The Irish National Flying Club membership, are not short of special awards that they can fly for during a racing season. The Duddy Trophy was first flown for in 2009 having been presented to the club by Robin Duddy, the YB National winner of 1990. Robin made sure that the winner would be a fancier of the highest class as he set out the criteria as follows. 3 Bird Nomination for each National Race - Sennen Cove Yearling Nat and the Penzance YB Grand Nat always two difficult National races from across the channel.
The Duddy Trophy was first flown for in 2009 and won by a former Kings Cup winner, Geoffrey Douglas of Wilton Cross. The following year the trophy was won by the top East Down Combine lofts of Doley Croskery & Son of Annsborough. In 2011 another outstanding National loft collected the trophy, L Magee & Son of Lisburn & District. The domination of the North Sect came to an end in 2012 when Eddie Barnes & Son of Ballybrack were successful. Arnold Thompson of Ballyclare & Dist brought the trophy back North in 2013 and again this is an outstanding National loft.
That brings us up to date, 2014 and the South Sect win the trophy for the second time., the winners Noel Grant & son from Balbriggan. The Grant’s fly a very, very good pigeon and have been to the INFC Nat Dinner many times.
Robin Duddy Trophy
2009: G Douglas, Wilton Cross – Vel 994
2010: D Croskery & Son, Annsborough HPS – Vel 961
2011: L Magee & Son, Lisburn & Dist – Vel 1121
2012: E Barnes & Son, Ballybrack RPC – Vel 1257
2013: A Thompson, Ballyclare & Dist – Vel 1159
2014: N Grant & Son, Balbriggan RPC – Vel 1140
N Grant & Son from Balbriggan were winners in 2014.
Triple Crown Award
The latest award the members of the INFC fly for is known as the Triple Crown Award, to win this award a single pigeon must be an Open prize-winner from Penzance YB Grand National, Sennen Cove Yearling National and finally the Kings Cup OB Grand National as a two year old racer. The first year that the award could be won was 2009 and immediately it was to cause controversy. It could have been my mistake as I had put the idea of this award to the Committee and had it accepted.
The brilliant Annaghmore loft of Glen Buckley & Son won 134th Open INFC Grand Nat YB in 2008 with a lovely Blue w/f hen “64”. The following year she was sent to the INFC Sennen Cove Yearling Nat and went on to win 29th Open. Glen had the hen in great form and it was decided to send her to the Kings Cup flown from Vannes and “64” won 1st North Sect & 2nd Open INFC plus pools and prize money of £2,500. I had her down as a Triple Crown award winner but the INFC Committee would not approve it as they decided it should be consecutive years. Three seasons on the trot. Glen was offered the £100 prize but would not accept it and decided to try again.
In 2009 we had two Triple Crown award winners, Tommy McClean of Annaghmore Blue hen “49” winning 49th Open Sennen Cove YB Nat, 5th Open Sennen Cove Yearling Nat then 138th Open Vannes Kings Cup. J McLoughlin & Son of Blanchardstown scored with Cheq Pied (h) “57” in YB Nat Sennen Cove 49th Open 223rd Open in the Yearling Nat Sennen Cove and then 55th Open Vannes Kings Cup.
The 2010 season saw three Triple Crown awards and believe it or not Glen Buckley & Son did not take long to win the award they missed out on in 2009. Blue w/f (h) “64” won 134th Open Sennen Cove YB Nat, 29th Open Sennen Cove Yearling Nat and 201st Open Kings Cup Vannes. The hen that was 2nd Open Kings Cup in 2009 went back and won the award that was so richly deserved.
Willie Neill of Annaghmore, the same club as Glen won his award with a Blue hen “06”. 89th Open Sennen Cove YB Nat, 62nd Open Sennen Cove Yearling Nat and then 53rd Open Vannes Kings Cup. This brilliant hen was in the first 100 of all three National races.
Former Kings Cup winner Ronnie Williamson of Bondhill won the third award of 2010, his Blue Pied (h) “63” won 32nd Open Sennen Cove YB Nat, 194th Open Sennen Cove Yearling Nat and then finally 72nd Open Vannes Kings Cup. Did you notice? - All 3 winners were Hens!
The East Down Combine won their first Triple Crown award when the EDC Secretary Sammy Duke clocked his Blue Cheq (h) “38” to win 75th Open Penzance YB Nat, 83rd Open Sennen Cove Yearling Nat, 94th Open Vannes Kings Cup. This was the second winner to be in the first 100 Open positions in all three National races. Willie Corrigan from Loughgall collected his award with the first cock to win the Triple Crown. His Blue (c) “63” was 135th Open Penzance YB Nat, 126th Open Sennen Cove Yearling Nat, 143rd Open Vannes Kings Cup.
No Triple Crown Award was won in 2012 but the following season 2013 saw two awards won and by two former Kings Cup winners. Geoffrey Douglas of Wilton Cross timed Blue (c) “69” to win 186th Open Penzance YB Nat, 259th Open Sennen Cove Yearling Nat, and then 86th Open St Allouestre Kings Cup. Joe Doheny from Malahide scored with his Blue Cheq (h) “30”, 61st Open Penzance YB Nat, 133rd Open Sennen Cove Yearling Nat and 203rd Open St Allouestre Kings Cup.
In 2014 once again, no Triple Crown Award was won, it has been in the race programme for six years and only nine have been won – 7 hens and 2 cocks. Irish Rover.
Triple Crown Award
2009: J McLoughlin & Sons, Blanchardstown; T McClean, Annaghmore.
2010: G Buckley & Son, Annaghmore; W G Neill, Annaghmore; R Williamcon, Bondhill.
2011: S & K Duke, Crossgar; W Corrigsn, Loughgall.
2012: Not won.
2013: G Douglas, Wilton Cross; J Doheny, Malahide & Dist.
2013 – Joe Doheny, Malahide & District
2014: Not won.
2018 – John Greenaway, Bondhill Social
2019 – Glen Buckley & Sons, Annaghmore
2024 – McCracken Bros, Banbridge HPS
