Chairman of the Irish National Flying Club Mr Syd Collins welcomed a very good turn-out of members and friends to the Stormont Hotel in Belfast for the Annual Dinner and Prize Presentation. With the Kings Cup having to be cancelled for the second year on the trot and a large number of the cups not to be presented the attendance was a lot better than was at one stage expected. Just prior to the dinner being served Syd introduced the top table which included special guest Gloria Hunninford and her husband Stephen Way who the INFC team had met the previous year at the dinner in the House of Commons where they were special guests. At the top table this time they were joined by President Mr Ken McConaghie, Secretary Trevor Topping and wife Florence who have 8 years in the job under their belt and Treasurer Davy Mawhinney and wife Pamela and Davy has been in charge for over 20 years. The Patron Mr Ronnie Johnston was also present with wife Alice as were Jimmy Hughes and John Patterson who had given years of valuable service to the Show Committee.
The officials of the Irish National FC from (l) Jimmy Hughes Show Secretary, Trevor Topping Hon Secretary, Ken McConaghie President and Syd Collins Chairman.
Clifford Browne was invited to say grace and the dinner got underway around 7.30pm. The staff on duty presented a first class meal and the waiters were always available to take orders for drinks etc. After the meal Syd thanked the staff and then thanked the many workers involved at both the Marking and Clock Centres, without this and a lot of voluntary help it would just not be possible to get the birds away on time, and sometimes it is a big challenge. The Committee do sterling work attending meetings and ever present at either ring marking or clock checking or both. Without all the additional help it would just not be possible to complete the required work, the members do need to understand this. Syd had a special thanks for all the club sponsors, they were wide and varied and each race was covered thankfully. In the OB Inland Nat we have Bamfords Top Flight, Yearling Nat Samuel McCausland Ltd, Kings Cup Bucktons Premium Pigeon Feeds, Friendship Nat Versele-Laga, Sennen Cove YB Nat Natural Granen and Scullion Veterinary Services, Sennen Cove Old Hen Nat Gem Supplements, and Skibbereen YB Inland Nat Harkers Hormoform. The BHW sponsored all the results, and for the first time the ETS companies supplied sponsorship even though the IHU & INFC have yet to adopt the system. Tauris covered Skibbereen OB, Unikon the Yearling Nat, Tipes the Friendship Nat, and Bricon the Kings Cup & Sennen Cove YB.
Jimmy Hughes (l) presents a cheque for £1,500 to Gloria Hunniford for the Caron Keating Foundation watched by her husband Stephen Way and Ken McConaghie the INFC President and Show Committee Chairman.
Show Chairman Ken McConaghie gave a report on the Charity Show and a bit on its history, more recently the funds raised have been presented locally and applications for funding should be sent to Ken for consideration by the Committee. He said it was fitting that for the first time in many years the two main show men were in the room John Patterson and Jimmy Hughes were there at the start, but the team now is just not as big but still they produce a wonderful show each year a real credit to the sport. I think Ronnie Johnston has been selling the birds almost since the start and this year the funds raised will be presented to the INFC for the Transporter Fund, I hear the birds are out of this world.
What an excellent night for the INFC, at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast. Special guest Gloira Hunniford stole the show as you would imagine, with many fanciers and family friends all looking to spend a few minutes with her, Stephen Way her husband of 10 years was also present and an absolute delight to be around. It was also fitting I suppose that a number of the presentations included the Portadown Area. Gloira went into some detail about her history growing up in Portadown and also her fathers involvement with pigeons which spanned many years, right back to the days of the war. It was a delight just listening to the old stories especially when her father raced into the Edgarstown Club, it was also interesting to hear that one of the world's leading fanciers spent many a day at the age of six at the lofts of Gloria's father namely the one and only Ronnie Williamson who was yet again confirmed INFC National Champion. The main awards were presented by the special guests and again Ronnie Johnston had the record of most cups at his finger tips. This is without question one of the top highlights of the night, what a memory Ronnie has, he has been involved so long.
The 2008 N.I Fancier of the Year Ronnie Williamson and son Dell won a number of awards including the Best Ave All Races.
