Homer's Odyssey/BHW Plus - 05/06/09

[willie reynolds]

Last weekend seen the start of the cross channel racing for the O/Birds with all of the Northern Ireland based organisations all in Talbenny, South Wales and with Summer like conditions all over the Country no time was wasted in getting the birds up with the East Down Combine the first to go at 9.30am in a South Easterly breeze. The NIPA who where also transporting the Ulster Federation liberated 30 minutes later and the mass of pigeons from both organisations cleared without delay. My understanding is that the NIPA could very well have transported a record number of Talbenny entries at the weekend. As we go to press early indications are that the Rocket Ronnie Williamson is looking like the NIPA Open winner and if so that would be an incredible 53 x NIPA 1st Opens. In the Ulster Federation the best velocity is that of Rab Braniff of the Wheatfield HPS who is having an awesome season to date. The East Down Combine were also in Talbenny and the best reported pigeon we have is raced by the Kevin and Kristopher Rooney team of Annalong, well done to all the winners over the weekend. As for the other organisations in Ireland the Irish South Road Federation liberated in both Pilmore Beach and Sennen Cove, the East Coast Federation where also in Talbenny and they liberated also at 10.00am, the Munster Federation whose programme is running one week behind were in Cookstown and liberated at 8.00am and finally the South Leinster Federation were in Castletownbere and liberated at 9.30am and also its members were part of the IHU National race which was liberated at 8.00am. For us it was a busy weekend with the INFC holding its first National of the year on Thursday so it was out and about both on Friday and Saturday getting the news gathered up on the Provisional Top Ten, which has been supplied to the weeklies as a separate report, and no let up with this report which contains over 110 results from Clubs all over Northern Ireland, and a few from the South of Ireland once again it all couldn’t be done without the dedication of the fanciers who send the results and reports each week, also we would like to thank everyone who has assisted in any way during the weekend in getting the news to us to enable it all to be published when its fresh your efforts are greatly appreciated.

East Down Combine Results Talbenny

South Down Federation – 1st K Rooney & Son 1701, 2nd M Croskery 1673, 3rd M Croskery 1669, 4th D Croskery & Son 1660, 5th D Croskery & Son 1654, 6th D Croskery & Son 1636, 7th B Chambers 1633, 8th M Croskery 1630, 9th B Chambers 1627, 10th B Chambers 1620. The Rooney boys enjoy their second Federation success of the year followed by mickey Croskery who was chasing his first of the year, although I don’t think his first will be to far away.

Annalong HPS 15/142 – 1st K Rooney & Son 1701, 2nd K Rooney & Son 1550, 3rd J Newell 1529, 4th C McVeigh 1509, 5th B McConnell 1504, 6th J McCartan 1487, 7th K Rooney & Son 1461, 8th B McConnell 1447, 9th J McCartan 1444, 10th B McConnell 1439. Kevin & Kristopher Rooney have a flyer to say the least winning the Club by a clear 149 yards ahead of their second pigeon that recorded a velocity of 1550ypm. Deserves to win the Combine with a performance like that very well done, this success brings the total in 2009 to six firsts for the father & son partnership.

Annsborough HPS 16/269 – 1st Mickey Croskery 1673, 2nd Mickey Croskery 1669, 3rd D Croskery & Son 1660, 4th D Croskery & Son 1654, 5th D Croskery & Son 1636, 6th Mickey Croskery 1630, 7th D Croskery & Son 1615, 8th Mickey Croskery 1606, 9th M Croskery & Son 1604, 10th Mickey Croskery 1603. Not for the first time it’s a Croskery day in Annsborough with the complete top ten dominated by the different Croskery partnerships. Mickey is the man this week with a couple of good arrivals taking first and second ahead of ahead of his father and brother who take the next three in the prizes. This is Micky’s second success of the year in the Annsborough club.

