1st Open EDC Dinard
There must be something about the air down around Castlewellan that makes for good healthy pigeons. In the last three years the O/Bird Derby from Dinard, in the East Down Combine, had been won within a radius of three miles of this Co.Down village. Patrick Maguire won it in 1971, Benson Bros in 1972 and now the McKnight Bros (Edward & Robert) get their names on the trophy in 1973.
However the thrill of timing in a French winner was not to be theirs because they were working but their father, Charles, who does a lot of hard with the birds as they are at his home, did the clocking. The winner is a nice Strawberry Mealy Hen sent sitting, due to hatch. She is a Dordin x Delbar cross. The Dam, a nice Blue, is direct from W V Troughton of Portadown. The Mealy Hen had every race in 1973 up to Haverford (1) where she was 4th Club, and had only one 17 mile toss on the Wednesday before hampering, the remainder of the time had the Open loft to come and go as she pleased.
1st Open EDC Dinard Derby of 1973 was won by Edward and Robert McKnight of Castlewellan.
Last year the Bros were 16th Open EDC Y/Bird Derby Skibbereen with a Y/Bird from the Mealy Hen, and so she could well prove a good breeder as well as racer. She certainly has a good breeder’s eye, very rich gravel and with a pale blue circle with dark shading.
Edward and Robert have two lofts side by side in a plot of ground worked by their father. One is 19ft x 6ft for O/Birds and the other is 11ft x 5ft 6ins for Y/Birds. Their feeding consists of a No 1 feed mixture fed in hoppers.
This is a magnificent and memorable win for these young fanciers, achieved in only 5 years racing. What does the future hold for them? Only time can answer that one.