Ronnie Johnston Challenge Cup - Skibbereen OB Inland National – Hutchinson Bros, Ashfield. Vel 1324. Friendship Cup – Quimper OB Friendship Nat – Donnelly Bros, Newry City. Vel. 922. British Barcelona Club Trophy - Runner-up in the Friendship National – R Williamson, Bondhill. Vel 723. Henry Beattie & Son Trophy - Best 2 Bird Average Friendship National – M Hughes, Edgarstown. Vel 608. Nelson Corry Trophy - Sennen Cove Yearling National – O Kirwan, Gorey RPS. Vel 976. Alan Darragh Challenge Cup - Sennen Cove Old Hens National – Niblock Bros, Newry & District. Vel 1128. J.M.K. McGugan Perpetual Cup - Sennen Cove YB Channel National – R Cassells, Edgarstown. Vel 1134.William Erwin Memorial Cup - 1st South Section in Sennen Cove YB National – R Fox, Ballybrack RPC. Vel 1056. De-Scheemaecker Trophy - Best 2 Bird Average in Sennen Cove YB National – D Calvin, Bondhill. Vel 1092. Tom Marshall Trophy - Skibbereen North YB Inland National – J Patterson, Ballylesson. Vel 1641. Jarvis Cup - Best Average 2 YB Nationals Sennen Cove & Skibbereen North – T & G Kennedy, Moira. Vel 1263. Harkers Trophy—Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling and Sennen Cove YB Nationals – Donnelly Bros, Newry City. Vel 991. Charles Hunniford Memorial Trophy – Best Ave North Sect Skibbereen OB & YB Nationals – J Patterson, Ballylesson. Vel 1443. Sam Buckley Memorial Trophy – Best 2 Bird Average Sennen Cove Yearling Nat – R Williamson, Bondhill. Vel 929. Best Average All Races Diploma sponsored by John Murphy, Kilkenny – R Williamson, Bondhill. Vel 979.
Alice Johnston wife of Patron of the Flying Club Mr Ronnie Johnston presents gifts to both Gloria and Stephen on behalf of the INFC.
INFC Chairman Sid Collins present Alice Johnston with a gift for all her dedication and hard work over the years for the Irish National Flying Club.
Ladies Prizes won by Hutchinson Bros, Owen Kirwan, Donnelly Bros, R Cassells, Niblock Bros, and John Patterson. DVD Player sponsored by INFC won by Richard Cassells of Edgarstown. Sennen Cove Old Hens – 1st Niblock Bros of Newry City Framed Diploma presented by Gem Supplements Ltd, 2nd M/M D Suitters of Doagh & Dist £50 Gem Supplements Voucher, 3rd T Marshall & Son of Newtownbreda £50 Gem Supplements Voucher. ETS Systems won by Gordon Bros & Sons, Killyleagh Central sponsored by TAUris, M Livingstone, Portadown Inv sponsored by Unikon, P J Corcoran & Sons, Balbriggan sponsored by Unikon, M/M D Suitters, Doagh & Dist sponsored by Tipes, R D Calvin, Annaghmore sponsored by Bricon.
Davy Hutchinson of Ashfield lifts the Ronnie Johnston Challenge Cup for 1st Open Skibbereen O/B National from Gloria Hunniford.
The birds were held in Skibbereen on both Wednesday and Thursday due to weather problems at the race-point, conditions improved on Friday 30th May and release was possible at 12.30pm in an ENE wind. Hutchinson Bros from Ashfield have won 1st Open INFC beating the Doonan & McGuinness team from Dromore in a decimal point finish. Ten days earlier Hutchinson Bros won the NIPA Rosscarbery Nat for back to back National wins, some consolation from Doonan & McGuinness who won 1st Prize of £2,500 in the Dundonald 3 Bird Championship. Overall winner by .08 of a yard was the loft of Davy Hutchinson for those of you excluding the fanciers from Ireland who are readying this and saying to themselves I know that name, well last week in the RP a loft profile was published on this very same fancier after he topped the NIPA National from Rosscarbery last Monday, so back to back National with two different organisations in the O/Bird racing programme, I put Hutchinson Brothers down as the first to ever accomplish this fate although I stand to be corrected as always. The winning pigeon very similar to the last weeks National success, yet again a Blue Yearling Hen racing on the Widowhood system, coming down from the excellent family of Soontjens sourced from Tony Marden all those years ago, (refer to last weeks loft profile for further info). This National winning hen “Unbelievable” was clocked at 17.41pm flying 234 miles, sire is a direct Luc Guernhix when mated to a pigeon carrying the bloodlines of two fantastic racers namely ‘Impreza’ she is 99 bred and has produced countless winners year in year out including 2 x 1st Section winners including 4 x pigeons over a 4 year period that competed in the NIPA Five Bird Mallow race they finished 1st Section, 2nd Section, 2nd Section and 4th Section, she herself has won over 16 x NIPA Open Positions as well as 8 x 1st Club’s and 2 x 1st Sections some of the highlights of her incredible racing career included 5th Open against 6,256 pigeons, 16th Open against 18,277 pigeons, 8th Open against 21,704 pigeons, 29th Open against 25,163 pigeons and 95th against 16,768 pigeons. In 2006 a son of this hen won the Dromore National Centre by 115 yards out of the Mallow 5 Bird race, and finished 12th Open. ‘Leo’ is the other outstanding pigeon on the Sire’s side of things and what a pigeon he is also again 8 x 1st Clubs to his name and 2 x 1st Sections he is also Sire of the pigeon that finished 2nd Open Mallow Five Bird Race last year the one that Davy was beat by decimals for the Open. As you can see decimal points are a thing for the Hutchy loft but this time they favoured the right side, very well done to Davy, Annette and daughter Leanne.
