Single Bird Challenge 2009 -
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:57 pm
INFC Single Bird Challenge 2009 – David Black (Race Co-Ordinator)
17th March 2009 saw the best ever entry for the Single Bird Challenge and then all everyone had to do was to prepare their entries for the King’s Cup with fingers crossed that the race would go ahead. Well actually it was a bit more than that and a lot of work went in to make sure the race would go ahead. I would like to thank Jim McCory for all his hard work also Willy Hore, Tom Marshall and all our contacts on the line of flight for all their help. The race that followed was probably one of the best King’s Cups for a long time, hopefully we can continue the lucky streak.
It was very nice to be able to write about someone who is winning their first major trophy with the I.N.F.C and it couldn’t be a nicer person than Jim Robinson of Edgarstown HPS, Portadown. Jim lives within sight of the Drumcree church which I’m sure some people have heard of. Jim timed a four year old Blue Chequer Hen to be 9th Open, she is the half sister to the pigeon Jim was 6th Open St Malo the previous week, her sire is a Marcel Sangers cock of Dutch National fame and the dam is a Wildersmeerch hen bred by the late Jim Castles, Lurgan. She was raced as a young bird and went as far as Talbenny as a yearling. As a two year old Talbenny and Portsmouth where she was 70th Open. As a 3 year old Talbenny and like the rest got a lift home from Vannes. This year she was paired mid-February and flown natural all year but was not allowed to hatch any youngbirds and sent to the race on chipping eggs and a full wing. Her preparation was 2 inland races plus 1st Talbenny, training was with the Williamson transporter plus private tosses twice a week from Annagassan approx. 40 miles.The feeding is Beatties No2 plus plenty of Homoform with garlic on the corn an odd time. The birds are treated for canker and coccidiosis but with no other additives in the water. They have the open loft most of the time and no darkening of youngbirds. Jim’s best position so far in the King’s Cup has been 63rd.
Jim Robinson of Edgarstown HPS in Portadown, winner of the INFC Single Bird Challenge 2009.
Anville Queen, winner of the Single Bird Challenge in 2009.
In second place and 11th Open we have one of the most successful lofts in Ireland, Alan Darragh. This is the second time Alan has been runner up in the Single Bird Challenge, coming second to Joe Doheny in the first Single Bird Challenge. Alan timed a three year old blue cheque hen, her sire is a direct son of Ron Williamson’s Friendship National winner and her dam was 3rd Open Lamballe, for Alan, and is one of his best stock hens. Alan’s hen had two or three races as a young bird but it was as a yearling that she started to show her potential, being 8th club Sennen Cove with the N.I.P.A and was then sent back to the Hens National from Sennen Cove, where she was 5th. As a two year old, like the rest, she got a lift home from Vannes, with no race. This year she had one inland race and then returned injured from the Skibbereen National, she took a while to re grow her feathers and was not raced again until the King’s Cup, just trained. She was raced natural and sent on one 12 day young bird. All birds are fed a widowhood mixture.
Five times INFC winner Alan Darragh is runner-up for the Single bird Challenge for the second time.
Tommy McLean from Annaghmore came third and 30th Open, a loft that has achieved great success in short to middle distance races, but after his latest success, he now intends to concentrate more on the distance races. Tommy timed a two year old blue hen bred from a Soontjen stock cock and a Soontjen/Harthog stock hen. As a youngbird she was raced on darkness and was 5th Open Sennen Cove Young Bird National, 300 odd miles, flying 11 hours 16 minutes. Last year as a yearling she was 138th Open Sennen Cove Yearling National. This year she was paired on January 24th, then split and raced celibate for two or three inland races, then repaired for three or four weeks, then split and raced roundabout for the King’s Cup. In the meantime, she went to 2nd Talbenny were she took over 11 hours and gave Tommy a fright. After Talbenny she had two or three tosses per week from 20 miles. The feeding is Merriman’s widowhood mixed with Beattie’s Super Mix. Multivitamins are added to the water once per week and garlic four or five times a week.
Jamie's Gird, 3rd in the Single Bird Challenge for Tommy McClean.
