News Update - September 2014

[willie reynolds]

Leinster North Road Federation 24.

North Road racing has always been the norm in this part of the island of Ireland, with the final destination being Frazerburgh, Thurso or on the odd occasion Lerwick for the longest race of the season, before them, we will also race at different times, from the shorter race points of Stranraer, Girvan, Mauchline, Hamilton and Sterling, we have tried other race points that are even more remote with limited success, the main objective is to clock on the day from any of these chosen race point, not an easy task when one considers the Channel crossing involved, the prevailing south westerly breeze and the ever changing weather patterns in the highlands of Scotland.
Without the help of the people I am about to mention, the possibility of having a successful race from Scotland would be all the more difficult. There is a whole network of individuals involved on the Scottish side of the channel, starting in Stranraer with Jamie & Donna McDonald who are right on the coast where we would expect our birds to pass through before crossing the Irish sea.
Up the coast a little and the help of the late Willie Niblo, was second to none.

At which point the Race control team and all members of the Eire National, would like to convey our condolences to his wife Elenor and the family for their sad loss.
Help from Gordon Whiteside and the late Ronnie Davidson has also been invaluable over the years, these guys have a great view of the crag, situated some miles off the Scottish coast, and can tell at a glance if we will get a safe crossing or not.
In Ayrshire we have Kevin Burton and of course Sam & Pat Mcfadzean, have helped us for many years with our liberations, checking on the weather from early in the week of the proposed race. Whilst racing from the far north east of Scotland we have been lucky to have the services of Jim Hannah at Blantyre, Jimmy & Anne o Neill at Sterling who never fail to help when the line of flight weather is required, still further up we have Walter Masson of Frazerburgh, as a fisherman, he is always aware of the weather patterns and his advice is invaluable to our race control team who consist of Alan Healy of Limrick, who only took on the job this year, assisted by Michael Crotty, Clonmel, and Johnny Boats Organ Dungarvan, who has been involved for quite some time with both race controlling and convoying. These are also backed up by many knowledgeable people on this side of the pond, such as Rab Mills in Larne and others who are up and about early on race day‘s to add to the information pool that has insured very successful racing from Scotland over the years.
As The National Club, organising North Road racing in Ireland since 1949, the officials and members would like to thank all of those people mentioned above, and if we have left anyone out we would like to apologise in advance, but at the same time thank them for their contribution over the years.

This week we had a come back race from Carrigmacross a distance of between 75/110 miles to the fanciers in our federation, in preparation for the upcoming Young Bird Nationals.
Cill Cheannaigh RPC.
Even as we approach the end of the season there is no let up in the performances of Edward Holden who takes the first three positions in the Cill Cheannaigh club.
His First two birds clocked, which were nest mate sisters, were on the exact same velocity of 1304ypm. They were bred from a gift pair of birds from the Rocca & Roly partnership of the Barrow Valley club in Carlow, from their champion 90 and Scarecrow bloodlines.

Barrow Valley RPC.
Billy Brooks takes first on Vel 1287ypm in the Barrow valley club from a field of 265 birds, the winning bird bred from the hen that won the Eire National young bird race from Malin Head Last year. Billy is not usually a sprint man, so the form is probably rising now, as we are nearing the important National races which, as we all know, he is very fond of. In second place, another National minded fancier, Anthony Baldwin, a previous winner of the Perth old bird National and yet another, looking forward to the young bird Nationals. 3rd JJ Hurley. Fourth position in our club and having a great young bird season, but yet to score the illusive first place is Damien Maher. With his ETS lying on the shelf and using the old system of clock and rubber, I’m afraid in this type of competition he will struggle, and needs to get his finger out if he wants to break his novice status before the end of the season.
Enniscorty RPC.
Eddie Dobbs takes top spot here with a G.son of his Hamilton National winner on a velocity of 1265ypm just in front of brother John Dobbs with two together for second & third positions.
Arklow RPC.
News this week from Mick Murphy.
John Annesley takes first on 1260ypm. Peter Lucas takes 2nd on 1191ypm and James Clare 3rd and 4th on 1173 and 1161. John Annesley 5th on 1156.
John Annesley’s bird was bred down off birds they got from Owen Kirwan of Gorey.
The winning bird of Peter lucas was bred by Shane Doran of Carnew. and James Clare’s birds are off a new line of long distance birds he only got in just recently. Cheers and thanks for the info Mick.

Wexford RPC. No news this week from Thomas Walsh, but I hear on the grapevine that Peter Doyle slipped one in on 1219ypm to win the Wexford Club.
I will just finish off with the results of the Gold Ring race that was held in conjunction with our weekly Federation race last week.

