Saint Allouestre King’s Cup Update Sunday 1st July.
Posted on July 1, 2018
Sunday 1st July 2018 @ 20:30.
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup - Sponsored by Frazers Animal Feeds.
A decision will be made to morrow Monday on race marking.
Posted in INFC News
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup Update Monday 2nd July.
Posted on July 1, 2018
Monday 2nd July 2018 @ 18:30.
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup - Sponsored by Frazers Animal Feeds.
Race marking will take place on Tuesday 3rd July as planned for a possible release on Friday.
Times as printed in the race entry form booklet.
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup Liberation Friday.
Friday 6th July 2018.
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup - Sponsored by Frazers Animal Feeds.
674 members have entered 2827 pigeons in the race and are competing for £35,940 in pools and prize money.
The pigeons have been released at 08.30am wind at the release site was a very light north westerly which will turn south westerly on route. Our next update will be this evening.
If you are in the Top 10, win any awards or top a Nat Centre contact HOMER
Willie Reynolds - INFC Press Officer
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683 - Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: homerbhw@gmail.com
http://www.infc.co.uk
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup update Friday 23:00
Posted on July 6, 2018
Friday 6th July 2018 @ 23:00
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup - Sponsored by Frazers Animal Feeds.
No first day arrivals have been reported. Hours of Darkness are 22:44 to 04:52.
Our next update will be tomorrow morning.
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup Update Saturday 11:30
Saturday 7th July 2018 @ 11:30
Second day arrivals in the Kings Cup – Placings provisional and subject to change
O. Fitzpatrick & Son Gilford 07.12am Vel 837 – (Winner of the Blue Riband Kings Cup 2018), Tom McClean Annaghmore 08.09am Vel 804, J & D Coburn & Sons Hills & Maze 08.16am Vel 795, Malcolm Robinson Bondhill 08.50am Vel 774.4, McKeown & McAvoy Dundalk 07.42am Vel 774.2, Allan McDonald Portadown & Drumcree 08.49am Vel 769, Mal Maguire & Son Millvale 08.50am Vel 740 (second pigeon 12.39pm), G & C Topley Laurelvale 09.37am Vel 734, Fintan Moran Malahide 07.24am Velocity 715, P Campbell & Sons Armagh 10.32am Vel 701, J Waring & Son Lisburn 10.43am Vel 700, G O’Reilly Malahide 08.02am Velocity 698, Jimmy Cullen Bray 10.15am, E E S Kavanagh Arklow 10.53am, B McArdle & Son Banbridge 10.46am, Mark Ewbanks Banbridge 10.48am
3 hours clock checking rule applies. Banbridge contact Ivan Tel: 07761 229147, Lisburn contact Trevor Tel: 028 (92) 641265.
Update Saturday 7th July
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup - 54 pigeons have been recorded on the second day.
Clock checking arrangements for third day arrivals.
Muckamore, Banbridge and Lisburn all 21.00hrs Sunday evening. Balbriggan 20.00hrs Sunday evening. Stillorgan, Cork, Kilkenny and Wicklow please contact your station manager.
Muckamore Station St Allouestre – R J Elliott Ballymoney 595, Lynch Bros Ballycarry & Dist 587, Jimmy Burrows Eastway 585, Noel Lusty Muckamore 584, Jeff McMaw Carrick Social RPC 512, D & R Turkington Doagh & Dist 481, R Johnston Kingsmoss 423, M Graham Ballymena 411, M Graham Ballymena 405, R Little 399.
Mid Antrim Combine St Allouestre – Martin Graham Ballymena & Dist 411, Martin Graham Ballymena 405. Yet another big result for Martin Graham, recording the only two arrivals in the MAC in the Grand Nat for St Allouestre coming on top of his 1st MAC in the earlier Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove. Well deserved for the Ace Ballymena loft who over recent years has dominated in the INFC events at Ballymena & District, this run of results is the best ever. A big effort by the fancier himself and a small family of birds that are scoring at the extreme distance.
Sunday 8th July 2018
Saint Allouestre King’s Cup.
72 pigeons have been recorded in the race and the lowest third day velocity is 291.11. Any fourth day arrival with a better velocity would qualify for a position.
PROV RESULT: INFC St Allouestre Kings Cup Grand Nat 674/2827 – O Fitzpatrick & Son Gilford 837, T McClean Annaghmore 804, J & D Coburn & Sons Hills & Maze 795, M Robinson Bondhill 774, McKeown & McEvoy Castlebellingham 774, A McDonald Portadown & Drumcree 769, Mal Maguire & Son Millvale 740, G & C Topley Laurelvale 734, F Moran Malahide & Dist 714, P Campbell & Sons Armagh 701, J Waring & Son Lisburn & Dist 700, G O’Reilly Malahide & Dist 697, L & H Fields Hillfoot 689, C McArdle & Sons Banbridge 685, M Ewbanks Banbridge 684, C O’Hare & Son Ballyholland 680, G & C Simmons Edgarstown 653, A Smyth Castlebellingham 640, O & M Monaghan Andersonstown 631, G Steenson Markethill 620, C & L Fryers Dromara 615, Mal Maguire & Son Millvale 613, N Black & Son Dromara 601, J Greenaway Bondhill 599, R J Elliott Ballymoney 595, Lynch Bros Ballycarry & Dist 587, J Cullen Bray Inv 586, J Burrows Eastway 585, N Lusty Muckamore 584, E Murtagh & Son Ind North 572, N Black & Son Dromara 563, G Benson Lisburn & Dist 557, D McElhone Eastway 556, M Gillan Newry & Dist 554, B Palmer & Son Crossgar 550, G O’Reilly Malahide & Dist 542, E E & S Kavanagh Arklow United 539, C & L Fryers Dromara 538, J Cleland Annsborough 531, W Corrigan Loughgall 529, W Corrigan Loughgall 526, T Marshall & Son Newtownbreda 524, J & D Coburn & Sons Hills & Maze 516, Rev T A B Sawyers & Son Banbridge 513, M Black Grosvenor 512, J McMaw Carrick Soc 512, A McAteer & Sons Ballyholland 493, D & R Turkington Doagh & Dist 481, Pritchard Bros Annsborough 477, J Sharkey Castlebellingham 456, Rev T A B Sawyers & Son Banbridge 451, P Lambert Arklow United 443, R Johnston Kingsmoss 423, J Robinson Edgarstown 422, R Williamson Bondhill 415, M Ewbanks Banbridge 412, M Graham Ballymena & Dist 411, D McElhone Eastway 410, M Graham Ballymena & Dist 405, Smyth & Adams Lagan Valley 400, R Liddle Horseshoe 399, P Swindell Newry City 399, E Murtagh & Sons Ind North 395, P Lambert Arklow United 393, K O’Brien & Son Malahide & Dist 391, M Mairs Hills & Maze 367, T Cahill Northern FC Cork 352, M Mairs Hills & Maze 349, P Dunlop Edgarstown 340, G O’Reilly Malahide & Dist 333, J Waring & Son Lisburn & Dist 316, E Murtagh & Sons Ind North 291.
