INFC Update - Ronnie Johnston (Patron)

[willie reynolds]

Kings Cup Highlights

The Irish National Flying Club, after two years with no Kings Cup Race for various reasons finally got back on track when 110/2,619 to Vannes flying for some 43,000 in pools and prize money. The entry was one of the best for the Club and it was to turn out a very successful race.

The Kings Cup was won by Tommy Morehouse of Rathnen with a yearling.
Many outstanding performances were recorded and one that I would like to highlight was achieved by Adie Hughes & Sons, Largymore. Adie sent three birds and clocked all three on the winning day at 486 miles and better still had all three in the top 100 of the Open result, 25th Open, 52nd Open & 68th Open, a truly magical result.

This is a pigeon family as Avrills uncle is Alfie Turkington of Lisburn a cracking pigeon man. Adie was quick to point out how much he owed to his good friend Leonard Fryers for this stunning result. This did not come as a surprise to me as I have known Leonard for many years and his sole interest in pigeons revolves around National racing.

Leonard was 5th Open to Billy McCluggage of Larne from Nantes as far back as 1970.
The Fryers pigeons would be a blend of Frank Cheetham, Frankie Phillips, Ernie Totten & Hopas, you will have noticed that these are not modern day strains but in the right hands they can still perform at the highest level.

The first pigeon clocked is a 5yo blue chequer hen sent sitting 10 days on eggs. This hen was prepared for the Kings Cup in 2007 and 2008 but was returned home on both occasions as the race was not flown. 2009 and she was again prepared but this time the race did take place and she was to win 25th Open.

The second pigeon clocked was a 2yo red chequer cock and his sire and dam contain the best bloodlines of Tom Boyd, Dumfries, famous for his John Carmichael pigeons. This fine pigeon won 52nd Open and again he was sent sitting 10 days on eggs.
The next pigeon on the clock was a 2yo dark chequer cock another one of the old breed and he was also sent sitting 10 days on eggs, winning 68th Open. This has been a super year at National level for the Hughes loft as they have also won the Bronze Award with the NIPA. This black cock was 7th Section St Malo and 4th Section St Malo and in the Open result both times. Adie did not over race his National team as they only had two inland races and Talbenny 2009 will be a year to remember for the Hughes family, Adie made the comment that it may never happen again, but why not and with three class pigeons that have already been highly placed the Kings Cup may be won in 2010.

Mark Hughes

This fancier flies in the Edgarstown Club with the NIPA and his main interest lies with Derby, Classic and National racing. I have been aware of his National record for some time now and it makes very impressive reading. The 2008 season at the highest level would be up there with the very best and Mark can be very proud of his pigeons performance. Some highlights being, 25th Open INFC YB National Sennen Cove, 49th Open INFC Yearling National; 11th and 17th Open INFC Friendship National Quimper winning the Beattie Trophy Best 2-Bird Average. Add to that lot 8th Section, 27th Open NIPA St Malo OB National, I think you will agree a very impressive set of top results.

However 2009 can only be described as a fantastic season, after timing four birds in the Open result from the INFC Sennen Cove Yearling National with his first pigeon winning 31st Open, 4,134 birds competed. Mark then went on to time in the Open prize result from all three Nationals from France and had seven birds home. The loft may well have one of the best performing hens in Europe this year, let me detail her performances, 31st Open INFC Sennen Cove Yearling National, she then followed this up with 8th Section, 15th Open NIPA St Malo OB National and some four days later she was sent to the INFC Friendship National from Picauville and in a most difficult race with only 22 birds in three days she was 7th Open, did you noticed she improved her Open position in three consecutive National races. A super performance from this blue chequer yearling hen, timed on the day in all these races, I pose the question, is there a better National performer anywhere this year?

Her breeding contains the bloodlines of John McMullan, Felix Pauwers & Pros Rossens. The dam Cyrills Choice is from Marks father Cyril and is a daughter of Felix Pauwels cock White Nose and has bred 10x1st's prize winners and is the grand sire of 1st Open NIPA Talbenny National. The sire of Miss Endurance is Superman, again a breeder of many winners down from the original John McMullan pigeons his sire Dark Supreme was bred by the late Ken Halliday of Newry from two pigeons that won 31st and 32nd Open INFC Kings Cup.

The loft is very strong at this present time and another star bird is the black cock Mac which is a half brother of Superman and he was 55th Open INFC Vannes Kings Cup and has bred 9th Open INFC Sennen Cove YB National, a full sister was 49th Open INFC Sennen Cove Yearling National and she has gone on to breed 26th Open INFC Sennen Cove YB National.

Mark has a team of birds that have enjoyed great success at National level that would be difficult to equal anywhere. It can only be a matter of time before he wins a National, as he certainly has the birds to achieve his ambition.

Harkness Rose Bowl

The Rose Bowl has always been one of my favourite trophies within the INFC. The late Bob Harkness asked me to purchase a trophy as he wanted to present one to the INFC for the Best 2-Bird Average from the Kings Cup.
Over the years it has been won by some of the top National flyers including Kings Cup winners but some of the best National lofts are still trying to win the Rose Bowl.

This years Kings Cup Races from Vannes was very successful with a number of fanciers in a strong position to win the trophy. Runner-up in 2009 was Ronnie Williamson of Bondhill winning 10th & 23rd Open and this is at least the fourth time Ronnie has been runner-up for the Harkness Rose Bowl.

The 2009 winner is the popular Malahide loft of Gerry O'Reilly & son Derek winning 4th & 26th Open. It must be some 30 years ago since I last made a loft visit to Gerry's in the company of the late Christy O'Connor of Howth.

The two pigeons that won the Rose Bowl were mated together and sent to the Kings Cup sitting 12 days on eggs. They were trained privately and also had three inland races with the local club before going to France. The first pigeon clocked was a 4yo cock to win 2nd Section, 4th Open flying 421 miles, this cock contains the old Cheetham bloodlines from Jimmy Anderson of Cullybackey. He was 10th Club Sennen Cove in 2006 and was sent to the Kings cup in 2007 and 2008 but returned each time as the race was not flown.
The second bird clocked was a 2yo hen bred from a pair of top racers for the O'Reilly's, sire was another Jimmy Anderson pigeon that won 5th Club, 12th Fed Carmarten 2002; 3rd Club, 7th Fed, 117th INFC Kings Cup Messac 2004; 5th Club, 29th Fed Portland 2005; 3rd Club, 16th Fed, 180th INFC Vannes 2006. Dam was a 03 chequer hen a first cross Jimmy Anderson x M White Bournemouth and a winner of 9th Club Talbenny 2005 and 7th Open INFC Kings Cup Vannes 2006.

The second pigeon won 3rd Section, 26th Open and this was enough to clinch the Harkness Rose Bowl for the O'Reilly family.
Gerry would like to thank Jimmy Anderson for all the good pigeons gifted to him and for all his help and advise.

Annual Dinner

The Annual Dinner will be held on Friday 27th November in the Four Star Stormont Hotel. Now for some good news, the hotel have agreed to hold the price of accommodation at the 2008 rates, 75 ponds double room with breakfast, 60 pounds single room with breakfast, family rooms are also available if required.

The Committee will shortly set the dinner ticket price and hopefully keep it close to the 2008 price, we are in a credit crunch if you have not already heard. The down side for me with most hotels is the price of the drinks. When I buy a round and they tell me the price, I need a cold towel to cool me down.

2009 looks likely to be a very successful year for the INFC with all the Cups and Trophies being won and I expect a full house for the National Dinner. Tickets can be reserved plus accommodation by contacting secretary Trevor Topping or Ronnie Johnston.