INFC Update - Ronnie Johnston (Patron)

[willie reynolds]

El Cid - Hall of Fame Diploma winner

In this weeks column let me give you the race of a super red chequer
cock named El Cid. This magnificent cock was bred by the current INFC
chairman Sid Collins and raced by the late Billy Erwin of Ballymena.
Billy, former Kings Cup winner in 1969 from Nantes with the brilliant
Moonlight Manequin was also in his career the winner of the Old Bird
Derby.

Billy Erwin was a class fancier with a great National record but I
knew deep down he always wanted to win the coveted Hall Of Fame Award
with the INFC. Sid Collins bred a red chequer cock in 1986 for Billy
and this pigeon named El Cid was in his time one of the best racing
pigeons in Ireland. Sire was a mealy grandson of Mountsmada Queen 1st
Open INFC Kings Cup in 1976 from Rennes for the Adams Bros of West
Belfast. Dam from an inbred grandson of Moonlight Mannequin Billy's
Kings Cup winner. El Cid also carries the old Locke bloodlines through
a red hen from Downey & Dodds that came via the late Billy Parkes, El
Cid won 9th Club Bude 289 miles; 4th Club Penzance 330 miles; 18th
Section & 35th Open NIPA Dinard OB Derby 470 miles and then in
successive years 77th, 170th & 150th Open INFC Kings Cup Rennes
winning the coveted Hall of Fame Diploma at 510 miles. Moonlight
Mannequin may have won the Kings Cup but El Cid made Billy's wish come
true.

INFC AGM

The AGM will be held in Lusburn, Sat 27th February and already secretary Trevor
Topping has had a number of items for the agenda. Drug testing for the
leading birds in the Nationals. New race point for the Friendship
National. The AGM to discuss the feasibility of flying the Kings Cup
from 550-600 miles. Making the Friendship National a long distance
event. Creating a new race for 2yo plus birds around mid July. I am
sure you will agree the place to discuss these important proposals are
at the AGM.

The INFC members flew for a total of £120,000 in pool and prize money
in 2009. The Kings Cup and the Yearling National accounted for more
than half this total. Some outstanding individual winners were H Walsh
& son of Millvale £3,331 Kings Cup; G Buckley & Sons of Annaghmore
£2,469 Kings Cup; P Rock & Son of Skerries £2,281 Yearling; B McCann &
Son of Bray £2,131 Yearling; P Rock & Son of Skerries £1,996 Kings
Cup; J Kelly & Sons of Dromore £1,798 Kings Cup.