The Irish National Flying Club held its first O/Bird National of 2009 from Skibbereen on Thursday 28th of May with birdage up a 1/3 in comparison to last year just illustrating how easy the racing has been up till now with the majority of the weekly convoys having a helping wind at the various race points. Traditionally the birds are normally race marked on a Wednesday for a Thursday/Friday liberation, with conditions looking ok for Thursday every effort was made to have the transporter in place to facilitate a Thursday liberation if the weather deemed acceptable to liberate. With no rain across Ireland from mid-morning onwards and with any haze that was lingering about the birds were liberated at 10.30 in a South West Wind. With a helping wind it was expected that the Birds would complete the 250 Mile journey into the heart of Belfast in around 4 & ½ hours which was spot on for the pigeons that decided to come, a number of lofts with some empty perches was the order of the day, with reports that some birds when liberated headed the wrong direction all together. For the ones that came they recorded good times and although returns were some what erratic in some parts the majority of lofts I spoke to had around ½ home although you always come across the outstanding lofts who have 75% - 100% returns, you for some reason always find this when there is a tough race on checking the result you always come by someone who had a ball of pigeons home and this race seems to be no different. Also when talking to a number of fanciers over the weekend and calling with a number of the Top 10 accompanied by Adie for this report I seen a few pigeons that had all the hallmarks of a hawk attack, some with damage under both wings, some with damage on the back, some will multiple rips on the under carriage and a lot with tails missing, all in all a disappointment for the unlucky fanciers and full credit to the pigeons making it home after injury.
This was the first time that the INFC have used ETS at the ring marking and again reports were that this went very well indeed with the Secretary of the NIPA on hand all afternoon to make sure that the Unikon was all organised, representation form all the other companies were also in attendance with little to no hassle whatsoever, perhaps the only thing I heard was the length of time that the Unikon members had to wait with only two markers going and this the system that was being most used. But all in all excellent to get the first ETS marking out of the way with ease and full credit to the additional worker who turned up from the various companies to see a simple and east passage of usage. As normal the hardened members of the Committee (or the workers as I like to call them) were on hand, and as per usual were fantastic with all running on schedule and according to plan to which I would congratulate all the Committee who turned up to help and more importantly the pigeon fanciers who assisted that are not on the Committee.
The Ronnie Johnston Challenge Cup plus Diploma is presented to the winner and the Charles Hunniford Memorial Trophy to the Best Ave (North Sect) Skibbereen OB & YB. The race was kindly sponsored by Bamfords Top Flight with 3 bags of mixture to the winner of each affiliated organisation ie. NIPA, East Down Combine, Ulster Fed, East Coast Fed (Dublin), Irish SR Fed (Dublin) and South Leinster Federation. An additional 2 bags of mixture for the race winner, many congratulations to all the winners.
So here goes for the Provisional Top Ten in the Skibbereen O/Bird National of 2009.
1st Open – Cromie & Magee & Son, Ballynahinch – Velocity 1650
Winning the 2009 INFC Skibbereen O/Bird National is the veteran partnership of Cromie & Magee & Son of Ballynahinch who have raced many exceptional pigeons over the years including no less than five 1st prize winners in the EDC from Skibbereen. The partnership name is made up of Joe Cromie Senior, Marie Magee (who sadly passed away in January 2006) and Joe Cromie Junior. Joe Senior has named the winning pigeon “Marie’s Dream” in her memory as he said it was always her wish in the many enjoyable years she spent within the pigeon sport to win a National.
The National winning partnership of Joe Cromie Senior and Junior holding “Marie’s Dream” 1st Open INFC Skibbereen O/Bird National 2009.
The Cromie boys timed a 2 year old Blue Cock at 2.49pm flying 243 Miles to their lofts on the outskirts of Ballynahinch town. The winning pigeon was flying on the Widowhood system and is off an exceptional breeding Hofken Stock cock who now is at a tender age of 14, this cock has bred scores of prize winners over the years and was sourced from the Andrews & Jackson partnership of Howden. He in turn to produce the Skibbereen National winner for the Father and Son team was mated to a Soontjen loaned the boys from Martin Flynn who flies exceptionally well in the East Down Combine affiliated Drumaness Mills HPS. As a youngster the pigeon in question scored from Pilmore Beach winning the Club and finishing 17th West Section and 39th Open East Down Combine, then the following week from Skibbereen the cock finished 1st Club and 8th Open. The following year in was placed on the widowhood system and in the first race he stayed out over night, so Joe Junior decided that, all was not well based upon this and his performances around the house, so he stopped the pigeon although keeping him in the widowhood team and continuing to train him around the house. Then this year he was put back onto the road and has been in the clock a few times including finishing 4th Club from Clonmel at the start of May.