Ballylesson HPS 12/184 – 1st J Patterson 1654, 2nd F Keery 1653, 3rd H Patterson & Son 1620, 4th Massey Bros 1619, 5th J Patterson 1608, 6th H Ballantyne & Son 1605, 7th Mackey & Lockhart 1586, 8th F Keery 1585, 9th J Patterson 1539, 10th A Cousins & Sons 1494. John Patterson cements his positions to the top of the leader board in 2009 with this now his 6th Success of the season, remarkable racing to say the least during a week when he also finished runner-up in the first National of the year flown by the INFC from Skibbereen. Fleming Keery is keeping close on his heels as has been the case on a few occasions this season.

Hillfoot HPS 9/123 – M McClure 1647, 2nd H Flynn 1610, 3rd D & T Brennan 1582, 4th D Flynn 1576, 5th M McClure 1546, 6th J Scates & Sons 1532, 7th J Scates & Sons 1529, 8th D & T Brennan 1491, 9th D & T Brennan 1470, 10th J Scates & Sons 1425. Well done to Mark on recording his 1st success of 2009 this week from Talbenny ahead of the inform Hugh Flynn with the D & T Brennan partnership as normal never to far away.

Dundonald HPS 4/81 – 1st J Young & Partners 1643, 2nd S Brown & Sons 1635, 3rd J Young & Partners 1603, 4th S Brown & Sons 1589, 5th S Brown & Sons 1581, 6th S Brown & Sons 1569, 7th M Foulis 1567, 8th B C T Foulis & Gill 1539, 9th B C T Foulis & Gill 1519, 10th J Young & Partners 1503. Jim Young & Partners complete the hat trick of wins this season to date with a good win from Talbenny, Stephen Brown who many will know can race a pigeon has a super card with four in the top ten of the result, I see Brian Foulis and Ian Gill with a couple of arrivals in the result also.

Dundrum HPS 6/87 – 1st B Chamber 1633, 2nd B Chamber 1627, 3rd B Chambers 1620, 4th B Chambers 1616, 5th B Chambers 1565, 6th B Chambers 1565, 7th B Chambers 1564, 8th S Foster & Connor 1507, 9th J Maguire & Partners 1437, 10th A Murray & Son 1437. A resounding success from Talbenny for the Chambers operation taking the first seven positions in the Club, awesome flying to say the least.

Crossgar HPS 9/169 – 1st S McLoughlin 1620, 2nd S & K Duke 1616, 3rd McCartan & Woodsides 1606, 4th McCartan & Woodsides 1575, 5th G & J O’Hare & Son 1572, 6th McCartan & Woodsides 1550, 7th McCartan & Woodsides 1549, 8th McCartan & Woodsides 1549, 9th I Murray & Son 1532, 10th McCartan & Woodsides 1530. The McLoughlin loft lifts its first Red Card of the year flying with the Crossgar Club with Sammy Duke a good runner-up and the Ace partnership of Paul McCartan and Darren Woodside taking the next couple of places to complete the top four.

Ballynahinch Social – 1st W Catherwood & Sons 1595, 2nd W Catherwood & Sons 1561, 3rd J Gillespie & Sons 1531, 4th H Wallace 1465, 5th R Hunter 1448, 6th H Wallace 1411, 7th M Roberts 1402, 8th R Hunter 1382, 9th R Hunter 1380, 10th M Roberts 1371. The Catherwood boys come in front this week with a couple of good arrivals from Talbenny to record their first success of 2009 into the Ballynahinch Social, the Gillespie loft are always not far away and finish third this week. I see Rab Hunter still putting them into the result also after a bit of a marathon party the other evening. The Wallace and Roberts lofts also have a couple of arrivals in the top ten of the result well done to all.

Drumaness Mills HPS – 1st C Lavery 1590, 2nd P Burns 1578, 3rd C Lavery 1547, 4th C Lavery 1488, 5th P Burns 1478, 6th G Hillen & Partners 1467, 7th P Burns 1435, 8th C Lavery 1404, 9th G Hillen & Partners 1261, 10th P O’Connor 1209. The Lavery lofts collects the second red card of 2009 ahead of Philip Burns who also has a couple of 1st’s to his name so far in 2009, a hard enough race for many, although think returns are ok but a bit spread out as you come to find with the Channel.