Collecting the famous Nelson Corry Trophy for 1st Open INFC Yearling National was the well travelled Owen Kirwan of the Gorey RPS.
The INFC Yearling Nat was flown on Thursday 12th June after a one day delay due to heavy rain on the route, the 4,173 birds competing for £35,800 were released at 7.30am in a North West wind. The birds were race marked in the Lisburn Centre on Monday afternoon/night and this job seems to get harder race by race. Chairman Syd Collins wishes to thank the many helpers, not only members of the extensive committee but other volunteers who gave a hand over the six hours or so of marking. Every little does help, few can stay for the whole duration of marking and even more help would be much appreciated. Syd has extended his thanks as well to the transport team and the staff manning the various Clock Stations, indeed any fanciers at all who gave assistance. The race was again sponsored by S McCausland Ltd great supporters of the INFC, the Nelson Corry Trophy & Diploma to the winner and Sam Buckley Memorial Cup for the Best 2 Bird Average which will be a close finish between Ron Williamson and Paul Dunlop.
Around 400 birds were timed on the day and the overall winner has been timed in the Wexford area by Owen Kirwin of Gorey. He set the pace for the race first bird timed at 13.03hrs he was not beat, Mid Antrim had five hours to get close and ran out of time. A prominent fancier said a fresh bird would have had bother with a 5 hour fly from Wexford at 175 miles in the conditions, never mind one coming from Sennen Cove. For Owen it was third time lucky having been placed 36th Open INFC in 2004, 6th Open INFC in 2007 and now 1st National and 1st South Leinster Fed in 2008. His Blue cock now named “Creagh Lad” was flying 183 miles, top Meulemans & Janssen bloodlines with its sire and grand-dam coming through the famous Dobbs Bros of Wexford. Racing on widowhood the winner had six races on the land and Sennen Cove was its first trip across the channel. Many thanks to local fancier Dave Henderson who was 2nd Open in this race himself recently for getting some info and photos of Owen and Peter Lucas of Gorey who was 6th Open INFC sent via e-mail. We look forward to meeting the Wexford lads at the annual prize night in November.
The INFC had a massive entry of 2,585 birds for the Kings Cup the best entry for a number of years and for the second year on the trot the birds have been returned from France, last time it was the Bird Flu problems. Now we have weather problems to add to everything else and we are in the summer time. The loss of this particular race is a major disappointment after the effort in getting so many of the previous years entries set up once again for the greatest test in Irish pigeon racing circles. The committee were left in a hopeless no win position and made the safe decision. Should the substitute Kings Cup race take place we will be moving into new ground with a distance race from France at this time of the year, if it was a success it could well change the programme in future years and we might just see an over-lap of the longest old bird races and the start of the young bird season. Plans are being made to have the race flown from St Malo on Thursday 31st July.
When we got the message on Saturday to check out on Sunday what the INFC were going to do regarding the Kings Cup race marking it was always on the cards all might not go according to plan. The birds were already returned from France in early July having failed to release due to terrible weather conditions. This was on top of the previous year when the birds in France had to be returned home due to the Bird Flu problems. With that experience of having no race which resulted in over half the cups not won in 2007 the committee took the decision to go for a Substitute Kings Cup race this time which would be flown from St Malo, around 50 miles shorter. The birds were set up yet again, although not ideal over a much shorter period of time, but a good entry was again expected, almost 2,600 birds were sent to Vannes earlier. The message started to come through early on Sunday afternoon that due to severe weather conditions, thunderstorms and an erratic pattern of weather over the rest of the week from Wednesday the race would be put back a week. The delay will not please everyone but every effort is being made to have the Kings Cup flown again in 2008, birds will be race marked in Lisburn next Monday 4th August and the race (weather permitting) due on Wednesday 6th August. We will just have to keep our fingers crossed, long distance racing is not getting any easier. As it turned out it was not possible to have the re-arranged race and a large effort is to be made to have a race flown in 2009.
