Farming Life - Wednesday 20/07/11

[willie reynolds]

Marvelous Maguire 1st South Down Fed from St Malo

The East Down Combine held their Old Bird Derby from St Malo in France on Sunday 26 June following a two day hold over due to bad weather. The Sunday morning again started off dull but the weather improved through the morning and the pigeons were liberated at 9.30am in a clear blue skies and sunshine. Wind at the race point was southeasterly wind, which freshened throughout the day.

The winner of the Combine was T Marshall & Son, Newtownbreda who was winning the race for the third year in a row and that’s a fantastic achievement. The winner of the South Down Federation is Annsborough’s Noel Maguire who timed his single entry at 5.30pm to take 1st South Down Fed, 1st East section and 2nd Open. What a season this has been for Noel, who was 1st and 2nd Open from 1st Mount Charles and backed this up with a series of top class performances. I know that Noel was particularly thrilled with this performance.

Noel’s pigeon was 5th Fed, 7th section, 19th Open from 2nd Mount Charles. This bird is a two-year-old Pros Roosen hen from James Cleland Annsborough. This bird was 7th Fed from Mullingar, and was fourth club, 6th Fed, 7th section, 18th Open Young Bird Talbenny in 2009. She was sent to this race sitting on chipping eggs and Noel gave her a youngster the night before basketing to win £454.

Annsborough’s Michael Jennings was next to time in the Fed at 5.38pm. Michael has had a good season as well with many fine performances but he will rate this as his best one yet. Michael’s pigeon was 2nd section, 4th Open. This one is a yearling hen that was again sitting on chipping eggs and she was given a youngster on the morning the birds were basketed. She is out of ‘Doley’s Pied cock’ that is a son of their Hall of Fame winner, while the dam is a Van der Wegan. Michael’s bird had all the races this year except one of the Fermoys and this bird was 9th club in the 1st Talbenny.

G & P Brown Annsborough end an incredible season in style by taking 3rd East section, 11th Open. 2011 has been a year, which has seen Geraldine and Patrick win back to back Opens and win the East Down Combine Inland Championship. The pigeon timed here is a five-year-old cock that is Grondelaars from their own stock crossed with one from James Cleland’s distance pigeons.

Annalong’s Bobby McConnell is 4th Fed, 6th section, 14th Open and he too has had a super year including 1st Open from Tullamore. Bobby timed his two-year-old cock at 6.11pm. This bird has been a consistent racer and flew the hard Penzance in 2010. The sire was bred by A Tonks, West Midlands from his top Marc De Cock bloodlines, while the dam was out of a Blue Pied cock that was 81st open INFC Yearling National and a Blue hen that was 5th Open and 18th Open East Down Combine pus numerous club positions.

R McDowell & Son Annsborough are 5th Fed, 8th section, 19th Open this week. This loft are previous winners of the Old Bird Derby and have a great record from the race. This yearling hen was so fresh on her return from Bude that Robert felt that she would have to go to St Malo. This proved a good decision. This bird was sent to the race sitting 10 days on eggs. Her sire is from Billy Lecky Ards while the dam is a Kenyon.

Tyrella’s S & E McGaw are 6th Fed, 9th section 24th Open here with the pigeon that was 5th Fed, 15th section 26th Open in this race last year and she came from the exact same direction as last year. She has been 3rd club three times down Ireland and was 4th club from Talbenny The pigeon timed is a three-year-old black hen. This Busschaert hen won the club race from Bude two years ago by over 20 minutes and is a grand daughter of J Maguire & Ptrs ‘white eyes’.

J McNally & Son Annsborough are 7th Fed, 15th section, 39th Open timing at 9.30pm. This two-year-old cock was in such good form coming home that he flew for an hour the next morning with the young birds. This bird flew most of the races up Ireland this year and had the two Talbennys before being set up for the Derby. The sire is a Jan Arden while the dam is a Rapido Busschaert from Taylor Bros of New Biggin in the Up North Combine.

The last bird timed on the night was by Dundrum’s J Ringland & Son at 10.47pm to take 8th Fed, 16th section, 40th Open. This two-year-old cock was 4th Open from Talbenny last year. The breeding of this bird is ½ A Murray & Son, ¼ N King & Son and ¼ Louella Vandenabeele. This game pigeon hasn’t reared any young birds this year and was sent sitting on eggs for 12 days.

Pritchard Bros Annsborough timed on the second morning at 10am to take 9th Fed, 20th section. This one is another from their Jan Arden bloodlines and is a two-year-old cock that was sent sitting 10 days. The Pritchards have been on a good run of form over the past few weeks.

