Quimper Friendship National Liberation
Posted on July 10, 2015
Update Friday 10th July 2015 @ 06:20
Quimper Friendship National Sponsored by H. Beattie and Son. 288 members have entered 1170 pigeons in the race and are competing for £7193.00 pools and prizemoney. The pigeons have been released at 06:00 into a light south easterly wind which will turn southerly on route.
I wish you all a successful race. Out next update will be this evening.
Update Monday 6th July 2015 @ 18:30.
Friendship National Quimper.
Race marking will take place on Tuesday 7th July 2015, times as printed in the race entry form booklet.
Friendship National Update Friday
Posted on July 10, 2015
Update Friday 10th July 2015 @ 20:45
Quimper Friendship National
Provisional top ten subject to change.
1 Malachy Maguire & Son Millvale 1796.7, 2 B Cahill Skerries 1796.0, 3 G & C Topley Laurelvale 1794, 4 V Thom Cookstown 1774, 5 K Carolan Coalisland 1770, 6 Russell Bros Cullybackey 1758, 7 Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1742, 8 B Cahill Skerries 1736, 9 Speirs & Campbell Cookstown 1724, 10 J Greenaway Bondhill 1712.
117 open prizes in the race and on checking the centres at 19:00 this evening 208 pigeons have been recorded.
Fast Friendship National -
Just had a little note from Eamon Quigley who races his birds with Amelia Earhart in Londonderry, previously Rock FC. This is something that will take some beating .
“Thanks for letting me compile this report on my performances this year from the three French race points. What happened over the last 14 days is hard to believe. To time on the day of liberation in all three races from France into the north west of Ireland was a dream come true especially as each of these races meant over a 500 mile flight.
The first race was 507 miles from St Malo and my Chequered cock was 1st Club and 3rd Section (H). The second race, just a week later, this was the Kings Cup from St Allouestre, 534 miles to my loft. I timed my two year old Chequered hen having flown for 15 hours 34 minutes. Liberation, in the third race, from Quimper meant another 507 mile flight as part of the Friendship National. I timed my Blue Pied hen on the day to complete my hat trick of day birds and make history into the extreme North West. All three birds were the furthest flying birds timed on the day following liberation in France.
I had a second bird in the Kings Cup the next morning day. All these birds are related, being children and grandchildren of my No. 1 hen - a gifted young bird from T & P Cassidy\\\'s 2 times France hen called “Madam Butterfly”, bred in 2006. This bird, from a Kenyon and Logan line, has bred multiple French winners for me. I hope that this covers everything”. What more can be added to that? Well done Eamon they will talk about this for years to come.
Muckamore Centre Quimper – V Thom Cookstown 1774, K Carolan Coalisland 1770, Russell Bros Cullybackey 1758, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1742, Speirs & Campbell Cookstown 1724, A Thompson Ballyclare 1708, A & N Lewis Doagh & Dist 1705, J & S Graham Kingsmoss 1667, F Simpson Doagh & Dist 1589, D Dixon Ballymoney 1565, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 1560, C & L Woodside 1557, A Thompson 1557, G F Lindsay Crumlin & Dist 1550, G Marshall Cookstown 1534, G Marshall 1512, D Dixon 1512, A Thompson 1504, C & L Woodside 1501, Reid Bros & McCloy 1483.
Mid Antrim Combine Quimper - Russell Bros Cullybackey 1758, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1742, D Dixon Rasharkin 1565, D Dixon 1512, Reid Bros & McCloy 1483, A Darragh Cullybackey 1478, T Picken Cullybackey 1464, Reid Bros & McCloy 1464, A Darragh 1423, A Darragh 1361, A Darragh 1358.
Former NI Fanciers of the Year Russell Bros from Cullybackey had the best bird locally in the Friendship Nat from Quimper 485 miles, they record velocity 1758 almost a mile a minute to finish 1st in the MAC and 6th Open INFC. Next best from the same club was Reid Bros & McCloy doing velocity 1742 to finish 7th Open INFC followed by two birds for Danny Dixon. This Belgium Rung 4 year old Blue cock has won 4 races with other positions and is a great grasndson of the famous “Beer”. Previously it had 1st Coleraine Centre from Penzance winning 40th Open NIPA. The second bird was 2nd in Ballymoney and 43rd Open in the NIPA Penzance OB Classic. See photo of Danny and Loft Manager Danny Gordan.
