A Paddy Memorial Day was hosted by Larne Borough Council on Friday 24 September in the Carnegie Museum & Arts Centre, Larne. It was a warm, sunny day and the guests included; the Mayor Councillor Andrew Wilson; Linda McCullough, Director of Development at Larne Borough Council; Jenny Caldwell Heritage Officer; Liam Kelly, Chairman of the Larne Historical Society; Kevin Spring, who bought Paddy's Dickin Medal at auction in 1999; and Gail Seekamp, author of the children's book Paddy the Pigeon.
Carnlough pigeon man Kevin McCloy brought a selection of pigeons, which were liberated by three plucky primary school children at the close of the event. He was assisted by Secretary of Glenarm & District HPS George McWhirter and local Larne pigeon scribe Steve McGarry brought a basket full of White pigeons for liberation.
Jodie Mills represented Moyle Primary School, while Zac Crozier and Caitlyn Ingram came from Kilcoan Primary School with their teacher Mrs. Todd. All three showed great skill and patience when handling the pigeons and were clearly animal lovers!
In another highlight, tenor singer John Ritchie sang Mr. Kelly's ballad of Paddy the Pigeon -- helped by other guests. The PDSA Charity who now look after the animal awards including Dickin Medal were represented at the function by Caroline Elliott Head Nurse and Melanie Bunting Senior Receptionist at the Pet Hospital, 490 Antrim Road, Belfast.
The previous night, members of the Larne Historical Society and others attended a talk on Paddy's war service in the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough. The night was organised by Raymond Hunt, who has a keen interest in WW2 history and a close family connection with the Londonderry Arms. The evening began with an extract from a documentary on Paddy, and a few words from Ms. Seekamp. Gail drew from her research into Paddy's now famous career. The yearling cock pigeon earned a Dickin Medal for flying the fastest time during the Normandy Landings in June 1944. Gail said documents in the National Archives confirmed that Paddy was one of 30 pigeons delivered to the US First Army for service in the Normandy Landings on 8 June 2010 -- two days after the famous DD assault on the beaches at Normandy. He was held for four days before being liberated by US forces at 8.15am on 12 June. Paddy flew to his loft in Hurn in a record 4 hours 50 minutes, which was half an hour quicker than the second fastest pigeon homing to Hurn. Documents from the National Pigeon Service also confirmed that Paddy served in RAF Ballykelly. Co. Londonderry, before being transferred to RAF Hurn. Copies of the book proved to be a big attraction with a large number snapped up, no doubt presents for Christmas.
Mr. Spring, a former Irish Army Commandant and past Chairman of the Greenhills Club in Dublin also attended the talk in the Londonderry Arms with his wife Patsy. He drew on own experience as a lofts-man to offer explanations on how pigeons navigate, and the merits of the widowhood system when training pigeons. Kevin showed Paddy's bronze medal to the delighted audience and his own document file on Paddy's exploits. Gail also brought a WW2 message holder and paper, plus photocopies of the Belfast Telegraph, dating from 1943 and 1944.
At both events, guests enjoyed refreshments and plans for a Paddy Memorial race from Normandy to Co. Antrim, perhaps from 2011, gained some ground! The two birds on display from Willie Reynolds in Ballymena gave a nod of approval.
Copies of Paddy the Pigeon are available from the Book Nook in Larne, Co. Antrim, Books & News, 7 Regent St, Newtownards, Co Down or direct from the publishers, Pixie Books (email: gseekamp@eircom.net or http://www.pixiebooks.ie )
RPRA (Irish Region) Awards 2010
Secretary Robert Reid has listed the various winners in the RPRA (Irish Region) for 2010, the competition for Best Individual Bird Performance over the two cross channel races from Talbenny (2) and Penzance has been won by Danny Dixon of Ballymoney who has enjoyed a best ever racing season.
