Just 1 Bird from Picauville

[willie reynolds]

James Cleland Only Federation bird from Picauville

The final race of the Old Bird season was held on Friday 10 July from Picauville in France, with the pigeons competing in the Friendship National.

This race point is the shortest of all the French races and had a total entry of 1,015 birds, which is well above average for this race.
The pigeons were released at 6am with little or no wind at the race point but with wind developing northwesterly en route. As it happened a band of rain spread across the Irish Sea into parts of Wales and only 14 birds were recorded across Ireland on the day. A few more were to follow on the Saturday and on the Sunday but at the end of the three-day race only 22 birds were registered.

There was only one of those birds in the South Down Federation and that was to the leading distance lofts of James Cleland, Annsborough. James is one of a very small group of fanciers to make the Open result in all three French races this year, which is a phenomenal achievement. He also wins the prize for the best East Down Combine pigeon in the race, the third time he has picked up this award from the Friendship National.

The pigeon timed by James is a yearling cock. The dam is a Honeysuckle hen while the sire is a Pros Roosen from Martin Flynn Drumaness when paired to a Von Ausche from Maurice Alexander, Harryville.

As this pigeon is just a yearling James has lots of options for it for next year.

Full Result: 1, J Cleland Annsborough 259:

Brendan McLoughlin PO