INFC Clubs St Allouestre
Gilford & District – O Fitzpatrick & Son 837.
Annaghmore – T McClean 804.
Hillsborough & Maze – J & D Coburn & Sons 795, J & D Coburn & Sons 516, Milne Mairs 367, Milne Mairs 349.
Bondhill Social – Malcolm Robinson 774, John Greenaway 599, Ron Williamson 415.
Castlebellingham – McKeown & McEvoy 774, A Smyth 640, J Sharkey 456.
Portadown & Drumcree – A McDonald 769.
Millvale –Mal Maguire & Son 740, Mal Maguire & Son 613.
Laurelvale – G & C Topley 734.
Malahide & District – F Moran 714, G O’Reilly 697, G O’Reilly 542, K O’Brien & Son 391, G O’Reilly 333.
Armagh HPS –P Campbell & Sons 701.
Lisburn & District – J Waring & Son 700, G Benson 557, J Waring & Son 316
Hillfoot – L & H Fields 689.
Banbridge – C McArdle & Sons 685, Mark Ewbanks 684, Rev T A B Sawyers & Son 513, Rev T A B Sawyers & Son 451, Mark Ewbanks 412.
Ballyholland – C O’Hare & Daughter 680, A McAteer & Sons 493.
Edgarstown HPS 9/45 – G & C Simmons 653, Jim Robinson 422, Paul Dunlop 340. Great win for Simmons team from a very hard and testing race!! Partners chuffed to bits with the performance of this cock timed, he was clocked last year in the same race and this year finishes 1st Club, 17th Open & 14th North Section and a Merit Award for good measure. Also well done to all who clocked, In a very hard race.
Andersonstown – O & M Monaghan 631.
Markethill – G Steenson 620.
Dromara – C & L Fryers 615, N Black & Son 601, N Black & Son 563, C & L Fryers 538,
Ballymoney HPS 11/56 – R J Elliott 595.
Ballycarry & District – Lynch Bros 587.
Bray Invitation – James Cullen 586.
Eastway – Jimmy Burrows 585, Davy McElhone 556, Davy McElhone 410.
Muckamore – Noel Lusty 584.
Newry & District – M Gillan 554.
Crossgar HPS – B Palmer & Son 550.
Arklow United RPC – E E & S Kavanagh539, Pat Lambert 443, Pat Lambert 393.
Annsborough – James Cleland 531, Pritchard Bros 477.
Loughgall – W Corrigan 529, W Corrigan 526.
Newtownbreda – T Marshall & Son 524.
Grosvenor HPS – M Black 512.
Carrick Social – Jeff McMaw 512.
Doagh & District – D & R Turkington 481.
Kingsmoss – R Johnston 423.
Ballymena & District HPS 3/13 – Martin Graham 411, Martin Graham 405.
Lagan Valley – Smyth & Adams 400.
Horseshoe HPS – R Liddle 399.
Newry City – Paul Swindell 399.
Northern FC Cork – T Cahill 352.