Joe Senior, now retired is 75 years young and although has a winning CV that would grace any loft this is his first National success flying with the Irish National Flying Club having had pigeons since 1963 when he then raced and lived in Killyleagh. Very appropriate that we now move onto another Veteran flyer that being a man who won last year his 1st National flying with the INFC aged at 80 years young namely JP of Newtownbreda. Adie will hopefully have a report in next week on this National winning loft.
2nd Open – John Patterson, Newtownbreda – Velocity 1632
John Patterson of Ballylesson, will without any doubt go down as one of the best fanciers ever to race pigeons into Ireland, a living legend who continues to produce stunning results week in, week out. Last season flying with the INFC from Skibbereen he finished 4th Open in this corresponding race and won the Y/Bird Skibbereen National in September that was his first National win flying with the INFC. From Skibbereen yet again he nearly wins the National, I think I would be right in saying that this is the 3rd time he has finished runner-up in an INFC National.
The Masterful John Patterson finishes runner-up again in a National having won the last one flown by the INFC from Skibbereen, pictured here with INFC Press Officer “Homer” admiring yet another Champ for the collection.
The pigeon timed at 2.59pm is a two year old Pencil Blue cock flying on the roundabout system, he was trained up as a youngster but not raced, and as a yearling up until now has been an excellent racer winning many prizes including finishing 4th Open in the EDC Skibbereen Classic race a fortnight ago a race in which John finished 1st and 5th Open also. The pigeon timed is a full brother to the incredible “147” raced by John Patterson and sold to the Gibb & Byrne Stud in Lisburn last year, the “147” was a multiple winner over a three year period which seen a number of top positions in the East Down Combine Open including winning the EDC Skibbereen Classic in 2006 a year in which he was also crowned O/Bird of the Year in the Combine. In 2007 he also topped the Combine Open from Thurles with over 6,000 pigeons competing. When the Gibb & Byrne Stud purchased the “147” they also purchased a full brother “718” who also had already topped the East Down Combine from Mallow with 5,541 pigeons competing. What an excellent line of pigeons John Patterson has created especially for the favoured race point of Skibbereen which is 250 miles to his lofts. They are all G/Son’s of his famous and wonder breeder namely “The Stud” responsible for no less than 18 x 1st Combine Open winners over the years. John timed a second pigeon in this race and with a Velocity of 1566 won’t be to far away in the over-all result not surprising of course as this pigeon was the one that finished 4th Open last year in this corresponding race. John was telling me that one of the first fanciers on the phone to congratulate him was a fancier he considers to have had the best family of distance pigeons ever raced in Ireland that fancier in question is Bobby Smyth of Ballymena (Smyth Bros). John Patterson over the years has made pigeon racing looks easy, especially on the big occasion and I have absolutely no doubt that their will be a few more big results from this man before 2009 is over.
3rd Open - Len McKinstry, Dundonald – Velocity 1621
Timing a Blue Cock at 3.06pm flying 255 Miles was enough to give Len McKinstry 3rd Open in the National result. Len timed a yearling roundabout cock that was bred from a Staf Van Reet hen sourced from A & L Painter of the West Midlands when mated to a Janssen Cock sourced from fellow Club mate and Ace Flyer Mark Foulis who knows a thing or two about winning himself.
The Masterful Len McKinstry of Dundonald pictured holding his Yearling Blue Cock winner of 3rd Open INFC National Skibbereen.
