Best in the Muckamore Centre and with a very good card was Thomas Kearney of the Grosvenor HPS in Belfast, he timed at 16.18hrs flying 249 miles for velocity 1160.
Muckamore Centre Skibbereen YB Nat – T Kearney Grosvenor 1160, T Kearney 1152, Beggs & Hall Larne & Dist 1148, R McMeekin Kingsmoss 1147, B Muckian Ind North 1146, Beggs & Hall 1145, M Graham Ballymena 1145, Arthurs & George Ballycarry 1145, R McMeekin 1140, R McMeekin 1139, R McMeekin 1139, Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel 1137, L McDowell Carrick Soc 1137, Arthurs & George 1131, R McMeekin 1126, D Dixon Rasharkin 1124, D Dixon 1124, D Dixon 1124, Baxter & Holden Larne & Dist 1122, D Dixon 1122, M/M Small & Partners Horseshoe 1122, J Connolly Ballymoney 1118, J Connolly 1118, M/M G Robinson Carrick Soc 1116, G F Lindsay Crumlin 1115, A Darragh Cullybackey 1114, A Darragh 1114, T Kearney 1113, Bingham & Seaton 1113, A Darragh 1111.
East Antrim Skibbereen YB Nat - Beggs & Hall Larne & Dist 1148, R McMeekin Kingsmoss 1147, Beggs & Hall 1145, Arthurs & George Ballycarry 1145, R McMeekin 1140, R McMeekin 1139, R McMeekin 1139, Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel 1137, L McDowell Carrick Soc 1137, Arthurs & George 1131, R McMeekin 1126, Baxter & Holden Larne & Dist 1122, M & M Small & Partners Horseshoe 1122, M/M G Robinson Carrick Soc 1116, Bingham & Seaton 1113, R McMeekin 1107, Lynch Bros & Thompson Ballycarry 1105, Beggs & Hall 1104, Bingham & Seaton 1102, D & J Campbell & Bigger Glengormley 1101, D & J Campbell & Bigger 1099, Baxter & Holden 1095, Bingham & Seaton 1087, Lynch Bros & Thompson 1082, Arthurs & George 1080, R McMeekin 1078, S & A Leitch Doagh & Dist 1074, S Rodney & Son Ballyclare 1072, R McMeekin 1070, Bingham & Seaton 1069.
Mid Antrim Combine Skibbereen YB Nat – M Graham Ballymena 1145, D Dixon Rasharkin 1124, D Dixon 1124, D Dixon 1124, D Dixon 1122, A Darragh Cullybackey 1114, A Darragh 1114, A Darragh 1111, D Dixon 1105, A Darragh 1100, S Millar Randalstown 1094, A Purvis Broughshane 1093, Surgenor Bros Kells 1082, S Millar 1080, D Dixon 1078, D Dixon 1064, A Darragh 1063, D Dixon 1063, Surgenor Bros 1047, M Graham 1044, A Purvis 1029, S Millar 1025, B O’Rawe Ballymena 1013, G Connolly Broughshane 1012, B O’Rawe 1003, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1002, A Darragh 990, G Connolly 984, J & N Simpson Broughshane 981, B O’Rawe 961.
Skibbereen YB National Friday 17th September 2010. Prov Result.
INFC Open: B Cullimore Wexford 1288.8, B Cullimore Wexford 1288.2, Brendan Smith Wexford 1286, Brendan Smith Wexford 1285, B Cullimore Wexford 1283, M & J O'Reilly Arklow 1281. M & J O'Reilly Arklow 1280, L Donnelly & Son Finglas 1276, B Cullimore Wexford 1262, B Cullimore Wexford 1261
INFC North Section: P Brown Annsborough 1201, D Croskery & Son Annsborough 1195, Mr & Mrs Stevenson Dromara 1191, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore 1182, Spence Bros. Lagan Valley 1181, N Black & Son Dromara 1180, P Campbell & Son Armagh 1177, A McDonald Portadown 1176, D Croskery & Son Annsborough 1170, Gordon Bros. & Sons Killyleagh Central 1169.
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 two occasions and a record number of 1sts covering his local club Ballymoney, Mid Antrim Combine and the NIPA Section B.