Killyleagh Central 12/165 – 1st S McLoughlin 1590, 2nd E Marshall 1574, 3rd Healy & Watson 1573, 4th S McLoughlin 1557, 5th S McLoughlin 1542, 6th S McLoughlin 1531, 7th W R Jackson & Sons 1509, 8th Healy & Watson 1504, 9th S McLoughlin 1492, 10th S McLoughlin 1453. Well Done to Sidney on yet another good result into Killyleagh completing the hat trick of wins to date this season in the Killyleagh Central Club.

Tyrella HPS – 1st D McNabb & Partners 1496, 2nd S Halpin & Sons 1462, 3rd S Halpin & sons 1459, 4th D McNabb & Partners 1458, 5th S Halpin & Sons 1449, 6th S & E McGaw 1426, 7th D McNabb & Partners 1393, 8th S & E McGaw 1299. The McNabb team collect their second red card of 2009 with a commanding winner from Talbenny in South Wales, the Halpin loft who are the team to beat at the minute have a good card finishing 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club.

Ulster Federation Results Talbenny

Wheatfield HPS 8/134 – 1st Rab Braniff 1842, 2nd Rab Braniff 1792, 3rd J & D Braniff 1633, 4th J & D Braniff 1594, 5th J & D Braniff 1588, 6th J & D Braniff 1560, 7th K O’Sullivan & Sons 1548, 8th J & D Braniff 1537. That is three success’s to date in 2009 for the former Millar Gold Cup winning loft of Rab Braniff and he is looking good for Federation honours once again for the 3rd time this year, excellent racing and rumour has it he may be hanging up the coat, hopefully not. The J & D team as you would imagine aren’t to far away and also have a number of pigeons in the Club result to which a few will feature well in the over-all result.

Shankill & District HPS 18/301 – 1st J Gibson & Son & Tosh 1714, 2nd Calderwood & Waite 1659, 3rd J O’Boyle 1640, 4th J O’Boyle 1628, 5th J Gibson & Son & Tosh 1627, 6th J & R Newberry 1590, 7th J Gibson & Son & Tosh 1582, 8th McAuley & Kell & Bowles 1579, 9th D Balloch 1575, 10th W Gilmore 1566. Excellent winner for the Gibson & Tosh team collecting there second Red Card for 2009 to date, the top partnership of Calderwood & Waite are never far away and finish in runner-up spot ahead of O’Boyle loft who completes the top four finishing 3rd and 4th Club with just over 300 pigeons competing.

Fortfield HPS 19/185 – 1st A & S McConville 1692, 2nd D & S Russell 1649, 3rd Martin & Tabb 1639, 4th B McKeown 1573, 5th A & S McConville 1561, 6th D Ferran 1547, 7th K Doherty 1520, 8th P Morgan 1508, 9th K Doherty 1503, 10th Martin & Tabb 1500. The McConville team make it six different winners in all six races to date this season in the Fortfield Club, fantastic for the membership and a very competitive Club at that, the Russell team finish runner-up this week ahead of the Martin & Tabb team in third with a further arrival taking the tenth position, and last weeks winner Benny McKeown completing the top four from Talbenny.

Lagan Valley RPC 21/308 – 1st G Smyth 1678, 2nd A Benson 1665, 3rd G Smyth 1645, 4th A Benson 1636, 5th A Benson 1632, 6th M Patton 1626, 7th D M & K Johnston 1598, 8th Spence Bros 1596, 9th D Jones & Sons 1586, 10th A & R Milliken 1583. The Lagan Valley is vast approaching its 50th Anniversary as a Club and Gary Smyth is the man in front this week making it six different Club winners in 6 races, fantastic showing just how competitive the Club has continued during all those years. In this corresponding race last year Alec Benson finished 2nd and he continues just the same this year finishing runner-up yet again. Gary Smyth takes third club with Alec completing the top four.

