Skibbereen Old Bird Inland National 2011 -

[willie reynolds]

The Irish Nat FC will have their first race of the season on Tuesday 24th May from Skibbereen writes Brendan McLoughlin.

Birds will be race marked for the Old Bird Inland Nat at the Danescroft Equestrian centre, Waterloo Road, Lisburn on Monday 23rd May between 3.00pm and 7.00pm. Please check the website www.infc.co.uk for details on any changes to basketing arrangements or Tel: 09063 656701 or 0901 9960111 from the North Ireland and 1550 111 285 from South Ireland.

If anyone can help out an hour or two at the race marking it would be much appreciated. It’s not necessary to be on the INFC Committee to help out.

The PROs for the 2011 season are Ronnie Johnston, Clifford Browne and Brendan McLoughlin. One of these will contact all those in the Top 10 of the result in each race to obtain some information about the birds and fanciers to help compile a report on each race.

I would like to wish our Patron Ronnie Johnston and our President Syd Collins both a very speedy recovery following their recent hospital admissions.

[willie reynolds]

DETAILS ON THE RACE MARKING WILL BE FINALISED ON SUNDAY and a further update released on Sunday evening.

RACE MARKING WILL TAKE PLACE AS PLANNED ON MONDAY 23rd MAY 2011 AT DANESCROFT EQUESTRIAN CENTRE LISBURN BT27 5NW. FULL DETAILS ARE IN THE RACE ENTRY BOOKLET. Call back for confirmed liberation and early results.

Approx 4,500 birds were race marked at a cold, windy, and wet Danescroft Equestrian Centre in Lisburn on Tuesday 23rd May from early afternoon till around 9.00pm. The weather is well improved and liberation is expected to be as planned on Wednesday.

Early information, including area results will be placed here when available, as will the confirmed liberation. Birds are expected to be released later this morning, further update at 11.30am. HOMER.

RACE SPONSORED BY BAMFORDS PIGEON FEEDS.

533 MEMBERS HAVE ENTERED 4,435 PIGEONS AND ARE COMPETING FOR £17,460.50 STG. POOLS AND PRIZEMONEY.

THE PIGEONS HAVE BEEN RELEASED AT 10.45 WIND AT THE RELEASE SITE WAS LIGHT WEST AND ON ROUTE WILL BE WESTERLY. STOPPED CLOCKS - CONTACT NUMBERS FOR STATION MANAGERS ARE PRINTED IN YOUR RACE ENTRY FORM BOOKLET.

[willie reynolds]

Skibbereen OB Inland Nat is sponsored by Bamfords Pigeon Feeds, 533 members sent 4,435 birds competing for £17,460 in pools and prizes and released at 10.45am in a Lt West wind.

All the early news and info is subject to change until the final race result and report. Not being involved this year as a PO, I can relax a bit and wait on the news appearing from the new team.

PROVISIONAL TOP TEN IN THE OPEN
1. T Hore Wexford 1893
2. T Kehoe 1887
3. M Driscoll 1880
4. B Smith 1876
5. B Smith 1869
6. T Kehoe 1867
7. B Smith 1867
8. T Hore 1867
9. T Hore 1866
10. T Hore 1865

Stillorgan Centre Skibbereen OB – Stephen Cunningham Sallynoggin prov vel 1836, Hunter & O’Neill Rathnew 1835, P & J Snell Rathnew 1801, Moorehouse & Hayden Rathnew 1799, Hunter & O’Neill 1794, Hunter & O’Neill 1793, Ken Doyle & Son Sallynoggin 1793.

Balbriggan Centre Skibbereen OB – Dave Ward Malahide & Dist 1820, N C Shields Skerries 1818, Tommy Nelson Ballymun 1805, Derek Larkin Finglas 1802, P Ward & Son Finglas 1797, C Campion Balbriggan 1795, Safet Duran Finglas 1794, M/M M Gilligan Finglas 1794, Safet Duran 1792, Liam Donnelly Finglas 1791.

