I think my first contact with Thompson Bros in the Muckamore HPS, was through their good friend the late Officer Gorman the long-time Chairman in Muckamore HPS and who later served a term as NIPA President. The late Davy Campbell who was highly involved with the NIPA at the time would have been a regular visitor to the Muckamore Clock Centre and usually called with Gorman Bros who lived close to Aldergrove Airport on the Tully Road. Gorman Bros had some fantastic pigeons including Van der Espt and Davy plus many others including the late Millar McAllister had great success with them many times winning 1st Section. Sefton Thompson who had a family connection with motor bike racing was listed as Thompson Bros and brother Dessie raced as D J Thompson. Dessie continues to race with Muckamore while in recent seasons Sefton who is also close to the Aldergrove Airport has moved on to Crumlin & District. In those days Muckamore was a hot bed of activity, the local marking centre and a clock station for both the NIPA and Irish Nat FC, the late Jack Irvine from Ballyclare used Muckamore for many high profile Auctions. Bertie Goudy was a prominent racer at the time and he brought the famous Kings Cup to Muckamore when Goudy Bros won the race the first time at Nantes in 1964, to be followed very recently with Mr & Mrs Magill winning from St Allouestre in 2016, a very hard race with the winning velocity 723ypm.
I don’t intend to mention the many all-time greats that flew in Muckamore for fear of leaving some out Syd Montgomery , W M Thompson, J Patterson & Son, and Ernie Parkhurst recorded many winners over many years . Same goes for Crumlin & District who like Muckamore won the NIPA Sect B many times with Price Bros, Fleming Bros and Alan McCartney to name just a few, and the late G K Porter served a time as INFC President, the big man was some craic.
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 started to race pigeons in the early 60’s in the long established Muckamore HPS racing as Thompson Bros. The first birds obtained from club-mate Officer Gorman who raced with his brother as Gorman Bros, the strain of birds at the time were the famous Van der Espt.
Q2. What organizations do you fly with currently?
Now race in the NIPA Section B with Crumlin & District, and Irish National Flying Club.
Q3. Your Loft, Structure, length and how many?
The main loft for old birds is 30ft long and the young bird shed is 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 are raced Roundabout and the young birds are on Darkness. No stock birds are kept, the young bird team would be bred off the best racers.
Q5. Feeding and systems etc. over the season?
All the feeding used at the loft is obtained from Frazer Feeds in Banbridge, this covers both old birds and young birds.
Q6. Treatments, what and when used? Do you use Vitamins, if so what?
Usual treatments are carried out at the start of each season Cocci, Canker, Worms etc.
Q7. Breeding info when done etc.? - now that the rings are available before Christmas.
No birds in the loft are paired up until mid-February.
Q8. Birds at stock, strains kept and families etc.?
Soontjens are the main strain kept at present, thses birds were obtained from Glen Buckley & Son of Annaghmore in Portadow. I have also had some Jos Thone birds from Ernie Goodyear.
Q9. Racing results over the years – Club, Sect & Combine and best Open positions with NIPA & INFC?
Over the years the loft has won a host of positions in the club and Open & Section prizes, in very recent times NIPA Section B Fancier of the Year in 2018. A Merit Award was lifted in the Irish National FC in 2019 a Blue Cheq hen was placed on two occasions in the Grand Nat Kings Cup St Allouestre, 106th Open in 2017 and 87th Open in 2019. This one was bred from the late Stan Biss who had a fantastic record at the distance. In the NIPA the loft has won the Champion Bird in Section B over successive seasons. In 2015 Champion OB and Champion YB in Sect B, In 2016 Champion Old Bird and Champion Young Bird in Sect B, in 2017 Champion Old Bird in Sect B, and 2018 Champion Young Bird in Sect B. On the top of that, the loft was to win Young Bird Fancier of the Year in Sect B in 2014, 2016, also in 2017 and for four in a row in 2018. In the Tullymore YB Area Lib in 2015 the loft scored 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th. Hope I have missed none.
Q10. Outstanding racers and stock birds since starting the sport?
A Glen Buckley hen has scored 2 x 1st Sect B in the NIPA, and a number of other positions.
Q11. What about cross channel racing both old bird and young bird?
I prefer the cross channel racing which is more fair than the racing inland.
Q12. Any positions held past or present? – Any work covered at the club?
Past Chairman at both Muckamore HPS and Glenavy & District, now holding similar position in Crumlin & District. Always available for loading the transporter.
Q13. Special mention of anyone who helped , or influenced you in the sport? Any views for the future?
I have to mention Raymond Parker from Antrim and John Millar from Randalstown, both a good help and a special mention for Paddy McGarrity a club-mate in the local Crumlin & District.
Q14. Last but not least your best result, and what was biggest disappointment in the sport?
The G Buckley & Son hen winning the NIPA Sect B on two occasions.
Q15. Anything I missed you would like to mention?
I would like to wish all the fanciers in the NIPA continued success and hope they all remain safe in the current situation.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: homerbhw@gmail.com
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
http://www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk
http://www.infc.co.uk
Sefton Thompson with an array of cups and trophies won in a successful season in Muckamore HPS.
A more recent update with another vast array of awards won racing in Crumlin & District.
Sefton Thompson 2nd left at the NIPA Ladies Night in 2017
with Robert Reid, Eugene Fitzgerald and NIPA Chairman Ken Wilkinson.
Muckamore HPS prize night a few years back, front (r) is Chairman Officer Gorman.