Homer's Odyssey/BHW Plus 17/07/09

[willie reynolds]

Record Breaking INFC Kings Cup – Over 400 Day Birds – Yearlings 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open.


We had been looking forward to a Blue Riband Kings Cup for so long, last flown in 2006 it was won on that occasion by R & S Malcolmson from Newtownbreda, Malconey’s Dream recorded velocity 1234 flying 491 miles from Vannes. So much has happened since we have twice been back to France and on both occasions the birds have been returned to Ireland. In 2007 we had to leave France in a hurry when Bird Flu was at its height and then of course last year we had terrible weather conditions and the decision to return the birds to Ireland. We had many hours of discussion at committee level and a lot of plans were put in place to cover as many concerns there might be especially with the weather to ensure a race would take place in 2009 even if it had to be brought forward or delayed. There was every confidence a race would be flown and again we had a fantastic entry, a new site was found close to Vannes, Plaudren was around 8 miles shorter. The weather was the usual big concern taking up a lot of time in discussions before the release, it was always thought the best day would be Friday 3rd July, as planned. I should mention we have a new release team put in place at the AGM the Race Advisors are David Black, Tom Marshall and from Wexford Willie Hore. This was their first Kings Cup and I am sure their hands were full in taking everything on board to have a successful race. The strings were cut and birds released on the Friday at 6.15am in a Lt Westerly wind which was to turn fresh SW en-route, a fast race was possible. A band of high pressure cleared the route, everything fell into place and as most know now it was one of the most successful Kings Cup races ever flown with day birds exceeding 400. Early arrivals were timed from Wexford in the South to Derry/Donegal in the far North with day birds flying over 540 miles. Danescroft Equestrian Centre in Lisburn was the usual marking station, 770 members of the Irish Nat FC sent 2,619 birds competing for £39,453 in pools and prizes. The race was sponsored by Bucktons Premier Pigeon Feeds through local agent Marshall Bird & Animal Feeds and Sawyers & Co Estate Agents who supply Diplomas. I would also like to again thank the team of workers involved with the race marking, many covering long hours. This is appreciated by the membership, especially those sending birds.

T & T Moorehouse, Rathnew - 1st Open INFC & 1st South Sect, Vel 1416 plus £1,547

The overall winner was Tommy Moorehouse from Rathnew in Dublin, he timed an early arrival at 2.18pm flying 388 miles to record velocity 1416 the only loft as it turned out to exceed 1400ypm. This fancier is a legend of the sport in Ireland setting many records when he raced in Bray covering most of the big local events including mid-week. He has now moved to Rathnew close to the famous Wicklow Hills and a fantastic place to race pigeons, his Ocean View is some spot especially on a warm sunny day. We called with Tommy on the weekend of his great success and I will leave most of the detail to Adie to include in his Loft Profile. He has a system all of his own, that includes the feeding and training and one that has brought a lot of success and now the big one, the Blue Riband Kings Cup. He nearly won the race in 2006 timing a yearling to score 5th Open & 3rd South Sect Vannes doing velocity 1222 for the 396 miles plus £4,031 and the McCloud Cup for the 1st Yearling. This one contained the bloodlines of INFC Chairman Syd Collins, top Kellens of which he had the best. His bird this time was another yearling, his Blue Cheq cock Janssen/Van Loon he has named Tommy Boy. It had an unbelievable five channel races this year, flying Talbenny (94 miles) twice, Bude (163 miles) INFC Yearling National Sennen Cove (202 miles) and then Plaudren (388 miles) for the King's Cup. Now, that was some flying! It was eight and a half hours on the wing for that INFC Yearling National race, and then went on to fly the King's Cup in seven hours, forty-eight minutes! Seamus Lehane the Secretary of the IHU said “The name of Tommy Moorehouse is connected with success at racing pigeons for a long, long time now, and is obviously set to continue. Tommy did not say it himself, but it is obvious to me that the secret to his success is dedication, resulting in as contented a team of pigeons as I have seen in a long time”. I could not have put it better myself. Tommy joins an ever growing list of East Coast Federation lofts that have won the Kings Cup. Many congratulations and we look forward to meeting you again at the prize night in the Stormont Hotel in Belfast.

Glen Buckley & Sons, Annaghmore – 2nd Open INFC & 1st North Sect, Vel 1390 plus £2,469

The Buckley loft seem to have won everything except the Kings Cup and nearly put that right this time finishing best in the North Sect and the Kings Cup runner-up. Winner so far of 7 x 1st National 3 x INFC and 4 x NIPA plus 2nd Open PenzannceClassic NIPA 2009, 2nd and 3rd Yearling Hens 2009, 2nd NIPA Old Bird National 2008, 2nd Open and 1st North Section Kings Cup Vannes 2009, 2nd Talbenny Young Bird National 2003 and 2005, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Open INFC Skibbereen National 2005, 2nd Open Penzance Young Bird National 2006, 1st Open NIPA Fermoy and 3rd Open NIPA Skibbereen National 2007 with same pigeon winning Young Bird of the Year 2007.