Larne Gold Ring Race.
Joe o Neill, NewRoss takes 1st and €218 with a Staff van Reet Blue hen, from his Toey x Red Daniel lines. Joe also takes 2nd and €145 with a Van Loon Grizzle hen. In 3rd we have Conran & Cullen of Cill Cheannaigh for €109. Then Gary Nolan of the Fetherd Club in at 4th for €109. J & J Hammond, Barrow Valley take 5th for € 54. Next we have Joe o Neill NewRoss back in at 6th position with another Van Loon Grizzle hen for €54. And finally we have Dwyane Brennan of the Barrow Valley Club in for the final share of €36. All in all a pretty good race, particularly so, for Joe o Neill who managed to have three of his original six entries feature in the first six places of the Gold ring race, well done Joe. Whilst arranging this event it was decided to keep 10% of the prize fund, paid out as one prize, for the first gold ring bird home from the Mauchline young bird National, with the criteria that the winning bird had participated in the Larne race previously, so that will be something to look forward to at that race.

Usual contact is : Franciscorcoran@alpinelofts.net or 00353599145419.
Punch


John Hammond Sen 5th Gold Ring Race from Larne.


Arklow RPC members after race marking for Carrigmacross.


John Annesley from Arklow, winner from Carrigmacross.


Edward Holden, 1st, 2nd & 3rd Carrigmacross.


Joe O'Neill, 1st, 2nd & 6th in the Gold Ring Race.


Wattie Cullen & Jimmy Conran 3rd in Gold Ring Race.


Billy Brooks Barrow Valley, winner from Carrigmacross.


Peter Doyle Carrigmacross winner in Wexford RPC.

[willie reynolds]

Leinster North Road Federation 25

North Road Federation notes.

Girvan Young Bird National.
As you can see the Eire National Young bird race scheduled for Mauchline on Friday the 6th of September, after a one day holdover, was brought back a short distance to Girvan on account of localised bad weather conditions at the Mauchline race point. This is what I wrote about last week, and it was only with the help of the people on the ground along the Scottish west coast that enabled the race controllers to make the correct decision to move the convoy, the weather being that much better only a few miles down the coast. The decision obviously justified by the success of the race as a whole, with plenty of birds being clocked in all sections of the National club.

Cill Cheannaigh RPC.
Well what can I say about the performances of Edward Holden and his pigeons in this years Young bird National from Girvan. Having had an absolutely cracking season so far it would appear that Edward will come out on top of the National result in this most competitive race from Scotland but we will have to wait a few days for that to be confirmed. Clocking three pigeons in quick succession to take the premier positions in both his club and the Leinster North Road Federation. His first bird, a Blue pied cock from his own old family of Busschaert pigeons, his second arrival, a Blue w/f hen was another gift pigeon from club mate David Doheny, from his Van Geel stock. Third pigeon on the clock, another home bred Busschaert cheq hen from the old lines. I will do a more detailed piece on Edward after the season finishes as I do know that he had more birds on the clock that will feature well up in the National, so that should be something to look forward to.

Barrow Valley RPC.
First position Jimmy Hurley, 2nd & 3rd to the inform loft of Tom McNally who is having a fine season on his return to racing with his young birds this year.
NewRoss. RPC
had Billy Sinnot in First position.
Arklow RPC.
Taking the red card in the Arklow club also 5 bags of corn supplied by Pigeon Direct Supplies of Arklow was Peter Lucas, followed closely by Jack Annesley in second place and 3 bags of corn, then 3rd and 2 bags of corn went to Damien Farrell.
John Annesley was 4th with John and Michael Murphy 5th to complete the result. The members would like to thank Sheldon Leonard the proprietor of Pigeon Direct Supplies Arklow for the generous sponsorship provided to the Arklow boy’s on their return to North road racing in 2014.

Unfortunately we have no word from either Enniscorty or Wexford on the result of their race from Girvan.

Some information on the previous weeks race from Carrigmacross from Thomas Walsh of the Wexford R.P.C.

Hi Francis, Results for Carrickmacross 31st august 2014.
1st Peter Doyle, 2nd and 3rd Lyn Griffiths and son..
This bird of peters was also first club from Trim earlier in the season, It is bred down from peters grizzle strain and John Pattersons bloodlines.
Peter and Lyn seem to take in turns at winning each club race and are both also placed well in the Fed each week. They are both 2 outstanding north road flyers.

Now on to this weeks result from the comeback race from Carrigmacross on Monday September 8th, that we held after the Girvan Young bird National and before the Malin Head young bird Derby with the Eire National North Road Flying Club.

