Clifford Browne writes The East Down Combine started the 2009 season on April 11th with their first race which was flown from Mullingar . The forecast for the day was for a bright morning with heavy showers en route for the afternoon so the decision to release the convoy early was made to give the birds as easy a passage as possible for their first event of the year .With a SSW wind and bright sunshine they were away at 8.45am . Now it is interesting to look down the early times in each club and see the variation in velocities between different parts of the country with the leading birds in the open up in the 1800’s yet other clubs are won in the 1400’s & 1500’s .
Dundonalds Mark Foulis tops the Open in the first race of 2009
It was Dundonald’s Mark Foulis who led the field on a velocity of 1871 and his next two birds on 1842 and 1839 take 5th and 6th open with three super birds from Bangor’s Reggie & David Moore taking 2nd ,3rd and 4th open and these two lofts take the top three in their respective sections . John Patterson ,never far from the top was 7th open with yours truly at 8th followed by B Hogg & Sons with the top dozen in the open being completed by R Moore & son , J Young & ptnrs and F Keery .
It was a good start to the season and most lofts reported excellent returns . Both sections reflect the top birds in the open with the winning velocities in open and Section being as follows : OPEN - 1st M Foulis Dundonald 1871 2nd R Moore & Son Bangor 1847, 3rd R Moore & Son Bangor 1847, 4th R Moore & Son Bangor 1845, 5th M Foulis Dundonald 1842, 6th M Foulis Dundonald 1839, 7th J Patterson Ballylesson 1838, 8th C Browne Bangor 1818, 9th B Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda 1811, 10th R Moore & Son Bangor 1804, 11th J Young & ptnrs Dundonald 1801, 12th F Keery Ballylesson 1794.
Young David Moore of the R Moore & Son partnership had a very impressive card in the opner from Mullingar
EAST SECTION - 1st R Moore & Son Bangor 1847, 2nd R Moore & Son Bangor 1847, 3rd R Moore & Son Bangor 1845, 4th C Browne Bangor 1818, 5th R Moore & Son Bangor 1804
WEST SECTION - 1st M Foulis Dundonald 1871, 2nd M Foulis Dundonald 1842, 3rd M Foulis Dundonald 1839, 4th J Patterson Ballylesson 1838, 5th J Young & ptnrs Dundonald 1801
Around the Combine Clubs
Now for the first of this years round up of the top three in each club starting with ANNALONG which was won by B Tremlett on 1594 with G Maginn 2nd on 1574 and Donnelly Bros 3rd on 1563 ANNSBOROUGH has Paddy Brown in 1st and 3rd places 1655 and 1635 with Bob McDowell & Son 2nd on 1636 BALLYLESSON Another season begins where it left off last year ,yet again the master John Patterson takes the red card ,his 3 year old hen no 715 covered the 92 miles in 1hour 28 minutes for a velocity of 1838ypm. Runner up was F Keery with a 2 year old black Cock. velocities 1838.0;1786.5;& 1794.7 BALLYNAHINCH SOC where Stephen & Pearl Logan are off to a good start winning on 1681, 2nd Jim Gillespie & Son 1672 with Rab Hunter 3rd on 1654 BALLYWALTER and a great start for Sam Regan with a1,2 3 result 1700,1669 and 1665 BANGOR a similar result here for Reggie and David Moore with the top three on 1847,1847 and 1845 CLOUGHEY and here it was Gordon Bros & sons with the top three all on 1742 COMBER Francis Gilmore was 1st and 2nd here 1762 and 1746 with C Hutchinson 3rd on 1718 CROSSGAR top three places here for Paul McCartan & Darren Woodside 1746,1745 & 1736 DONAGHADEE a good start here for the Miskimmin partnership with 1st and 3rd club 1764 and 1738 ,the