Martin Graham - Ballymena & Dist - pictured with one of his star long distance performers
PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO VIEW A SHORT LOFT PROFILE
modules/fragz_download/files/M...ROFILE.pdf
MARTIN WILL BE OFFERING A SMALL SELECT DRAFT FROM HIS TOP WINNING LINES
PLEASE NOTE : THIS WILL BE AN ONLINE ONLY SALE - LAST BID WILL BE THE WINNING BID
THERE WILL BE A 20 MIN SNIPING FEATURE IN OPERATION FOR THIS SALE
THE BIRDS WILL BE ONLINE IN THE COMING WEEK
A TOP CLASS DRAFT ON OFFER
INCLUDING 2 DIRECT OFF \" NORMA \"
LOFT PROFILE
MARTIN GRAHAM - BALLYMENA & DIST HPS
Over the past few seasons Martin has given the competitive club scene a miss , concentrating mainly on the
major classic events . His most recent result in the very hard and testing INFC Penzance Y/B National , gave
me cause to highlight Martin. In one of the hardest Y/B Nationals , flying 330 miles into a head wind , Martin
timed five birds in the prizes , when only 126 birds were recorded in race time - An Outstanding Result and a
short profile was greatly deserved.
Question 1 . THE BEGINNING : YOUR HISTORY IN THE SPORT - WHEN YOU BEGAN???
WHAT MADE YOU BEGIN ??? WHOS BIRDS DID YOU START WITH ??? ETC. - I started racing in
1999 with young birds . I bought a few sprint bird and raced in Harryville at first. I’m a third generation
fancier in my family, with my dad and granddad both racing in Harryville, so it’s in my blood.
Question 2 . CURRENT FLYING ORGANISATIONS - I fly in the N.I.P.A and I.N.F.C but I’ve lost the
desire for club racing, very rarely timing in at club level. I love the nationals racing and that’s the only racing
that excites me.
Question 3 . THE LOFT - STRUCTURE ?? - LENGTH ??? - HOW MANY ??? - I have a two-storey
block loft that I built a few years ago along with my original wooden lofts that house the stock birds and natural
young birds.
Question 4 . RACING METHODS ETC . OLD & YOUNG - FEEDING , SYSTEMS ETC. - I try to keep
my methods simple; I fly the birds on the open hole. When I’m getting ready for the nationals I’ve always used
Verselaga feeding.
Question 5 . TREATMENTS - WHAT USED ?? - WHEN USED ?? - I treat specifically for respiratory
leading up to the big races. Occasionally I would treat for canker and paratyphoid that’s it.
Question 6 . BREEDING - My birds are mainly F.V.W, which I obtained in 1999 from B. Fletcher & Son -
Oakfield Lofts - Portadown - and then I bought birds at Norman Thompson’s clearance sale, that is the
backbone of my loft.
Question 7 . THE STOCK BIRDS - STRAINS , FAMILIES ETC . - I have 8 pairs of prisoner stock, which
are the best of my own family of birds. Good performance birds are generally stocked along with the children
of ‘Norma’ and the ‘Witslager’ hen, the two best breeding hen’s I’ve ever owned.
Question 8 . RACING RESULTS OVER THE YEARS - CLUB / OPEN / NATIONALS ETC. - I have
had some good results especially from the N.I.P.A Old Bird National from St Malo - France - and the Young
Bird National from Penzance. My old bird record from France is : 2
nd , 4th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 32nd, 47th Open etc.
I.N.F.C Young Bird National Penzance : 13th, 15th, 20th, 31st, 33rd, 34th, 47th, 51st etc.
Question 9 . OUTSTANDING RACE BIRDS / STOCK BIRDS ETC . - My outstanding results have to be
the past few seasons from the I.N.F.C timing 7 in the yearling national 2014 another 7 in the young bird
Penzance 2014 and probably my greatest achievement timing 5 birds , with all in the prizes , in the very hard &
testing event , this year , with only 126 birds in race time . Outstanding breeder’s would have to be \" The Big
Hen \" she is a daughter of ‘Norma’ and she is responsible for over 10 I.N.F.C National and Derby positions
being - Dam and Grand Dam.
Question 10 . TO FINISH - YOUR VIEWS ON THE SPORT - In my younger days - although I\'m not an
old boy yet lol lol - my enthusiasm for the sprint races was awesome - training hard and all in my life was
pigeons , pigeons , pigeons. Nowadays life is concentated on my family and the enthusiasm is solely on the
long distance events as I have not the time to compete competitively at club level . I have been fortunate to
obtain some good results in the long distance events , as can be seen . Wishing all - Enjoy your pigeons - Many thanks Martin for compiling this short report.