Sect A – Terence McCrudden Coleraine & County Derry Vel 1090, Sect B – Danny Dixon Ballymoney Vel 1186, Sect C – Arthurs & George Ballycarry & District Vel 1166, Sect D – P & J Boal Dromore HPS Vel 1082, Sect E – Nelson Weir Loughgall Vel 1184, Sect F – McGimpsey Bros Ards HPS Vel 1112, Sect G – T Mooney & Son Millvale Vel 1112, Sect H – Alan Kelly Omagh & Dist Vel 916. Overall winner was Danny Dixon, Ballymoney. GB08B 12160.
Irish Region Mileage Awards 2010: 0-250 Miles Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel & District, 251-450 Miles Ivan Parkes & Son Armagh HPS, 451+ Miles W G Neill Annaghmore HPS. Best Young Bird Performance 2010 won by Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel & Dist. Best All Round Performance 2010 won by P & J Boal Dromore HPS. Young Fancier Mileage Awards 2010: 0-250 Miles Christopher Shaw Dromore West End. Please note for Young Fancier Lower Age is 8, High Age is 16.
CHARITY SHOW FORCED FROM VENUE
Since 1977 the Irish National Flying Club Charity Show has been staged at the Kings Hall Complex. Through the generosity of pigeon fanciers throughout Ireland local charities across the land have benefited by more than £250,000. Within the past week the Show Committee have received a letter from the Kings Hall stating the costs for 2010, wait for it, a staggering increase of approx. £2,000 bringing the cost of staging the show to £6,500, and that is just for the Kings Hall and not taking into account the other costs that are small by comparison.
INFLATION TO THE EXTREME. At this late stage a decision had to be taken by the Committee and it was agreed that paying this amount could not be justified and if possible an alternative be found. With the assistance of Trevor Topping, the INFC Secretary, enquiries were made regarding the availability of the Lagan Valley Leisureplex, in Lisburn. At this stage it is unclear on what scale the show will take place, however it is my intention to contact all exhibitors from w/c 4th October.
Many Clubs will by now have received Raffle Tickets from Helen Marshall for the Show, other than the venue nothing has changed and I would appeal to you all to make every effort to sell these tickets. The date of the Show remains the same 11th December 2010 and it is very important that we get your support; you have not failed us in 33 years. Ronnie Johnston has assured me that the quality of birds for the sale is of the highest.
I trust you will agree that the Committee have been left in a very difficult position
When arrangements have been finalised every effort will be made to ensure that all fanciers and exhibitors are made aware. Thanking you for your continued support. Ken McConaghie – Chairman, Show Committee.
National Delight for Patrick Brown
The last race of the 2010 pigeon-racing season was held on Friday 17 September when the Irish National Flying Club liberated in Skibbereen in Co Cork for their Young Bird Inland National. The race was brought forward from the Saturday due to an adverse weather forecast and this proved a good decision, as the Saturday was indeed unsuitable for racing.
The pigeons were liberated at 10am in a light north west wind and with 450, members ending 3927 pigeons this was always going to be a difficult race to win. The westerly wind was favourable to the shorter flying members in the south section and it was the top Wexford lofts of Billy Cullimore who took the major honours.
However the South Down Federation members had a memorable race with three birds in the top ten of the North section and many more taking open and section positions. Pride of place goes to Annsborough’s Patrick Brown who finished the season in wonderful fashion, taking 1st North section, 41st Open INFC. This was a magnificent achievement for the Lakeside Lofts competing against 3073 pigeons from all over Northern Ireland and on the day it was the best that could have been hoped for in this area. This is arguably one of the best performances of the season by a South Down Fed member.
The winning pigeon now known as ‘Geraldine’s Delight’ was named after Patrick’s wife who is a great asset around the loft. The parents of this pigeon are on loan from Annalong’s K Rooney & Son, and Patrick asked me to record his thanks to Kevin and Kristopher for all the help they have given him over the past few years. Anyone who reads this column regularly will know that Patrick has obtained many fine pigeons from the Rooneys.
The sire of the pigeon timed here won an East Down Combine Open from Durrow in 2003 and has bred quite a few winners for Kevin and Kristopher. The breeding is Staf Van Reet from Brownlee, Ward & Nee. The dam is a Janssen from a pair bought at McCormack and Schofield’s clearance sale in Blackpool in 2006. The Janssen pair are ‘Mr Mack’ and ‘Amazing Grace’ and what a superb pedigree they have having bred numerous winners for McCormack and Schofield including ‘Double 500’ winner of 1st City of Leeds Fed two years in a row from 500 miles. They have also bred many prizewinners for the Rooneys at Club, Fed and Combine level.