NORTH SECTION TOP TEN
1. Cromie & Magee & Son Dromara 1735
2. McComb Bros Killyleagh 1725
3. McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar 1724
4. McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar 1724
5. D & J Campbell & Bigger Glengormley 1722
6. Donnelly Bros Newry 1721
7. Hutchinson Bros Ashfield 1719
8. McKinstry Bros Dromara 1718
9. P & J Boal Dromore 1718
10. JF McCabe Newry 1718

Muckamore Centre Skibbereen OB – M & A Pearson Eastway 1706, J Burrows Eastway 1697, L Savage & Son Eastway 1697, R McMeekin Kingsmoss 1696, G Grant Glenavy 1691, G K & I Moxham Larne & Dist 1691, R Mills & Son Larne & Dist 1691, J Burrows 1690, M & A Pearson 1688, Arthurs & George Ballycarry 1687, A Taylor & Son Shankill 1686, G & M Atcheson Glengormley 1681, J Braniff Fortfield 1678, Grattan Bros Eastway 1678, McAuley Kell & Bowles Shankill 1677, M & T Griffith 1675, N Armstrong Shankill 1673, G & M Atcheson 1672, G K & I Moxham 1671, Arthurs & George 1670, L Savage & Son 1668, McAuley Kell & Bowles 1665, Grattan Bros 1662, Grattan Bros 1660, G K & I Moxham 1660, G K & I Moxham 1659, Grattan Bros 1658, W McClelland Doagh 1656, G McKenna Eastway 1649, G & L Simpson Shankill 1647, R McMeekin Kingsmoss 1647, Grattan Bros 1645, M/M McNeilly Doagh 1644, M/M McNeilly 1644, M/M McNeilly 1642, L Savage & Son 1641, Arthurs & George 1641, Baxter & Holden Larne & Dist 1639, J Lennon Grosvenor 1638, L Savage & Son 1637, G K & I Moxham 1637, R McMeekin 1637, L Savage & Son 1633, G & C Lowry Kingsmoss 1632, R Mills & Son 1631, M/M McNeilly 1630, Beggs & Hall Larne & Dist 1629, A Darragh Cullybackey 1628, Arthurs & George 1627, J Burrows 1625.

Mid Antrim Combine INFC Skibbereen – A Darragh Cullybackey 1628, A Darragh 1608, M Graham Ballymena 1606, J Millar Randalstown 1581, A Darragh 1578, A Darragh 1572, S Steele Cullybackey 1571, A Darragh 1554, A Darragh 1544, D Dixon Rasharkin 1541, B O’Rawe Ballymena 1539, D Houston & Son Broughshane 1536, M Graham 1533, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1529, S Steele 1525, S Steele 1524, M Graham 1521, D Dixon 1517, J & N Simpson 1515, McFarlane & Agnew Kells 1512, M Graham 1511, S Steele 1503, S Steele 1502, S Steele 1494, B O’Rawe 1491, L Davidson Cullybackey 1487, S Steele 1484, D Dixon 1483, D Dixon 1482, J & N Simpson 1480.

East Antrim INFC Skibbereen – D & J Campbell & Bigger Glengormley 1722, D & J Campbell & Bigger 1714, D & J Campbell & Bigger 1708, M & A Pearson Eastway 1706, J Burrows Eastway 1697, L Savage & Son Eastway 1697, R McMeekin Kingsmoss 1696, G K & I Moxham Larne & Dist 1691, R Mills & Son Larne & Dist 1691, J Burrows 1690, M & A Pearson 1688, Arthurs & George Ballycarry 1687, D & J Campbell & Bigger 1686, D & J Campbell & Bigger 1686, D & J Campbell & Bigger 1686, G & M Atcheson Glengormley 1681, Grattan Bros Eastway 1678, M & T Griffith 1675, D & J Campbell & Bigger 1672, G & M Atcheson 1672, G K & I Moxham 1671, Arthurs & George 1670, L Savage & Son 1668, Grattan Bros 1662, Grattan Bros 1660, G K & I Moxham 1660, G K & I Moxham 1659, Grattan Bros 1658, W McClelland Doagh 1656, G McKenna Eastway 1649.

Ban Federation Skibbereen Nat – M/M G Mallon & Son 1700, J Smyth & Sons 1693, C McArdle & Son 1687, J Smyth & Sons 1685, E Mallon & Son 1676, 1674, C McArdle & Son 1674, J Smyth & Sons 1671, 1665, L F & B McGrath 1660.

[willie reynolds]

Race Report by Brendan McLoughlin PO.

