The birds were liberated at 8.45am in calm conditions and on route the wind was to turn variable. While there were some fog patches in and around the Cork area it turned out a lovely day and the birds romped home a lot faster than many expected.
1st North Section, Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel, Vel 1602, Flying 251 miles, winning £354
The winners of the North section are Lee Bingham & Billy Seaton of the Ligoniel club in Belfast. This is one of the top lofts in the country at the moment and they are the winners of the Gloria Hunniford Trophy for best average Old Bird and Young Bird Skibbereen Nationals (North section), having been 8th North section in the Old Bird National. The pigeon timed here is a blue pied cock sent to this race just starting to show to a hen. He has had all the inland races and has some great results along the way, including 31st section, 71st Open Roscarberry with the NIPA the week prior to the National, 11th section, 44th Open Fermoy 5- Bird, 10th section, 27th Open Roscrea and 129th Open Roscrea. The sire was new blood brought in from Belgium while the dam won the RPRA Irish Region award for Young Bird of The Year in 2014. The grandsire, ‘John Boy’ was 1st Open NIPA Young Bird Roscarberry in 2011. This is a great line as a brother of the Section winner here has just been announced as the winner of the NIPA Young Bird of the Year for 2015, having taken 7 Open positions in 8 races. They had 6 youngsters out of the sire last year; one was lost training from Hillsborough, 2 others were winners, 2 picked up 2nd prizes and the other was 1st Section in the Fermoy 5 Bird. A brother of the bird timed here was 15th Open Roscarberry Young Bird National with NIPA and a cousin was 4th Open in the same race. Lee and Billy train three times a week with Ron Williamson and John Abernethy and towards the end of the season the birds were privately trained from Newry (35 miles). They mix their own feeding from corn bought from both Frazers and Robert Kirkwood.
Leo Bingham & Billy Seaton of Ligoniel, 1st North Sect Skibbereen.
2nd North section, M Laffin Lisburn & Dist, Vel 1590, Flying 244 miles, winning £1015
We move to the Lisburn & District club for 2nd North section to the lofts of Mark Laffin. In addition to the £1015 pools and prizemoney Mark also won £100 for the INFC sponsored free ring nomination and 2 bags of corn. Mark is ably assisted by his wife Jo who helps out with feeding, scraping and training when Mark is at work. The pigeon timed here is a medium sized blue chequer darkness cock racing on the natural system and is now named ‘The Highlander’. Her dam was a gift from the G & B Hunter partnership of Dunfermline, Scotland, and arrived home from the 2015 King’s Cup from St Allouestre just outside of race time. His sire is bred down from Mariette Van de Weyer cock purchased in 2012 at the Dublin Show from Jos and Theo Ceuelemans. The sire himself was a steady racer winning 2nd club, 12th section D, 42nd Open NIPA (17,824 birds) from Fermoy as a young bird in 2014. In the weeks preceding the National ‘The Highlander’ started to show some form as he was 1st club Lisburn & Dist, 9th section D, 22nd Open in the NIPA Roscarberry National, when driving his hen to the nest. Upon his return the hen laid and he was sent to the Skibbereen National sitting 3 days on eggs. In fact you could say that the complete team showed form at this stage of the season as Mark had 2 other birds in the result from Roscarberry at 2nd and 4th club, 26th and 128th Open, and had 4 more in the Skibbereen result at 30th, 59th, 96th and 175th North section. Feeding is Gem Breed and Wean from Robert & June Kirkwood. Training is a combination of flying at home and roadwork as weather permits. Mark would like to thank all ho sent congratulatory messages and he wanted to especially thank his mentors Sammy Briggs, and Billy & David McElhone.
Mark & Jo Laffin of Lisburn & Dist, 2nd North Sect Skibbereen.
3rd North section, M Johnston & Son West Belfast, Vel 1586.97, Flying 252 miles, winning £250
Mark Johnston & Son from the West Belfast club are 3rd North section with a blue cheq cock; a darkened youngster sent sitting a week overdue on eggs. He dropped his first flight on the night that he came home from the race, but he had raced the whole year with a gap in his wing as he had two broken flights. The dam is a Soontjens x Van de Weyer from Timmy Mawhinney, while the sire was 2nd Open in the Fermoy 5-Bird and then 4th Open in Fermoy again the following week in 2011. The grandsire got out at the beginning of the year so this cock was put to stock to replace him with instant success. A full sister to the bird timed here was 2nd Open Ulster Fed, while a half brother won the Penzance Classic and the Penzance Open in the Ulster Fed in 2010, having been 2nd Open Bude the previous week. The young cock had just 6 races including Talbenny and had been a steady racer with a couple of minor prizes. He had just missed put on a Fed position the previous week from Skibbereen. Training is from Ardee (60 miles) on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday weather permitting. Mark tends to mix his own grain from various sources.