North South Federation Quimper - Malachy Maguire & Son Millvale 1796, S & A Swindell Newry City 1556, Ronnie Williamson Newry & Dist 1534, Donnelly Bros Millvale 1516, A McAteer & Sons Ballyholland 1509, Donnelly Bros 1503, Ronnie Williamson 1458, Donnelly Bros 1456, Malachy Maguire & Son 1453, A McAteer & Sons 1446.
For most fanciers it is a lifetime achievement to win one of the big French races, but Malachy has now won the Friendship National 3 times with 3 hens! As a result they have decided to call their winning yearling hen \\\'Three Times a Lady\\\'. Three Times a Lady is a double granddaughter of Champion Home Alone, the only bird on the day from the NIPA OB National from Fougeres. Home Alone was not only a champion racer but has bred many winners including Moonlight Lass which won the Kings Cup Challenge and No Problem which won at least 11 x 1st prizes. Looks like his winning genes are still producing fantastic pigeons for Malachy and Mark!
Many congratulations to Malachy Maguire & Son from Newry who have won the INFC Friendship on 3 occasions in the last 7 seasons. 2009 1st Open Picauville vel 911, 2013 1st Open Quimper vel 1203, 2015 1st Open Quimper vel 1796.
Club Results Quimper –
Millvale – Mal Maguire & Son 1796, Donnelly Bros 1516, 1503, 1456, Mal Maguire & Son 1453, Donnelly Bros 1444.
Skerries 7/32 – B Cahill 1796, 1736, P Rock & Son 1636, 1357, A Kelly 1092, 1054, N & C Shields 872, P Rock & Son 858, Walton Family 794, P Rock & Son 783. Well done Brendan only pipped for 1st National. Wins the INFC 2 Bird Average Henry Beatie & Son Cup, John Millar Cup, and British Barcelona Cup.
Laurelvale – G & C Topley 1794, J Dowey & Sons 1566.
Cookstown Social – V Thom 1774, Speirs & Campbell 1724, G Marshall 1534, 1512.
Coalisland & District K Carolan 1770, B Morgan 1649.
Cullybackey HPS – Russell Bros 1758, Reid Bros & McCloy 1742, 1483, A Darragh 1478, T Picken & Son 1464, Reid Bros & McCloy 1464, A Darragh 1423, 1361, 1358.
Gilford & District – T Wilson 1727, E & P Cairns Bros & Fegan 1505, T McKinstry 1468, T Wilson 1441, C & H Beattie 1427.
Bondhill Social – J Greenaway 1712, Capper Bros 1564, J Greenaway 1543, R Williamson 1505, 1457, 1421, M Robinson 1389,
Ballyclare & District – A Thompson 1708, C & L Woodside 1560, 1557, A Thompson 1557, 1504, C & L Woodside 1501, 1483, 1455, 1449, R Duddy 1445, C & L Woodside 1444, M/M C Hayes 1412, 1363, 1301.
Malahide & District 5/20 – J Doheny 1706, G O’Reilly 1414.
Doagh & District – A & N Lewis 1705, F Simpson 1589, 1183.
Lisburn & District – G Benson 1699, M O’Reilly & Son 1395.
Dromara – N Black & Son 1667, H Silcock 1507, C & L Fryers 1496, N Black & Son 1489, 1476, H Silcock 1475, N Black & Son 1401.
Kingsmoss – J & S Graham 1667.
Annsborough – M Croskery & Son 1634, J McNally & Son 1609, J Cleland 1569, Gallagher Bros 1483, Pritchard Bros 1469.
Armagh HPS – P Tennyson 1634.
Monaghan – J Graham 1615, G Swift 1212, 890.
Loughgall – N Weir 1604, S Corrigan 1427, 1412.
Edgarstown – R Bell & Sons 1591, J Robinson 1554, P Dunlop 1546.
Ballymoney 6/16 – D Dixon 1565, 1512, W & L McCaw 1159, W McCaw 533.
Wilton Cross – G Douglas 1553.
Crumlin & District – G F Lindsay 1550.
Wheatfield – J & D Braniff 1547.
Annaghmore – T McClean 1547, G Buckley & Sons 1477, 1388.
Newry & District – R Williamson 1534, 1458, 1433.
Ballyholland – A McAteer & Sons 1509, 1446, C O’Hare & Son 1394, M McDonald.
Andersonstown – O & M Monaghan 1499.
Crossgar HPS – McCartan & Woodsides 1443, 1436.
Lurgan Social – Houston & McDonald 1436.
Beechpark Social – Dando & Bennett 1430, B Carson & Son 1409.
Dromore – J Kelly & Sons 1419.
Newtownbreda – T Marshall & Son 1407.