This young cock was sent to this race on chipping eggs.
Patrick had another two pigeons in the Fed result at 9th and 10th. They were 117th and 118th North section and 221st and 222nd Open. The bird at 9th Fed is again from K Rooney & Son and is a Bastian x Lindelauf cross. All three pigeons timed by Patrick are cocks.
The pigeon at 10th Fed this week was 9th Fed, 15th East section East Down Combine last week. This one is from one of his own Grondelaars hen paired to a hen belonging to Peter Martin, Fortfield from his ‘Red Rum’ lines.
D Croskery & Son Annsborough had another superb season and they too finished with a wonderful result here. They had four birds in the South Down Fed result at 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Fed, taking the following North section and Open positions – 2nd, 9th, 16th and 30th North section and 49th, 79th, 89th and 115th Open. This was one of the best cards on the table on the day.
Dominic and Dolen had a wonderful season at National level, winning a Hall of Fame in the King’s Cup, then winning the Robin Duddy Challenge from the Yearling National and Young Bird National and rounding the season off with this magnificent performance.
Their first pigeon is off a Kees Bousa cock that they bought of John Gerard when paired to their good ‘01’ hen. ‘01’ is a daughter of the ‘Bolden’ cock and had positions from every Inland race in the club and has turned out to be a great stock hen. The pigeon timed here is the same way bred as one that was 1st club, 3rd Fed 26th Open Tullamore earlier this year.
Their second pigeon is a nest mate of last week’s winner that was 1st Fed, 1st East section and 12th Open East Down Combine from Skibbereen Derby. The dam being direct Walter De Ryck, while the sire is a son of the cock that was 4th National Portsmouth.
The pigeons at 4th and 5th Fed are nest mates. The sire is a cock that Dolen got from Eddie Coulter Lisburn from Jeff Greenaway stock, while the dam is one of their own De Klaks. The pigeon at 5th Fed won the Banbridge Breeder Buyer and a prize of £700.
Robert Shaw Annsborough followed up on his superb Penzance Young Bird National result when he had four birds in the Open result by taking two positions in the top ten of the Fed here. Robert has had a super year racing with the NIPA and won Section F in the last 3 young bird races so here was a loft going into this race on form.
His first pigeon is a blue hen that was 2nd club, 10th section F from Rosscarbery. The breeding of this one is Verheye from Stephen Brown & Sons Dundonald coming down from their great racer ‘13’. This bird is 6th Fed, 60th North section, 151st Open.
Robert’s second pigeon is 8th Fed, 110th section and 224th Open. This young cock was 1st section F from Fermoy. The sire is Willy Thas while the dam is from a Huybrecht hen obtained from S Brown & Son.
The result is completed by Annsborough’s Benson Bros who have had their best young bird season for years who take 7th Fed here. This bird was 64th North section, 155th Open to complete a very successful weeks racing as on the Saturday prior to this race this pigeon was 8th Fed, 11th section, 39th Open east Down Combine. The sire is From John Abernethy’s Harmony lofts while the dam is a Vandenabeele from M & D Evans.
Full Result: 1, P Brown Annsborough 1201; 2, 3, 4, 5, D Croskery & Son Annsborough 1195, 1170, 1166, 1155; 6, R Shaw Annsborough 1146; 7, Benson Bros Annsborough 1145; 8, R Shaw 1127; 9, 10, P Brown 1124.97, 1124.87: Nom £16 won by M Croskery & Son
· The Annual Dinner and Prize Distribution will be held in the Dundrum Inn on Friday 15th October.
· Applications for Old bird and young Bird of the Year should be with the secretary before 1st October.
