Friendship OB Nat Quimper - 2008

[willie reynolds]

The Friendship Nat birds were released in Quimper (France) at 6.15am in a Lt NW wind on Saturday 12th July. 155 members sent 605 birds competing for pools and prizes of £4,256 and a Tipes ETS Clock. Approx distance Portadown 458 miles, Coleraine 502 miles. Just one bird has been confirmed on the day from Quimper, timed by Donnelly Bros of Newry City at 20.13pm on Sat 12th July. Around 18 birds reported up until lunchtime Sunday. Ron Williamson Bondhill at 6.58am and Paul Dunlop Edgarstown at 7.16am were the only two before 8.00am. M/M Suitters Doagh & Dist are best in East Antrim at 8.24am followed by R Liddle Horseshoe 9.00am and A Thompson Ballyclare 9.45am and John Ramsey Grosvenor at 11.38am probably best in the Ulster Federation. Sunday afternoon we had former National Champions C & L Woodside in Ballyclare at 14.55hrs. Best in Mid Antrim will be Tom Picken of the New Antrim Amalgamated who timed at 12.30pm and Gary McAllister timed an arrival in Randalstown at 16.13hrs. More news later, the race is open for three days. Plans are going ahead for the Kings Cup race to be flown on Wednesday 30th July with Race Marking on 28th July, more details on this later. Next time we will report on the final results in the Friendship Nat and local lofts look forward to the weekend for the start of the young bird season, the NIPA birds will be in either Navan (East Antrim) or Mullingar (Mid Antrim plus Ballymoney & Coleraine).

INFC Friendship Nat Quimper (Prov Top 10) 155/606
Donnelly Bros Newry City 922, R Williamson Bondhill 723, P Dunlop Edgarstown 711, M/M D Suitters Doagh & District 696, R Liddle Horseshoe 677, G & C Topley Laurelvale 674, A Thompson Ballyclare 651, Belshaw & Anderson Derriaghy 650, Gallagher Bros Annsborough 646, J Waring & Son Lisburn & District 635.

NATIONAL SUCCESS FOR DONNELLY BROS

The Irish National Flying Club as normal used the excellent facilities on the Waterloo Road area of Lisburn for the ring marking on Tuesday 8th July of the Friendship National pigeons destined for Quimper in France. The attendance and subsequent entry was low in comparison to last years event which attracted an entry of over 1400 pigeons although last year the race was flown from Portsmouth in England due to the restrictions that were put in place with regards an out break of Bird Flu. Following a hold over on Friday the Convoy of 605 pigeons sent by 155 members competing for £4,256 in pools and prize money including an ETS system sponsored by Ballymena Pigeon Supplies who are all Ireland Agents for the Tipes Electronic Timing Systems were liberated bright and early at 6.15am on Saturday morning 12th July which was a Public Holiday in Northern Ireland. Wind at the race point was a light North/North West on route and being out and about on Saturday the wind was certainly blustery enough at times. Saturday is a busy day at the restaurant, to the point both legs would have to be broke before you could take the night off, one wouldnt be enough. One of my first customers was fellow INFC Committee man Robert Trimble, so we got chatting as you do and we were both of the agreement that the race was going to be a hard test and how right we were with only one day arrival reported.