Grosvenor HPS – J Ramsey & Son 1403.
Fortfield – J Braniff 1389, 1389.
Dervock RPS 3/8 – W & L McCaw 1159, W McCaw 533.
Ballymena & District – Blair & Rankin, W & N Gilbert.
Photo Captions
Eamon Quigley from Amelia Earhart in Derry, set a France record.
Len Russell with grandson CCaelan 1st MAC from Quimper
Tommy Ford holding his champion hen “Katie” named after gran-daughter Katie seen here in photo.
Wesley Jackson had 1st Harryville in the Kings Cup.
Danny Dixon (r) with loft manager Danny Gordon.
Fleming Bros of Crumlin & Dist had the best local bird home in the Kings Cup.
Houston Bros from Randalstown had 1st MAC in the Kings Cup.
Noel Percy (l) and Sam Murphy from Randalstown, well placed in the Kings Cup.
Hugh Boyd from Randalstown had top results in both races from France.
Friendship Nat Quimper - Friday 10/07/15
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willie reynolds
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Friendship Nat Quimper - Friday 10/07/15
Last edited by willie reynolds on Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
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willie reynolds
- Posts: 6803
- Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:44 pm
Re: Friendship Nat Quimper - Friday 10/07/15
IRISH NATIONAL FLYING CLUB - FRIENDSHIP NATIONAL
The Irish National Flying Club Friendship National was flown from Quimper in France on Friday 10 July. The birds were liberated at 6.00am in a light south easterly wind which freshened on route. This was a completely different race to last year with the positions all taken by the late afternoon compared to last year when there were no birds on the day and only 11 birds in race time. The good returns we had from the first two French races helped the entry for this race which saw 288 members send 1,170, an increase on the 994 birds sent last year and on the previous year when the entry was 1108 birds. The birds were racing for £6,193 in pools and prizemoney with the Friendship National sponsored by H Beattie & Son.
1st North section, 1st Open Malachy Maguire & Son Millvale , Vel 1796.7; Flying 437 miles, winning £612 and the Friendship Cup
The winners of the Friendship National this year are Malachy Maguire & Son from the Millvale club in Newry. The partnership of Malachy and Mark need no introduction as they are household names having won this race twice before. They won only two years ago in 2013 and also won in 1997 when they were 1st and 2nd Open when they had two birds together. They are also former winners of the NIPA National from Fougeres when they had the only bird on the day, their now famous ‘Champion Home Alone’. So from winning on a very low velocity to winning here with one of the highest velocities recorded from a French race the Maguire loft is always well in contention, no matter the conditions.
Their winning pigeon here, a yearling hen has now been called ‘Three Times a Lady’ as it was their third win from this race and all with hens. This breeding of this one is almost identical to their 2013 winner. All three National winners are cousins and grandchildren of the loft’s champion racer/producer, ‘Champion Home Alone’, plus they all contain the bloodlines of the loft’s other top producer ‘Portavogie Lass’, (the only bird into Ireland in 1996 from Dinard for Palmer & Young, Portavogie). The breeding is Jan Arden based and contains Van der Wegan, Van Geels, and De Kuyper Van Geel. ‘Three Times a Lady’ had one young bird race last year but had the full inland programme this year plus Penzance. She has been a fancied pigeon for them all year and they had her in the DTW on three different races from which she wasn’t far away. She was sitting on her first ever young bird when sent to this race, in fact it was her very first sitting. Two days before basketing her cock was removed from the loft and she was left on her own with the youngster. Malachy explained to me that their system is neither really widowhood nor roundabout but more a ‘Separation’ system that suits the long hours they work.
Malachy Maguire & son Mark from Millvale, 1st Open INFC Friendship Nat.
1st South section, 2nd Open and 2nd South section, 8th Open B Cahill Skerries, Vel 1796.1 and 1736, Flying 388 miles, winning £496, the British Barcelona Club Trophy, the John Miller Logistics Cup and the Henry Beattie & Son Cup for best two bird average
2nd Open this year is Brendan Cahill from the Skerries club who will have a busy night at the Annual Prize Distribution having won three trophies in this race. Brendan lives in Donabate near former King’s Cup winners Art Kelly and Gerry O’Reilly so a real hotbed of distance racers. Brendan started racing pigeons in 1999 and has been racing ever since. Brendan’s first bird is a five-year-old blue cock sent sitting eggs 14 days. The sire is from Gerry O’Mara, Kildonagh in Dublin, while the dam is Lefebre Dhaenen from Lockie Brennan of Killyleagh stock. This cock was 2nd club, 40th East Coast Fed from Talbenny having previously won from the same racepoint. He has been in France three times now. The first time he was just outside race time in the King’s Cup in 2012, and then he was 6th club in 2013 but just out of the Open positions. He wasn’t sent in 2014 as Brendan thought he just wasn’t right and that might have been a lucky break the way that race turned out.