Blue Ch cock, 3rd North Sect Skibbereen for Mark Johnston & Sons West Belfast.
4th North section J & D Coburn & Sons Lagan Valley, Vel 1586.90, Flying 244 miles, winning £673
We go back to the Lisburn area to the Lagan Valley club to the lofts of J & D Coburn & Sons. The partnership consists of the late Jim and the late Davy, their sons Davy Jnr, Jim Jnr, Mervyn, Trevor and Thomas. This partnership have a great record from this race with 4th, 58th, 91st, 155th North section this year, 22nd North section last year, 9th 32nd, 116th and 160th North section 2013, 18th, 27th, 92nd, 93rd North section in 2012, 16th, 36th, 60th, 129th, 151st North section 2011 and 36th, 61st, 106th and 184th North section in 2010. The pigeon timed here was a blue darkened hen sent flying to the perch. Breeding is Vandenabeele with both parents coming from Mark Sherwood, Sheffield. The sire is a brother of that pigeon that was 9th North section in 2013. That cock also won the Ulster Fed from Fermoy and picked up £50 in the Grosvenor Gold Ring race. The dam was 22nd North section last year. This young hen had six inland races and was 2nd in the Hillsborough & The Maze club from Fermoy. The birds are flown at home at no set time, with the occasional mid week toss, depending on the weather and on whether the partners think they need it.
J & D Coburn & Sons partnership of Lagan Valley, 4th North Sect Skibbereen.
5th North section A Cooke Ballycarry, Vel 1584, Flying 265 miles, winning £315
5th North section goes to Andy Cooke of the Ballycarry club north of Belfast and one of the longest flyers in this result. Andy is a very small team man rearing only 20 young birds for racing and still managed another two birds in the result here at 27th and 85th North section. The pigeon timed here is a blue white flight hen on the darkness and flying to the perch. Sent to the race half way up her first flight she was timed at 13:40 for the 265 miles flight. Her dam is Van de Huueal bred by Mike Ganus and is a direct sister of ‘The Aviator’. The sire is a direct Wily Jacobs through Gerard Delaney, Dromore. This young hen was 1st club, 34th Open from Roscarberry the previous week with the NIPA. She had every race except the two channel races. Andy trains them every day, weather permitting, from either Loughbrickland (35 miles) or Hillsborough (28 miles) depending on his work shift. Feeding is Gem from Robert & June Kirkwood. In concluding Andy asked me to thank Gerard Delaney for all his help and guidance.
Andy Cooke of Ballycarry, 5th North Sect Skibbereen.
Watch out for a first ever sale for one of Ireland’s leading lofts, David Calvin of Bondhill in Portadown. He will offer for sale a superb draft of some 50 x 3rd round young birds on Saturday 7th November in Glenavy Protestant Hall at 2.30pm with birds on view from 1.30pm. The D Calvin loft has enjoyed another brilliant year, down the land, across the channel, and out to France winning the French Diploma for Best Average St Malo OB National and INFC Kings Cup St Allouestre. In the Penzance YB Grand National the loft clocked three birds to win £2,500 and had 20 home out of 20 birds in the NIPA Talbenny YB National. For further details Tel David on (028) 38 334742 or Auctioneer Ronnie Johnston Tel: (028) 90 483625.
I see a lot of discussion about racing, especially the young bird programme. Maybe having pre-season racing for the longer flyers during the French Racing would be an idea, and I have no doubt there will be more discussion about mid-week racing which is getting some good support in certain areas. Clubs should note Rule 37 for the NIPA. The final date for receiving a proposed race programme is the end of October. All race programmes submitted must include both an Inland and Channel National Race for old and young birds.
