INFC Update - Ronnie Johnston (Patron)

[willie reynolds]

Strains

The old established strains that continue to do well are the Walkingshaw and Harkness, both these fanciers were based in N Ireland but the Kenyons are up there with the best. When you discuss the Kenyons, the name Smyth Bros of Ballymena comes to mind. They are a strain that the Smyth Bros established and which bought them great success. The Smyth Bros won the Sartilly Friendship National in 1991 and also were INFC National Champions that year. For interest for the younger generation Smyth Bros also raced one of the greatest pigeons in the history of the National Club, Leading Lady four times an Open prize winner from the Kings Cup.

Jackie Patience of Lurgan a great friend of Bobby Smyth also flew the Kenyons and we all know his record 1st & 2nd Open Kings Cup 1995 and twice winner of the Harkness Rose Bowl Best 2-Bird Average Kings Cup. C & L Woodside Ballyclare are now the main source of the Kenyons through Smyth Bros and have a super National record winning the Cove YB National Championship in 2003. This year C & L Woodside won 4th & 5th Open INFC Picauville OB National only 23 in race time, three days. Bobby's wife Kathleen has been unwell for some time now and I would like him to know our thoughts are with him.

INFC Kings Cup

The Kings Cup was won in 2009 by T & T Moorehouse of Rathnew with a yearling Tommy's Boy. The Kings Cup was one twice in the early 80's by yearlings, the first being Geoffrey Douglas of Lurgan in 1980 from Les Sables and then in 1986 by Alan Darragh of Cullbackey from Jersey. These two lofts have continued to fly at the highest level, Alan being the National record holder with five victories and Geoffrey having a stunning season being the first winner of the Robin Duddy Trophy with the INFC. The Duddy trophy was for a 3-Bird Nomination, Yearling National and Penzance YB National and with it went a £1,000 cash prize. At the National dinner Geoffrey also collected the Presidents Cup Best Average, Kings Cup, Yearling National, Penzance YB National, Skibbereen YB National being a Open prize winner in all these races. He was also 2nd in Corcreeney Breeder/Buyer winning some £500.

Roy Clements Of Ballymena

This fancier has one of the strongest CV's at National level which includes 2x1sts & 2x2nds. In 1992 Roy won 1st Open Sartilly Friendship National on vel of 558 when only 6-Birds were recorded in race time, three days. His second National victory came in 1999 winning 1st Open Penzance YB National with a 2-Bird entry. Roy enjoyed a purple patch in the 90's being 2nd Open INFC Kings Cup to Henry Beattie of Laurelvale. This pigeon was highly fancied and collected over £3,000 pools and prize money. Then he was again 2nd Open Friendship National to Mervyn Mabin of Portadown.

I first made contact with Roy when he raced in Larne and he was always a first division pigeon fancier. Most of his early successes came with a great team of Van Hee pigeons. Since moving to Ballymena he has added the Ronnie Williamson Busschaerts and they have been very successful.

Just to go back to Smyth Bros success from Sartilly in 1991, in that National the brothers were 1st & 2nd Open when only three birds were clocked in race time, three days.

Kings Cup

The National dinner and prize distribution has just been held in the Stormont Hotel, Belfast. The Kings Cup winners were the South Section loft of T & T Moorehouse of Rathen. Some 30 years ago the first South Section member to win the Kings Cup was Tommy Speers of Malahide with the super mealy hen Malahide Queen from Rennes. Tommy came very close once again in 2006 from Vannes winning 1st Section, 2nd Open to R & S Malcolmson, the difference between 1st & 2nd 0.4 ypm. The Nelson Vase 1st RPRA member after the winner was won by Billy McClure of Ballymena. Gilliand Cup first IHU member after the winner was won by Paddy Rock Skerries who with son Martin won the Kings Cup in 1997 and this year was to win a coveted Hall of Fame Diploma. The East Down Combine went to Ernie Totten of Ballylesson, Ulster Fed Cup to Tom O'Reilly of Belfast. Harkness Rose Bowl best 2-Bird Average won by the popular Victor Thompson of Ballyclare. Henry beattie won Falaise that year and collected the Irvine Cup for Best Average Rennes and Falaise. Henry went on to win the Kings Cup in 1994. the National champions in 1979 were Russell Bros, Cullybackey. No less than five Hall of Fame Diplomas were won (three times a prize winner from Kings Cup). Hamilton & Burke, Portstenart; B Madden & son, Dublin; W B Shaw, Newcastle; Gordon Kirkpatrick, Lisburn; Harold Elliott, Lisburn.

Nelson Corry

The late Nelson Corry was for many years chairman of the INFC and a former Kings Cup winner. Jim Nelson of Milltown a former Yearling National winner has passed on to me some very old articles on some of Ireland's greatest fanciers and over the winter months I hope to reproduce them, should make interesting reading. Nelson Corry bred and raced some of the stars of the INFC, the blue hen Endeavour. In 1968 she was 7th Open Kings Cup Nantes 545 miles, velocity 815 ypm and then in 1969 1st Open INFC Kings Cup Nantes with a velocity of 860 ypm, winning £1,000, 2,300 competed and they were liberated at 5.30 am on July 5th. No day birds were recorded and Endeavour was clocked at 5.34 am second morning. Billy Law, Muckamore clocked at 6.11 am to win 2nd Open on 847 and McAdam Bros of Donagh annexed 3rd Open on 836. Only 99 birds were released in race time, three days.

The 1968 Kings Cup winner Billy Erwin of Ballymena was to clock two birds at 7.16 am and 8.14 am to win 4th & 8th Open. Nelson Corry was the first fancier in Ireland to win the F W Marriott Memorial Challenge trophy for the most meritorious performance on the South Road. In 1969 he was top prize winner in the South Belfast HPS - wait for it!!! Membership 83 years.