Joined Sallynoggin H.P.S. in 2003 after been on a break from racing for a few years
due to buying a house and getting married. Sallynoggin is a very strong club as clubs go these days with about 35 members. Birdage in the old-birds has been increasing
regularly over the last few years, with over 700 being sent to one of the races this
year. This was a new record since Ive being doing the books ( last 8 years ), and with
the way competition has gone in the club, I think we will go higher again this year.
Stock & Birds
When I joined Sallynoggin good friend and fellow club-mate Thomas Barrett gave me
a great start back in pigeons , gifting me 6 ybs to get going. When I went to collect them off him “ Shock “ , they were the first 6 ybs he had bred, he had none bred for
himself even. A very genuine Gift from a genuine friend. One of these 6 a blue cock which I called “ Barretts Blue “went on to fly 8 channel races scoring 4 times. His best performance being 1stclub St.Malo 2006 ( 12th Open ECF ) only bird in the club.
In 2005 I was fortunate to get to know Brendan Richardson in Ballbriggan winner of
The INFC yearling National 2005 with his super chequer cock “ The Jay “ ( Jansen )
In 2008 he gifted me a daughter from his national winner , who was kept for stock.
She is the dam of the gold-medal winner when paired to a son of “ Barretts Blue “ her
1st nest ever ( 2009 ) and when paired to another blue cock in 2010 down off Sudgen
pigeons from Alan Best ( Tallagh ) has produced winner of 1stclub 18th Fed this year.
Im am still trying to blend the pigeons off these three men , so its still a work in progress, but Im having lots of enjoyment trying, and would like to thank all three
for the birds Ive got from them.
Race Team
My lofts are small by todays standards, being an 8ft by 5ft for the old-birds and another the same size broken into a 5ft for the ybs and a 3ft for the stock.
Normally winter about 30 with about 22-24 of these for racing. ( all stock fly-out )
The last few years would always pair up the 14th Feb and wouldn’t bother darkening
the ybs as I don’t really worry about them and just give them 4 or 5 races before
they fall apart with the moult. Allthough this year Im breeding 6 or 8 Jan hatched ybs
to try early bred ones for a change. Time will tell how it works out.
System & Medication
I fly on the natural system as it suits me given limited space , but might try
Widow-hood this year if I can find some where to put the hens.
I would be a heavy feeder with both old& ybs but as long as they were flying well
around the house and burning it off it dosen’t bother me. Will add a small amount of
barley to the food and if the birds are leaving the barley , they’ve had enough. All
old birds will go to the first race with about 3 or 4 short tosses and will go every
week for the first 6 races without any more tossing. I prefer to fly them well at
the loft for an hour in the evening once racing starts.
I wouldn’t medicate for anything allthough this year I did give the birds a canker
treatment prior to pairing up. I prefer to use natural products like garlic and cider
vinegar on the food and butter-milk in the water when moulting.
I would like to thank Brendan and his daughter Natasha for all their hard work on articles and results for both the club and others. Finally I would wish all in the sport good racing in 2012.
P & J Snell Rathnew
The partnership of p& j snell that is paddy and his son john race their birds in the rathnew pigeon club co wicklow,and there is 16 flying members in the club including a kings cup winner that being moorehouse & hayden.
paddy restarted in the sport in 1984 after a short break,they race about 45 old birds and around 100 youngsters,
they race all birds on the natural system as it is the chanel they are most interested in,and say their best position for raceing old birds is sitting about 10 -to -12 days on eggs.
they only have the one loft and that is roughly 32 ftx 12 ft split into 4 sections,they pair their stock birds up the end of january and their racers are paired up in march.
before they pair their birds up they will treat them for canker,worms,and coci,and will treat for canker a couple of times during the season.
paddy says there is nothing like clocking a good pigeon from france,this is something he has done regurly.
this year paddy has managed to win 1st club and 6th open from st malo in france and 1st club and 2nd open old bird penzance when 226 members sent 1690 birds with the east coast federation also 1st club and 111 th national young bird penzance 382 members sent 1879 birds.
Paddy Snell holding Black hen, winner of 2nd Kings Cup 2011.
Paddy Snell stock hens.
Paddy Snell old cocks.
Black cock, sire of winners for Paddy Snell.
David Cruise Shankill Invitation
David Cruise from shankill invitation club started up racing again about six years ago after a break from the birds.he races about 30 old birds and 40 young birds,
david races his old birds on the roundabout system and his young birds are on darkness and also flown roundabout.there are about 14 members in the club and they all have a good banter come race day.for medication david will give them a 7 in 1 product before he pairs them up in feburary and then every second week during racing they will receive it.david has got two lofts a 28ftx6ft for racing and a 6ftx 8ft for his stock birds ,david had a good season winning 5 x1st. 1x2nd and 2x3rd in the old birds,he also won 4x1st 3x2nds and 5x3rds in the young birds.
david would like to thank paul mc cann shankill eamon quigley donegal and willie mc carty from cabra for all their help and also the pigeons he has got from them,and he would like to say thank you to the members of a very happy shankill club.
Thank you
Bren McGrane
Dave Cruise, Shankill Invitation.
Blue winner of 3 x 1sts for David Cruise.