I done a little research recently on the McCloud Cup in the INFC, awarded for the 1st Yearling in the Kings Cup. It started in 1993 but recently the best yearling in the race has been well placed. From 2005 the best bird has been no lower than 4th Open and has been overall winner on three occasions. 2009 Plaudren/Vannes - T & T Moorehouse of Rathnew vel 1416, 2011 Plaudren/Vannes - Dan Campbell of Gilford & District vel 1157, 2013 St Allouestre – Ron Williamson of Bondhill vel 1212. A lot of history and results are at http://www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
NIPA require all cups and trophies to be returned, in a clean condition please and same goes for the INFC, these can be returned to Trevor Topping or Ronnie Johnston or left with either Tom Marshall or Robert Kirkwood. The Annual Dinner & Prize presentation will be held as usual in the Stormont Hotel in Belfast on Friday 27th November, NIPA Ladies Night will take place on Friday 13th November in the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick.
East Down Combine will hold a Charity Moot in Magee\\\'s Lounge Crossgar on Friday 23rd October also sale of pigeons from leading National and Sprint fanciers. Panel to include Malachy Maguire, Trevor Griffith, Sid Collins and Roy Irwin, the Chairman will be Wesley Sawyers. Sale of birds will include J & V Abernethy, Robert Kirkwood, Mc Cartan & Woodsides ,Collins & Douglas. Alex Crawford, D Croskery&Son, K & B McConaghie & Son, P & J Martin& Tabb, R Moore& Son, Plunkett Pollock & Nelson, J & J Hollinger, R Irwin, Michael Strain, Malachy Maguire & Son, Gerry Hawthorne, Gerald Delaney, C & D Smyth & Sons , McGimpsey Bro\\\'s, L Magee & Son, F Simpson, Jim Braniff, Gordon Bros & Sons, B.C.T Foulis & Gill, Bingham & Seaton, Harper & Young, I Gibb & Sons, Cowan & McCartney ,J & E Shannon ISR Fed etc. Admission is £5, Light Supper will be served and all proceeds to Prostate Cancer Research at Belfast City Hospital.
For Sale – Unikon ETS System complete with Loft Clock, Pocket Clock, 2 Field Pads, 3 Cables and approx. 40 rings. Looking £400, Tel: 07803 705814.
Larne & District will hold a Pigeon Moot on Friday 23rd October in ther local clubrooms at Old Glenarm Road, Larne. Top guest for the event is Willem de Bruijn and entrance is by ticket only £7 (inc supper). MC for the evening will be Chris Moore from Ballymena, there will also be an auction of a select draft of birds kindly gifted to the club plus one from Willem de Bruijn himself. For more details contact Rab Mills Tel: 07763 532325 or Larne & Dist Chairman Mark McCormick Tel: 07540 187478.
The Kells & Dist annual Social Evening this year will take place on Thursday 29th Oct 2015 again in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim. There will be a Charity Sale of 2016 yb’s this year in aid of \\\"Chest, Heart & Stroke\\\", while the rest of the evening incl interview/panel is to be arranged, Top ybs already promised, Syd Collins again as MC, no entry fee, but as usual hot buffet at £10 and tea/coffee/scone, etc at £5 for those who don\\\'t want a big meal. Raffle as usual, final details to follow. Further to details below, line-up at Kells now finalised – (1) Interview with 2015 INFC Champions- Collins & Douglas, (2) Talk by Gerald Delaney on the famous Willy Jacobs strain, (3) Interview with Harry McCloy- messrs Reid Bros & McCloy, (4) Charity Auction approx 15 x 2016 yb’s bred from some top class fanciers/birds. Included Alan Darragh, Mr & Mrs B McNeilly, Bertie Blair, Terrence McCrudden, Leonard McCaw, Paddy McManus & Son, A & N Lewis, Willie McCaw, Surgenor Bros, Thompson Bros, James Walker, Brian Swann & Son, John McConnaghy, Mr & Mrs D Suitters, J Millar & Son, T Shanks & Son. All 2016 ybs, some very good lines, especially good old long distance breeding, for a very worthy cause.
P & J Boal Make ‘Light’ work of a ‘Perfect’ Season !!
To win the Mighty NIPA Open is a life long ambition for the vast amount of fanciers who race each week in the 8 strong Sections that make up the great organisation that it is. Averaging over 20,000 plus pigeons many a week sent by some 900 competing lofts. For many winning the Club let alone the Section or Open is simply an amazing feeling and something of a buzz.