Irish National Flying Club

Old Bird Skibbereen National

The Irish National Flying Club had their first race of the season on Tuesday 24 May from Skibbereen. The birds were liberated at 10.45am in a light westerly wind, which was to turn fresh westerly on the way home. I suspect that there was a touch of southerly there all the same considering the velocities that were put up. It was another first class race with Wexford birds taking the top ten in the Open. The winner Thomas Hore had an exceptional race with 4 birds in the top ten.
533 members entered 4435 birds in the Bamfords Pigeon Feeds sponsored Old Bird Inland National, and they were competing for £17,460 in pools and prizes.

Open Result:
1st, 8th, 9th and 10th South section---1st, 8th, 9th 10th Open T Hore Wexford North & South
Vels 1893, 1867, 1866, 1865 winning £666 and the Ronnie Johnston Challenge Cup flying 131 miles
Thomas Hore was born into the sport of racing pigeons as his parents Willie and Mary Hore have been fanciers all their lives as was Thomas’ grandfather. They are no strangers to success at all levels of competition on both the north and south road. They themselves have tasted national success on both roads, with some of the highlights being 1st Open Yearling National from Strathaven in Scotland and 2nd Open INFC Young Bird National from Skibbereen, also winning a car.
Last season Thomas finished 5th Open INFC Old Bird National and 7th Open IHU NFC Old Bird National.

The Hore family’s birds certainly showed signs of form the week before the National when they put in a magnificent performance to take 30 of the first 33 positions from Pilmore Beach on Wednesday and 11 of the top 20 positions from Castletownbere on Sunday.

The winning pigeon in the National is a two-year-old Blue Pied hen. It’s sire was bred by Roger Maris, Belgium. This cock is a winner of 1st club, 1st section, 2nd Combine, 2,872 birds and 3rd club, 10th section, 11th combine 3,888 birds. He is bred down from Roger Maris’ best stock bird the ‘Oude Van 91’. He was sire of numerous excellent birds including: the Ace pigeon of 1994, ‘The Looney’, ‘Nr 12’, ‘Nr 54’ etc. The ‘Oude Van 91’ is also the grand sire of ‘57’, a car winner for Lennon & Burnett. He is also the g’grandfather of the 2003 Pennine Marathon winner and 1st Kent Federation, 2nd Open Gold Ring Race.
The dam of the winner was bred by their good friend the Master, John Patterson, Ballylesson. She is a Gaby Vandenabeele and carries the bloodlines of the ‘Bliksem’

The pigeon at 8th Open is a two-year-old red hen. This hen was unlucky in her previous race before the National as she was beaten by only two seconds for first prize. Her sire is a De Klak bred by B & R Long & Cox from one of their top sprint cocks ‘Quasimodo’. The dam is a Marcellis also bred by B & R Long & Cox from another of their top cocks ‘Sinderby’, who is a brother to ‘Orange’ who was twenty one times in the first ten including 7 x 1sts.

The bird at 9th Open is a two-year-old blue tip cock. This bird was a very consistent racer as a young bird. He wasn’t raced last year as a yearling or even let out of the loft for a fly as he was given a complete years rest.
The sire of this cock was 7th Open IHU NFC Waterville last season for Thomas. The sire of this bird was bred by the late Paddy Donnelly from Dublin and the dam was bred by Ron McKelvey, Newry. The dam of the 7th Open is a full sister to the Champion Old Bird of the Year in the South Leinster Federation 2008 for Willie & Mary Hore.

The pigeon at 10th Open is a two-year-old cheq hen. The sire of this bird arrived with her from this race to take 13th Open. He is a winner of numerous top ten positions and has been beaten by loft mates for 1st prize. The grand dam of 10th Open is a 1st prizewinner for Thomas and the great grandsire was a 1st prizewinner for Willie and Mary Hore. The dam of 10tyh Open is another consistent racer for Thomas and is also placed in the positions from this race. She is a daughter of Champion old Bird of theYear in South Leinster Federation 2002 for Willie and Mary Hore.
Thomas had a superb card here with other birds taking 13th, 14th, 73rd, 84th and 181st Open


Willie & Thomas Hore from Wexford North & South, 1st, 8th, 9th & 10th Open Skibbereen.

