QUITE
SIMPLY " INCREDIBLE"
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No amount of words will ever match the extraordinary achievement
and record that the Buckley Family from Annaghmore have placed
upon the pigeon fancy here in Northern Ireland following their
third NIPA O/B National Open success in just four years. The father
and son partnership of Glenn and Johnny have eclipsed the record
already set firstly by Downey & Dowds of Lurgan who won the
O/B Derby as it was known then in 1950 they completed the double
winning the Derby yet again in 1969 this time flying into Moira
they are only one of two partnerships to win this outstanding
race twice, the other partnership was from my home town of Ballymena
namely the formidable Johnston Eagleson & Sons who raced with
the Harryville HPS they finished 1st Open O/B Derby in 1987 from
Guernsey and then followed it up in 2001 from this years race
point Lamballe.
The Buckley name was already a house hold one within pigeon racing
circles in Ireland long before the current record breaking father
and son partnership of G Buckley & Son. Prior to the formation
of this award winning team some 10 years ago, Glenn raced along
with his father-in-law in Armagh racing under the banner of Wilson
& Buckley a partnership that enjoyed more than there fair
share of success over the same time span (10 years). When the
opportunity was there and the time seemed right Glenn and family
then moved to Annaghmore with a house sited just behind his family
home on the Moy Road. Glenn never had to worry if the location
was suited to pigeon racing as his late father Sam (a gentleman)
raced some outstanding pigeons over the years to the lofts sited
at the back of his property land now gracing Glenn’s fine
set up.
Glenn works hard for a living with many demanding shifts at the
local plastic’s factory that require many a week either
four days on and three off or vice versa with night shifts the
main hours of work. Of course having a family of five must also
be a full time job, that job is made a good deal easier with the
help administered just not around the house but with the birds
also by Glenn’s wife Martha. We had a quick chat about the
workings around the family home as I know with only 2 children
myself, 5 must be a nightmare, I thought I had it bad, I can only
imagine. Following the long family history of pigeon racing son
Robert is already racing on his own in the Annaghmore HPS and
doing ok I might add as this is one of the many results I get
via the email each week. He is assisted by his sister Suzanne
who Mum says does all the dirty jobs. The remaining children Julie
& Steven are staying well clear at the moment but with a family
so steeped in pigeon racing for how long I wonder.
The father and son team are having a golden spell of success as
far as pigeon racing goes. Some of the highlights that come to
mind are as follows :- 1st Open NIPA Skibbereen Derby in 2001,
1st Open INFC Skibbereen National in 2001, 1st Open INFC Y/B National
in 2004, 1st & 2nd Open INFC Y/B National in 2006, in between
8th Open INFC Kings Cup, twice 2nd Open NIPA Y/B National, in
2005 from the Skibbereen Y/B National the loft got a batch of
five together to record 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th Open, another
3rd Open in the Rosscarbery Y/B National as well. That’s
not forgetting what this story is about 3 x 1st Open NIPA O/B
National in the last four years. (Absolute Awesome Racing).
The basis of stock which brings such success over the aforementioned
period is a mixture of Sootjens and Verheyes. The Sootjens were
brought in from mainly Brian Clayburn and Frank Sheader, although
I did notice local Stock Man Derek Parr involved in the breeding
of the 2005 O/B National winner from Portland ’Johny’
Boy’ when mated to a Hartog obtained from the mighty Alistair
Kerr. This national winner previously won 5th Open in the Yearling
National with the INFC and finished 18th Open in the Skibbereen
O/B National once again with the INFC, in total winning over £4,000
in his racing career. The Verheye’s were brought in from
Louella namely the Rainstorm Lines. Another outstanding pigeon
I wish to mention at this stage is a Blue cock ’Sam’s
Pride’ bred down from pigeons obtained from Brian Clayburn
from the Red Ring family line. Now this pigeon has bred many winners
for the partnership across the board. His own winning racing career
included 7th Open NIPA as a yearling from Lamballe going on the
next year to win the O/B National with the NIPA. In that same
year one of his direct children ’ Isobel’ went on
to win the Y/B National with the INFC from Wadebridge. Now as
well as breeding a National winner himself he is now Grandfather
to another Y/B National winner with the INFC 2006 and also Grandfather
to 2nd Open NIPA Y/B National. (What a Pigeon).
