Following an ever increasing number of requests for my pen to come back out a bit more regular, I have decided with the approval first of all from the official NIPA Press Officer Willie Reynolds to do a small report on my local Section D area of the NIPA each week during the racing seasons. And will start my first report of 2010 looking at the first three races which the members of Section D have flown, with the Mighty NIPA starting with a look around this weeks results from Roscrea.
The top velocity recorded from Roscrea as we go to press in Section D was by the partnership of Doonan & McGuinness who race with the Dromore HPS. I called to the lofts on Sunday morning sited on the Drumbroneth Road area of the town and was met by Rowan Doonan and his son Wayne who runs the very successful Cock Crow Stud containing many of the modern day families sourced from the best that money can buy. They have a superb modern set-up and since my last visit now have a new substantial loft erected for the Y/Bird race programme this season measuring some 30ft by 8ft divided into three sections and kitted out with all the mod cons, and as Wayne commented if you are going to do something you might as well do it right and going by the new loft put in place for the youngsters this will likely be the first of many winning visits to the father and son team before the end of September 2010. Dromore HPS 16 members sent 625 pigeons 1st Doonan & McGuinness 1662, 2nd P & J Boal 1651, 3rd Doonan & McGuinness 1648, 4th Mr & Mrs Gerald Delaney 1646, 5th Mr & Mrs Gerald Delaney 1645, 6th Mr & Mrs Gerald Delaney 1645, 7th Mr & Mrs Gerald Delaney 1644, 8th Jeff Greenaway 1628, 9th Jeff Greenaway 1627 and 10th H & H Hodgen 1621. Doonan & McGuinness timed a yearling Blue Bar Widowhood Cock who was only on his third race of his career two races as a youngster and the first race of 2010. Timed at 2.09pm flying 121 miles the partnership look very good for top Section D honours. The pigeon is in fact a G/Son of the famous “Dutch Master” bred from the excellent lines of Herman Cuesters when paired into the excellent lines of Marijka Vink, this line of pigeons are just not winning for Wayne and father Rowan but a number of fanciers especially in the Section D area of the NIPA. This will in fact be seven Section Winners bred by Wayne Doonan of the Cock Crow Stud direct from this line of pigeons. With 30 pigeons sent by the father and son team to Roscrea it was a super performance to come out in front, especially in front of close neighbour and club mate Philip Boal of the P & J Boal team who finished 2nd Club and also 2nd Section D with the brothers having won the Section last week finishing 2nd Open NIPA Tullamore with 24,776 pigeons competing. Philip and Joe Boal have had a wonderful start to the 2010 O/Bird season.
They where off to a flyer from Tullamore in the first week of the campaign with over 422 pigeons competing in the Club the loft finished 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th with the first couple finishing 5th & 6th in the strong Section D of the mighty NIPA with 2,093 pigeons competing. The leading pigeon was a Kees Bosua/Willy Van Herck coming direct from a son of the ‘Kannibal’ when paired to a daughter direct from Philip & Joe’s No 1 Willy Van Herck pair, the loft which is racing Old Hens for the first time in recent years, which I am personally glad to see after years of pleading with Philip, although talk is cheap, as with Phil working in the building industry he is away most mornings from 7am until teatime five days a week and that small gap before leaving for work, unfortunately wasn’t adequate time for both cocks and hens to be race prepared. This year for the first time he has decided to fly the cocks in the morning only, for the maximum time prior to work with them going out again on return from work, but not for so long with an hour allocated for the hens, off course as we all know this is the time of the year that youngsters will also be schooled, so all go, so to speak for the working fancier. Last week from Tullamore (2) flying just a few yards short of 103 miles the loft of P & J Boal seen the first major dividends from starting to race hens as the first four arrivals where all hens with the loft finishing 1st, 14th, 15th, 40th, 41st & 42nd Section D and 2nd, 54th, 57th, 150th and 165th Open with 24,000 + pigeons competing. Philip timed his Dark Cheq Yearling Widowhood Hen at 1.50pm flying 103 miles the second pigeon timed was third to the loft last week sure signs of a team in fine form. The winning pigeon in question this week was a pure Frans Van Tilbourg bred pigeon and also a winner of 72nd Open from Fermoy with 11,979 pigeons competing last year as a Y/Bird. I hear you ask WHO, well Philip has purchased no less than 26 direct from this fancier who is entering his 86th year of age and still winning on average some 25 x 1st’s per year, on top of that Ace Y/Bird and Ace O/Birds in his Federation against some 2,000 fanciers, a number of top European Stables have now sourced the Van Tilbourg bloodlines. The P & J Boal team as far back as this time last year talked about their excitement of bringing what they classed as the most exciting family of Sprint/Middle Distance pigeons into Ireland on their own website and considering the winning they and many others done with the Willy Van Herck family including myself, I have a very strong feeling we will be reading much more about the Fran Van Tilbourg strain. Now back to this weeks race and 2nd Club, 2nd Section D the pigeon timed is the G/Son of the ‘Kannibal’ which won the Club for Philip & Joe the first week of racing also finished 5th Club and 41st Section and 165th Open NIPA last week.