Brendan’s second pigeon is a four-year-old cheq pied cock sent on a big youngster with the hen just laying her second egg. This pigeon was Brendan’s entry in the Single Bird Challenge in the King’s Cup but he thought that he would be better for the Friendship National and held him for the extra week. He was 16th Open East Coast Fed from St Malo last year and was also 4th East Coast Fed from Owenahincha (178 miles) in the same year. The sire of this one is again from Gerry O’Mara while the dam is from Donnelly Bros, Newry. Both pigeons had two inland races plus Talbenny and Penzance before the National, and they were trained twice a week with Bernard Fitzsimmons to Arklow (35/40 miles). Feeding is Beattie’s Champion Supreme from PJ Corcoran, with Beyers Double U added now and again with Frazer’s Linseed and wheatgerm. Brendan asked me to pass on his congratulations to the Maguires on winning the National and his thanks to Bernard Fitzsimons for the training and to Art Kelly for all his help and advice and for bringing the birds to the Marking Station.
Brendan Cahill from the Skerries, 1st & 2nd South Sect and 2nd & 8th Open INFC
2nd North Section 3rd Open G & C Topley Laurelvale, Vel 1794, Flying 452 miles, winning £60
In 3rd Open we have the Laurelvale lofts of Geoff and Clive Topley. Geoff has been racing since 1978 and his son Clive has been helping out around the lofts since he was a child. This is another loft with an impressive record from the Friendship National having been 6th Open in 2008, 10th Open in 2006, 16th Open 2007 and 21st Open in 2012. The pigeon timed is a yearling cock sent on the roundabout. As a young bird he had five races, while this year he has had four inland races, Bude and Penzance before the Friendship race. He had a good race out of Penzance when he was 1st club, 16th section E, 83rd Open NIPA. His sire was 21st Open in this race in 2012 and is a John McMullan red from Cyril Hughes through Ken Halliday. The grand dam on this side was a Dark chequer from Cyril Hughes and was from a McMullan black when paired to a Cyril Beattie hen. The dam of the bird at 3rd Open here is off a son of Henry Beattie’s Silver Award hen when paired to a Geoff and Catherine Cooper Deweerdt. The yearling cock had four tosses before racing this year and has had no training since the first race with the birds flown at home morning and evening. He was paired to the hen that was 2nd Open Bude with the NIPA this year. She became broody approaching this race and was looking at a different cock. 5 minutes prior to basketing the birds, Geoff let the other cock into the hen and she took him up to the nest. The cock going to the race was then let into the corridor but no further, but was suitably motivated by this. Feeding is from C & H Beattie.
Geoff Topley of G & C Topley, Laurelvale 3rd Open INFC
3rd North section, 4th Open Friendship National V Thom Cookstown, Vel 1774, flying 472 miles, winning £569
The Cookstown lofts of Vernon Thom are 3rd North section, 4th Open. Vernon had a great race from the Penzance Young Bird National last year when he was 3rd North section, 5th Open and had four other birds in the result taking 30th, 74th, 135th, and 138th Open. The bird timed here wasn’t one of them as he wasn’t even trained last year. A black cock bred in August last year he wasn’t trained until this year when he had two training tosses most weeks from Newry (35 miles). He was given three inland races and was Vernon’s first pigeon out of the 2nd Roscarberry. He was then sent to Talbenny and Penzance and again was first pigeon to the loft from Penzance. He was sent to this race sitting eggs three or four days. Vernon got a pair of pigeons from Willie Neill Annaghmore and when these turned out to be two cocks Willie then give him to hens to go with them, and it was from one of these pairs that this pigeon was bred. Feeding is Beattie’s Racing Surpreme and that is all they get during the racing season.