I recently made a return journey to the lofts of Philip and Joe Boal of Dromore, N.Ireland, just a short junt down the road from the City of Lisburn for my good-self. With my employment finishing with the plane maker Bombardier I have a bit of time on my hands, and it wasn’t long before my father had a visit or two lined up for me. Looking back to my previous report on the Boal Bros in the early part of 2012, which to me seems like yesterday especially considering the newly built family home and loft that Philip had constructed just looks as fresh as it was then, the lawns surrounding the property have matured and going by the performances put up in the last couple of seasons so have the racing teams not of course they have had to up there gear much.
Philip a construction manager flies in partnership with his brother Joe a self employed electrician, sadly Joe suffers from advanced pigeon lung and can not enter the lofts at all, but never misses a race day, nor involvement in the day to day running of the loft and the purchasing of new stock, a point that Philip has mentioned on a number of occasions over the years is how much he appreciates his brothers support.
The partnership have been members of the Dromore HPS since 1988 but have been in and around pigeons in some form since childhood. Racing within Section D of the mighty NIPA each week can see them compete against up to 800 pigeons at Club level with upwards of 3,500 pigeons at Section Level looking always to score at NIPA Open level with upwards of 28,000 pigeons competing. Stiff and very much tough competition in achieving success at any level never mind all three as mentioned above. Since commencing racing with the Dromore HPS the Brothers have achieved phenomenal success scoring in the region of 200 x 1st Clubs and no less than 47 x 1st NIPA SECTION D Diplomas and 6 x 1st Open NIPA (Incredible racing competing against some of the best fanciers within Northern Ireland in Section D of the NIPA). The above stats are mainly down to the family of Wily Van Hercks, such is the standing of the Van Hercks Wily himself now gets Philip and Joe to breed pigeons to be brought back to Belgium, that in itself tells you something.
Now before I commence on the ins and outs I must compliment Philip on that last loft report given, when you receive email after email and indeed emails from various sites and influential figures looking for permission to print the article, firstly I’ve done my job but more so the interviewee he has done his, at the end of the day I can only write what the fancier is prepared to disclose. Philip was to be honest a no holes barred event.
I started by checking the stats of the loft, constructed of wood with a pan tiled roof, in total the loft measures 64ft in length by 10ft wide of this 2 ft is a corridor, state of the art ets traps fitted along the front with aviaries for both Y/Birds and Stock Pigeons, the lay out of the loft is 8 x 8ft Sections as follows 2 x Y/Birds, 2 x Stock, 2 x Widowhood Cocks, 1 x Store and 1 x Widowhood Hens. Polycarbonate tiles are installed along the complete frontage of the roof to allow maximum sun light. Grilled floors throughout including walkway. Purpose built widowhood boxes, including custom made perches are fitted through the complete loft and as you would imagine finished to the highest specification, just this year also the automatic blinds have been installed for the youngsters.
From my last report back in 2012, Philip has for varying reasons adjusted his Old Bird Racing regime a true sign of a good competitive fancier. He now races a system based somewhat on jealousy, but at the same time, both cocks and hens are raced. In total 30 Cocks and 40 Hens, so not complete jealousy if you see what I mean the extra hens are thrown into the mix to spice certain circumstances up. As many successful fanciers tell you, the start of the new seasons starts the day after the final race, successful pigeon racing is a 365 days a year. Simple take no short cuts. As Philip admits the level of competition now is probably far greater than it has ever been. You just have to look at where the NIPA Opens are being won, all over the country, which in all is a good thing for pigeon racing. But the calibre of fancier has improved, again the internet has helped immensely with much more conversation between fanciers in different areas of the country. Years gone by this certainly wasn’t the case. Perhaps the only time when fanciers got a chance to catch up was during the National Ring Marking events or the major Annual Dinner events.
Getting back to the O/Bird Racing of Philip and Joe. Following the final race decisions will be made during the next fortnight or so, what has made it to the Widowhood loft for the following year and what is leaving the Widowhood Loft, I will say that anything normally leaving the Widowhood Loft is retired to stock, such is the standard. Having been a friend of Philip Boal now for more than 10 years, I can confirm he is a no nonsense operator. Its a Simple choice for the pigeons !! His control of them is very evident when in the lofts, especially handling the widowhood cocks Philip slowly reaches up and lifts them from the edge of there box, no wild flying about.
