The Mastering of St.Malo
Loft Profile will be loaded shortly on the incredible Kevin Carolan of Coalisland following his National Success from St.Malo for the second time in Four Seasons. Loft profile now listed below !
Kevin Carolan Wins 2009 St.Malo O/Bird National
-
Administrator
- Site Admin
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:17 am
Kevin Carolan Wins 2009 St.Malo O/Bird National
Irelands Own Pigeon Auctions
-
Administrator
- Site Admin
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:17 am
Re: Kevin Carolan Wins 2009 St.Malo O/Bird National
St Malo Success continues for Kevin Carolan
The members of the Coalisland & District HPS, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland have witnessed and of course more importantly enjoyed an upsurge of success over recent years flying at all levels of competition both at the inland and cross channel pigeon racing events.
One member 68 year old Kevin Carolan a retired Tarmac layer has seen it all as has Richard Corey as they are the only two remaining founding members of the above Society, Kevin has continually been at the helm and has enjoyed watching the Coalisland & District HPS go from strength to strength over the years, which sees the Club now sitting as one of the most feared flying within Section A of the Mighty NIPA.
It was a must for me to visit the home of Kevin Carolan following confirmation that he had once again won the NIPA O/Bird National from St. Malo in France, this being the second time in three seasons that he has won this particular event which is the ultimate test for the members of the NIPA come the end of the O/Bird programme, an awesome and quite outstanding performance by a fancier considering the extreme depth of talented competition within the NIPA. This is the one the vast majority would like to win.
Kevin Carolan married to Francis and a father to four girls and a boy as well as being a hard working grandfather to nine children has had the ‘Luck’ in winning it twice, the aforementioned word is one that Kevin considers very important in pigeon racing ‘Luck’ every fancier requires that, for you could very well take in your eyes the Open or National winner to the Club for basketing prior to the race but he or she will most definitely require Luck to make it home with the hazards that the pigeons have to navigate on their way home. Kevin says that many quality and experienced pigeons with exquisite navigational qualities don’t make it home every year from varying race points, this he feels is neither down to the fancier or the bird, which is where he see’s the ‘Luck’ word as one off extreme importance in the making of any successful race or indeed season for any fancier.
Kevin is pleased that he has been blessed with Luck twice in this event from St. Malo firstly in 2006 his two year old Cheq cock named ‘Mugsy’ topped the National result on a velocity of 1314ypm some ten yards in front of the runner-up after timing at 4.33pm, he was sent the following year again be it this time a different race point in Lamballe (France) never to be seen again. What I have found interesting looking over the results for this race in reference to Kevin’s tremendous success is in 2006 from St. Malo I believe the first time the NIPA flew the O/Bird National from this race point since 1999 and prior to this the vast majority of the races were flown from Dinard, Kevin won the race also finishing 78th and 160th Open, getting three into the result with a small team sent was an excellent achievement. Then the following year the NIPA this time held the O/Bird French National from Lamballe, on checking the result which goes as far down as 200ypm no Kevin Carolan, which when you consider he had as normal a small but strength in depth team entered including the previous years winner, he wasn’t to be found in the result, this is pigeon racing explained at its best in this list of events, never take this game of pigeons racing for granted as they can bring you back down to earth with a bang.
In 2008 the NIPA returned to St. Malo for the O/Bird cross channel event, Kevin as he has done now for a number of years selected his 6 hopefuls and had five out of the six return with four on the day finishing 12th, 19th, 20th and 194th Open with 527 members sending 1,668 pigeons. Then this year from the same race point once again in St. Malo he again entered six hopefuls hoping of course as we all do of getting one early enough to make the result, having learnt just not what could happen as it did in 2007 but having been in the game long enough 42 years in fact Kevin has learnt long before now not to take anything for granted. Well fate was again to shine for the Carolan loft from the race point of St. Malo, a race point that statistically can easily be described as the one best suited for Kevin’s family of pigeons and system implemented, for in 2009 only a couple of weeks ago Kevin finished 1st National yet again and also 5th, 45th and 142nd Open with three on the night and one early the following morning with the fifth arriving around lunch-time, how is that for consistency. He will also win the 2 Bird Average winning the highly sought after Devine Memorial Trophy. Quite simply superb! This also is not the first time for Kevin winning the 2 Bird Average from the NIPA O/Bird Cross Channel National, some 22 years ago when Kevin was at the height of his racing career, some would argue he has never been anywhere else he won this prestigious trophy, the year 1987.