2nd and 6th South section--- 2nd and 6th Open T Kehoe Wexford North and South
Vels 1887, 1867 winning £334,flying 130 miles

Terry is no stranger to success at National level as can be seen from the following performances with the INFC. 1st Open Skibbereen Young Bird National 1994,1st Open Barleycove Young Bird National 2000, 15th Open Skibbereen Young Bird National 2002 and 5th & 7th Open Skibbereen Young Bird National 2003.
Terry has also won 1st, 3rd, and 6th Open Valentia Young Bird Derby and 2nd Open Valentia Old Bird Derby. These performances were all achieved with his family of Neawlaert x Staf Van Reets.
In 2007 Terry introduced a new family, Roland Janssens from Louella Pigeon World. And these are responsible for his 2nd and 6th Open winners here. Among these new introductions were sons of Roland Janssens top breeders including, ‘Kweeker 12’, ‘White Bandit’, Grey Ghost’ etc, also grand daughters of ‘Kweeker 11’, ‘By Jingo’, ‘Thundercloud’ etc. Terry has put these together to form a family with severe selection taking place.
The pigeon at 2nd Open is a yearling red grizzle cock. The sire of this cock is a grandson of ‘By Jingo’ and the dam is out of a son of ‘Kweeker 12’. Terry’s 6th Open pigeon, a black pied yearling cock is a grandson of ‘White Bandit’ and the dam is a grand daughter of ‘Kweeker11’. A full brother of the 6th Open bird was 1st club IHU NFC National in 2009.


Terry Kehoe from Wexford North & South, 2nd & 6th Open Skibbereen.

3rd South section---3rd Open---M Driscoll Wexford North & South
Vel 1880 winning £625 flying 130 miles

Michael’s 3rd Open bird is a yearling cheq pied hen. It was a gift bird from his great friends Robin and Mary Hillis who are previous INFC National winners. This hen has been in the results many times this season and last season. Michael was expecting this pigeon to do the business and she was carrying all pools and Nom to win £624.67.

Earlier this season Michael finished 6th IHU NFC from Barleycove Old Bird National. Michael is flying his birds on a new system that he has perfected himself. This system hasn’t been published yet in any magazine. Michael understandably doesn’t want to let his secret out yet, as he wants to stay ahead of the competition.
Willie Hore, who very kindly provided the details on the Wexford birds, was more than impressed with the set up and predicts that he will have more success in the future.


Michael Driscoll from Wexford North & South holding his 3rd Open Skibbereen winner.

4th, 5th and 7th South section---4th, 5th and 7th Open---B Smith Wexford North & South,
Vels 1876, 1876, 1867 winning £448, flying 131miles
This is another loft with a proven record at National level, as we will see when we look at the birds timed here. All three birds were bred by Brendan’s brother Robbie and are all Dean Pallett Staf Van Reet yearling cocks, raced on the widowhood.
Brendan’s first bird was 3rd club on the Saturday after the Skibbereen National from Barleycove. It is a full brother of a cock that has won 5 x 1sts.

The bird at 5th Open is a full brother to Blue Power Ranger, winner of 1st Open INFC Young Bird National in 2004 for Robbie.
The third bird timed by Brendan in this year’s Old Bird National is a brother of his 3rd Open INFC Young Bird National in 2010.
These Van Reets are certainly doing the business for both Brendan and Robbie and Brendan won the IHU Young Bird National from Barleycove last year with another one of these birds

North Section

1st North Section ---109th Open --- Cromie, Magee & Son Dromara
Vel 1735 winning £660 and the Gerald Delaney Cup, Flying 243 miles.
This is one of the top Skibbereen lofts in the country. Not only are they previous winners of this race in 2009 with ‘Marie’s Dream’, they have a host of other top prizes in both the Young and Old bird Nationals. The previous week this loft was 4th Open NIPA Rosscarbery National.

The partnership sent 11 to this year’s National and had another bird at 16th North section with another two taking 66th and 74th North section. The winning pigeon is a longish cast blue cock with the first flight just coming up. He was bred out of the widowhood loft from Joe’s own Soontjens lines. He was paired just after Blackpool and was allowed to rear one young bird then on to the widowhood.