The Colin HPS is next up and with the result emailed by the reliable Eamon Gregory it was to be the turn of the Gregory loft to come out in front somewhere they have proved to be very familiar with over recent years. Colin HPS 12 members sent 256 birds – 1st J Gregory and sons 1649, 2nd J Gregory and sons 1638, 3rd J Gregory and sons 1629, 4th S Rice 1625, 5th J Gregory and sons 1613, 6th J Gregory and sons 1613, 7th J Gregory and sons 1612, 8th O and M Monaghan 1605, 9th O and M Monaghan 1604, 10th D Mc Parland 1603. Super result for the Gregory loft from Roscrea with 6 of the first 10 in the Club including the first three which will all be well placed in the NIPA Section result. Lost in the Belfast area - NEHU 08 GF 5044 if found please contact 07967976589.
Lisburn & District HPS 33/690 – 1st Spence Bros 1639, 2nd S G Briggs 1630, 3rd A T & J Houston 1626, 4th Mark Laffin 1618, 5th L Magee & Son 1605, 6th L Magee & Son 1605, 7th S G Briggs 1593, 8th J McCready 1591, 9th W Dougherty 1585, 10th H Mackin & Son 1584. Well done to the father and son team Brian & Roy for yet another win against strong birdage in the Big Club as its known. They timed a 2 Year Old Belg a line they have had good joy with, a full brother of this weeks winner also topped the Club as a yearling.
Derriaghy HPS – 1st Ian Gibb & Sons 1630, 2nd Ian Gibb & Sons 1629, 3rd Ian Kennedy 1612, 4th Ian Gibb & Sons 1603, 5th Ian Gibb & Sons 1597, 6th Ian Kennedy 1596. Winner this week for the ever consistent Gibb team is a Lambrecht direct from Belgium. Ian Gibb who races along with his son Peter in the Derriaghy HPS and also are competing in the Glenavy HPS for the first time this year. I have had the great pleasure of visiting many of the European elite with Ian over the last three years and in more instances than not huge sums of money have changed hands to bring the best back to Ireland including more recently Van Den Brande and Alfon Slaets, but as stated earlier to name all the fanciers to which the Gibb & Byrne Stud have put their faith and money in would be more than I would have time and space to mention they own without doubt one if not the biggest Studs in Ireland and with such investment you will strive for results. Of course not easy working full-time firstly then managing a Stud and feeding business before you contemplate racing pigeons but Ian assisted with son Peter make a fine attempt at mastering it all. I am currently putting the finishing touches to a loft profile on the Gibb & Byrne team for the Racing Pigeon Pictorial but to mention just the results Ian Gibb & son Peter have achieved in the first couple of weeks on the 2010 season. From the first race from Tullamore they could not have asked for a better start finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Club Derriaghy also topping Section D of the Mighty NIPA with a Soontjen remembering that the Gibb & Byrne stud own one of the finest collections of Soontjen pigeons anywhere in Europe this winner being a direct son of the famous ‘Willy Wonka’ a winner on the road before stock of 1st Club, 3rd Section D and 52nd Open NIPA, also 2nd Club U/Federation Navan also 2nd Open Ulster Federation, 3rd Club Thurles and 4th Club Navan. He is direct from a son of the ‘Wazir’ when paired to a direct daughter of the famous ‘Shadow’. ‘Willy Wonka’ to produce the NIPA Section D Winner from Tullamore for Ian & Peter was paired to a G/Daughter of the famous ‘Strauss’ a winner of 4 x RPRA Awards and now owned by Gibb & Byrne. Well that was last week, this week from the same race point the loft continued in their fine form even with wind conditions against them from the off, six pigeons arrived together at the Gibb lofts from Tullamore a distance of 112 miles to the lofts sited on the Old Park Road area of Lisburn. In all the father and son team recorded 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Club Derriaghy with the wining pigeon a Van Loon gifted to the boys from Willie Neill of Annaghmore. The runner-up in the Club was bred by the boys themselves from the best of the Marijka Vink stock with the third in the Club containing once again the best of the Vink bloodlines when paired to one of their top Kees Bosua Stock. As for their performance in the Glenavy HPS the second Club the partnership now race in, well they take 1st and 2nd Club their as well with the winner being a direct son of last weeks NIPA Section Winner for the loft from Tullamore, 2nd pigeon over the ETS Pad was direct from their excellent family of Geert Van Hove Uytterhoeven pigeons purchased at vast cost direct from all their champions. With third pigeon in the Clock for Glenavy containing all the top bloodlines of the ‘Hollywood Hen’ of Mike Ganus one that has proved its worth at stock, with six together really any of the aforementioned could have had Red Card honours. It turned out to be a super weekend for the Gibb lofts as good friend Robert Gore racing along with father Ashley topped the Ulster Federation affiliated Lagan Valley RPC with one bred from them this containing all the best of the Marijka Vink Bloodlines once again, these bloodlines also responsible for the same lofts joy from the Y/Bird Derby event with the Ulster Federation in 2009 also sourced from the Gibb & Byrne Lofts.
