The great success from the Kings Cup Plaudren when many day arrivals were recorded giving us one of the best ever races no doubt influenced the entry for the Friendship Nat, just for one moment we were led into thinking this racing out of France was not so difficult at all. Just over 1,000 birds were race marked for Picauville, due to a film being done we only had the use of the side shed, a bit tighter that usual but the job was managed in the usual dedicated way. Not just as many helpers but with the expected smaller entry enough to get the job done. The small transporter was on site early and the larger than usual crates were set up for the ring marking. Due to pressure on the space the filled crates were not leaded until the ringing was complete, just a few short minutes and the transporter was filled and ready to go. Liberation was as planned on Friday 10th July at 6.00am, and birds were expected on the day from what was regarded as a middle distance race. It turned out a long wait and still no birds after 12 hours, confidence was getting high in Newry for M Maguire & Son were getting the race they were looking for. At 8.39pm not only did they get one bird but two arrivals together and they took 1st & 2nd Open INFC both doing velocity 911 for the 393 miles. Just 8 day birds were confirmed in total from Picauville and with good conditions in the early part of Saturday more birds should have been recorded, although down the country was not as good. On the first day the race closed at 22.50hrs to re-open Saturday at 4.50am. We all know now the final total for the three days was just 22 gallant arrivals, some others made home over the next number of days.
Hard to know what the problem was, it did look like the big band of rain that swept across the lower part of Ireland and on across the Irish Sea and on to the mainland did the damage. The weather this season has been almost impossible, for the Kings Cup the weather changed for the better over the course of the race while from Picauville it appeared the big band of heavy rain was impossible to get around. I am no expert on either the weather or related websites but I did notice a very good weather display on the popular Met Eireann, a site all the local fancy should be watching. It certainly put racing from France back in perspective; we nearly got carried away with the highly successful Kings Cup. The Friendship Nat was sponsored by Versele-Laga and the three top cups for competition will be won by M Maguire & Son from the Millvale club in Newry. The Friendship Cup for 1st Open INFC, British Barcelona Cup for race runner-up and the Henry Beattie & Son Trophy for the Best 2 Bird Average.
Malachy Maguire & Son (Millvale) - 1st & 2nd Open, Vel 911, 911 plus £1,955
What more can you say about this outstanding Newry Loft. Malachy and Mark Maguire have continually shown over recent years what distance racing is all about, surprisingly this is the lofts first National Success flying with the INFC, having already enjoyed National winning success with the NIPA, including winning the Yearling Hens National as well as Mark winning the O/Bird National last year to name just a couple of their extensive CV of success especially at the distance. They are without any doubt one of the leading lofts around Ireland at this present time when it comes to the challenging cross channel events especially those flown from France.
With only 22 pigeons recorded in race time, what an achievement to record 1st and 2nd Open with literally only seconds separating both pigeons, which was down to the order of trapping via the ETS, as both pigeons came together battling it out, some say it is possible they stayed together from the off right back to the loft in Newry, as if both pigeons knew each other which is a great possibility when you learn that they are flying to nest boxes beside each other.
There has to be a 1st Open winner among them and the honour falls to "Newry Queen" a National win that Malachy has dedicated to his wonderful wife who many in the area will know is named the "Queen". The National winner a two year old Blue Hen was timed at 6.39pm recording a velocity of 911ypm flying 393 miles to the lofts that over look Newry City. This hen was sent to the race in theory sitting 16 days, but a couple of days prior to basketing Malachy slipped the hen a chipping egg and once a few hours hatched the youngster was swapped for a 3 - 4 day old youngster just before basketing. This was the hens first eggs of the year, something that Malachy believes very highly on is motivation and he has a tendency not to breed from his hens for maybe two or three years keeping this area of motivation for the ultimate challenge that he has pencilled in for certain pigeons. What more Motivation does a pigeon require than this. The breeding is once a gain centred on the fantastic "Home Alone" winner of the Fourges smash for Malachy in 2002. What a pigeon this is and a more detailed report on Malachy's successful family will be covered by Adie in a loft profile he is doing for the BHW Stud Book, so keep an eye for that. Also in the National winners pedigree is the Kings Cup winning Bloodlines of David Black of Dromore.
The 2nd Open pigeon which was as equal a National winner to the above pigeon was also timed at 6.39pm once again yet another Blue Hen this one was a 3 year old and prepared in the exact same way and this one once again has the fantastic "Home Alone" in the pedigree the National winner is a Double Granddaughter and this one is a direct Daughter of "Home Alone", responsible now for well over 35 first prize winners at various levels of competition including 1st National. “Lady Rose” was named after Malachy's late mother who always knew he was destined to winner an Irish National. Both pigeons were trained hard prior to the race with a few single tosses in all weathers from a distance of 60 miles. A very worthy National winning loft and a huge following is likely at the National Dinner to celebrate this National success for a very much admired father and son partnership. Thanks to Adie for this loft feature.