Getting pigeons at the end of a season through a successful moult is one of the biggest objectives of the year for Philip and as he put it “will ensure a good start to the eminent breeding season and subsequent O/Bird racing season“. Vanrobaeys is the preferred choice for Philip the best of the Moulting mixture, for around three to four weeks. On top of this a product Philip has never been without in all the years have known him Pigeon Tea, they will have this every day in the water. On top of this twice a week they will avail of a couple of different Oils over the corn twice a week, topped up with at least a couple of baths. I will point out at this stage Philip is totally Vanrobaeys for feeding and the vast amount of products come from Backs, with a mention for our local producer Frazers also Robert Kirkwood.
In the off season particularly in the build up to pairing, all the pigeons are treated for simply everything Paratyphoid, Salmonella, E.Coli, Canker, Respiratory and what I might add at this point, the pigeons are blind treated, Philip acknowledges that with a good knowledge of pigeons, testing isn’t required for the day to day running of a successful loft, keep your loft dry is the top rule. They will receive periodic treatments during the course of the racing season and as mentioned prior to pairing up they will be retreated for everything over the course of a number of weeks. Something I will point out Philip was very adamant in mentioning that he boils all water before the pigeons have it, without doubt over recent years he has researched enough to come to the conclusion, that adding medicines to ordinary tap water is actually diminishing the strength and in some cases actually making the treatment worthless, also the removal of all grit and pick stones during periods of medication.
Breeding, probably the most important part of the year for most successful fanciers, where the potential Champions are produced !! Pigeons will be paired up on Xmas Eve, the complete loft. Widowhood Cocks will be paired to there respective flying hen, Philip slips the Stock Eggs to the Widowhood Cocks, unless its an exceptional race pairing that he wishes to try the youngsters. Now all the hens will be removed from the Widowhood Cocks when the eldest youngster in the loft is 12 days old, he says sometimes that my leave Cocks to rear in certain circumstances a youngster on its own from 5 days old pending on particular hatching times. But this to date has never proved a problem with all Widowhood cocks fulfilling there duty. Once the 21days are up nest bowls are out for the Widowers and the implementation of discipline will be applied throughout the Widowhood Sections this can be at times very demanding especially with new yearling cocks added to the existing Widowhood team. A calm Widowhood loft has always been a must for Philip, and one that he endeavours to achieve each year. With regards breeding Philip tries to mate large to small and never 2 eyes the same. Obviously this is working along with another few factors especially not racing the youngsters on Darkness.
The training of the O/Birds at the start of each season will see them firstly exercise around the lofts twice per day, the cocks that is, hens only train around the house once per day in the evening, 45 mins they will get as do the cocks each time, still Philip says if still very cold in the morning at the start of the training season, he will keep pigeons in the loft, they will continue to fly around the house until Philip sees that they are ready for the road. Simply he says they will let you know when they are fit and attacking the skies around the loft, during this time the O/Bird racing team will be on a treatment of Magnesin for the muscular aspect of the racers. Once ready for tossing the cocks as they get every year will have 5 to 6 x tosses by Car prior to the first race with the exception of 1 which will be by transporter. These will consist of a couple of times from 12 miles, followed by 2 tosses from 25 miles and the final two from 50 miles. The three training locations are the same each year with the exception of the transporter, this to make them figure something different out and to welcome them back to a mass liberation of sorts rather than all heading to the one location. The pigeons are cleaned daily from top to bottom with grilled floors the preferred choice, just something through observations are that Philip thinks that the pigeons are more satisfied on a solid floor within the nest box rather than a grilled one, similar to us in a way standing on a solid foundation or grilled floor all day. As Philip says when you have hand made nest boxes with a grilled floor, finished at the frontage with a solid board, where will the pigeons be resting at night when closing up the lofts and first thing in the morning, on the solid board!!
The O/Birds will be vaccinated prior to racing commencing, this has took place at the same time each year and has proved to give them a lift for the first race. They will also be on a three week cycle of medication covering Canker and Respiratory treatments include Flagyl Tablet for the Canker and Soludox by Dechra 50% is the preferred choice for Respiratory.
Now for a day to day perspective of the O/Bird system. Firstly feeding has slightly changed in that full corn is now given daily and this contains a mixture of Vanrobaeys No12 and Bordeaux (an even split) 1 and ½ ounce per pigeon daily in the Hopper day and night with a ½ ounce in the morning with the remainder at night. Sunday Morning in all normal circumstances the morning after the race day, the pigeons will only have a ¼ of an ounce, this to bring a level of control back to them, the corn will have a sprinkling of brewers yeast over it, in the water they will have Glut-Amin. Sunday evening they are both out, on returning to the loft, they will have there normal 1 ounce of corn with Race 2010 over it again assisted with Oil this being either for Philip Adherb of Hemp. When racing has commenced they will always receive a treatment in the water on a Sunday evening for Salmonella.
