NIPA & AROUND
BY ADIE
EMERALD ISLE SUCCESS FOR WILLY VAN HERCK
A chance encounter in 2002, has torpedoed the Northern Ireland based partnership of Philip and Joe Boal up the current leader board in Irish Pigeon Racing circles. The majority of thanks are owed to Willy Van Herck from Retie in Belgium for supplying this award winning family that has many fanciers in Ireland queuing up to visit these Golden Lofts that just can’t put a foot wrong since acquiring this family of birds. Of course any fancier who studies the up and coming Stars in a Country such as Belgium and selects one such as this getting in early, deserves a lot of credit also.
The excellent array of lofts owned by P & J Boal are sited in the picturesque Dromore area of County Down these now house many of the Ace, Stock and Reference pigeons once raced and owned by Willy Van Herck. The premier stock bird collection is added to on an Annual basis and Philip is very proud and honoured to have such a good friendship with Willy that sees him having first option every year of any pigeons that Philip thinks would further enhance his own team of pure Willy Van Herck Stock, a collection which now numbers close to the 100 mark. Philip more recently has bred actual Van Herck pigeons to go back to Belgium.
2007 was an exceptional year for this well established award winning partnership, Philip and Joe racing the Van Herck pigeons won the prestigious RPRA Irish Region Meritorious Award with a pigeon named ’Brother 32’ just to elaborate some what on this performance ’Brother 32’ (GB05D 27032) this Dark Cheq Widowhood cock won 1st Club Dromore HPS, 1st Section D of the NIPA with 126 members sending 2,956 pigeons, over-all in the NIPA Open competition (which can see 1,500 members any week sending upwards of 30,000 pigeons any week) he finished 125th with 1,208 members of this excellent organization sending a staggering 27,075 flying from Thurles flying 220km this was as a yearling. Stardom arrived in 2007 as a 2 year old from Talbenny in South Wales which meant crossing the sticky and some times treacherous Irish Sea. This game pigeon finished 1st Club, 1st Section D of the NIPA with 87 experienced fanciers sending a massive 982 pigeons, in the over-all NIPA Open competition which incorporates all of Northern Ireland he finished 27th Open with 850 members sending 8,300 pigeons flying a total of 300km. He wasn’t finished as the stiff channel racing posed no difficulty to him he went on further to Sennen Cove (South of England) once again he topped the Dromore Club, finished again 1st Section D of the NIPA with 97 members sending 1,092 pigeons, in the over-all Open competition after sitting out (remember no ETS allowed during the O/Bird season last year) he finished an impressive 4th Open with 798 members sending 7,911 pigeons. In a corresponding prestigious Classic Race from the same race point he was to finish once again 1st Club, 1st Section D of the NIPA and overall in the NIPA Open 4th yet again flying 480km. Performances that would surely merit ‘Ace’ status on the continent.
An excellent photo of the RPRA Meritorious Award Winner 'Brother 32' bred and raced by P & J Boal of Dromore.
Since obtaining this award winning family of Willy Van Herck pigeons the Boal Brothers have never looked back, since 2003 winning over 60 x 1st prizes in a country many fanciers around the world class as the most competitive. Of those 60 x 1st’s, 13 of which are NIPA Section D wins with some 300 + members sending 4,000+ pigeons weekly. Philip and Joe Boal would like to express their sincere thanks to Willy Van Herck for supplying what has turned out to be one of the most feared family of pigeons currently flying the Skies in Ireland.
IRISH NATIONAL FLYING CLUB The Irish Nat FC Annual General Meeting was held in the Lisburn Leisure Plex on Saturday, members were in attendance from across Ireland. A full detailed report will follow, it was same again for the election of officials. Resolutions on the agenda included. No 1. Replace the 11 Bird Limit in the Yearling Nat with No Limit was Passed. No 2. Add to Rule 28. Members race entry cheques returned by the bank will incur a £50 penalty was Passed. No 3. The 20p, 30p, and 50p Open & Sect pools be replaced by £3 and £4 pools. Open & Sect Pools will be £1, £2, £3, £4 and £5 was Defeated. The Annual Show has been booked for the Kings Hall on Saturday 13th December the week after the new date for the Old Comrades Show in Doncaster. Members should note that the deadline date for entry in the Kings Cup Single Bird Challenge is 17th March 2008. Cheques at £5 made payable to Irish Nat FC and returned with the entry form to race co-ordinator David Black. With the Kings Cup Race not flown in 2007, lofts entered in that one will have a free entry for 2008.
THE ULSTER FEDERATION The Ulster Federation AGM elected the following officials for 2008. President P O’Neill, Secretary J O’Hara, Chairman A McFarland, Treasurer G Gaw, Race Controller J O’Hara, Convoyer P Neeson, PO J Flood. General Committee – P McCarthy, P O’Neill, B Carson, K Keery, T O’Reilly, J Dillon, F Mudd, R Taylor, R Kenna, J Newberry, J Patton, W Savage.
The old birds will commence 19th April at Kildare and young birds on Monday 14th July at Navan. Old Bird: 19th April Kildare (1), 26th April Kildare (2), 3rd May Thurles (1), 10th May Thurles (2), 17th May Fermoy, 24th May Skibbereen Championship, 31st May Talbenny (1), 7th June Talbenny (2), 14th June Bude, 21st June Sennen Cove, 27th June St Malo. Young Birds: 14th July Navan (1), 19th July Navan (2), 26th July Kildare (1), 2nd August Thurles (1), 9th August Thurles (2), 16th August Fermoy (1), 23rd August Fermoy (2), 30th August Talbenny Derby, 6th September Mallow, 13th September Skibbereen Derby. The Committee of Ulster Federation could not find a suitable site in place at present for Talbenny. Excellent to see Joe Flood back on song for another year, what a job he did last year and the membership should be very thankful for the excellent column that he supplied to me for publication weekly in the RP.
