Loft Feature Simon & Eric Buckley -
Posted: Wed May 27, 2020 9:12 am
Simon & Eric Buckley high flyers in Edgarstown -
This week I return to County Armagh for another loft feature on a top Portadown loft, that of the Edgarstown ace flyers Simon and Eric Buckley. They achieved Highest Prize-winners in 2018 and the season before that will always remember winning the Irish Region Meritorious Award Trophy for best overall bird in the cross channel races from Talbenny and Penzance. Each of the NIPA eight Sections compete yearly for this top award, S & E Buckley were the best loft in the NIPA Section E and also had the best overall velocity.
LOFT FEATURE
Q1. When started racing, what club and was any family involved? Why did you start in the pigeons and what birds did you start with?
My father and I started racing in 2014 with Edgarstown HPS in Portadown. Racing within the family really started when my father and grandfather raced together in another local club Annaghmore HPS many years ago.
Q2. What organizations do you fly with currently?
At the present time we currently fly with the NIPA and are also flying members in the Irish National Flying Club.
Q3. Your Loft - Structure, length and how many?
In total we have three lofts. An old bird which is 19ft x 5ft with two sections, used for 12 Roundabout cocks, and the other for the Roundabout hens. The young bird loft is 9ft x 5ft with a 6ft aviary attached. Our stock loft measures 6ft x 4ft with an aviary and this one holds 8 pair of pigeons.
Q4. Racing/training methods for old birds and young birds. Do you put YB’s on Darkness System, and what about Old Birds – Widowhood, Roundabout or just Natural?
Nothing complicated with the training methods. The hens would go on the Ronnie Williamson transporter 4 days a week. The Roundabout cocks are trained with John Parr in the evenings. The youngsters are put on the Darkness System up until around 14th June so they are able to complete the young bird programme.
Q5. Feeding and systems etc over the season?
Our feeding system with the old birds are hopper fed using two different mixes, these being Gerry Plus and Champion Supreme. Young birds are breed and wean until off the darkness and then are hard fed with the same mixes as the old birds
Q6. Treatments, what and when used? Do you use Vitamins, if so what?
Our birds are tested at the start of each season, and if required throughout racing they are treated accordingly. We don’t use vitamins for the birds, they get Aviform Ultimate 11 in 1 all year round.
Q7. Breeding info when done etc.? - now that the rings are available before Christmas.
We always pair up the stock birds on Boxing Day, and the race team would be put together the week before the Blaxkpool Show of the Year, usually the second week in January.
Q8. Birds at stock, strains kept and families etc.?
At the present time we have just 8 pair of stock birds, the two main strains kept are Soontjen and Busschaert. We have recently introduced a Rudy van Reeth cock.
Q9. Racing results over the years – Club, Sect & Combine and best Open positions with NIPA & INFC?
Over recent years we have achieved numerous positions, 2018 was a super season Highest Prize-winner in Edgarstown HPS scoring 10 x 1sts with many more prizes. In 2019 we had a super result in two of the INFC races, Yearling Nat Sennen Cove 7th, 10th, 43rd & 75th North Sect and 13th, 16th, 66th & 107th Open INFC 571/3794. In the Blue Riband Penzance YB Grand Nat 7th, 59th & 107th North Sect and 8th, 68th & 120th Open INFC 278/1529. Our best result racing together was as I had mentioned earlier winning the RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Award for Individual Bird Performance from Talbenny and Penzance.
Q10. Outstanding racers and stock birds since starting the sport?
Since our start in racing our outstanding racers and stock birds would be a Cheq Soontjen cock called “Unlucky” 4 x 2nd Club and many other prizes which is now breeding winning birds every year. On top of that we have the Black cock “Ronnie” who when racing achieved 2 x 1st Club, 2 x 2nd Club and was in fact the RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Award winner in 2017.
Q11. What about cross channel racing both old bird and young bird?
As well as the inland races we enjoy the cross channel programme, and have had good success with both old birds and young birds in very recent years, very pleasing over such a short time racing together.
Q12. Any positions held past or present? – Any work covered at the club?
We both consider ourselves very hands-on members both serving on the Clock Committee. Myself (Simon) operates as the club Ring Secretary, a position my dad held many years ago. Dad (Eric) at the present time is Chairman in Edgarstown HPS.
Q13. Special mention of anyone who helped , or influenced you in the sport? Any views for the future?
A special mention to a man who is close to both of our hearts, but no longer with us Eric Buckley senior, (father and grand-father). In the past he was a big part of Annaghmore HPS, and was indeed a big influence to keep pigeon racing going within our family.
Q14. Last but not least your best result, and what was biggest disappointment in the sport?
Best result without doubt so far was winning the RPRA Meritorious Award in 2017, the race we would have to be most disappointed with has to be France, we haven’t managed to master it yet!
Q15. Anything I missed you would like to mention?
Think you have covered everything and thanks to Homer for allowing us to give a brief insight into our lofts and details of our birds and results.
Simon & Eric Buckley from Edgarstown HPS in Portadown collecting the
RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious award at NIPA Ladies Night in 2017.
The fantastic loft layout of S & E Buckley, Edgardtown HPS.