Young Bird Channel National Penzance
Furphy Bros Lurgan Social 2nd North section, 2nd Open
This partnership is actually a father and son partnership consisting of James and Joe Furphy. They don’t normally send to this race but on this occasion their birds were in such good form following the Talbenny Derby that they just had to send. This proved a very good decision and they were absolutely delighted with the outcome timing their two birds in the result taking 2nd and 77th Open. The first pigeons winnings were £1382 but I know from talking to Joe that the joy of watching these two birds come home and do so well means so much more to them the money.
Their first bird is a hen on the darkness. The young birds are left together and are raced naturally. The dam was a gift bird from Billy Geary Lurgan and is a daughter of ‘Pied Piper’ and was 4th Open in the Penzance Classic. The sire is a Willy Jacobs from Mr & Mrs Delaney’s Oroory Hill Stud. James and Joe would like to thank all those who took time to congratulate them on this great result.
John Patterson Ballylesson 4th North section 4th Open
What a magnificent record John has from this race having been 6th Open last year. John had four entries in this year’s race and had all four home. His first bird was 2nd Open in the East Down Combine from the Talbenny Derby while his second bird was 15th Open in the same race. John’s first pigeon in the YB National is Soontjens x Grondelaar while his second pigeon is Jan Arden x Kenyon. The dam of the first bird was also the dam of his Skibbereen National winner in 2008
John races his young birds on the darkness and they are separated throughout the week and let together before basketing.
K Henderson & Son Lurgan Social 5th North section 5th Open
Kevin timed here at 3.27pm to take 5th Open for another superb result. This bird is the same way bred as the bird that was 2nd Open in the Old Hens National last year. She was bred from a son of the loft’s good blue cock, a winner of 3rd Open INFC Yearling National. Another bird bred from this cock paired to a different hen was 12th Open in the Yearling National last year. The dam was Jan Aarden from birds obtained from Rob Jones of Wales. Kevin’s old family of birds were McNeilly Delbars and they came through John Geary of Lurgan.
S McLaughlin & Son Glenavy 7th North section 7th Open, and 16th North section, 16th Open
The McLaughlins had the race of their lives here timing 4 birds in 20 minutes out of an entry of seven with the first of their birds timed at 3.34pm. They take 7th, 16th, 45th and 52nd Open and win the best two bird average. This was quite a feat considering that Steven and the lads only race 25 young birds. They started off on the roundabout but let the birds go down on eggs for Talbenny and they were sent to Penzance still sitting on these eggs. All four birds timed were hens.
These pigeons are all down from a Ron Williamson cock that was purchased at a charity sale organised by Gary Shaw in 2004. This cock is now the father of the loft and his breeding is in most of Steven’s pigeons. All the best racing hens are paired to this cock on the bull system and he has bred at least one winner every year. The first pigeon timed here is a grand daughter of Williamson’s cock while the next two birds are direct daughters of it and are nest mates. More reports to follow, thanks again to Brendan McLoughlin for his assistance.
Dan’s the Man - Dan Campbell racing with Gilford HPS pictured with his blue flight hen section winner from Roscrea. Dan had what can only be described as an incredible card from Penzance yb national - not only managing to get all 5 of his entries home on the day but also finishing 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th club while a lot of his fellow members failed to time. He also finished 79th, 88th, 113th and 132nd open. And Dan managed all of this from just starting the season with a team of only 20 young birds. Congratulations Dan!!
The Robin Duddy Challenge
D Croskery & Son Annsborough 961, S & K Duke 956, Rafferty & Toman Gilford 924, M/M C Hayes Ballyclare 917, T Marshall & Son Newtownbreda 850.
Alan Darragh had a very strong card in the final YB Nat flown from Rosscarbery, he had the top four places in the Cullybackey HPS and the first bird topped Mid Antrim Combine and the NIPA Sect B. His Blue cock was timed at 13.01hrs flying 253 miles for velocity 1480. Surgenor Bros of Kells & Dist were next best recording a best ever young bird season and Lexi Mullan had 1st Harryville having timed at 13.06hrs flying 254 miles.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Rosscarbery
Cullybackey HPS 8/101 – A Darragh 1480, 1432, 1432, 1428, J & J Greer 1400, 1400, S Steele 1395, A Darragh 1395, S Steele 1388, Reid Bros & McCloy 1385, Russell Bros 1383, Reid Bros & McCloy 1383.