In preparation for the race he had only a couple of races and hadn’t been away for three weeks prior to the National. The team was flown an hour morning and evening, plus two tosses a week from Newry (20 miles) weather permitting. The birds are fed Marimans French petite plus a seed trapping mix. On basketing evening the bowls are turned over and the cocks are closed in this half of the box for 15 minutes before the hens are introduced. Normally the cocks have the hens for 20 minutes but for the National they had them for an hour and a half.


Joe Cromie from Dromara holding his 1st North Sect Skibbereen.

2nd North Section ---119th Open --- McComb Bros ---Killyleagh Central
vel 1725 winning £435 Flying 247miles

Racing as McComb Bros this Killyleagh partnership of Bobby, and Bobby’s brother’s son Paddy are having a super year’s Old Bird racing both with the East Down Combine and the NIPA. In the last few weeks the loft has been in top form having on the weekend before the Skibbereen National won 1st and 3rd club 5th and 10th open EDC Fermoy. This follows on directly from winning 8th and 14th open, 1st and 6th Section F from the NIPA Rosscarbery National. The pigeon at 14th open being a blue cock a son of the cock, which has just won them 2nd North Section INFC Skibbereen.

The 2nd North Section pigeon is a 3-year-old blue cheq cock, which was racing widowhood. As a yearling in 2009 he was 8th Open in the East Down Combine Skibbereen Derby. Injury prevented him being raced in 2010 and he was put back on the road again this year where the patience of Bobby and Paddy has paid off handsomely.
Well bred for the task, his grandmother, a cheq hen is from the Sandyhill stud and his sire has 4x1st club including having a 1st section F with the NIPA .On the dam’s side the dam was a Lefebre Dhaenens bought at Lockie Brennan’s sale.
Last year McComb Bros finished 69th North section so are delighted with this year’s result. I should add that Paddy has taken over as Race Controller for the East Down Combine where he has settled well into the job.


McComb Bros Killyleagh winners of 2nd North Sect Skibbereen.

3rd & 4th North Section --122nd &123rd Open ---McCartan & Woodsides ---Crossgar
vel 1724 winning £954 Flying 244 miles

The next two pigeons in the North section were just a few miles down the road from Killyleagh to the lofts of McCartan & Woodsides of Crossgar who had two birds together. A three man partnership of Paul McCartan, and Liam and son Darren Woodside, this partnership race with great consistency and were 50th North section last year from this race. This is another loft successful in both the EDC where they race through the Crossgar club and the NIPA through the Killyleagh Central club.
The first of their two birds was a blue chequer Busschaert cock and as with all their race team he was racing roundabout. This cock was a gift from Tom & Colm Kilpatrick of Killyleagh being bred off two open winners of theirs - the winner of Talbenny paired to the winner of the 5 bird Mallow. Paul, Liam & Darren would like to take this opportunity to record their thanks to Tom & Colm. This chequer cock is no stranger to success for just 10 days prior to the Skibbereen National he had won 5th open 5th section F NIPA Rosscrea from 12,355 birds in a race which saw Killyleagh & Dist fanciers take the top 6 in the open and Killyleagh Central members (NIPA) the next three. This cock has always raced consistently for McCartan & Woodsides and so was well pooled for the INFC race.
Their 2nd bird also on 1724ypm was a two-year-old blue hen, which had previously won 3 races for the partnership. Again she was well pooled because of her previous record, having already won the club from Mullingar, the first race of this year, as well as winning as a young bird and is a most consistent racer. Again she was on Roundabout. The breeding of this hen is ½ Soontjen and ½ Lefebre Dhaenens.

5th North section--- 124th Open--- D & J Campbell & Bigger Glengormley
Vel 1722 winning £109 flying 256 miles

This partnership is made up of Davy Campbell and Hugh Bigger from the Glengormley club. They are the longest fliers in the top ten of the north section. Davy and Hugh got two birds together but one of them hit wires on the way in and went to ground. It was stunned but they were able to time it to take 27th section, 161st Open. They followed this with another 4 making the result at 104th, 106th 108th and 162nd section to gave them an excellent race.
The pigeon at 5th north section is a yearling cock that was 3rd open NIPA from Roscrea as a young bird and this year it has been timed a few times in the section result. The sire is from John Greenaway, Bondhill and is a grandson of ‘Iron Lady’. The grand dam is a Soontjens also from the Greenaway loft. The dam is a Janssen x Roland Kint.