Vernon Thom from Cookstown, 4th Open INFC
4th North section, 5th Open K Carolan Coalisland, Vel 1770, Flying 465 miles, winning £60
Kevin Carolan Coalisland is 4th North section, 5th Open here and Kevin is another with a proven record from the French races. He has won from St Malo twice with the NIPA in 2006 and 2009 and was 2nd Open in the Friendship National in 2005. In 2013 Kevin timed two birds from the Friendship at 7.13pm and 7.29pm to take 6th and 7th Open to win the Henry Beattie & Son Trophy. The pigeon timed here is a yearling hen sent feeding a two-day-old youngster. She was raced natural as a young bird and had two races from Tullamore and Roscrea. This year she had three inland races, then Talbenny and her last race before the Friendship was from Roscarberry. The birds are flown at home with an occasional midweek toss to Ardee (50 miles). The breeding is pure Harthog. The sire is a son of the pigeon that was 2nd Open Friendship National from Picauville flying 13 hours on the wing while the dam is out of Henry McLaughlin’s top breeding pigeon ‘66’ when paired to ‘The Swansea Hen’, 2nd Open NIPA YB Derby from Swansea. The pigeon known as ‘66’ had ten x 1st clubs and three x 1st sections before being put to stock. Feeding is Henry McLaughlin’s 4 seasons mix with 1/5 beans added when racing.
Kevin Carolan from Coalisland, 5th Open INFC
5th North section, 6th Open Russell Bros Cullybackey, Vel 1758; Flying 485 miles, winning £249
We go to the Cullybackey club for our 6th Open bird to the lofts of Len and John Russell racing as Russell Bros. The pigeon timed is a blue chequer yearling hen. As a young bird she had six races and was 9th club Roscrea and 9th club Talbenny. This year she had seven races and was 4th club Penzance. She was sent to this race sitting nine days on her first pair of eggs and was very keen. The sire was a gift from clubmate Jimmy Anderson out of his best distance pigeons while the dam is from Robin McIlvenna Kells. This hen is a Performance Busschaert from Louella and has bred several good prize winners for them. A half sister of the pigeon timed here was 1st club Talbenny Young Bird Derby last year. Len and John started the birds off on a semi roundabout system at the beginning of the year but paired them up for the channel. Old birds are fed on Beattie’s Champion Supreme throughout the season.
Len Russell of Russell Bros Cullybackey with grandson Caelen 6th Open INFC
6th North section, 7th Open Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey, Vel 1742, Flying 487 miles, winning £31
We stay in Cullybackey for the pigeon at 7th Open to the lofts of Reid Bros and Harry McCloy. In June when I was writing about the Yearling National I reported that Harry had just had his lofts broken into and had 50 of his best birds stolen. Still devastated by this blow Harry has done his best to continue and it’s good to see him back in the result here at 7th Open. While Reid Bros are now deceased Harry decided to retain the name of the partnership. The pigeon timed is a blue pied yearling hen from the original Reid stock. It is off a brother of the pigeon that won a Bronze Award with the NIPA for twice in the prizes from the Old Bird Derby (20th Open Portland 2013 and 16th Open St Malo in 2014). The yearling hen was bred in late July last year after the sire came home from St Malo. She wasn’t trained as a young bird but has had most inland races this tear, plus Talbenny and the Roscrea comeback race.
Harry McCloy of Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey, 7th Open INFC
7th North section, 9th Open T Wilson Gilford, Vel 1727, Flying 453 miles, winning £94
9th Open goes to another exceptional distance fancier, Tom Wilson of Gilford. In 2011 Tom won the French Diploma for best average Old Bird Derby and King’s Cup when he was 1st Open NIPA St Malo and 15th Open in the King’s Cup. He is also a former winner of the Young Bird National from Penzance with ‘The Bleary Flyer’, and followed that up with 2nd Open in the same race the following year, and also won the Old Hens National from Penzance. The pigeon timed here at 9th Open is a two-year-old hen sent sitting on newly hatched youngsters. Breeding is Van der Espt and she is a sister of the hen that was 15th Open King’s Cup in 2011. This year as Tom had been working the cocks hard the hens only got one race from Roscarberry but were well trained. The week prior to this race Tom was 51st Open in the King’s Cup. This has been a good end to a successful old bird season for Tom as one of his pigeons (a direct Willy Jacobs) recently won the RPRA One Loft Race for Roy Bothwell.
8th North section, 10th Open Speirs & Campbell Cookstown, Vel 1724, Flying 472 miles, winning £369
The well known lofts of Jim Speirs and Tommy Campbell are 8th North section, 10th Open, who are having a good year with the INFC having been 26th Open Yearling National. The pigeon timed here, now known as ‘Tom’s Pride’ is a yearling grizzle hen sent sitting 10 days on eggs. As a young bird she flew the full programme but this year her first race was Pilmore Beach, and she had only two other races before this race having been to Talbenny and Penzance. Throughout the season the birds were trained with Ronnie Williamson from Balbriggan (60/70 miles) every other day. On the dam’s side the grandsire is from Eddie Mcknight, Portadown and the grandsire from Henry Mairs of Scotland. On the sire’s side the grandsire was 57th Open King’s Cup and is from N Black & Son Dromara through Billy Davidson, Bleary, when paired to a Kenyon from Smyth Bros Ballymena. Feeding is Beatties - beans in the mornings and maize at night with geryplus added.