Kells & Dist 3/19 – Surgenor Bros 1468, 1430, B Swann & Son 1411, Surgenor Bros 1389, B Swann & Son 1382, Surgenor Bros 1366, A Barkley & Son 1311, 1154.
Harryville HPS 9/49 – L Mullan 1463, R H Clements 1445, 1443, A McBride 1438, 1421, G Price 1412, L Mullan 1409, J Rock 1402, R H Clements 1368, L Mullan 1338. Good win for Lexie Mullan into Edward St, his Blue cock was timed at 13.06hrs flying 254 miles. Bloodlines were Vandenabeele the parents from M & D Evans. Tipes ETS Easy payment before VAT increase. Contact Ireland rep Keith Kernohan Tel: 07713 273044.
Rasharkin & Dist 7/72 - H Cubitt 1406, J & D Surgenor 1389, H Cubitt 1368, J & D Surgenor 1360, Steele & McNeill 1306, Milliken & Barkley 1300, Steele & McNeill 1256, T Simpson 1253, W McFetridge 1126. Another win got Harold Cubitt topping off a great young bird season. Nom won by H Cubitt. Race sponsored by LECK Scaffolding N.I (Ballymoney).
Broughshane & Dist 7/57 - G Connolly 1456, 1455, A Purvis 1451,1446, J & N Simpson 1404, 1395, 1385, D Houston & Son 1385. George gets the second win with this Blue Chequer hen. She already has won the Talbenny Nat and now the Rosscarbery Nat, one for the top drawer next year well done. The Clubs 5 Bird Special was won this week by J & N Simpson £40 with 42pts, R/up Mrs M Smyth £20 with 41pts. 2010 Fireside Quiz winners: 1st Prize £20 M Fotheringham Glenarm,
2nd Prize £10 M Houston Broughshane, 3rd Prize £5 R Houston Randalstown.
Randalstown HPS 4/33 - S Millar 1452, 1439, 1433, 1432, H Boyd 1381, Houston Bros 1380, S Millar 1365, 1359.
Ballymena & District 6/20 – B O’Rawe 1424, 1408, W & J Smyth 1382, M Graham 1371, W & J Smyth 1370, 1349, M/M Sempey 1297, RJ & WJ Reid 1184. Brian lost valuable time but still won his fourth young bird race, Fermoy and Rosscarbery was won by the same Blue cock.
Ahoghill FC 9/68 – M/M Robinson 1371, J Orr & Son 1364, J Smyth & Son 1354, Young McManus & Sons 1351, J Smyth & Son 1328, Young McManus & Sons 1323, 1315, 1309, 1309, J Smyth & Son 1306.
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.
Carrick & District HPS – Rosscarbery Nat pools T Creighton & Son 1490 ABCDEF and Special. M/M G Robinson 1385 ABCDEF & NOM. Winning Minute (53) c/o W Elliott. The annual Breeder/Buyer was won by Joe Morrison of the Horseshoe HPS in Larne, velocity 1498.169. Any objections inside 7 days to Secretary Robert Reid.
A meeting of the RPRA (Irish Region) Appeals Committee will be held in the Clarion Hotel, 75 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus on Saturday 25th at 1.30pm. The agenda includes just one appeal B McCammon v Larne & Dist HPS. Report to follow, including all the award winners. Cups and trophies need returned to Robert Reid.
NIPA Rosscarbery YB Nat 554/5054 – 1-1D Doonan & McGuinness 1576 £627, 2-2D Doonan & McGuinness 1575 £745, 3-1C Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel 1568 £235, 4-1G Hutchinson Bros Ashfield 1567 £416, 5-3D M/M Stevenson Dromara 1567 £135, 6-4D J Greenaway Universal Lofts Dromore 1564 £158, 7-1F T & C Kilpatrick Killyleagh & Dist 1560 £325, 8-5D D & I Edgar Dromore 1556 £86, 9-6D Doonan & McGuinness 1555 £380, 10-7D D & I Edgar 1547 £78, 11-8D G McCartney & Son Dunedin 1542 £78, 12-2F J Rankin Millisle & Dist 1542 £252, 13-9D M/M Stevenson 1542 £164, 14-2C R McMeekin Kingsmoss 1541 £114, 15-3C Bingham & Seaton 1540 £104, 16-10D Doonan & McGuinness 1536 £295, 17-2G G Hughes Newry & Dist 1535 £73, 18-3G G McMullan Corcreeney 1531 £67, 19-4G J F McCabe Newry & Dist 1529 £268, 20-4C M/M G Robinson Carrick & Dist 1528 £76.
