Pay a visit to the coastal village of Killyleagh , in County Down , and mention the words racing pigeons to any of the old hands and one name will come to the fore – Herbie McVeigh - Herbie McVeigh,Killyleagh, , is one of the old hands of the sport and has always loved his beloved sport and his pigeons. Those who know him will understand that , Herbie didn’t just race pigeons he lived and breathed pigeons for most of his life. Yes he had a break here and there when his job took him to foreign shores, but he always came back to the sport he loves. Herbie has raced in the Killyleagh Central Club for the past 50 odd years and was the club Financial Secretary for most of that time. He is also a Past President of the NIPA and for many years was a stalwart of the NIPA Committee.
Above all Herbie has always been a sportsman, relentless in his pursuit of trophies and club wins but always there to lend a helping hand and offer advice from his vast experience to new fanciers and where necessary a few young birds to get them started. Above all he is the first to congratulate anyone who wins a race, but reminds them that 2 is their limit, they have to give the older members, like himself, their turn. He seems to forget the many years he won more than his fair share, he was the man everyone had to beat in Killyleagh Central for many years and still is. He could and did win from any racepoint during the season, winning many open and section positions in both the NIPA and the East Down Combine as well. In his club, to win the averages you have to compete in every club race in the race programme. Herbie’s name is predominant on the Averages trophies for both the NIPA and EDC, old bird inland, old bird channel, YBs and combined averages. He has been as successful in short distance races as he has in the channel and Derby races. But it also shows his dedication to the sport, when you have to send birds every week and never miss. You only have to look at this past season in the middle of a Covid pandemic and the chaos it has brought, Herbie tops the club Averages in the EDC Old Bird Aves, Channel Aves and Combined Aves.
For many years Herbie and his wife Blanche were annual pilgrims to the Blackpool Show and Herbie bought many good birds at the show. Attending the Show, he forged a friendship with the late Eddie Wright of Fountainhead Stud and sourced the very best of Eddie’s Janssen Winning Family . Herbie raced these bloodlines and won everything that was possible to win in the shorter to middle distance events , up to channel level inc. Penzance . He has also had same success with birds obtained from good friend , Gerald Delaney - Oroory Hill Stud - Herbie also obtained the very best long distance bloodlines that was available from the late Eddie Wright – Fountainhead Stud - based on the Mr Gallant lines to cross into his excellent team of long distance birds and it is in this area that Herbie deserves the greatest credit. When he moved to Killyleagh, Herbie became next door neighbour to Billy Walkingshaw of A Walkingshaw and Son fame. They remained lifelong friends and swapped pigeons on a regular basis. When Billy passed away Herbie took it upon himself to keep the Walkingshaw strain in existence. For decades he has kept a small family of Walkingshaw birds in his lofts. He crosses them for racing on the channel and inbreeds them to keep the family as pure as possible. Herbie has in his lofts birds that can be traced back to the Walkingshaw birds that were so successful in the major French races and which still form the base of many top fanciers “ Top French Performers” . Some of the top French Walkingshaw Performers that Herbie calls to mind are “ MoneyBags” , his brother Billy and the “French Hen” ( Flown France 9 times and clocked in 8 of those in race time, a phenomenal performance ) .
Herbie has without doubt the best team of “Walkingshaw” birds in existence and the their bloodlines can be traced back to the Walkingshaw greats.It is a fact that there are existing lofts across Ireland that have timed birds from France which have Walkingshaw blood in their veins. Many of them got their Walkingshaws from “ the man himself” Herbie . Herbie McVeigh,Killyleagh, turns 90 years of age this month and has decided it is time to bow out gracefully from racing his pigeons. His health is not the best and he feels he cannot devote the time and effort that the birds deserve in order to obtain their maximum potential . Those who know him will understand this decision was not an easy one .
STOP PRESS : Herbie has decided to offer his entire team of birds – Total Clearance Sale – to the fancy. Due to Covid 19 , these birds will be sold online only – no live event - on the Pigeon Craic Auction Site - www.pigeoncraic.com/auctions - This event will be held ASAP – At present pedigrees and photos of the birds are being taken but you will all realise that due to the moult it is not easy and take a little time to finish the task in hand . Keep an eye on the fancy press and the Pigeon Craic Website for the latest info – or you can email : infopigeoncraic@gmail.com
Herbie McVeigh - Killyleagh