A Thompson (Ballyclare) – 3rd Open, Vel 880, plus £556
Ballyclare have a fantastic record in the INFC Nat racing and Arnold Thompson would be one of the star lofts in that area, three birds arrived around 8.00pm and one of those were for Arnold. The other two were for next door neighbour C & L Woodside and I will cover those next. Hardly a race would go past without either, or both these top lofts placed. Arnold timed a Blue Pied yearling hen, this one contained all the top bloodlines of C & L Woodside.
C & L Woodside (Ballyclare) – 4th & 5th Open, Vel 880, 879 plus £120
It’s hard knowing where to start when covering C & L Woodside who continue to race the bloodlines of the famous Smyth Bros from Ballymena, among others. Just recently, 2007 in fact they won the Blue Riband YB Nat with “Skilgan Choice” a very hard race doing vel 844. Just a few years earlier they came close to the INFC Nat Championship and then won it in 2003, the famous Erwin Cup for Best Ave all Races. Both birds this time were 2yo away on young birds and in France for the first time. The bird timed first was a Smokey Blue cock, a late bred and the second bird was a Smokey Blue hen. They contain all the old bloodlines, had four races in Ireland and Talbenny. The C & L Woodside lines are involved in the bird timed by N & C Shields of the Skerries on the third day, a cock bird on loan was the sire. This loft have a super record and Leslie was telling me he was working hard at getting some hens ready for the Old Hen National, the first time the loft will be sending.
P McCullough & Daughter (Downpatrick) – 6th Open, Vel 852 plus £263
Had very early contact with Philip and as promised he send some details and a couple of photos. He writes - In 2006 the loft was crowned the INFC Nat Champion after starting back in the pigeons in 2004 at my new address and timing in all 7 National races. I then missed racing in 2008 when I tried to emigrate to Australia, which just wasn’t to be. This year I started back racing again and continued my good form especially in the big national events. I started the year with 5 unraced yearlings in my old bird team, and lost 3 in the first race, I had 1 left for the Yearling National and he done me proud being 88th Open from Sennen Cove at 293 miles. In the Friendship National I timed a 5yo Blue cock, see photo. He is mainly Busschaert breeding with a little Herbot, and a little Van Loon. He has been a consistent racer over the years. This year before going to the French National he had 6 races the last being Talbenny in South Wales, then it was just training by car. He was paired up and was sent to the race feeding a ten day old youngster. Two weeks ago from St Malo I timed his son, a 2yo Blue Tipped cock at 9.15pm on the night to be 10th Sect F & 124th Open NIPA. In the photos I am holding father and son and my daughter Courtney is holding "Black Magic" who in 2006 was 71st Open INFC Kings Cup Vannes and last week 2009 he was 58th Open INFC Kings Cup Plaudren. Many thanks Philip, we will be watching out for these birds in the future.
M Hughes (Edgarstown) – 7th Open, Vel 835 plus £294
Mark Hughes is now out and distance and what success the loft is having, remember last year he had the Best 2 Bird Average in the Friendship National from Quimper timing two yearlings on the second morning. He and father Cyril have a super record with the NIPA in one Golden Year 1992 they had 1st Talbenny YB Derby and 4 x 1st Open NIPA. The family of birds raced now are their own old family of birds Felix Pauwels and Pros Roosen mixed with the best of McMullan of Carnlough. The bird from Picauville is also a yearling This Cheq hen now named “Miss Endurance” is something really special, a full sister to the second bird timed in the race last year. She was sent to the final race just looking at a cock, earlier she scored 13th North Sect & 31st Open INFC Yearling Nat Sennen Cove doing vel 1170, 8th Sect E & 15th Open NIPA St Malo OB Nat vel 1185 and then 7th Open INFC Picauville timed on the day at 20.23hrs flying 410 miles. This is a family of birds to watch, well done lads and thanks to Derek Parr for getting me in touch.
P Rock & Son (Skerries) – 8th Open, Vel 832 plus £168
Paddy and Martin Rock are dedicated to the racing from France and have had their share of major awards, including 1st Kings Cup and a few weeks earlier winning a Hall of Fame Diploma for the first time. Martin has sent me a photo of the flashy Dark Pied cock which was timed in the Friendship Nat actually the first bird timed at 18.15hrs but flying short at 347 miles into Dublin. Yet again he has the best bird in the South Sect and 1st East Coast Federation. The yearling cock was sent to Picauville on widowhood, his last race before France was from Pilmore Beach some 126 miles at the end of June. Earlier in the month he had been sent to the Yearling Nat Sennen Cove but struggled returning six days later, which proves that birds are capable of doing different things on different days and all should be given the chance. Breeding of the bird is no surprise the sire is a son of the lofts Kings Cup winner “Champion Jack” and his dam is a daughter of an Ernie Deacon cock when he was paired to a hen of Kelly Bros (Malahide) bloodlines. Ever thoughtful the partners wish to thank Mick Gorman and Eddie Campbell for their time running Balbriggan clock station during the year. Well done again to Paddy Rock & Son of the Skerries.
