Coleraine Premier 2018 -

[willie reynolds]

Coleraine Premier HPS – Always been the Big Club in the far flying North West, at the formation of the Mighty NIPA they were one of the 15 member clubs, represented at that meeting by Paddy Molloy. I see on the club page of Facebook that former Kings Cup winner Anthony McDonnell will be 70 years a member of the club this October. An ace racer over many years, at one time he was almost unbeatable and won the Sect A Fancier of the Year on many occasions. His Kings Cup result is in the records and will never be forgot, “Champion Bann King” won 1st Open INFC from Les Sables flying 633 miles in 1963 and up to the present time remains the longest flying winner. The bird was later purchased by Louella Pigeon World. I had a letter from a Mr Orr regarding the photo I had published a few weeks back of the late Jack Patience when I said he was the only winner of 1st & 2nd in the Kings Cup, that was in 1995 from Rennes. The INFC as we know it today was formed in 1947 the year I was born, and the first winner of the new King George V Challenge Cup in 1948 was Sammy Robinson of Belfast 1st Open Rennes doing velocity 515. Since that time Jack Patience as far as I know is the only 1st & 2nd Open INFC winner in the new Kings Cup. Before 1948 local fanciers flew in the old Ulster Combine and the famous A E Robinson from Shaws Bridge in Belfast was 1st & 2nd Open in what was called the Kings Cup, on two separate occasions. In 1933 from Les Sables at 600 miles the winner doing velocity 848 and then in 1937 from Redon at 500 miles his winner was doing velocity 706. A E Robinson was the owner of Belfast’s largest departmental store at that time. Sam Mayberry from Antrim was 1st & 2nd Open in 1946 from Guernsey (Channel Islands), I have no record of this loft and would appreciate any news or paper cuttings of this fantastic result. Maurice Alexander from Ballymena done a massive research of the Kings Cup races and this special section on the INFC History is available on our website for those with computer and the internet.

Now on club news a lot of the local clubs including Coleraine Premier have a site on Facebook to list results, news and photos, something that all clubs should be considering to be used for publicity.

NIPA Old Bird race winners: Tullamore 13/353 - D Coyle & Son vel 1893 3rd Sect A 49/1697. Gowran Park (1) 16/463 – Hanson & Harpur vel 1362 1st Sect A 60/1935. Fermoy – Diamond Bros & McLaughlin vel 1906 2nd Sect A 59/2025. Gowran Park (2) 14/382 – Bond & Diamond vel 1684. Rosscarbery Nat – Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin vel 2029, J L Madden vel 2005 2nd & 3rd Sect A 42/517. Corrin 14/237 – D Coyle & Son vel 1126 2nd Sect A 53/1351. Fermoy (2) – D Coyle & Son vel 1170 1st & 3rd Sect A 63/1939. Talbenny (1) 14/144 – D Coyle & Son vel 1488. Fermoy 5 Bird – Hanson & Harpur vel 1445 2nd Sect A 34/158. Talbenny (2) 14/116 – Bond & Diamond vel 1235 3rd Sect A 59/810. Dunmanway – Bond & Diamond vel 1730 2nd Sect A 36/456. Cock Yearling Nat Dunmanway 12/86 – Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin vel 1616, 1st & 2nd Coleraine Centre and 1st & 2nd Sect A 25/132. Hen Yearling Nat Dunmanway 10/46 – J L Madden vel 1611, Hanson & Harpur, 1st & 2nd Coleraine Centre and 1st & 2nd Sect A 24/147. Penzance – Bond & Diamond vel 1259, 1st & 3rd Sect A 35/845. Penzance Classic – Bond & Diamond vel 1259 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sect A 34/286. Fermoy Comeback 12/126 – D Coyle & Son vel 1402.

NIPA Young Bird race winners: Mullingar (1) 624 birds – M/M McSeveney & Son vel 1223. Mullingar (2) 608 birds – Russell McAlary vel 1315. Tullamore – Hanson & Harpur vel 1414. Gowran Park 15/534 – Hanson & Harpur vel 1657. Fermoy (1) – Hanson & Harpur vel 1314. Fermoy (2) 12/342 – D Coyle & Son vel 1402. Talbenny Nat – Hanson & Harpur vel 1136, 1st Colearine Centre and 2nd Sect A 32/196. Roscrea Comeback 10/221 – Hanson & Harpur vel 1620. Dunmanway – T & J McDonald vel 1796 2nd Sect B 63/754 beat by decimal, Hanson & Harpur vel 1775 1st Sect A 28/378. Dunmanway 5 Bird – T & J McDonald vel 1796, 1st Coleraine Centre and 2nd Sect B 36/166. Rosscarbery Nat – Hanson & Harpur 1st & 2nd vel 1013, 4th Coleraine Centre and 5th Sect A 17/105.

I collected some of the racing season highlights.

