St Allouestre Kings Cup - 04/07/17

[willie reynolds]

The Old Bird Grand Nat for the Irish National Flying Club was eventually flown from Saint Allouestre in France on Tuesday 4th July. Race marking was due one week earlier but was delayed because of difficult weather conditions. Race marking was Friday with a planned liberation on Monday, again due to poor weather conditions the birds were held over. Release on Tuesday was at 7.20am it a Lt variable wind turning South West on route. The first bird reported was timed by the National Ace flyer Liam McCall in Wicklow at 3.36pm flying 377 miles and this bird was not caught and wins the Blue Riband Kings Cup for Liam McCall. His 5 year old Blue hen has already won 1st Nat from St Malo with the Irish Homing Union NFC, a super bird. Runner-up was another Ace Loft from Malahide & Dist former President Joe Doheny has already won the Kings Cup on two occasions from Les Sables in 1982 and Redon in 2002, he came so close again. Best bird in Northern Ireland was timed by Alec Crawford of Ballylesson to finish 1st North Sect & 3rd Open INFC recording velocity 1262 for the 477 miles. Poor conditions in Northern Ireland were slow to clear and delayed arrivals. Around 140 birds were timed on the day and over 450 birds by the end of the second day and all prizes filled. Many more birds have been reported since the close of the race, very welcome even if late on this occasion. John Harkness from Crumlin & Dist had three birds clocked and was best in Muckamore Centre recording velocity 1159 flying 489 miles and George & Ann Eagleson won 1st MAC for Ballymena & District on velocity 851 flying 505 miles.

Muckamore Station St Allouestre – John Harkness Crumlin 1159, J & S Graham Kingsmoss 1113, Grattan Bros Eastway 1100, M/M D Suitters Doagh & Dist 1089, T Cairns & Sons Kingsmoss 1077, W Wickings Ligoniel 1076, N Armstrong Ligoniel 1075, R Duddy Ballyclare 1061, Lynch Bros Ballycarry & Dist 1061, C Cameron Ballyclare 1055, Calderwood & Waite Shankill & Dist 1030, N Lusty Muckamore 1006, Thompson Bros Crumlin 1005, Johnston Bros Andersonstown 1003, A Kelly Omagh 1001, W Wickings Ligoniel 993, G Marshall Cookstown 915, R & J Baxter Larne & Dist 885, Johnston Bros Andersonstown 875, S Bell Kells & Dist 863, G & A Eagleson Ballymena & Dist 851, A Darragh Cullybackey 843, J Braniff Fortfield 842, O & M Monaghan Andersonstown 826, H Boyd Randalstown 823, John Harkness 819, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 811, A Thompson Ballyclare 810, H Weir Ballyclare 810, A Thompson 799, Nevin Bros Coleraine Prem 794, N Lusty 790, J Walker Ballymoney 780, John Harkness 779, Nevin Bros 777, M/M D Suitters 774, B McSloy Cookstown 766, G & R Lawrie Ballyclare 760, Thompson Bros 750, S Bell 744, A Hall Omagh 740, Speirs & Campbell Cookstown 732, Speirs & Campbell 730, R Johnston Kingsmoss 720, R Duddy 718, T H Gibson Ballyclare 709, D Dixon Ballymoney 706, L O’Neill Larne & Dist 702, S & A Leitch 699, Calderwood & Waite 691, A Darragh 687, F Simpson Doagh & Dist 673, R J Elliott Ballymoney 662, Martin Graham Ballymena 654, G Jackson Ahoghill 649, McConville Bros Crumlin 646, A Thompson 645, Jason Smyth Ligoniel 644, W Livingstone Ahoghill 640.

Mid Antrim Combine St Allouestre - G & A Eagleson Ballymena & Dist 851, H Boyd Randalstown 823, D Dixon Rasharkin 706, Martin Graham Ballymena 654, G Jackson Ahoghill 649, W Livingstone Ahoghill 640.

INFC Clubs Grand Nat St Allouestre –

Crumlin & District – John Harkness 1159, Thompson Bros 1005, John Harkness 819, 779, McConville Bros 646.
Muckamore HPS – Noel Lusty 1006, 790.
Kells & District HPS – Stephen Bell 863, 744.
Ballymena & District HPS - G & A Eagleson 851, Martin Graham 654.
Cullybackey HPS – Alan Darragh 843, Reid Bros & McCloy 811, Alan Darragh 687.
Randalstown HPS – Hugh Boyd 823.
Ballymoney HPS 10/36 – James Walker 780, D Dixon 706, R J Elliott 662, W & L McCaw 342.
Dervock RPS – J Walker 780, W & L McCaw 342.
Rasharkin & District – Danny Dixon 706.
Ahoghill Flying Club - Gordon Jackson 649, William Livingstone 640.
Broughshane & Dist HPS - Kings Cup Saint Allouestre. 1st. A Purvis Alastair timed a 6yr old Jan Arden hen into Aughafatten Lofts from France flying 505-1369 miles . With only two birds away the direct Bob Mc Donald hen returned home to win first club. He sent 2 pigeons to the Kings Cup in France flying 505-1369 miles both home, 100% returns good honest pigeons.

NIPA - Anyone wishing to claim for any Old Bird Award would they please send in these claims as soon as possible and before the Young Bird season commences, would all members please return any trophy’s in good condition that they hold also before the YB season commences.


George & Ann Eagleson from Ballymena & Dist, 1st MAC St Allouestre.