winning pigeon is a yearling cock from John Abernathy and this cock was the club winner of the last young bird race of 2008 so he has started this season where he left off last time ,his breeding is Soontjen . A& P Trimble and sons are in 2nd place on 1755 DOWNPATRICK Had K Shaw & Son 1st and 3rd 1634 and 1590 with Paddy Lue 2nd on 1619 DRUMANESS J Kirk & Son have the first two in Drumaness 1623 and 1620 with Gavin Morrison & dtr in 3rd place on 1564 DUNDONALD And a magnificent start to the 2009 season for Mark Foulis with the top three in the club and section and 1st,5th and 6th in the open . Velocities were 1871,1842 and 1839 DUNDRUM J Maguire & ptnrs start off the season well here winning on 1588 .A Murray & son were 2nd on 1504 with S Foster & Connor 3rd on 1489 HILLFOOT 1735 wins Hillfoot for D 7 T Brennan with their 2nd bird taking 2nd place on 1671 and Jackie Skates 3rd on 1667 KILLYLEAGH & DIST T & C Kilpatrick were 1st and 3rd 1729 & 1638 with J Morton & Son 2nd on 1643 KILLYLEAGH CENTRAL Two close together for Gordon bros & sons for 1st and 2nd on 1742 and 1741 with McComb Bros 3rd on 1728 MILLISLE 1st and 2nd here for the Laurence Brown partnership 1709 and 1681 with Ferguson & Wilkinson 3rd on 1651 NEWCASTLE D Hillen takes the first two here 1490 and 1447 with M/M Fisher 3rd on 1382 Wilfie Barbour of the Newcastle partnership of C& W Barbour rang me to tell of the trouble that fanciers are having with hawks round his part of the world ,he having had an attack from a sparrow hawk in a recent training toss with birds being lost and injured ,it’s a problem which just doesn’t go away. NEWTOWNBREDA Brian Hogg & Sons win here on 1811 ,M & A Johnston were in 2nd place 1791 and Tom & David Marshall were 3rd on 1753 TYRELLA Mr & Mrs Irvine have the top two 1679 and 1659 with D McNabb & ptnrs 3rd on 1634
Brian Hogg of the B Hogg & Sons partnership topped the Newtownbreda HPS from Mullingar
East Down Combine Mullingar – M Foulis Dundonald 1871, R Moore & Son Bangor 1847, R Moore & Son 1847, R Moore & Son 1845, M Foulis 1842, M Foulis 1839, J Patterson Ballylesson 1838, C Browne Bangor 1817, B Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda 1811, R Moore & Son 1804, J Young & Partners Dundonald 1801, F Keery Ballylesson 1794, M Foulis 1794, M & A Johnston Newtownbreda 1791, Carmichael & Anderson Bangor 1789, J Patterson 1786, S Brown & Sons Dundonald 1785, M Foulis 1784, R Moore & Son 1783, R Moore & Son 1783, R Moore & Son 1783, R Moore & Son 1782, R Moore & Son 1782, Kincaid & McCann Dundonald 1776, R Moore & Son 1775, R Moore & Son 1775, K & B McConaghie Ballylesson 1774, J Patterson 1772, J Patterson 1769, D & J Caskey Bangor 1768, D & J Caskey 1768, Lambert & Stewart Bangor 1763, F Gilmore Comber Soc 1762, M Foulis 1762, S Brown & Sons 1761, R Moore & Son 1760, R Moore & Son 1759, A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson 1755, T Marshall & Son Newtownbreda 1753, Lambert & Stewart 1748.
EDC West Sect - M Foulis Dundonald 1871, M Foulis 1842, M Foulis 1839, J Patterson Ballylesson 1838, B Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda 1811, J Young & Partners Dundonald 1801, F Keery Ballylesson 1794, M Foulis 1794, M & A Johnston Newtownbreda 1791, J Patterson 1786, S Brown & Sons Dundonald 1785, M Foulis 1784, Kincaid & McCann Dundonald 1776, K & B McConaghie Ballylesson 1774, J Patterson 1772, J Patterson 1769, M Foulis 1762, S Brown & Sons 1761, A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson 1755, T Marshall & Son Newtownbreda 1753.