I.N.F.C / B.H.W
SINGLE BIRD CHALLENGE -PROVISIONAL RESULT
Flown from Saint Allouestre, 6th July 2018
1st Fintan Moran, Malahide - Vel. 714, (9th Open) Joe Doheny Trophy, Framed Diploma, £500
2nd P. Campbell & Sons, Armagh - Vel 701, (10th Open) Framed Diploma, £300
3rd Cormac O’Hare & Son, Ballyholland - Vel 680, (16th Open) Framed Diploma, £200
4th Noel Lusty, Muckamore - Vel 584, (29th Open) £100
5th E. Murtagh & Sons, Individual North - Vel 572, (30th Open) £80
6th E. E. & S. Kavanagh, Arklow - Vel 539, (37th Open) £50
7th Rev. Tab Sawyers & Son, Banbridge - Vel 513, (44th Open) £50
8th A. McAteer & Sons, Ballyholland - Vel 493, (47th Open) £50
9th D. & R. Turkington, Doagh & Dist - Vel 481, (48th Open) £50
10th Paul Dunlop, Edgarstown - Vel 340, (69th Open) £50
Other Challenge birds timed in the Open result were J. Waring & Son, Lisburn - Vel 316, (71st Open). Objections to Secretary T. Topping within 7 days
Kings Cup Grand Nat 2018 - 1st Open O Fitzpatrick & Son
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willie reynolds
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Kings Cup Grand Nat 2018 - 1st Open O Fitzpatrick & Son
Last edited by willie reynolds on Wed Dec 19, 2018 5:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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willie reynolds
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- Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:44 pm
Re: Kings Cup Grand Nat 2018 - 1st Open O Fitzpatrick & Son
IRISH NATIONAL FLYING CLUB Kings Cup – Saint Allouestre
The 2018 King’s Cup from St Allouestre was flown as planned on Friday 6th July, liberation was delayed until 8.30am in a Lt North Westerly wind. 674 members from across Ireland sent a good entry of 2827 birds competing for total pools and prizes of £30,130. The race was again sponsored by Frazers Animal Feeds in Banbridge and we are very grateful to them for their continued sponsorship of this race. It was expected to be hard and that’s exactly how it turned out with no birds timed on the day. At the end of the second day we had 54 birds and by day 3 and the end of the race just 72 game birds had been confirmed. From that a number of lofts had more than one bird home, former winner Gerry O’Reilly from Malahide & Dist timed 3 birds as did E Murtagh & Sons Ind North, and lofts with two each included Malachy Maguire from Millvale in Newry winning Harkness Rose Bowl for Best 2B Ave, J & D Coburn & Sons Hills & Maze, J Waring & Son Lisburn & Dist, Mark Ewbanks Balbridge, C & L Fryers Dromara, N Black & Son Dromara former Kings Cup winners, Willie Corrigan Loughgall, Rev T A B Sawyers & Son Banbridge, Pat Lambert Arklow United, Davy McElhone Eastway, Martin Graham Ballymena, and Milne Mairs Hillsborough & Maze.
1st North Section, 1st Open O Fitzpatrick & Son Gilford, Vel 837, Flying 473 miles, Winning £2133, and King George V Challenge Cup and NIPA Trophy for 1st NIPA member in the King’s Cup.
The Blue Riband Kings Cup in the Grand National race from St Allouestre has been won in the village of Gilford by O Fitzpatrick & Son, Michael started racing with his late father Owen but decided to retain the name after his father passed away. Michael told me that he definitely got the racing pigeon bug from his father and told me his dad in 20 years flying had topped the NIPA Open twice, a bit of achievement on its own. As recently as last season O Fitzpatrick & Son had 2nd Open INFC in the Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove putting five birds in the prizes, and had five birds in the prizes in the previous seasons YB Nat from Penzance. It’s the 4th time the famous trophy has been won into Gilford, previous winners were Thompson Bros in 1954, Doran Bros in 1966, Dan Campbell in 2011 which I covered at the time and now added to the list O Fitzpatrick & Son in 2018. Another neighbour was Jackie Crossan who after meeting his wife and moving to Downpatrick won the Kings Cup from Lerwick in 1985. The Kings Cup winner, one of three birds sent to France, was a 2 year old Blue hen sent on chipping eggs and now named “Champion Wee Lilly” after his late mother. She was timed at 7.12am on the second morning flying 473 miles to record velocity 837ypm. She had most on the inland programme and both Talbenny (1) and (2) before the Kings Cup. Her sire contains the very best of the old Frans van Wildemeersch bloodlines originating at Oakfield Lofts in Portadown, where Bertie Fletcher had the very best of this family of birds winning from all points. Dam contains the best of the Vandenabeele bloodlines obtained from good friend Dessie Breen from his Syndicate Lofts stock. Usually Michael races roundabout and the birds are trained from Balbriggan with Ronnie Williamson.
2nd North Section, 2nd Open Tom McClean Annaghmore, Vel 804, Flying 480 miles, winning £1825 and the Nelson Vase 1st RPRA member after winner in King’s Cup.
Tommy McClean has won a host of Nat positions but none better than 2nd Open in this seasons Blue Riband event from St Allouestre at 480 miles, winning 1st Club in the highly competitive Annaghmore HPS. “Champion Tamis Girl” named after his grand-daughter is his latest top performer, a 2 year old Cheq Pied hen. She was in peak condition with her first flight just starting to grow on both wings, sent on 12 day eggs. Very lightly raced she had just 2 inland races and Talbenny, then plenty of training. Sire a Pied cock was bred by good friend Gary Benson of Lisburn & Dist. Dam a direct daughter of “Champion Malconies Dream the 2006 Kings Cup winner and double grand-daughter of “Champion Adam”, double Welsh National winner. The feeding is Frazer’s from Banbridge.
3rd North Section, 3rd Open J & D Coburn & Son Hillsborough & Maze, Vel 795, Flying 478 miles, winning £1334.
J & D Coburn & Sons had many seasons of success racing in the Lagan Valley RPC in Lisburn and many top positions in the Ulster Federation. Now as well they are racing with Hills & Maze in the NIPA the loft had a big early bird in the Kings Cup timing at 8.16am on the second day to record velocity 795 for the 478 miles to finish 3rd Open INFC. Just three birds were sent and a second arrival made home lofts at 17.48hrs on the second day to finish 43rd Open INFC, very pleasing that both birds were sisters. Breeding is Vandenabeele mixed in with his own old family of birds, the Vandenabeele bloodlines originated through Mark Sherwood and Bill Hague, England. Going to France birds will be sitting 10 to 12 days on eggs having had a few on the inland race programme plus Talbenny in South Wales. After that, it’s a lot of private training prior to basketing. Class breeding and a Class performance!
4th North Section, 4th Open Malcolm Robinson Bondhill, Vel 774, Flying 480 miles, winning £1534.