The D & J Campbell & Bigger team from Glengormley.

6th North section---127th Open---Donnelly Bros Newry
Vel 1721 winning £197 flying 221 miles.

Former National winners John and Richard Donnelly are 6th north section here and are no strangers to national results. Indeed I had the pleasure of reporting on them in last years Friendship National.
The pigeon timed here is a yearling blue cheq cock racing on widowhood. This pigeon has been racing well all year, having previously been 2nd section, 73rd Open NIPA from Clonmel competing against 30,335 birds and beaten for the section win by a loftmate. He was also 15th section, 41st Open Roscrea with 31,000 birds racing.
This sire of this yearling cock won the NIPA Open from the 5 bird Mallow plus a number of other prizes. The dam is a daughter of ‘Scarecrow’.
This pigeon is a ½ brother of their Bude winner and a full brother of the pigeon that was 5th north section, 9th Open Friendship National last year from St Malo.
They had another three birds in the result at 45th section 187th Open, 46th section 189th Open and 198th section.

7th North Section--- 130th Open---Hutchinson Bros Ashfield
Vel 1719 winning £203 flying 234 miles

7th North section is another loft with a fantastic record in these races, that of Davy Hutchinson who races in Ashfield HPS just a couple of miles from Dromore. This loft has won three INFC Nationals and three NIPA Nationals. Davy had a fantastic race with a lot of birds coming in close together, taking the following other positions 13th, 14th, 15th, 34th and 68th north section, 141st, 142nd, 143rd and 172nd Open. The pigeon taking 7th North section was a two-year-old blue cock flown on widowhood. This bird was 7th Open Tullamore earlier in the year from 25000 birds and also 7th Open Rosscarbery 10 days previously with the NIPA. He is of Soonjten bloodlines sired by Davy's Yearling National winner when paired to his own daughter (this hen was also the NIPA Rosscarbery National winner in 2008). The blue cock had all the inland races but no extra training. Davy doesn't show the widowhood cocks their hens beforehand and always keeps the nest bowls upright.

8th North section---133rd Open---McKinstry Bros Dromara
Vel 1718 winning £144 flying 236 miles

The McKinstry Bros partnership is Albert and Stanley who live in Rathfriland. This loft is fast making a name for themselves in this type of race, having already won 2 NIPA sections this year. They are previous 5 Bird Mallow winners with the NIPA. Albert and Stanley timed a yearling blue cock this time, flown on roundabout. The breeding is Soonjten x Braspenning coming down from stock obtained from Hutchinson Bros. It has had every race plus plenty of training. The McKinstrys had a few more birds in the result taking 24th, 38th, 57th, 159th and 222nd North section and 158th and 177th Open to round off a good day’s racing for them..

9th North Section---134th Open---P & J Boal Dromore
Vel1718 winning £223 flying 236 miles

This is another top loft at these races having been 1st North Section in this race last year finishing 7th Open. Their timer this year is a two-year-old blue cheq hen flown on widowhood. This hen has already won 5th, 8th & 9th section D with the NIPA. Her breeding is Willy Van Herck and is a granddaughter of their No 1 stock pair. She was paired on Christmas day, flown once a day and has only missed one race this year, and had no extra training between races.

10th North section---135th Open---J F McCabe Newry
Vel 1718 winning £203 flying 219 miles.

This is another loft that had a good race with four birds in the result at 10th north section 135th Open, 40th section 180th Open and 111th, 114th and 162nd section. John was working on Tuesday so it was left to his good wife Rita to do the timing in and she managed to do this well.

The pigeon at 10th north section was John’s second pigeon from Roscarberry the week before but arrived without minus its ETS ring. John had got a bad trap with his first bird, which only went in after this bird arrived and it took 40th Open.
The pigeon timed is a yearling hen on the roundabout. The breeding is ¾ Soontjens from Hutchinson Bros Ashfield (see above) and ¼ Braspenning from Ron McKelvey, Newry. John got off to a great start to the season when he had 8 birds in the top ten in the club taking the first seven and then from Roscrea he was 2nd section, 3rd open NIPA competing against 31000 birds.


John McCabe of Newry, co Down was 10th North Sect Skibbereen.


Thanks to all who helped in the preparation of this report, particularly Willie Hore, Davy Black and Clifford Browne.