Since joining the very competitive Dromore HPS in 2010 the loft of Jeff Greenaway has finished Top Prize Winner every season to date. That in itself is a massive achievement when flying against the likes of the legendary Philip & Joe Boal, Wayne Doonan, Mr & Mrs Delaney just to name three from the top of my head, Dromore HPS without any doubt are one of the most competitive clubs flying within Section D of the NIPA. Jeff Greenaway finished the 2012 season in tremendous fashion, runner-up for the NIPA Section D O/B Fancier of the Year to the 2011 Over-All winners Ian Gibb & Sons. The cards where reversed in the Y/Bird season in 2012 with Jeff coming out in front of the Gibb outfit with Jeff lifting the Y/Bird Fancier Of The Year crown. Both lofts have had just as a competitive start to the 2013 campaign, going at it hammer in tong so to speak and only the second week in. Having scribed for a number of years now on and off I have collectively followed the racing scene and continue to week in week out and collecting info through our website is a massive bonus with the weekly results being posted by various clubs around the country. With settling now in Lisburn Section D has become my immediate focus and the aforementioned lofts have been to the forefront of competitiveness over the last few seasons. In All honestly they ain't alone for this week some 104 lofts sent there respective champions and in all honesty you could go through all the Clubs and elaborate on the very credible winners. As many will know wind plays a very important part in the arrival location of the leading pigeons, which more times than not determines the ultimate result. I personally take my hat off to the lofts that show in all conditions and wind direction. Personally what an achievement it is to be at the fore front of success week in week out. It can't be achieved without hard work and more importantly mistakes. Getting back to this weeks race from Roscrea you will be wondering why highlight the lofts of Jeff Greenaway and Ian Gibb, well firstly they are the current NIPA Section D Champion Lofts, Jeff Greenaway this week not for the first time in his racing portfolio has been pipped to the ultimate honour of 1st Open NIPA beaten by a decimal point. Not the first time the Greenaway loft has suffered such fate with many many 2nd Opens to date and no less than 5 in one season with upwards of 25,000 pigeons competing. This weeks 1st Club, 1st Section D and 2nd Open NIPA is a Blue Yearling Hen sourced from Kevin Rooney & Son Annalong. Now this hen was one of three that arrived for the Rosscarbery Y/Bird National last year where the loft finished 8th, 9th and 10th National. Last week the Greenaway loft finished 3rd Section D NIPA and 37th Open NIPA.
Now Ian Gibb and sons racing with Glenavy and resident in Lisburn some 10 mile plus from Dromore last week
from Tullamore in the first race they took the first five positions in the club and where well placed in both the NIPA Section and Open result. The winner a 3 year old Blue widowhood cock arriving at 11.09 flying 112 miles had previously scored 3 x 1st and has the following positions in the NIPA Section and Open 11th Section and 33rd Open Roscarbery National; 16th Section and 48th Open Fermoy; 13th Section and 38th Open Fermoy; 19th Section and 62nd Open Clonmel; 12th Section and 25th Open Fermoy and 31st Section and 91st Open Fermoy and when u add the recent Tullamore performance to his CV and Fermoy 2013 to come what a performance pigeon. No surprise of course as he is a Grandson of the Gibb & Byrne Studs famous Kees Bosua breeder 'The Golden Ace' what a producer this pigeon is without doubt one of the best around currently. This week what a superb team performance first 10 and more in the club finishing 6th Section and will have upwards of 10 plus in the NIPA Section and Open result. Now I intend to go around the Section D clubs over the coming weeks. Will finish this week touching on the success of the Dromore brothers Philip & Joe Boal. In an article scribed by myself toward the latter part of 2012 I covered Philip's move to a new built house and exceptional loft just a short distance from his former residence, and outlined that success was for sure on the cards for the brothers in 2013. Little did he know then that the loft where to take the Section D honours on the first race for the Mighty NIPA from Tullamore. Philip timed a yearling Blue Widowhood Hen at 11am flying 102 miles. This was just the hens 5th race for the brothers. The best of the Wily Van Herck Bloodlines that have served just not the brothers but many leading fanciers around the country so well. The winner topped the Dromore Club finishing 1st Section D 1,795 pigeons finishing 28th Open NIPA with some 14,733 pigeons competing. Just for sure measure the loft also finished 2nd Club and 2nd Section D and 33rd Open NIPA. Now back to the latest Section Winner for the P & J Boal team. The yearling Blue Hen is a direct daughter of the ACE racing cock of Van Herck namely 'Karlske' a winner of no less than 9 x 1st on the road. To produce the Section winning hen for Philip & Joe the exceptional racer was paired to 'Kleine 96' bred by Philip from his vast array of Van Hercks. What a racer this hen was for the brothers prior to stock, winner of 3 x 1st Club finishing 1st, 2nd and 6th Section D finishing 5th, 9th and 12th Open NIPA. In total this breeding couple for Philip & Joe have produced 9 x 1st Prize winners with 5 of those NIPA Section Winners finishing 5th, 5th, 7th, 22nd, 28th and 66th Open also a 2nd National to boot also. This pairing are also responsible for scores of winners for various fanciers around the country. Adie wasn't to far wrong about the loft of P & J Boal and going with full returns from an excellent race for loft. This week the loft where to have no less than 5 in the top 150 of the NIPA loosing time with the first arrival and the second pigeon to the loft the first in the clock.