Gloria's father was a past member of Edgarstown HPS and collecting the H Beattie & Son trophy for the Best 2 Bird Average in the Friendship National from Quimper was Mark Hughes of Edgarstown.
One of the top acheivements of the Year was Donnelly Bros of Newry winning the Friendship National from Quimper with "Lily" only bird on the day with a velocity of 922ypm.
The Irish National Flying Club as normal used the excellent facilities on the Waterloo Road area of Lisburn for the ring marking on Tuesday 8th July of the Friendship National pigeons destined for Quimper in France. The attendance and subsequent entry was low in comparison to last years event which attracted an entry of over 1400 pigeons although last year the race was flown from Portsmouth in England due to the restrictions that were put in place with regards an out break of Bird Flu. Following a hold over on Friday the Convoy of 605 pigeons sent by 155 members competing for £4,256 in pools and prize money including an ETS system sponsored by Ballymena Pigeon Supplies who are all Ireland Agents for the Tipes Electronic Timing Systems were liberated bright and early at 6.15am on Saturday morning 12th July which was a Public Holiday in Northern Ireland. Wind at the race point was a light North/North West on route and being out and about on Saturday the wind was certainly blustery enough at times. Saturday is a busy day at the restaurant, to the point both legs would have to be broke before you could take the night off, one wouldn’t be enough. One of my first customers was fellow INFC Committee man Robert Trimble, so we got chatting as you do and we were both of the agreement that the race was going to be a hard test and how right we were with only one day arrival reported.
1st Open Donnelly Bros Newry City Vel 922
Richard and John clock up surprisingly their first National win with the INFC and what style they did it in having the only pigeon on the day from Quimper. This loft requires no glorification from me as they have over the years cemented themselves as probably one of the best partnerships ever to race pigeons into Ireland, all told they have amassed a countless number of NIPA Open success’s and look like continuing this same trend for many years to come going by the calibre of pigeons that I have had the pleasure of handling on my many occasions visiting the family farm on the outskirts of Newry City. Richard and John will now have the INFC Prize Distribution to look forward to which takes place in November, it is every fanciers dream to lift an award at this event and having spoke to many during my time as a scribe it is a feeling that stays with you a lift time. The Donnelly Brothers timed a 3 year old Dark Pied hen just two minutes short of 14 hours on the wing at 8.13pm. The National winner has now been named “Lilly“ as what an exceptional bred pigeon she is Sire is non other than the partnerships Open Winner from the Penzance Classic race of 2004 named “Classical Lad” he in turn was mated to a hen purchased at the clearance sale of Noel Higginson & Bob McMeekin who were an awesome partnership especially at events such as this. Now just to go further into the depth or substance of the Donnelly Stock Loft “Classical Lad” is a direct son of “Champion Northwest” who bred no less than 5 x 1st NIPA Open Winners for the Donnelly Boys but in turn these have went on to breed countless winners as well as winning Open’s themselves, now “Northwest” was mated to “Champion Lucky” who has flown France 3 times for the partnership picking up an NIPA Bronze Diploma for her efforts she produced “Classical Lad” who has now produced a Friendship National Winner named “Lilly” Very well done gentlemen on an excellent achievement and I look forward to seeing the Donnelly Family at the Irish National Flying Club Prize Distribution in November.
Gloria Hunniford presents the Alan Darragh Challenge Cup to Niblock Bros of Newry who won 1st Open Old Hens National from Sennen Cove.
Richard Cassells of Edgarstown won the Y/B National from Sennen Cove with only two entries away pictured here collecting the J M K McGugan Perpetual Cup for his efforts.
One of the up and coming National Flying Club stars David Calvin of Bondhill. David won the De Scheemaecker Trophy for the best two bird average from the Y/B National Sennen Cove, what a record this man has in this race.
The Irish National Flying Club Y/Bird and Old Hens Nationals were held last Friday 12th September. Liberated at 7.50am after a two day hold over as the result of rain in one area of the route one day and obviously as the band of bad weather moved over it prevented a liberation the second day. So with a liberation on Friday morning in a Light Westerly wind many of the pundits reckoned nine or ten hours up into the North of Ireland. The convoy of 1,856 young birds entered by 351 fanciers racing for £17,672 in pools and prize money plus a Bricon ETS System, were joined in the transporter with 280 O/Hens sent by 96 competing members for £1,870 in pools and prize money. In reflection looking at last years figures it is encouraging to see the Y/Bird entry up by 457 especially after such a turbulent Y/Bird season for all fanciers both North and South with regards the ever increasing problems with the weather. As for the O/Hens entry disappointedly it was down considerably from an entry of 470 last year to 280 this year, with many fanciers I spoke to admitting that the feathers just didn’t hold as well this year with regards the moult especially with ones that they had ear marked for this event. The winner this year of the Natural Granen sponsored Y/B National is Richard Cassells of Edgarstown just outside Portadown who will no doubt be booking his tickets now for the Irish National Flying Club Dinner which takes place in the 4 Star Stormont Hotel in Belfast on Friday 28th November were he will pick up the J M K McGugan Perpetual Cup for winning the Y/Bird National, also hopefully attending will be R Fox who finishes 1st South Section winning the William Erwin Memorial Cup which is awarded to the 1st Section winner not winning the race.
