Pigeon Network

Hard Kings Cup from St Allouestre – Rab's Delight wins for Ron Williamson

The Blue Riband race for the INFC the Kings Cup Grand National was flown on Friday 5th July from Saint Allouestre a new point close to the previous one at Vannes. 2,332 birds were race marked at the Lisburn Centre on the Tuesday and the liberation on Friday was at 7.00am in a Lt North Easterly wind. It turned out a hard race which was won in the Portadown area by one of the stars of the sport Ronnie Williamson of Bondhill. This loft has won almost everything with over 50 x 1st Open NIPA and had twice been 2nd Open in the Kings Cup event. His bird was timed at 18.37hrs flying 480 miles to record velocity 1212.

Ron's 2013 INFC King's Cup winner has been named Rab's Delight after his late father. Rab's Delight flew the INFC Inland National Skibbereen, then the INFC Yearling National Sennen Cove, returning home hawked. He was paired up and sent to the King's Cup sitting on 14-day eggs. His increased willingness to exercise well indicated to Ron that he had recovered from his hawk attack. Ron extends his thanks to his daughter Claire and Gerry Creaney for the part they played in the preparation. The bloodlines are that of Ron's Champion “Lady Helen” with the inclusion of Gregg Bros & McCandless' National winning stock and Maurice Wilkinson's King's Cup winning lines.

Locally the Muckamore Centre had 11 day birds and a further two dozen by lunch time on the second day, which had overall some 300 birds recorded across Ireland and all positions filled. The big early arrivals in Muckamore included B & M Gilmore from Ballyclare recording velocity 1138 for the 494 miles to finish 8th North Sect & 9th Open INFC and an early bird at 6.00am on the second morning from their entry of 4. They were followed by E & D McClurkin of the Ligoniel & Dist, former Nat Champions C & L Woodside also from Ballyclare, Billy McCaw from Ballymoney who timed around 21.05hrs flying 523 miles winning a Hall of Fame Diploma for the second time in just three seasons. J & N Simpson of Broughshane & District were best in Mid Antrim with a bird on the day. For Crumlin & District J & N Lamb had a bird late on the first day for a top performance, Thompson Bros had an arrival at 08.47am on the second morning flying 488 miles. The Lamb loft had already topped the Sect B in the Fermoy 5 Bird.

Muckamore Centre St Allouestre – B & M Gilmore Ballyclare & Dist 1138, E & D McClurkin Ligoniel & Dist 1131, C & L Woodside Ballyclare & Dist 1116, W McCaw Ballymoney 1093, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1087, Speirs & Campbell Cookstown 1079, J Braniff Fortfield 1069, J Burrows Eastway 1049, N Sharpe Kingsmoss 1038, H Boyd Randalstown 996, J & N Lamb Crumlin & Dist 988, A Thompson Ballyclare & Dist 888, K Carolan Coalisland 884, B & M Gilmore 859, J Connolly Ballymoney 846, A Thompson 842, A Thompson 818, N Sharpe 814, J Cassidy Londonderry 788, A Darragh Cullybackey 784, J McGrugan Doagh & Dist 783, M Graham Ballymena 780, W Ramsey Harryville 778, R Duddy Ballyclare & Dist 771, Thompson Bros Crumlin 728, A Thompson 724, W Bleeks Coalisland 721, C Moore Ahoghill 701, M/M D Suitters Doagh & Dist 699, Grattan Bros Eastway 689, W Ramsey 689, A Gault Ballyclare & Dist 681, C & L Woodside 675, C & L Woodside 674, McManus & Mullan Ligoniel & Dist 672, D & S Graham Kingsmoss 627, R J Elliott Ballymoney 606, R Duddy 604, A Gault 593, D Jackson & Son Harryville 561, G F Lindsay Crumlin 559.

Northsouth Federation St Allouestre – JJ McCabe Newry & Dist 1165, Mark Maguire & Son Newry & Dist 1138, P & C Swindell Newry City 1077, S Kane Newry & Dist 1074, JJ McCabe 1030, J Murtagh & Son Ballyholland 1013, Donnelly Bros Newry City 978, Mal Maguire & Son Newry & Dist 964, P & C Swindell 955, P & C Swindell 932.

Not a lot of birds registered in the Mid Antrim Combine, just two fantastic birds on the day J & N Simpson of Broughshane & District and Hugh Boyd of Randalstown the birds finished 21st & 54th Open INFC. Former winner Alan Darragh was at 7.59am on the second morning taking 1st Cullybackey, around the same time Martin Graham had 1st Ballymena & District. Billy Ramsey timed two birds to take 1st & 2nd in Hasrryville, Chris Moore won his new club Ahoghill and further arrivals were recorded by D Jackson & Son and Charlie Young who enjoys this race.