DATES SET FOR BALLYCLARE AND DUBLIN The Annual Pigeon Network - Quiz Night of the Year will be held this year on Friday 24th October at 7.00pm. Venue will be the impressive Ballyclare Comrades Football Club in County Antrim. The night will include an International Quiz Panel, the presentation of the Northern Ireland Fancier of the Year Award as well as the Cornish Connection Cup presentation. A Sale of Gift Birds will also take place with many already promised from some of the top lofts in the country. One difference this year is that the events held both North & South will have its very own separate sale with top quality birds from each location and from numerous other friends we have in the sport. The tickets are priced at £5 per head which will include a light Buffet. More details to follow for what was one of the top nights in the pigeon calendar last year, the Dublin date and venue will be confirmed very soon. The Night of the Year has attracted a lot of attention and more important than that a full house last year in Ballyclare, we hope to repeat that. Keep watching and keep reading, any queries contact Adie or Homer.
ALEXANDRA HPS will have a Breeder & Buyer Race to be flown from the INFC Skibbereen North YB Nat (North Sect) on 20th September and open to all Irish Nat FC members. The 1st Prize will carry a guaranteed £1,000 Breeder and £1,000 Buyer with additional prizes depending on entry. Another couple of sales will take place as follows Grosvenor HPS on Friday 14th March at 7.30pm and Alexandra HPS on Tuesday 25th March at 7.30pm. Any other loft wishing to put up a bird and for further information contact, Matt Hamilton Tel: 07799 253512, Matt Murphy Tel: 07799 765327 or Mo McCrystal Tel: 07749 310820.
BALLYNURE & DISTRICT Open YB Sale will be held in the local clubrooms on Thursday 17th April at 8.00pm, birds on view from 7.00pm. They will have a three way divide for Breeder, Buyer and the Club, the race venue will be decided later. The RPRA License is No. IR08/06.
BRICON will have a Demo Night in Glenavy & Dist this Wednesday at 6.30pm, they will take this opportunity to set up all the Club Systems who have Bricon, uploading the very latest software from Belgium. Bricon will be in your area Newtownards HPS on Thursday 13th March at 7.30pm and Ballymena & Dist HPS on Monday 17th March at 7.30pm.Tel Adie for more info 07835 709877.
BANBRIDGE SOCIAL will have a Breeder & Buyer Sale in the local British Legion Hall in Banbridge on Friday 14th March starting at 8.00pm. The event has been well supported locally and a number of other top lofts have donated birds including M/M C G Gibson, C Lyons, R Carson & Son, J Greenaway, M Croskery, N Black & Son, M Conlon, P McCullough & Family, E McAlinden, Bingham & Seaton, to name but a few. Any other loft wishing to put up a bird Tel: 07737 521355.
TANDRAGEE HPS have arranged a Young Bird Sale to gather funding for a new clubroom, lots of top lofts have donated youngsters. At present the list includes M Hamilton, H McLaughlin, R Williamson, G Buckley & Son, J Smyth & Sons, T & K Mawhinney, M Maguire, G Douglas, M & F Russell, W Neill, R Mills and many more. Contact Darren Thompson Tel: 07748 056815. Venue is Banbridge Legion on Friday 21st March at 7.00pm, birds on view from 6.00pm.
The AGM for Mid Antrim Combine will be held in the Harryville HPS Clubrooms on Wednesday 19th March at 8.00pm. Two Delegates from each club to vote on proposals and a full attendance from all nine local clubs is expected. The local fancy are asked to donate squeakers for a fundraising sale for Harryville Partnership and Ballee Community Associations. This will raise a contribution to go towards the building of Business Units under construction at the Antrim Road close to the Harryville HPS Clubrooms. Bids will start at £25 and the sale will be held at Chimney Corner Football Club on Thursday 27th March at 8.00pm. Contact Robert Service Tel: 07707 455714 or Tommy Service Tel: 07922 947618.
BALLYCARRY & DIST will hold its Annual YB Derby Sale on Friday 28th March in the local clubrooms at Fairhill, Main St in Ballycarry at 7.00pm. The sale will be open to all members of the NIPA Sect C and there will be a £500 guaranteed payout. The RPRA License is No. IR 09/08. Birds must be paid for by the 9th May 2008 (six weeks) to the Treasurer J C Reid. Secretary Andy Cooke is hoping for big support.
The winners who collects awards at the recent prize night for Castledawson HPS.
Castledawson HPS President Kenny Bell (r) presents the NIPA Bronze Diploma to Tommy Leacock. His top racing hen has won 7 x 1sts to date. For the Bronze Diploma he took 7th Sect A & 37th Open NIPA St Malo 2006 and 8th Sect A & 162nd Open NIPA Lamballe 2007.
E Matchett & Sons Highest Prizewinners in the Edgarstown HPS 2007.
Derek Parr (l) sponsor of the Edgarstown HPS shows presents the Highest Points Trophy to T & A Ford.
Called recently and had a chat on the ETS Subject with the members of Ballymoney HPS.
Some fanciers who attended the recent Bricon Demo in the Millisle & District Clubrooms.
Adie McCormick Ireland's Own Pigeon Auction www.pigeonnetwork.com Tel. 028 92 604778
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