Springvale Social Golden Ring Result - 1st S Rodney & Son 1487 plus £750, 2nd A Gault 1467 plus £150, 3rd G & L Simpson 1435 plus £100. Many thanks to all involved with the Gold Ring Race, all those who supported the event from Rosscarbery and many congratulations to the various winners. We are all looking forward to the 2011 Golden Ring, watch press for updates.
Carrick & District Breeder/Buyer – Joe Morrison from the Horseshoe HPS (Larne) won the Sale Bird from Fermoy (2), velocity 1498.
The INFC dinner and prize presentation will be held in the Stormont Hotel on Friday 26th November, main guests are Geoff & Catherine Cooper. Tickets are £28, Double Room B/B £75, Single Room B/B £60. Family Rooms available as well. Cheque please when booking tickets, contact Trevor or Ronnie. Cups and trophies need returned ASAP.
Claims for MAC Cups & Trophies
Mid Antrim Combine Secretary George McDowell has requested claims for the seasons cups and trophies, winners from last season should return same as soon as possible to allow time for engraving etc. Old Bird Inland Ave, Cross Channel Average, OB Average, B Eagleson Memorial (1st 4 cross channel races), YB Average, Combined Average O/B & Y/B, Bird of the Year, New North Cup Best Ave Bude OB & Talbenny YB Nat. All claims to George before 3rd October, write to 14 Shankbridge Road, Ballymena BT42 3DJ.
Blue Riband Penzance
Birds for the INFC Penzance were race marked one day late due to an unfavourable weather forecast, liberation for the Blue Riband YB event and Old Hens was Thursday 9th September at 8.30am in a Lt North West wind. A hard race was expected, 487 members sent 2,432 birds competing for £20,828 and in the Old Hens Nat 102 members sent 291 birds competing for £1,738.
Gregg Bros & McCandless timed their old hen at 15.20hrs flying 311 miles to be best in the Muckamore Centre, next best Danny Dixon had the best young bird timed at 16.05hrs flying 339 miles. Both birds did in fact top the Open Result for 1st National. For Gregg Bros & McCandless it was a dream winning the race for the second year on the trot, I believe this bird was 6th Open last season and what about Danny Dixon. He is still coming to terms with this latest success and joins a select few that have won both YB Nat events with the INFC, his bird had flown well all year and was in Talbenny. Dixie Chick was one of the longest winners of the event at 339 miles into Dunloy in Co Antrim, local ace Jim Lennox won the race into Rasharkin a number of years back with his famous “Belmont Blue”. Double winners of the YB Nat events include Kelly Bros Malahide, T Patterson & Son Muckamore and G Buckley & Son Annaghmore and I have a feeling we also had a Brown from Belfast in the early days.
Danny has had a best ever race season that includes 2nd Open NIPA on three occasions and a record number of 1sts covering his local club Ballymoney, Mid Antrim Combine and the NIPA Section B. The YB Nat from Penzance was a race which lofts in Mid Antrim had enjoyed great success, if not winning 1st Open the early bird into the area was always well placed. It recent years this has slipped a bit, I suppose it was just about time again to record the overall winner.
Danny Dixon 1st North section, 1st Open YB Nat
As I said earlier Danny has enjoyed a great season, I would think it ranks with the best ever, he is without question the loft to beat each week and added to the above he also has 4th Open NIPA in the OB Inland Nat from Rosscarbery. He has purchased the best bloodlines that money can buy, and is a dedicated trainer, not missing my collection once during the young bird season. His winner a lovely Blue Pied hen, small to medium in size raced the programme including Talbenny YB Nat with the NIPA. A Darkness youngster she was racing to the perch, she has now been named “Dixie Chick”. He joins an elite few that have won both YB Nationals with the INFC, he won 1st Open from Skibbereen in 1998 and where he is positioned a fantastic performance to achieve 1st Open. The Penzance Nat winner is the top Frans Van Wildemeersch bloodlines, the sire coming through Langton x Ingram (England) and the dam from A Cousins & Sons who have the best stock from the late B Fletcher & Son this one the lines of “Plantation Ranger” x “Fletchers Dream”.
