RP Column 10/04/2009

This particular piece has been retyped by one of our pigeonnetwork.com editorial team in the interests of promoting the sport of pigeon racing in Ireland with Ronnie Johnstons approval which dates back to September 2007, for the enjoyment of our many loyal members around the world who don't have access to the Racing Pigeon Weekly or the monthly Racing Pigeon Pictorial. Homer.

RP Column 10/04/2009

It was back in 1999 that I did a loft report on the loft of B & M Gilmore. I finished that report with the following comment; I am sure we will be hearing more of the Gilmore loft in the new Millennium. Brian and Mervyn now racing with the Ballyclare & district in Section C with the NIPA became the first loft from that Section to win a coveted gold medal four times an Open prize winner from the organisations OB National. the gold medal winner is a 5yo dark chequer cock named Easton Gold and lets set out his record: 2005 Portland, 19th Section, 78th Open; 2006 St Malo, 6th Section, 29th Open; 2007 Lamballe, 41st Section, 147th Open; 2008 St Malo, 4th Section, 22nd Open. Sire black w/f full brother to Annie Mary 4th & 8th Open Kings Cup for N Black & sons Dromara. Dam blue chequer bred by good friends Tommy & Jackie Gratton, Eastway being a sister to 12th Open NIPA St Malo.

During the 90s most of the top performances were achieved by the Busschaerts and Nauwelaerts and then in 2002 the loft won 1st Club, 1st Section C, 1st Open NIPA Mallow 5 Bird Championship. brian & Mervyn then decided to put together a small team of distance birds, normally 12 cocks and 12 hens are raced. In 2008 only the cocks raced owing to a bad Talbenny race in 2007 with the hens, almost ruining the season.
The NIPA St Malo OB National was the race they decided to focus on in 2008 and five cocks on small youngsters were entered. It was to turn out a magnificent race for the Gilmores, winning 1st, 2nd & 3rd Ballyclare & District, 4th 5th & 15th Section C, 22nd 25th & 51st Open from 1,668 birds. The first pigeon clocked was a 3yo blue cock known as Blue Torres (do they support Liverpool?) his record: 2006 Portland National with the INFC, 100th Open; 2007 Lamballe, 25th Open winning the NIPA bronze award. Sire blue, bred by N Black & sons, a son of Mothers Pride, 2nd Open INFC Kings Cup when paired back to her father. Dam, grizzle bred by Eddie Salmon, Kingswood, sire son of Johns Pattersons french cock. Dam 3rd open Millar Gold Cup, Trueman-Dickens bloodlines.

The third of the St Malo pigeons clocked was a yearling grizzle cock. In 2008 his sire is none other than Easton Gold and the dam a grizzle hen, the mother of Blue Torres. The Gilmores have to be pleased with this result and seemed to have the base for establishing a long distance family. I would in the year ahead the gold medal winner Easton Gold is going to be a very important pigeon with his yearling son having already scored from France.

Late news - Blue Torres was named after Fernando Torres, as he scored for Spain in the European Cup Final about the same time as the blue cock was clocked from St Malo. Brian was telling me Mervyn was not well pleased as he supports Man City!!

INFC

The Single Bird Challenge organised by David Black will have a record entry of 350 for the 2009 Kings Cup race. The prize money will be as follows: 1st 450, 2nd 300, 3rd 200, 4th 150, 5th 100, 6th & 7th 75, 8th, 9th & 10th 50; total prize money 1500 plus the magnificent Joe Doheney Cup to the winner. Wesley Sawyers through his company Sawyers Co, estate agents, sponsor a framed diploma for 1st, 2nd & 3rd.

