Flying into the NW - Roscrea 11/08/12

[willie reynolds]

We are up to the fourth young bird race already, with the birds this week in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, a distance of 140 miles plus, for most fanciers. Many people were expecting a bit of a blow home with winds supposedly from the south east. As it turned out however, the wind was more east than south, a killer wind direction for everyone. Returns again were very erratic as we have said, and as you will see from the velocities of individual clubs, the birds were well scattered. A few empty perches again this week by all reports, with bird’s still struggling home right up until night fall.

We will start our round up of the North West club’s this week in Omagh, where Alan Hall makes it not only a double win in the club, but also a double Section win. Outstanding flying from Alan, who is getting back to winning ways in great style. Looking at the early velocities posted, Alan may also feature high in the Open, if not actually win it. Here’s hoping Alan and I will update later on how the North West fanciers did in the Open result.
The full result for the Omagh club was, 1st and 2nd Alan Hall 1464, 1385, 3rd Mr + Mrs J Chism, 1324, 4th Kenny Armsrtong 1282, 5th M Caldwell 1271.

Next, to the Maiden City club, where veteran flyer (he won’t like that) John Killen, takes his first red card for many a long year (he won’t like that either) as an individual flyer in the club. John in the past did his flying in partnership with fellow club member Robbie Hegarty. In fact, I think I have a picture of John when he won his last race. Well done to John, a super fly indeed and a bird way out on its own. It looks in fact like a second Section spot for John and a good Open position as well.
The full result looked like this, 1st J Killen 1451, 2nd R Lyle 1383, 3rd Mc Gettigan Bros 1383, 4th F Ramsey 1366, 5th P Mc Laughlin 1357.

Next up this week we go to the Derry and District, where Anthony Mc Crudden makes an overdue return to the top position. Anthony has been having a bit of a lean time of it recently by his own standards, and this will be a real boost for the rest of the programme. Kieran Reid is close on his heels this week with second and fourth positions, while last week’s winner Jim Ramsey is there again in third. The full result then for the Derry and District looks like this, 1st Anthony Mc Crudden, on 1404, 2nd and 4th B + K Reid 1400, 1363, 3rd J + G Ramsey 1383, 5th J Ebbs 1354.

On then to the Foyle club where James Gallagher where James Gallagher continues a great season with another win. Close behind this week, is last week’s winner Raymond O Reilly who has another good race and takes third spot as well. James Mc Laughlin and Paul Maxwell Jnr, round out the top five. The full result was 1st James Gallagher 1400, 2nd and 3rd R O Reilly 1386, 1374, 4th J Mc Laughlin 1286, 5th P Maxwell Jnr 1283.

In the Limavady club this week, Ronnie Witherow dominates, taking the first four positions. Ronnie’s winner, a Jansen cock, clocks up his second win of the year. John Mc Cool, last week’s winner, makes up the result in fifth spot. The full result was 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ronnie Witherow 1389, 1328, 1315, 1304, 5th J Mc Cool 1274.

Over in the Londonderry club this week, Noel Murray makes it a double, having won last week’s race as well. Noel has a good race taking second spot as well. Third is the very consistent Leo Flannagan with the Sow and Grow boys in fourth and Noel Murray with another bird to round things off in fifth. The result for the Londonderry club then, looked like this, 1st, 2nd and 5th Noel Murray 1275, 1251, 1019, 3rd L Flannagan 1180, 4th D Kelly 1127.

Up in the Strabane club this week that man Gamble is at it again, showing the others the way home. Buddy is having a great young bird season so far. Well done to Buddy, super racing.
The full result for the Strabane club was, 1st J Gamble 1346, 2nd G Mc Gavigan 1333, 3rd T Mc Ateer 1291, 4th D Mc Nulty 1284, 5th H Mc Nulty 1280.

Last but not least this week, we go to the Rock, where Pat Ward has a stormer to take the top spot, with the ever present Eamon Quigley in second, and one of the club’s top flyers this year, Tommy White picking up third and fourth. The Mc Monagle brothers Ray and Jim complete the result in fifth.

The result then looks like this, 1st Pat Ward 1331, 2nd E Quigley 1311, 3rd and 4th T White 1303, 1296, 5th J + R Mc Monagle 1293.
Well done to all our winner’s and all those who took positions. Let’s hope we get a few good Open results as well.
billyknox@btinternet.com