I was hoping to capture both St.Malo National winners togeather, but Kevin sadly lost "Mugsy" the following year.
The latest National winner for Kevin is a 2 year old Black hen timed at 5.43pm flying 461 miles recording a velocity of 1292ypm, a speed similar to the previous National winner “Mugsy” in 2006. The winning hen was sent sitting an 8 day old youngster her preparation for the O/Bird National was limited with around four inland races and with no channel racing whatsoever. Kevin always opts to give the distance entries a bit more rest than the rest of the O/Bird team, the clock was never required in any of these preparation events, but don’t hold that against her for the same pigeon last year in the INFC Yearling National was Kevin’s first arrival finishing 24th Open on a velocity of 897ypm on what was a very hard day the pigeon now named “Ricey” won on that day £364 for its grateful owner. This was one of only two Coalisland pigeons timed in the Yearling National result and you don’t need to guess who recorded the second one!
The breeding of this exceptional racer “Ricey” is as follows her Sire firstly is a son of Kevin’s 2nd Open Friendship National winner of 2005 beat that day for National honours by Ronnie Williamson. This 2nd Open National winner is coming down from pigeons gifted to Kevin from fellow club mate and good friend Henry McLaughlin of “Blue Devil Lofts” who owns one of the finest collections of Hartog pigeons in Ireland this line is also responsible for the 6th Open Y/Bird National performance for Kevin in 2006. The Dam of “Ricey” is a four year old hen of Busschaert breeding coming from yet another fancier who owns the cream of his respective strain this time Chris Houston of Ballymena who has built up an awesome collection of World Class Busschaerts over many years. The four year old hen and Dam of “Ricey” is bred from a G/Son of “Sir Alf” who in turn is the Sire of Champion “Dixie Dean” when in turn mated to a G/Daughter of “Champion Stud Topper” a pigeon responsible for so many winners over the years.
When on the subject of breeding and with the notes at hand I must mention the pigeons that finish 5th & 45th Open. 5th Open and winning the Carolan loft the 2 Bird Average this also a 2 year old Hen but this time a Blue now named “Hub” this one was timed at 6.09pm to record a velocity of 1241ypm. Once again a good steady racer to the loft both as a Y/Bird and a yearling and had the exact same preparation for the task at hand as the National winner only difference being that “Hub” was sent sitting 14 days. The Sire of this one is direct from Kevin’s ‘Silver Award Winner’ an 03 pigeon he has finished 96th Open from Portland in 2005, in 2006 he finished 78th Open from St. Malo and went on to fly a hard Lamballe for Kevin in 2007 before finishing 20th Open from St. Malo once again in 2008. A Class, Class pigeon bred from a 99 bred cock sourced from good friend once again Henry McLaughlin when mated to a hen purchased at the INFC Belfast Show this one being a direct daughter of Jackie Patience’s Kings Cup winner when mated to a cock that finished 1st Open Dinard. The Dam of “Hub” was bred by Glen Buckley of Annaghmore, this one was won by Kevin Carolan who attended the Verse Laga Awards night at the Henry Beattie Shop in 2006 where you get a free raffle ticket with your name badge upon arrival, well in 2006 Glen Buckley put a Y/Bird up for Raffle and Kevin was the lucky winner, that old word ‘Luck’ once again.
The Ace Blue Cock winner of 12th Open St Malo National in 2008 and 45th Open this year, this cock is also Sire to a number of outstanding racers for Kevin.
Now for the one that finished 45th Open, a 3 year old Blue Cock this is one that Kevin rates highly even going as far as to say that he reckons this is the best pigeon he own currently he was the lofts first arrival last year from St. Malo finishing 1st Section and 12th Open before going back this year to finish 45th Open. The breeding from him has to date merited a place in the stock loft with commanding winners coming from him to win both Talbenny and Penzance, I must also mention that he was the best Y/Bird flown by Kevin in 2006 winning a number of cards. He is also a Busschaert.
A snap of the excellent brick built loft belonging to this years St.Malo National winner Kevin Carolan of Coalisland.