Mid Antrim Combine St Allouestre – J & N Simpson Broughshane 1087, H Boyd Randalstown 996, A Darragh Cullybackey 784, M Graham Ballymena 780, W Ramsey Harryville 778, C Moore Ahoghill 701, W Ramsey 689, D Jackson & Son Harryville 561, C Young Ahoghill.

Best in Muckamore B & M Gilmore recorded the early bird in East Antrim keeping up a big long distance tradition for the Ballyclare & District with C & L Woodside well placed with two birds, Arnold Thompson with four birds, Robin Duddy and Andy Gault. E & D McClurkin from Ligoniel were runner-up in the Muckamore Centre and other good birds included Jimmy Burrows 1st Eastway, Norrie Sharpe 1st Kingsmoss, and J McGrugan & Son 1st Doagh & Dist. East Antrim is a hot-bed in the longer races be it old birds or young birds, Ballyclare & Dist have a proud record.

East Antrim Combined St Allouestre – B & M Gilmore Ballyclare 1138, E & D McClurkin Ligoniel & Dist 1131, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 1116, J Burrows Eastway 1049, N Sharpe Kingsmoss 1038, A Thompson Ballyclare 888, B & M Gilmore 859, A Thompson 842, A Thompson 818, N Sharpe 814, J McGrugan & Son 783, R Duddy Ballyclare 771, A Thompson 724, M/M D Suitters Doagh & Dist 699, Grattan Bros Eastway 689, A Gault Ballyclare 681, C & L Woodside 675, C & L Woodside 674, McManus & Mullan Ligoniel 672, J & S Graham Kingsmoss 627,
R Duddy 604, A Gault 593,

Race/Date
Saint Allouestre 05/07/13

Irish Clubs Saint Allouestre –

Arklow United RPC - The most prestigious race on this seasons race calander, the Irish National Flying Club's OB National was flown from St Allouestre in Northern France on Friday July 5th. This Blue Riband event attracted an entry of 2,332 birds entered by 656 members the cream of the Irish fancy competing for the highest accolade within the sport of pigeon racing in Ireland plus £32,316 in prize money and pools. The convoy was released at 7.00am into a Lt NE wind and was light and variable on route. The first arrival in the Arklow United was a bird to the lofts of Joe Maghery who lifted 1st Club, 1st Federation, 1st Channel Club, 5th South Sect & Open at 370 miles. The Club and Federation winner is now named "Bernie's Boy having been bred by top lady fancier Bernie Cochrane from Co Down. Another noteworthy performance was achieved by club member Pat Lambert who recorded four of his five race entries with Sheldon Leonard & Son also making the result sheet. Result – Joe Maghery 1166, 2, 3, 5, 6 Pat Lambert, 4 S Leonard & Son.

Newry & District 9/45 – JJ McCabe 1165, Mark Maguire & Son 1138, S Kane 1074, JJ McCabe 1030, Mal Maguire & Son 964, R McKelvey 709, S Curran 576.

Ballyclare & District – B & M Gilmore 1138, C & L Woodside 1116, A Thompson 888, B & M Gilmore 859, A Thompson 842, 818, R Duddy 771, A Thompson 724, A Gault 681, C & L Woodside 675, 674, R Duddy 604, A Gault 593.

Ligoniel & District – E & D McClurkin 1131, McManus & Mullan 672.

Ballymoney HPS 8/20 – W McCaw 1093, J Connolly 846, R J Elliott 606. One bird on the day and two arrivals on the second day. Billy McCaw times his Dark Cheq "Greystone Dawn" to win Ballymoney again flying 523 miles this hen was the only bird in race time in last year’s Kings Cup flying 531 miles. This is her fourth time in the clock from France and will win a "HALL OF FAME" award. This will be his second Hall of Fame award in two years, some racing. John Connolly had another good result having won the NIPA Portland OB Nat the previous week.

Dervock RPS 3/7 – W McCaw 1093. Only bird in race time.

Boyne Valley RPC 10/30 – B P McEvoy 1091, 981, Joe Sharkey 902, Ned Briscoe.

Broughshane & District – J & N Simpson 1087.

Edgarstown – P Dunlop 1050, J Robinson 1037, R Bell & Sons 2nd day, P Dunlop 07.51, R Bell & Sons 08.20, P Dunlop 10.04, W & K Stewart 11.33.

Eastway – J Burrows 1049, Grattan Bros 689.

Kingsmoss – Norrie Sharpe 1038, 814, J & S Graham 627.

Randalstown – H Boyd 996.

Crumlin & District – J & N Lamb 988, Thompson Bros 728, G F Lindsay 559.

Glenavy & District – I Gibb & Sons 974, D Coulter 681.

Beechpark Social – Dando & Bennett 886, 680. John had to wait a few years to break his duck in the club and now makes it a super double from the 2 longest races, although this comes as no surprise to the members as he was 3rd Open INFC Kings Cup a few years back, well done D&B.

Cullybackey – A Darragh 784.