1st Open Donnelly Bros Newry City Vel 922

Richard and John clock up surprisingly their first National win with the INFC and what style they did it in having the only pigeon on the day from Quimper. This loft requires no glorification from me as they have over the years cemented themselves as probably one of the best partnerships ever to race pigeons into Ireland, all told they have amassed a countless number of NIPA Open successs and look like continuing this same trend for many years to come going by the calibre of pigeons that I have had the pleasure of handling on my many occasions visiting the family farm on the outskirts of Newry City. Richard and John will now have the INFC Prize Distribution to look forward to which takes place in November, it is every fanciers dream to lift an award at this event and having spoke to many during my time as a scribe it is a feeling that stays with you a lift time. The Donnelly Brothers timed a 3 year old Dark Pied hen just two minutes short of 14 hours on the wing at 8.13pm. The National winner has now been named Lilly as what an exceptional bred pigeon she is Sire is non other than the partnerships Open Winner from the Penzance Classic race of 2004 named Classical Lad he in turn was mated to a hen purchased at the clearance sale of Noel Higginson & Bob McMeekin who were an awesome partnership especially at events such as this. Now just to go further into the depth or substance of the Donnelly Stock Loft Classical Lad is a direct son of Champion Northwest who bred no less than 5 x 1st NIPA Open Winners for the Donnelly Boys but in turn these have went on to breed countless winners as well as winning Opens themselves, now Northwest was mated to Champion Lucky who has flown France 3 times for the partnership picking up an NIPA Bronze Diploma for her efforts she produced Classical Lad who has now produced a Friendship National Winner named Lilly Very well done gentlemen on an excellent achievement and I look forward to seeing the Donnelly Family at the Irish National Flying Club Prize Distribution in November.

2nd Open Ron Williamson Bondhill Vel 723

This man I have had the pleasure of knowing since his rise to world prominence all those years ago, but yet year in year out he seems to surpass all that has been achieved previously, for this I reckon is one of his best racing years ever, what brings me to this conclusion is that he is hitting the headlines both with the NIPA and INFC with results that can only be described as electrifying. He finishes 2nd Open timing his good 3 year old Cheq Hen at 6.58am on Sunday morning this being the first second day pigeon to be clocked from the race. She was on the roundabout system and has always appreciated a stiff task as far as racing goes. Each year the INFC organize an Old Hens National to be flown in conjunction with the Y/B National from Sennen Cove this 3 year old hen has flew this race twice finishing 40th Open in 2006 and 38th Open last year. The breeding of this pigeon is some what interesting to me anyway because when you consider that both Sire and Dam are children from Millennium Superstar and Lauras Boy respectively, now Ronnie has never sold any of his Open Winners all 52 of them or any of his National winners all 4 of them, so when you consider it is now children from these that are breeding pigeons to finish 2nd National etc, you would have to say this man has carved and crafted a winning family of pigeons that are as equally punishing generation after generation. Now Lauras Boy finished 1st and 2nd Open NIPA Carnsore Point before being stocked where she has been as equally prolific, Millennium Superstar is without any doubt the best pigeon ever raced to this day in the world refer to www.pigeonnetwork.com for his record. As you all know records speak for themselves and if this man were to pack up the pigeons tomorrow I dont believe I will ever witness such winning and professionalism in my life time, just look at his record in this race for instance he has won it twice before, this is now the second time runner-up, three times fourth, a fifth and three times seventh just to name a few in the top ten. This year when all the major questions were ask of the pigeons they delivered, Rosscarbery Inland National 1st Section 2nd Open, Yearling Hens National 2nd & 3rd Section 6th & 7th Open, Yearling Cocks National 2nd Section 6th Open, INFC Yearling National 3rd & 8th Open winning the 2 Bird Average, Sennen Cove Classic 3rd and 16th Open again best 2 Bird Average, St Malo O/B National 2nd & 6th Section 6th and 21st Open, INFC Skibbereen Inland National 20th Open, then you have twice 1st Open NIPA Pilmore Beach 27,000 + pigeons each time, in one of then finishing 1st, 3rd, 9th and 10th Open. 1st Section 6th Open Bude, what I have just quoted is only a small proportion of the complete story so far this year, the Kings Cup race has been re scheduled and I have seen the proposed team going forward to represent the Williamson stable, absolute awesome and know doubt he will be trying to go one better as actually win the most sought after prize in Irish Pigeon Racing having been beat previously to lifting this ward by a decimal point. Well done Ron and Del and the best of luck with the big one once again.