G & C Simmons Edgarstown 3rd North section, 3rd Open YB Nat
The G & C Simmons team are top racers in the Portadown based Edgarstown HPS, competition in this area is just as competitive as any other. Gary & Colin timed a Blue cock at 3.27pm flying 304 miles. He was sent on chipping eggs and had been in all races prior to the YB National. His breeding is Soontjen x Van Wildemeersch through Frank Sheader and the late J Castles & Son, Lurgan. The dam was 26th Open Wadebridge YB National 2004 and the sire had wins from Mallow 5 Bird, Rosscarbery and Bude. The Gary & Colin Simmons partnership has been 7th Open Yearling National this year, a season to remember. Over the same weekend the partners had 1st Club, and finished 42nd Sect E 103/1063 in the NIPA Rosscarbery YB National. Many thanks again to Andrew for the bird info and photo.
J & D Braniff Wheatfield 3rd Open Old Hens
The Braniffs are having another dream season. The current Ulster Fed Fanciers of the Year won the Young Bird Derby from Talbenny a couple of weeks ago and followed that up with another Fed win from Fermoy, their sixth Fed win of the season. I noticed when looking through the King’s cup result that they had at 3 birds in that result too.
The pigeon timed here to take 3rd Open in the Old Hens race is three- year-old sent sitting on a seven-day-old young bird. Having had a few prizes on the channel this bird was sent to the King’s Cup this year and took a couple of weeks to come out of it. On returning from the King’s Cup she was flown out with the young birds and tossed along with them. She was sent to this race with five flights to go and in great condition.
The sire is from their M & D Evans’ Vandenabeeles and is exceptionally well bred being a son of ‘Solitaire’ and ‘Band of Gold’. The sire is a daughter of Higginson & McMeekin’s Penzance millennium National winner and also contains the best of Alan Darragh’s bloodlines.
C O’Hare & Dtr Ballyholland 4th Open Old Hens
This is another loft with a terrific record at National level this year having been 5th and 22nd Open in the King’s Cup to win the coveted Harkness Rose Bowl for best 2-bird average. They were also 147th Open in the Young Bird National on the same day as the Old Hens race.
The pigeon timed in the Old Hens race was a yearling and is a half sister of the pigeon that was 5th in the Kings Cup. They have the same dam, which is line bred from Alan Darragh’s ‘Ranger’. The sire is a grandson of M Maguire & Son’s ‘Home Alone’. This one coming from former Annalong fancier Liam Morgan who had obtained some very good pigeons from the Maguires. The sire was a super racer and has won from Rosscarbery, Skibbereen, Talbenny and Penzance.
This yearling timed here hasn’t been raced since the old bird racing this year. She was paired to a young cock and flew with the young birds. She was sent to the race sitting a young bird just hatched.
D Ferran & Son Fortfield 5th Open Old Hens.
The Ferrans had another super race here to take 5th Open in the Old Hens race. They have been doing really well in the Nationals and were 69th in the King’s Cup this year. The two- year-old hen timed here is actually a half sister of the pigeon that was 69th in the King’s Cup while another half brother was timed on the second day from the King’s Cup.
The grand-sire of this pigeon was 5th Open King’s Cup in 2004 so there is a lot of National blood here. The breeding is their own breeding which is generally Busschaert.
This hen had a couple of races in the old bird programme before being hawked and taken off the road. She was trained up with the young birds when she was fully recovered and had two races with the young birds from Kildare and Thurles.
She had been a widowhood hen and had reared one young bird in January. She didn’t rear any more youngsters until she was sent to this race sitting on a six-day-old youngster.
M Maguire & Son Millvale 7th Open Old Hens
This was another great performance from the Maguire partnership. The pigeon timed here was the four-year-old hen, ‘Lady Rose’ that was 2nd Open Friendship National last year when they timed two birds within seconds of each other to take 21st and 2nd Open. This hen has the fantastic "Home Alone" in the pedigree being a direct Daughter of "Home Alone", responsible now for well over 35 first prize winners at various levels of competition including 1st National. “Lady Rose” was named after Malachy's late mother who always knew he was destined to win an Irish National.