Mr & Mrs Magill (Muckamore) – 9th Open, Vel 797 plus £31
Still living in Randalstown Roy and Catherine Magill now fly their birds in Muckamore HPS, they had been out of the birds for a number of years but what a record the loft had when racing. Numerous prizes plus 1st YB Nat Penzance in 1988 and a collection of cups including McGugan Cup, Jarvis Cup, Rhead Cup, Diamond Cup, Presidents Cup and the Erwin Trophy for INFC Nat Champion. In 1989 they won the Friendship Cup for 1st Open INFC Sartilly, what a time that was. Just recently they have been starting to gain more success at the big Nat races, the family raced now are the Louella Jan Aarden. Their bird this time was recorded at 21.41hrs to record velocity 797 for the 426 miles, a 2yo Blue cock in France for the first time. He was racing widowhood, his last race was Fermoy and before that was in Talbenny. He is a g/son of the good France hen flying over 14 hours in the Kings Cup race won by Jimmy Greer, has finished 11th & 93rd Open INFC Messac (517 miles) just 135 birds in 2004 and 108 birds in 2005, and was home from Plaudren on the third day this year. He would be closely related as well to the winner of 34th Friendship Nat from Quimper last year, just 42 birds recorded at 475 miles. Many thanks Roy for the call, well done.
J Waring & Son (Lisburn & District) – 10th Open, Vel 555 plus £31
Another top distance loft that has a great record of achievement, Jackie Waring & Son from Lisburn & District have a super record, previous winner of a Hall of Fame Diploma and a winner of the Friendship Nat when the race was flown from St Malo in 1999 when the winner was timed around 5.00pm. The Hall of Fame winner had flown France on five occasions, twice Dinard with the NIPA and then three times in the Kings Cup prizes. The Friendship Nat is a lucky event, as well as winning the loft have finished 3rd Open in 1998, 8th Open in 2002 from Fougeres, and like this year 10th Open in 2008 from Quimper. This year the loft timed in all three France races, in the NIPA Nat he has a number of top places including 2nd Open, he has only failed once since 1990 the failure was when only 14 birds homed. He timed two birds on the second day from Picauville at 9.30am and 10.43am to finish 10th & 12th Open. Both birds were 2yo and sent on eggs 10-12 days. The first arrival a Red Ch cock had two inland races and Talbenny while the second bird a Pied hen had both Talbenny and Bude before France. Both birds have similar bloodlines, his old family of Verheye and McCartney Bros that have produced a lot of winners and a bird bred by Len Magee & Son. The dam of the first bird was timed from Picauville the last time the Friendship Nat was flown from this point.
Just one bird made home into the big Mid Antrim Combine area, a bit unusual which I understand might have been the case at least once before when Alan Darragh had the only bird in the Kings Cup. Cullybackey was where the bird was timed, they have a long tradition of scoring in the long distance events, especially from France. Chairman of the club Harry McCloy had the only bird this time racing to the famous location of The Rock, Reid Bros were timing birds there long before my time and were they living would have been more than pleased with this performance. Although his mum and dad have raced for years as H & R McCloy, Harry is a new start, or sort of new. The bird he timed was a Hartog from a kit of birds obtained from Louella Lofts in 2006 the first year he raced. The Blue Ch cock was keen sitting eggs the whole time his hen was away to the Kings Cup the week previous. The cock was a consistent racer, timed a number of times on the channel including Penzance this year prior to France. Harry has topped the club a few times, has won 1st Mid Antrim Combine in a YB Area Liberation, and has now topped MAC from France.
Malachy and Mark Maguire from Millvale in Newry took 1st & 2nd Open INFC Picauville plus almost £2,000.
Ballyclare ace flyer Arnold Thompson scored 3rd Open INFC Picauville Friendship Nat.
Leslie Woodside from Ballyclare records two early arrivals from Picauville to finish 4th and 5th Open INFC.
The racing loft of C & L Woodside, Ballyclare in County Antrim.
Philip McCullough & Daughter Courtney from Downpatrick recent INFC Nat Champions and 6th Open INFC Picauville. See text.
Blue cock winner of 6th Open Friendship Nat for P McCullough & Daughter of Downpatrick.
Mark Hughes (Edgarstown) won the 2 Bird Ave in the Friendship Nat in 2008 from Quimper, he finished 7th Open in 2009 from Picauville.
The top Dublin partnership of Paddy Rock and son Martin, won a Hall of Fame in the Kings Cup and then 8th Open INFC Picauville.
The yearling Black Pied cock that finished 8th Open INFC Picauville for P Rock & Son, Dublin.
Former INFC Nat Champion Roy Magill from Muckamore took 9th Open INFC Picauville.
Jackie Waring from Lisburn at the Beattie Night in Portadown with INFC President Ken McConaghie (l) and Versele Laga Area Sales Manager Matthias Rodeyns (r).
Harry McCloy with the only bird timed in the Mid Antrim Combine from Picauville. He races to a famous location "The Rock" in Cullybackey, home to the legendary Reid Bros.