Another top finish to-add to the CV of Malcolm Roninson of Bandhill, winner of the Penzance Young Bird National 2016 with “Tilda” he is one of Ireland’s top fanciers. Malcolm has a prolific record going back a number of years and some of the highlights are 3rd and 5th Open King’s Cup 1996, Winners of the Harkness Rose Bowl in 2000 for the best two bird average from King’s Cup, 1st Open NIPA Lamballe Old Bird Derby 2001, 5th Open King’s Cup 2011, Hall of Fame winner in 2011 for a pigeon three times in the prizes from King’s Cup and 6th Open Yearling National 2015. The list is endless, his latest winner is closely related to “Tilda”, the two year old Dark Cheq hen was on her first eggs sent due to hatch. She had three inland races and 2nd Talbenny, her last race and trained up for the big event. The dam was bred by Malcolm’s ‘mentor ‘Davy Strain, Novara Stud Ballyclare from his Gebr Brugemanns Barcelona lines, the dam was the famous “Luck Penny Hen” from Mr & Mrs Delaney Oroory Hill Stud Dromore, given to Malcolm as a luck penny for sheep sold to Malcolm, breeding is the Delaney Southwell Family.
1st South Section, 5th Open McKeown & McEvoy Castlebellingham, Vel 775, Flying 450 miles, winning £1470, J Cullen Memorial Cup for 1st ECF member in the King’s Cup and Hall of Fame Diploma
Topping the South Section and winner of East Coast Federation Cup is the partnership of McKeown & McAvoy from Dundalk, just a recent member of the INFC Committee and in 2018 season was added to the Race Advisors. Peter sent me the following. We are delighted to be asked to pen a few words about our pigeon. He is also a Hall of Fame winner we have called “Patsy”. He is bred from a cock from N Black & Son, Dromara. I have no details on him except that he is a brother to a Hall of Fame winner. The dam is from G O'Reilly & Son, Malahide given to us by a friend Keith Allister. He was a darkness young bird as all our racers are. We race on roundabout from the first race to the last and he always homes in good nick. He won 1st Club from Penzance in 2016 before winning 36th Open in the King's Cup Race. This year he started from Fermoy and had Corrin, the first Talbenny and Fermoy before the big one. We train from 15 miles on Tuesday or Wednesday each week. Hen’s out first. They are left together for 15 to 30 minutes with no nest bowl afterwards. On race day, they could be left together with bowls for a few hours, even overnight if it is a difficult race, the pigeons not racing are left together too. This year we are feeding Van Robaeys corn from Sandyhill. Cassaert Depurative and Non-Stopp for racing, Best All Round for breeding with tit bits of Red Band for trapping and Sunflower Hearts for dessert for two to three days.
We are over the moon to have such a super pigeon and we feel he has earned his retirement. We race in 3 Clubs but not all 3 every week. Having won 14 races this year with no duplications and we are looking forward to young bird racing. Our pigeons are mostly Larkin Busschaert’s from our good friend Mick Lilley & Son Hartlepool, some Roland Janssen from Louella (good out to Penzance) and some distance lines. Our motto is "you keep the pedigree, we'll have the pigeon". That's all we have to say, Homer. Other than thank you to all our fellow fanciers who make this sport worthwhile.
5th North Section, 6th Open Allan McDonald Portadown & Drumcree, Vel 769, Flying 477 miles, winning £238.
Allan is a former Kings Cup winner in 1988 his Champion “Clan Queen” won 1st Open INFC Rennes, he has also been 4th & 5th Open in this his favourite race. Just last season in the NIPA Old Bird Nat his Mealy cock “Super Ryan” won 1st Sect E & 4th Open St Malo when only 10 birds were timed, he feels his preparation stands to the birds in difficult races. His 2 year old Blue hen this season was bred by Tom Gilbertson of Carlisle, Allan has visited Tom and was impressed with his birds which have produced some top positions in both English and Scottish Nationals. He has named his Blue hen “Lady Carlisle” and Tom tells him she contains the lines of his top performers £Jay Bee” 1st Combine Niort 604 miles and “Jackie” 2nd Combine Nantes at 534 miles flying for 15 hours.
“Lady Carlisle” was sitting 14 day old eggs on the day of basketing, prior to that she had 3 x Inland races plus Talbenny (1) and (2). She dropped her 3rd flight and was showing good form at home, flying on the Monday prior to basketing for 1 and Half hours. He thinks the very hot conditions and maybe too many seeds speeded up the moult, some of his birds had dropped their 4th flight and were kept at home. Feeding was Marimans Winner, with Beans at all times for the 3 weeks before the big race, and additionally Frazers Energy Corn and Peanuts. Allan would like to thank Tom Gilbertson for breeding this super racer.
6th North Section, 7th Open Mal Maguire & Son Millvale, Vel 740, Flying 460 miles, winning £863 and Harkness Rose Bowl for Best 2 Bird Average in Kings Cup.
The Ritz is an understatement, that was the thoughts running through my head when entering the lofts of Malachy and Mark Maguire who have for some time now been a dominate force in pigeon racing flying with the NIPA and the Irish National Flying Club to their Yew Tree Lofts in the Newry City area of Northern Ireland. The former INFC National Champions finished 5th Open in the previous weeks NIPA St Malo OB Nat and score another big result here. First bird timed at 8.50am on the second morning followed by a second arrival at 12.39pm to win the Harkness Rose Bowl for Best 2 Bird Average. The 7th Open INFC bird was a two year old Blue Cheq cock a pure bred Maguire now named “Young Oisin” after his pigeon mad grand-son soaked in all their long distance champions from Portavogie Lass through to present day bloodlines added from N Black & Son, some combination! Prior to the major races the birds are raced hard, and trained most days weather permitting.
