David Smyth holding "Davids Myth" winner of 1st Ulster Federation Skibbereen O/Bird Classic 2009
Following a cancellation of the Skibbereen O/Bird Championship last week due to terrible weather conditions over a three day period the Belfast based Ulster Federation decided to hamper as normal for the re-arranged race. Saturday proved to be a sticky enough day with the race point in Skibbereen clearing of bad weather well on time the over-all situation in Ireland generally was taken some what longer to clear up and it was decided after 1.30pm that they would hold the pigeons over until Sunday which looked going by the weather reports as fantastic. When Sunday morning dawned that’s exactly how it was and the Federation wasted no time in liberating with the string cut and the convoy in the air at 7.30am in a light south westerly wind. Early indications are from the results that we have received is that it was generally a fast affair with a close finish and Dicky Smyth of the Shankill & District is the best velocity we have at hand. We caught up with Dickie and son Daivd and got some detail on the Classic winner named "David's Myth" he is of Kyndt-Van Wildermeesch breeding and is part of a team of 12 Naturals raced by the father and son team to their "Kwaliteit Lofts" which means quality in Belgium. Dickie and son David have had a super season to date and as he put it "we hold our again against the "Bingo Flyers" boys who win by numbers.
Ulster Federation Skibbereen Classic Club Results
Shankill & District HPS 19/370 – 1st D Smyth & Son 2012, 2nd D Balloch 1973, 3rd N Armstrong 1948, 4th Smyth & Townsley 1925, 5th Calderwood & Waite 1921, 6th D Smyth & Son 1915, 7th Smyth & Townsley 1913, 8th J Wallace & Son 1910, 9th Calderwood & Waite 1909, 10th Calderwood & Waite 1908. Well I did say it was coming consistency week in week out was the order of the day with the Smyth loft, I have been at Dickys house on a few occasions and have handled many of the pigeons, this doesn’t surprise me one bit and for sure more success will come especially with Dickys son now heavily involved with the pigeons learning from one of the leading pigeon men in the game. I can categorically say that not many fanciers could implement the Smyth’s system and win with it, but when you listen to Dickey explaining the reasoning behind such system you come to realize as with the results he could very well be RIGHT.
Wheatfield HPS – 1st J & D Braniff 2011, 2nd J & D Braniff 2010, 3rd J & D Braniff 2009, 4th J & D Braniff 2007, 5th J & D Braniff 2006, 6th J & D Braniff 1942, 7th J & D Braniff 1942, 8th J & D Braniff 1938. That’s what you call a card especially from Skibbereen, no easy fate. This in fact is the second time that the loft has took the first eight in the Club in the O/Birds this season having previously completed the same fate from Kildare (1) just over a month ago.
Grosvenor HPS – 1st J Maguire 2011, 2nd J Ward & Son 1965, 3rd S O’Halloran & Son 1961, 4th P Farrelly & Son 1921, 5th J & L Smyth 1917, 6th P Farrelly & Son 1915, 7th J Maguire 1913, 8th P O’Neill & Son 1904, 9th P & K McCarthy 1903, 10th P & K McCarthy 1901. Jamsey Maguire tops the club this week and is also 7th from a very fast Skibbereen Classic event followed by the Dermott Hill Destroyer's Joe Ward & Son. Finishing a close 3rd are the Moyard pair of Sean O'Halloran & Son Sean. Next up we have Wee Peter Farrelly & Son who take 4th & 6th with Paddy O'Neill & Son in 8th, with the husband and wife team of Joe & Linda Smyth taking 5th Club with the top team of Paul & Kathleen McCarthy taking the next four to complete the top 12 in the Club. Well done Jamesy just another excellent performance to add to your incredible CV.
Lagan Valley RPC 24/350 – 1st H Jennings & Sons 1979, 2nd R & A Gore 1959, 3rd A Benson 1953, 4th Spence Bros 1930, 5th D Jones & Sons 1905, 6th Smyth & Adams 1895, 7th G Smyth 1894, 8th D McShane & Son 1890, 9th Spence Bros 1890, 10th M Brady 1886. Well done to Henry & Gary who score this week in front of the father and son team of Robert & Ashley Gore, who continue to show very consistent form 3 x 2nd this season to date, the current top prize winning loft of Spence Bros complete the top four.
Britannia HPS – 1st T Curran & Son 1976, 2nd T Curran & Son 1893, 3rd T Curran & Son 1882, 4th A McDonnell 1882, 5th M Kelly & Sons 1878, 6th T M McDermott 1869. The Curran loft returns to the winners enclosure once again this week to lift the 3rd success of 2009, a super result taking the first three in the competitive Britannia HPS.