3rd Open Paul Dunlop Edgarstown Vel 711

Paul Dunlop has produced yet another outstanding performance into his lofts sited on the Moy Road outside Portadown. It was only last month that I paid Paul a visit after he put four arrivals into the clock from the INFC Yearling National two of which finished in the top ten of the Open. A previous winner of the O/B Derby in 1991 with All Alone he has never looked back and continues to defy the odds every year with a very small team of racers. Paul timed his 2 year old Blue Cheq Hen at 7.14am on Sunday morning having been sent to the race feeding a 10 day old youngster, her sire is bred down from the excellent grafted family made up with all the precious bloodlines of the late Tommy Beckett one of the great legends of Irish Pigeon Racing. Dam of this 3rd Open winner is direct of Pauls 1991 O/Bird Derby winner when mated back to her own son, having flew the INFC Yearling National last year she made easy work of the 456 mil fly from Quimper in France. As Paul proved in the last National event he can time more than one and has done so again getting another one home at 5.10pm on Sunday this one was a Black Cheq Cock again a 2 year old and he was sent sitting 10 days on eggs, again he flew the Yearling National last year he is bred from two Grandchildren of the O/B Derby Winner All Alone and is a full brother to the pigeon that finished 7th Open Yearling National this year and also nest mate of a pigeon that finished 90th Open in this very race last year. How is that for a winning family, well done Paul and we could make it a treble of visits within the next month with the way your pigeons are attacking the Channel.

4th Open Mr & Mrs Davy Suitters Doagh & District Vel 696.

One of the top distance lofts in the East Antrim area is Davy Suitters racing in partnership with wife Francis to the village of Burnside, sending the birds with Doagh & Dist. From St Malo with the NIPA a couple of weeks earlier he had 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club and all three birds well placed in the Open result. This is a small team loft racing to a shed 18ft x 8ft, has just 20 nest boxes which are seldom filled and has three stock pairs. He is never in a rush with the birds and they are set up with the distance races in mind, earlier from the Talbenny (2) race the loft won 1st Club, 1st Sect C & 110th Open NIPA with 11,333 birds competing. This yearling bird has been stopped for the year and will be set up for something special in 2009, probably France as a two year old. The bird timed from Quimper some 470 miles was a 4 year old Blue cheq hen sent on 12 day eggs. She finished 45th Open Friendship Nat of 2007 which was flown from Portsmouth a distance of 344 miles doing velocity 905. This season was her first time France, a super result to be timed at 8.24am on the second day. The sire is off his own 16th Open Kings cup cock paired to a hen from Brian McNeilly of Ballyclare, another loft that has the best bloodlines. The dam is something special as well from a gentleman of the sport Ken Hine of Charville Lofts in England. Just recently Ken won 1st Sect & 1st Open BBC Palamos timing the longest flying pigeon into England on the winning day at 685 miles. Its the second time the loft has won this highly prized race taking 1st Open BBC back in 1993. Davy and Francis are having a dream season and with the Kings Cup still to come, who knows.

5th Open Robert Liddle Horseshoe HPS Vel 677.

The second bird into East Antrim was timed in Larne to Robert Liddle of the Horseshoe at 9.00am another loft that sets it stall out for distance racing, keeping a small team around two dozen birds all told. His 2 year old Dark Cheq cock was sent on eggs eight days and was raced light getting both Talbenny and Sennen Cove before France. Bloodlines are Louella Van Geel and Jan Aarden lines that are winning at the highest level across the country including Northern Ireland. Robert purchased a pair of birds at a sale over here, grand children of the famous Vlekje. The other side is Busschaert again going back to Louella when he purchased a direct son of Parkside Superman for a big sum in 1983. The dam was 3 times France winning 56th Kings Cup and also in the prizes from St Malo. His 5th Open INFC finish is the best result for the loft, he has previously been 14th & 16th in the Kings Cup.

