Fermoy - 21/08/10

[willie reynolds]

Around South Down with Brendan McLoughlin

Mickey Croskery best from Fermoy

The East Down Combine pigeons were in Fermoy in Co Cork for their sixth race of the season. The pigeons were liberated at 10.30am in a southwesterly wind. Once again this gave South Down fanciers good expectations of getting well up the leaderboard in the Open result. As it turned out the Open was won by McCartan & Woodsides just edging out T Marshall & Son Newtownbreda and C & D Smyth of Ballylesson. This suggests that there was a bit more of a southerly aspect to the wind than was originally anticipated. However they were three good pigeons on the day and were all on the same yard and some 16 yards ahead of the fourth pigeon.

The winner of the South Down Fed was the irrepressible Mickey Croskery Annsborough who took the top two positions. Mickey has had a wonderful young bird season to date with many fine Open and section positions. Both pigeons are again well in the running taking 2nd and 3rd section, 18th and 22nd Open. This result brings Mickey up to 3rd place in the East section Young Bird Championship and 7th in the Open Young Bird Championship.

The winning pigeon this week is a full sister of Mickey’s double Open winner from Bude and the breeding is De Klak x Willy Thas. The second pigeon was bred by Ferguson and Wilkinson, Donaghadeee and is a Janssen from their Wall, Lunt and Green stock.

D Croskery & Son, Annsborough are 3rd and 4th Fed, 6th and 7th section and 31st and 32nd Open this week. Like Mickey this brings Dominic and Dolen well up the ladder for the Young Bird Championships in the Combine. They are now 3rd in the East section and 11th in the Open Championships. Full details of the Championships can be found on the East Down Combine website www.edcracingpigeons.co.uk.

Dominic and Dolen’s first pigeon is from a Walter De Ryck hen when paired to a ½ De Ryck x ½ De Klak cock.

Their second pigeon is a Willy Thas x De Klak from their original stock.

Michael Jennings Annsborough takes the next two Fed positions at 5th and 6th. These birds also take 8th and 9th section with the first one making 38th Open. Michael’s first pigeon is a sister of the pigeon that was 2nd Fed, 3rd section, 6th Open from Navan (2) and 8th Fed, 32nd Open Tullamore. The sire of this pigeon was bought at Croskery's Sale in the Grosvenor club last year and is a son of the original ‘Joe 90’. The dam is a Janus & Fox which Michael bought from John Jobey, from Dunstan in the Up North Combine.
The sire of Michael’s second pigeon is a De Klak from John Jobey and the dam is another De Klak on loan from D Croskery & Son.
Dundrum’s J Maguire & Ptrs had been having a tough time with the young birds this season but they battle on and take 7th Fed, 10th section here. The pigeon timed is a Janssen from a pair on loan from E & A Rogan, Newcastle.

J McNally Annsborough is 8th Fed, 11th section here which is a great result as their birds are all just racing natural and they have a small team. The breeding of this one is Huybrecht x Vandenabeele from a London loft.

Last week’s winner Paddy McCartan, Annsborough is 9th Fed, 13th section this week. As I mentioned last week McKinstry Bros Dromara have been a great influence here and while Paddy bred the bird timed here it is from the Soontjens stock obtained from Stanley and Albert. This hen too was racing natural.

The result is completed by Benson Bros Annsborough at 10th Fed, 14th sect. They have been having a great young bird season this year and the pigeon timed here is from John Abernethy Ballynahinch from his direct Vandenabeele stock.

Full Result: 1, 2, M Croskery Annsborough 1852, 1851; 3, 4, D Croskery & Son Annsborough 1843.59, 1843.59; 5, 6, M Jennings Annsborough 1839, 1838; 7, J Maguire & Ptrs Dundrum 1837 ABCD £29; 8, J McNally & Son Annsborough 1835; 9, P McCartan Annsborough 1833; 10, Benson Bros Annsborough 1832; Benson Bros 1830 ABCDNom £25.40; P Brown Annsborough 1786 ABCD £11.60:

• Semi Finals of Loft Knock Out this week from Tyone Mills: 1, J Cleland V M Jennings; 2, D Croskery & Son v J Maguire & Ptrs:

• DTW resumes this week from Tyone Mills.
• Usual pools from Tyone Mills.