Talbenny (1) - 28/05/11

[willie reynolds]

More channel success for Croskery

The East Down Combine pigeons were in Talbenny in Wales for their first channel race of the season on 28 May. The weather committee met on the Wednesday prior to the race and after much deliberation decided that the prospects of a race were good enough to proceed with basketing as planned.

Saturday morning started off overcast but this cleared by late morning and a liberation took place at noon in a southwest wind. Due to the uncertain forecast numbers for this race were down and there was some concern about the smaller convoy. However as it turned out there was no need to worry as we had an excellent race. Full credit must go to the weather committee and to the race controllers for making such a good call on this race.

As expected the southwesterly wind saw many of the leading Open positions secured along coast on the upper end of the Combine, with the Open win going to Herbie McVeigh in Killyleagh. For the first time this year all five member clubs of the South Down Fed feature in the Fed result.

The winner of the Fed this week, taking 2nd East section, 4th Open is Annsborough’s Mickey Croskery who has made quite a name for himself on the channel in recent years winning several Opens, so its really no surprise to see him feature again.
The winning pigeon is a three year-old hen that was that was 1st club, 1st Fed, and 5th section from Fermoy last year and 1st club, 3rd Fed, 3rd section, 3rd Open the year before in the corresponding race from Mallow. This is a great racing record for this bird and indeed for its owner. The winning pigeon is out of the old ash hen and the ‘Bolden’ cock. This was the only bird he was able to get out of this pair that year.

Second Fed this week goes to Newcastle’s N King & Son who are 4th section, 6th Open to give them their best result of the season so far. The pigeon timed here is a yearling hen, although she carries a 2009 ring. The breeding is Grondelaars from G & P Brown, Annsborough and Soontjens from the late Eric Carlisle, Dundrum. This bird was bred towards the end of May last year so was unraced as a young bird but was well trained. It has been in every race this year.

McSherry Bros Tyrella are 3rd Fed and take 13th section, 19th Open, again for their best position of the season so far. This two-year-old black hen was bought as a young bird from Louella Pigeon World. The breeding is Corbett Busschaert. As a young bird it flew every race and last year it was raced through to Skibbereen. At this stage Billy and Denis plan to send this one to the Penzance Classic.

D McNabb & Ptrs Tyrella have two birds in the Fed result this week at 4th and 9th Fed. Both pigeons are Janssens from Alex Crawford, Ballylesson and both are three-year-olds. The first one timed was a hen, while the second one was a cock and a full brother of the pigeon that was 1st Fed in the Yearling National last year. This was another good result for Denis and Eileen and I’m sure they will feel confident of getting another good result in the Yearling National.
Annsborough’s G & P Brown are 5th and 6th Fed this week following on from their back to back Open wins when they were 1st and 2nd Open two weeks in a row. Their first bird this week was 7th club, 15th section, from 1st Fermoy and is from K Rooney & Son Annalong. It is a Janssen from McCormack & Schoffield Leeds crossed with their Van Wildemeersch pigeons. This pigeon’s nest mate was 5th Fed, 11th section, 14th Open last week from Fermoy.
The sire of their second pigeon this week was twice second section F in the Penzance Classic in the NIPA, while the dam is one of Peter Martin’s Red Rum Busschaerts.

Donnelly Bros Annalong are 7th Fed this week and with 4 birds in the Annalong club result they had a good race here. The pigeon timed here is a three-year-old cock that has many prizes including a win as a yearling. The sire is a Van Loon that although unraced as a young bird had seven club positions before being retired to the stock loft at just three years old. The dam is a Frans Van Meldert, from Darren Walton, Foxwood Lofts. They have raced really well for the Donnellys.

The result is completed by Dundrum’s J Ringland & Son with two birds in the result at 8th and 10th Fed. John paired a bit later this year as he was aiming to do well on the channel so they seem to have got it right. Their first bird is a two-year-old DeKlak Janssen cock from D Croskery & Son Annsborough. This bird was bought at the Dundrum young bird sale two years ago. The dam of this bird was also the dam of the Croskery’s J Ringland Classic winner.
Their second pigeon is a Busschaert from John’s father’s lines when paired to a bird from McIlrath, Dromore.

Full Result: 1, M Croskery Annsborough 1377; 2, N King & Son, Newcastle 1374; 3, McSherry Bros Tyrella 1343; 4, D McNabb & Ptrs Tyrella 1292; 5, 6, G & P Brown Annsborough 1290, 1289; 7, Donnelly Bros Annalong 1287; 8, J Ringland & Son Dundrum 1283; 9, D McNabb & Ptrs 1278; 10, J Ringland & Son 1277; M Croskery & Son ABCD £31.00; G & P Brown 1267 ABCD £18.60; G & P Brown ABCDNom £20.40

• Final of Loft Knock Out this week from Bude is an all Annsborough tie with P McCartan against R J Keown, a previous winner.
• Pool race this week from Bude.