While in Coleraine during the weekend along with Homer we decided to call and see one of the most eagerly awaited projects of 2009 that being the new one loft race in Ireland, namely the North Coast Classic run by Sean and Peter Diamond. I am sure many of you have already seen the boys around all the big shows over the winter period including Dublin, Belfast and Blackpool to name a few, they have in fact been on the road promoting this excellent and meticulously well thought out project for the last number of months including engaging with the general public in Town Centers around the area and on top of this they have been actively involved with the Tourism Board and rightly so, as the loft is sited only a few miles from the world famous Giant's Causeway which is Northern Ireland’s Premier tourist attraction with tens of thousands of visitors flocking to see the one and only World Heritage site within Northern Ireland. The North Coast of Ireland is over flowing with beauty and will make for a great location for the many visitors expected to attend during the course of this very much awaited and anticipated one loft race with the final race scheduled to be flown from Cork City weather permitting of course on Sunday 6th of September a distance of 240 miles to the loft.
The loft is expected to open on Sunday 15th of February for entries and when I arrived yesterday in blizzard conditions the men where working their socks off in extreme conditions making sure that all was being kept on schedule. Paul O’Connor and his team looked to have commissioned an excellent piece of work, with the last pieces of the loft arriving while I was there. Most of the loft was built in sections locally at a barn loaned out free to the boys from Harry Gregg who was a former goal keeper for Manchester United. The loft will measure something in the region of 140ft by 16ft when completed, 20ft of this will be allocated to office space, with a sectional aviary running the full length of the loft, it looks the business guys to be honest There are still spaces available and birds will be accepted into the loft every Sunday from 10am to 4pm right up to the 10th of May, so still some time guys to get your application in, the price per youngster (‘Activated Bird’) is £100 or 114 Euro again the Euro price as I am sure you can appreciate is always changing so best to contact the office before sending your application if paying by Euro’s. The guys also offer you the chance to enter a second pigeon (reserve) at the cost of £50, if your 1st activated pigeon is lost before the 1st Hot Spot your reserve will be activated free of charge.
To me the boys have left no stone unturned in the pursuit to make this race as they quoted “One of the Top One Loft Races in Europe” they agree it will take time but they make no outlandish statements other than you can be assured of their honesty and transparency at all times and all fanciers entering the race can be assured that your entry/entries will be given the same opportunity as every other pigeon in the loft.
They have worked closely with all the clubs in Ireland in offering them one free entry for their Club should they get some of the club members or a syndicate of club members to participate in the race, the free entry can either be auctioned by the Club or they can enter a Club bird with all the winnings going to the Club it is their own choice, you have a few options another option to consider as a Club is volunteering to oversee ringing and convoying in any 1 of the six main events. This involves at least four members of your Club attending to supervise and race mark the birds which will be during the Hot Spot events and final race, we still need four more paces filled and any Club interested should contact Sean or Peter Diamond. Each participating Club will receive one FREE entry for their Club which can be auctioned, raffled or just compete in the Clubs Name.
Entries as you can imagine have been rolling in thick and fast and entries have been received from all over Ireland, including many from England, Scotland and Wales. Not to mention already confirmed entries from Belgium, Germany and the USA. The Promotions team have been inundated with requests for info regarding accommodation, entertainment, family attractions and all the rest, it is a wonderful part of the world to visit and the local entertainment and food is fantastic, nearly forgot another one to visit should you decide to make a weekend of it is the Famous Bushmills Distillery which is just a few minutes from the loft location. There is an overwhelming amount to see and do, just lift the phone and the North Coast Classic promotions team will point you in the right direction.
Representatives from TAURIS, the E.T.S. sponsors will be visiting the loft to install the timing system shortly. The intention is to have traps fitted to all the sections. It is also hoped that the boys will be organising a hospitality evening with the main sponsors who as mentioned above include TAURIS and VERSELE LAGA both sponsorship deals gained through N.Ireland agent who are of course the wonderful Beattie Family from Portadown, the night has been pencilled in for the end of March start of April and I will keep you posted through the column when all is finalised.
All fanciers interested in this extremely professionally run event should ring the office staff for an application form and a copy of the rules. Tel: Sean Diamond on 07548 607756.
Adie McCormick
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