Doagh & District – J McGrugan & Son 783, M/M D Suitters 699.

Ballymena & District – M Graham 780.

Harryville HPS – W Ramsey 778, 689, D Jackson & Son 561.

Portadown & Drumcree – D J Gordon 749, Sloan & Reid 579.

Blackwatertown WE – George Owens 705, RGG Donaldson 591, Mark Brown 582.

Ahoghill Flying Club - C Moore 701, C Young.

Larne & District – S & S O’Toole Sons & Daughter - 523.

Derry City Update –

The best bird timed into the local area was by John Cassidy of the Londonderry RPC on the second morning at 8.34am flying 525 miles into the City of Derry. Recording velocity 788 the loft finish 102nd North Section and 122nd Open INFC Kings Cup. The yearling Blue Cheq hen was not raced as a young bird and this year she was flown to Talbenny (1), trained up and sent to France on her first young birds three days old. Sire was from their old Spangle/Harper lines and the dam was bred by good friend Martin Healy. Eamon Quigley although living in Donegal and the longest flyer in Ireland races in the Derry City competition, another loft with a great interest in distance racing. His 4yo hen flying 533 miles, was timed at 11.14am on the Saturday morning recording velocity 707 to finish 24th South Sect & 176th Open INFC. Breeding was the top distance lines - sire Jan Arden Invisible Spirit a gift from Danny Dixon of Dunloy. Dam was T & P Cassidy Madam Butterfly lines – Kenyon/Logan. Bred in 2009, she won Penzance 2010, only bird on the day in City of Derry Federation. Stock for two years and brought out this year. She has bred a yearling to fly last year's Kings Cup, arriving on the 5th morning. Very well done to both Derry lofts.

All results placed on http://www.pigeonnetwork.com are included in Homer's Odyssey.

* Kings Cup birds reported – Arklow at 16.18, and Wexford 17.28 is this the start of something Big?? The bird in Bray was a false alarm! Tallaght (Dublin) 18.30 approx. Ron Williamson (Bondhill) 18.37.
Updates will follow over the next couple of days, or more if needed. HOMER.
UPDATE AT 23:30 ON FRIDAY 5TH JULY 2013.
A TOTAL OF 85 BIRDS HAVE BEEN RECORDED ON THE FIRST DAY
PROVISIONAL TOP SIX
RON WILLIAMSON BONDHILL 1212
C & H BEATTIE GILFORD 1205
CAPPER BROS BONDHILL 1193
W NEILL ANNAGHMORE 1170 (APPROX)
J MAGHERY ARKLOW 1166
J J MCCABE NEWRY 1164
SECOND DAY CLOCK CHECKING
BANBRIDGE 12:00 TO 12:30
MUCKAMORE 12:00 TO 12:30
LISBURN 12.00 TO 12:30
WICKLOW BALBRIGGAN STILLORGAN CORK PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CENTRE MANAGER.
NEXT UPDATE TOMORROW AFTERNOON
UPDATE AT 14:00 SATURDAY 6TH JULY 2013
AT LUNCH TIME TODAY APPROXIMATELY 235 BIRDS HAVE BEEN RECORDED.
NEXT CLOCK CHECKING WILL BE
BANBRIDGE THIS EVENING AT 10:00 PM
LISBURN THIS EVENING AT 9:00 PM
MUCKAMORE THIS EVENING AT 9:00 PMWICKLOW , CORK , BALBRIGGAN AND STILLORGAN CONTACT YOUR CENTRE MANAGERS.OUR NEXT UPDATE WILL BE THIS EVENING.UPDATE SATURDAY 6TH JULY 2013 AT 22:15
300 PIGEONS HAVE NOW BEEN RECORDED IN THE RACE AND ALL PRIZES HAVE NOW BEEN CLAIMED.
ANY THIRD DAY ARRIVALS FOR CHECKING PLEASE CONTACT THE SECRETARY.
PLEASE CALL BACK TOMORROW FOR AN UPDATE ON THE FRIENDSHIP NATIONAL RACEMARKING.
FRIDAY 5TH JULY 2013 AT 07:20
SAINT ALLOUESTRE KINGS CUP SPONSORED BY FRAZERS ANIMAL FEEDS
656 MEMBERS HAVE ENTERED 2332 PIGEONS AND ARE COMPETING FOR £32,316.00 IN POOLS AND PRIZEMONEY
THE PIGEONS WERE LIBERATED AT 07:00 THE WIND AT THE RELEASE SITE WAS LIGHT NORTH EASTERLY
AND ON ROUTE TO BE LIGHT AND VARIABLE.
OUR NEXT UPDATE WILL BE THIS EVENING. Please call back for updates.
* INFC had an entry of 2,333 birds approx for the Blue Riband Kings Cup Grand Nat, due to be released in Saint Allouestre tomorrow.
MONDAY 1ST JULY 2013 AT 16:30
WEATHER REPORTS TODAY (MONDAY) INDICATE FAVOURABLE WEATHER FOR FRIDAY.
RACE MARKING WILL TAKE PLACE AS PLANNED ON TUESDAY 2ND JULY TIMES ARE PRINTED IN THE RACE ENTRY FORM BOOKLET.
THE R.P.R.A. CODE FOR DISTANCES IS 5107- TREVOR TOPPING INFC SECRETARY.King’s Cup release site.
Update on Friday 28th June at 21:00
On the 13th June the permit issued by the FCF ( French pigeon union) who oversee all arrangement to release pigeons in France was cancelled for Nort sur Erdre. The reasons given that their site agent was unavailable on Friday 5th July and a market would be held on the site that day. The RPRA in consultation with the FCF stated that the nearest site was Saint Allouestre. A permit was applied for and granted, The RPRA code for distances is 5107.
The King’s Cup will be flown weather permitting on Friday 5th July from Saint Allouestre.