Must mention Ricky McCullough also in Derriaghy who took the first six this week within the club and will be well placed in the Section and Open. As I say will be looking around in the forthcoming weeks. Until then regards and good luck. Adie.
Mid Antrim Combine - Roscrea
For the second race of the old bird season the NIPA moved on to Roscrea in Co Tipperary, 145 plus miles into Mid Antrim. Best two birds were timed in the Kells & Dist by Jeff Surgenor to record velocity 1338 and 1310. Jack Millar & Son had the best bird in the Town winning Harryville on velocity 1297 followed by Alan Darragh of Cullybackey who had the Card of the Day! A great result for Surgenor Bros of the Kells & Dist with the top two positions in the MAC. The winner was a 2yo Blue Pied cock on Widowhood, a late bred he was lightly raced last year and put in the Widowhood Sect for 2013 and has produced the goods already. Some birds are worth waiting on and not rushed. He was bred from a Hofken cock purchased at the Clearance Sale for the late Frank Clarke paired to an old Braspenning hen of Davy McCullough that had topped the Section twice.
Mid Antrim Combine Roscrea 98/2375 – Surgenor Bros Kells 1338, Surgenor Bros 1310, J Millar & Son Harryville 1297, A Darragh Cullybackey 1293, Scott & Clements Kells 1286, A Purvis Broughshane 1285, Milliken & Barkley Rasharkin 1284, J Millar & Son 1279, A Darragh 1278, A Darragh 1277, A Darragh 1277, G McDowell Kells 1275, L Mullan Harryville 1274, A Purvis 1273, D Dixon Rasharkin 1273, D Dixon 1273, L Mullan 1273, G & A Eagleson Ballymena 1272, A Darragh 1270, B Swann & Son Kells 1269, M/M M Sempey Ballymena 1268, M/M Sempey 1267, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1267, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1266.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Roscrea
Kells & District 13/297 – Surgenor Bros 1338, 1310, Scott & Clements 1286, G McDowell 1275, B Swann & Son 1269, G McDowell 1266, 1258, Surgenor Bros 1257. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – 1st Surgenor Bros 1257, 2nd Scott & Clements 1227.
Harryville 15/389 – J Millar & Son 1297, 1279, L Mullan 1274, 1273, J Rock 1260, R H Clements 1257, J Rock 1255, A McBride 1254, 1253, J Rock 1252. The winner for Jack Millar & Son was a yearling Blue cock timed at 2.15pm flying 144 miles. This bird won a number of prizes Harryville 15/389 – J Millar & Son 1297, 1279, L Mullan 1274, 1273, J Rock 1260, R H Clements 1257, J Rock 1255, A McBride 1254, 1253, J Rock 1252. The winner for Jack Millar & Son was a yearling Blue cock timed at 2.15pm flying 144 miles. This bird won a number of prizes racing as a young bird, bloodlines were Busschaert and Cooremans both sire and dam were purchased at Blackpool Show.
Cullybackey 14/401 – A Darragh 1293, 1278, 1277, 1277, 1270, Reid Bros & McCloy 1267, A Darragh 1260, 1257, 1256, Reid Bros & McCloy 1244, 1240, H & R McCloy 1240. What a fantastic result for Alan Darragh, the first five places and 8 birds in the Top 12.
Broughshane 7/153 – A Purvis 1285, 1273, J & N Simpson 1254, 1253, C Kennedy 1219, 1216, D Houston & Son 1191, 1172, J Getty 1154, T & E Service 1133. Aughafatten Lofts win in a north wind with a Blue Soontjen cock.