Following last years success this hen was put in the stock loft but during the old bird season Malachy’s grandson let it out. They decided to try and get her racing again and her first race this year was Bude followed by Sennen Cove, St Malo and the King’s Cup. While she wasn’t in the result she showed good form and it was then decided to prepare her for the Old Hen’s race.
They had another bird in the result at 12th Open. This one was a yearling Jan Arden from Bob McDonald Fraserburgh stock. Both parents were bought at the Charity Sale in Blackpool, one in 2008 and one in 2009. These birds were bought with their good friend Jocken McKavanagh, Balbriggan and paired together. They are very pleased with this pairing and as they were new stock they had to prove their worth. A full brother had every race on the card including the three French races and was in the clock in every one of those except for the Friendship National when it arrived on the 5th Day.
Ron Williamson Bondhill 9th Open Old Hens
Once again it is a pleasure to report on another magnificent result for Ron Williamson who was 9th Open and had another two birds at 13th and 14th Open. All three birds were widowhood hens that had never been raced until they were raced with the young birds this year. The first and third birds are yearlings while the pigeon at 13th Open is a two-year-old. All three birds are direct off Open winners as all Ron’s widowhood hens must fill this criteria, such are the standards that are set here. The three hens timed were all prepared in the same way and were sent sitting on 5 or 6 day old young birds.
Emerald Classic "Winners Auction" will commence on Thursday 30th October
starting with Lots 12 to 50
"URGENT ATTENTION" - ALL LOTS LISTED ON THIS AUCTION SITE WILL BE SOLD ON LINE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AT THE APOINTED CLOSING TIME AND DATE FOR EACH RESPECTIVE LOT
"NO BIRDS WILL WILL BE TAKEN TO A LIVE ROOM AUCTION"
CLOSING DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS: LOTS 12 to 50 SUNDAY 17th OCTOBER 8:00pm. LOTS 51 to 100 TBA. LOTS 101 to 150 TBA. LOTS 151 to 200 TBA.
Lot 001 "Baby Bear" 1st OPEN & 4th ACE PIGEON out of 700+ birds, bred and raced by Hennie & Anette Kallmeyer will be sold by auction along with the 1st 11 winning pigeons and the 1st 11 Ace pigeons on the International wed site http://www.pipa.be contact Thomas Gyselbrecht email: auctions@pipa.be Commission bids will be accepted on all Lots - 0044 (0) 2893 340175 / 0044 (0) 7799 543334 or email admin@emeraldclassic.co.uk
Lots 201 to 354 will be offered "firstly to the origional breeder" for a nominal sum of fifty pounds this offer will remain open until Thursday 14th October after this period they will be offered to the general public on a first come first served bases any birds remaining after 24th October will be presented on http://www.emeraldclassic/auctions and sold to the highest bidder. All birds will be sold on the same bases as Lots 1 to 200 and as a gesture of good will, 50% less expenses will be credited to the origional breeder.
Willie Reynolds
NIPA Press Officer
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07939 684876
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk
Kevin Spring who purchased the Dicken Medal at auction with Gail Seekamp, author of Paddy the Pigeon.
Members of Glenarm & Dist HPS Kevin McCloy (l) with Secretary George McWhirter.
All ears - Gail reads extracts from the book to some of the school children present.
Getting ready for liberation at the Paddy Memorial Day in Larne, County Antrim.
The Mayor of Larne Councillor Andrew Wilson with the representatives of the PDSA Charity.
Blue cock, winner of 10th Open Penzance for Carroll Reynolds of Beech Park in Lurgan.
"Clan Leader" raced by Allan McDonald of Portadown Inv, winner of 3 x 1st Club
inc Rosscarbery and Skibbereen YB Nationals.
Winner of 3rd North Sect & 3rd Open INFC Penzance YB Nat for G & C Simmons of Edgarstown.
Gary & Colin Simmons of Edgarstown with their YB Penzance National winner and Rosscarbery Derby Winner.
Malachy Campbell of Armagh holding the winner of 8th North Sect INFC Skibbereen for P Campbell & Son.
The G & L Simpson team from Ligoniel & Dist top cash winners in the Penzance YB Nat.