Celebration at Dromara for fanciers

Celebration at Dromara for fanciers

27 February 2019

DROMARA HPS recently held their annual dinner and prize distribution in the Pheasant Restaurant, Annahilt.

Unfortunately, numbers were down a little this year with some members unable to attend due to health reasons and the club would like to wish Albert McKinstry and Harry Silcock speedy recoveries. 

Although some older members were missing, it was great to welcome two new members, Matthew Russell and Christopher Rooney who was accompanied by his wife, Gail.

After a beautiful meal Mr and Mrs Rooney presented the prizes and cups. As everyone knows, Dromara is a strong club but this year surpassed all expectations with the club being the only one in Ireland to have its members win two INFC Nationals.

N Black & Son won the Friendship National and N Edgar & Son won the Skibbereen National. 

The Edgar partnership had a fantastic young bird season as well, winning the NIPA Young Bird National from Rosscarbery. 

N Black & Son also won the NIPA section D Old Bird Channel fancier. Russell Brothers also had another great season winning the highly prized McBride Cup for the channel averages plus winning Penzance Classic. 

C & L Fryers had the first bird from Dromara in the King’s Cup. McKinstry Brothers had some great results along with T Marshall & Son, first bird in Penzance Young Bird, D McCandless Yearling National winner.

Mr & Mrs Stevenson again did well inland as well as beating the big boys on the channel by winning first Tallbenny. 

H Silcock had some great positions and were unlucky to be fourth open Friendship National and still be only second in the club. 

After the prizes and trophies were handed out Mrs Rooney presented Fiona Stevenson with a bouquet of flowers — a small token of thanks for the hospitality from her and Bobby throughout the year.

As usual, the highlight of the evening was the ballot and with Stanley McKinstry not attending this year his luck was taken up by Fiona Stevenson.

In fact they won so many young birds Bobby thought he might not even have to breed any of his own. N Edgar & Son and N Black & Son kindly donated two young birds each. 

Edgar’s two were won by new member Chris Rooney and Mr & Mrs Stevenson and Black’s two young birds were won by Gordon Kirkpatrick and Mr & Mrs Stevenson.

C & l Fryers’ young bird was won by non-fancier William Skelly, who is putting it into the stable of N Black & Son to be raced.

Cromie & Magee and Sons’ was won by Russell Bros, Mr & Mrs Stevenson’s by Chris Rooney, Russell Bros by H Silcock, T Marshall & Son’s by Mr & Mrs Stevenson and A Bradley’s was won by P Connor.