INFC Update - Ronnie Johnston (Patron)

[willie reynolds]

INFC Kings Cup

The Kings Cup presentation has come and gone for 2009. I hope over the next few weeks to look back on the previous Kings Cup races. In 2000 Jeff Hogan was the first ever Kilkenny fancier to win the Kings Cup, 2,065 birds competed from Redon and they were liberated at 6am into a light south east wind. Jeff Hogan clocked his 2yo blue chequer white flight hen Hogans Hero to win 1st South Section & 1st Open on a vel of 1290 collecting £1,250. Norman Black & Sons Dromara finished 1st North Section & 2nd Open plus £2,376 in pools and prize money. The late Jim Logan of Ballyclare was 2nd North Section & 3rd Open on a vel of 1128 and a cheque of £1,713. Malcolm Robinson of Bondhill clocked his nominated pigeon to win 3rd North Section & 3rd Open on a vel of 1118 and a massive pay out of £3,872, Malcolm went on to win the Harkness Rose Bowl best 2-Bird Average and clocked a second bird to finish 42nd Open.

The Gilland Cup and the East Down Combine Cup both went to John & Jean Hollinger of Ballywalter winning 13th Open. B & H Spence of Lisburn & District enjoyed a super National winning the Ulster Fed Cup, Robinson Cup and the McCloud Cup by timing the first yearling to win 14th Open. The Joe Cullan Memorial Cup went to former Kings Cup winner Jimmy Cullen of Malahide finishing 25th Open. The Rhead Cup, Diamond Cup and Presidents Cup were all won by Alan Darragh of Cullybackey. All 200 Open prizes were won, yet only one Hall Of Fame was won, Eddie Campbell of Milltown with a truly remarkable pigeon 48th Open 1997, 36th Open 1998 and then 98th Open in 2000 at ten years of age. Caper Bros of Bondhill was 4th North Section & 5th Open and Nevin Bros Coleraine 5th North Section & 6th Open.

Double National winners

A & R Glass of Larne hold the unique National record having won the YB National twice, in 1984 from Fort William North and then in 1986 from Skibbereen South, several other lofts have won the YB National twice but both times from Skibbereen. The Glass partnership had a great success during this period racing mainly pigeons from Jackson & Andrews a highly successful racing partnership.

Triple Crown

This latest award was first flown for with the INFC in 2009 and we had two winners Joe McLoughlin & Sons of Blanchardstown with his chequer pied hen 49th Open Sennen Cove YB National 2007; 223rd Open Sennen Cove Yearling National 2008 and the 55th Open Vannes Kings Cup 2009.

Tommy McClean of Annaghmore with a blue hen 5th Open Sennen Cove YB National 2007; 138th Open Sennen Cove Yearling National 2008 then 30th Open Vannes Kings Cup 2009. I am delighted this new award has been added to the National programme and one that any fancier would want on his CV. The Triple Crown in the horse racing world has diminished over the years because not many trainers will commit their horse to the St Leger, the third leg of the Triple Crown. We all know that Nijinksy was the last horse to win the Triple Crown as far back as 1970 and the last one before that was Bahram in 1935. We must remember that it is not only the colts that can achieve the Triple Crown as a number of super fillies have been successful in winning the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and then the St Leger when they must defeat the colts.

Two of the all time greats have been meld trained by Cecil Boyd of Rochfort who won the Triple Crown in 1955 and Oh So Sharp owned by Sheikh Mohammed and trained by Henry Cecil in 1985. Oh So Sharp only ran nine times but her record was up with the best seven wins and two second places. Henry Cecil is still at the top of his form and was a genius with fillies. Will we have any INFC Triple Crown winners in 2010? Yes we will, watch this space.

INFC

The National Club enjoyed a good season with all seven races flown and all cups and trophies won, the only award missing was a gold medal. Maybe in 2010 this magnificent award will be won. 2009 saw many outstanding performances recorded and over the next few weeks I hope to highlight a number of these.

To win an INFC National race must be a highlight of a fanciers career but to win a National race two years in succession, now that is something else. Donnelly Bros of Newry won the Friendship National in 2008 with the only bird on the day and this season won 1st Section & 1st Open Penzance YB National, 2,120 birds competed and the winner was the only pigeon to make a vel of 1000 ypm, the winning velocity being 1023. 2009 will be a year to remember as the brilliant loft of Hutchinson Bros of Ashfield also won a National for the second year in succession 1st Open Skibbereen OB Inland National in 2008 was followed by 1st Section & 1st Open Skibbereen YB National this year winning on a vel of 1556 when 3,118 birds competed. My congratulations to these two lofts but it could almost have been four.

R Cassels of Edgarstown won the Penzance YB National in 2008 and was 2nd Open to Donnelly Bros in 2009. John Patterson of Ballylesson was the winner of 1st Open Skibbereen YB National in 2008 and was 2nd Open to Cromie & Magee of Ballynahinch from skibbereen OB Inland National this season. I will have more interesting facts in my next column.

Ken McConaghie

2009 was Ken's final year as INFC president and he had the honour of presenting the prizes at the annual dinner in the Stormont Hotel. Many thanks to Paddy Lue from Down Patrick who has supplied me with a super batch of photographs from the National Dinner, they will be used throughout the year, well done Paddy.