Grosvenor HPS 30/472 – 1st G McGowan & Son 1676, 2nd J Porter & Son 1653, 3rd S O’Halloran & Son 1635, 4th A & J Jordan 1634, 5th J & L Smyth 1630, 6th P & K McCarthy 1621, 7th J Porter & Son 1614, 8th P Farrelly & Son 1609, 9th L J Barr 1598, 10th J Maguire 1559. Big Gerard takes the top spot this week from the first channel event of the season from Talbenny in South Wales. 2nd & 7th Club falls to the partnership of Johny Porter & Son with the O’Halloran & Son partnership slipping into 3rd Spot with the A & J Jordan team finishing fourth. Joe & Linda Smyth stay in fifth place for the second week on the trot with Paul & Kathleen finishing 6th with Pete Farrelly finishing eighth and a new name on the race result sheet that being L J Barr finishing 9th with Jamesy Maguire completing the top ten.

Andersonstown RPC 13/249 – 1st V Cooney & Son 1627, 2nd G McCabe & Son 1603, 3rd V Cooney & Son 1596, 4th J Kennedy & Son 1590, 5th P Elliott & Sons 1588, 6th G Boyle & Son 1585. Well done to Vince who tops the Club for the second week on the trot to complete the hat trick of ins to date in 2009, his Busschaert family are certainly doing the business this season. The McCabe boys are a good second with the Kennedy loft also never that far away.

East End . HPS – 1st W Willis 1544, 2nd T Brown 1522, 3rd F Mudd & Sons 1492, 4th H & J D Bell & Sons 1462, 5th W Willis 1449, 6th H & J D Bell & Sons 1434, 7th F Mudd & Sons 1420, 8th F Mudd & Sons 1413, 9th F Mudd & Sons 1389, 10th F Mudd & Sons 1383. East End Two Bird Result – 1st W Willis and winner Pools and 2nd H & J D Bell & sons winner of the Nomination. After many competitive weeks of competition the Willis loft breaks through to take the top spot in the Club from Talbenny, followed by the Brown loft in runner-up spot with the formidable Frankie Mudd in third spot and the Bell team completing the top four.

Britannia HPS – 1st M Kelly & Sons 1523, 2nd P Reid & Son 1523, 3rd McGann Bros 1521, 4th M Kelly & Sons 1515, 5th P Reid & Son 1504, 6th T Curran & Son 1492. The Kelly loft complete are out in front this week just in the closest Club result I have typed this weekend, their haven’t been to many 1st and 2nd club winners on the same yard from Talbenny, well done to both lofts on a couple of exceptional birds with the McGann Brothers not to far away also in third place.

Alexandra HPS 10/160 – 1st M & T Griffith 1500, 2nd T Lyttle 1490, 3rd D McGuinness & Son 1488, 4th Fegan & McAdorey 1469, 5th Hamilton & Davidson 1465, 6th D McGuinness & Son 1461, 7th Reynolds & McCafferty 1461, 8th Hamilton & Davidson 1457. Trevor had a class season last year and has started his account of from Talbenny this week with a good winner into the Alexandra Club.

East End HPS – 1st J Rainey & Son 1495, 2nd J Rainey & Son 1461, 3rd J Rainey & Son 1414, 4th R & S Scates 1395, 5th J Rainey & Son 1360, 6th J Rainey & Son 1353, 7th J Rainey & Son 1319, 8th J Rainey & Son 1290, 9th J Rainey & Son 1282, 10th J & A Scott 1214. Super racing by the Rainey loft taking their 2nd Red Card of the year in emphatic style taking eight of the first ten positions in the Club.

Sydenham HPS – 1st J & J Scates 1481, 2nd R & S Scates 1395, 3rd J & J Scates 1386, 4th J & J Scates 1378. Jackie is the man this week and this win from Talbenny completes the partnerships hat trick of wins to date this season.

East Coast Federation Talbenny

Newtown & Kilpedder RPC 7/65 – 1st Eric Kennedy & Son 1797, 2nd Eric Kennedy & Son 1643, 3rd Martin Daly 1398, 4th Paul Sheridan 1269, 5th Paul Sheridan 1263, 6th Jason Byrne 1257. The Kennedy loft makes it five from five with regards to Red Cards only this week also winning the Pools & the DTW excellent flying by the inform team, very well done to Martin Daly and Paul Sheridan who make up the top four in a difficult enough fly from Talbenny in South Wales.