Trevor Topping
INFC Secretary.

Homer’s ODYSSEY Update -

Muckamore Centre St Allouestre – B & M Gilmore Ballyclare & Dist 1138, E & D McClurkin Ligoniel & Dist 1131, C & L Woodside Ballyclare & Dist 1116, W McCaw Ballymoney 1093, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1087, Speirs & Campbell Cookstown 1079, J Braniff Fortfield 1069, J Burrows Eastway 1049, N Sharpe Kingsmoss 1038, H Boyd Randalstown 996, J & N Lamb Crumlin & Dist 988, A Thompson Ballyclare & Dist 888, K Carolan Coalisland 884, B & M Gilmore 859, J Connolly Ballymoney 846, A Thompson 842, A Thompson 818, N Sharpe 814, J Cassidy Londonderry 788, A Darragh Cullybackey 784, J McGrugan Doagh & Dist 783, M Graham Ballymena 780, W Ramsey Harryville 778, R Duddy Ballyclare & Dist 771, Thompson Bros Crumlin 728, A Thompson 724, W Bleeks Coalisland 721, C Moore Ahoghill 701, M/M D Suitters Doagh & Dist 699, Grattan Bros Eastway 689, W Ramsey 689, A Gault Ballyclare & Dist 681, C & L Woodside 675, C & L Woodside 674, McManus & Mullan Ligoniel & Dist 672, D & S Graham Kingsmoss 627, R J Elliott Ballymoney 606, R Duddy 604, A Gault 593, D Jackson & Son Harryville 561, G F Lindsay Crumlin 559.

Northsouth Federation St Allouestre – JJ McCabe Newry & Dist 1165, Mark Maguire & Son Newry & Dist 1138, P & C Swindell Newry City 1077, S Kane Newry & Dist 1074, JJ McCabe 1030, J Murtagh & Son Ballyholland 1013, Donnelly Bros Newry City 978, Mal Maguire & Son Newry & Dist 964, P & C Swindell 955, P & C Swindell 932.

Mid Antrim Combine St Allouestre – J & N Simpson Broughshane 1087, H Boyd Randalstown 996, A Darragh Cullybackey 784, M Graham Ballymena 780, W Ramsey Harryville 778, C Moore Ahoghill 701, W Ramsey 689, D Jackson & Son Harryville 561, C Young Ahoghill.

East Antrim Combined St Allouestre – B & M Gilmore Ballyclare 1138, E & D McClurkin Ligoniel & Dist 1131, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 1116, J Burrows Eastway 1049, N Sharpe Kingsmoss 1038, A Thompson Ballyclare 888, B & M Gilmore 859, A Thompson 842, A Thompson 818, N Sharpe 814, J McGrugan & Son 783, R Duddy Ballyclare 771, A Thompson 724, M/M D Suitters Doagh & Dist 699, Grattan Bros Eastway 689, A Gault Ballyclare 681, C & L Woodside 675, C & L Woodside 674, McManus & Mullan Ligoniel 672, J & S Graham Kingsmoss 627,

R Duddy 604, A Gault 593.

Race/Date: Saint Allouestre 05/07/13

Irish Clubs Saint Allouestre –

Newry & District 9/45 – JJ McCabe 1165, Mark Maguire & Son 1138, S Kane 1074, JJ McCabe 1030, Mal Maguire & Son 964, R McKelvey 709, S Curran 576.

Ballymoney HPS 8/20 – W McCaw 1093, J Connolly 846, R J Elliott 606. One bird on the day and two arrivals on the second day. Billy McCaw times his Dark Cheq “Greystone Dawn” to win Ballymoney again flying 523 miles this hen was the only bird in race time in last year’s Kings Cup flying 531 miles. This is her fourth time in the clock from France and will win a “HALL OF FAME” award. This will be his second Hall of Fame award in two years, some racing.

Dervock RPS 3/7 – W McCaw 1093. Only bird in race time.