Barrow Valley RPC.
1st Jimmy Hurley, 2nd & 3rd David Hurley

Arklow RPC.
John & Michael Murphy take 1st on Velocity of 1631, next we have James Clare 2nd on 1480. Then John & Michael Murphy in again at 3rd and 4th on 1459. and 1445, and 5th goes to James Clare on 1435.

Cill Cheannaigh RPC.
1st, 2nd, & 3rd positions go to the inform loft of Edward Holden. His first bird, a Blue Busschaert cock followed by a Soontjen Blue hen and a Mealy pied cock, a gift bird, bred for Edward by club mate David Doheny of Kilkenny, like his father before him, David is a very generous fancier and with a busy haulage business to run doesn’t always have the time to put into his own birds for racing, however he does enjoy the breeding side and likes nothing more than to see his birds do well in the hands of other fanciers.

There has been a quick succession of races over the last couple of weeks that I have found it difficult to keep up with them all, its also hard to get the info need as people are busy getting their own birds ready for the final races, along with that I have been away on a couple of occasions and that has put a bit of a strain on.

Last Sunday myself and Derek took a quick run up to the final of the North Coast Classic OLR in which we had a couple of our entries left. The trip up north took about three and a half hours, but it was in beautiful weather conditions, so the prospects for the race were good. A north east wind on their noses would focus their attention on the job in hand. On arrival, we were welcomed by the usual suspects that are normally there working hard for the benefit of all the visitors that arrive at this well run One Loft race. Food for all was freely available and no one went without in that respect, Willie Bond was taking in the last of the pools before closing time and everyone was in a state of anticipation once the five and a half hour mark passed, having spoken to some of those in the know who normally race in the area, it was reckoned that for this 265 mile race with the wind as it was, the time was more likely to be well over the six hour mark, and so it proved, on six hours and fifty minutes a single bird made its way towards the loft, just hedge hopping over the final hurdle and up the field, straight on to the landing board and in, to be clocked as the winner of the 2014 North Coast Classic One Loft Race. I must say that the generous applause was spontaneous and well deserved by this very game little dark chequer hen that had been entered by a syndicate from the North east of England by the name of “Tickers Team” consisting of L A Stuckey, T Gratten, & M Bears and the late Ticker stones.

It didn’t seem like it, but, four minutes passed before the next bird arrived and that one belonged to Team Spirit who had among its members Cyril & Hilary Beattie, R Thompson, S Lesters, & J Cochrane. Another couple of minutes and the next bird arrived and that was the entry of Viv & John Abernethy of Harmony Lofts. It was great to see the birds arrive in one’s and two’s and which reflected the toughness of the event, and the effort that been put into these birds over the season, they were obviously well prepared for make no mistake, this was a tough but fair test of these birds abilities and thankfully for all concerned their resilience shone through, a credit to the organisers, and I would like to congratulate Sean Diamond and all his helpers at the lofts on another well run One Loft race.

Right I’m off now. Its time to have a look at my own hopefuls for this weekends Young bird Derby with the Eire National North Road Flying Club from Malin Head.

Usual contact is Franciscorcoran@alpinelofts.net or 00353599145419.


Edward Holden prov winner of Girvan YB National.


Probable winner of the Girvan YB Nat.


White Cock

[willie reynolds]

Leinster North Road Federation 26.

Well, the final race of the season has been flown and it was a good finish to the year as most lofts around the country reported returns in good time from the Malin Head race point which was the venue for the Eire National North Road Young Bird Derby.
The race itself was flown as scheduled on Sunday September 14th, the birds having been released into an east south east wind at 11am which had given time for the mist and fog to clear. I know that this was a good and fair race because most of the club, Fed and section winners will all feature well up in the open result, which is always a good sign. At a later date I hope to give a run down of the Open & Section winners not only in this event but also for the young bird cross channel race from Girvan.
Now on with the results for the clubs in our federation.

Cill Cheannaigh RPC.
It would appear that the leading birds, although one would have expected them to come down the middle or slightly west of the country defied the elements to be clocked in good time in the Cill Cheannaigh club in the south east, for it was to the loft of Edward Holden that the eventual club, Fed and possibly Open winner was clocked in at 14:47pm to record a velocity of 1194ypm, his second arrival just two minutes later takes second spot on a velocity of 1187ypm. Another incredible performance by Edward and his formidable team of young birds. First bird in the clock was a dark cheq hen, a very consistent young bird this year having already won the Federation earlier in the season from Carrigmacross, her breeding is from a stock pair gifted to Edward as late bred’s by the Barrow Valley club partnership of Rocca & Roly from their Scarecrow & 90. Bloodlines that have already bred countless winners including National winners for the Carlow duo. Second bird clocked was a blue Soontjens x Newulearts cock which is a cousin to the third bird in the clock, yet another blue Soontjens x Newulearts cock, these are bred from two Newulearts cocks who are brothers, that are paired to two Soontjen hens that are sisters, and between them have bred a host of winners for Edward.