I have had a quick look through some of the entries for this years Challenge and two special hens will also be going for a gold medal with the INFC. Gary Bensons hen is the holder of the Single Bird Challenge and he Hall Of Fame results are as follows: 2004 51st Open; 2005 44th Open; 2006 12th Open. Sam Corrigans hen; 2004 2nd Open: 2005 29th Open; 2006 28th open. In my opinion two of the best hens in the history of the INFc and I will be so excited if both can go on and claim a gold medal. We all know the reasons fro no Kings Cup race in 2007 and 2008 but this is all now behind us and 2009 will see a number of super pigeons going for the new Championship prize winner YB National (Channel) - Yearling National and Kings Cup all in the Open - we will call this the Triple Crown. I already have information on a number of these pigeons, Kevin Carolan 6th Open YB National, 19th Open Yearling National; Kevin flys in Coalisland. Mark Laffin, Lisburn 45th Open YB National, 84th Open Yearling National. Tommy McClean, Annaghmore 5th Open YB National, 138th Open Yearling National. Phillip McCullough, Downpatrick, former National champion 27th Open YB National, 249th Open Yearling National.

Please bear in mind we have had no Kings Cup for two years an I am amazed that the Single Bird Challenge will contain pigeons going for the Hall Of Fame three times prize winner from the Kings cup. Paddy Rock & son, Martin, Skerries blue chequer w/f cock 04 35th Open Messac, 05 33rd Open Vannes, 06 - the Rocks are former Kings Cup winners. Ronnie Williamson, Bondhill, blue bar hen 03 56th Open Messac, 05 15th Open Vannes, 06 2nd Single Bird Challenge 2006.

Not many fanciers outside the Dromara area will have heard of Harry Silcock but this fancier has a Hall Of Fame in his sights. Harry only keeps a small team and his entry for a Kings Cup race would be two - his 01 pigeon has already scored 28th Open Messac 05 and 35 Open Vannes 06 and I would be delighted if a Hall of Fame was won from the 2009 Kings Cup race - best of luck Harry!

Former YB National winners McCartan & Woodsides, Crossgar have one going fro the Triple Crown award from the Kings Cup after having placed 33rd Open in Sennen Cove YB National and then 181st Sennen Cove Yearling National, these are only the ones I know off, if any fancier has one please let me know.
With the new season upon us, I hope to spend most of my spare time covering top performances and as many loft reports as I can. The weekly race results I will leave to the various other scribes who continue to cover Northern Ireland very well.


New Championship

What an exciting year 2009 is going to be if you are a member of the Irish National Flying Club. The new 3 Bird Championship is the brain child of Robin Duddy, Ballyclare, Robin, a former YB National winner and a long time serving member of the INFC will guarantee a 1st prize of 1,000 plus the Robin Duddy Challenge Cup to the winner. How will it work and what are the races selected? Let me tell you. Three Bird Nomination Sennen Cove Yearling National and Penzance YB National. The entry fee will be 5 to cover six pigeons and David Black who looks after the Single Bird Challenge has come in to help with the administration side. The winner will be the best average from two races. Fanciers can pay David or Robin when we hamper for the opening National race of the new season in Lisburn.

The INFC secretary will include a page for your 3 Bird Nominations with the Yearling National forms and you can select them on the week of hampering which should insure that you get them to the race and the same will happen for the YB Penzance National.
I have said three birds, but if you are sending one or two to the race by all means enter, the cost will still be 5. I am sure this will be widely supported by members of the INFC and I believe we will see a number of extra cash prizes after the 1000 guarantee has been reached. The new trophy is really unique - who will be the first winner?

Breaking News....... A super sale, with all proceeds going to Save Our Sport Fund. This sale is run in conjunction with the NIPA and EDC. Proceeds will be used to promte our sport for young and plder members. Some excellent YBs will be on offer from Irelands best. Sale date 14th April at Bandbridge Legion Hall, birds on view 7.30 p.m., KO 8 p.m. sharp. Auctioneer Wesley Sawyers.

Dundonald 3 Bird Championship. This exciting championship will once again be held in 2009. Race INFC Skibbereen Inland National; 1st prize in 2008 2,500; 150 for three birds. Entry forms from Ronnie Johnston.