Monday morning and the start of a working week for Philip, being a Manager in the building game, this sees him set of early in the morning, the Cocks will be out at day break again 45 mins, this gives Philip a chance to do a bit of cleaning etc of the boxes and replenish the drinkers etc. Pigeon Tea will be added to the water both morning and night on Monday. The ½ Ounce corn in the morning will have Race 2010 on top. In the evening on his return from work, pigeons it is first and always first, Philip says he hasn’t the luxury of having help
around the loft on a daily basis. So to get the best from the pigeons you must give your 100% when available. Both Cocks and hens will be out at separate times of course each enjoying 45 mins, Philip says he expects to see them return to skies over looking the lofts from time to time, I have to say it is common knowledge in the area that many fanciers have acknowledged that they have seldom seen pigeons attack the skies like the pigeons of P & J Boal when out exercising. Tuesday morning and evening they will have Gem Tonic in the water, over the Corn they will enjoy TS6 Plus. Wednesday they will have B12 in the water, the corn in the Morning will have Omega Plus Oil sprinkled with Herbots Optimix again Cocks will be out for the 45 mins. On Wednesday evening Water remains the same with the B12 and on the corn we have Omega Plus oil with this time Energy Powder, notably there will be a slight increase of Fatty Seeds added to the evening mix when once again the racers are permitted back into the loft both cocks and hens. Thursday once again B12 in the water, on the corn in the morning following exercise we have Omega Plus oil and Becks Energy Powder, same in the evening only notably there corn rations are reduced by 50%. After an hour Philip returns to the loft, firstly the water will be changed to include Mumm with Glut Amin. He will then by hand begin to feed them as much Vanrobaey Energy Plus as they want. Friday Morning racers remain in the loft, in the water once again Mumm and Glut Amin, feeding wise ½ ounce of Vanrobaeys Energy. They will also have the option of a bath in there respective aviaries, something new in 2015. When Philip returns home from work and prior to basketing Philip will again by hand feed them energy in the corridor when the first ones return to there section feeding stops. Saturday and Race Day, on there return home in the water they have Glut Amin feed wise they will have a light feed of Energy which will have Zell Oxygen and Optimix on it. When all home then Vanrobaey Widowhood with Electrolytes on it this being a horse product with very little needed. Philip sometimes does question his every move including whether he really need to be using electrolytes and he openly admit’s the leading pigeons don’t need it as they are buzzing so are you only really trying to lift the late pigeons up a bit who have maybe made a mistake and took the wrong line etc or simply not on par with the leaders ?? This element of feeding is then removed when home from the Club and they will then receive a light feed of Widowhood Mix in the evening prior to lock up. I went on to ask Philip the process of cocks seeing hens etc, he went on to say that the first two races this year he let the hens wonder down the corridor to the Widowhood cocks Sections with the frontage all doweled they simple seen each other he allowed this for approximately 5 mins then they where lifted. Third week let them in together prior to basketing and lifted them immediately. This was the process for a few weeks then for a change Cocks went down to corridor to the hens Section just to mix it up a bit. On return from racing they are kept together until all home then separated. Early races this can be anything from 15 mins, 30 mins or an hour pending in the racing conditions. As the distance increases and longer flying the time together on return also increases perhaps to the point on the Penzance Bude events they get to stay together until the Sunday Morning. Just to add P & J Boal don’t bother with the French events so the aforementioned would be the furthest distance that the pigeons fly.
Y/Bird racing is considered a time of education by the Boal team, with very little emphasis put on achieving big performances in the result sheet, hence the complete team remaining on the Natural system, Philip does concede that you must now race Darkness for their to be any chance of Y/Bird success/dominance although he would be of the opinion that Natural babies do turn out to be better yearlings, if time were permitted between work he would rear to different teams for both systems but sadly work comes first and as many will concede O/Bird dominance is a far greater journey than that of youngsters. Around 100 youngsters will be reared by the lofts and they will be put on Vanrobeys breeding mix for the first 12 - 14 weeks of their lives. They will then receive the same standard of feeding as the old birds there after.
