The Ballyfermot area of Dublin literally came to a stand still on the evening of Friday 5th of December for the Annual Dinner and Prize Distribution for the mighty Sarsfield RPC which was founded in 1952. Without any doubt this is one of the strongest and most competitive clubs in the Irish South Road Federation and one that I consider to be the toughest and most competitive in all Ireland. Like many they once had a large membership consisting of at one time 120 + members, currently and all within a 1 mile radius of their Lally Road Club rooms the club boasts a very strong membership of 64 and winning this club any week is some achievement.
With the Sarsfield Club now my resident base for auctioning pigeons in the South of Ireland and with meeting many of Ireland’s elite over recent months I was delighted to be invited down to cover the club’s prize distribution this year, this of course on top of being guest at the Irish South Road Federation dinner just a few weeks ago. Celeste and I set of just after tea-time for what promised to be wonderful occasion, we had decided to stay over and return home on Saturday and with the help of Debbie we got squeezed into the plush West Park Hotel for the evening which was only about 10 mins from the Sarsfield Club.
Upon arrival in Dublin and with the continuing roads work on the M50 time was against us and we opted to head onto the Sarsfield Club first and leave the car their over-night, which was a good choice for the temperature outside plummeted to -6 during the course of the evening and as the temperature fell outside it was certainly rising inside with well over 120 members, family and friends in attendance, the Club was well decorated in the Xmas theme and rapidly filled to capacity. Celeste and I were welcomed by the Secretary Brian Killeen who showed us to our table, and what an honour it was to be seated next to the guest for the evening Paddy O’Callaghan a past member of the Sarsfield Club and a highly respected individual with regards pigeon racing in Dublin.
Something that has always struck me about the Sarsfield Club on my many occasions there was the warmth of the membership towards each other and the excellent banter enjoyed by all. Bring them all together with family and friends on a special occasion such as the annual awards night and it brings with itself its own unparalleled euphoria, need I explain more about the atmosphere, a true credit to the membership and more importantly the committee of this very well run establishment and each and every one of the members should be proud to be part of such a Club.
Following an excellent meal which was a credit to the chefs who I am told were also pigeon fanciers, they quite simply didn’t let the team down, exceptional to say the least and all achieved without kitchen facilities. It was time for the presentation of awards, the alert and well humoured Secretary Brian Killeen was on hand to get the ball rolling assisted of course by the one and only Tucker Daniel who also does a stirling job for the Sarsfield Club.
The Sarsfield RPC Top prize winner for 2008 Pat Byrne lifts his awards from special guest Paddy O'Callaghan.
Top Prize Winner in 2008 and first to the table was Pat Byrne of the P Byrne & Family partnership, what a year this man had assisted by his good lady Debbie, they won 5 x 1st Clubs and as mentioned at the start of this report, to win the Sarsfield Club is some achievement, so to win 5 x 1st Clubs in one season takes some doing and more incredibly is the fact all were achieved in Y/Birds, a few of the highlights of this top prize winning year include :- O/Bird Season Thurles 2nd & 3rd Club, 4th Federation 377 members sending 8,547 pigeons; 4th Club Rosscarbery; 3rd Club 11th Federation Pilmore Beach 377/6013; 6th Club 28th Federation Mallow 431 sending 6,072 pigeons; Barleycove Open Race 6th Club, 27th Open 283 sending 2,423 birds. Y/Bird Season 1st & 6th Club, 9th Federation Thurles 254 sending 6996 pigeons; 2nd & 6th Club, 6th Federation Rosscarbery 275 sending 5,124; 1st & 5th Club, 4th Federation Roscarbery Open Race 239 sending 3508 pigeons; 1st & 2nd Club, 1st & 2nd Federation Thurles 414 members sending 9,479 pigeons; 3rd & 5th Club, 36th & 45th Federation Pilmore Beach with 357 members sending 6,508 pigeons; 1st, 3rd & 5th Club, 14th, 41st & 53rd Federation Pilmore Beach 280 members sending 5,610; Pilmore Beach it was once again for success scoring 1st Club yet again finishing 7th in the Federation result with some 5000+ pigeons competing. In the last race of the season the loft finished 4th Club from Rosscarbery. Within the strong Irish South Road Federation Pat Byrne finished Section C Fancier of the Year which is an awesome achievement and within the Sarsfield Club he won the Y/Bird Average Award and also the Inland Average Award, what a year and very well done.
