete Penman, P. Virtue & Jim Anderson - Fancier of the Year KRPA.
P. Penman, P.Virtue & Ian McClaren.
P. Penman, P. Virtue & Dave Burns - 1st Open SNRPC Fontenay.
P. Penman, P. Virtue & Jim Benvie - 1st section YB Peterborough.
P. Penman, P. Virtue & George Anderson - Combined Ave Winner.
P. Penman, P.Virtue & Pete Penman - SNR YB Ave Winner.
P. Penman, P.Virtue, & Davie Whyte - 1st Section Reims.
P. Virtue, P. Penman & John Ellis centre - 1st Open Wakefield.
Young Ones Having Fun!
NEHU sec David Power, Jim Anderson & Margaret Anderson of Scone.
Then it was the turn of the ladies to except some beautiful bouquets, before completing the presentation and asking everyone to enjoy themselves! The rest of the night was spent doing just that and some really enjoyed themselves on the dance floor boogying! Take my word for it i’ve got the pictures to prove it! Old friendships were renewed and some brand new ones made as always.
It would not go amiss for me to say well done to all who organised the Presentation, for a lot of work and foresight goes into it. Whether it be organising the meals, the layout of tables, getting the trophies ready all in the correct place, seeing to the entertainment, running the raffle and so on, even picking up the guests for the correct hotel. There is quite a few things the secy and Pres have to remember. This is the Presidents first year in the hot seat and im sure the members agree Peter Penman has done a very good job under the circumstances. I know that Pete is very appreciative for the support he has had particularly from his wife and SNR Vice Pres George Harley. This seems to auger well for the future and if the Dinner & Dance is anything to go by then things should go from strength to strength!
