Gilmour Cup History - Ronnie Johnston (Patron)

[willie reynolds]

The late Jack Gilmour of Newtownbreda was a class pigeon man and a great National flyer. After I sold his pigeons at the auction the Gilmour family purchased a new cup and asked me to select the race that it could be allocated to. The Kings Cup was the race that Jack lived for and he always sent a strong team to the Yearling National. I suggested to the INFC general committee that the Gilmour Cup be won by the fancier with the best average from the Kings Cup and Yearling National and the committee agreed. First flown for in 1999 the winner was Gormley&son, Monaghan with two outstanding results, 28th Open Sennen Cove Yearling National, 5th Open Kings Cup Redon. N Black & sons, Dromara took the cup in 2000 winning 202nd Open Yearling National followed by 2nd Open Kings Cup Redon. No competition in 2001 the Cup was next won by the top National flier Alan Darragh, Cullybackey 102nd Open Yearling National followed this up by winning 2nd Open Kings Cup Redon.

Just for the record those last two winners of the Gilmour Cup are former Kings Cup winners. In 2003 the Kings Cup winners D & T Brennan, Hillfoot won the Cup having finished 280th Open Yearling National. Willie Blair, Ballymoney, the longest flying member to win the Cup with his performances of 126th Open Yearling National and then 2nd Open Kings Cup from Messac the same race point as 2003. In 2005 the Cup went south to those Ace National fliers Paddy Rock and son Mark, Skerries, 30th Open Yearling National and 2nd Open Kings Cup Messac. The popular Ballymena flier George Barr was thrilled to win such a prestigious cup in 2006 with the following performances, 18th Open Yearling National and 14th Open Kings Cup Vannes. The Cup was not competed for in 2007 and 2008 as the club did not fly a Kings cup race.

The 2009 winner is Capper Bros, Bond Hill with two stunning performances, 5th Open Sennen Cove Yearling National followed 7th Open Kings Cup Vannes, the first loft to place both birds in the top 10 of the Open. The Yearling National pigeon is a blue hen, a prize winner in the 2008 YB National - Triple Crown 2010? She is three quarters Ronnie Williamson lines and a cross from Robert Telford. The 7th Open Kings Cup pigeon is a blue cock containing two NIPA Open winners through Willie Neill and the Soontjens of Alan Capper, these are the early Blue Thunder lines of Frank Sheader. Capper Bros were involved in the photo finish Kings cup race of 1999 from Redon: 1st O M'Gillivery & son 1475.1; 2nd Ronnie Williamson 1474.7; 3rd Joe Adamson 1473.9; 4th Capper Bros 1472.5. The following year Capper Bros were 5th Open Kings Cup Redon, the winner being Jeff Hogan of Kilkenny.

The year 1999 was one to remember for Capper Bros at National level winning 4th Open Kings Cup, 4th Penzance YB National and 14th Open Skibbereen YB National. Could 2009 be another such year as the loft have also won 1st Open NIPA Penzance Classic with a blue pied cock. This smashing pigeon is another Willie Neill/Alan Capper Soontjen cross. Capper Bros race into a hot bed of top National fliers and the records show that they more than hold their own at the highest level. Willie Capper is the proud father of three cracking boys and one of these Colin may turn out to be a fine pigeon man just like his father. If Jack Gilmour was looking down on us he would be pleased with the calibre of fancier who has won the Cup and if you noticed it contained no less than four Kings Cup winners, Brennan, Black, Rock and Darragh.