Sect A – G S Smith Cookstown 1474, Sect B – A Darragh Cullybackey 1480, Sect C – Bingham & Seaton Ligoniel 1568, Sect D – Doonan & McGuinness Dromore 1576, Sect E – J Douglas & Son Lurgan Soc 1523, Sect F – T & C Kilpatrick Killyleagh & Dist 1560, Sect G – Hutchinson Bros Ashfield 1567, Sect H – H Crawford Limavady 1345.
Mid Antrim Combine Rosscarbery YB Nat 52/410 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1480, Surgenor Bros 1468, L Mullan Harryville 1463, D Dixon Rasharkin 1457, G Connolly Broughshane 1456, G Connolly 1455, S Millar Randalstown 1452, A Purvis Broughshane 1451, A Purvis 1446, R H Clements Harryville 1445, R H Clements 1443, S Millar 1439, D Dixon 1438, A McBride Harryville 1438, S Millar 1433, A Darragh 1432, S Millar 1432, D Dixon 1432, A Darragh 1432, Surgenor Bros 1428, B O’Rawe Ballymena 1424, A McBride 1421, D Dixon 1419, D Dixon 1419, G Price Harryville 1412, D Dixon 1411, B Swann & Son Kells 1411, L Mullan 1409, B O’Rawe 1408, J & N Simpson 1404.
At the end of the season members need the race results to claim for the various awards, deadline is two weeks after the final race flown last weekend from Rosscarbery. All race results are listed in the NIPA Board on the Discussion Forum at http://www.pigeonnetwork.com, if u find anything missing just send me an e-mail. There is usually a slight delay in posting the last results, they need done first. Secretary Fred Russell has requested that all cups and trophies are returned ASAP. Claims for all the RPRA Awards in the Irish Region should be with Secretary Robert Reid before Saturday 25th September.
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.
D Croskery & Son Best in Skibbereen Derby
The East Down Combine held their last race of the 2010 season when the pigeons were released in Skibbereen in a west-northwesterly wind. Expectations were high among the South Down fanciers of emulating Mickey Croskery’s Open win in the first Skibbereen Derby as the wind was deemed favourable. However it wasn’t to be on this occasion as the Open was won by Crossgar’s S & K Duke who have had a superb young bird season.
The winners of the South Down Federation this week are Annsborough’s D Croskery & Son who are on the crest of a wave at the moment following an outstanding result in the Young Bird National that saw them win the Robin Duddy Challenge and a prize fund of £1000. This week they are 1st Fed, 1st section, 12th Open for another impressive performance. Dominic and Dolen have once again put up some wonderful performances over the season. For me the highlight was their Hall of Fame win in the King’s Cup.
The dam of the pigeon timed here is a Direct Walter De Ryck hen while the sire is a son of the cock that was 4th National from Portsmouth.
Dolen asked me to ensure that I highlighted again the amount of work that his mother Josie does with the pigeons and without her help he reckons they would not be anywhere near as successful as they are.
Mickey Croskery had another magnificent race with five birds in the result at 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 10th Fed, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th and 20th section and 13th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd Open. This all follows back to back Open wins from Skibbereen and Tyone Mills in the previous two weeks.
Mickey’s first pigeon is an ash hen and is a daughter of the bird that won the Open from Bude twice. The sire is a son of the ‘02’, one of D Croskery & Son’s main racers which is from their ‘Bolden’ pigeons.
The sire of the pigeon at 4th Fed is a direct Walter De Ryck cock while the dam is a daughter of the ‘Bolden’ cock and the Old ash hen. This pair are a prolific pair of stock pigeons.