Kevin races his pigeons to a superb 40ft x 8ft brick built loft which comprises of 3 x Sections. Piles of room for the pigeons and a great ore of fresh air when walking around the loft, which is awash with brilliant white paint on the walls and ceiling, ventilation is controlled through the sliding panels on the ceiling leading to the tiled roof. A sectional corridor runs the full length of the loft and the birds are trapped through sputnik traps with Bricon ETS in operation. When they enter through the traps they then enter their respective section via bop wires fitted at the bottom of the sliding door at the frontage on their section, with this type of trapping system in place it allows for the sliding doors at the front of the loft to be open on good days weather wise for the birds to come and go freely and traps when they like. These days are very rare during the racing season; Kevin’s flies them very well around the house and also trains hard when required. In total around 50 O/Birds are raced during the course of the O/Bird season with a number set up for the specialist races, including the St. Malo O/Bird National and the INFC Kings Cup to which the Carolan loft has also enjoyed success this season. The O/Birds are raced on the Darkness system and are fed on a good balanced breeding mixture; they all fly to breeding boxes and are hopper fed, with the drinkers changed twice daily. The loft is also scrapped daily including the nest boxes. The O/Bird team are treated for Canker on a regular basis and both Grit and Pick Stones are readily available on the floor of the loft in a number of areas for the birds to pick at willingly. I went on to ask Kevin about supplements in the water to which he replied none, explaining that he has never been a believer in adding supplements to the water, and only recently through encouragement from a number of fellow friends has he decided to use Orego Stim daily, but that is it nothing else whatsoever enters the loft, Kevin opting to put his faith in the good quality corn that is put in front of them, with no limit to how much they eat, but they are worked hard with plenty of flying around the house and once a week to Granard which is a 60 – 70 mile fly for them.
Kevin is always very vigilant about the loft for signs of sickness or a pigeon in bad form and has for the last number of years used the expertise of Armand Scheers when he visits the Beattie Store twice per year, and it’s a case of so far so good for Kevin with 100% healthy results to date. When you have this Kevin says and the results to back it up why add anything to the diet. How can you argue in recent performances but forgetting all that, check back through the results especially flying with the might NIPA the Carolan name has been to the fore for longer than my young memory takes me, but my father ‘Homer’ a scribe 25 years before me has confirmed that Kevin is one of the most successful flyers in Section A going back a great number of years including a winner of many 1st Section Diplomas including Section Fancier of the Year.
The Y/Birds are raced on Darkness and will normally consist of 50 with around 70 reared to allow for losses and injuries etc. They unlike the O/Bird racers are kept on a deep litter with the perches scrapped regularly. Everything else is just like the O/Birds feeding and the changing of the water fountains twice daily. The only big change to be took into consideration is the feeding this although is the same as the O/Birds is more controlled and when three to four pigeons after eating from the hopper go to the drinker the feeding is lifted, they are fed twice per day and are exercised only once per day this is at tea-time. Training will start on the 1st of July from a distance of 10 miles up to a maximum of 30 miles prior to racing starting in total they will accumulate a total of 10 tosses prior to the first race and will at all times be let up privately in batches of 10 or 15 pending on time and of course weather conditions.
The Y/Birds are not separated and careful attention is paid to potential matings on the run up to the specialist National events. They are vaccinated as they are weaned as I do with all fanciers I pay a visit to I like to find out as much about Y/Bird sickness as I can and upon asking the question to Kevin he told me that he did experience sickness in the Y/Birds just the once and with the help of Cyril Beattie it was cleared up within days without any casualties but Kevin admits it’s a big problem and something that he keeps a very watchful eye for year in year out.
Still even after winning the St. Malo National in 2009, Kevin’s biggest delight to date is winning the same race in 2006, that will be hard to beat he reckons, your first major is always hard to beat. As quick as I got my answer for the biggest delight to date, it took less time to tell me about his biggest disappointment to date, which with many fanciers is normally a few to mall over, but for Kevin it was a Fox getting into the cocks aviary of the stock loft about 4 years ago and killing every pigeon. Something he will remember for the rest of his life, not necessarily the loss of the pigeons but the very kind gestures shown by good friend Alan Hall of Omagh and fellow club-mate Henry McLaughlin of Coalisland who had all his stock numbers in the stock loft made up within days of the attack at no charge. Kevin was telling me that he has had the best from Henry McLaughlin for the last ten years and has never had to part with a penny, which doesn’t surprise me whatsoever a true gentleman Henry is who I myself consider a good friend also. Alan Hall equally has been a solid friend to Kevin over the last number of years and the boys are often on the phone together exchanging news, pigeons and purchasing pigeons together (from who ?? no names given).