EDC East Sect - R Moore & Son Bangor 1847, R Moore & Son 1847, R Moore & Son 1845, C Browne Bangor 1817, R Moore & Son 1804, Carmichael & Anderson Bangor 1789, R Moore & Son 1783, R Moore & Son 1783, R Moore & Son 1783, R Moore & Son 1782, R Moore & Son 1782, R Moore & Son 1775, R Moore & Son 1775, D & J Caskey Bangor 1768, D & J Caskey 1768, Lambert & Stewart Bangor 1763, F Gilmore Comber Soc 1762, R Moore & Son 1760, R Moore & Son 1759, Lambert & Stewart 1748.
East Down Combine Club Results Mullingar
Dundonald HPS 5/192
1st Mark Foulis 1871, 2nd Mark Foulis 1842, 3rd Mark Foulis 1839, 4th J Young & Partners 1801, 5th Mark Foulis 1794, 6th S Brown & Sons 1785, 7th Mark Foulis 1784, 8th Kincaid & McCann 1776, 9th Mark Foulis 1762, 10th S Brown & Sons. One of the hardest working fanciers around is Mark Foulis he puts plenty of work into them and feeds them the best that’s going. He has continued this year again in hot form and when I check back I see he finished 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th in this same race last year with 70 less pigeons competing, how’s that for consistency year in year out. Well Done Mark.
Jim Young of the J Young & Partners team put a good arrival into the clock to slpit Mark Foulis's first four in the Club.
Ballylesson HPS 11/195
1st John Patterson 1838, 2nd F Keery 1794, 3rd John Patterson 1786, 4th K & B McConaghie 1774, 5th John Patterson 1772, 6th John Patterson 1769, 7th A Cousins & Sons 1755, 8th A Cousins & Sons 1734, 9th C & D Smyth 1726, 10th C & D Smyth 1723. Well, hard keeping the experienced war horse down, in the first race of the season last year the mighty JP took the first three in the Club, and with four in the first ten in the first race this year, he is the man in form. John timed his 3 year old good racing hen ‘715’ who covered the 92 miles in 1hour 28 minutes for a velocity of 1838ypm runner up Fleming Keery timed a 2 year old Black Cock.
Fleming Keery needs no introductions and finished 2nd this week behind the formidable 'JP'
Bangor RPC 13/214
1st R Moore & Son 1827, 2nd R Moore & Son 1847, 3rd R Moore & Son 1845, 4th C Browne 1818, 5th R Moore & Son 1804, 6th D M Carmichael 1789, 7th R Moore & Son 1783, 8th R Moore & Son 1783, 9th R Moore & Son 1783, 10th R Moore & Son 1782. The first signs of the ETS in operation when you check this impressive Bangor RPC card for Reggie Moore and son David a class performance with the 1st and 2nd arrivals on the same yard and then further down the result another three placed on the same yard. This loft is always one to watch and have cemented themselves as the formidable force in Bangor, last year they finished Runner-up in the East Section of the EDC in their challenge for East Section Fancier of the Year Claim but did win the O/Bird Inland Championship Award in the East Section.
Crossgar HPS 8/252
1st McCartan & Woodsides 1746, 2nd McCartan & Woodsides 1745, 3rd McCartan & Woodsides 1736, 4th McCartan & Woodsides 1735, 5th McCartan & Woodsides 1734, 6th McCartan & Woodsides 1733, 7th McCartan & Woodsides 1674, 8th J McGreevy 1658, 9th T Horner & Sons 1638, 10th T Horner & Sons 1635. One of the top lofts racing in the EDC is that of McCartan & Woodsides and are the loft to beat any week within the Crossgar Club, in this race last year the loft finished 5th, 8th and 10th. I think you could call this year’s performance in the 1st race an improvement, well done lads to take the first seven positions in any Club is an achievement worth remembering.