Mickey’s third pigeon is a nest mate of last week’s Open winner. The sire is the ‘Bolden’ cock, a superb breeder of many top prizewinners for both Mickey and D Croskery & Son. The ‘Bolden’ cock is now ten years old and came from John Jobey of Dunstan in the Up North Combine. The dam is a Harthog and is a daughter of one of John Gerard’s old original Harthogs when paired to ‘The Policewoman’ another top Harthog when on loan from Gary Shaw of the Grosvenor club.
The next pigeon timed at the Seaview lofts is a son of the Kees Bosua cock while the dam is a daughter of the ‘Bolden’ cock. It’s worth noting how often this ‘Bolden’ cock gets mentioned week in week out.
Mickey’s fifth pigeon, taking 10th Fed is out of the Penzance Classic winner and the Ash hen that was 1st Open from Thurles last year when the birds were brought back from Talbenny. This bird was 6th Fed, 6th section, 13th Open last week from Tyone Mills.
Annsborough’s Patrick Brown had two pigeons in the Fed result this week at 3rd and 9th. These birds are 3rd and 15th section with the first one taking 17th Open. The first pigeon is a Busschaert x Janssen from K Rooney & Son Annalong. We will hear more about this breeding next week as it’s nest mate was 1st Fed, 1st North section from the Skibbereen National on Friday past.
Patrick’s second pigeon is from his Grondelaar lines when paired to a hen from Peter Martin, Fortfield from the ‘Red Rum’ lines.
A Murray & Son Dundrum are 3rd Fed, 11th section and 38th Open this week. Breeding is Corriens x Soontjens. The sire a yearling Corriens was lightly raced as a young bird and this year has been 1st club Fermoy, 4th club Skibbereen Classic and 5th club in the Derek Wishart race from Fermoy racing in the Combine and 2nd club 3rd Section F 133rd Open NIPA Old Bird Rosscarbery and 2nd club 7th Section F 42nd Open NIPA 5 Bird Fermoy. The dam is yearling from original JS Lofts Soontjens via B McCormick Dundrum, that was 1st club 16th East Section 36th Open Young Bird Talbenny 2009 and 1st club 31st Section F NIPA Penzance 2010.
The result is completed by Annsborough’s Benson Bros at 8th Fed, 12th section, 39th Open. The Bensons have had a great young bird season. No doubt using the Darkness system for the first time has been a great help. The pigeon timed here is a Vandenabeele with the sire coming from John Abernethy and the dam from M & D Evans.
Full Result: 1 D Croskery & Son Annsborough 1556.18; 2, M Croskery Annsborough 1556.12; 3, P Brown Annsborough 1551; 4, 5, 6, M Croskery 1530, 1529.8, 1529.8; 7, A Murray & Son 1524.6; 8, Benson Bros Annsborough 1524.5; 9, P Brown 1522; 10, M Croskery 1517:
· The Annual Dinner and Prize Distribution will be held in the Dundrum Inn on Friday 15th October
All applications for Old Bird and Young Bird of the Year should be with the secretary before 1st October.
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
Furphy Bros from Lurgan Social, 2nd in the INFC Penzance YB Nat.
Dan Campbell from Gilford had a good card from Penzance.
Martin McErlain and wife Paula just started this year and win 1st Castledawson from Fermoy.
Danny Dixon with Dixie Chick, the winner of Penzance YB National.
Rasharkin President Tony Simpson 9th Open Penzance with former winner Jim Lennox.
Len Russell from Cullybackey finished 8th Open in the YB Nat Penzance.
Big winners in the Lurgan Social, Denis Lyness (l) with Kevin Henderson.
Mr & Mrs Brian McNeilly from Doagh & Dist had another super season.
Carroll Reynolds from Beech Park in Lurgan finished 10th in Penzance.
Geraldine Lowry from Ballyclare sending birds to Skibbereen.
Sammy Duke from Crossgar won the East Down Combine Derby from Skibbereen.
Donal Croskery from Annsborough wins the Robin Duddy Challenge plus £1,000.
Denis McShane from Lagan Valley in Lisburn had a good young bird season.
Ace racers from Loughgall Nelson Weir (l) with Sam Corrigan.
1st & 2nd Open NIPA from Fermoy, S O'Brien (r) and P Coughlan from Monaghan.
Alec Crawford from Ballylesson, had another super young bird season.