7th North Section, 8th Open G & C Topley Laurelvale, Vel 734, Flying 475 miles, winning £138 and the McCloud Cup for first Yearling in the King’s Cup.
First Yearling in the Kings Cup this season was to the father and son partnership of Geoff and Clive Topley, timing at 9.37am on the second day. The Kings Cup pigeon flew 7 races as a young bird including Talbenny National. This year the Blue cock had 5 inland races and Talbenny before the Kings Cup flown widowhood, all birds are raced on widowhood. The sire of the cock clocked was 49th Open Kings Cup in 2016 when no day birds were recorded. He was a g/son of ‘Rocky’ (5tth & 8thy Kings Cup) from Davy Black. The dam of this year’s pigeon is a half-sister to ‘Rocky’ and ‘Big Darren’ a Gold Medal winner in the INFC.
2nd South Section, 9th Open Fintan Moran Malahide & Dist, Vel 714, Flying 408 miles, winning £1686 Hall of Fame Diploma and the Joe Doheny Cup for the Single Bird Challenge.
Met a happy Fintan at the Friendship race marking and next day got the following. Firstly I would like to congratulate O Fitzpatrick & son of Gilford on their great win. The preparation for my 5 year old Red hen “Aoife M”, named after my daughter, started in February when she was paired and let rear a single youngster. She was then privately trained and had 5 inland races, the furthest Skibbereen and last race Pilmore Beach on the 16th June. She raced celibate and was in great form all through the programme, being in the first few birds to the loft on each race. For the King Cups she was repaired, given a few 50 mile tosses and sent sitting 9 days. I clocked her at 7.24am on the winning day, and she was so keen on arrival she went straight on to her eggs and remained there till evening. Her breeding is steeped in the very best of the old long distance English pigeons. Her sire a 2011 Red cock won 30th Kings Cup in 2014, when only 40 pigeons were recorded in race time. His sire was bought at the 2010 Blackpool Charity Auction and was presented by David and Joan Glover of Hinckley, Leicestershire. Their family of birds were based on Logans, Mitcheison, Fear Bros and Titmus birds and he contained their very best performance pigeons - 1st Section; 8th Open NFC Dax 605 miles and his dam won 6th section 69th NFC Tarbes 2008 (645 miles on the day) and 4th section 6th open Midlands NFC Bergerac 2009 (536 miles on the day). The dam of the 2011 Red cock was bred by Sid and Val Miles, Peasedown St John, and was a grandchild of 3 x 1st NFC Pau winners, Ashgrove King (Harding Bros. 1994); Little Darling (Miles and Dix 1987) and Rosemead Abigail (George Burgess 1988). The dam of my Red hen, a 2009 Silver hen was bred by me from Sid and Val Miles national winning family of pigeons and again contained the above national winners and 2nd Section & 14th Open NFC Pau 2004 and 2 x No 1st Combine Marmandes 485 miles. For her valiant efforts the hen wins a Hall of Fame Award and is this year’s winner of the INFC/ BHW Single Bird Challenge. I would like to thank my wife Cora and daughter Aoife for all their help with the birds, without them all this would not be possible. And finally I want to acknowledge the great work of the Convoyers , as the hen returned in immaculate condition.
8th North Section, 10th Open P Campbell & Sons Armagh HPS, Vel 701, Flying 476 miles, winning £487.
The 10th Open winner for the Armagh loft of P Campbell & Sons was timed at 10.32am on the second day, this three year old Blue w/f cock was sent to the race sitting eggs 12 days. Prior to the Kings Cup the bird had just four inland races and St Allouestre was its first cross channel event of the year, last season he homed from the NIPA St Malo just out of race time. Brothers John & Malachy Campbell attend to all the racing with good success, an aunt of this year’s bird was a winner of an INFC Triple award from the Friendship Nat – 2010 61st Open St Malo, 2011 26th Open St Malo and 2012 44th Open Quimper. The breeding of the latest winner was Gits old distance family the best of their dad Pat and the dam was Cattrysse Bros sourced from Colin Lloyd. An old family of birds, still producing the goods in 2018.
The INFC Committee are grateful once again for all the help at the race marking, and also all those involved in the various Clock Centres across Ireland over the days of the race, every little bit of help is appreciated. On a personal note thanks to all those who supplied text and photos for this report, some at short notice, or helped in any other way. The more info we get the better job can be done, any little snips, details of the bird itself plus info on the sire and dam. Any awards won previous, how long in the birds etc. This report is the Top 10, results from Clubs, Feds, Combines etc. to follow.
Willie Reynolds - INFC Press Officer
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683 - Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: homerbhw@gmail.com
http://www.infc.co.uk
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
Michael Fitzpatrick of Gilford, INFC Kings Cup winner in 2018 with “Champion Wee Lilly”.
Tommy McClean of Annaghmore, 2nd Open St Allouestre with “Champion Tami Girl”.
Malcolm Robinson from Bondhill scores in another France Classic.
Olly McAvoy (r) holding “Patsy” Hall of Fame winner and Peter McKeown holding 1st Club & 7th ECF Penzance 2018.
Allan McDonald Portadown & Drumcree, winner of 1st Club and 6th Open from the King's Cup. Allan is a former King's Cup winner.
“Lady Carlisle”, bred by Tom Gilbertson of Carlisle and raced by Allan McDonald.
Malachy and Mark Maguire from Newry in County Down, Harkness Rose Bowl winners for Best 2 Bird Ave in Kings Cup.
Montage of winners for M Maguire & Son from Newry, all the Champions are there!.
Geoff Topley from Laurelvale HPS holding his winner of 7th North Sect & 8th Open INFC.
