Flying into the NW - Talbenny (1) 02/06/12

[willie reynolds]

This week saw the birds across the channel for the first time this year with a race from Talbenny in Wales writes Billy Knox. Although the weather did not look like being the best, indeed there was talk of the birds even being brought back; the birds were up early, with a 7.30am in a light easterly wind. And, when the NIPA tell you that the birds are slow to clear and the first birds were only facing the water half an hour after release, you know what to expect.

A very erratic race was to follow, with velocities and returns all over the place. In saying that, some birds must have had a good go at it, a couple over the 1,000ypm mark, and a few also doing over a 1,000ypm. There was even a bird around Ballymena that was apparently doing 1,800ypm.

We will start our round up this week with the Limavady club. No surprises here, where Ronnie Witherow’s season goes from strength to strength. Ronnie takes another Red Card this week, and it is the same bird that won for Ronnie last week that does the damage again. And to top the weekend off nicely, Ronnie takes 1st Section as well and hopefully will figure high in the Open positions as well. Well done again to Ronnie. The full result for the Limavady club was 1st and 3rd Ronnie Witherow 1190,987, 2nd and 5th Willie McIlmoyle, 4th D Johnston.

Next up, we have the Maiden City club, where Seamus Morrison gets a well deserved win at last and will also take second in the Section. This will keep Seamus happy, and will set him up for the rest of the channel races. Billy Page gets close again in second, with John McGroarty making a welcome return in third. The full result was 1st Seamus Morrison 1124, 2nd Billy Page 943, 3rd John Mc Groarty 886, 4th A Lyle 879, 5th Quigley + Dunne 875.

A short result this week for the Londonderry club, with only two birds in the result. A good fly from “Pigeon” Pat Mc Laughlin this week taking the honours ahead of Joe and Donal Kelly. Well done Pat let’s hope you can keep things going. The result then was, 1st Pat Mc Laughlin 846, 2nd Joe and Donal Kelly 665.

On the to the Foyle club, where again we see some new names doing the business this week. Top of the pile this week is Micky Jones, who everyone will know as a hard working centre man when it comes to the National races. Micky is another man who enjoys his channel racing and this will boost his confidence for the rest of the year. Micky also takes fourth spot just for good measure. James Gallagher, another hard worker at the centre takes second, with Paul Maxwell in the frame again in third and Raymond “Nanny” O Reilly, a channel ace in fifth. The full result was as follows, 1st and 4th Micky Jones 978,889, 2nd James Gallagher 972, 3rd Paul Maxwell 910, 5th R O Reilly 839.
In the Derry and District this week, Maxi Chism yet again shows the rest the way home. Maxi is having a really super season and is sure to carry on in this rich vein of form for the rest of the season. Maxi also takes third spot with Sean Duffy knocking at the door in second position and Danny Canning rounding off the top five in fourth and fifth. The result then looks like this, 1st and 3rd Maxi & Conor Chism 873,855, 2nd Sean Duffy 869, 4th and 5th Danny Canning 846,767.

As predicted in the Rock this week, Eamon Quigley shows the rest a clean pair of heels. Eamon is well known as a channel racer and this hopefully will be the start of another good channel season for Eamon. Micky McCloskey has a good race with a second and third, while veteran channel flyer Robert Cassidy makes a showing in fourth. In fifth spot this week, the ever present Tommy White is in the frame again. Full result this week is 1st Eamon Quigley 966, 2nd and 3rd Micky McCloskey 922,877, 4th Robert Cassidy 871, 5th Tommy White 847.

On then to the Stabane club, where the outstanding flyer of the season so far, Glenn Quinn, takes yet another win. There doesn’t seem to be any stopping Glenn, and it doesn’t seem to matter what the distance either. And just to show how it’s done, he takes third and fourth as well. The top five in Strabane looks like this then, 1st, 3rd and 4th Glenn Quinn 1031,983,983, 2nd H Mc Nulty 986, 5th T Mc Bride 888.

Finally this week, we have the Omagh & Dist club where the same names dominate the result again this week. Troy Booth has a super fly to take first and second. Alan Kelly is there again in third spot. And the ever present Alan Hall makes up the top five, taking fourth and fifth positions. The result looks like this then, 1st and 2nd Troy Booth 1049,980, 3rd Alan Kelly 974, 4th and 5th Alan Hall.

Let’s hope we get a few good Open positions this week with some of the velocities we have. Well done again to all our club winners and all those who took positions. And well done to our Section winner Ronnie Witherow. billyknox@btinternet.com