Hillfoot HPS 3/38
1st D & T Brennan 1735, 2nd D & T Brennan 1671, 3rd J Scates & Sons 1667, 4th D & T Brennan 1637, 5th J Scates & Sons 1598, 6th J Scates & Sons 1592, 7th Mr & Mrs E Spence 1462. Well done to Davy on an excellent start to the season, onwards and upwards from here.
Ballynahinch Social
1st S & P Logan 1681, 2nd J Gillespie & Sons 1672, 3rd R Hunter 1654, 4th R Hunter 1648, 5th J Gillespie & Sons 1639, 6th J Gillespie & Sons 1614, 7th R Hunter 1610, 8th R Hunter 1598, 9th J Gillespie & Sons 1584, 10th R Hunter 1576. The S & P Logan team finished 3rd last year in the first race of the season, but makes no mistake this year with a good winner on the day, ahead of the Gillespie loft who finished last year with 6 x 1st’s.
Annsborough HPS 12/213
1st Patrick Brown 1655, 2nd R McDowell & Son 1636, 3rd Patrick Brown 1635, 4th R J Keown 1631, 5th M Jennings 1630, 6th P Brown & Son 1628, 7th R McDowell & Son 1623, 8th Patrick Brown 1613, 9th D Croskery & Son 1611, 10th Patrick Brown 1606. Excellent start to the season for Paddy Brown, finishing 1st, 3rd, 8th and 10th.
Downpatrick
1st Kieran Shaw & Son 1634, 2nd P Lue & Son 1619, 3rd K Shaw & Son 1590, 4th K Shaw & Son 1584. Well done to Kieran Shaw and Son on a very impressive result with Paddy popping up to take 2nd spot with the Shaw loft following in finishing 3rd and 4th.
Drumaness Mills HPS
1st J Kirk & Son 1623, 2nd J Kirk & Son 1620, 3rd G Morrison & Daughters 1564, 4th P Burns 1445, 5th J Kirk & Son 1406, 6th J Kirk & Son 1404, 7th P Burns 1333. After finishing 7th Club last year in this corresponding race the Kirk loft have took charge of this race in 2009 with four in the first six of the result including 1st and 2nd, ahead of the 2008 top loft of G Morrison & Daughters who finish a close 3rd.
Annalong HPS 13/274
1st B Tremlett 1594, 2nd G Maginn 1574, 3rd Donnelly Bros 1563, 4th Donnelly Bros 1560, 5th G Maginn 1555, 6th B McConnell 1526, 7th B McConnell 1519, 8th G Maginn 1512, 9th B McConnell 1508, McLoughlin Bros 1506. An excellent start to the season for the Tremlett loft with a good winner into the Annalong Club.
The Tremlett loft had the winner in the opener of 2009 from Mullingar.
Dundrum HPS 5/76
1st J Maguire & Partners 1588, 2nd A Murray & Son 1504, 3rd S Foster & Connor 1489, 4th J Maguire & Partners 1427, 5th J Maguire & Partners 1416, 6th A Murray & Son 1402, 7th J Maguire & Partners 1394, 8th J Ringland & Son 1335, 9th A McNamara & Partners 1327, 10th S Foster & Connor 1241. The Maguire and Partners loft finished second last year in this corresponding race and go one better this year with a very good arrival into the area winning the club by a clear 84 yards. The members of Dundrum HPS would like to thank all those who donated young birds, gave donations or helped in anyway to make their recent young bird sale on the 3rd of April a success. In particular the club would like to thank the Crossgar club for donating their clubrooms for the night, Paddy Murray, Killyleagh for auctioning the birds and Alfie Williamson, Downpatrick for donating his show pens for the evening A special word of thanks must also go to all those who attended the sale and purchased young birds, we wish you every success with your purchases. Best wishes for a successful 2009 racing season. Paddy Murray, Dundrum HPS.
Keith Maguire pictured here after starting the seasonjust as he finished in 2008 at the winners post.
FOUND: BELG08-6178525, Tel: 97 542087.