Fermoy - 22/05/10

[willie reynolds]

South Down Federatiom by Brendan McLoughlin

Mickey Croskery back on top

The East Down Combine pigeons were back in Fermoy, Co Cork on Saturday 22 May. Following the westerly winds last week the wind was completely the opposite here as the birds were released in a south, southeast wind; not exactly what South Down fanciers were looking for. At the end of the day we were thankful that we ended up with good returns with most lofts reporting full perches.
The winners of the South Down Fed this week is Annsborough’s Mickey Croskery who always seems to be able to bring his birds bang into form at this stage of the season. Mickey has three birds in the Fed result at 1st, 3rd and 4th with all three taking section positions in the Combine.

The winning pigeon is a two-year-old hen that was 1st club, 3rd Fed, 3rd section, 3rd Open last year in the corresponding race from Mallow. This time it is 1st club, 1st fed, and 5th section. The winning pigeon is out of the old ash hen and the Bolden cock. This was the only bird he was able to get out of this pair that year. Mickey’s second pigeon is 3rd club, 3rd Fed, 13th section and is a yearling De Richt hen that was unraced as a young bird.

The pigeon at 4th Fed, taking 20th section is a three-year-old ash hen that was 1st Open East Down Combine last year from Thurles when the birds were brought back from Talbenny. The dam is Janus and Fox through John Jobey while the sire is the famous ‘Pool’ cock

D Croskery & Son Annsborough are second Fed this week and have another bird in the result at seventh Fed. Their first bird is a blue yearling cock that was 9th club from Mount Charles in the third race of the season. This week it is 2nd club, 2nd Fed, 12th section and has been one of their most consistent racers this year.

Their second pigeon was 2nd Fed, 9th section, 18th Open the previous week from the Skibbereen Classic. This yearling hen was second club from Mullingar and is out of the Old De Klak pigeons crossed with the Wily Thas pigeons.
Annsborough’s James Cleland keeps his good run of form going and is 5th Fed this week. James times another of his Pros Roosen birds here and these birds have kept him well in the running in the inland racing.

Michael Jennings, Annsborough is another fancier having a good run at this stage and follows his 6th Fed here up by topping the Fed in the Skibbereen National on Tuesday taking an excellent 21st Open position. Michael’s pigeon is out of the stock loft with the sire coming from club mate Mickey Croskery and is one of his De Klaks. The dam was also a gift bird, this time from D Croskery & Son and the breeding is from Jeff Greenaway.

Annsborough’s Patrick Brown completes the result with three birds together to take 8th, 9th and 10th Fed. The first bird timed was 1st Club, 3rd Fed in the first race of the season. It’s a yearling from his K Rooney & Son stock and is Busschaert x Van Reet. Indeed all three pigeons emanate from the Rooney lofts. The second bird is a Van Wildermeersch from a long line of prizewinners while the pigeon at 10th Fed is a Busschaert.

Full Result: 1, M Croskery Annsborough 1497; 2, D Croskery & Son Annsborough 1484 ABCD £30; 3, 4, M Croskery 1480, 1470; 5, J Cleland Annsborough 1468; 6, M Jennings Annsborough 1466; 7, D Croskery & Son 1460.73 ABCDNom £27.50; 8, 9. 10, P Brown Annsborough 1460.72, 1460.0, 1459.9; S Foster, Connor & Parry Dundrum 1442 ABCD £12:

• Semi Finals of the Loft Knock Out Mr & Mrs Irvine v M Croskery; J Cleland v P Brown:
• Next Pool race - Bude
• There will be a £2 Nom this week from the Derek Wishart Memorial race.