INFC Update - Ronnie Johnston (Patron)

[willie reynolds]

INFC Skibbereen

The final race for the Irish National Flying Club will be Skibbereen YB National, a race that members of the East Down Combine have won in 2005, 2006 & 2008.

The race was won in 2005 by A Cousins & Sons of Ballylesson with a super chequer pied hen named Fletchers Dream. yes you guessed it she is the best of the late Bertie fletchers FVW, the race entry was 3,080 birds.

2007 was a magnificent year for the loft starting the season 1st, 2nd & 4th Open Mullingar where 5,181 birds competed followed by 1st Open Tullamore where 6,066 competed. Just to make the point that these birds can score from all race points, the super blue pencil cock Plantation Ranger won 1st Section, 1st Open EDC St Malo OB Derby.
The 2008 season was one for the record books as the lofts went on to capture the coveted title East Down Combine Fancier Of The Year. The loft contains all the old FVW lines that are now so hard to find Bliksem, Vetcher, Zitter, Witslarger and Son of Daughter Beer. 2009 was to prove a tragic year with the sudden death of Ian and now all the main stock birds will be for sale. Log onto www.plantationlofts.co.uk, you will not see their like again.

McCartan & Woodsides

The brilliant Crossgar loft of McCartan & Woodsides made it a double for the Combine by winning 1st Section, 1st Open INFC Skibbereen YB National in 2006. The winner a blue cock named Colins Choice beat some 3,047 entries at a distance of 243 miles. Yes, you guessed it with a name like Colins Choice it had come from that master breeder Colin Gibson of Corcreeney.
The following year in 2007 McCartan & Woodsides again won 1st North Section, 12th Open INFC Skibbereen OB Inland National with the blue chequer cock Lisamore Boy 3,600 birds competed.

This is another Gibson pigeon with a Frank Sheader cross. Remember Colin Gibson was one of the first fanciers to have these Soontjen pigeons from Frank and they have bred many winners. One of the best must be Lisamore Queen a blue pied hen with a super race record: 24th Open INFC Portsmouth Friendship National; 72nd Open INFC Vannes Kings Cup; 75th Open INFC Vannes Kings Cup; 11th Open EDC Skibbereen OB Classic; 21st Open EDC Skibbereen OB Classic; 33rd Open EDC Skibbereen OB Classic 15th Open EDC Talbenny; 19th Open EDC Thurles; 32nd Open EDC Sennen Cove Classic; 94th Open NIPA Mallow 5-Bird Classic. This wonderful hen is now breeding Open Prize winners from all race points, a one in a million pigeon.

John Patterson

After missing out from the 2007 YB Skibbereen National it was the master himself who made it three wins in four years for the EDC. John won 1st Section, 1st Open with this brilliant hen now named the The One Hen. John was also 4th Open from the INFC Skibbereen OB Inland National, with these two outstanding performances he was the first winner of the Charles Hunniford Memorial Trophy.

INFC Annual Dinner

I had reason to phone Bobby Smyth of Ballymena last week regarding the National Dinner, now in his 88th year and as keen as ever when you talk about National racing. Bobby won the INFC Friendship National from Sartilly in 1991 and was delighted with the performances of Arnold Thompson 3rd Open Friendship National this season and Leslie Woodside 4th & 5th Open in the same race, both these National flyers race the Smyth Bro's Kenyons. When I asked Bobby to pick his favourite pigeon I thought it would be Leading Lady four times an Open Prize winner in the Kings Cup and I was right. I have asked him to the National Dinner in November when it would be lovely to see him present the Friendship National cup, we will wait and see.

Kings Cup

Do you remember my piece on the age groups from this years Kings Cup. We had two 8 yo's raced by M & U Gorman of Balbriggan and Paddy Ward of Clontarf, well this was not so. Both are in fact 5yo's carring old rings. I thank both fanciers for getting in touch with me and keeping my records up to date. we had one 9yo raced by Jackie Waring, I can confirm it is a 9yo and Jackie is sending me the details.