Once again this week, we have a Section winner in Derry, a truly unbelievable season so far for the Derry pigeons. Always regarded as the hardest place to fly into, it just goes to show that when the conditions are right, the Derry birds are as good as they come.
We will start our round up with the Section winner John Mc Laughlin, who flies in the Foyle club. This is John’s second Section victory of the year and it looks like 3rd Open for John as well. A man of few words, and even fewer pigeons, four to be exact, well done indeed to John. The full Foyle result, 1st John mc Laughlin on 1344, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Paul Maxwell 1284, 1275, 1268, 5th Noel Mc Grotty 1263.
Next to another club where one man is way ahead when it comes to winning, Pat Mc Laughlin of the Maiden City club. Pat takes what I believe is his fourth win of the year, and when you throw in two Section wins and an Open win just for good measure, Pat is surely the man of the moment when it comes to racing in the North west. Pat’s winner, a red cock is already a club and Section winner this year and will also place high in both Section and Open this week. The full Maiden City result was, 1st and 2nd, Pat Mc Laughlin 1312, 3rd Frankie Ramsey, 4th Concannon Bros, 5th Dunne + Quigley.
On then to the Londonderry club, where the boys down at Sow and Grow pick up their first red card of the season. It’s been a lean year so far for the boys, so perhaps this will spur them on for the rest of the year, especially with the channel coming up. The full result then for the Londonderry club was, 1st Donal Kelly 1277, 2nd Micky Mc Nutt 1270, 3rd and 4th Leo Flannagan 1267, 1257, 5th Bob Freeman 1241.
In the Derry and District this week, Danny Cooley finally gets his win after knocking at the door a number of times this season. Sean Healy is very unlucky this week, beaten by a decimal into second spot, with Sean Duffy back in the frame again in third spot. The top five in the Derry and District were 1st Cooley Bros 1282, 2nd and 4th Sean Healy 1282, 1275, 3rd Sean Duffy 1279, 5th B + K Reid 1273.
A similar story in the Rock club this week, where Tommy White at last, gets his red card. Tommy is another man who is very consistent every week and this I’m sure the members will agree, is a well deserved win. Eamon Quigley hits the cross bar again, with Roscarberry winners, Fox + Hegarty in third. Full result then, 1st and 5th Tommy White 1314,1259, 2nd Eamon Quigley 1307, 3rd Fox + Hegarty 1291, 4th Pat Ward 1261.
In Limavady this week, Ronnie Witherow continues his fantastic form, taking five of the top six positions. This week’s winner, another of Ronnie’s dolly mixtures of Janssen and Busschaerts. A different story next week says Ronnie when they hit the channel. The top five in the Limavady club look like this, 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Ronnie Witherow on 1294, 1256, 1202, 1200, 2nd John Mc Cool 1260.
In Strabane this week, Glenn Quinn is once again in pole position, another man who is having a super season. Tony Conway is snapping at his heels again this week with a second and fourth and D. Farrell in third. The Stabane top five then is, 1st Glenn Quinn 1322, 2nd and 4th Tony Conway 1284, 1282, 3rd and 5th D Farrell 1279.
Last but not least this week, we have the Omagh club. Top of the pops this week, R Adams, with Alan Hall close behind in second and K Armstrong in third. The top five looks like this, 1st R Adams 1324, 2nd Alan Hall 1306, 3rd and 5th K Armstrong 1298, 1293, 4th A Kelly 1294.
Looking at the velocities, we will hopefully have many Section and Open positions in the North West this week. As we said before, given the right conditions, our birds are as good as they come.
Lastly, if someone from the Strabane and Omagh clubs could send me the names and some info on the weekly winners, it would be a big help. It’s hard to do your club’s justice with no info at hand, and seems a bit unfair on the members. As I said before, if we don’t promote ourselves, I don’t think there are too many out there rushing to do it for us.
billyknox@btinternet.com
Frankie Ramsey of the Maiden City.
Ronnie Witherow of Limavady.
The Sow & Grow lads record their first Red Card of the year.