Fintan Moran of the Malahide & District, winner of Hall of Fame Diploma with daughter Aoife.
“Champion Aoife M” the Hall of Fame winner for Fintan Moran.
John & Malachy Campbell from Armagh HPS, 8th North Sect & 10th Open INFC St Allouestre.
The 2018 King’s Cup from St Allouestre was flown as planned on Friday 6th July, liberation was delayed until 8.30am in a Lt North Westerly wind. 674 members from across Ireland sent a good entry of 2827 birds competing for total pools and prizes of £30,130. The race was again sponsored by Frazers Animal Feeds in Banbridge and we are very grateful to them for their continued sponsorship of this race. It was expected to be hard and that’s exactly how it turned out with no birds timed on the day. At the end of the second day we had 54 birds and by day 3 and the end of the race just 72 game birds had been confirmed. From that a number of lofts had more than one bird home, former winner Gerry O’Reilly from Malahide & Dist timed 3 birds as did E Murtagh & Sons Ind North, and lofts with two each included Malachy Maguire from Millvale in Newry winning Harkness Rose Bowl for Best 2B Ave, J & D Coburn & Sons Hills & Maze, J Waring & Son Lisburn & Dist, Mark Ewbanks Balbridge, C & L Fryers Dromara, N Black & Son Dromara former Kings Cup winners, Willie Corrigan Loughgall, Rev T A B Sawyers & Son Banbridge, Pat Lambert Arklow United, Davy McElhone Eastway, Martin Graham Ballymena, and Milne Mairs Hillsborough & Maze.
1st North Section, 1st Open O Fitzpatrick & Son Gilford, Vel 837, Flying 473 miles, Winning £2133, and King George V Challenge Cup and NIPA Trophy for 1st NIPA member in the King’s Cup.
The Blue Riband Kings Cup in the Grand National race from St Allouestre has been won in the village of Gilford by O Fitzpatrick & Son, Michael started racing with his late father Owen but decided to retain the name after his father passed away. Michael told me that he definitely got the racing pigeon bug from his father and told me his dad in 20 years flying had topped the NIPA Open twice, a bit of achievement on its own. As recently as last season O Fitzpatrick & Son had 2nd Open INFC in the Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove putting five birds in the prizes, and had five birds in the prizes in the previous seasons YB Nat from Penzance. It’s the 4th time the famous trophy has been won into Gilford, previous winners were Thompson Bros in 1954, Doran Bros in 1966, Dan Campbell in 2011 which I covered at the time and now added to the list O Fitzpatrick & Son in 2018. Another neighbour was Jackie Crossan who after meeting his wife and moving to Downpatrick won the Kings Cup from Lerwick in 1985. The Kings Cup winner, one of three birds sent to France, was a 2 year old Blue hen sent on chipping eggs and now named “Champion Wee Lilly” after his late mother. She was timed at 7.12am on the second morning flying 473 miles to record velocity 837ypm. She had most on the inland programme and both Talbenny (1) and (2) before the Kings Cup. Her sire contains the very best of the old Frans van Wildemeersch bloodlines originating at Oakfield Lofts in Portadown, where Bertie Fletcher had the very best of this family of birds winning from all points. Dam contains the best of the Vandenabeele bloodlines obtained from good friend Dessie Breen from his Syndicate Lofts stock. Usually Michael races roundabout and the birds are trained from Balbriggan with Ronnie Williamson.
2nd North Section, 2nd Open Tom McClean Annaghmore, Vel 804, Flying 480 miles, winning £1825 and the Nelson Vase 1st RPRA member after winner in King’s Cup.
Tommy McClean has won a host of Nat positions but none better than 2nd Open in this seasons Blue Riband event from St Allouestre at 480 miles, winning 1st Club in the highly competitive Annaghmore HPS. “Champion Tamis Girl” named after his grand-daughter is his latest top performer, a 2 year old Cheq Pied hen. She was in peak condition with her first flight just starting to grow on both wings, sent on 12 day eggs. Very lightly raced she had just 2 inland races and Talbenny, then plenty of training. Sire a Pied cock was bred by good friend Gary Benson of Lisburn & Dist. Dam a direct daughter of “Champion Malconies Dream the 2006 Kings Cup winner and double grand-daughter of “Champion Adam”, double Welsh National winner. The feeding is Frazer’s from Banbridge.
3rd North Section, 3rd Open J & D Coburn & Son Hillsborough & Maze, Vel 795, Flying 478 miles, winning £1334.
J & D Coburn & Sons had many seasons of success racing in the Lagan Valley RPC in Lisburn and many top positions in the Ulster Federation. Now as well they are racing with Hills & Maze in the NIPA the loft had a big early bird in the Kings Cup timing at 8.16am on the second day to record velocity 795 for the 478 miles to finish 3rd Open INFC. Just three birds were sent and a second arrival made home lofts at 17.48hrs on the second day to finish 43rd Open INFC, very pleasing that both birds were sisters. Breeding is Vandenabeele mixed in with his own old family of birds, the Vandenabeele bloodlines originated through Mark Sherwood and Bill Hague, England. Going to France birds will be sitting 10 to 12 days on eggs having had a few on the inland race programme plus Talbenny in South Wales. After that, it’s a lot of private training prior to basketing. Class breeding and a Class performance!
4th North Section, 4th Open Malcolm Robinson Bondhill, Vel 774, Flying 480 miles, winning £1534.