I would like to thank all who helped with photographs for this report. Thanks also to all who helped at the marking centre and the clock stations, and thanks again to H Beattie & Son for their sponsorship of this race.
Jim Speirs and Tommy Campbell of Cookstown, 10th Open INFC.
Brendan McLoughlin
INFC Press Officer
The Irish National Flying Club Friendship National was flown from Quimper in France on Friday 10 July. The birds were liberated at 6.00am in a light south easterly wind which freshened on route. This was a completely different race to last year with the positions all taken by the late afternoon compared to last year when there were no birds on the day and only 11 birds in race time. The good returns we had from the first two French races helped the entry for this race which saw 288 members send 1,170, an increase on the 994 birds sent last year and on the previous year when the entry was 1108 birds. The birds were racing for £6,193 in pools and prizemoney with the Friendship National sponsored by H Beattie & Son.
1st North section, 1st Open Malachy Maguire & Son Millvale , Vel 1796.7; Flying 437 miles, winning £612 and the Friendship Cup
The winners of the Friendship National this year are Malachy Maguire & Son from the Millvale club in Newry. The partnership of Malachy and Mark need no introduction as they are household names having won this race twice before. They won only two years ago in 2013 and also won in 1997 when they were 1st and 2nd Open when they had two birds together. They are also former winners of the NIPA National from Fougeres when they had the only bird on the day, their now famous ‘Champion Home Alone’. So from winning on a very low velocity to winning here with one of the highest velocities recorded from a French race the Maguire loft is always well in contention, no matter the conditions.
Their winning pigeon here, a yearling hen has now been called ‘Three Times a Lady’ as it was their third win from this race and all with hens. This breeding of this one is almost identical to their 2013 winner. All three National winners are cousins and grandchildren of the loft’s champion racer/producer, ‘Champion Home Alone’, plus they all contain the bloodlines of the loft’s other top producer ‘Portavogie Lass’, (the only bird into Ireland in 1996 from Dinard for Palmer & Young, Portavogie). The breeding is Jan Arden based and contains Van der Wegan, Van Geels, and De Kuyper Van Geel. ‘Three Times a Lady’ had one young bird race last year but had the full inland programme this year plus Penzance. She has been a fancied pigeon for them all year and they had her in the DTW on three different races from which she wasn’t far away. She was sitting on her first ever young bird when sent to this race, in fact it was her very first sitting. Two days before basketing her cock was removed from the loft and she was left on her own with the youngster. Malachy explained to me that their system is neither really widowhood nor roundabout but more a ‘Separation’ system that suits the long hours they work.
Malachy Maguire & son Mark from Millvale, 1st Open INFC Friendship Nat.
1st South section, 2nd Open and 2nd South section, 8th Open B Cahill Skerries, Vel 1796.1 and 1736, Flying 388 miles, winning £496, the British Barcelona Club Trophy, the John Miller Logistics Cup and the Henry Beattie & Son Cup for best two bird average
2nd Open this year is Brendan Cahill from the Skerries club who will have a busy night at the Annual Prize Distribution having won three trophies in this race. Brendan lives in Donabate near former King’s Cup winners Art Kelly and Gerry O’Reilly so a real hotbed of distance racers. Brendan started racing pigeons in 1999 and has been racing ever since. Brendan’s first bird is a five-year-old blue cock sent sitting eggs 14 days. The sire is from Gerry O’Mara, Kildonagh in Dublin, while the dam is Lefebre Dhaenen from Lockie Brennan of Killyleagh stock. This cock was 2nd club, 40th East Coast Fed from Talbenny having previously won from the same racepoint. He has been in France three times now. The first time he was just outside race time in the King’s Cup in 2012, and then he was 6th club in 2013 but just out of the Open positions. He wasn’t sent in 2014 as Brendan thought he just wasn’t right and that might have been a lucky break the way that race turned out.