6th Open G & C Topley Laurelvale Vel 674

Geoff Topley I had the pleasure of meeting last year as I was a quest of the Laurelvale HPS at their very well organised and attended annual dinner and prize distribution. An excellent racer week in week out and the substantial and very well maintained loft is a sight to see. Geoff timed his good 2 year old Blue cock which was on widowhood at 8.05am on Sunday morning an excellent racer he was well prepared for this event with five inland races and a couple of jumps over the Channel he was one of the favoured ones when the day of basketing dawned. Last year this pigeon finished 13th Section 47th Open NIPA Sennen Cove, he is bred from a Blue Cock gifted to Geoff from another exceptional racer named Jeff this time Jeff Greenaway of the Hills & Maze HPS when mated to a hen that was direct from a pair of pigeons obtained from the mighty Alan Darragh of Cullybackey a winner of 5 x times 1st National INFC. This race has proved a good one for Geoff also as previously he has finished 9th and 16th Open with this result his best to date sending with the Irish National Flying Club. Well Done Geoff and son Clive.


7th Open Arnold Thompson Ballyclare & District Vel 651.

Yet another ace loft in the hot bed of East Antrim and one of the top racers in Ballyclare, especially at the distance. This loft is usually involved in the major race results going back many years. His next door neighbour is C & L Woodside and the number of birds that have been timed at this location over the extreme distance must be dozens. Arnold had the third best bird into East Antrim at 9.44am and not to be outdone the former INFC National champions C & L Woodside also had a bird on the second day. His 3 year old blue hen was flying to chipping eggs, a favourite condition.This was her first time France, last season she flew the Friendship Nat from Portsmouth. The sire came through local ace Glen McNeilly and the dam was purchased at the Clearance Sale for John Greenaway of Bondhill, this top stock hen was the dam of his famous Iron Lady. Arnold has a super record in the INFC he was 8th Open in 2007, moved up one place this year, and the Yearling Nat has had the loft fill 4th, 5th and 6th Open INFC. Just a quick mention of the 8th Open winner of last year a Cheq Pied hen, she is full of the lofts winning bloodlines. Sire of this bird won 5th Open INFC Sennen Cove Yearling Nat in 1999 collecting a tidy £3,500, bloodlines Peter Van Eiden x Verstraete. The dam a Dark Ch Pied was from C & L Woodside never raced and bred from their own pair a cock and hen that had won 18th and 21st in the Kings Cup. Her full sister was 27th Open INFC Yearling Nat in 2004 winning £850, and another sister was timed in the Sennen Cove Classic prizes in 2005.

8th Open Belshaw & Anderson Derriaghy HPS Vel 650

The name Belshaw & Anderson has been a household one at that for many many years in Lisburn especially from distance events such as this, Jim Belshaw now for the last 14 years has been keeping the good racing name to the fore following the death of his racing partner William Anderson at that time. This loft has an extensive record going back many years including winning the Harkness Rose Bowl and a Hall of Fame Diploma these are not easy won and this loft is a true example of how hard they are to achieve having over the years sent five pigeons all on the final leg of achieving the Hall of Fame and only one has completed the task, you can be assured the others werent bad ones, for example one such candidate that didnt make it was previously 2nd Open Friendship National, 42nd Open Kings Cup and 52nd Open Kings Cup. Jim openly admits to many lonely nights waiting on French pigeons but wouldnt give the game up for the world. He timed his 8th Open Friendship National early on the second morning and she will add to an already lengthy success rate from this race including 2nd, 5th, 9th, 14th and 21st Open. The 2 year old Cheq Hen was sent to the race on over due eggs but Jim slipped a Y/Bird to her 3 days before basketing. The breeding is something you always love to hear the old original bloodlines namely Kilpatrick and Walkingshaw, this hen returned from the Sennen Cove Classic last year a race that was a test with unrelenting rain on the final approach home for many pigeons, regardless of this the hen landed well in time to have won the Club and finish high in both the Section and Open Result but her rubber ring was missing, to add some substance to his story Jim phoned the Club Secretary Geordie Ringland who came over to verify that the pigeon was home at that time. So with this experience in mind Jim new that based upon what the pigeon had achieved last year he new that with the proper preparation he could very well have another French prize winner on his hands and how right he was. Jim was telling me that with the old family of birds every so often a nest would throw you an Ash coloured baby, some years one many years none but this year the breeding loft has produced three, so perhaps there is more luck and success for Jim and more importantly the Belshaw and Anderson name in the weeks and months ahead.

9th Open Gallagher Bros Annsborough Vel 646.