Kings Cup Vannes 2009 - Pigeon details Blue w/f hen a yearling racing on Roundabout winning £2,500 - Sire Blue cock 2nd North Section Yearling National and nest mate to Young Bird National 2006 - Dam Soontjen hen winner of 9th Open Mallow 2002. This Hen raced regularly up Ireland and raced 1st Talbenny and Yearling National 29th Open INFC, and Penzance Classic. The bird is eligible for the Triple Crown Award in INFC, 88th Open Sennen Cove Young Bird National 2008; 29th Open Yearling National 2009, and 2nd Kings Cup 2009.

M Robinson, Bondhill – 3rd Open INFC & 2nd North Sect, Vel 1385 plus £1,311

The Bondhill Soc are becoming one of the top National Clubs in Northern Ireland usually associated with the legendary Ronnie Williamson many others are now rising to the challenge and that can only be good for the sport, Portadown in County Armagh is a big area of competition and with top success for many years.

G O’Reilly & Son, Malahide & District – 4th Open & 2nd South Sect, Vel 1382 plus £611

Malahide & Dist in the East Coast Fed have a fantastic record former winner Tommy Speers was race runner-up in 2006 and before that we had the famous Joe Doheny twice the winner, P Rock & Son, and Jimmy Cullen. Gerry O’Reilly & Son had a super race from Plaudren and I was pleased to make contact with son Niall who supplied some details, they had five birds in the prizes. The 4th Open National bird was timed at 3.11pm, a 4yo Cheq cock sent sitting on 14 day old eggs. He was raced down the land only before going to the race. He was 10th Club in a Sennen Cove race as a yearling. Like many more he was sent to the Kings Cup the last two years but as we all know there was no race flown. The bird is bred down from birds off the well know distance man and former OB Derby winner Jimmy Anderson from Cullybackey which are Cheetham based family he himself has raced for many years. The lofts second bird which finished 26th Open was a 2yo Cheq hen timed at 3.27pm. She was paired to the 4th Open cock, again sent sitting on 14 day old egg. As a yearling she had two channel races and raced down the land before going to France. Her sire 12th Fed from Carmarthen, 117th Nat Messac, 29th Fed Portland and 180th Nat Vannes 2006. Dam had flow Talbenny as a yearling and was 7th Club Vannes in 2006. Again all bred down off birds from Jimmy Anderson who they wish to thank for all his help and advice.

R Russell, Beechpark Social – 5th Open & 3rd North Sect, Vel 1379 plus £309

Racing in the new club Beechpark in Lurgan Robert Russell has celebrated with a top finish in both St Malo and the Kings Cup flying 484 miles from Plaudren. Some details on the 3yo Blue Ch cock, as a young bird he was trained only. As a yearling his first race was Talbenny in South Wales, this turned out a bad one and after that he had Sennen Cove for his second and then stopped. Last season his only race was Bude in preparation for the Kings Cup to where he was sent brought back and liberated in Wexford. This year he had two tosses from Balbriggan followed by his only race the Fermoy comeback event. After that before France he had three fifteen mile tosses and was flown out one hour morning and evening. Sire of the bird is Ballybay Tom a winner of 27th Sect & 53rd Open Arklow (02), 8th Sect & 22nd Open Lamballe Nat (03) and 39th Sect & 90th Open Talbenny (04). His sire is a Corbet Busschaert from Louella and his dam is Prunty & Larkin’s famous One Eyed Hen Ron Williamson bloodlines, this pair were a Gold Mine for Prunty & Larkin, Willie Neill and others. They produced many prize winners including four from France in one year. The dam is from a sister of Ballybay Tom paired to a cock bird from Tom Nelson of Dublin which was the late Sam Buckleys top Soontjen bloodlines.

J Kelly & Sons, Dromore HPS – 6th Open INFC & 4th North Sect, Vel 1379 plus £1,798

This 3yo Blue hen was Delbar/Kenyon, sent feeding a small y/bird, she had flown very well all year, but was set up for Kings Cup. Original birds from well respected Dromore fancier at the distance Robert Kernaghan (no stranger himself timing from France). Previous work done 94th Open NIPA Thurles 25,456 birds, but always a consistent hen. His second bird was also a hen Delbar/Kenyon, this time on widowhood. Races flown this year included Yearling National Sennen Cove, Penzance, Skibbereen, Rosscarbery, Talbenny (1) & (2) and all Ireland programe. What about that! Clocking times were 16.29pm, 17.12pm, 17.54pm, 19.39pm. Yes 4 day birds, sent ten, first three were hens and fourth was a cock. Thanks to the local PO Philip Boal for the report.