Next on the prize winning list and in no particular order we have Tucker Daniel, this man can race a pigeon and is very much alert to all the up and coming families and medications coming onto the market. This year in the very first O/B race from Thurles Tucker topped the Club on a Velocity of 1842ypm finishing 2nd Federation with over 8,500 pigeons competing, then the following week from a difficult Pilmore Beach he finished 3rd Club on 982ypm finishing 8th Federation with over 6,500 pigeon competing; next success was 2nd Club Rosscarbery finishing 57th Federation with 7,343 pigeons competing, 5th & 6th Club followed in the Barleycove Open Race, before finishing 4th Club from Tramore on the 17th of May finishing an impressive 4th Federation with over 500 members sending 8591 pigeons. Success rained down from Sennen Cove were the loft finished 3rd & 4th Club, before finishing 3rd Club from the same race point a week later. In the Y/Bird Rosscarbery Open race the loft finished 4th Open with over 1500 pigeons competing. Excellent season and very well done, Tucker also picked up the Over 200 Mile Average Award.
The Sarsfield RPC and the Irish South Road Federation Novice of the Year Kieran Kershaw.
The Novice of the Year just not in the Sarsfield RPC but also the Irish South Road Federation is Kieran Kershaw, what a season this young man has had of all the places to break your novice status that being Talbenny in South Wales Kieran topped the Club on a velocity of 1191ypm finishing 18th in the Federation. Better was to come from a fancier that will be worth watching for in the future, from Pilmore Beach at the end of July in the Y/Birds he finished 2nd Club, 2nd Federation with some 8900 pigeons competing only beat by 1 yard by fellow Club mate Tony Phelan. That in its own would have satisfied any Novice but not Kieran for one week later from the same race point he topped the Club once again only this time going one better and also topping the Federation with over 6,000 pigeons competing. In all, this young fancier collected 11 Federation cards during 2008.
Mr Routine Pat Craven is always about the result most weeks and pictured here lifting yet more awards.
I don’t type many results that this man’s name doesn’t appear “Mr Routine” Pat Craven an awesome flyer of a pigeon and his excellent team of Soontjens and Busschaerts have kept him at the top of his game now for a number of years. This year was no different in the O/Birds the loft finished 4th Club, also finishing 18th, 55th, 66th and 90th Federation on what was one of the most testing races of the year from Pilmore Beach; the following week 4th club once again this time from Mallow finishing 35th Federation; the 1st Red Card of the year was gained from Rosscarbery at the start of May topping the Club and finishing 50th in the Federation result with over 7,300 pigeons competing; a 3rd Club from Barleycove followed and a 5th Club from Tramore before he stole the show again with a 1st Club from Pilmore Beach on a Vel of 1192ypm this was good enough to see the loft finish 3rd in the Federation against 6000+ pigeons, Bronze once again yes 3rd Club this time from Rosscarbery duly finishing 7th in the Federation result with 376 members sending 4842 pigeons. The following week from Mallow more success Pat topped the Club on .2 of a decimal ahead of a couple of good arrivals for Anto Sweeney Pat finished 9th in the Federation that particular day. Pat as he did in the O/Birds was very consistent in the young ones not taking long to make his presence felt against some very tough competition from Pilmore Beach at the end of July the loft finished 6th Club finishing 16th in the Federation with close to 9000 pigeons competing. Next we had yet another Pilmore Beach the following week this time Pat finished 2nd & 3rd Club finishing 11th & 14th in the Fed with over 6,000 competing this time. Two Rosscarbery’s followed with a 3rd Club in each with 20th and 23rd Federation the respective places gained for each race. Pilmore Beach at the end of August seen the Craven loft chalk up yet another 2nd Club on a Velocity of 1455ypm which was good enough to see a 30th Fed position gained and two round off yet another excellent year Pat recorded a 3rd Club from the Rosscarbery Open race. Pat wins the Yearling Points Award also The Highest Winning Velocity Award and Y/Bird of the Year.
The ever consistent Frank McEnroe topped the Club from Tramore finishing 1st & 2nd in th ISRF result.
Frank McEnroe is also one of the leading lights within this strong par base of a Club and once again had a consistent super season with one of the highlights of the year coming in Tramore for the loft for as well as finishing 1st and 2nd Club he also finished 1st and 2nd in the Irish South Road Federation result with 503 members sending 8,591 pigeons, this was a day that the Sarsfield Club took the first four in the Federation, some achievement considering that this was the most members to send to any one particular race with the Federation. Frank also finished 4th and 6th Club from Pilmore Beach the following week credibly finishing 12th, 53rd, 69th and 70th in the Federation result. Success didn’t stop their but continued into the Y/Bird programme were the loft finished 4th Club from Tramore on July 19th finishing 34th and 69th Federation against the biggest birdage of the year that being 10,758. Next up for Frank was the following week from Pilmore Beach 4th and 5th Club on this occasion 9th and 15th Federation in respect of these two positions within the Club. A few weeks later Frank sent his team back to Pilmore Beach were he finished 6th Club finishing 57th Federation and also had two other arrivals in the Fed result finishing 74th and 92nd Open. Well done Frank on another good season.