Two years ago my fellow scribe and friend Ronnie Johnston profiled
the Buckley partnership in the Squills Year Book he finished that
particular article with the following words “ I am sure
we will continue to see the G Buckley & Son at the top of
major race results for years to come”. How right Ronnie
was.
I have researched Glen and Johny’s results in 2005 and 2006,
which takes a bit of time going over every result and will list
them at the end of this profile. 2007 is near over although I
must be missing a good proportion of Open results so rather than
give half the picture I will give 2007 a by ball. The main result
is there for all to see 1st Open NIPA O/B National setting a new
record with the mighty NIPA. I think any of us would take that
this year, or any year at that.
Widowhood is the preferred system of racing for the O/Birds and
Roundabout which was introduced by the boys in 2005 for the hens
has proved very successful in fact, this years 1st Open National
winner from Lamballe was a Blue 3 year old Roundabout Hen. (What
more proof is required). These Champion pigeons are raced to a
fantastic lay out of lofts that sit profoundly back in very spacious
surroundings. The widowhood loft measures 20ft x 8ft, the roundabout
loft measurers an impressive 30 ft by 10 ft and the largest of
all which houses around 80 stock birds is indeed the stock loft
40 ft by 12 ft with aviaries attached to either end.
The feeding is a mixture from Gibb Feeding mainly Beyers Double
U Widowhood mixture which is formulated for the Irish Racing Scene,
this is fed along with Super Widowhood purchased from Beattie’s.
As for the supplements similar to most lofts Minerals and Grit
readily available with Naturaline used in the water twice per
week, with Aviform Vitamins used during the week. A B12 supplement
is added to the water when the boys think it is necessary. The
youngsters are fed the same feeding as the O/Birds and mostly
the same system Super Widowhood at the start of the week adding
the Beyers Double during the week progressing to full Beyers Double
by the end of the week. On breeding the youngsters which are placed
on the Darkness System they are fed and weaned on a very high
protein mix with extra peas added if necessary during the start
of their early life. Numbers wise about 50 Widowhood Cocks are
raced at any one time backed up with 25 hens that are raced on
the favored roundabout system. The partnership try to rear around
100 youngsters each year to allow for injuries and losses. On
closing I would like to thank Glen’s wife Martha for her
hospitability during my recent visit and wish continued success
to Glen & Johny for many more years to come.
G BUCKLEY & SON RACE RESULTS 2005 AND 2006
NIPA O/B Results 2005:- KILKENNY (1) 7th & 36th Section E,
22nd & 81st Open 1236 members sent 25,214 birds; KILKENNY
(2) 37th Section E, 155th Open 1277/26,120; PILMORE BEACH 20th
Section E 231/5,127, 59th Open 1312/25,641; ROSCARBERY O/B INLAND
MATIONAL 12th Section E 172/1,701, 31st Open 989/8,737 winning
£1000; TALBENNY (1) 11th, 13th & 23rd Section E 215/3,341,
64th, 70th & 121st Open 1165/14,973; TALBENNY (2) 26th &
44th Section E 203/2,852, 95th Open 1102/13,009; ROSCARBERY 2nd
& 23rd Section E 195/2,439, 54th Open 1103/13,082; BUDE 3rd,
12th, 27th & 29th Section E 172/1826; 8th, 33rd, 67th &
71st Open 1010/9,192; SENNEN COVE 32nd, 36th, 43 & 45th Section
E 171/1,468, 86th, 101st, 140th & 144th Open 976/7,436; PORTLAND
O/B NATIONAL 1st Section E 115/408 1st, 1st Open 604/1851 winning
£1450;
NIPA Y/Bird Results 2005 :- TULLAMORE 29th Open
238/5,272; TULLAMORE 5th Section E 180/4,154, 13th Open 1022/18,282;
THURLES (2) 32nd Section E 218/5,340, 112th Open 1,111/21,907;
TALBENNY Y/B NATIONAL 37th Section E 148/1033, 80th Open 673/3,893;
TULLAMORE (2) 4th, 5th & 7th Section E 73/1652, 23rd, 28th
& 35th Open 489/8,338; ROSSCARBERY Y/B NATIONAL 1st, 6th,
8th & 17th Section E 135/1493; 3rd, 16th, 18th & 50th
Open 679/6,011 Birds winning £1,000.
