Merit Awards/Triple Crown etc - R Johnston

[willie reynolds]

The Queen Didn't Disappoint

One of the first pigeons to win the new INFC Merit Award (twice Open prize winner OB National) was the brilliant blue pied hen bred and raced by East Down Combine partnership of McCartan & Woodside of Crossgar.

Bred in 2002 she had a wonderful race record before her first trip to Vannes Kings Cup of 2006. Lets look at some of her top performances, 24th Open INFC Portsmouth Friendship National; 11th, 21st, 33rd from three EDC Skibbereen OB Classics; 15th Open EDC Talbenny OB; 19th Open EDC Thurles; 32nd Open EDC Sennen Cove OB Classic; 94th Open NIPA 5-Bird Mallow Classic, some pigeon. In 2006 she was prepared for the big one, INFC Kings Cup and went on to score 75th Open on a vel of 1028 at 480 miles. With no Kings Cup Race in 2007 and 2008 the Queen had to wait until 2009 before she had another crack at the Kings Cup and she did not disappoint her owners flying another super race to win 72nd Open on a vel of 1288.

Paul & Darren have entered her in the Single Bird Challenge for 2010, when hopefully she will also be going for a coveted Hall of Fame Diploma. This hen is a champion and the type we all dream about having bred EDC 07684 a winner of 5th Open INFC Skibbereen OB National; 5th Open NIPA Mallow 5-Bird Classic; 17th Open EDC Mallow OB Classic; 52nd Open NIPA Rosscarbery Old Cocks National; 122nd Open INFC Skibbereen OB National; 30th Open EDC Skibbereen OB Derby.

I am sure readers will be interested in the breeding. The sire, a blck chequer cock winner of 14 club prizes including 3x1sts. His sire a Houben from Colin Gibson. Dam bought at Jimmy Herron's sale. Dam of the Queen blue hen down from the lines of Sheaders famous 601. I hope you have enjoyed that report as much as I did. She is a class hen, one to be proud off.

Triple Crown for Jamie's Girl

This exciting new award was first flown for in 2009 for members of the INFC. The awards cover's three races, YB National, Yearling National and finally the Kings Cup. To win the Triple Crown the same pigeon must be an Open prize winner from all three races in successive years. In the 2009 season two of these awards were won by Joe McLoughlin & Sons of Dublin and Tommy McClean of Annaghmore.

Tommy's winner now named Jamie's Girl is a 07 bred blue hen and her race record: 2007 Sennen Cove YB National, 1,399 young birds were liberated into a North West wind and it was a hard race with only 80 birds recorded in two days. The race winners were C & L Woodside of Ballyclare making a vel of 844. Jamie's Girl was clocked to win 5th North Section & 5th Open on a vel of 790. The Yearling National 2008 was flown from Sennen Cove, 4,173 birds were liberated at 7.30 am into a North West wind and another hard race was on the cards. Race winner was Owen Kirwan of Gorey making 976. Jamie's Girl was clocked to win 138th Open on a vel of 823 at 303 miles. The crunch race for this award will always be the Kings Cup, 1,965 birds competed for the cup in 2009 and liberated at 6.15 am into a light West wind and the race winner was Tommy Moorehouse of Rathnen.

Jamie's Girl flew a stunning race to win 30th Open on a vel of 1334 at 488 miles. The velocity will tell you it was a fast race for a Kings Cup and this great hen still made the Open prize list. the hen has now won in excess of £1,500. Tommy McClean is a top class pigeon man and has raced many class pigeons. For a number of years he raced with Niblock Bros as Niblock Bros & McClean in Newry and during that time won 1st Section & 1st Open NIPA Talbenny YB Derby and the following week 2nd Section & 2nd Open INFC Penzance YB National. 1997 2,364 birds competed and the race winner was Johnston Eagleson & Sons Harryville making a vel of 1409. The 2nd Open winner made a vel of 1402 after losing four minutes and these two looked to be well clear of the convoy with Ronnie Williamson 3rd Open on vel of 1363.

The breeding of Jamie's Girl, sire a blue cock Soontjen from Derek Parr. Dam a blue hen Soontjen x Hartog from Henry McLoughlin. With a Triple Crown Award won Jamie's Girl has been retired to the stock loft. Word on the grape-vine, I hear she may be paired to the Kings Cup winner Tommy's Boy before the year is out.

Since starting back on his own Tommy has had great support from Jim Newell of Annalong, in his own right a top class fancier racing with the East Down Combine.

Single Bird Challenge

David Black has reported on entry of 219 for the challenge and this is the second best entry in the history of the race. I had a quick look at the entry list and some top class pigeons have been entered. Davie also reported that the entry for the Duddy Challenge has started well but fanciers have time to select their pigeons, as the first leg is not until the Yearling National.