Len has had success previously from Skibbereen flying with the Irish National Flying Club, 2 years ago he finished 4th Open in the Y/Bird Skibbereen event. The pigeon that day is a ½ sister to this winner of 3rd Open carrying the A & L Painter Bloodlines with the Sire of the 4th Open in the Y/Bird race also topping the East Down Combine Open. Len can’t praise the Painter Van Reets enough and even crossing them now they are proving an even bigger success. The McKinstry name has been at the top of the pigeon sport in Ireland for many years and Adie recently featured Len’s father George in an 1970’s achieve article in the Racing Pigeon a few weeks ago, that particular piece highlighted George winning the O/Bird Derby flying with the East Down Combine from Dinard flying 455 miles. I am not sure if it is a record but Lens father George has won the O/Bird Derby racing on his own, Len then raced in partnership with his father and they also won the O/Bird Derby and then Len raced on his own and he also has won the O/Bird Derby. So all in all a life time of achievement for the McKinstry’s spanning many years and this 3rd Open success in the INFC Skibbereen is just one more top result to add to the ever growing list of achievements. Well done Len.
4th Open - A & N Lewis, Doagh – Velocity 1619
Anthony & Norman Lewis are fast becoming the up and coming distance fanciers in Ireland, they have quickly adapted to the needs of what is required for a pigeon in Ireland to compete on the Channel form all distances and this success of 4th Open in the Inland National from Skibbereen is not surprise to me. Over the last couple of years as results will prove they have competed at the highest level right through to the furthest race point. This National success which is their highest placed position to date was achieved by a Yearling Blue cock that was timed by the brothers at 3.09pm flying 257 miles to their lofts in Doagh, co.Antrim an area that has produced many a distance superstar. This pigeon like so many that the brothers race is no fluke he finished 25th Open in the Y/Bird version of this race in September last year and in preparation for this challenge he finished 2nd Club three weeks ago and just last week from rosscarbery which is only a couple of miles from Skibbereen this gallant pigeon showed he was up for the task by being the third pigeon to arrive at the loft with plenty left in the tank. It was in fact his 1/2 sister that topped the Club from Rosscarbery just last week finishing 1st Doagh & District, 14th Section C and 23rd Open NIPA Inland National. This particular line of pigeons are doing exceptionally well for the Lewis's for a full brother of this fourth National winner topped the Club from Tullamore a couple of weeks ago also.
Chairman of the INFC Sid Collins (Centre) congratulates Anthony & Norman Lewis of Doagh following their 4th Open success from Skibbereen
So I hear you asking well what is the family?? Well the Sire contains the best of the Jeff Greenaway bloodlines coming from a kit of six purchased from Jeff, the Dam once again a Staf Van Reet which was raced by the brothers as a youngster winning a number of prizes and then put to stock, from their it has been a case of no looking back. The G.Sire of this latest National pigeon is known as the "Sheriff" he also was purchased from Jeff and has been a Gold Mine for the Lewis boys breeding no less than 9 x 1st prize winners and a combined total of forty prize winners at different levels of competition. The brothers would like to thank Jeff of Universal lofts for the excellent pigeons he has supplied to them over the last four seasons.
If that weren't enough the brothers also timed a second arrival at 3.19pm to record a velocity of 1565 and this one wont be far away also, this one is a Belg Yearling Blue Cock purchased direct from Rene Van De Weyer the Olympic Sprint Champion of Belgium, having only recently purchased these pigeons Anthony says they are judged by the basket and have proved to excel from 200 miles onwards, the pigeon timed is the same way bred as 1st Club Skibbereen Y/Bird National last season.
To add to my argument about these boys becoming one of the leading lights in distance racing they have previously been 1st Club, 1st Section & 5th Open NIPA Lamballe OB Nat 2006 with "Le Premier" a Blue cock which contains the best of the late Cyril Fletchers Wildemeersch when crossed to a hen of George Pearson of Eastway. His direct son "Jimmy" another Blue cock was 1st Club, 1st Section & 4th Open NIPA Dinard OB Nat 07 winning an RPRA award for best bird over 450 miles plus. Jimmy and another Blue cock which won 2nd Club, 3rd Section & 10th Open is off the best of good friend Alan Darragh's combined together to win the "Devine Memorial Trophy" for the best 2 Bird Average in the OB National. Well done lads and thanks for the info.
5th Open - G Furlong, Wexford – Velocity 1614
The first arrival into Wexford and the South Leinster Federation was timed by Ger Furlong of the local Wexford North & South recording velocity 1614 for a 5th Open INFC finish. Chairman of the club and a new INFC Race Advisor Willie Hore has gathered up some info on the bird.
Ger Furlong winner of 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st South Section & 5th Open INFC Skibbereen O/B National 2009.
