RP Column - 13/11/09

Irish National Flying Club

I have already started out on recording the leading National winners. In this weeks column I am going to cover the East Down Combine and the Ulster Federation. My records show of no double National winner in the Ulster Fed, am I right?

In my area, County Down, I know of three but only one of these may have been a member of the East Down Combine when recording double National victories. I will explain later in this article. The double National winner in the East Down Combine, the top loft of Tom Marshall & son of Newtownbreda. The Marshalls first National winner came in 1984 when they won the Yearling National from Inverness. Tom did not have long to wait for his second National win as in 1986 he won the Friendship National from Guernsey, since then Tom has won the National Championship and has been three times second National. The Marshall's National CV is up there with the very best and the third victory is in his sights.

The next double National winners are Connor Bros of Dundrum but they may have been members of the NIPA when the National wins were achieved. In 1978 the Connor Bros won 1st Section, 1st Open Kings Cup from Rennes with the blue chequer hen Primarius and then in 1984 the brothers won 1st Section, 1st Open Friendship National from Thurso. This was a brilliant double success but made more remarkable when I tell you the Kings Cup winner Primarius was the dam of the Friendship National winner.

I know of only two fanciers that have won the Kings Cup and the Friendship National. Henry Beattie, Friendship in 1979, Kings Cup in 1994 and Alan Darragh, Friendship in 2003 & 2006, Kings Cup in 1986. The other double National winners in County Down were Walker & Watson of Killyleagh. I am sure they flew with the NIPA when the two National wins were recorded.

The first victory came in 1996 when the partnership won the Yearling National from Sennen Cove with Inca and then in 1998 with Dedication they won the young bird National from Penzance. The partnership won the Yearling National from a record entry of 6,041 birds that still stands to this day. These two National races have proved most difficult to win into this area of County Down and the only other yearling National winner I can remember was Myles & McConnel of Dunedin. Walker & Watson no longer race but I know Jason Walker who for many years was a scribe for the Racing Pigeon still keeps a interest in Irish National flying Club through his close friend Henry McClaughlin of Coalisland.

I know within the NIPA there are a good number of National winners and I will start on them in my next column.

George Washington

I was at Goff's last November when Gerry Burke bought the sole representative of the ill fated George Washington. The unique filly was the only offspring of George who suffered an ankle fracture at the Breeders Cup in 2007. She was lot 45 and sold for just over 20, 000 Guineas. Gerry Burke took her home to Dungarvin and started to prepare her for the Tattersalls yearling sales in October where she made 320,000 Guineas. She was a lovely filly and it will be interesting to see who the trainer will be.

Sea the Stars is to start life as a stallion at Gilltown Stud in Kildare owned by Aga Khan. The first mare to be mated with Sea the Stars will be Aga Khans Zarkava winner of the Arc in 2008. Aga Khan has said the two winners are made for each other and the best needs to be bred to the best. Sea the Stars will cover 120 mare's in his first season and is sure to be oversubscribed at a fee of 80,000 pounds.

John Oxx his trainer is more than pleased with the move as Gilltown Stud is only a mile or so from were he trained to win six Group 1's. Coolmore and Shiekh Mohammad will be disappointed that they did not manage to buy him from the Tsui family, it is widely reported that Sheik Mohammed offered some 50 million for him. Will he prove to be another Sadlers Wells at stud, I doubt it but only time will tell.

Robin Duddy of Ballyclare recently passed on to me some very interesting pigeon items that I enjoyed reading. In one of these the well known John Ambler was replying to an article by Jack Adams who raced Adams Boy to win the Pau National. Adam's was blowing his own trumpet about the best National pigeons were all in England. John Ambler took him to task about Adams Boy as he was of the opinion that he did not stand in comparison with John Grieve's blue white flight cock twice 2nd Open Scottish National 1972/72 and 83rd Open 1975 or the great Solway King 1st Open Scottish National and 31st & 96th Open.

John went on to tell Adam, did he ever hear of a place called Ireland, the worlds hardest route to fly and here are some of the best long distance fanciers in the world names like McDowell & son, Smyth Bros, Gilmour & Beattie, Bob Harkness and Arthur Simpson. I think you got it right John and we do indeed have some of the best long distance pigeons in the world.

Cock Crow Breeding Stud

Wayne Doonan and his father Rowan who ran this very successful stud have enjoyed a very good season with young birds sold in 2009. Wayne has been delighted with the results reported to him that included many section wins. I called to see the set up earlier this year and was very impressed with the condition of the stock pigeons and the breeding pens, excellent.

Wayne is a former INFC Yearling National winner and father Rowan racing as Doonan McGuiness in Dromore HPS have a very impressive CV. I am sure this stud have a very secure future ahead of itself.

INFC

The National Dinner in the Stormont Hotel is not to far away, Friday 27th November is the date. the treasurer David Mawhinney has requested that dinner tickets that are now being sent out should be paid for before the Dinner, make cheques out to the INFC and not Trevor or Ronnie. I am sure most fanciers will follow David's advice.

The INFC charity committee have held a short meeting and all is set for the National show to be held on Saturday 12th December in the Kings Hall. Ken McConaghie, show chairman, is looking for some help on late Thursday, when he will be setting up stalls and pens. The sale of gift birds will again be the highlight of the day.

The French Diploma and the INFC Diploma for any pigeon twice a prize winner in the Kings Cup or Friendship National will be presented before the sale of the gift birds.

Dundonald HPS

A great 2009 season for members of the Dundonald HPS winning Old Birds Club Championship of the East Down combine, the Young Bird Club Championship and Fancier of the Year through Jim Young & Partners. Jim also went on to win a IHU Meritorious Award as did Stephen Brown & Sons. a year to remember for the club and all the members played a part.

Martin Russell

Martin has been unwell for some time now but the last I heard he was out of hospital and back home. When speaking with his brother Fred the news was that Martin was back in hospital, this time the Royal. I hope he is on the mend and will soon be back home with his pigeons, the pigeon fancy send you their best wishes.

Breaking News

The date for the late Eddie Matchett sale has now been set, Saturday 28th November in Glenavy @ 2.30 p.m (birds on view from 1.30 p.m). This date and time will enable everyone to travel in daylight hours.

Remember: Colin Gibson's final sale, Monday 16th November in Newtownbreda @ 7.30 p.m (birds on view from 6.30 p.m). Many top yearlings on offer.