Buddy and Amelda Farrelly of the Winters, Farrelly and O'Hanlon partnership topped the Club and Federation from Rosscarbery.
The partnership of Winters, Farrelly and O’Hanlon kept the Sarsfield name to the fore this year in the ISRF Rosscarbery Open race which was held on the 1st of September, with 249 members sending 1,522 pigeons it was a fast affair with the winner doing 1892ypm, such was their achievement the Sarsfield Club also presented them with a Gold Medal.
Brendan Stafford and Son Keith had a super season winning 3 x 1st Club's.
Another partnership never to far away in the result any week in the O/Bird programme is that of Brendan Stafford and son Keith who looks after the day to day running of the ISRF.ie website. This year was no different with three Red Card collected at Club level joint second with Pat Craven on Club wins and only two behind the over-all 2008 champion Pat Byrne. Brendan & Keith finished 6th Club in the first race of 2008 from Thurles before coming up triumphs’ the following week from the difficult Pilmore Beach topping the Club on a velocity of 991ypm which was good enough to earn them 4th Federation with 384 members sending 6581 pigeons. The success continued the following week from Mallow were the father and son team once again topped the Club .1 of a yard in front of Padner Byrne the 1st Club Mallow seen them finish 12th Federation with over 8,000 pigeons competing. Tramore followed with a 6th Club once again finishing high up the Federation result in 16th position with 503 members sending 8,591 pigeons. Rosscarbery a couple of weeks later seen the boys return to the top of the leader board with a super result 1st Club on a Velocity of 1922, winning the Club by 15 yards on a fast day this result also placed them 5th in the Federation with 247 members sending 2,649 pigeons in between that result the loft had ample preparation for the team were already showing form from this race point finishing 5th Club in the first weekend in June which seen them once again in the Fed result just not with one but three arrivals finishing 27th, 55th and 61st. The following week after this and a fortnight before the Rosscarbery success mentioned above the loft also had a successful race from Mallow finishing 5th and 6th Club, 29th, 41st, 75th and 96th Federation with 3,700+ pigeons in competition. Excellent racing Brendan & Keith and extended congratulations to Keith who is set to tie the knot at the start of January.
The 2008 Rosscarbery specialist John Killeen is never to far away any year and always makes it more times than not to the prize distribution table, this year in the Y/Birds alone John topped the Club on two occasions from his favoured Rosscarbery, in the week prior to the 1st Rosscarbery event the convoy were in Pilmore Beach were he finished 6th Club finishing 25th Federation with over 6,000 pigeons competing, Rosscarbery as mentioned above followed the next week, the loft finishing 1st, 4th and 5th Club, which represented 2nd, 27th and 33rd Federation with the loft only beat by .3 of a yard for the Federation honours. The last race of the Y/Bird programme was an Open affair from Rosscarbery once again were the Killeen loft finished 1st Club finishing 4 yards in front of Cole Bros that day john finished an impressive 14th Federation with 223 members sending 3,091 pigeons to the final event of 2008. Well done John on two outstanding performances from the furthest flying inland race point of the programme.
A partnership name mentioned in the previous paragraph is that of Cole Bros, again an awesome partnership the name first came to my attention during the Federation race from Sennen Cove when doing the weekly reports you have a tendency to remember names in that particular race the loft finished 5th Club, that was towards the end of the O/Bird campaign and with the Y/Bird programme only one week gone the Brothers popped up with a Club 1st and 2nd from Tramore which seen them finish 5th and 6th in the over-all Federation result with one of the largest birdages of the year away 10,758. From Pilmore Beach once again with the youngsters the loft finished 4th Club which put them 45th in the Federation result. I also noticed another couple in the result that week finishing 58th and 96th, one week later and the same race point 5th Club finishing 35th Federation. Now these Pilmore Beach results were in between two Irish South Road Fed Open races from Rosscarbery Cole Bros were to finish 2nd Club in both which is good shooting in the first one flown on the 17th of August the loft recorded a velocity of 1851ypm which seen them placed 6th in the Federation. From the 2nd Open race from the same race point which was the last race of 2008 their 2nd Club position placed them in the top 30 of the Fed result. Well done lads.
One of the long standing members of the Sarsfield RPC is Tony Phelan and their has been very few years in that time that this man hasn't made it to the prize table.
