Randalstown is a place I know quite well from my time at school when I spend many weeks staying with granny Wallace in Daisy Hill not very far away from the lofts of John Millar, I would probably have passed Feehogue Terrace every day. That was long before the fields separating the two addresses were filled by a new housing estate. I remember the late Bob Bell raced in Daisy Hill and he was secretary of the club for a massive number of years from the clubs formation, and they were NIPA founder members. The late John Kyle was Chairman for a long time as well, and John served a term as NIPA President. When we started the birds in the early 70’s many a Friday night was spent at the local show and what great craic it was in those days. In recent times I have learned that Mrs Mullan who lived next door was the aunt of Hugh Boyd and he well remembers my mother and father about Daisy Hill.
John Millar is a long time fancier in Randalstown and I covered many of the club functions over his period as secretary, Mr & Mrs Magill were fantastic fanciers living close by on the Portglenone Road won a couple of big Nationals including the Friendship Nat from Sartilly in 1989 and the year prior to that the Penzance YB National. Living at the same address but now racing in Muckamore they brought the Blue Riband Kings Cup to the town in 2016 winning 1st Open INFC from Saint Allouestre following in the footsteps of the late Arthur Simpson who won the Kings Cup with “Champion Shean” in 1974 from Nantes, the only loft to win the Kings Cup and Hall of Fame Diploma at the same time.
John Millar is back in the frame as secretary of Randalstown HPS, like most others not so many members now and he is well known across the UK and Ireland in his role as a courier.
LOFT FEATURE
Q1. When started racing, what club and was any family involved? Why did you start in the pigeons and what birds did you start with?
I got my first pigeons when I was about 13 years old in 1965, first loft was an old Gallagher Box, got started through an old school mate Sam Hall of Kells & District. It also helped my interest in being brought up on a farm and pigeons always stopping off for some feeding and no doubt getting the extra bug to keep racing pigeons from that.
Q2. What organizations do you fly with currently?
I fly with all available locally, the NIPA for weekly events, the all-Ireland INFC for major races and since the club were admitted as members a number of years ago the Mid Antrim Combine.
Q3. Your Loft, Structure, length and how many?
The main loft is 50ft divided with 4 Sections, also I have a stock loft with Aviary attached 12ft x 6ft.
Q4. Racing/training methods for old birds and young birds. Do you put YB’s on Darkness System, and what about Old Birds – Widowhood, Roundabout or just Natural?
The old birds get usually about 6 tosses at 20 miles prior to racing Roundabout. Young birds are on Darkness and would get 3 training tosses each week at 40 miles.
Q5. Feeding and systems etc. over the season?
After racing the old birds get a Moulting Mix, in the racing season a good quality Racing Mixture.
Q6. Treatments, what and when used? Do you use Vitamins, if so what?
Before the breeding season all birds are treated for Cocci, Canker and Worms, this followed by Vitamins.
Q7. Breeding info when done etc.? - now that the rings are available before Christmas.
I find it most suitable stock birds would usually be paired up around Christmas holiday time and the race team in Mid-February.
Q8. Birds at stock, strains kept and families etc.?
My main families include Soontjen, Leo van Rijn, Delbar and Jan Aarden.
Q9. Racing results over the years – Club, Sect & Combine and best Open positions with NIPA & INFC?
A few stand-out, my best in the NIPA was finishing 8th Open in the Penzance Old Bird Classic. With the INFC I had 11th Open Friendship Nat, 15th Open Skibbereen YB Nat, 27th Open YB Nat Talbenny and 19th Open Penzance YB Grand National.
Q10. Outstanding racers and stock birds since starting the sport?
The bird that took 8th Open in the Penzance Classic 2003, finished9th Open in the same race of 2005. This bird was Grondlaer bred down from birds obtained from the late Barry McIlrath of Dromore.
Q11. What about cross channel racing both old bird and young bird?
My best birds at the present time are Leo van Rijn, cover all. I prefer the cross channel racing because of location the town are at a dis-advantage inland because we are measured across Lough Neagh, and the birds fly around it either via Toome or Antrim and usually taking longer.
Q12. Any positions held past or present? – Any work covered at the club?
I was Secretary in Randalstown HPS from 1985 until 2010 and when I started the birds initially I was the late Bob Bell’s Ass Secretary. In those days the race velocities on a Saturday evening were done on paper using long division for calculations. No computers or calculators then, it was hard work and took some time. Have returned again as Secretary and Mrs Millar is the Treasurer.
Q13. Special mention of anyone who helped, or influenced you in the sport? Any views for the future?
On my many travels to England doing Courier related work I have met a lot of top fanciers and picked up good knowledge from them all at times. You will be learning something new every day.
Q14. Last but not least your best result, and what was biggest disappointment in the sport?
The best result was the bird scoring twice in the Top 10 from Penzance. The cross channel races are a truer measurement for our area.
Q15. Anything I missed you would like to mention?
I believe Penzance is a bit too far for young birds, although having said that I have sent birds on a few occasions. It is a big concern that the sport has become more expensive. All the different feed mixtures, supplements and on top of that costs involved in the electronic timing devices and not forgetting the ETS Rings. Unfortunately there are no or very few young people coming into the sport, some help here might assist new younger members.
Thanks John for your insight in your time involved with the sport, he sent me two old photos and I have included a few more including from the time the joint presentation was held with British Enkalon Club, great times. HOMER.
John Millar in 1997 with a big collection of cups and trophies.
Prize night probably in Granagh Hotel, from (l) Hugh Boyd, late John Kyle, John Millar and late Jim Gilbert.
D B Mairs special guest at joint dinner with British Enkalon, from (l) J Millar, late Arthur Simpson, B Mairs and Houston Bros.
Looks like another dinner in Granagh House, included M/M Magill, Arthur Simpson and Stewart Bros.
A more recent presentation probably Grahagh House Hotel again.
Randalstown HPS at the Ramble Inn after racing season 1996.
Rick Osman presents awards to M/M Magill at the INFC presentation in Stormont Hotel Belfast in 1989, the Friendship Cup.
1st Open INFC Sartilly Friendship Nat in 1989 for Mr & Mrs Magill.