A Nice snap taken in 1992 of Kevin Carolan (R) and good friend Alan Hall of Omagh both doing what they do best lifting silver-ware.
At this current stage the Carolans stock loft is made up of around 12 solid pairs of breeders made up of Hartogs from Henry McLaughlin “Blue Devil Lofts”, Chris Houston of Ballymena with the best of the Busschaerts and Alan Hall of Omagh who needs no introductions to the fancy, a formidable racer at all distances. Kevin can not thank the three aforementioned fanciers enough for the quality of pigeons that he now has at his disposal winning from all distances. At this stage he would like also to thank everybody who has either phoned or called at the house following his National success and the biggest thanks and appreciation is extended to his fellow Club mates who have over recent years made the Coalisland one of the best in the NIPA and a statement I would like to add my weight behind, the quality of the fanciers is immense and many more Nationals and NIPA Open will for sure be won into this very competitive Club in the years to follow.
Now for the ones out their who are trying to weigh up how the names of the pigeons come about, for instance ‘Mugsy’, ‘Ricey’ and ‘Hub’ mentioned in this article, well they are all names of famous players from the Tyrone Gaelic Football Club, a game that Kevin holds dear to his heart and won he participated in during his younger years. On the morning of the 2009 St. Malo National his 11 year old Grandson Liam had called with Kevin and Kevin was telling him that the birds had been liberated at 6.15am and upon reflection over the last success of 2006 with “Mugsy” Liam told him if he were lucky enough to win the race again surely the winner would have to be called “Ricey” once again an Ace player for Tyrone.
On finishing I would personally like to thank Kevin and his wife Francis for their hospitality during my visit, Francis was looking to make me a feed, the last thing I need for sure, but many thanks for the offer, from a lady Kevin tells me is his rock in continuing in the sport, for the work she puts into the pigeons for him is immense after Kevin was diagnosed with Pigeon Lung a few years back and at that stage his lungs were working only at 44% capacity. Serious to say the least, so the help from wife Francis is greatly appreciated from Kevin. For the fanciers that don’t know him, Kevin Carolan is a true gentleman, never one to cause an argument to talk about fellow fanciers; it’s simply just not for him. Kevin is an excellent example to the sport of pigeon and an honour for me to know such a gentleman.
Adie McCormick
Ireland's Own Pigeon Auctions
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
email celestiallofts@aol.com
Tel 028 92 604778
The members of the Coalisland & District HPS, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland have witnessed and of course more importantly enjoyed an upsurge of success over recent years flying at all levels of competition both at the inland and cross channel pigeon racing events.
One member 68 year old Kevin Carolan a retired Tarmac layer has seen it all as has Richard Corey as they are the only two remaining founding members of the above Society, Kevin has continually been at the helm and has enjoyed watching the Coalisland & District HPS go from strength to strength over the years, which sees the Club now sitting as one of the most feared flying within Section A of the Mighty NIPA.
It was a must for me to visit the home of Kevin Carolan following confirmation that he had once again won the NIPA O/Bird National from St. Malo in France, this being the second time in three seasons that he has won this particular event which is the ultimate test for the members of the NIPA come the end of the O/Bird programme, an awesome and quite outstanding performance by a fancier considering the extreme depth of talented competition within the NIPA. This is the one the vast majority would like to win.
Kevin Carolan married to Francis and a father to four girls and a boy as well as being a hard working grandfather to nine children has had the ‘Luck’ in winning it twice, the aforementioned word is one that Kevin considers very important in pigeon racing ‘Luck’ every fancier requires that, for you could very well take in your eyes the Open or National winner to the Club for basketing prior to the race but he or she will most definitely require Luck to make it home with the hazards that the pigeons have to navigate on their way home. Kevin says that many quality and experienced pigeons with exquisite navigational qualities don’t make it home every year from varying race points, this he feels is neither down to the fancier or the bird, which is where he see’s the ‘Luck’ word as one off extreme importance in the making of any successful race or indeed season for any fancier.