Continuing to go through the paper work and with such a strong and competitive Club like the Sarsfield RPC you have quite a few members who merit a mention, next one I come across is a name that is renowned in Ireland Mr & Mrs A & B Phelan, without any doubt one of the legends of the sport in Dublin, Tony finished 2nd club from Talbenny (1) which was difficult enough with over 100 yards splitting the first six in the Club, his excellent arrival finished 2nd Federation with 326 members sending 2,129 pigeons. It was then the Y/Bird campaign that seen the Phelan loft go one better they topped the Club and also the Federation from Pilmore Beach with close to 9,000 pigeons competing, seven weeks later and from the same race point the loft were to finish 4th Club finishing 28th in the over-all Federation result. Excellent racing Tony a 1st and 2nd Federation in 2008.
Mick Hoolihan Jnr was the man to beat from Talbenny (1) he also topped the Federation result with over 2,000 pigeons competing.
Mick Hoolihan (Junior) had another outstanding season himself and also topped the Club from Talbenny (2) in the O/Birds but went one better and topped the Federation also in the same race, not an east achievement and once again over 100 yards between the first six in the Club. This was just one of a number of good results put up by the Hoolihan loft during 2008. For instance from Thurles the loft finished 4th Club finishing 22nd in the Federation 377/8,547, and 3rd Club, 8th Federation Pilmore Beach with close to 9,000 pigeons in competition, well done Mick.
Mick Byrne also had a cracking season and was very well placed in a number of the Club results during the O/Bird season especially from Pilmore Beach in only the 2nd o/Bird race of the season the loft finished 6th Club on a Velocity of 950ypm finishing 37th and also 71st in the Federation result. The same club position (6th) was gained from Rosscarbery at the start of May just finishing outside the top 100 of the Federation. Onwards and upwards from Pilmore Beach a couple of weeks later when Mick finished 2nd Club on a Velocity of 1188ypm which seen a good position of 9th Federation gained with over 6000 pigeons competing. Mallow one week later seen the Byrne loft finish 2nd & 3rd Club, finishing 13th and 17th in the Federation result again with over 6,000 pigeons competing. 1st Club in the ISR Federation Open Race from Sennen Cove was the next highlight flying 227 miles Mick timed his good 2 year old Blue cock to finish 39th Open ISRF. In the last O/Bird race of the season from Rosscarbery prior to St Malo the loft finished 6th Club and 23rd Federation with 247 members sending 2649 pigeons. Very well done Mick
Anto Sweeney won the O/Bird Average for 2008 seen here lifting some of his awards.
Anto Sweeney another fancier who needs no introductions especially to the awards table, yet again Anto was the man who consistently put the birds into the clock during the O/B season so much so he is the 2008 winner of the Sarsfield O/B Average Award, and in such a strong club for a young(ish) fancier some going. In the very first O/Bird race of 2008 from Thurles Anto recorded 3 arrivals in the top 100 of the Federation result finishing 73rd, 86th and 98th. From Mallow with 431 members sending 8,059 pigeons the loft finished 72nd Federation. On the return to Mallow a month later Anto Sweeney topped the Club also finishing 4th, in the Federation he ended up 6th, 19th and 29th with 6072 pigeons competing. Rosscarbery the following week seen another two well placed in the Federation result finishing 39th and 58th. From Sennen Cove on the 14th of June Anto finished 2nd club and 87th Federation and on the same day from his favoured race point of Mallow the loft finished 2nd & 3rd Club ending up 10th and 14th Federation against 3741 birds. The Irish South Road Federation Open Race took place the following week and with the loft firing in all cylinders it wasn’t surprising to find the Sweeney loft with three good arrivals in the Federation top 100 finishing 11th, 20th and 46th. Rosscarbery was the last inland race in the O/Bird programme flown on the 28th of June with the Sweeney loft finishing 86th Federation. Anto Sweeney also won the O/Bird of the Year in the Sarsfield RPC to crown what was an excellent year indeed for a fancier who continues to move up the leader board annually.
Paul Dunne & Son were the next partnership that I came across in this Annual prize giving report, this loft had a very good arrival from Rosscarbery winning the Club by .1 of a yard from Mr & Mrs Mick Flynn, it turned out to be an exceptional pigeon on the day finishing 2nd in the Federation with 367 members sending 4,842 pigeons.
Gerry Emerson & Daughter also deserve a mention for an outstanding performance from Sennen Cove in the O/Birds topping the Club on a velocity of 1168ypm finishing 59th Federation with their good Yearling Blue Hen. The Channel seemed to be Gerry’s forte for he also finished 5th Club in Talbenny (1) finishing 81st Federation and also from Talbenny once again the following week the loft finished 6th Club. Very well done on some terrific performances from the cross channel events.