Rasharkin & District 8/157 – Milliken & Barkley 1284, Steele & McNeill 1257, 1256, Milliken & Barkley 1232, H Cubitt 1223, Steele & McNeill 1222t, 1220t, 1218t, A C & T Tweed 1216, J & D Surgenor 1215. Second win of the season for Milliken & Barkley this one Jacob/Janssen. Steele & McNeill take 2nd and 3rd. Danny Dixon – 1273.570, 1273.570, 1260.084.
Ballymena & District 20/391 - G & A Eagleson 1272, M/M M Sempey 1268, 1267, W & J Smyth 1264, M/M M Sempey 1258, G Gilmour 1257, M/M M Sempey 1253, 1253, W & J Smyth 1249, 1248. George & Anne Eagleson top the club with a Cheq Pied hen timed at 2.24pm flying 147 miles. She has now won 3 races plus a number of other good positions and was racing Roundabout. She was bred from stock obtained at the Clearance Sale for the late Willie Workman.
Ballykeel Invitation – M/M M Sempey 1268, 1267, 1258, 1253, 1253, K & K Kernohan 1229, 1224, 1218, McGowan & Maternaghen 1180.
Ahoghill Flying Club 11/395 – Young McManus & Sons 1266, 1264, J Balmer 1257, Young McManus & Sons 1250, 1246, J Balmer 1244, 1237, J Smyth & Son 1237, Young McManus & Sons 1235, J Balmer 1232.
Randalstown HPS 10/192 – Stewart Bros 1257, 1254, 1243, Houston Bros 1234, F & J & G Dickey 1228, 1227, Houston Bros 1227, Stewart Bros 1226, 1225, Houston Bros 1218.
Anthony McDonnell best in Coleraine -
Former Kings Cup winner and an ace racer for as long as I can remember Anthony McDonnell had the top local bird in the weekend race from Roscrea. He timed an all pool winner including the DTW to take 1st in the Coleraine Premier who had just short of 500 birds competing and 1st Coleraine Triangle on velocity 1264. From the same club J L Madden was next best followed by Hanson & Harpur and Diamond Bros, all the Big Guns involved here. Terence McCrudden had the top three in the Coleraine & County Derry and R & J Parke done the same in the Windsor Social.
Coleraine Triangle Roscrea – A McDonnell Coleraine Prem 1264, J L Madden Coleraine Prem 1262, Hanson & Harpur Coleraine Prem 1262, Diamond Bros Coleraine Prem 1261, Hanson & Harpur 1261, Hanson & Harpur 1260, Hanson & Harpur 1256, A McDonnell 1251, T McCrudden Coleraine & County Derry 1249, D Coyle & Son Coleraine Prem 1243.
NIPA Sect A Clubs Roscrea –
Coleraine Premier 19/484 – A McDonnell 1264 ABCD & DTW, J L Madden 1262, Hanson & Harpur 1262, Diamond Bros 1261, Hanson & Harpur 1261, 1260, 1256, A McDonnell 1251, D Coyle & Son 1243, Diamond Bros 1243.
Coleraine & County Derry – T McCrudden 1249, 1226, 1224, D Dysart 1206, D Knox 1197, D Tosh 1191.
Windsor Social 14/260 – R & J Parke 1234, 1221, 1221, E & J McGarry 1209, G Donaghy Son & Grandson 1209, R & J Parke 1206, 1205, W & W Murdock 1195, R McCann 1195, K Glass 1193.
Bingham & Seaton record big result from Roscrea -
The East Antrim result was dominated by one loft, the top racing partnership of Bingham & Seaton from Ligoniel took 1st, 3rd & 4th Open NIPA with over 21,000 birds competing. The loft had 9 birds placed in the East Antrim Sect C, the winner was doing velocity 1360. In Carrickfergus the best birds were timed by Tommy Peel, former Secretary of the Carrick Social, he wins all pools, Nom & DTW with winner doing velocity 1305. Mr & Mrs Reid have the early bird in Carrick & Dist ahead of three arrivals for T Creighton & Son. Colin Campbell & Son have the best bird in Larne topping the Horseshoe HPS doing velocity 1346 ahead of three birds for Rea & Magill. In the big Larne & Dist where just short of 1,000 birds were competing the winner was Beggs & Hall doing velocity 1342. The O’Neill Family were 2nd & 3rd and won the 2 Bird Club.
