The Irish South Road Federation clubs that use Northside Club as their marking station kicked-off the new racing season with a Breeder-Buyer Auction in the Northside Club on Friday, 10th April, 2009.
The organisers, led by Peter Cleary, had it well thought out! The idea of starting the party (of course there was a party as well!) before the auction got everyone into a good humour, and fanciers in good humour are likely to spend more! Good thinking!!! Needless to say, the party went on during and after the auction. Peter tells me that dawn had well and truly broken before some made their happy way home! I went along at the early stages and, I hope, captured some of the atmosphere.
The fact that it was also Kevin Darling's birthday added to the celebrations! Unfortunately, the club could not afford the number of candles needed for a cake, and besides, it would be a fire hazzard to light so many in an enclosed space! Happy Birthday, Kevin!
First people I met inside the door were Bill O'Mara and Terry Norris. Bill slagged me for never letting him see the photos I take of him. Well, Bill, here is one for everyone to see!
Apologies to the gent on the left - I cannot name him, but the next two are D. Murray and G. Boyd.
The old and the new! Jack Boyd, a long-standing member of Northside with new member Anthony Meehan. Anthony raced with East Wall up to this year, when he moved house.
P.J. Callaghan and D. Browne.
B. Fitzsimons and J. Shannon
The two Peters - Peter Bell and Peter Cleary.
Mick Keenan with Barney Fitzsimons and John Shannon
M. Byrne & A. Ryan
Eoin Shannon & Peter Bell
Tommy Kane and Gerry Daly
Gerard O'Mara and Anthony Mason. Anthony is back in the sport after missing a few years. Welcome Back, Anthony!
D. Browne, J. Boyd and A. Meehan
John Shannon, Mick Keenn and Peter Cleary
Gerry Daly and Shay McMahon enjoyed the night.
If you have never seen a photo of four top fanciers together, have a good look at this one! These four gentlemen, Christy Bradley, Bill O'Mara, Gerard O'Mara and Anthony Mason have probably, between them, won more races than you have had hot dinners!
The Birthday Boy, Kevin Darling with Robbie Daly and Mick O'Connor.
Shay Lehane congratulating Kevin Darling on reaching the Big Seven-O!
Obviously the occasion was a very big success. Peter Cleary tells me that the thrty birds auctioned totalled somewhere in the region of 4,500 euro. I believe the top price paid was 300 euro for the Gerard O'Mara bird, with his father's one close behind at, I think, 280 euro. What did I tell you about those four fanciers a few photos up?