The Derry centre saw only seventy birds entered, with no Strabane birds in the mix this week. And, just as with many recent races, it turned out to be another very difficult weekend, with many empty perches come nightfall.
So a bit of a truncated result this week with the race going through the centre, and the club results a bit slow to filter through, again, probably down to the overall returns and the late arrival of some of the birds. So, we will rattle through with the results that are at hand at present, and we will start over in the Derry and District club, where Anthony Mc Crudden finishes the year off with another winner. Not a vintage year by Anthony’s standards, but given the year that we have just had, I’m sure he will be pleased at his season overall. The full result then for the Derry and District looked like this, 1st and 7th A Mc Crudden 1187, 2nd and 6th S Duffy 1031, 3rd and 5th J+G Ramsey 975 and 916, 4th G Nixon 943. (5 members sent 15).
Up in Limavady this week, we only have two members in the result. John Kerr takes the final red card of the season in great style, while the ever present Ronnie Witherow rounds off another super season taking second, third and fourth spots. The result looked like this, 1st J Kerr 1170, 2nd, 3rd and 4th R Witherow 1158, 1029 and 1006.
Down in the Amelia Earhart this week, we have only two men in the result again. Eamon Quigley continues from where he left off last, making it a great double to finish off the year. Eamon takes first and second, with Cathal Fox the only other man to time. The result then for the Amelia club looked like this, 1st and 2nd E Quigley 1136 and 933, 3rd C Fox 909.
Up in the Omagh club, we only have one bird, and it’s no surprise to see Alan Kelly winning again. Alan has had a really great season and rounds it off nicely with a win from the National. Alan’s velocity was 1111.
Over in the Londonderry club this week, Toby and Martin Gallagher come out if the woodwork to win not only the club. But have the first bird in Derry and to cap it all, win the Section as well. Super flying boys, and as they say, it’s better late than never. That man Flanagan closes the season with yet another top performance, taking second and third from the National. Leo has flown brilliantly all year, and has won out of turn from start to finish. A super year for Leo all round, and all I need now is a photo of Leo with a smile on his face. Unfortunately I don’t have one for this week, so I will have to call down and see him. The result then looked like this, 1st T+M Gallagher 1245, 2nd and 3rd L Flanagan 1046 and 1025.
Last but not least this week we go to the Maiden City club, where the Concannon brothers Michael and Robert have the only two returns. Another partnership that have had a bit of a mediocre season by their standards, the win from the National will go some way to lifting the spirits. The velocities were 920m and 908.
The top five in the Derry Centre were, 1st P Maxwell 1194, 2nd A Mc Crudden 1187, 3rd E Quigley 1136, 4th L Flanagan 1046, 5th S Duffy 1031.
Well there we have it, another season gone, and a strange one to say the least. Now it’s time for everyone to do a bit weeding out, wonder just where things went wrong, and to start to plan for next year already. Well done to all our winners this week, and well done to all those who took a position from what was another difficult race. And well done again to all our winners throughout the year, both club and section winners in what was a very difficult season.
billyknox@btinternet.com
Leo Flanagan.
Concannon Bros.
Anthony McCrudden.
Ronnie Witherow.