The
Smyth Strain of Ireland
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This
is one of the greatest strains of the last and
present century. In confirmation this family
of racing pigeons for more than half a century
has faced and conquered what is perhaps one
of the toughest if not the toughest route in
the world of pigeon racing. Now aside from the
geographical reality of the route what I do
assert is that this is an authentic long distance
and marathon strain in its own right! And that
for far too long the pigeon racing fraternity
has failed to recognize or acknowledge this
truth. It origins obviously lie in another strain
but the two Smyth brothers from Ballymena forged
perhaps the first long distance and marathon
strain of Ireland. A partnership whose results
at the distance was achieved by sending only
a few birds to the races.
But
there is no doubt based upon their results and
the results of their strain in the lofts of
others that these two Irish fanciers were masters
at their craft! The brothers when caught by
the bug of pigeon racing early in their pigeon
racing lives decided to buy the best and race
the best. It was then that apparently they read
the comments of Major Osman of the Racing Pigeon
weekly that one of the best strains was the
Kenyon strain. So they decided to stock their
loft with the best of the latter. And that is
what they done. From 1943 onwards some good
pigeons where bought from the Kenyon lofts and
through the astute management of the brothers
the result was some of the best racing performances
seen in Europe. But alas the remoteness of Ireland
was a factor which contributed towards the strain
not being given its due. For the Smyth's, the
best started in 1948 when they were 11th from
Rennes, France, at a distance of 510 miles.
Being named, Rennes Queen, she was one of only
12 birds in race time. This hen also took 18th
Open from the same race point in 1949 beaten
by her daughter, Northern Leader.
The latter was 7th Open in a race where only
twenty five pigeons were timed. This was out
of thousands sent but aside from the crossing
of two seas the maritime climate was always
an obstacle for Irish pigeons to overcome. In
1951 the partners scored 23rd Open in the National
from Rennes, a very hard race with the winning
velocity around 800 yards per minute.To be followed
in 1953 with 33rd Open NIPA Derby from Landerneau,
France, and 62nd and 75th Open National Redon,
France. The latter with a distance of 532 miles.The
following year 1954 saw the strain winning three
positions in a tough National from Redon with
only 28 birds home in race time.The positions
were 20th, 21st and 24th Open.
The
brothers scored again in 1955 from Redon, the
velocities were down around 700 yards per minute,
when the pigeon who was 21st in 1954 won 4th
Open National.
This
was the famous Leading Lady who went on the
following year to win 6th Open from Redon at
a speed of 579 yards per minute. Then perhaps
the greatest racing pigeon ever in 1957 scored
9th Open from Redon. Another tough race but
Leading Lady was only three positions behind
her cousin who scored 6th Open.The latter being
National Effort who went back in 1958 to Redon
and finished 36th Open. Also in this race a
grand daughter of Leading Lady was 38th Open
National.
Since the exploits of Leading Lady the fabulous
Smyth Strain has won 27th Open from Les Sables,
France (610 miles) in 1960; 21st Open from Les
Sables in 1961; 42st Open Dinard, France, in
1965; 49th Open from Nantes, France (570 miles)
in 1966; 8th Open Old Bird Derby from Dinard
in 1967; 22nd Open National Nantes in 1968;
63rd Open National Nantes and 31st Open OB Derby
Dinard in 1969; 2nd and 6th Open Beauvais, France,
517 miles in 1970; 24th and 45th Open National
Nantes in 1971; 2nd Open Nantes National by
another hen named Northern Lady in 1973; 17th
Open OB Derby Dinard in 1976; 135th Open National
Rennes in 1977; 24th Open National Rennes in
1978; 48th and 101st Open National Rennes in
1979; 26th,125th,and 127th Open Les Sables in
1980; 40th and 58th Open National Les Sables
in 1981; 66th Open OB Derby, Dinard in 1982.
Then the National racing received a set back
arising from France's ban on racing pigeons
in 1983 but the alternative races (although
shorter in distance) from various parts of the
island of Britain saw the Smyth strain continue
to win many prizes. It must be said that over
the time of the above old bird results the Ballymena
lofts scored time and time again in the Young
Bird Nationals into Ireland. In fact they have
a terrific record in this area of pigeon racing.
In
1988, the racing of Nationals returned to France
again and the brothers were 64th and 145th Open
from Rennes.The following year saw them 41st
Open from Rennes and 45th Open in the NIPA Derby
from Dinard.This was followed in the next year
by 66th and 192nd Open from Rennes as well as
1st and 2nd in the Friendship National from
Sartilly. In 1992 the lofts scored 7th and 14th
Open from Rennes followed in 1993 with 12th
Open in the OB Derby from Dinard. Nineteen ninety
four saw 133rd and 194th from the Rennes National
and 58th Open in the Derby from Dinard. Since
then the lofts have scored in 1997 from St.
Nazaire in France (554 miles) with 97th Open.
Scoring again the following year with 10th position
in the Friendship National from Dinard.And at
the time of writing the Smyth Brothers lofts
are still scoring. It should be noted that the
Smyth strain of racing pigeons have provided
National winners for other Irish fanciers and
others from abroad including providing the sire
for Ted Vowles, Gwendolene Supreme, who won
1st Section, 1st Open from Palamos into Britain
at a distance of 700 miles.Of course there are
much more that I could add to back my contention
that this is one of the best strains of long
distance and marathon pigeons that the sport
has ever experienced. A strain that has produced
many
champions including perhaps the greatest distance
racer so far in the history of the sport.
by: Liam O Comain