Kingswood HPS 17/311 – 1st R & J Conlane 1624, 2nd W & R Evans & Leahy 1617, 3rd R & J Conlane 1597, 4th Eddie Burton 1594, 5th R & J Conlane 1594, 6th C & J Long & Son 1591, 7th C & J Long & Son 1588, 8th Eddie Burton 1586, 9th A Gorman & Son 1569, 10th C & J Long & Son 1568. Excellent result this week for the Conlane loft with three in the first five, nice to see the Evans and Leahy partnership creeping up the leader board after a very sound season last year. Colin Long had a super race last week topping the Club and finishing 3rd Section D and 18th Open NIPA against 24,776 pigeons.
Kingswood HPS 2 Bird – 1st R & J Conlane 1594 and runner-up H Patten on 1501.
South Belfast HPS 9/163 – 1st T G Casement 1621, 2nd Audley & Dougan 1609, 3rd Rab Fear 1609, 4th Rab Fear 1608, 5th J Pollins 1600. Excellent win for the Casement loft this week from Roscrea following a tremendous result last week for Rab Fear from Tullamore who finished 2nd Section behind Philip & Joe Boal taking 6th Open NIPA. The Audley & Dougan partnership are starting to make moves up the leader board.
Dunedin HPS 10/272 – 1st A & J Brown 1615, 2nd A & J Brown 1587, 3rd Myles & McBride 1587, 4th Kincaid & McCann 1579, 5th Kincaid & McCann 1576, 6th G McCartney & Son 1576, 7th Paul McClean 1575, 8th Colin Coates & Son 1573, 9th Colin Coates & Son 1571, 10th G McCartney & Son 1570. The Brown team have come out with a very strong performance this week from Roscrea with a good arrival out on its own.
Hills & Maze 10/277 – 1st A & R Milliken 1601, 2nd A & R Milliken 1601, 3rd C & E Mallon 1588, 4th C & E Mallon 1586, 5th Lavery Bros 1586, 6th C Lyons 1584, 7th S Grainger & Son 1583, 8th A & R Milliken 1582, 9th Lavery Bros 1573, 10th E & R Lavery 1570. Well done to Andy & Ryan on a good performance from Roscrea.
Dromara HPS – 1st Cromie & Magee & Son 1594, 2nd Cromie & Magee & Son 1591, 3rd Russell Bros 1565, 4th N Black & Son 1549, 5th Rab Hunter 1529, 6th McKinstry Bros 1526. Excellent result for the Cromie & Magee team.
To finish I would like to extend my congratulation to Paul Frazer on topping the local Lagan Valley RPC at the weekend lifting the pools and the DTW I hear one yard ahead of Robert Gore who timed last weeks winner once again, containing all the best of the Marijka Vink bloodlines sourced from good friend Ian Gibb.
The Fanciers Combine
An open race will take place on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May from Kildare. Ringing will take place on the morning of the race in Edgarstown HPS Club Rooms, Portadown from 07.30am to 09.00am. Racers £1 per bird no limit, trainers 30p each. £5 Nom, 2 cuts 60%, 40%. Prize money pro rata to the number of entries. Open to all organisations, all fanciers welcome.
Adie McCormick
Ireland’s Own Pigeon Auctions
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
email celestiallofts@aol.com
Peter & Ian Gibb recorded their fifth success of the season at the weekend
topping the Derriaghy Club, the loft is having a good season to date which
also has included top Section D honours.
Philip Boal of the P & J Boal team finish 2nd Section D this week after
topping the Section and finishing 2nd Open NIPA last week from Tullamore.
Wayne Doonan pictured with his father Rowan holding this weeks
NIPA Section D Winner from Roscrea.
The new Y/Bird loft for Doonan & McGuinness
put in place for this years Y/Bird Campaign.
The A J Brown team ‘Cedarwood Lofts’ had a top race from
Roscrea flying with Dunedin finishing 1st & 2nd Club.
The Conlane team had a super card at the weekend from
Roscrea flying with the strong and competitive Kingswood HPS
in East Belfast.