Training of the youngsters can be a testing time as many will know and if patience where to be sold in Jar’s it would be a Sell Out. Philip has to be happy with their effort around home before they are summoned to the Basket, all tossing is carried out by Philip himself for the majority of the time, the only time they will see other youngsters is perhaps one toss prior to racing when they will be tested when mixed with other youngsters. Training will be carried out at the exact same three points as the widowhood racers 12, 25 and 50 mile locations. Firstly they will have 10 tosses from the 12 mile point followed by as many as necessary from the 25 mile location when they have homed back to the lofts on a number of consecutive occasions before Philip he will then move them to 40 miles where they will have around four of these with the last two being when the youngsters will be tested in batches of 10 at a time. Simply drumming the education into them rather than follow the leader. Philip will then bring them back to 25 x miles and keep them their releasing them at no more than 4 at a time, this will continue daily until the aforementioned one big toss prior to the first race, when racing has commenced they will remain at the 25 mile release point daily only they will be released in two’s at a time, very time consuming but as Phil says that system sorts them out and ultimately reduces the work load as weeks go on and of course the corn bill. After two weeks of this they will only be trained around the lofts morning and night. Racing is done via the sliding door and they will be separated.
Vaccinating of the youngsters will occur when they leave the nest as Philip says a Y/Bird’s immunity is established within the first 28-30 days of hatching. They will also receive a second dose prior to racing. Y/Birds will also receive a 24 hour treatment for Salmonella in the water every fortnight right through the Y/Bird campaign, he considers this the only way to keep them right. They will also be treated for Respiratory once before racing and once during mid season. No treatment was administered for Canker in the Y/Birds during 2015 as Philip says it wasn’t required. The weather for every fancier was shocking in 2015 around the Y/Bird campaign with June a complete wash out, Philip did manage to get the youngsters into a few races, rearing around 100 he got 96 to the training stage and following a hard training programme and a few races behind them he has 70 + remaining, no doubt this will make for a difficult selection process for those Widowhood Boxes.
Philip & Joe have had like many fanciers around the country many up’s with many more down’s, I personally was present at the lofts on a number of Saturdays watching the Boal pigeons return and can assure the fancy that 1st Open’s where lost due to bad trapping. So on asking Philip what the highlight of his career was to date back in 2012 when I last complied a loft report he was quick to answer winning the Tony Cornwall RPRA Trophy with ‘Baard’ awarded to the National UK Any Distance Champion, a top honour to win. Since then he has had many multiple winning pigeons including “Bijou”, “Miss Bombay” to pick from but then add into the mix “Perfect Light” for 2015 a Blue Hen, 2013 bred and as a yearling winner of 1st Club, 2nd Section D 2,960 pigeons finishing 9th Open NIPA against 24,161 pigeons also 28th Open NIPA against 23,316 pigeons, then what has inevitably led me to this years report, in 2015 1st Club, 1st Section 3,300 pigeons and 1st Open NIPA 26,400 pigeons then 1st Club, 1st Section 1,437 pigeons and 1st Open NIPA again against 11,234 pigeons. Not to many double NIPA Open Winners about with performances like that, now just to look at the pigeons achievements a bit further. The first of the NIPA Opens was won from Corrin in a westerly wind recording velocity 1753ypm I might also add that P & J Boal where 2nd Open also, even though it was a very even race for the mighty NIPA with 5 x 1st Section winners in
the first 28 of the NIPA Open. The next time was from Roscarbery with a light North West wind “Perfect Light” recorded a velocity of 1439ypm totally different day and again you had 4 x 1st Section Winners in the top 7 of the Open result, so once again a very open race. You would have to say an incredible pigeon winning in 2 different racing days and twice 1st Open NIPA. She has won the Boal loft yet another RPRA Award with the 0-250 Mileage Award at the Irish Region Level just last week and will go forward now to England where with some luck will progress further. As for the breeding of this latest super star “Perfect Light” once again pure Wily Van Herck. Sire being the infamous “Young Bobby” Sire of multiple winners over the years including RPRA and Section Winners adding to that Open Prize Winners. Dam being a direct daughter of the Ace pairing “Kleine 96” when paired to “Karelske” a winner himself 9 times in Belgium before coming to the Boal lofts. Between them they are responsible for 12 x 1st NIPA Section Winners, RPRA Award Winners and NIPA Open Winners.