Mr & Mrs T Quearney & Daughters also topped the Club during 2008 from Pilmore Beach in the Y/Birds on a velocity of 1460ypm finishing 22nd in the Federation result with 6,500+ pigeons competing. This was only one of a number of good Y/Bird performances for Tony during 2008 having a quick look through the results I see the loft finished 4th and 6th Club in the ISR Federation Open race from Rosscarbery in the middle of August finishing 24th and 31st in the Federation result with 239 members sending 3,508 pigeons. Also from Pilmore Beach towards the latter part of the season the loft scored once again finishing 2nd & 3rd Club and 17th and 18th Federation respectively against a commendable 5,127 pigeons.
2008 was a year that the Miller Gold Cup was won into Dublin by Dave Browne of the Northside & District RPC and congratulations to him once again. Locally in the Sarsfield Club the partnership of Tyrell Bros had the only bird in the Club timing their good Mealy 4 year old cock on the second day to record a velocity of 485ypm for the 382 mile fly.
Gary Byrne also is due some praise for his excellent Club success from the Irish South road Federation Open race from Barleycove. Gary timed his 2 year old Red Cock a few seconds short of 3 hours on the wing flying 193 miles winning 225 Euro for his efforts. Over-all he finished 8th Open on a velocity of 1902ypm with 283 members sending 2,423 birds.
Before ending my report on the Sarsfield presentation with yet another Byrne partnership I must mention Willie Brennan & Sons who had a wonderful result from Talbenny (2) in the O/Birds finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club which seen them finish 20th, 38th and 66th Federation against 1,310 birds. The previous week from the same race point the loft finished 4th Club and 66th in the Federation over-all result with over 2,000 pigeons competing on that occasion. Such results were enough to earn the Brennan partnership the 2008 Channel Average within the Club, very well done.
The Ledgendary Padner & Patti Byrne (Mr & Mrs P Byrne) pick up their awards from Paddy O'Callaghan.
Now I thought I would keep this partnership to the end, what an excellent example this man is of what the Sarsfield Club is all about Mr Padner Byrne who races in partnership with his lovely wife Patti. What can I now write that hasn’t been wrote over the years about this mans racing exploits, he is quite simply a legend. It was only last year that this man enjoyed an exceptional season that seen him crowned the Irish South Road Federation O/Bird Champion of the Year. This of course is nothing new for Padner for he has been at the top of the summit of success ever since starting to race 46 years ago, and to this day he is still racing in the mighty Sarsfield RPC, in fact such is his involvement and commitment in pigeons that this has rubbed not only off onto Pat his son and the 2008 Sarsfield Champion but also his other son Tony as well. Padner also has brothers racing pigeons all within the Sarsfield Club. There is hardly a year that goes past that the man of the moment doesn’t lift at least one Red Card and 2008 was no different topping the club from the Irish South Road Federation Open Race from Barleycove during the month of May that particular day the husband and wife team timed their good 2 year old pied cock flying four and a quarter hours to finish 6th Open for the 194 mile fly winning 223 Euro for its efforts. This of course as you would come to expect was only one of a number of results gained in 2008 and I have every confidence that Padner will be working hard in 2009 to try and win the title of Sarsfield RPC Champion from his son Pat, what an exceptional award winning family of pigeon fanciers.
Well that concludes my report on the 2008 Prize Distribution for the mighty Sarsfield RPC, no doubt I have missed somebody out, so I hold my hands high now, sincere apologies. What a Club and what a membership list. I will pen off by thanking the Committee, Members and of course the hard working Staff for all their hospitality during 2008 and look forward to seeing you all in 2009.
Adie McCormick
Ireland’s Own Pigeon Auctions
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
email celestiallofts@aol.com
Anthony Winston picks up some awards during the Sarsfield RPC Dinner & Prize Distribution held recently in Dublin
Tony Quearney of the Mr & Mrs T Quearney & Daughters partnership had a super result from Pilmore Beach during 2008.
The G Emerson & Daughter partnership topped the Sarsfield RPC from Sennen Cove in the O/Birds Gerry seen here lifting his award.
Paul Dunne picks up his prize money for 2008 from Paddy O'Callaghan
Gary Byrne was in hot form in 2008 and made the result more times than not in the mighty Sarsfield RPC.
The Farrell loft had a number of excellent result during 2008 and John picks up his award from Paddy.
The E Somers & Son partnership had an exceptional year also Paul is pictured collecting his awards.
Anthony Killeen has seen some pigeons in his day and continues to enjoy the sport as much now as he did all those years ago, pictured here collecting his awards from Paddy O'Callaghan.