Brendan’s second pigeon is a four-year-old cheq pied cock sent on a big youngster with the hen just laying her second egg. This pigeon was Brendan’s entry in the Single Bird Challenge in the King’s Cup but he thought that he would be better for the Friendship National and held him for the extra week. He was 16th Open East Coast Fed from St Malo last year and was also 4th East Coast Fed from Owenahincha (178 miles) in the same year. The sire of this one is again from Gerry O’Mara while the dam is from Donnelly Bros, Newry. Both pigeons had two inland races plus Talbenny and Penzance before the National, and they were trained twice a week with Bernard Fitzsimmons to Arklow (35/40 miles). Feeding is Beattie’s Champion Supreme from PJ Corcoran, with Beyers Double U added now and again with Frazer’s Linseed and wheatgerm. Brendan asked me to pass on his congratulations to the Maguires on winning the National and his thanks to Bernard Fitzsimons for the training and to Art Kelly for all his help and advice and for bringing the birds to the Marking Station.
Brendan Cahill from the Skerries, 1st & 2nd South Sect and 2nd & 8th Open INFC
2nd North Section 3rd Open G & C Topley Laurelvale, Vel 1794, Flying 452 miles, winning £60
In 3rd Open we have the Laurelvale lofts of Geoff and Clive Topley. Geoff has been racing since 1978 and his son Clive has been helping out around the lofts since he was a child. This is another loft with an impressive record from the Friendship National having been 6th Open in 2008, 10th Open in 2006, 16th Open 2007 and 21st Open in 2012. The pigeon timed is a yearling cock sent on the roundabout. As a young bird he had five races, while this year he has had four inland races, Bude and Penzance before the Friendship race. He had a good race out of Penzance when he was 1st club, 16th section E, 83rd Open NIPA. His sire was 21st Open in this race in 2012 and is a John McMullan red from Cyril Hughes through Ken Halliday. The grand dam on this side was a Dark chequer from Cyril Hughes and was from a McMullan black when paired to a Cyril Beattie hen. The dam of the bird at 3rd Open here is off a son of Henry Beattie’s Silver Award hen when paired to a Geoff and Catherine Cooper Deweerdt. The yearling cock had four tosses before racing this year and has had no training since the first race with the birds flown at home morning and evening. He was paired to the hen that was 2nd Open Bude with the NIPA this year. She became broody approaching this race and was looking at a different cock. 5 minutes prior to basketing the birds, Geoff let the other cock into the hen and she took him up to the nest. The cock going to the race was then let into the corridor but no further, but was suitably motivated by this. Feeding is from C & H Beattie.
Geoff Topley of G & C Topley, Laurelvale 3rd Open INFC
3rd North section, 4th Open Friendship National V Thom Cookstown, Vel 1774, flying 472 miles, winning £569
The Cookstown lofts of Vernon Thom are 3rd North section, 4th Open. Vernon had a great race from the Penzance Young Bird National last year when he was 3rd North section, 5th Open and had four other birds in the result taking 30th, 74th, 135th, and 138th Open. The bird timed here wasn’t one of them as he wasn’t even trained last year. A black cock bred in August last year he wasn’t trained until this year when he had two training tosses most weeks from Newry (35 miles). He was given three inland races and was Vernon’s first pigeon out of the 2nd Roscarberry. He was then sent to Talbenny and Penzance and again was first pigeon to the loft from Penzance. He was sent to this race sitting eggs three or four days. Vernon got a pair of pigeons from Willie Neill Annaghmore and when these turned out to be two cocks Willie then give him to hens to go with them, and it was from one of these pairs that this pigeon was bred. Feeding is Beattie’s Racing Surpreme and that is all they get during the racing season.
Vernon Thom from Cookstown, 4th Open INFC
4th North section, 5th Open K Carolan Coalisland, Vel 1770, Flying 465 miles, winning £60
Kevin Carolan Coalisland is 4th North section, 5th Open here and Kevin is another with a proven record from the French races. He has won from St Malo twice with the NIPA in 2006 and 2009 and was 2nd Open in the Friendship National in 2005. In 2013 Kevin timed two birds from the Friendship at 7.13pm and 7.29pm to take 6th and 7th Open to win the Henry Beattie & Son Trophy. The pigeon timed here is a yearling hen sent feeding a two-day-old youngster. She was raced natural as a young bird and had two races from Tullamore and Roscrea. This year she had three inland races, then Talbenny and her last race before the Friendship was from Roscarberry. The birds are flown at home with an occasional midweek toss to Ardee (50 miles). The breeding is pure Harthog. The sire is a son of the pigeon that was 2nd Open Friendship National from Picauville flying 13 hours on the wing while the dam is out of Henry McLaughlin’s top breeding pigeon ‘66’ when paired to ‘The Swansea Hen’, 2nd Open NIPA YB Derby from Swansea. The pigeon known as ‘66’ had ten x 1st clubs and three x 1st sections before being put to stock. Feeding is Henry McLaughlin’s 4 seasons mix with 1/5 beans added when racing.