I am always on for meeting new fanciers and when the opportunity presents itself regardless of where you live I will be their, called with Kevin and Frank on Monday afternoon along with my wife Celeste and son Jude, and with grandchildren already present in the spacious and well maintained gardens it wasnt long before my son was in the thick of things. When you go out and meet some fanciers especially when you travel some distance you get the feeling of their appreciation, I recall not so long ago McKinstry Brothers of Dromara winning the 5 Bird Mallow and even with tight deadlines I drove to Rathfriland to get the winning picture. The Gallagher name is already well associated with this race for they won the Sartilly smash race of 2000 when only 4 pigeons were recorded in race time, the pigeon was quite rightly named Home Alone and lifted the partnership over £2,000. Again like many already mentioned in this report they have enjoyed excellent success from this race as just mentioned they have previously won it, finished 3rd twice, 5th, 9th and 15th Open. In the year 2000 they went on to win the Irwin Trophy for the best Average Friendship National and Kings Cup finishing 40th Open. Over the years they have compiled a list of French positions as long as your arm, flying with a finely tuned team of French athletes, this 9th Open 2 year old Blue hen who was sent on 13 day old eggs was very small in the hand, but as Kevin reminded me long distance marathon runners are like sticks but the 100 meter runners are well made. Breeding mainly is the old Bob Dunlop family obtained from good friend Wilfie Harrison of Hillfoot which were a mixture of the old Geerts and Weir Bloodlines. A very well established breeding loft producing yet winner after winner taking into consideration that they havent bought a stock pigeon in over 25 years. Well done Gentlemen and many thanks for the hospitality shown to my wife Celeste and son Jude.

10th Open Jackie Waring Lisburn Vel 635.

Last but by no means least in my top ten report is a name that still to this day is talked about all over the country for their has been no loft with a bigger French profile than Jackie Waring of Lisburn. I called at his Ashlea home on Monday morning to catch up on some of the history and the family of pigeons, my father rates this man as one of the all time greats in distance racing and after 38 years scribing that is good enough for me. Jackie timed a 2 year old Grizzle Cock at 9.36am flying 453 miles into the City of Lisburn. He was telling me that he had went into the house to get some breakfast after watching since early morning in between getting breakfast has took a couple of phone calls one after the other and by the time he went back to lofts which are sited a bit of a distance from the house the cock was walking along the landing board. Now like so many in this top 10 round up Jackie has also enjoyed good success from the National winning it in 1999 from St Malo finishing 3rd in 1998 and 8th in 2002. The Sire of this pigeon that finishes 10th Open is actually the pigeon that won the National for Jackie from St Malo when mated to a Grizzle hen that finished 3rd Section & 90th Open Lamballe O/B National. Excellent flying Jackie and when my father opted to snap you at the ring marking just in case you were early he wasnt to far wrong. Well done and a pleasure to finally meet you.

Best 2 Bird Average Mark Hughes Edgarstown Vel 608

Mark Hughes what a performance to clock two pigeons so close to each other in a race with very few home is some achievement, received a very warm welcome from Mark who lives in an area of Portadown that is coming down with exceptional racers including the Matchett Family who I have visited previously. Mark timed both pigeons on Sunday morning first one home was a Blue Yearling Hen at 9.41am this one had been flying on the Jealousy system coming down from another family of out and out stayers namely Tommy Kirkwood of the Lisburn based Kirkwood Bros many will remember that name these boys raced a super family of the Havenith and Gits Bloodlines. 2nd Pigeon home was again another Yearling what a performance to get two yearlings from what turned out to be a difficult race, she was a Cheq Hen sent sitting on eggs this one is bred from a Felix Pauwels Cock that has bred a host of winners when mated to a Pros Roosen Hen. This year Mark finished 5th Open Pilmore Beach 27,000+ pigeons with a half brother of the second pigeon timed from the National a full sister of this same pigeon was also the lofts first arrival from Sennen Cove topping the Club both in the Sennen Cove race and the Classic. Other results include 27th Open Bude this year with an Ash Cock that finished 38th Open Bude last year the likely candidate to represent the loft in the re-arranged Kings Cup event. Mark owes all his success to his father who I had the privilege of meeting last year also at the Laurelvale dinner Mr Cyril Hughes, now this man has a record second to none and I look forward to calling with him over the next week or two, when the father and son combo raced together they were hard to beat even against the likes of the late Bertie Fletcher & Son, in 1992 which was one of the Golden Years they topped the Y/B Derby from Talbenny and also went on to win 4 x 1st Opens that year. Even up until this day both men now flying on their own can hold it with the best of them from the shortest to the longest race points. Very well done both to Mark and father Cyril.