Another top finish to-add to the CV of Malcolm Roninson of Bandhill, winner of the Penzance Young Bird National 2016 with “Tilda” he is one of Ireland’s top fanciers. Malcolm has a prolific record going back a number of years and some of the highlights are 3rd and 5th Open King’s Cup 1996, Winners of the Harkness Rose Bowl in 2000 for the best two bird average from King’s Cup, 1st Open NIPA Lamballe Old Bird Derby 2001, 5th Open King’s Cup 2011, Hall of Fame winner in 2011 for a pigeon three times in the prizes from King’s Cup and 6th Open Yearling National 2015. The list is endless, his latest winner is closely related to “Tilda”, the two year old Dark Cheq hen was on her first eggs sent due to hatch. She had three inland races and 2nd Talbenny, her last race and trained up for the big event. The dam was bred by Malcolm’s ‘mentor ‘Davy Strain, Novara Stud Ballyclare from his Gebr Brugemanns Barcelona lines, the dam was the famous “Luck Penny Hen” from Mr & Mrs Delaney Oroory Hill Stud Dromore, given to Malcolm as a luck penny for sheep sold to Malcolm, breeding is the Delaney Southwell Family.
1st South Section, 5th Open McKeown & McEvoy Castlebellingham, Vel 775, Flying 450 miles, winning £1470, J Cullen Memorial Cup for 1st ECF member in the King’s Cup and Hall of Fame Diploma
Topping the South Section and winner of East Coast Federation Cup is the partnership of McKeown & McAvoy from Dundalk, just a recent member of the INFC Committee and in 2018 season was added to the Race Advisors. Peter sent me the following. We are delighted to be asked to pen a few words about our pigeon. He is also a Hall of Fame winner we have called “Patsy”. He is bred from a cock from N Black & Son, Dromara. I have no details on him except that he is a brother to a Hall of Fame winner. The dam is from G O'Reilly & Son, Malahide given to us by a friend Keith Allister. He was a darkness young bird as all our racers are. We race on roundabout from the first race to the last and he always homes in good nick. He won 1st Club from Penzance in 2016 before winning 36th Open in the King's Cup Race. This year he started from Fermoy and had Corrin, the first Talbenny and Fermoy before the big one. We train from 15 miles on Tuesday or Wednesday each week. Hen’s out first. They are left together for 15 to 30 minutes with no nest bowl afterwards. On race day, they could be left together with bowls for a few hours, even overnight if it is a difficult race, the pigeons not racing are left together too. This year we are feeding Van Robaeys corn from Sandyhill. Cassaert Depurative and Non-Stopp for racing, Best All Round for breeding with tit bits of Red Band for trapping and Sunflower Hearts for dessert for two to three days.
We are over the moon to have such a super pigeon and we feel he has earned his retirement. We race in 3 Clubs but not all 3 every week. Having won 14 races this year with no duplications and we are looking forward to young bird racing. Our pigeons are mostly Larkin Busschaert’s from our good friend Mick Lilley & Son Hartlepool, some Roland Janssen from Louella (good out to Penzance) and some distance lines. Our motto is "you keep the pedigree, we'll have the pigeon". That's all we have to say, Homer. Other than thank you to all our fellow fanciers who make this sport worthwhile.
5th North Section, 6th Open Allan McDonald Portadown & Drumcree, Vel 769, Flying 477 miles, winning £238.
Allan is a former Kings Cup winner in 1988 his Champion “Clan Queen” won 1st Open INFC Rennes, he has also been 4th & 5th Open in this his favourite race. Just last season in the NIPA Old Bird Nat his Mealy cock “Super Ryan” won 1st Sect E & 4th Open St Malo when only 10 birds were timed, he feels his preparation stands to the birds in difficult races. His 2 year old Blue hen this season was bred by Tom Gilbertson of Carlisle, Allan has visited Tom and was impressed with his birds which have produced some top positions in both English and Scottish Nationals. He has named his Blue hen “Lady Carlisle” and Tom tells him she contains the lines of his top performers £Jay Bee” 1st Combine Niort 604 miles and “Jackie” 2nd Combine Nantes at 534 miles flying for 15 hours.
“Lady Carlisle” was sitting 14 day old eggs on the day of basketing, prior to that she had 3 x Inland races plus Talbenny (1) and (2). She dropped her 3rd flight and was showing good form at home, flying on the Monday prior to basketing for 1 and Half hours. He thinks the very hot conditions and maybe too many seeds speeded up the moult, some of his birds had dropped their 4th flight and were kept at home. Feeding was Marimans Winner, with Beans at all times for the 3 weeks before the big race, and additionally Frazers Energy Corn and Peanuts. Allan would like to thank Tom Gilbertson for breeding this super racer.
6th North Section, 7th Open Mal Maguire & Son Millvale, Vel 740, Flying 460 miles, winning £863 and Harkness Rose Bowl for Best 2 Bird Average in Kings Cup.
The Ritz is an understatement, that was the thoughts running through my head when entering the lofts of Malachy and Mark Maguire who have for some time now been a dominate force in pigeon racing flying with the NIPA and the Irish National Flying Club to their Yew Tree Lofts in the Newry City area of Northern Ireland. The former INFC National Champions finished 5th Open in the previous weeks NIPA St Malo OB Nat and score another big result here. First bird timed at 8.50am on the second morning followed by a second arrival at 12.39pm to win the Harkness Rose Bowl for Best 2 Bird Average. The 7th Open INFC bird was a two year old Blue Cheq cock a pure bred Maguire now named “Young Oisin” after his pigeon mad grand-son soaked in all their long distance champions from Portavogie Lass through to present day bloodlines added from N Black & Son, some combination! Prior to the major races the birds are raced hard, and trained most days weather permitting.
7th North Section, 8th Open G & C Topley Laurelvale, Vel 734, Flying 475 miles, winning £138 and the McCloud Cup for first Yearling in the King’s Cup.