Kevin is pleased that he has been blessed with Luck twice in this event from St. Malo firstly in 2006 his two year old Cheq cock named ‘Mugsy’ topped the National result on a velocity of 1314ypm some ten yards in front of the runner-up after timing at 4.33pm, he was sent the following year again be it this time a different race point in Lamballe (France) never to be seen again. What I have found interesting looking over the results for this race in reference to Kevin’s tremendous success is in 2006 from St. Malo I believe the first time the NIPA flew the O/Bird National from this race point since 1999 and prior to this the vast majority of the races were flown from Dinard, Kevin won the race also finishing 78th and 160th Open, getting three into the result with a small team sent was an excellent achievement. Then the following year the NIPA this time held the O/Bird French National from Lamballe, on checking the result which goes as far down as 200ypm no Kevin Carolan, which when you consider he had as normal a small but strength in depth team entered including the previous years winner, he wasn’t to be found in the result, this is pigeon racing explained at its best in this list of events, never take this game of pigeons racing for granted as they can bring you back down to earth with a bang.
In 2008 the NIPA returned to St. Malo for the O/Bird cross channel event, Kevin as he has done now for a number of years selected his 6 hopefuls and had five out of the six return with four on the day finishing 12th, 19th, 20th and 194th Open with 527 members sending 1,668 pigeons. Then this year from the same race point once again in St. Malo he again entered six hopefuls hoping of course as we all do of getting one early enough to make the result, having learnt just not what could happen as it did in 2007 but having been in the game long enough 42 years in fact Kevin has learnt long before now not to take anything for granted. Well fate was again to shine for the Carolan loft from the race point of St. Malo, a race point that statistically can easily be described as the one best suited for Kevin’s family of pigeons and system implemented, for in 2009 only a couple of weeks ago Kevin finished 1st National yet again and also 5th, 45th and 142nd Open with three on the night and one early the following morning with the fifth arriving around lunch-time, how is that for consistency. He will also win the 2 Bird Average winning the highly sought after Devine Memorial Trophy. Quite simply superb! This also is not the first time for Kevin winning the 2 Bird Average from the NIPA O/Bird Cross Channel National, some 22 years ago when Kevin was at the height of his racing career, some would argue he has never been anywhere else he won this prestigious trophy, the year 1987.
I was hoping to capture both St.Malo National winners togeather, but Kevin sadly lost "Mugsy" the following year.
The latest National winner for Kevin is a 2 year old Black hen timed at 5.43pm flying 461 miles recording a velocity of 1292ypm, a speed similar to the previous National winner “Mugsy” in 2006. The winning hen was sent sitting an 8 day old youngster her preparation for the O/Bird National was limited with around four inland races and with no channel racing whatsoever. Kevin always opts to give the distance entries a bit more rest than the rest of the O/Bird team, the clock was never required in any of these preparation events, but don’t hold that against her for the same pigeon last year in the INFC Yearling National was Kevin’s first arrival finishing 24th Open on a velocity of 897ypm on what was a very hard day the pigeon now named “Ricey” won on that day £364 for its grateful owner. This was one of only two Coalisland pigeons timed in the Yearling National result and you don’t need to guess who recorded the second one!
The breeding of this exceptional racer “Ricey” is as follows her Sire firstly is a son of Kevin’s 2nd Open Friendship National winner of 2005 beat that day for National honours by Ronnie Williamson. This 2nd Open National winner is coming down from pigeons gifted to Kevin from fellow club mate and good friend Henry McLaughlin of “Blue Devil Lofts” who owns one of the finest collections of Hartog pigeons in Ireland this line is also responsible for the 6th Open Y/Bird National performance for Kevin in 2006. The Dam of “Ricey” is a four year old hen of Busschaert breeding coming from yet another fancier who owns the cream of his respective strain this time Chris Houston of Ballymena who has built up an awesome collection of World Class Busschaerts over many years. The four year old hen and Dam of “Ricey” is bred from a G/Son of “Sir Alf” who in turn is the Sire of Champion “Dixie Dean” when in turn mated to a G/Daughter of “Champion Stud Topper” a pigeon responsible for so many winners over the years.