Boyne Valley RPC 10/30 – B P McEvoy 1091, 981, Joe Sharkey 902, Ned Briscoe.

Broughshane & District – J & N Simpson 1087.

Edgarstown – P Dunlop 1050, J Robinson 1037, R Bell & Sons 2nd day, P Dunlop 07.51, R Bell & Sons 08.20, P Dunlop 10.04, W & K Stewart 11.33.

Randalstown – H Boyd 996.

Beechpark Social – Dando & Bennett 886, 680. John had to wait a few years to break his duck in the club and now makes it a super double from the 2 longest races, although this comes as no surprise to the members as he was 3rd Open INFC Kings Cup a few years back, well done D&B.

Cullybackey – A Darragh 784.

Ballymena & District – M Graham 780.

Harryville HPS – W Ramsey 778, 689, D Jackson & Son 561.

Portadown & Drumcree – D J Gordon 749, Sloan & Reid 579.

Blackwatertown WE – George Owens 705, RGG Donaldson 591, Mark Brown 582.

Ahoghill Flying Club – C Moore 701.

** All the club results placed on http://www.pigeonnetwork.com will be included in the published column for Homer’s Odyssey.

St.-Allouestre-Kiings-Cup-2013prov

IRISH NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
Kings Cup – Saint Allouestre

After a spring and early summer that brought us unsettled weather making racing difficult, we could not have asked for better weather for our King’s Cup weekend. Even the run up to the race brought it’s own difficulties when the secretary was informed on 13th June that the Nord-Sur-Erdre site was not available on the day of the race. A lot of work went on behind the scenes to secure a liberation site nearby but the nearest available site was Saint Allouestre which is close to Plaudren Vannes.

656 members sent 2332 birds which were liberated at 7am on Friday 5th July in a light north-easterly wind, and were competing for pools and prizemoney of £30, 316. This turned out to be an excellent race, tough enough to be a test and yet not too severe. 85 birds were timed on the Friday and by lunch time Saturday the positions were filled with many more birds home after that. The race was sponsored by Frazer Animal Feeds and we are very grateful to them for their sponsorship.
When early times started to filter through it soon became apparent that the bird timed by Ron Williamson of the Bondhill club at 6.37pm would be right up there and as it turned out by nightfall Ron was declared winner of the 2013 King’s Cup, Ireland Premier pigeon race.


Ron Williamson, Bondhill 1st North Sect & 1st Open Kings Cup.

1st North Section, 1st Open Ron Williamson Bondhill Vel 1212, Flying 480 miles, Winning £1085, King George V Challenge Cup, NIPA Cup for 1st NIPA member, and McCloud Cup for 1st Yearling in the Kings Cup
The winner of the King’s Cup this year is one of Europe’s top fliers, Ron Williamson, Bondhill. Ron has a terrific record at National racing and has won almost every award that can be won but the King’s Cup is one that had eluded him. He came close on several occasions and was 2nd twice. Ron has a racing record to be proud of as he is a winner of 57 x 1st Opens with the NIPA and is a previous winner of five Nationals with the Irish National Flying Club including winning the Friendship National twice. The winning pigeon is a Blue Cheq yearling cock, (now known as ‘Rab’s Delight’ after Ron’s late father) that had only two races as a young bird. This year Ron hadn’t planned to race old birds at all, as he had only 28 old birds in the loft at the beginning of the season and these were mostly sprinters. However in the end he decided to give the Nationals a go. This cock therefore had only two races this year prior to the King’s Cup as he flew both INFC Inland National Skibbereen and Yearling National from Sennen Cove. Now, on return from the Yearling National it was obvious that the cock had been hawked and that seemed to be him finished for the season. However his increased willingness to exercise well, indicated that he had recovered from the hawk attack and as he had already been paired and down on eggs it was decided to send him to the Kings Cup and the rest as they say is history. In the end he was sent sitting 14 days on eggs.
Bloodlines are from Ron’s Champion ‘Lady Helen’, who won the Friendship National in 2004 when it was the only bird timed on the second day. After 3 days of the race there was only one other bird timed and that was to C & H Beattie who ironically are 2nd Open in this year’s King’s Cup. ‘Lady Helen’s bloodlines are also in Ron’s Triple Crown winner of 2010 and in Maurice Wilkinson’s pigeon at 8th Open here. ‘Rab’s Delight’s bloodlines also include Greg Bros and McCandless National winning stock and Maurice Wilkinson’s King’s Cup winning lines. Ron’s pigeons were trained daily from Newry weather permitting as he has to travel there anyway to his new lofts. The birds are fed a good general mix and are hopper fed. Ron extends his thanks to his daughter Claire and Gerard Creaney for the part they played in preparing the pigeons for the King’s Cup.


Rab's Delight, 1st Open INFC Kings Cup 2013 for Ron Williamson, Bondhill.