In fourth and 46th Open we have one of the stalwarts of national racing, William McClure, Kells, a small team fancier, previously 2nd Open King’s Cup, 1979. William timed a four year old dark cheque hen bred from an Emile de Weerdt cock purchased in Holland, the dam was also bred from two birds purchased from J. Donaldson, Peterhead. As a young bird, she was raced the full programme, the next year she was 4th club from the Yearling National. During her two year old career, she only flew up to Mallow. Like most of the other Challenge birds, as a three year old, she was returned from Vannes. This year she had four inland races and Talbenny. William does not train much and flies the French birds one hour morning and night, with the youngbirds. Paired in February, then split and raced roundabout, she was repaired then sent to the King’s Cup on a two day old youngbird. The feeding is Natural Irish along with peanuts as a treat.
Moving on to fifth place, 65th Open, we have the hard working secretary of the I.N.F.C, Trevor Topping of Lisburn. Trevor timed a three year old blue cheque hen of the old Walkingshaw bloodlines, bred from two birds from Sam Dickson of Lisburn. Raced as a youngbird and timed from Talbenny Young Bird. She had three races as a yearling, and returned next morning from a tough Sennen Cove with the N.I.P.A. Like the rest of the convoy she was prepared for the King’s Cup last year but got a lift home. This year she had two inland races plus 2nd Talbenny, were she took over six hours, after that she had four or five 20 mile tosses plus one from sixty miles. She was raced natural and sent to the race sitting 14 day eggs.
In sixth place and 75th Open we have Jim Butler of Banbridge, with a four year old dark cheque cock, called Albert’s Gift. Jim is a fancier who loves long distance racing. Albert’s Gift, as his name suggests, was bred by Albert Houston, from Lurgan, and was one of an exchange pair with Jim. He is bred from Barr Brothers stock, Ballymena. He raced several races as a youngbird and up to Sennen Cove as a yearling and two year old, were he finished 30th Open Quimper, in a very tough race. This year he had two or three inland races plus 1st Talbenny and Bude in preparation for the King’s Cup. He was raced natural and sent to Vannes sitting eggs twelve days.
M. O’Reilly, Lisburn, came seventh, 90th Open, with a two year old red cheque hen. Michael has had a great couple of years of French racing. The red hen’s breeding goes back to Graham Wolfe’s stock of Lisburn. She was raced as a youngbird and was 1st Club Bude as a yearling, this year she had three or four inland races and also 1st Talbenny and Bude and two 70 mile tosses. She was raced natural and sent to the King’s Cup feeding one twelve day young bird.
In eighth place and 97th Open we have Michael and Una Gorman from Ballbriggan. Michael timed an eight year old (old ring, actually five year old) blue cheque hen. This hen is closely related to B. Richardson’s Yearling National Winner, and a half sister also won Sennen Cove. She is bred from a Janseen cock purchased from the Ponderosa Stud, the dam was a Verhaye purchased from Gerard O’Mara, Dublin. She was not trained as a youngbird, but lightly trained as a yearling and lifted into Sennen Cove, 244 miles. As a two year old she had one or two inland races plus Talbenny, were she was 5th club. The following year it was one inland race plus 7th club Talbenny. The next year it was one inland race and then brought home from the King’s Cup. This year she had Roscarberry which was a fly of 180 miles, she had very little training and then went to Pilmore Beach, 135 miles, were she was 7th club. She was raced natural and sent sitting 12 day eggs.
Coming in ninth place, 103rd Open is Paddy Rock and his son, Martin, are one of the top National partnerships in Ireland and are previous winners of the King’s Cup. Not only does ‘Little PJ’ win ninth in the Single Bird Challenge but also a Hall of Fame. This five year old cock is bred from a son of the partnership’s King’s Cup winner paired to a former Scottish National winner, Kardole Clive’s Memory. The dam is a Cartysse hen, and together this pair have bred some great pigeons. ‘Little PJ’ was raced a youngbird but it was as a yearling were he first stated to show his potential, being timed in the Yearling National, he was also 3rd Open E.C.F Penzance and 44th Open Messac. As a two year old he was 12th E.C.F Bude, 3rd E.C.F Sennen Cove and 35th Open Vannes. In 2007 he flew the tough Penzance then returned home from the King’s Cup with no race. As a four year old he had a few inland races and sent to the King’s Cup, which unfortunately did not take place. This year flown widowhood, he had a few tosses pre season, and went to all inland races except the first race plus 11th E.C.F Bude, he had no tosses in between races.