This leads me onto the current Stock info for the lofts of Philip and Joe Boal. The basis of the family since 2001 has been the Wily Van Hercks, currently at stock a total of 18 pair, these over the years are responsible for 47 x 1st Section wins and 6 x 1st Open successes, the 18 pair are made up from the principle breeders, the big winners including Brothers and sisters also 7 x RPRA Award winners winning a combined 12 medals between them. Philip is certainly hoping that putting his faith in the family of Danny Van Dyck, that he has found a family that can evolve around his success story to date. In total Philip and Joe have brought in around 80 direct from the lofts of Danny Van Dyck, these include no less than 12 direct from the famous ’Kannon’ and 9 direct from the “Den 11” including no less than 10 Brothers and Sisters of the “Kannon”. Philip had a number in the Y/Bird team this year and checking weekly they are scoring in par with the Van Hercks and he is without doubt looking forward to next year and subsequent ones with interest.
I will finish by thanking Philip once again for an excellent report and congratulate both him and Joe on an incredible year with yet another Super Star produced, wishing them continued success in the seasons top come.
I will pen off by listing the results achieved by the O/Bird Team in 2015 :- Tullamore (1) 1st, 6th, 7th and 9th Club 331 Birds finishing 1st, 10th, 11th and 16th Section 2,342 pigeons; Tullamore (2) 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th and 11th Club 711 pigeons finishing 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 14th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 30th, 34th, 35th and 36th Section 2,890 pigeons and 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 15th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 33rd, 37th, 38th, 40th, 54th, 55th, 58th Open with 23,316 pigeons competing; Roscrea (1) 5th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 14th and 15th Club 620 pigeons competing, finishing 6th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th, 32nd, 35th, 38th, 39th, 48th, 49th, 50th Section 3,268 pigeons and in the Open 16th, 32nd, 36th, 39th, 48th, 59th, 98th, 104th, 120th, 122nd, 161st and 165th with 26,041 pigeons competing; Fermoy 1st, 2nd and 7th Club 587 pigeons, in the Section 1st, 2nd, 8th, 19th, 25th, 28th, 37th and 61st against 3,300 pigeons and the Open finished 1st, 2nd, 12th, 54th, 66th, 70th and 97th with 26,400 pigeons competing; Pilmore Beach 1st, 3rd, 7th, 11th and 12th against 519 pigeons in the Section D result the loft finished 1st, 3rd, 17th, 25th, 32nd, 49th, 56th, 58th, 60th, 80th, 89th, 90th and 98th against 3,064 pigeons and in the NIPA Open against 20,342 pigeons 1st, 6th, 38th, 55th, 79th, 140th, 155th, 157th, 161st; Roscarbery National 3rd and 9th Club, 3rd and 20th Section and 5th, 54th, 76th, 81st and 88th National against 6,387 pigeons; Roscrea (2) 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Club 306 pigeons, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 29th Section 1,365 pigeons and 68th, 72nd, 77th, 111th, 112th, 119th, 125th against 13,157 pigeons; Skibbereen National 2nd, 4th and 7th Club finishing 13th, 26th and 62nd against 3,565 pigeons; Talbenny 4th and 10th Club 290 pigeons finishing 9th Section against 1,608 pigeons and 241st Open with 14,363 pigeons competing; Roscarbery 1st, 2nd, 7th, 14th and 16th Club with 295 pigeons competing finishing 1st, 6th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 24th, 25th, 36th, 37th, 42nd, 48th, 49th and 50th against 1,437 pigeons and in the Open 1st, 13th, 21st, 47th, 49th, 55th, 57th, 63rd, 70th, 97th, 101st, 110th, 134th, 136th and 139th against 11,234 pigeons; Yearling Cocks National 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 3rd Section and 5th and 8th Open 1,784 pigeons; Yearling Hens National 3rd and 4th Club, 4th and 11th Section and 17th and 25th Open 1,558 pigeons competing; Fermoy 3rd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th Club, 8th and 16th Section and 11th and 38th Open Fermoy 5 Bird Championship with 1,883 pigeons competing; Roscrea 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 16th, 17th and 18th Section finishing 4th, 8th and 20th Open 3,187 pigeons competing.
Photo Captions
Philip Boal from Dromore HPS with the new loft set-up at the back.
Philip Boal (l) with Danny Van Dyck on one of his many trips to Belgium.
\"Perfect Light\"
\"Blue Energy\"
\"Filip\"