Kings Cup St Malo on Wednesday 30th July

** The substitute Kings Cup Race will be flown from St Malo on Wednesday 30th July, the birds will be race marked in Lisburn between 8.00am and 11.30am on Monday 28th July. Clocks will be set the same night between 7.30pm and 8.30pm at Banbridge, Muckamore and Hillfoot. There will be 200 Open Prizes with £5,450 guaranteed, 1st £500, 2nd £350, 3rd £200, 4th £100, 5th £100, 6th £100, 7th £75, 8th £75, 9th £50 and 10th £50. Then 30 @ £35, 40 @ £25, 40 @ £20, 40 @ £15 and 40 @ £10. It is the condition of entry that the amendments are accepted, all other info as per the race entry booklet Kings Cup Vannes.**

INFC Quimper Friendship National 155/605 Pools & Prize Money £3,660, Tipes ETS Nom won by Mr & Mrs D Suitters Doagh. - 1st Donnelly Bros Newry City 922 DE £386, 2nd Ron Williamson Bondhill 723 £150, 3rd P Dunlop Edgarstown ABCDEF 711 £487, 4th Mr & Mrs D Suitters Doagh & District 696 ABCDEF NOM £470, 5th R Liddle Horseshoe 677 ABCDEF £300, 6th G & C Topley Laurelvale 674 £31, 7th A Thompson Ballyclare 652 ABCDEF £271, 8th Belshaw & Anderson Derriaghy 650 ABCDEF £218, 9th Gallagher Bros Annsborough 646 ABCDEF £151, 10th J Waring Lisburn 635 £31, 11th Burns Bros Comber Social 634 ABCD ££59, 12th M Hughes Edgarstown 627 ABCD £59, 13th W Neill Annaghmore 626 £20, 14th Agar Bros Portavogie 620 ABCDEF £140, 15th N Black & Son Dromara 612 ABCD £47, 16th James Cleland Annsborough 610 £20, 17th M Hughes 595 ABCD £35, 18th T Picken & Son New Antrim 587 ABCDE £68, 19th N Black & Son 586 ABCD £35, 20th J Ramsey & Son Grosvenor 583 ABCDEF £116, 21st D Croskery & Son Annsborough 579 £15, 22nd J Murtagh & Son Ballyholland 571 ABCEF £83, 23rd B & H Marshall Newtownbreda 568 EF £76, 24th M Robinson Bondhill 547 EF £47, 25th C & L Woodside Ballyclare 524 EF £47, 26th Fulton & Dickson Newtownards 524 £15, 27th G McAllistar & Sons Randalstown 501 £15, 28th M Shaw Armagh 500 EF £47, 29th Ward & McIntosh Downpatrick 497 F £34, 30th J Butler Banbridge 492 F £34, 31st P Dunlop 465 £12, 32nd T Story & Grandson Malahide & District 450 £12, 33rd B McKeown & Sons Largymore 449 £12, 34th Mr & Mrs Magill Muckamore 418 £12, 35th M & K Brown Bangor 361 £12, 36th N Black & Son 361 £12, 37th A McAteer & Sons Ballyholland 356 £12, 38th S O'Brien Sallynoggin 355 £12, 39th A McAteer & Son 353 £12, 40th K Carolan Coalisland 336 £12, 41st Herbert Knight Annsborough 280 £12, 42nd J Dowey & Sons Tandragee 263 £12.