The winning bird was only trained as a young bird and has taken minor positions prior to this race this season. Sire of this bird won bird of the year for two years in succession in the Wexford North & South Road Invitation Pigeon Club and also in the South Leinster Federation. Ger races a strain of pigeons that he and his late uncle Jimmy cultivated themselves over the years with great success. Similar lines to this cock have all been very successful with some of them winning up to eight individual 1st prizes each. Ger would be considered a small team flyer racing on average around 10 cocks per week. He said that he is in it for the sport and has no time for the fancier who is out to make a quick buck by sending large teams of pigeons to notch up prizes so that they can boost their sales levels. His most notable previous performances at national level to date are 2nd & 6th Open in the INFC Skibbereen O/B National 2007 with 3600 birds competing. Well done Ger
6th Open - Mr & Mrs Bobby Stevenson, Dromara – Velocity 1611
Mr & Mrs Stevenson timed a 3 year old Pencil Blue Cock raced on widowhood, he was purchased as part of a kit of young birds from Oroory Hill Stud owned by Gerald Delaney, the bloodlines are Willie Jacobs and this winner was only trained as a young bird and not raced.
Mr & Mrs Bobby Stevenson of Dromara finish 6th Open and have a second arrival in the first 15 of the Open result, what a record the husband and wife team have.
As preparation for the National he had 4 races, Tullamore (2) where he was 5th Club, from Roscrea he was 2nd Club, and going on to Clonmel and Rosscarbery where he was 4th Club, in all he has now won in total four 1sts and two 2nds and was 2nd Section 12th Open Yearling Cocks National. Mr & Mrs Stevenson have a fantastic record from Rosscarbery and Skibbereen. In 2006 they won the Rosscarbery OB National, in 2007 they were 3rd Section, 12th Open Rosscarbery and in 2008 the loft finished 1st Section, 6th Open Rosscarbery and last year 1st Open Fermoy 5 Bird. The Stevensons had a great result from Skibbereen with eight birds home in the space of 40 minutes with most of them sure to figure in the Open result and in total 17 out of 18 sent homed on the day. Bobby would like to thank Gerald Delaney for the top class kit of Willy Jacobs he has received, they have now won a total of 6 Club1sts a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Section in the NIPA Nationals also 6th, 12th, and 12th Open NIPA in the Nationals plus this 6th Open Skibbereen INFC.
7th Open – W & R Evans & Leahy, Kingswood – Velocity 1608
The partnership of W & R Evans & Leahy who race their pigeons into East Belfast have over the last couple of years started to push into the Open results on the big occasions, this Wilf Evans tells me is due to the excellent pigeons supplied to him by one of the most honourable and honest fanciers he has ever come across, a fancier that has supplied him and his father Bobby with nothing but the best for the last three years and he went on to say that he owes a great deal of gratitude to Philip Boal of the P & J Boal partnership from Dromore for being so generous with some outstanding pigeons.
Wilf Evans of the W & R Evans & Leahy partnership timed a pigeon bred by the P & J Boal team of Dromore to finish 7th Open in the Skibbereen National.
Wilf timed a yearling Blue Cock who was sent sitting 14 days on eggs this particular pigeon was timed at 3.06pm flying 252 miles and as a youngster finished 1st Club, 14th Open NIPA Tullamore in the first race of the season, he was also sent last year to the Skibbereen Y/Bird National returning just out of the prizes. This year he received a couple of the races to date in preparation for this race and duly rewarded Wilf and father Bobby who takes a lot to do with the pigeons for their combined hard work. The breeding of this winner for boys is as mentioned P & J Boal of Dromore it is of Willy Van Herck breeding and is a full brother to a pigeon that Philip bred to win the East Down Combine Open against 7,000 + pigeons, he also is a full brother to a hen raced by the Boal Brothers that finished 1st Section D NIPA and 13th Open against 26,000 + pigeons. The Sire of Wilfs 7th Open in the National is a class pigeon for the Boal Brothers an ace racer when on the road and equally as prolific in the stock loft breeding a host of prize winners for various fanciers across Ireland. The Dam is a full sister to yet another couple of excellent racers for Philip & Joe Boal namely “Iching” a winner of 3 x 1st’s including a class result from the Mallow 5 Bird a day which he should have won the Open also the hen is a full sister to another cock that finished 20th Open in the Rosscarbery National for the Boal boys. A class family of pigeons that are just not doing the business for W & R Evans & Leahy but a number of fancier all over the country. Well done to Bobby & Wilf on yet another top performance, top pigeons in the hands of two top fanciers.