Full Result: 1, N Maguire Annsborough 1574 Nom £32; 2, M Jennings Annsborough 1546; 3, G & P Brown Annsborough 1426; 4, B McConnell Annalong 1416; 5, R McDowell & Son Annsborough 1376; 6, S & E McGaw Tyrella 1332; 7, J McNally & Son Annsborough 1044; 8, J Ringland & Son Dundrum 946; 9, Pritchard Bros Annsborough 655:

· £2 Nom this week from Friendship National

· It is hoped to have a Young Bird race on Tuesday 13th July from Navan. This race will be open to South Down Federation members only. Birds will be race marked in their own clubrooms with normal rules applying in that there must be 5 members present for race marking. Birds will cost 25p each. Pick up times Tyrella 9am, Dundrum 9.15am, Annsborough 9.30am, Newcastle 9.45am and Annalong 10am. Clocks will be checked in Annsborough at 7pm. No clocks will be checked after this time.

St Malo was final Old Bird Nat

For the final old bird race of the year the birds were raced marked in Lisburn on Wednesday 6th July having been delayed for one day due to the poor weather forecast for Friday. The liberation in the INFC Friendship Nat St Malo was now planned for Saturday 9th July. It was indeed flown on the planned date 278 members had entered a very good 1,046 birds from across Ireland competing for a prize pool of £6,032. It turned out a very hard race with just 20 birds recorded on the day, and the prizes filled out over the next two days. In the local Muckamore Centre just four day arrivals and 17 all told by tea time on Sunday.

Best bird on the day was timed by Houston & McDonald of Glenavy a loft that had won this race twice previous, they timed at 19.45hrs and recorded velocity 1041 for the 453 miles, to be followed by Andy Gault of Ballyclare best in East Antrim at 21.03hrs, M & B McConville at 21.25hrs and former YB Nat winner Robin Duddy at 22.19hrs. The overall winner was past INFC President Joe Doheny of Dublin who timed at 5.40pm to record velocity 1052. The best birds on the second morning were C & L Woodside of Ballyclare at 6.09am, Bertie Blair of Ballymena & Dist best in Mid Antrim Combine at 6.27am, S & A Leitch of Doagh & Dist at 7.17am, W & L McCaw into Ballymoney at 8.43am flying 493 miles and Andy Gault with a second bird at 9.47. Andy had birds on the day in both the big France races, a loft interested only in long distance racing with birds sourced good friend Davy Strain who has the best for this job.

Muckamore Centre St Malo (Prov) – Houston & McDonald Glenavy 1041, A Gault Ballyclare 970, A & B McConville Crumlin 933, R Duddy Ballyclare 885, Blair & Rankin Ballymena & Dist 799, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 795, S & A Leitch Doagh & Dist 745, W & L McCaw Ballymoney 737, A Gault 659, J & N Lamb Crumlin 641, J Braniff Fortfield 618, A Thompson Ballyclare 609, R Duddy 605, A Darragh Cullybackey 580, T Cairns & Son Glengormley 578, J Burrows Eastway 528, C & L Woodside 507.

East Antrim St Malo - A Gault Ballyclare 970, R Duddy Ballyclare 885, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 795, S & A Leitch Doagh & Dist 745, A Gault Ballyclare 659, A Thompson Ballyclare 609, R Duddy Ballyclare 605, T Cairns & Son Glengormley 578, J Burrows Eastway 528, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 507.

Mid Antrim Combine St Malo – Blair & Rankin Ballymena & Dist 799, A Darragh Cullybackey 580.

The NIPA young bird season was due to start on Saturday 9th July but the training races from Mullingar were cancelled due to a lack of interest among member clubs. This holiday weekend has always been a problem, if that was not bad enough the weather took control the next weekend and the racing planned for Saturday 16th July was put back with a decision on a mid-week liberation to be made on Sunday evening. The NIPA covers a wide part of Northern Ireland from Newry up to Derry City and the weather can be so different in the various parts of the country. There was never any sense in taking a chance at the very start of a young bird season, we will get started and still have plenty of time for racing, hopefully in better weather conditions. The decision made was to cancel the planned mid-week event and make a start this weekend with race marking on Friday 22nd July.

Homer has commenced training with the young birds, collections will now be made in Ballymoney HPS, Rasharkin, Cullybackey, Galgorm/Gracehill, Ahoghill HPS, Randalstown, Antrim/Crumlin etc. Weather permitting training will be Mon-Thursday each week. Now the big races are over we are setting up a few dates to take the bird photos including eye if required, at some central venues. We will use these in any pigeon publicity and on the website, special rates for larger orders. Tel: Homer on 07538 238364 to make arrangements.


Williamson & Calvin Transporter - YOUNG BIRD TRAINING - Will be each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from Ardee and Slane Castle. Sunday training will be from Laytown or Balbriggan. Usual collections - Birds can be hampered the night before or up to 7.50am on morning of toss at 23 Farra Road, phone Ron Williamson Mobile: 07841 762399. Collection Points as before: Annaghmore Clubrooms 8.05am, Ballyoran Hill 8.20am, Edgarstown 8.40am, Laurelvale HPS Clubrooms 9.00am, Markethill Corner 9.30am, and Newry 9.50am. Collections as last year, contact numbers as above.

