Crossgar HPS
Lofts
25
Open Wins
0
Open Positions
83
Average Velocity
1494.192
The earliest the club could be traced to was 1911, considerably older than the club had thought. In July 1911, Col Robert G Sharman-Crawford presented the ‘Challenge Cup’ for ‘Crossgar Homing Pigeon Club’ (Belfast Telegraph, Apr 1911). He became an MP in 1914 and lived at Rademon House.
The Irish Homing Union (IHU) has been regulating and promoting the sport of pigeon racing in Ireland since 1895. Crossgar HPS does not appear to be this old. There is no other mention of Crossgar HPS before 1911, and while there are mentions of Crossgar men racing pigeons elsewhere in summer 1910, this does not seem to have been as an organised club quite yet, but may have been in autumn 1910, typical AGM season.
It was therefore suggested to the club to use ‘Est c<1910’ (c = circa/about and < = less than). In other words, 'established around 1910 or earlier'.
The new sign was put up today on the clubhouse above its entrance on Downpatrick Street, left of Wax Factor.
The following are mentions in local newspapers of members involved in Crossgar HPS in the 20th century:
Jul 1910: Sam McClurg of Crossgar lost red cock homing pigeon in Wexford race.
Jan 1911: Crossgar exhibited at Antrim’s first homing pigeon show.
Apr 1911: Col Robert Gordon Sharman-Crawford presents Challenge Cup for Crossgar Homing Pigeon Club.
May 1913 & May 1914: Tom Bell, Charles Flynn (competing in outer section of Belfast HPS).
June 1924: "Tom Bell wins the Crossgar Club, velocity 803.9. W. Carson is second (734.2). Charles Flynn third, and takes all pools (2s 6d 1s 6d all pools)." Other competitors were Hill and Blaney, P Kielty.
Dec 1925: Jack Leatham organised a shooting match in aid of Crossgar HPS. However, Paddy Bell wanted the funds to be for the Airgun club and subsequently a large fight broke out between several men who appeared in Killyleagh Court on 4th Jan 1926. (ND Herald & CD Independent, 1926)
1925+6: Crossgar HPS; A Smith, Tom Bell, Charlie Flynn, Jack Leathem, Dickson and M’Neice, M M’Kee.
1927: Jack Leathem and Mr M’Kee, Charles Flynn, J Burns.
1929: Charlie Flynn, Pat Kielty, Bell Bros, D Pyper, Leathem and M’Kee.
1930: Charlie Flynn (pigeon reported missing - but returned).
1931: Charlie Flynn of Downpatrick was the Sec and he died in March 1931. "he kept all matters in relation to the club very much alive. His organising abilities were second to none." Survived by his wife Jennie. All 29 of his pure grit pigeons (2 putmans and Hansenne) and his clock and basket were sold at Oxford Market on 11th Apr 1931.
1932: A E Jamison, Boyd & Macrory, D Pyper, Bell Bros.
1936: A Smith.
1940 – R Harris of Kilmore Rd is Crossgar HPS secretary, donated £25 for the spitfire fund during WW2.
1941: R Harris & Son.
1948: A Cheevers, J Johnston.
1956: Jack MacMillan was Treasurer of Crossgar Social Pigeon Club.
1958: A Cheevers, J Johnston, A McMullan, T R McMullan, P J Kielty, A McClurg.
1958: 'Crossgar Social' Pigeon Club (not HPS)– A Cheevers, J Ringland, H Kelly, R Briggs, McMillan Bros.
1955: J Patterson (Kilmore), R H (Killyleagh), P Smyth (Crossgar).
1965: Former Crossgar HPS president, Patrick J Flanagan of Lisnamore, died that year.
1973: D Flanagan (Crossgar HPS Secretary, Tel Crossgar 259).
The Irish Homing Union (IHU) has been regulating and promoting the sport of pigeon racing in Ireland since 1895. Crossgar HPS does not appear to be this old. There is no other mention of Crossgar HPS before 1911, and while there are mentions of Crossgar men racing pigeons elsewhere in summer 1910, this does not seem to have been as an organised club quite yet, but may have been in autumn 1910, typical AGM season.
It was therefore suggested to the club to use ‘Est c<1910’ (c = circa/about and < = less than). In other words, 'established around 1910 or earlier'.
The new sign was put up today on the clubhouse above its entrance on Downpatrick Street, left of Wax Factor.
The following are mentions in local newspapers of members involved in Crossgar HPS in the 20th century:
Jul 1910: Sam McClurg of Crossgar lost red cock homing pigeon in Wexford race.
Jan 1911: Crossgar exhibited at Antrim’s first homing pigeon show.
Apr 1911: Col Robert Gordon Sharman-Crawford presents Challenge Cup for Crossgar Homing Pigeon Club.
May 1913 & May 1914: Tom Bell, Charles Flynn (competing in outer section of Belfast HPS).
June 1924: "Tom Bell wins the Crossgar Club, velocity 803.9. W. Carson is second (734.2). Charles Flynn third, and takes all pools (2s 6d 1s 6d all pools)." Other competitors were Hill and Blaney, P Kielty.
Dec 1925: Jack Leatham organised a shooting match in aid of Crossgar HPS. However, Paddy Bell wanted the funds to be for the Airgun club and subsequently a large fight broke out between several men who appeared in Killyleagh Court on 4th Jan 1926. (ND Herald & CD Independent, 1926)
1925+6: Crossgar HPS; A Smith, Tom Bell, Charlie Flynn, Jack Leathem, Dickson and M’Neice, M M’Kee.
1927: Jack Leathem and Mr M’Kee, Charles Flynn, J Burns.
1929: Charlie Flynn, Pat Kielty, Bell Bros, D Pyper, Leathem and M’Kee.
1930: Charlie Flynn (pigeon reported missing - but returned).
1931: Charlie Flynn of Downpatrick was the Sec and he died in March 1931. "he kept all matters in relation to the club very much alive. His organising abilities were second to none." Survived by his wife Jennie. All 29 of his pure grit pigeons (2 putmans and Hansenne) and his clock and basket were sold at Oxford Market on 11th Apr 1931.
1932: A E Jamison, Boyd & Macrory, D Pyper, Bell Bros.
1936: A Smith.
1940 – R Harris of Kilmore Rd is Crossgar HPS secretary, donated £25 for the spitfire fund during WW2.
1941: R Harris & Son.
1948: A Cheevers, J Johnston.
1956: Jack MacMillan was Treasurer of Crossgar Social Pigeon Club.
1958: A Cheevers, J Johnston, A McMullan, T R McMullan, P J Kielty, A McClurg.
1958: 'Crossgar Social' Pigeon Club (not HPS)– A Cheevers, J Ringland, H Kelly, R Briggs, McMillan Bros.
1955: J Patterson (Kilmore), R H (Killyleagh), P Smyth (Crossgar).
1965: Former Crossgar HPS president, Patrick J Flanagan of Lisnamore, died that year.
1973: D Flanagan (Crossgar HPS Secretary, Tel Crossgar 259).