Liberations - w/e Sat 14th July 2012

[willie reynolds]

Due to the poor weather the Blue Riband Kings Cup Grand Nat race from Plaudren (Vannes) was delayed and race marking eventually took place in Lisburn on Friday 6th July for a possible liberation on Monday. Some 2,800 birds were race marked at Lisburn and are now en-route to France, race marking for the Friendship Nat has been brought forward till Saturday 7th July from 6.00pm with a possible liberation in Quimper on Tuesday. Please call back for further updates including liberation and early results. HOMER.

A change of venue back to Quimper (483 miles) to Ballymena was proposed at the AGM, with the weather so difficult it was thought both major races from France should be flown around the same time. The Kings Cup bird marking was delayed until Friday 6th July and the decision was to bring the race marking for the Friendship Nat forward to Saturday 7th July. Weather permitting the plan is to liberate the Kings Cup birds in Plaudren on Monday and the Friendship Nat on Tuesday, both are three day races and for the first time I can remember will be running at the same time.

Last season the Kings Cup from Plaudren (Vannes) was won by Dan Campbell of Gilford & Dist 820 members sent 2792 birds, the winner recorded velocity 1157 for the 481 miles. The Friendship Nat was flown from St Malo and won by Joe Doheny of Malahide recording velocity 1052 for the 381 miles, 278 members sent 1046 birds.

Please call back for confirmed liberation, and all the early news and results.

Grand National Plaudren King's Cup 2012. SPONSORED BY Samuel McCausland Ltd.

Monday 9th July 2012 at 07.00am

794 members have entered 2783 pigeons in the King's Cup race and are competing for £37,607. 00 stg. The pigeons have been released in blue sky and sunshine at 6.30 there was no wind at the release site and on route it will be westerly turning north westerly.

Stopped clocks contact your centre manager details in the race entry booklet. - For Lisburn centre please contact the secretary.

Next update this evening.

**** LATEST: Big early bird reported in Malahide & Dist to the loft of Gerry O’Reilly & Son at 6.30pm – Around 12 hours exactly and flying 421 miles. Seen nothing else so far, great bird for the O’Reilly Family.

Wall Bros from North West Cork timed their single entry last year in the prizes and have timed on the day this time at 8.45pm flying 383 miles. Not a lot about!

Former winners N Black & Son Dromara timed at 8.48pm, flying 479 miles, might be another one in the North around the same time.

I am hearing Jack Magee of Lisburn at 8.50pm flying approx 486 miles, remember all birds have to be confirmed, what is clear there is not many around. W G Neill of Annaghmore in at 8.47pm flying 489 miles.

F & J Crowe of Gorey in Wexford at 9.00pm flying 372 miles.

Monday 9th July 2012 at 23.00.

Provisional Top 8.

1. G O'Reilly & Son Malahide 1020
2. W Neill Annaghmore 1002

3. G & C Quinn Milltown 1002
4. L Magee & Son Lisburn 993

5. N Black & Son Dromara 983, 8th Open in 2011.
6. C & L Fryers Dromara 948

7. G O'Reilly & Son Malahide 813
8. J Cullen Malahide 803 former winner.

9. Wall Bros. Cork 791
10. F & J Crowe Gorey 752 in Single Bird Challenge.

Hours of darkness 22:44 to 04:53 - Second day arrivals contact centre managers clocks to be checked within three hours. Trevor Topping INFC Secretary.

Gerry O’Reilly & Son from Malahide & Dist won the Harkness Rose Bowl for the 2B Ave in 2009 with positions 4th & 26th Open INFC. They might just win the trophy again in 2012 with Kings Cup positions of 1st & 7th Open INFC.

Second day birds in the Kings Cup include: P J Corcoran Balbriggan 7.40am, Mark Ewbanks, Banbridge at 9.59am, J & D Braniff, Belfast at 11.11am with a Single Bird Challenge entry, McGimpsey Bros Ards 11.20am, Davy Black 8.50am, Paul Dunlop Edgarstown 2 birds, Dublin 2 birds. Still not many around, 30 birds in total reported after checking each Nat Centre by afternoon Tuesday. INFC now report 33 birds timed up till 5.00pm!!

Tuesday 10th July 2012 at 21.00.

1. G O'Reilly & Son Malahide 1020
2. W Neill Annaghmore 1002

3. G & C Quinn Milltown 1001
4. L Magee & Son Lisburn 992

5. N Black & Son Dromara 983
6. C & L Fryers Dromara 948

7. Collins & Pursley Doagh 837
8. G O'Reilly & Son Malahide 813

9. Collins & Pursley Doagh 804
10. J Cullen Malahide 802

11. Wall Bros. Cork 791
12. F & J Crowe Gorey 752

Hours of darkness 22:43 to 04:55

Third day arrivals contact centre managers. - At the present we have 43 birds recorded up to 21.00 hours Tuesday.

OLYMPICS FRIENDSHIP NATIONAL QUIMPER - SPONSORED BY VERSELE LAGA
TUESDAY 10th JULY AT 7.45 - 227 MEMBERS HAVE ENTERED 818 PIGEONS IN THE FRIENDSHIP NATIONAL AND ARE COMPETING FOR £4826.00 POOLS AND PRIZEMONEY.

THE PIGEONS WERE RELEASED AT 07.30 THE WIND AT THE RELEASE SITE WAS LIGHT WESTERLY AND ON ROUTE WILL BE NORTH WESTERLY NEXT UPDATE THIS EVENING. Trevor Topping.

*** LATEST: Bird reported from Quimper into North Dublin at 7.48pm - Same area as the Kings Cup winner from last night. I hear Art Kelly 7.48 and G O'Reilly & Son from Malahide 2 birds just after 8.00pm.

TUESDAY 10th JULY AT 23.00

First day arrivals.

1. A McAteer Ballyholland 996
2. P&C Swindell Newry City time 20.39 no distances

3. A Kelly Skerries 928

4. R Williamson Bondhill 923
5. T Speers Malahide 903

6. G O'Reilly & Son Malahide 887
7. G O'Reilly & Son Malahide 880

Second day arrivals contact Clock Station Managers. Please call back for further updates. Well done to all lofts clocking in both races.

OLYMPICS FRIENDSHIP NATIONAL QUIMPER
SPONSORED BY VERSELE LAGA

Wednesday 11th JULY AT 21.00

First day arrivals.
1. A McAteer Ballyholland 996
2. P&C Swindell Newry City 989
3. A Kelly Skerries 928
4. R Williamson Bondhill 923
5. T Speers Malahide 903
6. G O'Reilly & Son Malahide 887
7. G O'Reilly & Son Malahide 880

*** 85 birds recorded. Third day arrivals. Lisburn Friday 13th July at 10.00am - Muckamore Friday 13th July at 10.00am - Banbridge Thursday 12th July at 7.00pm.

Kings Cup Update - Wednesday 11th July 2012 at 21.00.

Hours of darkness 22:43 to 04:55 Fourth day arrivals with velocities better than 235 will quailify for a prize.
At the present we have 60 birds recorded up to 21.00 hours Wednesday.

Clocking arrangements the same as the Friendship National.Lisburn Friday 13th July at 10.00am - Muckamore Friday 13th July at 10.00am - Banbridge Thursday 12th July at 7.00pm. Next update Thursday.

Saturday 14/07/12

Ulster Federation - Liberated at 10.00am in Navan.
Irish SR Federation - Liberated at 11.15am in Thurles.