Sydenham HPS – A Cousins & Sons 1975, 2nd A Cousins & Sons 1833, 3rd R & S Scates 1812, 4th J & J Scates 1807, 5th J & J Scates 1801, 6th J & J Scates 1801, 7th J & J Scates 1801, 8th R & S Scates 1791. Well done to the Cousin men on a super result into the Sydenham Club a super pigeon on the day from the Skibbereen Classic, the loft always for the big occasion with the Gold Mine of FVW pigeons.
East End HPS – 1st A Cousins & Sons 1975, 2nd J Rainey & Son 1861, 3rd W Mossgrove & Sons 1849, 4th J Rainey & Son 1848, 5th A Cousins & Sons 1833, 6th W Mossgrove & Sons 1814, 7th R & S Scates 1812, 8th J & A Scott 1795, 9th R & S Scates 1791, 10th W Mossgrove & Sons 1756. Excellent bird into that part of the City from Skibbereen and a clear winner in the Club, all round a good day for the Cousins loft lifting the pools and nom in the East End Club, Well Done Gents.
Andersonstown RPC 13/187 – V Cooney & Son 1933, 2nd Johnston Bros 1893, 3rd R & M McManus 1893, 4th A O’Hanlon 1891, 5th G Boyle & Son 1887, 6th R & M McManus 1887. The Cooney loft lift their second Red Card of 2009 with a very credible winner into the Andersonstown area of the City, another loft with a couple of success’s to their name this year is the Johnston Bros and they continue in fine form keeping on the heels of the winner.
Alexandra HPS 9/172 – 1st Hamilton & Davidson 1922, 2nd Hamilton & Davidson 1922, 3rd Fegan & McAdorey 1893, 4th T Lyttle 1892, 5th D McGuinness & Son 1891, 6th Fegan & McAdorey 1888, 7th Fegan & McAdorey 1885, 8th Hamilton & Davidson 1883. The partnership of Hamilton & Davidson are having a super season and this completes the hat-trick of wins to date flying with the Alexandra Club, well done gents.
Fortfield HPS – 1st Benny McKeown 1904, 2nd Kevy Doherty 1897, 3rd Kevy Doherty 1897, 4th Phillips & McGrath 1894, 5th Healy Bros 1887, 6th Healy Bros 1885, 7th Kevy Doherty 1883, 8th Kevy Doherty 1883, 9th Kevy Doherty 1883, 10th Kevy Doherty 1880. Benny McKeown tops the Club for the first time in 2009 and what a race to win namely the Skibbereen Classic ahead of Kevy Doherty who had an excellent card which cements his very impressive season to date the loft has six of the first ten in the club this week. Excellent racing to all concerned.
East End HPS – 1st F Mudd & Sons 1859, 2nd F Mudd & Sons 1844, 3rd W Willis 1842, 4th W Willis 1837, 5th T Brown 1832, 6th F Mudd & Sons 1824, 7th F Mudd & Sons 1823, 8th H & D & J Bells & Sons 1820, 9th W Willis 1812, 10th H & D & J Bells & Sons 1796. Pools were won this week by W Willis on 1837 and the Nom by T Brown on 1832. East End HPS 2 Bird 1st T Brown, 2nd F Mudd & Sons. Well Done to Frankie who makes it three wins to date in 2009 flying with the East end HPS. Well Done Frankie.
Prov Top 20 Federation Result & Pools & Prize money
1st D Smyth & Son Shankill 2012 ABCDE £607.75
2nd J & D Braniff Wheatfield 2011.9 D £300.60
3rd J Maguire Grosvenor 2011.1 ABCDE £431
4th J & D Braniff Wheatfield 2010 D £180.73
5th J & D Braniff Wheatfield 2009 D £110.66
6th J & D Braniff Wheatfield 2007 ABCDE £243.40
7th J & D Braniff Wheatfield 2006 D £97.15
8th J Lindores & Son & Nicholson West Belfast 2004 ABCDE Nom £391.40
9th H Jennings & Sons Lagan Valley 1979 ABCDE £149.86
10th T Curran & Son Britannia 1976 ABCDE £120.61
11th A Cousins & Sons East End 1975 £33
12th D Ballock Shankill 1973 ABCDE £98.61
13th J Ward & Son Grosvenor 1965 ABCE £81.75
14th S O'Halloran & Son Grosvenor 1961 ABCE £52.50
15th N Armstrong Shankill 1948 ABCE £52.50
16th J & D Braniff Wheatfield 1942 £22
17th V Cooney & Son Andersonstown 1933 E £25.74
18th J Dillon & Son Glen Inv 1932.9 ABC £38.26
19th J & D Braniff Wheatfield 1932.5 £22
20th J & D Braniff Wheatfield 1932.3 £22