“Ronnie” The RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Award winner of season 2017. Photo Thomas Hore.
This week I return to County Armagh for another loft feature on a top Portadown loft, that of the Edgarstown ace flyers Simon and Eric Buckley. They achieved Highest Prize-winners in 2018 and the season before that will always remember winning the Irish Region Meritorious Award Trophy for best overall bird in the cross channel races from Talbenny and Penzance. Each of the NIPA eight Sections compete yearly for this top award, S & E Buckley were the best loft in the NIPA Section E and also had the best overall velocity.
LOFT FEATURE
Q1. When started racing, what club and was any family involved? Why did you start in the pigeons and what birds did you start with?
My father and I started racing in 2014 with Edgarstown HPS in Portadown. Racing within the family really started when my father and grandfather raced together in another local club Annaghmore HPS many years ago.
Q2. What organizations do you fly with currently?
At the present time we currently fly with the NIPA and are also flying members in the Irish National Flying Club.
Q3. Your Loft - Structure, length and how many?
In total we have three lofts. An old bird which is 19ft x 5ft with two sections, used for 12 Roundabout cocks, and the other for the Roundabout hens. The young bird loft is 9ft x 5ft with a 6ft aviary attached. Our stock loft measures 6ft x 4ft with an aviary and this one holds 8 pair of pigeons.
Q4. Racing/training methods for old birds and young birds. Do you put YB’s on Darkness System, and what about Old Birds – Widowhood, Roundabout or just Natural?
Nothing complicated with the training methods. The hens would go on the Ronnie Williamson transporter 4 days a week. The Roundabout cocks are trained with John Parr in the evenings. The youngsters are put on the Darkness System up until around 14th June so they are able to complete the young bird programme.
Q5. Feeding and systems etc over the season?
Our feeding system with the old birds are hopper fed using two different mixes, these being Gerry Plus and Champion Supreme. Young birds are breed and wean until off the darkness and then are hard fed with the same mixes as the old birds
Q6. Treatments, what and when used? Do you use Vitamins, if so what?
Our birds are tested at the start of each season, and if required throughout racing they are treated accordingly. We don’t use vitamins for the birds, they get Aviform Ultimate 11 in 1 all year round.
Q7. Breeding info when done etc.? - now that the rings are available before Christmas.
We always pair up the stock birds on Boxing Day, and the race team would be put together the week before the Blaxkpool Show of the Year, usually the second week in January.
Q8. Birds at stock, strains kept and families etc.?
At the present time we have just 8 pair of stock birds, the two main strains kept are Soontjen and Busschaert. We have recently introduced a Rudy van Reeth cock.
Q9. Racing results over the years – Club, Sect & Combine and best Open positions with NIPA & INFC?
Over recent years we have achieved numerous positions, 2018 was a super season Highest Prize-winner in Edgarstown HPS scoring 10 x 1sts with many more prizes. In 2019 we had a super result in two of the INFC races, Yearling Nat Sennen Cove 7th, 10th, 43rd & 75th North Sect and 13th, 16th, 66th & 107th Open INFC 571/3794. In the Blue Riband Penzance YB Grand Nat 7th, 59th & 107th North Sect and 8th, 68th & 120th Open INFC 278/1529. Our best result racing together was as I had mentioned earlier winning the RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Award for Individual Bird Performance from Talbenny and Penzance.
Q10. Outstanding racers and stock birds since starting the sport?
Since our start in racing our outstanding racers and stock birds would be a Cheq Soontjen cock called “Unlucky” 4 x 2nd Club and many other prizes which is now breeding winning birds every year. On top of that we have the Black cock “Ronnie” who when racing achieved 2 x 1st Club, 2 x 2nd Club and was in fact the RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Award winner in 2017.
Q11. What about cross channel racing both old bird and young bird?
As well as the inland races we enjoy the cross channel programme, and have had good success with both old birds and young birds in very recent years, very pleasing over such a short time racing together.
Q12. Any positions held past or present? – Any work covered at the club?
We both consider ourselves very hands-on members both serving on the Clock Committee. Myself (Simon) operates as the club Ring Secretary, a position my dad held many years ago. Dad (Eric) at the present time is Chairman in Edgarstown HPS.
Q13. Special mention of anyone who helped , or influenced you in the sport? Any views for the future?
A special mention to a man who is close to both of our hearts, but no longer with us Eric Buckley senior, (father and grand-father). In the past he was a big part of Annaghmore HPS, and was indeed a big influence to keep pigeon racing going within our family.
Q14. Last but not least your best result, and what was biggest disappointment in the sport?
Best result without doubt so far was winning the RPRA Meritorious Award in 2017, the race we would have to be most disappointed with has to be France, we haven’t managed to master it yet!
Q15. Anything I missed you would like to mention?
Think you have covered everything and thanks to Homer for allowing us to give a brief insight into our lofts and details of our birds and results.
Simon & Eric Buckley from Edgarstown HPS in Portadown collecting the
RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious award at NIPA Ladies Night in 2017.
The fantastic loft layout of S & E Buckley, Edgardtown HPS.
“Ronnie” The RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Award winner of season 2017. Photo Thomas Hore.