The winner is Wendell Scott, Cullybackey who timed a yearling blue checker cock called "Heather’s Delight" which already has a very impressive record. Raced natural as a young bird he was timed early in Tallbenny with the NIPA and two days later was sent to Penzance where he was 129th open . This year he had two inland plus Tallbenny, Sennen Cove yearling national and two or three 70 mile single tosses per week leading up to the Kings Cup. He was sent feeding a three week old young bird and sitting eggs as well. The sire came from Paddy McManus & Son, Ahoghill and contains Invincible Spirit lines. The dam was from John Dowey & Son, Laurelvale and contains McDowell Bros, Newtownards and Bob Harkness blood. The feeding is Beattie's Supreme plus some extra linseed. As well as the Joe Doheny trophy and a framed diploma "Heather’s Delight" wins £500, finishing fourth Open.
Second, winning £400 and a framed diploma is Willy Corrigan of Loughgall with a Blue W/F three year old cock, this pigeon was only one place behind the winner in 5th open. Raced natural as a young bird he had a few inland races and flown up to Bude as a yearling, last year he flew France but was out of the prizes. This year he had three or four inland races plus Bude then just flown round the loft. He was sent sitting a ten day young bird. His breeding is mostly Kilpatrick.
In third winning a framed diploma and £300 is a partnership which are really dedicated to French racing, that of Cooley Bros. They timed a two year old blue hen called "Cool Lady" she finished 9th Open and also wins a merit award being 116th Open last year. The partnership consists of brothers Gary, Danny and Gary's son Mathew whom I am told is the chief peanut feeder. Raced natural as a young bird she had a few inland races. Last year as a yearling she had a few inland races and then was the loft's timer from Sennen Cove Yearling National although out of the National positions, she then went to the King's Cup were she was timed at 8.55pm to be 116th open. This year's preparation was a Pilmore beach (100mls) and a 20 mile toss 5 days a week plus a few more at 50 miles. Sitting 15/16 days she was slipped a one day young bird on the morning of basketing. She has always been paired to a broken wing cock and always pairs on the floor and becomes very protective of that area. The feeding is a Marriman's General mix plus peanuts , high fat seeds and plenty of Frazer Form. The sire was bred by brother Danny containing Jackie Patience blood he has bred some other good birds. The dam contains Lowik Bros blood, a Dutch extreme distance family, her sire bred good friend Jimmy Cullen's St Malo timer.
Fourth in the challenge and 17th open winning £200 is 2004 Challenge winner Henry Gilligan from Sallynoggin. Henry timed a 5 year old blue hen which also wins a merit award (66th in 2012), raced natural as a young bird, as a yearling she was raced up to Penzance were she was 20th open ECF. As a three year old she was prepared for the King's Cup and was 66th Open. This year she had 3 inland races then sent on chipping eggs to St Allouestre to be 17th Open. The breeding is Henry's own family in fact the 2004 Challenge winner is her great grandmother.
Fifth Challenge winning £100 is Eamon Murtagh & Sons who live near Armagh, also winning a Merit award (178th open 2013). The lofts timer was a three year old blue hen which was not raced as a young bird. As a yearling she flew the Yearling National and last year just trained up and into the King's Cup being 178th Open. This year she was trained as many times as possible from Dublin 70/80 miles and sent on a 5/6 day young bird to be 23rd Open. The sire is from Jimmy Sheppard containing Norman Southwell blood. The dam was bred by good friends Dickie and Steve Pearmain, Essex from a cock loaned to them from Eamon and a hen of their own. The feeding is Beattie's Number 2 and moulting mixed.
Sixth challenge and 32nd Open winning £50 is Fintan Moran Malahide. Fintan timed a three year old red chequer cock. Not raced as a young bird, and as a yearling just inland. As a two year old a few inland then flew St Allouestre . This year a few inland plus Bude after that 3/4 40mile tosses and sent to the King's Cup sitting eggs. The sire was bred by Dave Glover, Hinckley and the dam bred by Syd and Val Miles. The feeding used is Buxton's.
Seventh challenge, 32nd Open winning £50 is Ray Mathews, Sallynoggin. Ray timed a 3 year old very small Red cock called "Special Branch". Raced natural as a young bird he had five or six races up to 180 miles. As a yearling he flew Tallbenny, the Yearling National and St Malo winning a prize in the club. As a two year old he returned from Skibbereen National with all his tail gone, it had grown it in time for the King's Cup where he returned on the fourth day. This year he had three inland and just flew around the loft before going to the King's Cup sitting 17 day eggs to be 32nd Open. The sire and dam were both bred by Jim Donaldson, Peterhead and the feeding is all Frazers plus added sun flower hearts, a few peanuts and high energy mix.
Eighth challenge, 33rd Open winning £50 and also a Hall of Fame is Willy English, Lisburn. Willy timed a five year old Blue cock called 'Let Down', he had a few races racing natural as a young bird. As a yearling he flew up to Bude. Every year since, including this year, he had the same preparation of a few inland plus Bude then sent to the King's Cup sitting ten day eggs, in 2011 he was 99th, 2013 156th and 33rd this year. The sire was lost off the roof as a young bird by the late Dale Newcombe and came into Willy, while the dam came from Robert Kirkwood and contains Litchfield blood. The feeding is all from Robert Kirkwood too.
Ninth challenge and 37th open winning £50 is Mulcahy Bros, Cork timing a four year old blue cock called 'Nora's Boy' (after their mum). The partnership consists of brothers Ger and David and they race north with the Cork Federation and south with the INFC. Racing natural 'Nora's Boy' flew the young bird programme north to Malin Head, 250 miles. As a yearling he raced the inland north and then Hamilton in Scotland 300 miles. As a two year old he raced all inland north then St Malo from France where he was 2nd Club. Then as a three year old again all inland north and the King's Cup from St Allouestre homing on the fourth day. This year he again raced north inland to Coleraine 240 miles where he was 1st Club, 1st Section and 1st Fed, he had one more 100 mile toss from Arklow and went to the King's Cup feeding a 16 day young bird, his second of the year and sitting eggs again too. 'Nora's Boy' was the only bird into Cork over the three days of the King's Cup. The sire is a Staff Van Reet bought out of the RPRA one loft race in which he had two top ten finishes . The dam was an "Adam" Busschaert from Louella Lofts, being a daughter of "Adam". The feeding is a mixture of Natural, Frazers and Marimans corn, with a few peanuts and hemp seed added over the last ten days.
David Black – Race Co-Ordinator.