Kevin Carolan from Coalisland, 5th Open INFC
5th North section, 6th Open Russell Bros Cullybackey, Vel 1758; Flying 485 miles, winning £249
We go to the Cullybackey club for our 6th Open bird to the lofts of Len and John Russell racing as Russell Bros. The pigeon timed is a blue chequer yearling hen. As a young bird she had six races and was 9th club Roscrea and 9th club Talbenny. This year she had seven races and was 4th club Penzance. She was sent to this race sitting nine days on her first pair of eggs and was very keen. The sire was a gift from clubmate Jimmy Anderson out of his best distance pigeons while the dam is from Robin McIlvenna Kells. This hen is a Performance Busschaert from Louella and has bred several good prize winners for them. A half sister of the pigeon timed here was 1st club Talbenny Young Bird Derby last year. Len and John started the birds off on a semi roundabout system at the beginning of the year but paired them up for the channel. Old birds are fed on Beattie’s Champion Supreme throughout the season.
Len Russell of Russell Bros Cullybackey with grandson Caelen 6th Open INFC
6th North section, 7th Open Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey, Vel 1742, Flying 487 miles, winning £31
We stay in Cullybackey for the pigeon at 7th Open to the lofts of Reid Bros and Harry McCloy. In June when I was writing about the Yearling National I reported that Harry had just had his lofts broken into and had 50 of his best birds stolen. Still devastated by this blow Harry has done his best to continue and it’s good to see him back in the result here at 7th Open. While Reid Bros are now deceased Harry decided to retain the name of the partnership. The pigeon timed is a blue pied yearling hen from the original Reid stock. It is off a brother of the pigeon that won a Bronze Award with the NIPA for twice in the prizes from the Old Bird Derby (20th Open Portland 2013 and 16th Open St Malo in 2014). The yearling hen was bred in late July last year after the sire came home from St Malo. She wasn’t trained as a young bird but has had most inland races this tear, plus Talbenny and the Roscrea comeback race.
Harry McCloy of Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey, 7th Open INFC
7th North section, 9th Open T Wilson Gilford, Vel 1727, Flying 453 miles, winning £94
9th Open goes to another exceptional distance fancier, Tom Wilson of Gilford. In 2011 Tom won the French Diploma for best average Old Bird Derby and King’s Cup when he was 1st Open NIPA St Malo and 15th Open in the King’s Cup. He is also a former winner of the Young Bird National from Penzance with ‘The Bleary Flyer’, and followed that up with 2nd Open in the same race the following year, and also won the Old Hens National from Penzance. The pigeon timed here at 9th Open is a two-year-old hen sent sitting on newly hatched youngsters. Breeding is Van der Espt and she is a sister of the hen that was 15th Open King’s Cup in 2011. This year as Tom had been working the cocks hard the hens only got one race from Roscarberry but were well trained. The week prior to this race Tom was 51st Open in the King’s Cup. This has been a good end to a successful old bird season for Tom as one of his pigeons (a direct Willy Jacobs) recently won the RPRA One Loft Race for Roy Bothwell.
8th North section, 10th Open Speirs & Campbell Cookstown, Vel 1724, Flying 472 miles, winning £369
The well known lofts of Jim Speirs and Tommy Campbell are 8th North section, 10th Open, who are having a good year with the INFC having been 26th Open Yearling National. The pigeon timed here, now known as ‘Tom’s Pride’ is a yearling grizzle hen sent sitting 10 days on eggs. As a young bird she flew the full programme but this year her first race was Pilmore Beach, and she had only two other races before this race having been to Talbenny and Penzance. Throughout the season the birds were trained with Ronnie Williamson from Balbriggan (60/70 miles) every other day. On the dam’s side the grandsire is from Eddie Mcknight, Portadown and the grandsire from Henry Mairs of Scotland. On the sire’s side the grandsire was 57th Open King’s Cup and is from N Black & Son Dromara through Billy Davidson, Bleary, when paired to a Kenyon from Smyth Bros Ballymena. Feeding is Beatties - beans in the mornings and maize at night with geryplus added.
I would like to thank all who helped with photographs for this report. Thanks also to all who helped at the marking centre and the clock stations, and thanks again to H Beattie & Son for their sponsorship of this race.
Jim Speirs and Tommy Campbell of Cookstown, 10th Open INFC.
Brendan McLoughlin
INFC Press Officer