NIPA East Antrim Sect C Clubs Roscrea -
Ballycarry & District – A Cooke 1348, 1328, 1313, 1296, Arthurs & George 1292, J C Reid 1290, A Cooke 1290, 1271, N J Arthurs 1268, A Cooke 1227. A clean sweep for Andy Cooke, 9 birds in the Top 12.
Ballyclare & District 17/483 – P R Wilson 1263, Horner Bros & Son 1260, G & R Lawrie 1260, Turkington & Robinson 1257, G & R Lawrie 1255, P R Wilson 1250, Horner Bros & Son 1240, M/M Hayes 1237, D McClelland 1235, J & R Blair 1234.
Carrick & District 14/257 – M/M R Reid 1283, T Creighton & Son 1281, 1270, 1265, M/M R Reid 1264, S Beattie & Daughters 1256, D Elliott & Grandson 1233, M/M R Reid 1232, M/M K Lavery 1231, S Beattie & Daughters 1230.
Carrick Social 14/379 – T Peel 1305, 1300, J McIlheron 1289, M/M Robinson 1288, T Peel 1288, M/M McDowell 1281, M/M Robinson 1280, J McAllister 1278, M/M Robinson 1278, D & J Armstrong & Son 1274. Tommy Peel takes 1st & 2nd this week and collects ABCD, Nom & DTW.
Cushendall – D McAllister 1229, A McNaughton 1227, 1225, D McAllister 1213, A McNaughton 1196, 1185, 1185, 1184, 1183, D McAllister 1176. Dominic wins with a 2yo hen flown on Widowhood. This bird was purchased at the Glenarm & Dist Squeaker Sale, it was bred by J & D McWhirter of Larne & District.
Doagh & District 18/467 – B & M Gilmore 1354, J & A Wilson & Sons 1340, M/M B McNeilly 1336, J & A Wilson & Sons 1335, A & N Lewis 1318, B & M Gilmore 1302, M/M B McNeilly 1288, D & R Turkington 1279, J & R Scott 1276, 1264.
Eastway HPS 13/376 – J Burrows 1342, D & J Campbell & Bigger 1333, M & A Pearson 1331, D & J Campbell & Bigger 1331.
Glenarm & District – G McWhirter 1294, 1270, McMullan Bros 1252, G McWhirter 1250, McMullan Bros 1227, O O’Neill & Son 1219.
Horseshoe 10/248 – C Campbell & Son 1346, Rea & Magill 1334, 1324, 1322, B Smyth 1308, C Campbell & Son 1306, Rea & Magill 1306, 1306, C Campbell & Son 1302. Two wins in two races for Colin Campbell & Son, their 2yo Soontjen cock is Campbell & Bigger breeding.
Kingsmoss 13/300 – T Lillie 1305, J Dawson & Son 1303, 1296, D J Connor 1293, Knowles & Hill 1293, T Lillie 1288, W Gault & Son 1281, R Lillie & Son 1275, G & C Lowry 1270, Connor Bros 1266. Tommy Lillie timed a yearling Lambrecht hen to take the Red Card from Roscrea and lifts the Nomination with his second bird.
Larne & District 39/952 – Beggs & Hall 1342, L & S O’Neill & Sons 1330, 1329, Baxter & Holden 1326, Beggs & Hall 1323, R Mills & Son 1319, N Ferguson & Son 1319, 1317, Beggs & Hall 1317, N Ferguson & Son 1317. Just short of 1,000 old birds competing in the second race, Beggs & Hall take top spot and win the Rainey Memorial Cup. Adrian & Marie timed a natural hen containing the best of their Janssen bloodlines. Larne & Dist 2 Bird Club – 1st L & S O’Neill & Sons, 2nd N Ferguson & Son. Show Specials – 1st Beggs & Hall, 2nd & 3rd L & S O’Neill & Sons.
Ligoniel 31/600 Bingham & Seaton 1360, 1357, 1356, S Maginty 1349, McClurkin & McCoubery 1334, S Maginty 1332, W Wickings 1330, McMurray & Anderson 1330, Bingham & Seaton 1330, 1330.
Springvale Soc – I Horner 1306, 1272, V Montgomery 243, A C McGrugan 1070.
Willie Reynolds HOMER
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Jeff Greenaway holding yet another NIPA Section Winner for the Loft and yet
another 2nd Open NIPA Winner.
Jeff Surgenor of the Kells & District, winner of 1st & 2nd in the Mid Antrim Combine from Roscrea.
1st Open NIPA Fermoy for Jeff Greenaway, Dromore HPS.
Bingham & Seaton from Ligoniel won Section C Fancier of the Year 2012.