Jimmy Hanson from the Coleraine Premier, top prize-winner last year did not wait long to record another winner this time in the second race of the old bird season at Gowran Park. This hen is bred off his No 1 pair of Lambrecht’s which are themselves responsible for multiple section winners and top NIPA Open positions. The hen itself is a double winner herself she has won before. She is also a direct grand-daughter of Danny Dixon’s “Champion Heartbreaker”. The winner was timed at 13.32hrs flying 175 miles to record velocity 1361. He wins 1st Club, 1st Coleraine Triangle, 1st Sect A & 130th Open NIPA. Training is done locally, must be getting something right.

Ross Nat - Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin 2029, J L Madden 2005, T & J McDonald 1939, Bond & Diamond 1937, E & D Tosh 1913, J L Madden 1904. The winner yesterday finished 2nd Sect A & 10th Open NIPA and earlier this season 17th Open NIPA Tullamore with 18,564 birds competing. Jimmy Hanson wins the pools.
Corrin 14/237 - D Coyles & Son 1926, T & J McDonald 1899, J L Madden 1899, J L Madden 1898, T & J McDonald 1889, Bond & Diamond 1889. 1st Club, 2nd Sect A & 15th Open Corrin raced by D Coyle & son Portrush, bred by Leslie Madden.

Talbenny (1) 14/144 – D Coyle & Son 1488, Hanson & Harpur 1459, 1455, 1452, E & D Tosh 1451, Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin 1450. Well done to Bobby Coyle and Danny winning the club from the channel with their good blue Wildy that won 1st Section last week. This cock takes top spot and all the money. Super pigeon.
Talbenny (2) 14/116 Bond & Diamond 1235, 1220, Hanson & Harpur 1205, 1177, A McDonnell 1171, Bond & Diamond 1156. Well done to Bond & Diamond taking first and second from Talbenny on Sunday. Club Pools and Nom go to Mr Moneybags Bobby Coyle and father with their super blue cock.

Coleraine Premier HPS – Bond & Diamond 1730, Hanson & Harpur 1681, D Coyle & Son 1669, R McAlary 1662, Hanson & Harpur 1654, Bond & Diamond 1651. Well done to Bond and Diamond winning the Dunmanway race with their good hen.

Tullamore Mass Lib - Coleraine Premier HPS – Hanson & Harpur 1414, T & J McDonald 1409, J L Madden 1408, 1407, R McAlary 1403, 1402. Well done to Hanson and Harpur winning the club from Tullamore. Anthony McDonnell takes the club pools of £42 and £5 nom of £60. Rab Montgomery wins £10 in £1 Nom. Final next week in the Loft to Loft is Hanson and Harpur v Bond and Diamond.

Gowran Park 15/534 – Hanson & Harpur 1657, Bond & Diamond 1656, 1656, Hanson & Harpur 1648, 1646, 1646. Today's winner of Coleraine Premier Breeder & Buyer was bred by Danny Dixon raced by Danny Coyle & Son. Wins £300, bird has the top bloodlines of Dixon’s YB Nat winner Dixie Chick. The club Breeder/Buyer winners were - 1st D Coyle and son Buyer £150 and Breeder Danny Dixon £150, 2nd G Donaghey Son and G/son Breeder and Buyer £200, 3rd Newton and Quinn Breeder and Buyer £100 well done lads. Well done to Hanson and Harper winning the club form Gowran Park. Danny Coyle and son take’s the club pools of £45 and £5 nom of £45 while L J Madden wins £15 in the £1 Nomination. The Coyle pool & nom winner from Gowran park she is from club-mate Leslie Madden lines. Hanson and Harper also win’s the loft to loft £115. Runner up Bond and Diamond - Big competition in the Coleraine Premier.

Fermoy (1) – Hanson & Harpur 1314, T & J McDonald 1314, Hanson & Harpur 1304, 1304, A McDonnell 1299, Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin 1299. Well done to Hanson and Harper winning their 3rd Y/Birds race from Fermoy and the pools of £44 and £ nom of £12. Bond and Diamond wins the £5 nom of £40.

Fermoy (2) -12/342 – D Coyle & Son 1402, Bond & Diamond 1397, Hanson & Harpur 1385, R McAlary 1384, T & J McDonald 1381, Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin 1379. A big well done to D Coyle and son winning the 2nd young birds Fermoy and also the £5 nom of £45. Diamond Bros and G McLaughlin wins the club pools of £38 and Hanson & Harper wins the £ nom of £12.


“Champion Bann King” the INFC winner in 1963 from Les Sables for Anthony McDonnell,
at 633 miles it still holds the record for the longest flying winner of the Kings Cup.


Hanson & Harpur were top prize winner's, well done to all good luck for 2019.


Bobby & Danny Coyle topped Sect A from Fermoy.


Willie Bond and Diamond won Sect A from Penzance.


Trevor McDonald won Dunmanway YB and the 5B Classic.


Dominic Diamond and Gerry McLaughlin topped Sect A in both Yearling Nationals from Dunmanway.


The officials and prize winners at the recent presentation for Coleraine Premier HPS.