Capper Bros, Bondhill Soc – 7th Open INFC & 5th North Sect, Vel 1378 plus £711

Another star loft from Bondhill and what a season to date for Capper Bros starting in the Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove with the loft winning 1st North Sect & 5th Open INFC. A couple of weeks after that the loft won 1st Open NIPA in the Penzance OB Classic and then another fortnight a super result in the Kings Cup. Willie Capper just before heading on holiday told me the breeding of the bird was something special, his loft topped the NIPA in either 04 or 05 and this bird was paired to an Open winner in the Talbenny YB Derby of 2002 for Willie Neill. One bird from this class pairing was to win 1st Open NIPA in the 2006 YB Nat for Willie Neil and the Kings Cup bird is the same way bred. The 3yo Blue cock had been sitting on overdue eggs and was slipped a couple of newly hatched youngsters. He was marked out for the Friendship Nat but the weather conditions were most suitable for Vannes and that decision turned out a good one. He was a steady bird and this year he had Talbenny (1) and (2), missed Bude and then had Penzance.

Adamson & Anderson, Gilford – 8th Open INFC & 6th North Sect, Vel 1367 plus £494

J Robinson, Edgarstown – 9th Open INFC & 7th North Sect, Vel 1365 plus £309

Jim Robinsons 9th Open Kings Cup pigeon and winner of the Single Bird Challenge is a half sister to the 6th Open NIPA winner from St Malo a week previous. This hens sire is bred down from Sangers, Dutch National Pigeons. The dam is a Frans Van Wildemeersch hen bred by the late Jim Castles and son, Lurgan. This hen was lightly raced and regularly trained up to 60 miles, often three times a week. She was sent to Plaudren/Vannes on chipping eggs. She had previously been 71st Open from Portsmouth in 2007 being prepared for the race in the same way.

R Williamson, Bondhill Soc – 10th Open INFC & 8th North Sect, Vel 1365 plus £1,282

Ron Williamson needs no introduction had a fantastic Kings Cup but unfortunately his best bird had not turned up, he timed arrivals at 4.44, 4.53, 4.59, 5.13, 5.36, 6.30, 7.55 fantastic flying by any standards.

Orchard Combine Vannes Kings Cup – W Corrigan Loughgall 1378, S Corrigan Loughgall 1339, G & A Campbell Armagh 1241, D Beattie Charlemont 1190, Cooney Bros Monaghan 1163, D & C McArdle Armagh 1135, J Graham Monaghan 1112, S Corrigan 977, S O’Brien Monaghan 966, N Johnston Monaghan 315, N Johnston 315.

Superb King’s Cup Race for Alan Darragh

When Willie Reynolds asked me to do an article on Alan’s prizewinners from this Years King’s Cup Race I felt it a privilege to do so, as the kindness that Alan and Betty have shown to me over the years can never be repaid.

As I have come to know the pigeons better I get great enjoyment from watching them come home each week but the thrill of seeing them come from France is something else.

The 2009 Kings Cup race was held on Friday 3rd July where approximately 2,600 of the best pigeons in Ireland were liberated into a West wind changing to South West later in the day with a good race expected. As the day progressed news filtered through that there were pigeons into Dublin shortly after 2.00pm so the guessing game started as to what time the birds would be into the Mid Antrim area. There were various suggestions but it was decided that the watching would start around 4.45pm so I made my way to the Swallowbrae Lofts on a beautiful sunny evening to find Alan and Betty already in position.

We were chatting about the race when all of a sudden the Cheq hen arrived on the landing board and straight in to the loft and on checking the ETS System Alan told us she was clocked at 5.17pm. This hen was 5th Open in the 2007 Hens National and was sent to the Kings Cup last year but when the birds were brought home again she went to the 2008 Hens National where she was clocked to win 17th Open.

Before the Kings Cup race last year Betty was to choose which pigeon would be entered in the Single Bird Challenge organized by the INFC, she choose this Cheq hen and it was aptly named “Betty’s Choice” .

She was bred from a Cock presented to Alan by Ron Williamson and was bred from a Daughter of the Two Gold Medal Winners, Rainbow Warrior and Five Times a Lady. This cock was paired to Alan’s good Lamballe Hen, 20th Open Millennium National and then 3rd Open Lamballe with the NIPA, she was a granddaughter of the Kings Cup winner Independent Ranger so the breeding was certainly good for distance racing.

We were hearing of pigeons being timed all over Ireland so we knew it was going to be a good race and at 5.57pm the Blue Pied Yearling Cock arrived, this cock being a Grandson of “Swallowbrae First Lady”, the 2005 Hens National winner. He is also a Great Grandson of the Lamballe Hen and the 2nd Open Kings Cup Cock Swallowbrae Dawn.

