INFC Update - Ronnie Johnston (Patron)

It was in 1932 that His Majesty King George V presented a new cup to the Irish National Flying Club to be known as The King George V Challenge Cup and was to be awarded to the winner of the OB Grand National.

The 1932 Grand National race was flown from Les Sables at a distance of some 600 miles and the race was won by R Hawthorn from Ligoniel in North Belfast.This race was flown under IHU rules and it was not until 1948 that the Kings Cup was flown under IHU and RPRA rules.The race in 1948 was won by Sammy Robinson from Belfast.

The Irish National Flying Club have a six race programme for the 2020 season which enables its members to compete in the inland Nationals or over the channel at the very highest level. I hope you will enjoy using the website as it will be a source of information through out the season. Good luck to all members competing in this years Nationals. Ronnie Johnston Patron INFC.

The INFC has 2,100 members across Ireland. The 6 Race Programme includes the famous Kings Cup from France. Friendship Nat is also France, Ylr Nat Sennen Cove, YB Nat Penzance and OB and YB Nat from Skibbereen. Numerous other awards including Gold Medal, Hall of Fame Diploma, Triple Championship, Single Bird Challenge, 3 Bird Championship, Merit Awards etc. Results, Reports, Latest News etc. See Website http://www.irishnationalflyingclub.com or http://www.infc.co.uk
Post Reply
willie reynolds
Posts: 6819
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:44 pm

INFC Update - Ronnie Johnston (Patron)

Post by willie reynolds »

El Cid - Hall of Fame Diploma winner

In this weeks column let me give you the race of a super red chequer
cock named El Cid. This magnificent cock was bred by the current INFC
chairman Sid Collins and raced by the late Billy Erwin of Ballymena.
Billy, former Kings Cup winner in 1969 from Nantes with the brilliant
Moonlight Manequin was also in his career the winner of the Old Bird
Derby.

Billy Erwin was a class fancier with a great National record but I
knew deep down he always wanted to win the coveted Hall Of Fame Award
with the INFC. Sid Collins bred a red chequer cock in 1986 for Billy
and this pigeon named El Cid was in his time one of the best racing
pigeons in Ireland. Sire was a mealy grandson of Mountsmada Queen 1st
Open INFC Kings Cup in 1976 from Rennes for the Adams Bros of West
Belfast. Dam from an inbred grandson of Moonlight Mannequin Billy's
Kings Cup winner. El Cid also carries the old Locke bloodlines through
a red hen from Downey & Dodds that came via the late Billy Parkes, El
Cid won 9th Club Bude 289 miles; 4th Club Penzance 330 miles; 18th
Section & 35th Open NIPA Dinard OB Derby 470 miles and then in
successive years 77th, 170th & 150th Open INFC Kings Cup Rennes
winning the coveted Hall of Fame Diploma at 510 miles. Moonlight
Mannequin may have won the Kings Cup but El Cid made Billy's wish come
true.

INFC AGM

The AGM will be held in Lusburn, Sat 27th February and already secretary Trevor
Topping has had a number of items for the agenda. Drug testing for the
leading birds in the Nationals. New race point for the Friendship
National. The AGM to discuss the feasibility of flying the Kings Cup
from 550-600 miles. Making the Friendship National a long distance
event. Creating a new race for 2yo plus birds around mid July. I am
sure you will agree the place to discuss these important proposals are
at the AGM.

The INFC members flew for a total of £120,000 in pool and prize money
in 2009. The Kings Cup and the Yearling National accounted for more
than half this total. Some outstanding individual winners were H Walsh
& son of Millvale £3,331 Kings Cup; G Buckley & Sons of Annaghmore
£2,469 Kings Cup; P Rock & Son of Skerries £2,281 Yearling; B McCann &
Son of Bray £2,131 Yearling; P Rock & Son of Skerries £1,996 Kings
Cup; J Kelly & Sons of Dromore £1,798 Kings Cup.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Irish National Flying Club”