Barrow Valley RPC.
Having a great finale to his season, it is Tom McNally that comes out on top with a velocity of 1180ypm, Tom also fills the third position on 1170ypm. JJ Hurley in 2nd, and Frank Archbold, finishes the season with a very creditable 4th position in this Young bird Derby. Frank has just turned 75 years young this week, and is a gentleman of the sport and a household name in Irish pigeon racing, known throughout the length and breath of the country, and I am privileged to have him as one of my closest friends for many of those years.

Frank & Anne Archbold have been racing pigeons in Carlow to their address in Mill Lane in the shadow of Carlow Castle for all those years since the pigeon club was started in 1964.
, I knew he was up to something last week as he was keeping a low profile and secretly training for this event, but there’s not much goes on around here that anyone will get away with, as he was seen tipping along the Athy road nearly every morning during the week leading up to the race, “friends how are ya“. Anyway. All members of the club would like to wish you a very happy birthday and a healthy future. also better not forget to mention that the happy couple also celebrated their golden wedding anniversary earlier on this year and that too was also a very happy event and a brilliant night out, for all concerned.

News now from Thomas Walsh, of the
Wexford RPC:
On the 14/09 Malin Head race it was Peter Doyle in 1st position followed closely by
Lyn Griffiths and son in2nd and 3rd.
Race results for Girvan Scotland, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, Lyn Griffiths and son.
On the 08/09 Carrickmacross 1st, Lyn Griffiths and son. 2nd, and 3rd, Peter Doyle.
Both Lyn and Peter have had an outstanding season with both the club and fed this year, not a week goes by without one or both high up in the results.
All members will have to up their game to catch these two next year,
Thanks for your time and effort this season. Kind Regards, Thomas Walsh, Chairman Wexford United RPC.

NewRoss RPC.
Pat Ronan takes First on 1098ypm followed by Joe o Neill, then Pat Ronan back in again at third, both these guys have have quite a good season this year.
Fethard RPC.
First & Second in this club was Michael & Brandon Nolan, their first bird doing 1161ypm which will see them take seventh position in the federation, third club goes to Gary Nolan.
Arklow.
John and Michael Murphy take the first three places in this race, it being an east wind was always going to make this a tough race for the boys along the east coast, however they were well pleased with the performances of their birds on the day,
I forgot to post the photo I received of Peter Lucas holding his winner of the Girvan race last week, having only sent the one bird to the race this was a mighty performance by both man and bird, Peter would like to thank Shane Doran of Carnew for breeding some good performers for him and others during the past season, and whilst I‘m at it, the club would like to thank John & Mick Murphy and James Clare for transporting the birds down to the NewRoss marking station for the young bird National races. All in all it was a good start for the Arklow boys in their first year back on the North road after a few years absence.
Well that’s it for yet another year, all the racing is done and dusted. Next on the agenda will be the shows and prize presentation nights. In the meantime, fanciers will have time to reflect on how their season has gone, some have done quite well, with some new names surfacing to make a name for themselves, whilst others have gone back somewhat, for one reason or another, the world does not always rotate around pigeons, some people have a life as well, then there are those that have always done well year in, and year out, without too much of a struggle and will probably carry on doing so without upsetting anyone.

This week I have included a photo taken by a friend of mine who left his home one day last week to do some shopping, as he made his way along the road no more than one hundred meters from his house he came upon this scene, one of his pet white pigeons being eaten by a sparrow hawk on the side of the road, it was so brazen that he was able to reverse his car to the scene and take this photo with his mobile phone. Can you just imagine what a farmer looking at a dog or whatever eating one of his sheep would do if faced with the same situation ?.

At this point I would personally like to thank all those people that have helped me compile these reports over the past season, and I hope they will continue to send in any snippets of information that might arise in the future, so thanks again to all concerned.

Any news to : Franciscorcoran@alpinelofts.net or 00353599145419.
Punch


Peter Lucas holding his winner from Girvan.


John & Michael Murphy 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Arklow RPC from Malin Head YB Derby.


Joe ONeill 2nd New Ross from Malin Head.


Tom McNally of Barrow Valley, winner from Malin Head.


Peter Doyle of Wexford, winner of Malin Head.


Another lost bird.


Pat Ronan New Ross winner from Malin Head.


Edward Holden, probable winner of Malin Head YB Derby.


Frank Archbold celebrated a 75th birthday and Gold Wedding Anniversary in 2014.