The next pigeon to arrive was the Grizzle cock, I almost missed him but was turned around by Alan in time to see him disappearing in the trap at 6.47pm. This cock was 188th in the 2007 Portsmouth National and his sire was presented to Alan by that great fancier from Scotland, Jimmy Cullen and was bred from a Father and Daughter mating, the Daughter being 2nd Open in the Scottish National. The Grizzle Cocks Dam was a Grand Daughter of the Lamballe Hen and Swallowbrae Dawn so the influence the Lamballe Hen is having on Alan’s present day racing team is plain to see.

The fourth pigeon arrived when Alan was away to Muckamore with his clock but the Unikon ETS System timed the Blue Yearling Cock at 7.50pm. This cock was presented to Alan by his friend and club mate Sammy Steele.

When Alan came back with all the news and had a look at the Blue Yearling it was time for him to go back up with the clock so with Geoff Mitchell and myself in the car it was back to Muckamore to verify the fourth arrival.

As I was driving home on Friday Night after 11.00pm I couldn’t help thinking how fitting it was that a fancier like Alan who puts so much work into his pigeons from 5.30pm every morning gets some reward for his efforts and I know that he was extremely happy with four pigeons home from the six he had sent to the 513 mile race. For myself as I arrived home it was the end to a brilliant day. Many thanks to Betty for all the tea and cakes not only on Friday but all of the year. Many thanks to Maurice Alexander for this article.

The final race of the 2009 season took place on Friday 3rd July with local fanciers competing with the INFC in the prestigious Kings Cup race from Vannes, a distance of 550 miles to City of Derry. Liberated at 6.15 am with favourable conditions along the route, some dared to hope that for once a day pigeon into the city was just possible. That dream came true shortly after 8.00pm when Maiden City member Eamon Quigley of Inch Island timed his 2 year old Red hen after 14 hours on the wing. Coming just a week after winning the City of Derry Fed from St Malo, Eamon has certainly had a fantastic close to his season and deservedly so as he looks forward to these epic races each and every year. The breeding of the Red hen is mainly Kirkpatrick, and she is a grand-daughter of Thomas Cassidy's Lamballe hen, Madame Butterfly. Definitely bred for the job this one. The next reported arrival was to another Maiden City member Pat Cregan who timed his 2 year old Pied hen just short of 14.5 hours. Pat's hen is an outstanding athlete having won Talbenny Y.B Derby and last year timed from St Malo National as a yearling. Pats confidence in this pigeon was certainly not misplaced. Last week Pat also timed a yearling hen from St Malo yet another loft on fire at the long distance racing.

Early next morning Rock FC members Willie & Darren Hamilton timed their 3 year old Kenyon/Harper cock, the parents being purchased at T & P Cassidy's Clearance Sale. Another quality pigeon here having won the Derry Fed from a very hard Sennen Cove in 2007. Again the Hamilton partnership is dedicated to long distance flying and set their stall out each year for the highly prized Cross Channel races. Also timing on the second morning were long distance stalwarts, Foyle members, Danny and Gary Cooley who clocked a yearling cock bred from M Spencer/J Patience lines. This pigeon was destined for the Sun City race but as luck would have it kept at home to create a bit of local pigeon history. Danny is the loft manager for the Derry loft while Gary who resides in Wicklow also timed his entry on the day. Congratulations and a very well done lads, my thanks to Pat McLaughlin for the report.

Gary Benson and Sam Corrigan both had birds away for the 4th time, both are home in race time but unfortunately have missed the prizes. Just shows how difficult the awards are to win, even when birds return home in good time. More details will be covered in the next few weeks, we are on a holiday weekend here and a number of fanciers could not be contacted. Next time we should be able to feature the awards list, and who won what, it was a race we will long remember. Well done to everyone, those who timed birds and all those who assisted in making the race the great success it turned out.

INFC Picauville Friendship Nat 255/1,014 – M Maguire & Son Millvale 911 ABCDEF, M Maguire & Son 911 ABCDEF, A Thompson Ballyclare 880 ABCDEF, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 880, C & L Woodside 879, P McCullough & Daughter Downpatrick 852 F, M Hughes Edgarstown 835 ABCDE, P Rock & Son Skerries 832 ABCD, M/M Magill Muckamore 797, J Waring & Son Lisburn 555, A Hall Omagh 536 ABCDEF & Nom, J Waring & Son 526, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 521, W Smith Lagan Valley 499 D, J Greenaway Bondhill 455 ABCDE, P Campbell & Son Armagh 451 ABCDE, N & C Shields Skerries 405 ABCD, J Carey Malahide 318 ABCDE, T G Casement South Belfast 266 ABCDE, N Grant & Son Balbriggan 264 ABCDEF, J Cleland Annsborough 259, D Scott Glenavy 244 ABCDEF. Result is Provisional and subject to correction.

Homer
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