2nd North section, 2nd Open C & M Beattie Gilford, Vel 1205, Flying 476 miles, winning £1226 and the Nelson Vase for the 1st RPRA member after the winner of the King’s Cup
In 2nd open 2nd North Section is the husband and wife partnership of Cyril & Hilary Beattie of Gilford. Well known throughout Ireland not only for their success racing pigeons but also because they own a very successful animal feed business. This is their 3rd second place in an INFC National having twice been 2nd in the Friendship National. Amongst their other recent successes is 2nd Open from the NIPA French Derby race of 2010 from St Malo and just the week prior to this year’s King’s cup they were 5th Open again in the Old Bird Derby which this year was from Portland. As running the business leaves little time for training, Cyril and Hilary would like to take this opportunity to thank Sean Curran for all his very valuable assistance with the training of their pigeons

Their 2nd Open King’s Cup this year is a two-year-old blue cock which the Beatties were racing on the Natural system and this cock went to the King’s Cup feeding a 14-day-old youngster and just noticing his hen again. The Beatties bought this cock two years ago at a Charity Sale for ‘Tiny Life’, the pigeon having been donated to the sale by Tommy Fitzpatrick and contains the bloodlines on both sides of two previous King’s Cup winning lofts with the sire containing the bloodlines from Maurice Wilkinson who won the King’s Cup himself in 2005 and is never far away from the prizes being 8th in this year’s race. On the Dam’s side it is down from birds of another King’s Cup winner Geoffrey Douglas of Wilton Cross. This year this cock had two Inland races followed by the 1st Talbenny which was a hard race and from which he returned with part of his tail missing. Originally he was being prepared for the Portland event but it was felt that as his condition was getting better all the time it would be better to wait a few more days and enter him for the King’s Cup a decision which has proved to be correct .


C & H Beattie, Gilford & District 2nd Open Kings Cup.

3rd North section, 3rd Open Capper Bros Bondhill, Vel 1183, Flying 481 miles, winning £1266

We go back to the Bondhill club for the 3rd Open pigeon to the lofts of Capper Bros, another loft with a fantastic record in this race, with three previous positions in the top ten. In 1999 they were 4th Open and followed this a year later with 5th Open and then in 2009 they were 7th Open, so they are particularly pleased with this one as it is their best yet in the King’s Cup. Originally there were five brothers in the partnership but nowadays its only Willie and what a good job he is doing on his own. Things looked good for Willie when he timed on the day out of a difficult Old Bird Derby from Portland to take 31st Open NIPA (482/1697) on the Monday before basketing for the King’s Cup, a good indication that the loft was in form.
The pigeon timed here is a two-year-old black pied hen timed at 6.49pm. This bird seems to have a liking for the National races as she was in the prizes last year from the Yearling National and then earlier this year from the Skibbereen Inland National. Bloodlines are Soontjens plus Willie’s own old distance lines. Capper Bros won an NIPA Open in 2004 from Talbenny and the dam is off this Open winner and a cock from Philip Boyd Annaghmore of the Capper pigeons. In the earlier part of the season this bird was raced roundabout but paired after the 1st Talbenny and sent to the King’s Cup sitting on chipping eggs. In the run up to the race the pigeon was well trained as Willie takes the pigeons with him wherever he is working. Feeding is Beattie’s Champion Supreme with an odd peanut added as the distance increases.


Willie Capper of Capper Bros, Bondhill, 3rd Open Kings Cup.

4th North section, 4th Open E Mallen & Son Drumnavaddy, Vel 1171, Flying 471 miles, winning £700
4th Open goes to the Drumnavaddy lofts of E Mallen & Son. This partnership is made up of 87 year old Ernie, his son Kenny and grandson Dean, who is proving to be a useful asset around the loft. The partnership is no strangers to success having topped Section ‘G’ of the NIPA from Roscarberry last year. They have named their pigeon ‘Georgie’ after Ernie’s late wife who passed away about 18 months ago. The pigeon timed is a two-year-old hen sent sitting 8 days and Kenny slipped her a youngster 3 hours before basketing and this certainly had the desired effect. The sire is ‘The Fed’ a Van Camp from Dave Gardner of Gardner & Rice from Cleethorpes, while the dam is a Soontjens from PJ Lofts, Boston in Lincolnshire. Her dam was 2nd in the Hens National for Paul Newbold of PJ Lofts so the pedigree is well established. I was interested to hear that Kenny had struck up friendships with both Dave Gardner and Paul Newbold when on holidays in their area. Kenny obviously researched the top fanciers so that he could make useful loft visits while his wife went shopping (sounds like a perfect arrangement).
This year ‘Georgie’ was raced on roundabout and then paired just after the Skibbereen National. She had four inland races and then the 2nd Talbenny. Coming off the roundabout system they decided that the birds for France would need some additional training to keep them ticking over and so she had 4/5 tosses from Skerries and 4 from Castlebellingham. The Mallens race the pigeons on two different widowhood mixes throughout the racing season with added energy mix in the form of hemp and peanuts.


