Pigeon Network

Ronnie Johnston Auctions –

Venue for the sale season this year is Newtownbreda HPS in Belfast, first up on Monday 8th October at 8.00pm the Entire Clearance Sale for Billy Leckey a fantastic fancier best known for winning Dinard OB Derby twice. A top class fancier Billy has no time for the birds spending all his time with the grand-children who are football mad and make regular trips to Manchester, Old Trafford of course. At the end of 2010 he purchased top class pigeons but was not able to spend the time with them and the decision was taken to sell the lot. From Jeff Greenaway who has had a fantastic season three pair from his best, John Wheatcroft two pair class stock, McGimpsey Bros four pair off the top pigeons, D Black & Son seven from his best France pigeons, this loft retained the Nat Championship title a feat never previously achieved in the long history of the INFC. Three pair from Roy Irwin and also included birds from close friends John Patterson direct from the One Hen INFC Nat winner and James Cleland from Penzance EDC 1st Open winner. As I said Billy won Dinard twice and won it a third time but was Disq, 1st Open EDC Penzance and 1st Open Rosscarbery YB Derby. Good pigeons brought him great success, Billy can give you more details Tel: 02891 275047.

Due to increasing health problems Frank Sheader has decided to send what could be his best draft ever sent to Ireland. All his best Soontjen lines up for auction Monday 22nd October, Newtownbreda HPS at 7.30pm.

Newtownbreda Sale Season -

Due to increasing health problems Frank Sheader has decided to send what could be his best draft ever sent to Ireland. All his best Soontjen lines up for auction, “Docherty Cock”, “Just a Kid”, “Jacko”, “Bants Choice”, “Hakuna Matata”, “Shadow”, all winners of 1st Open Up North Combine. Sale Date: Monday 22nd October, Newtownbreda HPS at 7.30pm. Auctioneer Ronnie Johnston Tel: (028) 90 483625.

Coming Up on Monday 29th October at 7.30pm Ronnie Johnston will present for auction a fabulous select draft of Heremans-Ceusters on behalf of John Wheatcroft (Nottingham). These are the pigeons that are the talk of the country. John has been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland going back to the early 80’s with visits at that time to the likes of Billy Parkes, Harry Stockman, Bob Harkness etc. John has travelled around Europe and has been at all the top lofts. He writes: I first saw the Hermans Ceusters pigeons when I went to a presentation of the Ave Regina Club with Pros Roosen, that would be in 2005. There was an auction there and all the top fanciers had donated a pigeon. Heremans Ceusters had put a lete bred Blue in and I thought it was the best pigeon there on the night. There was no pedigree on the pen, it just said Heremans Ceusters, I had’nt heard of the name. I could’nt stay until the auction and all the way driving up to my hotel in Holland I was thinking I should have stayed and tried to buy the late bred. I called in to see Ad Schaerlaeckens the following day and told him about this late bred. He asked me who bred the late bred and when I told him he laughed and said within three years it will be difficult to but these pigeons as Heremans Ceusters are flying that well. As soon as I got home I contacted Leo and bought five stock cocks. Then I bought five hens, Leo let me have some good birds. Then I heard that Herenans Ceusters would be having AN Entire Clearance Sale early in 2007, so I bought as many 2006 late breds as I could afford at the time from the best pigeons that I could get. I also bought birds at the Clearance Saleand selected birds when I could find them in Holland and Belgium. I also boiught five old breeders together with Willy McClelland. As you know I am a regular visiter to the Continent and have a lot of friends there who have kept an eye out for good ones for me. I have been lucky in that these Heremans Ceusters birds have bred winners for most people who have tried them from the start until the present day.

I have had the Van Dyck and Koopman birds from around 2004 when I bought my first ones from Kannibaal from Dirk van Dyck. I bought some old breeders from Gerard Koopman. The first youngter I bred from the daughter of Kannibaal won 1st Open NIPA Talbenny for Alan Darragh. She was paired with a son of Eric bred by Gerard Koopman. He is old now but has been responsible for several generations of winners inc. NIPA Open & Sections, INFC Yearling Nat winner, Ace Pigeons and an Olympiad bird in Holland etc.

I will also be sending a few birds from Danny van Dyck birds, I got the first youngsters from Kanon and his brother when they were racing as young birds. Mick Collins and myselk had one from each nest. I think I am right in saying we were amongst the first UK people to visit. I bought the Danny van Dyck birds with my friend Willy McClelland from Doagh and I am confident they will do well. Danny has raced very well the past few years inc being Ace YB Flyer in Belgium (KBDB) 2011.

Tommy Adams - About 30 birds containing top quality long distance bloodlines to be sold in Newtownbreda HPS Clubrooms, Monday 28th January 2013 at 7.30pm. For more details Tel RJ: (028) 90 483625.