INFC RESULTS 2005 (against all Ireland) :- SKIBBEREEN
O/BIRD NATIONAL 133rd Open 513/3,496; YEARLING NATIONAL 46th Open
975/4,620 birds winning £510; FRIENDSHIP NATIONAL PICAUVILLE
50th Open 274/1,020; SKIBBEREEN Y/B NATIONAL 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th,
7th & 48th Open 422/3080 winning £1,600; Y/BIRD NATIONAL
WADEBRIDGE 16th, 23rd, 55th, 125th & 167th Open 515/2052 birds
winning £680.
NIPA O/B Results 2006 :- THURLES (1) 27th Section
218/5,278; THURLES (2) 8th Section E 219/4547, 18th Open 1176/22,571;
PILMORE BEACH YEARLING COCKS NATIONAL 3rd & 6th Section E
67/311, 7th & 20th Open 302/1090; PILMORE BEACH YEARLING HENS
NATIONAL 19th Section 58/266, 58th Open 268/967 Birds; ROSCARBERY
O/BIRD NATIONAL 107th & 171st Open 955/7,832 Birds; TALBENNY
(1) 3rd, 9th, 28th & 29th Section E 203/3452, 16th, 29th,
76th & 77th Open 1075/14,998 Birds; TALBENNY (2) 2nd, 3rd,
28th & 39th Section E 188/2592, 4th, 5th, 52nd & 77th
Open 989/11,205 Birds; SENNEN COVE 33rd Section E 160/1753; ST.MALO
O/B NATIONAL 27th Section 112/477, 109th Open 549/1792.
NIPA Y/B Results 2006 :- THURLES 4th Section
E 188/5417, 12th Open 1078/25,456; FERMOY 10th, 29th, 30th &
38th Section E 201/5045, 14th, 58th, 61st & 79th Open 1036/22,489;
PILMORE BEACH 17th Section E 170/3650, 70th Open 843/14,890 Birds;
TALBENNY Y/B NATIONAL 2nd, 33rd & 40th Section 117/849, 2nd,
99th & 127th Open 610/3546; TULLAMORE 6th & 20th Section
E 86/2,333, 162nd Open 550/10,235; ROSSCARBERY Y/B NATIONAL 6th,
17th & 39th Section 109/860, 19th, 39th & 134th Open 515/3824;
THURLES 41st Section E 59/804, 124th Open 358/4,151.
INFC RESULTS 2006 (against All Ireland) :- YEARLING
NATIONAL 115th & 136th Open 359/3,804; KINGS CUP VANNES 8th
& 144th Open 675/2163 Birds winning £505; SENNEN COVE
Y/BIRD NATIONAL 1st, 2nd, 11th, 21st & 121st Open 440 members
sent 1791 birds winning £2,810;
SKIBBEREEN Y/B NATIONAL 223rd Open 401/3047.
Stop Press: As this article goes to press with
only two Y/B Races left early indications are that Glen Buckley
& Son have once again topped the NIPA Open for the second
time this year recording a velocity of 1290ypm from Fermoy in
County Cork. The Buckley loft timed a Sootjen Blue w/f cock which
was racing to the perch at 16.22hrs flying 170 miles. The Fermoy
Open winner is a grandson of the famous Lamballe National winner
Sam’s Pride on the Sire’s side when mated to a hen
containing the best lines of the famous ‘Blue Thunder’.
Only last week the loft took the first four positions provisional
in Section E of the mighty NIPA from the comeback Tullamore race
flown the same day as the NIPA Y/B National from Talbenny. With
the final two races of the 2007 being flown from their favored
race point Rosscarbery, who know perhaps yet more success.
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Adie
McCormick
PigeonNetwork.com
E-Mail celestiallofts@aol.com
Tele. 028 92604778 |
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| Glen
and son Johny holding their two arrivals from the NIPA
O/B National from Lamballe in France were the partnership
topped the Open in this race for the 3rd time in four
years ’Quite Simply Incredible’ |
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| The
spacious Widowhood loft often contains around 50 racers
at the start of any O/B Season. |
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| Liam
Prunty recently completed the building of this spacious
stock loft that measures 40ft x 12ft excluding the large
aviary. Around 30 pair of tops pigeons are housed here. |
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| The
Hens Roundabout loft is something new to the partnership
since 2005 racing around 25 hens at any one time, this
year’s Lamballe National winner was timed to this
very Loft. |
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| The
Y/Bird loft completes the Buckley set up with most of
the youngsters raced on the Darkness System, an aviary
is also fitted for early education purposes. |
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| Glen
and son Johny pictured at the INFC Annual Dinner with
some of their awards won in the 2006 Season, this year
will be another table full. |
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