When on the subject of breeding and with the notes at hand I must mention the pigeons that finish 5th & 45th Open. 5th Open and winning the Carolan loft the 2 Bird Average this also a 2 year old Hen but this time a Blue now named “Hub” this one was timed at 6.09pm to record a velocity of 1241ypm. Once again a good steady racer to the loft both as a Y/Bird and a yearling and had the exact same preparation for the task at hand as the National winner only difference being that “Hub” was sent sitting 14 days. The Sire of this one is direct from Kevin’s ‘Silver Award Winner’ an 03 pigeon he has finished 96th Open from Portland in 2005, in 2006 he finished 78th Open from St. Malo and went on to fly a hard Lamballe for Kevin in 2007 before finishing 20th Open from St. Malo once again in 2008. A Class, Class pigeon bred from a 99 bred cock sourced from good friend once again Henry McLaughlin when mated to a hen purchased at the INFC Belfast Show this one being a direct daughter of Jackie Patience’s Kings Cup winner when mated to a cock that finished 1st Open Dinard. The Dam of “Hub” was bred by Glen Buckley of Annaghmore, this one was won by Kevin Carolan who attended the Verse Laga Awards night at the Henry Beattie Shop in 2006 where you get a free raffle ticket with your name badge upon arrival, well in 2006 Glen Buckley put a Y/Bird up for Raffle and Kevin was the lucky winner, that old word ‘Luck’ once again.
The Ace Blue Cock winner of 12th Open St Malo National in 2008 and 45th Open this year, this cock is also Sire to a number of outstanding racers for Kevin.
Now for the one that finished 45th Open, a 3 year old Blue Cock this is one that Kevin rates highly even going as far as to say that he reckons this is the best pigeon he own currently he was the lofts first arrival last year from St. Malo finishing 1st Section and 12th Open before going back this year to finish 45th Open. The breeding from him has to date merited a place in the stock loft with commanding winners coming from him to win both Talbenny and Penzance, I must also mention that he was the best Y/Bird flown by Kevin in 2006 winning a number of cards. He is also a Busschaert.
A snap of the excellent brick built loft belonging to this years St.Malo National winner Kevin Carolan of Coalisland.
Kevin races his pigeons to a superb 40ft x 8ft brick built loft which comprises of 3 x Sections. Piles of room for the pigeons and a great ore of fresh air when walking around the loft, which is awash with brilliant white paint on the walls and ceiling, ventilation is controlled through the sliding panels on the ceiling leading to the tiled roof. A sectional corridor runs the full length of the loft and the birds are trapped through sputnik traps with Bricon ETS in operation. When they enter through the traps they then enter their respective section via bop wires fitted at the bottom of the sliding door at the frontage on their section, with this type of trapping system in place it allows for the sliding doors at the front of the loft to be open on good days weather wise for the birds to come and go freely and traps when they like. These days are very rare during the racing season; Kevin’s flies them very well around the house and also trains hard when required. In total around 50 O/Birds are raced during the course of the O/Bird season with a number set up for the specialist races, including the St. Malo O/Bird National and the INFC Kings Cup to which the Carolan loft has also enjoyed success this season. The O/Birds are raced on the Darkness system and are fed on a good balanced breeding mixture; they all fly to breeding boxes and are hopper fed, with the drinkers changed twice daily. The loft is also scrapped daily including the nest boxes. The O/Bird team are treated for Canker on a regular basis and both Grit and Pick Stones are readily available on the floor of the loft in a number of areas for the birds to pick at willingly. I went on to ask Kevin about supplements in the water to which he replied none, explaining that he has never been a believer in adding supplements to the water, and only recently through encouragement from a number of fellow friends has he decided to use Orego Stim daily, but that is it nothing else whatsoever enters the loft, Kevin opting to put his faith in the good quality corn that is put in front of them, with no limit to how much they eat, but they are worked hard with plenty of flying around the house and once a week to Granard which is a 60 – 70 mile fly for them.
Kevin is always very vigilant about the loft for signs of sickness or a pigeon in bad form and has for the last number of years used the expertise of Armand Scheers when he visits the Beattie Store twice per year, and it’s a case of so far so good for Kevin with 100% healthy results to date. When you have this Kevin says and the results to back it up why add anything to the diet. How can you argue in recent performances but forgetting all that, check back through the results especially flying with the might NIPA the Carolan name has been to the fore for longer than my young memory takes me, but my father ‘Homer’ a scribe 25 years before me has confirmed that Kevin is one of the most successful flyers in Section A going back a great number of years including a winner of many 1st Section Diplomas including Section Fancier of the Year.