E Mallen & Son, Drumnavaddy 4th Open Kings Cup.

5th North section, 5th Open W G Neill Bondhill, Vel 1167, Flying 481 miles, winning £766
5th North section, 5th Open goes to Willie Neill of Annaghmore, another fancier who needs no introduction and a fancier who has featured regularly in National results. Last year Willie was second in the King’s Cup so to follow that up with another top 5 position shows a great deal of consistency at this level of racing. Willie’s loft has been in super form throughout the season and he was 1st Open NIPA from Clonmel on 25th May when 1007 members sent 23,594 birds (winning velocity 1817). Even the race before the King’s Cup, a difficult one from Portland saw Willie with 4 birds in the NIPA Open result at 18th, 65th, 68th and 96th Open and in this race here Willie had another 3 in the result at 57th Open, 110th Open, and 206th Open., so how’s that for top class racing.

The pigeon timed is a two-year-old hen sent sitting 14 days on eggs. On her arrival from the race she went straight to the nest and when Willie went to get her rubber it was obvious that she had been down for a drink. Her dam is ‘Queen of the Silver Dollar’, winner of theTriple Crown in 2010 having been 89th Open Young Bird Penzance in 2008, 62nd Open Yearling National Sennen Cove in 2009 and 53rd Open King’s Cup in 2010. The sire is a grandson of the red hen that was 2nd Open in this race last year and also includes ‘Iron Lady’ lines. As young birds Willie races them all down Ireland, then as yearlings all go to Penzance and the two-year-olds are sent to France without going to the channel races, but only if they are sitting right and never past the fourth flight. Training for the French races is against the wind, weather permitting from the Skibbereen race onwards. Feeding is Champion Supreme from C & H Beattie.


W G Neill, Annaghmore 5th Open Kings Cup with Champion Quennie.


Champion Quennie, 5th Open INFC Kings Cup for W G Neill, Annaghmore.

1st South section, 6th Open J Maghery Arklow Utd Vel 1166, flying 370 miles, winning £ 255 and the Gilliland Cup for 1st IHU member after the winner
1st South section 6th Open is Joe Maghery from Arklow Utd to win the Gilliland Cup for the first IHU member after the winner. Joe is originally from Armagh and raced in Charlemont and Blackwatertown but left Armagh 24 years ago to go to London to work. It was here that he met a girl from Arklow and came back there to get married and has been in Arklow since. He showed canaries for awhile but seven years ago he came back into pigeons and quickly gathered a good team of pigeons around him. The pigeon timed here is a two-year-old Kees Bosua cock from B & G Cochrane Comber crossed with a Vigo from Hilda Reinhart. The Kees Bosua is off the ‘Porky’ and ‘Miss Marabella’ lines and according to Bosua ‘Miss Marabella’ was the hen that laid the golden egg. This is the same lines that was 1st Open Skibbereen Young Bird National last year for E & M Curran, Armagh.

As a young bird ‘Bernie’s Boy’, as he is now known, was a darkened youngster that was raced down Ireland. As a yearling he was raced through to Sennen Cove where he was 2nd club, 4th Open South Leinster Fed. This year he was given every Inland race except the last Skibbereen and then into the King’s Cup. Since Skibbereen he was single tossed a few times from Dublin as Joe works there. Feeding is Beyers Base mix and No 47 on Thursday nights with Versele Laga widowhood mixed in. This bird was on full mixture for the last 3 weeks with a few peanuts added in.


Joe Magherty, Arklow Unt 1st South Sect & 6th Open Kings Cup.

6th North section, 7th Open JJ McCabe Newry & Dist, Vel 1164, flying 460 miles, winning £636
6th North section, 7th Open goes to Newry & District’s John McCabe and what a meteoric rise to the top this has been for John. John came into pigeons in 2011 just as Pat McAteer of Newry was going out of them. A deal was struck and John got Pat’s pigeons. It took John a season to find his feet and things took off in 2013. Two weeks prior to this race John was 1st Open NIPA Penzance with 814 members sending 9,235 and now 7th Open in the King’s Cup – what a start for John who does a lot of good work in the Newry area taking photos for the local and national press to publicise the many fine performances from the city.

The pigeon timed is a two-year-old Harthog cock. It was one of a kit of four that Pat McAteer bought at the annual Hospice sale in Ballyholland. This one has been raced hard, having been in Penzance as a young bird and was in the King’s Cup last year when only 71 were timed in race time. It took him three weeks then but just 12 hours this time. John timed a second bird here to take 43rd Open. Again this one was from Pat and was a yearling cock that John managed to break. John raced the pigeons on a semi roundabout system for the early part of the season but paired them for the channel. The pigeon at 7th Open was sent sitting on eggs that were chipping on the day before basketing. He was just given the first couple of races, then 1st Talbenny. After that he was just flown at home. John feeds Natural feeding from Donnelly Bros and adds his own mix to this which includes maize.


