Fermoy - 07/05/11

[willie reynolds]

Cleland claims Fed win from Fermoy

The East Down Combine pigeons were in Fermoy for their fifth race of the season on Saturday 7 May. The forecast wasn’t particularly good for the weekend but there was a window of opportunity for a race in the early to mid morning. Birdage was down on previous weeks as some fanciers adopted a cautious approach and either sent reduced teams or none at all.

As it happened this was probably a wise decision as the pigeons ran into bad weather on their way home. Most of the forecasts gave a southeast wind, which was supposed to push any rain across to the west of Ireland. All northern organisations liberated on Saturday morning and the Ulster Fed racing from the Thurles appear to have had the best race.

The Combine birds were released at 9.15am in a south-southeast wind and while there wasn’t much wind at the home end, it was quite fresh in other places. Weather conditions remained overcast for most of the day and we didn’t see the sun until later in the evening. There were still quite a few pigeons missing at club time but many reported more arrivals in the later evening and through the next morning. I myself had a pigeon reported in Carnlough on Sunday while I have heard of another bird being reported in Gorey, Co Wexford on the Sunday.

The winner of the South Down Fed this week is Annsborough’s James Cleland who had an excellent race here with three birds in the Fed result at 1st, 4th and 10th. This follows on from last week when he was 10th Fed, so the loft is coming into form.
The winning pigeon is a yearling hen that has won a few minor prizes before but this is its first red rosette. It also takes 3ed section, 35th Open. The breeding is Pros Roosen x Gust Jansen. The Pros Roosens originate from Martin Flynn, Drumaness and are a great bird for crossing. They have blended in well with James’ other stock. Its interesting to note that all three birds in the result here have Pros Roosen lines in their pedigrees.

James’ second pigeon is again a Pros Roosen crossed with what is known as the ‘Benny’ hen. Both parents are from Martin Flynn. This one is a yearling cock and takes 10th section. James’ third pigeon at 10th Fed is 20th section. This one is from familiar lines being a Pros Roosen x Soontjens with the Soontjens coming from Maurice Alexander. The Pros Roosen x Soontjens cross has been very effective and has appeared in numerous Fed reports over the past few seasons.

Annsborough’s Benson Bros are 2nd Fed, 4th section, 37th Open this week. This yearling Vandenabeele cock from M & D Evans was raced through to Skibbereen as a young bird and while not making the prizes it was never too faraway. The Vandenabeeles seem to have settled in well for them.

P McCartan Annsborough has two good birds in the result this week at 3rd and 5th Fed, 5th and 12th section. Paddy is a relative newcomer to the sport and has made quite an impression already with some fine results over the past two years. Paddy acquired some good birds and a lot of good advice from his good friends Stanley and Albert McKinstry, Dromara. Both birds timed here are later bred Soontjens yearlings from the McKinstrys.

R McDowell & Son Annsborough are 6th Fed, 14th section this week and are enjoying a good run of form having been 3rd Fed, 5th section, 17th Open last week from Mount Charles. This two-year-old cock was 3rd in the Fed’s May Day race from Mullingar. Last year it was 5th club, 8th section, 14th Open from Mount Charles and was also 9th club in the Yearling National. The sire is from Billy Lecky Ards and the dam is a granddaughter of the ‘French hen’, winner of the St Malo Derby.

Annsborough’s G & P Brown are 7th and 8th club, 15th and 16th section this week, following on from their success last when they were 21st section, 4th Open and scooped the pools and DTW in both the club and Fed. Both pigeons timed are from K Rooney & Son Annalong. The first one is a Janssen from McCormack & Schoffield Leeds crossed with their Van Wildemeersch pigeons, while the second is a Lindelauf x Bastians Bros cross. The Bastians Bros lines are responsible for Kevin and Kristopher’s Skibbereen Classic winner, while the Lindelauf is off a son of ‘Wonderboy’ and a daughter of ‘Citisser’.

The result is completed by Annsborough’s J McNally & Son taking 9th Fed, 17th section. Jimmy and Brendan are having a great season having been in the result every week except one. This is another good result for them here. The pigeon timed is a Busschaert from Alfie Williamson’s Downe Lofts.

Full Result: (All Annsborough) 1, J Cleland 1297; 2, Benson Bros 1294; 3, P McCartan 1288; 4, J Cleland 1271; 5, P McCartan 1267; 6, R McDowell & Son 1266; 7, 8, G & P Brown 1260, 1260; 9, J McNally & Son 1259; 10, J Cleland 1252:
• Pool race this week from Fermoy
• The Skibbereen National will have a £2 Nom. One bird per loft.
• Correction to last week’s Knock Out Draw. Tie 7, D Croskery & Son v Gallagher Bros.