In tenth position, 119th Open was Paul Dunlop, Edgarstown with a three year old blue chequer hen. The sire was bred from T. Beckett, Lisburn lines and Paul’s own Busschaert family, the dam was a daughter of Paul’s Old Bird Derby winner from Dinard when paired to her own son from a mating with Bradford & Rowantree’s Yearling National winner. She had two or three races as a youngbird and two or three inland plus the Yearling National as a yearling. Last year she had three or four races and was then 3rd Open Quimper in a very hard race. This year she had two or three inland races, no channel races and was flown mostly around the loft plus just a few tosses. She was raced natural and sent to the King’s Cup on one eight day old youngbird.
In eleventh place, 143rd Open is T. Shanks and son, Kells with a three year old blue pied hen, called ‘The Old Speckled Hen’. Son Alan now races the birds after his father passed away four years ago. The sire of Alan’s hen is a son of R. Telford’s Hall of Fame winner, and is B. Fletcher’s van Wildersmeerch and W. M. Thompson( Muckamore) Karuth lines. The dam was 23rd Open King’s Cup for G. McLoughlin, Cushendall, which was bred through Alan’s old family and Alastair McNaughton (Cushendall) Delbars. ‘The Old Speckled Hen’ was not raced as a youngbird but had four short tosses, on one of these tosses she made a mistake and went into the loft of Mrs Porter, Glenavy. When Alan collected the bird Mrs Porter told him to watch this bird as she thought there was something about it she liked. As a yearling she flew up to Roscrea, a distance of 143 miles. The following year she had four inland races plus Talbenny and Roscarberry. This year she had five inland races and came home from Roscarberry hawked. She had flown with the youngbirds in the build up to Vannes plus a couple of 20 mile tosses. Raced natural and sent sitting 13 day eggs.
To finish I would like to congratulate the fanciers in the Single Bird Challenge prizes and also all the other people who recorded Challenge pigeons which were in the Open result , M. Croskery & Son, Annsborough (214th Open), P. Ward, ECF Clontarf (216th Open), Martin Graham, Ballymena (219th Open), D. & J. Armstrong & Sons, Carrick Social (228th Open), Greg McGlinn, ECF Sallynoggin (231st Open), P. Creggan, Maiden City (234th Open), P.J. Corcoran & Son, ECF Balbriggan (244th Open), Mr & Mrs P. Braniff, Colin HPS (246th Open).
After such a good race this year, hopefully 2010 will be the best year yet for the Single Bird Challenge, David Black.
17th March 2009 saw the best ever entry for the Single Bird Challenge and then all everyone had to do was to prepare their entries for the King’s Cup with fingers crossed that the race would go ahead. Well actually it was a bit more than that and a lot of work went in to make sure the race would go ahead. I would like to thank Jim McCory for all his hard work also Willy Hore, Tom Marshall and all our contacts on the line of flight for all their help. The race that followed was probably one of the best King’s Cups for a long time, hopefully we can continue the lucky streak.
It was very nice to be able to write about someone who is winning their first major trophy with the I.N.F.C and it couldn’t be a nicer person than Jim Robinson of Edgarstown HPS, Portadown. Jim lives within sight of the Drumcree church which I’m sure some people have heard of. Jim timed a four year old Blue Chequer Hen to be 9th Open, she is the half sister to the pigeon Jim was 6th Open St Malo the previous week, her sire is a Marcel Sangers cock of Dutch National fame and the dam is a Wildersmeerch hen bred by the late Jim Castles, Lurgan. She was raced as a young bird and went as far as Talbenny as a yearling. As a two year old Talbenny and Portsmouth where she was 70th Open. As a 3 year old Talbenny and like the rest got a lift home from Vannes. This year she was paired mid-February and flown natural all year but was not allowed to hatch any youngbirds and sent to the race on chipping eggs and a full wing. Her preparation was 2 inland races plus 1st Talbenny, training was with the Williamson transporter plus private tosses twice a week from Annagassan approx. 40 miles.The feeding is Beatties No2 plus plenty of Homoform with garlic on the corn an odd time. The birds are treated for canker and coccidiosis but with no other additives in the water. They have the open loft most of the time and no darkening of youngbirds. Jim’s best position so far in the King’s Cup has been 63rd.
Jim Robinson of Edgarstown HPS in Portadown, winner of the INFC Single Bird Challenge 2009.
Anville Queen, winner of the Single Bird Challenge in 2009.
