IHU South Region Awards 2022 -

[willie reynolds]

The Irish Homing Union

The Sunday 5th of Febuary saw the Irish Homing Union Southern region hold their AGM and prize giving for their meritorious awards which was well supported with a packed room in Blanchardstown, Dublin. After the formalities of the annual business, it saw the election of officers for the 2023 season. Outgoing president Henry Byrne vacated the chair to allow temporary president and current IHU president Billy Hobbs to begin the appointment of officers. Henry Byrne was reappointed as Southern Region President, Alan Meehan reappointed as Secretary, Brendan Mc Laughlin reappointed as ring secretary and Michael Roche holds a longer term appointment as treasurer. Outgoing Press officer Michael Feeney was replaced by yours truly for the upcoming 2023 season.

After all of the AGM business and election of officers, saw the celebration of annual awards presented on behalf of the union.
Old Bird of the Year on the Channel (South Road) was Noel Somers and family of the Sarsfield Club, made up of Noel, his wife and 3 kids. Racing in a small loft of 15x7 loft, with big performances. This pigeon was bred by Jackpot Lofts of Karl Donnelly, scoring twice in the top 10 and a further 2 position in the top 100 of the Irish South Road Fed, scoring from Talbenny and 3 times from Penzance races this season. This hen was bred down from Kittel, from pigeons Karl bought directly from the Flanders Collection.

Old Bird of the Year on the Land (South Road) was John Gaynor and Family of the Tallaght club. This hen was a Granddaughter of Homealone, when a son of Homealone was paired to a pigeon John and Family acquired from Dave Atkin. The winning hen was name Cami, in memory of John’s nephew Cameron who recently passed away. Not only was this the IHU South Region Champion Old Bird but she was also IRSF champion old bird, scoring 6 times in the club and fed this season. A great way to celebrate after such a tragic loss to the Gaynor family.

Young Bird of the year on the Land (South Road) was Hayden and Thorpe of the Dublin North East RPC. This young cock named Kojak, was bred in TT Lofts of Herbie Thorpe, and he is a grandson of both the ‘630’ and ‘Karl’ (Karl is a top breeding son of Kittel) both prolific breeders now at TT Lofts. This pigeon scored twice in the 10 top of the Irish South Road Fed and a further 2 positions in the Top 100 of the fed while winning a 50 inch TV nom this season.

Young Bird of the Year on the Channel (South Road) saw the Newtown and Kilpedder RPC partnership of Byrne and Bradley taking the award. This game hen was twice across the water scoring in both the IHU NFC National from Talbenny and the INFC national from Penzance. This hen was bred by the loft of Kevin and Kristopher Rooney and family from their Herman Cuester line, no stranger to national success. The dam of this pigeon was a full sister to Derek Tierneys double section winner from the INFC Skibbereen race.

East Region Fanciers of the Year were Hayden and Thorpe, this partnership had a stunning season, taking combined OB/YB averages and YB averages among other awards in the ISRF.

South East Region Fancier of the Year was Leo Conran, of the Graignamanagh club for success in national racing including scoring well in the INFC yearling national and Kings Cup while winning the IHU NFC from Valentia Island.

South East Region Fancier of the Year was Oliver Power, awarded for contributions to the sport in the Munster area. On collecting his award Mr Power spoke about the origins of the North Road National Flying Club, he thanked the committee of the IHU for their support over the years. A gentleman of the sport and a well deserved winner of the fancier of the year.

Young Bird of the Year on the Channel (North Road) was M & K Slattery of St Marys Limerick. The winner was a mealy cock bred by Jimmy Quilligan for the Slatterys, a full brother to this pigeon was 2nd National Mauchline last year. This loft holds a top class performance from across the water, with the likes of George (Bred by George Guilfoyle)who flew Scotland 10 times. This caps a stunning performance from the lofts based on the fact that Mike had to give up pigeons in 2019/2020 after he became seriously ill with Covid. Mike wanted to thank all of the fellow fanciers who gifted him pigeons since he started back in the sport Including the late Michael McCormick who gifted him a pigeon from Champion Dee which was 3rd national this season.

Young Bird of the Year on the Land (North Road) was again M & K Slattery of St Marys. Mike said this youngster was very consistent pigeon. The Sire of this pigeon was bred by Jim Purcell from his multiple fed winning cock with the Dam bred by Jeff Greenaway of Northern Ireland. Mike managed a tremendous feat of topping the Munster Fed 3 weeks in a row this season.

Old Bird of the Year on the Land (North Road) was awarded to the St Marys Partnership of McCormick & O’Donoghue, this hen scored a 1st Fed and 5th Section from Cavan within a 2 week period. This hen was also 5th National from Perth. She is a granddaughter of the partnerships number one stock pigeon ‘Champion Dee’. Champion Dee won 2 nationals and has now left 4 generations of champion pigeons for the partnership and others.
Old Bird of the Year on the Channel (North Road) was J & J Purcell, no stranger to the Meritorious award also winning it on 2020. This game pigeon was 3rd National from Maybole and 3 weeks later 1st National Perth. A very deserving pigeon for this years award. I would like to wish Jim as speedy recovery from his recent illness.

The IHU AGM and prize giving for the North Region was held in Carrickdale Hotel on the 18th February. The prize giving on the day was for the IHU North Region Meritorious Awards along with the prizes for the Miller Gold Cup race from St. Malo.
Old Bird of the Year (North Region) was Mark Foulis of Dundonald HPS with a stunning performance from the channel. This pigeon was 4th Open Talbenny, the following week it was second open Talbenny and the week after was 1st Open Bude. A super channel racing pigeon from the channel over a 3 week period.

Young Bird of the Year (North Region) was Mr & Mrs S Brown & Son (Brooklands loft) of Dundonald HPS. This young Blue cock scored 3 x 1st clubs and was 3 times in the 3 of the open in the EDC. The sire of this cock was bred from R & D Moore with the Dam from Jeff Greenaway. Even more important than this award was bragging rights at Brooklands lofts with Stephen racing the cocks and his father racing the hens this season. Well done Stephen on the performance of this young cock, now called Stevies Choice.

Winner of the Ken McConnaghie Cup for best bird in the region not winning the Miller Gold Cup was McComb & Braniff of the Fortfield club. This 2 year old cock called Lenny, he was given all the inland races up to the channel and was then given all channel races up to Penzance. After the Penzance race this super cock was trained from Dublin every day and sent sitting on his first set of eggs. This is the first time the partnership has sent to France and what a result.

Final presentation of the day, was the one we all dream of, the Miller Gold Cup. This season it was won by Tony and Oisin Gaffney of the Shamrock club in New Ross, I previously had the chance to sit down with Tony feel free to check out that loft report which was published on the page
Dan Bradley Press officer for the Irish Homing Union