8th Open – Dobbs Bros, Wexford – Velocity 1607
The second arrival into Wexford and the South Leinster Federation was timed by the Dobbs Bros who also race in the Wexford North & South recording velocity 1607 for a 8th Open INFC finish. They timed in at 12.53hrs flying 130 miles. This loft has a good record racing with the INFC having won in the YB Skibbereen 1st Open in 1999 and 2nd Open in 2000. The bird this time was a 2 year old Lt Cheq hen racing widowhood top Janssen lines down from the famous 019. She had four races earlier and won 2nd the weekend previous from Rosscarbery. She topped the Federation as a yearling and had 2nd South Sect in the Skibbereen Nat. Her brother is g/sire of the Yearling Nat winner of 2008 for Owen Kirwin. Well done to Dobbs Bros, Matty, Leo who I was speaking to and Willie, I am sure I will be covering this loft again in the future.
9th Open - C Campbell & Son, Horse Shoe – Velocity 1602
What a week for Colin Campbell & Son who race with Horseshoe HPS into the Port of Larne in Co Antrim, an area with a fantastic tradition in this race with a lot of winners including most recently G K & I Moxham. C Campbell & Son almost won the NIPA Rosscarbery OB Nat the previous weekend finishing a good 1st Sect C & 2nd Open NIPA. Just a few days later the loft is early again with the second bird into East Antrim timed at 3.25pm flying 269 miles and finishing 9th Open INFC doing velocity 1602. This cock, flown on the Roundabout has been very consistent for the partnership, having flown the entire inland programme.
Colin Campbell of Larne is having a wonderful season to date and finishes 9th Open Skibbereen National
The yearling cock is no stranger to the prizes as it was their second bird home the previous week from NIPA Rosscarbery O/B Nat. taking 13th Sect C & 19th Open and from Tullamore earlier this season it was 1st Club, 3rd Sect C & 106th Open NIPA with 25,000 birds competing doing velocity 1386. The breeding of this cock is Janssen x Staf van Reet. The sire is from a family they've had for a few years, while the dam is coming down from stock obtained from A & R McAuley of Coleraine. Very little training is done once racing commences as the team fly well at home. The partnership only rejoined the INFC last year but never sent to any races until now. Even though they race as C Campbell & Son it is really a husband and wife partnership, as Colin's wife Angela takes a lot to do with the birds which is a great help. A super week of racing for C Campbell & Son, well done and thanks for the weekly reports.
10th Open - J Lindores, Son & Nicolson, West Belfast – Velocity 1601
The West Belfast team of Jackie Lindores, Son and his mate Nicolson are best in the Ulster Federation timing an all pooler to finish 10th Open INFC. The yearling Blue hen racing Roundabout was timed at 3.06pm flying 251 miles into Belfast recording velocity 1601.
The J Lindores & Son & Nicholson partnership of West Belfast are the first Ulster Federation members in the result finishing 10th Open.
Already this year this good hen has won 1st Club from Kildare finishing 3rd Ulster Fed on velocity 1380 and 3rd Club Thurles. Her sire was the famous Blue Cock a Champion Racer for the West Belfast partnership having won 18th Open Ulster Fed as a young bird from Talbenny then, 3rd Ulster Fed, followed by back to back wins that had them twice 1st Open Ulster Federation from Thurles. Looking back at the records I see the bird was ring number 13, not a bit unlucky this one. 1st Club and 1st Ulster Federation Thurles (1) 223/3,876 on velocity 1372 flying 153 miles and one week later 1st Club and 1st Open Ulster Federation Thurles (2) 217/3,830 on velocity 1726. He was bred off a pair of birds obtained from Whiteside Bros (Eastway) and club mate Barry Telford. To produce the latest 1st Fed winner from Skibbereen the Blue cock was paired to a hen on loan from Whiteside Bros. The Blue cock won 4 x 1st Clubs and as well as producing a 1st Fed winner two others have won with birds bred off him.
Willie Reynolds
INFC Press Officer
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
email reynoldshomer@aol.com
Tel 028 256 44683.