Skerries RPC 10/99 – 1st Paddy Rock & Son 1751, 2nd Mr & Mrs J Mahon 1726, 3rd Paul Jones 1661, 4th Paul Jones 1639, 5th Paul Jones 1587, 6th Mr & Mrs J McMahon 1484, 7th Mr & Mrs J McMahon 1444, 8th Paddy Rock & Son 1413, 9th Mr & Mrs J McMahon 1409, 10th Paul Jones 1394. Well done to Paddy & son Martin who complete the hat trick of wins this season this week with success from Talbenny, Mr & Mrs McMahon have a super result on the day also with four in the top ten of the result, Paul Jones must also be congratulated on finishing 3rd, 4th & 5th Club.

Irish South Road Federation Sennen Cove

Tallaght Premier – 1st P Smith & Son 1627, 2nd M Page 1488, 3rd P Smith & Son 1313, 4th J Dunne 1269, 5th J Dunne 1243. Winning and topping the Section this week is Paddy Smith & Son with a yearling Van Loon hen doing a velocity of 1627, this Blue Hen never raced the Channel before but her Dam won from Talbenny last season. Paddy also takes 3rd spot this week. In runner-up position this week is Mick Page with a good 2 year old Blue Hen doing 1488ypm this particular pigeon scored for Mick last year on the channel.

Dublin North County – 1st Breda Deegan 1600, 2nd Gerry O’Reilly 1343, 3rd Patrick Whelan 1322 and 4th Gerry O’Reilly 1002. Very well done to Breda who I have met on a few occasions on my travels down South a fantastic pigeon lady she is and thanks to Alan Maguire who always gets the results to me even after a long days work on a Sunday.

Sarsfield RPC 31/123 – 1st Mr & Mrs N Leonard & Daughter 1588, 2nd Frank McEnroe 1519, 3rd Frank McEnroe 1512. Very well done to the Leonard team on what seems to have been a tough enough affair from Sennen Cove, thanks also to Brian Killeen for the result as promised.

Irish South Road Federation Pilmore Beach

Sarsfield RPC 35/471 – 1st Anto Sweeney 1588, 2nd B Stafford & sons 1583, 3rd Anto Sweeney 1579. Well Done Anto on a smashing result from Pilmore Beach with close to 500 pigeons competing.

Dublin North County – 1st Breda Deegan 1560, 2nd Bred Deegan 1519, 3rd Nicky Behan 1497 and 4th Breda Deegan 1486. Well done to Breda once again this weekend completing the double in the Club topping both from Sennen Cove and Pilmore Beach, Super flying.

Bray Inv RPC 20/272 – 1st Cowap & Cahill 1391, 2nd Cowap & Cahill 1391, 3rd Jerry Tyndall & Son 1336, 4th Jerry Tyndall & Son 1335, 5th P & D O’Toole 1328, 6th P & D O’Toole 1328, 7th Mr & Mrs Plunkett & Earles 1327, 8th P & C McKay 1321, 9th Cowap & Buckley 1321, 10th Cowap & Cahill 1320. The Ace partnership of Cowap & Cahill take the red card this week which makes it four firsts this season so far, they also finish 2nd Club for good measure with Jerry Tyndall & Son taking the next two positions to complete the top four.

Munster Federation Roscrea RPC

Roscrea RPC 8/33 – 1st P J Hayes 1194, 2nd Joey Donavan 1181, 3rd Donal Keeshan 1181, 4th Joey Donavan 1169. Good result for the former National winning loft of P J Hayes lifting their first red card of the year this week from Cookstown, many thanks to Kieran for sending the info and letting me aware of the liberation time on Saturday for the pigeonnetwork.com site.

HOMER
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk

email reynoldshomer@aol.com
Tel/Fax 028 256 44683.