The Y/Birds are raced on Darkness and will normally consist of 50 with around 70 reared to allow for losses and injuries etc. They unlike the O/Bird racers are kept on a deep litter with the perches scrapped regularly. Everything else is just like the O/Birds feeding and the changing of the water fountains twice daily. The only big change to be took into consideration is the feeding this although is the same as the O/Birds is more controlled and when three to four pigeons after eating from the hopper go to the drinker the feeding is lifted, they are fed twice per day and are exercised only once per day this is at tea-time. Training will start on the 1st of July from a distance of 10 miles up to a maximum of 30 miles prior to racing starting in total they will accumulate a total of 10 tosses prior to the first race and will at all times be let up privately in batches of 10 or 15 pending on time and of course weather conditions.
The Y/Birds are not separated and careful attention is paid to potential matings on the run up to the specialist National events. They are vaccinated as they are weaned as I do with all fanciers I pay a visit to I like to find out as much about Y/Bird sickness as I can and upon asking the question to Kevin he told me that he did experience sickness in the Y/Birds just the once and with the help of Cyril Beattie it was cleared up within days without any casualties but Kevin admits it’s a big problem and something that he keeps a very watchful eye for year in year out.
Still even after winning the St. Malo National in 2009, Kevin’s biggest delight to date is winning the same race in 2006, that will be hard to beat he reckons, your first major is always hard to beat. As quick as I got my answer for the biggest delight to date, it took less time to tell me about his biggest disappointment to date, which with many fanciers is normally a few to mall over, but for Kevin it was a Fox getting into the cocks aviary of the stock loft about 4 years ago and killing every pigeon. Something he will remember for the rest of his life, not necessarily the loss of the pigeons but the very kind gestures shown by good friend Alan Hall of Omagh and fellow club-mate Henry McLaughlin of Coalisland who had all his stock numbers in the stock loft made up within days of the attack at no charge. Kevin was telling me that he has had the best from Henry McLaughlin for the last ten years and has never had to part with a penny, which doesn’t surprise me whatsoever a true gentleman Henry is who I myself consider a good friend also. Alan Hall equally has been a solid friend to Kevin over the last number of years and the boys are often on the phone together exchanging news, pigeons and purchasing pigeons together (from who ?? no names given).
A Nice snap taken in 1992 of Kevin Carolan (R) and good friend Alan Hall of Omagh both doing what they do best lifting silver-ware.
At this current stage the Carolans stock loft is made up of around 12 solid pairs of breeders made up of Hartogs from Henry McLaughlin “Blue Devil Lofts”, Chris Houston of Ballymena with the best of the Busschaerts and Alan Hall of Omagh who needs no introductions to the fancy, a formidable racer at all distances. Kevin can not thank the three aforementioned fanciers enough for the quality of pigeons that he now has at his disposal winning from all distances. At this stage he would like also to thank everybody who has either phoned or called at the house following his National success and the biggest thanks and appreciation is extended to his fellow Club mates who have over recent years made the Coalisland one of the best in the NIPA and a statement I would like to add my weight behind, the quality of the fanciers is immense and many more Nationals and NIPA Open will for sure be won into this very competitive Club in the years to follow.
Now for the ones out their who are trying to weigh up how the names of the pigeons come about, for instance ‘Mugsy’, ‘Ricey’ and ‘Hub’ mentioned in this article, well they are all names of famous players from the Tyrone Gaelic Football Club, a game that Kevin holds dear to his heart and won he participated in during his younger years. On the morning of the 2009 St. Malo National his 11 year old Grandson Liam had called with Kevin and Kevin was telling him that the birds had been liberated at 6.15am and upon reflection over the last success of 2006 with “Mugsy” Liam told him if he were lucky enough to win the race again surely the winner would have to be called “Ricey” once again an Ace player for Tyrone.
On finishing I would personally like to thank Kevin and his wife Francis for their hospitality during my visit, Francis was looking to make me a feed, the last thing I need for sure, but many thanks for the offer, from a lady Kevin tells me is his rock in continuing in the sport, for the work she puts into the pigeons for him is immense after Kevin was diagnosed with Pigeon Lung a few years back and at that stage his lungs were working only at 44% capacity. Serious to say the least, so the help from wife Francis is greatly appreciated from Kevin. For the fanciers that don’t know him, Kevin Carolan is a true gentleman, never one to cause an argument to talk about fellow fanciers; it’s simply just not for him. Kevin is an excellent example to the sport of pigeon and an honour for me to know such a gentleman.
Adie McCormick
Ireland's Own Pigeon Auctions
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
email celestiallofts@aol.com
Tel 028 92 604778
Irelands Own Pigeon Auctions