It seems like no time at all has passed since my first visit to the NCC One Loft race when the construction of the foundations was being done during a snow storm. The popular North Coast Classic based in Coleraine County Londonderry is the only one of its kind based on the Island of Ireland.
Now in its 7th season in the past six years they have paid out a massive £135,500 in pools and prizes and pride themselves in making payments ASAP after each Hot Spot and also on the day of the Grand Final race when the presentation is held at the local Lodge Hotel in Coleraine.
The big race dates for 2015 are as follows. Six Hot Spot Races on successive Sundays, so as not to interfere with local race programmes and the final race from Rosscarbery. All events are run under the rules of the RPRA, with Licence No IR 01/15. July 26th Hotspot (1) Monaghan from 70 Miles, August Hotspot (2) Monaghan, August 9th Hotspot (3) Mullingar from 115 Miles, August 16th Hotspot (4) Roscrea from 150 Miles, August 23rd Hotspot (5) Thurles from 175 Miles, August 30th Hotspot (6) Clonmel from 196 Miles, September 6th North Coast Final Classic Rosscarbery from 265 Miles in County Cork.
Entries until 20th April at £100 per bird with team of 6 x Birds a special £500. Venture Birds in 2015 have been supplied by Formula 1 Lofts, Fernlea Lofts (D & J Campbell & Bigger), Causeway Lofts (A & R McAuley), Harmony Lofts (John & Viv Abernethy), Nigel Laycock and John Hall a former winner of the race. All details are on the new website at www.northcoastclassic.co.uk
Individual Sections filling up for 2015.
Tickers Team, winners in 2014.
Armstrong & McCrudden Ace Pigeon winners in 2014.
Good supporters of the NCC, John Lamb (l) and Jim Braniff.
Dublin NCC Courier Dave Ward (l) and Terence McCrudden who had Ace Bird 2014.
Ryan Barr, supporter and sponsor at NCC.
Sean Diamond (l) with Jimmy Hanson.
Noel Ferguson from Larne, with new junior team.
McMullan Bros from Glenarm & District.
Hard worker at NCC, John Edgar celebrated a recent birthday.