LOST: While on Loan in the Portadown Area – Blue (c) GFL848-2007 Tel: 07943475887.

Fantastic Season for Gilford & Dist

What a season it has been for Gilford & District RPC the latest success coming for J & D Breen who timed their yearling Black Cheq cock at 21.12hrs flying 14 hours in the St Malo Friendship Nat to make the Top 20, previously the bird was placed 2nd Club, and 162nd Open NIPA Talbenny and timed as well from Penzance. The partners also bred the 2rd Open NIPA Penzance Classic winner for O Fitzpatrick & Son also of Gilford & Dist the best Peter Fox of the Syndicate Lofts (Wales) Golden Gaby lines. Club members won both the NIPA St Malo Nat and the Kings Cup from Plaudren, best wishes to Tom Wilson and Dan Campbell from all the members in Gilford & Dist – It was indeed a season to remember.

Cross Channel success in the Foyle

Foyle RPS had a cross channel season to remember from Talbenny winning 1st & 2nd only 2 clocked in the club for Barry Harte, great flying Barry. One week later from Bude 1st club and only bird on the day went to Noel McGrotty & Son another great result on a very hard day. Now on to the OB Nat St Malo and again with only one pigeon recorded in the club winning 1st Club, 3rd Federation, 6th Section and 215th Open NIPA went to Jim Diamond. Well done Jim from all the members of the Foyle on an excellent result.

East Down start in Navan

East Down Combine opened their young bird season with a race from Navan flown on Saturday 16th July, the result was dominated by the East Sect a fantastic result for G & P Brown of Annsborough taking the Top 6 places and the winner doing velocity 1572. J Crockard & Son from Comber Social had 1st, 2nd & 3rd West Sect, the winner doing velocity 1470.

East Down Combine Navan (1) – G & P Brown Annsborough 1572, G & P Brown 1571, G & P Brown 1570, G & P Brown 1570, G & P Brown 1570, G & P Brown 1570, F Black & Sons Downpatrick 1551, Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey 1536, R McDowell & Son Annsborough 1532, R McDowell & Son 1532, R McDowell & Son 1526, R McDowell & Son 1526, P Brown & Son Annsborough 1525, S McLoughlin Killyleagh Cent 1524, P Brown & Son 1524, D Croskery & Son Annsborough 1520, J Orr & Son Ballywalter 1520, D McNabb & Partners Tyrella 1516, Gordon Bros & Sons 1512, S Regan Ballywalter 1510.

EDC West Sect – J Croskard & Son Comber Soc 1470, J Croskard & Son 1469, J Crockard & Son 1464, S & K Duke Crossgar 1394, T Horner & Sons Crossgar 1391, T Horner & Sons 1391, L McKinstry Dundonald 1386, A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson 1379, S & K Duke 1379, S & K Duke 1378.

EDC East Sect - G & P Brown Annsborough 1572, G & P Brown 1571, G & P Brown 1570, G & P Brown 1570, G & P Brown 1570, G & P Brown 1570, F Black & Sons Downpatrick 1551, Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey 1536, R McDowell & Son Annsborough 1532, R McDowell & Son 1532.

East Down Combine Clubs Navan (1)

Annalong 10/333 – B Higgins 1497, 1485, J Trimble & Son 1430, K Rooney & Son 1409, 1406, 1406.

Annsborough 4/204 – G & P Brown 1572, 1571, 1570, 1570, 1570, 1570.

Ballylesson 10/215 – A Cousins & Sons 1379, A Crawford 1364, 1358, J Patterson 1357, K & B McConaghie 1348, 1332.

Ballynahinch HPS – J Abernethy 1356, 1313, D & R Topping 1257, J Abernethy 1219, D & R Topping 1194, S & P Logan & Partners 1193.

Ballywalter 5/175 – J Orr & Son 1521, S Regan 1511, 1474, W & W Albert 1450, J Orr & Son 1411, 1408.

Crossgar 6/213 – S & K Duke 1394, T Horner & Sons 1391, 1391, S & K Duke 1379, 1378, McCartan & Woodsides 1365.

Downpatrick 4/126 – F Black & Sons 1551, P Byrne & Son 1365, 1360, 1326, 1325, 1319.

Dundonald 5/190 – L McKinstry 1386, M Foulis 1357, L McKinstry 1357, 1357, 1357, M Foulis 1356.

Hillfoot – J Scates & Sons 1310, 1310, 1310, W Robinson 1246, 1245, 1244.

Killyleagh Cent 9/221 – S McLoughlin 1524, Gordon Bros 1444, 1443, 1435, T McKelvey 1433, R Cheevers 1428.

Tyrella 7/201 – D McNabb & Partners 1516, G & B Feenan & Sons 1417, S & J McCartan 1382, S Halpin & Sons 1349, B Kelly 1344, 1333.