Mr & Mrs Davy Suitters from Doagh are never far away in all National races, the loft finished 2nd Open in the O/Hens National from Sennen Cove Davy seen here collecting his award from Stephen and Gloria.
Tom Marshall of Newtownbreda finished 3rd Open in the O/Hens National and is seen collecting his award from Gloria and husband Stephen Way.
Joining them will be Derek, Cyril and Jim Niblock from Newry who won the Gem Supplements sponsored Old Hens National, they will be lifting the Alan Darragh Challenge Cup and the Framed Diploma for winning their first ever National after many years of very credible efforts including finishing 2nd Open in the Y/B National in 1997. The winning Y/Bird was timed at 3.44pm into Edgarstown just a few minutes short of the 8 hour mark for the 305 mile fly, with the winning Old Hen clocked at 3.15pm into Newry flying 285 miles. It is very pleasing to say that this race will go down as one of the most successful in recent years for returns and with this difficult challenge added to their individual CV’s, many will I am sure be going to the second part of the three tiered challenge with the Yearling National next year which is traditionally flown from the same race point before the final ultimate goal in arriving home in the prizes from the Blue Riband Kings Cup event, such courageous pigeons are now awarded the Triple Champion Diploma for finishing in the prizes from all three events.
The legend himself John Patterson of Ballylesson wins his 1st National this year from Skibbereen in the Y/Birds. John lifts the Tom Marshall Trophy for his efforts and also wins the new trophy presented to the Flying Club by Gloria Hunniford and husband Stephen Way for the best average Skibbereen O/B and Y/B Nationals.
T & G Kennedy of Moria were the proud winners of the Jarvis Cup for the Best Average in the 2 Y/Bird Nationals seen here lifting their award from Gloria.
The INFC Skibbereen Inland Young Bird National convoy of 3,489 pigeons sent by 415 members competing for £14,696 in pools and prize money were liberated on Saturday September 20 at 9.45am in a Light South Wind. After such a difficult season with the weather last weekend especially for late September was excellent, despite this most lofts will be happy to see the finish of a season to remember. The overall winner was John Patterson of Ballylesson who timed at 14.14hrs to record velocity 1618. JP is a racing legend racing firstly with the Ulster Federation in Belfast in the Kingswood he won more than his share and won 1st Open on many occasions. I made my first visit at that time and was very impressed with a very small racing team, at that time as well John was the Ulster Fed Secretary. When he moved to the East Down Combine area a number of years ago his racing performance improved and he has won the Fancier of the Year award on numerous occasions. I am not sure of the actual count, it appears to exceed 50 x 1st Open that included both OB & YB Derbies. I don’t believe he ever had 1st National and can now add that to an impressive CV. Many congratulations have been placed on the website and are well deserved for a Champion of the Sport at a cool 81 years young, keep her going JP and many congratulations on this most recent success.
1st Open John Patterson of Ballylesson – Vel 1641, winning £853
In the final race of the year we had a highly respected winner who over the years has a CV second to none but which did not include a 1st Nat in the INFC. John Patterson at 81 years young is just as keen now as at any time, just ask the local competition in the East Down Combine area where he has dominated for many years and has won the Fancier of the Year award a record number of times. In the East Down Combine the loft has previously won 4 x 1st YB Derby from Skibbereen, and 2 x 1st OB Derby from – You guessed it Skibbereen. The bird this time was Five One the latest Champion timed at 2.13pm flying 250 miles. The birds were not race three weeks prior to the event, just flown around the house, the Blue tip hen was on pot eggs. Breeding was Soontjen x Grondelaer through friendship with Gerald Adair and Gerry McCourt. Only five young bird races flown before YB Nat, the loft won 3 x 1sts and 2 x 2nds, how about that!
The above was just a quick review to remind everyone on what took place for every race and the winners, its only a snap shot of what was another season without a Kings Cup Race Report, fingers crossed that will change in 2009.
Willie Reynolds
INFC - Press Officer
Tel/Fax (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 079396 84876
E-mail: reynoldshomer@aol.com
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