In second place and 11th Open we have one of the most successful lofts in Ireland, Alan Darragh. This is the second time Alan has been runner up in the Single Bird Challenge, coming second to Joe Doheny in the first Single Bird Challenge. Alan timed a three year old blue cheque hen, her sire is a direct son of Ron Williamson’s Friendship National winner and her dam was 3rd Open Lamballe, for Alan, and is one of his best stock hens. Alan’s hen had two or three races as a young bird but it was as a yearling that she started to show her potential, being 8th club Sennen Cove with the N.I.P.A and was then sent back to the Hens National from Sennen Cove, where she was 5th. As a two year old, like the rest, she got a lift home from Vannes, with no race. This year she had one inland race and then returned injured from the Skibbereen National, she took a while to re grow her feathers and was not raced again until the King’s Cup, just trained. She was raced natural and sent on one 12 day young bird. All birds are fed a widowhood mixture.
Five times INFC winner Alan Darragh is runner-up for the Single bird Challenge for the second time.
Tommy McLean from Annaghmore came third and 30th Open, a loft that has achieved great success in short to middle distance races, but after his latest success, he now intends to concentrate more on the distance races. Tommy timed a two year old blue hen bred from a Soontjen stock cock and a Soontjen/Harthog stock hen. As a youngbird she was raced on darkness and was 5th Open Sennen Cove Young Bird National, 300 odd miles, flying 11 hours 16 minutes. Last year as a yearling she was 138th Open Sennen Cove Yearling National. This year she was paired on January 24th, then split and raced celibate for two or three inland races, then repaired for three or four weeks, then split and raced roundabout for the King’s Cup. In the meantime, she went to 2nd Talbenny were she took over 11 hours and gave Tommy a fright. After Talbenny she had two or three tosses per week from 20 miles. The feeding is Merriman’s widowhood mixed with Beattie’s Super Mix. Multivitamins are added to the water once per week and garlic four or five times a week.
Jamie's Gird, 3rd in the Single Bird Challenge for Tommy McClean.
In fourth and 46th Open we have one of the stalwarts of national racing, William McClure, Kells, a small team fancier, previously 2nd Open King’s Cup, 1979. William timed a four year old dark cheque hen bred from an Emile de Weerdt cock purchased in Holland, the dam was also bred from two birds purchased from J. Donaldson, Peterhead. As a young bird, she was raced the full programme, the next year she was 4th club from the Yearling National. During her two year old career, she only flew up to Mallow. Like most of the other Challenge birds, as a three year old, she was returned from Vannes. This year she had four inland races and Talbenny. William does not train much and flies the French birds one hour morning and night, with the youngbirds. Paired in February, then split and raced roundabout, she was repaired then sent to the King’s Cup on a two day old youngbird. The feeding is Natural Irish along with peanuts as a treat.
Moving on to fifth place, 65th Open, we have the hard working secretary of the I.N.F.C, Trevor Topping of Lisburn. Trevor timed a three year old blue cheque hen of the old Walkingshaw bloodlines, bred from two birds from Sam Dickson of Lisburn. Raced as a youngbird and timed from Talbenny Young Bird. She had three races as a yearling, and returned next morning from a tough Sennen Cove with the N.I.P.A. Like the rest of the convoy she was prepared for the King’s Cup last year but got a lift home. This year she had two inland races plus 2nd Talbenny, were she took over six hours, after that she had four or five 20 mile tosses plus one from sixty miles. She was raced natural and sent to the race sitting 14 day eggs.
In sixth place and 75th Open we have Jim Butler of Banbridge, with a four year old dark cheque cock, called Albert’s Gift. Jim is a fancier who loves long distance racing. Albert’s Gift, as his name suggests, was bred by Albert Houston, from Lurgan, and was one of an exchange pair with Jim. He is bred from Barr Brothers stock, Ballymena. He raced several races as a youngbird and up to Sennen Cove as a yearling and two year old, were he finished 30th Open Quimper, in a very tough race. This year he had two or three inland races plus 1st Talbenny and Bude in preparation for the King’s Cup. He was raced natural and sent to Vannes sitting eggs twelve days.
M. O’Reilly, Lisburn, came seventh, 90th Open, with a two year old red cheque hen. Michael has had a great couple of years of French racing. The red hen’s breeding goes back to Graham Wolfe’s stock of Lisburn. She was raced as a youngbird and was 1st Club Bude as a yearling, this year she had three or four inland races and also 1st Talbenny and Bude and two 70 mile tosses. She was raced natural and sent to the King’s Cup feeding one twelve day young bird.