First Yearling in the Kings Cup this season was to the father and son partnership of Geoff and Clive Topley, timing at 9.37am on the second day. The Kings Cup pigeon flew 7 races as a young bird including Talbenny National. This year the Blue cock had 5 inland races and Talbenny before the Kings Cup flown widowhood, all birds are raced on widowhood. The sire of the cock clocked was 49th Open Kings Cup in 2016 when no day birds were recorded. He was a g/son of ‘Rocky’ (5tth & 8thy Kings Cup) from Davy Black. The dam of this year’s pigeon is a half-sister to ‘Rocky’ and ‘Big Darren’ a Gold Medal winner in the INFC.
2nd South Section, 9th Open Fintan Moran Malahide & Dist, Vel 714, Flying 408 miles, winning £1686 Hall of Fame Diploma and the Joe Doheny Cup for the Single Bird Challenge.
Met a happy Fintan at the Friendship race marking and next day got the following. Firstly I would like to congratulate O Fitzpatrick & son of Gilford on their great win. The preparation for my 5 year old Red hen “Aoife M”, named after my daughter, started in February when she was paired and let rear a single youngster. She was then privately trained and had 5 inland races, the furthest Skibbereen and last race Pilmore Beach on the 16th June. She raced celibate and was in great form all through the programme, being in the first few birds to the loft on each race. For the King Cups she was repaired, given a few 50 mile tosses and sent sitting 9 days. I clocked her at 7.24am on the winning day, and she was so keen on arrival she went straight on to her eggs and remained there till evening. Her breeding is steeped in the very best of the old long distance English pigeons. Her sire a 2011 Red cock won 30th Kings Cup in 2014, when only 40 pigeons were recorded in race time. His sire was bought at the 2010 Blackpool Charity Auction and was presented by David and Joan Glover of Hinckley, Leicestershire. Their family of birds were based on Logans, Mitcheison, Fear Bros and Titmus birds and he contained their very best performance pigeons - 1st Section; 8th Open NFC Dax 605 miles and his dam won 6th section 69th NFC Tarbes 2008 (645 miles on the day) and 4th section 6th open Midlands NFC Bergerac 2009 (536 miles on the day). The dam of the 2011 Red cock was bred by Sid and Val Miles, Peasedown St John, and was a grandchild of 3 x 1st NFC Pau winners, Ashgrove King (Harding Bros. 1994); Little Darling (Miles and Dix 1987) and Rosemead Abigail (George Burgess 1988). The dam of my Red hen, a 2009 Silver hen was bred by me from Sid and Val Miles national winning family of pigeons and again contained the above national winners and 2nd Section & 14th Open NFC Pau 2004 and 2 x No 1st Combine Marmandes 485 miles. For her valiant efforts the hen wins a Hall of Fame Award and is this year’s winner of the INFC/ BHW Single Bird Challenge. I would like to thank my wife Cora and daughter Aoife for all their help with the birds, without them all this would not be possible. And finally I want to acknowledge the great work of the Convoyers , as the hen returned in immaculate condition.
8th North Section, 10th Open P Campbell & Sons Armagh HPS, Vel 701, Flying 476 miles, winning £487.
The 10th Open winner for the Armagh loft of P Campbell & Sons was timed at 10.32am on the second day, this three year old Blue w/f cock was sent to the race sitting eggs 12 days. Prior to the Kings Cup the bird had just four inland races and St Allouestre was its first cross channel event of the year, last season he homed from the NIPA St Malo just out of race time. Brothers John & Malachy Campbell attend to all the racing with good success, an aunt of this year’s bird was a winner of an INFC Triple award from the Friendship Nat – 2010 61st Open St Malo, 2011 26th Open St Malo and 2012 44th Open Quimper. The breeding of the latest winner was Gits old distance family the best of their dad Pat and the dam was Cattrysse Bros sourced from Colin Lloyd. An old family of birds, still producing the goods in 2018.
The INFC Committee are grateful once again for all the help at the race marking, and also all those involved in the various Clock Centres across Ireland over the days of the race, every little bit of help is appreciated. On a personal note thanks to all those who supplied text and photos for this report, some at short notice, or helped in any other way. The more info we get the better job can be done, any little snips, details of the bird itself plus info on the sire and dam. Any awards won previous, how long in the birds etc. This report is the Top 10, results from Clubs, Feds, Combines etc. to follow.
Willie Reynolds - INFC Press Officer
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683 - Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: homerbhw@gmail.com
http://www.infc.co.uk
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
Michael Fitzpatrick of Gilford, INFC Kings Cup winner in 2018 with “Champion Wee Lilly”.
Tommy McClean of Annaghmore, 2nd Open St Allouestre with “Champion Tami Girl”.
Malcolm Robinson from Bondhill scores in another France Classic.
Olly McAvoy (r) holding “Patsy” Hall of Fame winner and Peter McKeown holding 1st Club & 7th ECF Penzance 2018.
Allan McDonald Portadown & Drumcree, winner of 1st Club and 6th Open from the King's Cup. Allan is a former King's Cup winner.
“Lady Carlisle”, bred by Tom Gilbertson of Carlisle and raced by Allan McDonald.
Malachy and Mark Maguire from Newry in County Down, Harkness Rose Bowl winners for Best 2 Bird Ave in Kings Cup.
Montage of winners for M Maguire & Son from Newry, all the Champions are there!.
Geoff Topley from Laurelvale HPS holding his winner of 7th North Sect & 8th Open INFC.
Fintan Moran of the Malahide & District, winner of Hall of Fame Diploma with daughter Aoife.
“Champion Aoife M” the Hall of Fame winner for Fintan Moran.
John & Malachy Campbell from Armagh HPS, 8th North Sect & 10th Open INFC St Allouestre.