| The
Roy Strain
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Eventually
I knew that sooner or later I would have
to include this compatriot in the series
of brief insights into the founders of
long distance and marathon families, strains,
and dynasties of the past and the present.
Like those whose stories have been printed
or await publication this person and his
pigeons are here by merit.The subject
lives in England namely Margate and to
those who have read my column in the pigeon
press you may recall that previously I
opined that Jimmy Roy had one of the best
distance colonies in Britain, today. I
hold this opinion not because Jimmy is
a fellow Irishman but because of the outstanding
flying of his birds into the island of
Britain in recent years. That and that
alone is the reason for my previous statement,
a statement based upon my observations
gathered since my return to the sport
within the last three years. For example,
in 2004 our subject's pigeons scored 1st
Section, 5th Open from Pau (561 miles)
in the NFC National; 3rd Open British
Barcelona Club Palamos (659 miles); as
well as 4th Open in the British International
Championship Club race from Perpignan.This
is but an example of his successes last
year across one of the world's toughest
terrains and against some of the greatest
long distance and marathon fanciers on
the planet.
Our
subject is a person who has seen other
parts of the world other than Ireland
and Britain for he has lived, worked,
and flown pigeons successfully in Australia
from 1979 to 1983. A native of the capital
City of Dublin where he once flew with
success Jimmy Roy is now in his late 70s
and has raced pigeons since 1943. Initially
with representatives of the strains of
Van Custem and Putman. His main interest
today is in the long distance and marathon
races for it is about 9 years now since
he flew seriously at club level when he
accumulated approximately 30 1sts in one
season.
Jimmy
Roy is akin to the famous Janssen family
of Arendonk for he truly loves his pigeons
and in return they truly love their master.
This is the basis of Jimmy's success for
aside from an astute managerial mind and
the very best of bloodlines excellently
cared for there exists that mystical element
of mutual love.Indeed it is
reported that a number of his pigeons
are so relaxed in his company that they
pay visits to his house. A St. Francis
type approach to our modern thoroughbreds
which lies in stark contrast to those
lofts where the inmates live lives of
quiet desperation.
I
entitled this article as ' The Roy Strain'
for although Jimmy Roy has used pigeons
of various strains over the years when
one reaches the state of having 29 pigeons
in ones ownership and bred by ones self
which have flown 569 miles including leading
positions then this justifies the use
of the word 'strain'. Apparently his main
base includes the bloodlines of Krauth,
Huysken-Van Riel, Joe Shore and that of
a 4th Open Irish National winner belonging
to Noel Wiles of Skerries, County Dublin.
Of course an important input is the noted
Belgian Hen which came into the loft as
a stray and after reporting and obtaining
her this late bred was raced thoroughly
but when put to stock became a gold mine
by producing between 15 and 20 winners.
Some
of Jimmy Roy's noted birds are Mary Anne,
a blue chequer hen that was 16th open
Dax and has also flown Pau a few times
as well as San Sebastian, scoring 5th
Open Pau 2004. The nest mate of Mary Anne
is another great pigeon, Gentle Annie,
who won from Pau in 2002. Then there is
Maria who won 3rd Open Palamos, a sister
of perhaps Jimmy's favourite- the winner
from Perpignan. However, as space is limited,
I cannot go on referring to the noted
exploits of this strain but God willing
more years to its founder and we will
continue to see his name in the top positions
of classic races into Britain.
by: Liam O Comain
by: Liam O Comain
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