On to Roscrea this week for our second race, this is a small jump of about twenty miles on last week. However, this week it wasn’t the distance but the north wind that seemed to be the deciding factor when it came to the race. As Corporal Jones would say “they don’t like it up them”, and when the north wind doth blow, the birds will be slow. And when it came to strike off around the clubs last night, the vast majority of lofts had a few empty perches. The velocities across the North West were testament to this, with only five birds breaking 1,200 ypm.
Leading the way this week is the Omagh club, where topping the club and the Section we have Richard Adams. A good trap proved to be crucial in Omagh this week, with a mere 0.4 yards separating the first two birds. Close on Richard’s heels is Kenny Armstrong, who widowers are flying out of their skin at the minute. Congratulations to our Section topper Richard, while the full result for Omagh looked liked this, 1st R Adams 1230.7, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th K Armstrong 1230.3,1156,1156,1147, 3rd A Kelly 1180.
Next up this week, we move up the road a bit to the Strabane club, where Tony Conway had a super race, taking the first three in the club, and five in the first ten. Great flying indeed by Tony, with the winning bird, a Brasspenning Janssen doing the damage this week. Tony will also take third section behind the two Omagh birds. The full result then for the Strabane club looks like this, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 9th, T Conway 1215, 1168, 1157, 1148, 4th R Mc Ateer 1153, 6th and 7th G Quinn, 8th T Ferguson, 10th T Mc Bride.
On up into the city then, where leading the way this week, we have the Foyle club and Paul Maxwell. Paul has another great week, having won last week as well. In fact he takes the top five positions in the club and tops the City of Derry Fed as well. A nice handy result then when it comes to writing reports, 1st to 5th P Maxwell (SNR), 1208,1208,1193,1153,1149, 6th and 7th James Gallagher, 8th R O Reilly, 9th and 10th P Maxwell (Jnr).
In the Derry and District club this week, Colm McConomy makes a welcome return to top spot. Probably known more his distance successes Colm shows that on a hard day like Saturday, the distance birds probably are the birds for the job. Colm’s winner in fact was a red yearling that he bought at the Derry and District sale last year. The bird was bred and donated by Pat Mc Laughlin from the Maiden City. Jim and Gary Ramsey are knocking on the door again in second this week, with last week’s winner Anthony McCrudden in third. The result looks like this, 1st and 8th C McConomy 1198, 2nd J + G Ramsey 1188, 3rd and 7th A McCrudden 1188, 4th Cooley Bros 1184, 5th and 9th B + K Reid 1182, 6th D Canning, 10th M + C Chism.
In the Amelia Earhart this week, veteran flyer Robert Cassidy shows everyone the way home. Another distance man, Robert strengthens the case for the hard day birds. Micky Mc Closkey takes a good second this week, with the ever present and consistent Mc Monagle brothers in third. The result then looks like his, 1st R Cassidy 1189, 2nd M Mc Closkey 1187, 3rd and 9th J + R Mc Monagle 1146, 4th E Quigley 1142, 5th and 6th W + D Hamilton 1140, 7th,8th and 10th T White.
Down in the Maiden City club this week, the case for the distance birds is strengthened even more, with top distance man Martin Healy leading the attack. Martin also takes third place, with last year’s top flyer Pat Mc Laughlin in second and fourth. Top racing all round with Coyle brothers making up the top five. The result for the Maiden City looks like this, 1st and 3rd P + M Healy 1188, 1152, 2nd and 4th P Mc Laughlin 1155, 1095, 5th and 9th Coyle Bros 1087, 6th and 7th S Quigley + Son + Grandson,8th F Ramsey, 10th Concannon Bros.
Up in to Limavady this week for our final report, where that man Witherow is at it again, taking the first four and sixth positions. Hard day man Henderson Crawford breaks up a clean sweep by taking fifth spot. Another nice easy result to report then, 1st to 4th and 6th R Witherow 1161,1160,1147,1146 5th H Crawford 1126.
Some super flying on a tight day for the birds. Congratulations again to Richard Adams who takes the Section win this week, and congratulations to all our club winners and those who took positions.
Finally this week a look at the top ten in the City of Derry Fed which looked like this, 1st,2nd,4th and 6th P Maxwell 1208,1208,1193,1188, 3rd C Mc Conomy 1198, 4th R Cassidy 1189, 7th J + G Ramsey 1188, 8th and 9th A Mc Crudden1188,1187, 10th Cooley Bros 1184.
billyknox@btinternet.com
Tony Conway, winner in Strabane.
Paul Maxwell of Foyle, great card and winner of City of Derry Fed.
Colm McConomy, 1st Derry & District.
Old Hand Robert Cassidy wins the Amelia Earhart.
Martin Healy, 1st in the Maiden City.
The top four birds in Limavady for Ronnie Witherow.
Foyle members with the transporter in Derry City.