JJ McCabe, Newry & District 1st Northsouth Fed & 7th Open Kings Cup.

7th North section, 8th Open M Wilkinson Wilton Cross, Vel 1148, flying 478 miles, winning £2273
We move to the Wilton Cross club for 7th North section, 8th Open to Maurice Wilkinson and contrast this to our previous fancier who was competing in his second Kings Cup race as Maurice is a former Kings Cup winner having collected the coveted Cup in 2005. He has a great record from the longer French events. Added to the above in 2012 Maurice won the St. Malo Old Bird Derby with the NIPA and as we saw earlier his bloodlines are in both Williamson’s winning pigeon and the Beattie’s 2nd Open pigeon from this year’s King’s Cup. The pigeon Maurice timed in this year’s King’s Cup is a three-year-old blue hen and she is a grand daughter of his 2005 King’s Cup winner and also has the best of this year’s King’s Cup winner Ron Williamson’s Bloodlines being a granddaughter of ‘Lady Helen’ . This hen is no stranger to the prize sheet having been 17th open in the 2012 Friendship National from Quimper and in 2011 she was 35th in the NIPA’s Yearling Hens National. She was racing Natural for this year’s King’s Cup and was feeding a 4 day old youngster for this event. Preparation for this race this year included flying Skibbereen and the 1st Talbenny and then regular training with Ivan Mawhinney to whom he is very grateful. Interestingly the second bird Maurice got from this years King’s Cup was the cock the blue hen is paired to. It is worth mentioning that Maurice does not keep a large team of birds his old Bird Loft being 12 and his young bird loft 8 foot.
At the time of going to press the Provisional result of the Friendship National shows that Maurice is back in the top ten again from a very difficult race but more about that in next week’s report.


Maurice Wilkinson, Wilton Cross (Lurgan) 8th Open Kings Cup.

8th North section, 9th Open, B & M Gilmore Ballyclare, Vel 1138.56, flying 494 miles, winning £471
Brothers Brian and Mervyn Gilmore of Ballyclare are 8th North section, 9th Open with a two-year-old Blue Cheq hen named ‘Easton Minstral’. This is a partnership which likes to compete from all distances with Brian managing the sprinters and Mervyn the birds for the longer events.

‘Easton Minstral’ on the sire’s side was bred by Martin Graham of Ballymena and is Frans Van Wildemeersch and Norman Thompson(Dundonald) bloodlines whilst the dam is off the Gilmore’s NIPA Gold medal winner which has bloodlines from N Black & Sons of Dromara and was paired to an Alan Darragh pigeon .
For the 2013 King’s Cup ‘Easton Minstral’ was sitting 14 day old eggs and in fact had not reared a youngster this year. Having flown the Yearling National in 2012 preparation this year consisted of 4 inland races and at this part of the season the birds were raced roundabout. She then was trained regularly from Skerries and various other points in the South. Again this is another loft getting a second bird which was the mate of the first and in the Gilmore’s case ‘Easton Minstral’s mate is in the result at 100th Open.


B & M Gilmore, Ballyclare, 9th Open Kings Cup with Easton Minstral.

9th North section, 10th Open Mark Maguire & Son Millvale, Vel 1138.20, flying 459 miles, winning £288
The top ten report for the King’s Cup is completed by Millvale’s Mark Maguire & Son who are 9th North section, 10th Open. Mark is a son of Malachy Maguire also of Millvale in Newry, who just happens to win the Friendship National this weekend from Quimper and this bird is actually related to Malachy’s Friendship National winner.
Mark’s bird at 10th Open is a yearling Jan Arden cock and is a grandson of Malachy’s ‘Home Alone’, winner of the NIPA Old Bird National from Fougeres, when he was the only bird timed on the day, flying 15½ hours. ‘Home Alone’ then turned out to be a prolific breeder in breeding over 30 x 1st prizewinners for the Maguires. Mark’s pigeon timed here was raced naturally last year and only got three young bird races as Mark isn’t really a big lover of young bird racing. This year he had every single inland race, the 2nd Talbenny and Penzance where he was in the Classic result before being sent to the King’s Cup. Work commitments meant that Mark didn’t get much chance to do much private training but didn’t see this as a problem in any way, as the birds were getting plenty of racing and were flying well at home. In the earlier part of the season this yearling cock was raced on the roundabout and was then paired in preparation for the Kings Cup when he was sent sitting on a big youngster. At the end of the day Mark can reflect on a successful King’s Cup with five birds home in race time.


Mark Maguire, Millvale (Newry) 10th Open Kings Cup.

I would like to thanks Clifford Browne for his help in preparing this report and to all who helped with photographs. I would also like to thank all those who helped at the marking station and the clock centres, and Frazer Animal Feeds for their sponsorship of this race.

Brendan McLoughlin
INFC Press Officer