In eighth place and 97th Open we have Michael and Una Gorman from Ballbriggan. Michael timed an eight year old (old ring, actually five year old) blue cheque hen. This hen is closely related to B. Richardson’s Yearling National Winner, and a half sister also won Sennen Cove. She is bred from a Janseen cock purchased from the Ponderosa Stud, the dam was a Verhaye purchased from Gerard O’Mara, Dublin. She was not trained as a youngbird, but lightly trained as a yearling and lifted into Sennen Cove, 244 miles. As a two year old she had one or two inland races plus Talbenny, were she was 5th club. The following year it was one inland race plus 7th club Talbenny. The next year it was one inland race and then brought home from the King’s Cup. This year she had Roscarberry which was a fly of 180 miles, she had very little training and then went to Pilmore Beach, 135 miles, were she was 7th club. She was raced natural and sent sitting 12 day eggs.
Coming in ninth place, 103rd Open is Paddy Rock and his son, Martin, are one of the top National partnerships in Ireland and are previous winners of the King’s Cup. Not only does ‘Little PJ’ win ninth in the Single Bird Challenge but also a Hall of Fame. This five year old cock is bred from a son of the partnership’s King’s Cup winner paired to a former Scottish National winner, Kardole Clive’s Memory. The dam is a Cartysse hen, and together this pair have bred some great pigeons. ‘Little PJ’ was raced a youngbird but it was as a yearling were he first stated to show his potential, being timed in the Yearling National, he was also 3rd Open E.C.F Penzance and 44th Open Messac. As a two year old he was 12th E.C.F Bude, 3rd E.C.F Sennen Cove and 35th Open Vannes. In 2007 he flew the tough Penzance then returned home from the King’s Cup with no race. As a four year old he had a few inland races and sent to the King’s Cup, which unfortunately did not take place. This year flown widowhood, he had a few tosses pre season, and went to all inland races except the first race plus 11th E.C.F Bude, he had no tosses in between races.
In tenth position, 119th Open was Paul Dunlop, Edgarstown with a three year old blue chequer hen. The sire was bred from T. Beckett, Lisburn lines and Paul’s own Busschaert family, the dam was a daughter of Paul’s Old Bird Derby winner from Dinard when paired to her own son from a mating with Bradford & Rowantree’s Yearling National winner. She had two or three races as a youngbird and two or three inland plus the Yearling National as a yearling. Last year she had three or four races and was then 3rd Open Quimper in a very hard race. This year she had two or three inland races, no channel races and was flown mostly around the loft plus just a few tosses. She was raced natural and sent to the King’s Cup on one eight day old youngbird.
In eleventh place, 143rd Open is T. Shanks and son, Kells with a three year old blue pied hen, called ‘The Old Speckled Hen’. Son Alan now races the birds after his father passed away four years ago. The sire of Alan’s hen is a son of R. Telford’s Hall of Fame winner, and is B. Fletcher’s van Wildersmeerch and W. M. Thompson( Muckamore) Karuth lines. The dam was 23rd Open King’s Cup for G. McLoughlin, Cushendall, which was bred through Alan’s old family and Alastair McNaughton (Cushendall) Delbars. ‘The Old Speckled Hen’ was not raced as a youngbird but had four short tosses, on one of these tosses she made a mistake and went into the loft of Mrs Porter, Glenavy. When Alan collected the bird Mrs Porter told him to watch this bird as she thought there was something about it she liked. As a yearling she flew up to Roscrea, a distance of 143 miles. The following year she had four inland races plus Talbenny and Roscarberry. This year she had five inland races and came home from Roscarberry hawked. She had flown with the youngbirds in the build up to Vannes plus a couple of 20 mile tosses. Raced natural and sent sitting 13 day eggs.
To finish I would like to congratulate the fanciers in the Single Bird Challenge prizes and also all the other people who recorded Challenge pigeons which were in the Open result , M. Croskery & Son, Annsborough (214th Open), P. Ward, ECF Clontarf (216th Open), Martin Graham, Ballymena (219th Open), D. & J. Armstrong & Sons, Carrick Social (228th Open), Greg McGlinn, ECF Sallynoggin (231st Open), P. Creggan, Maiden City (234th Open), P.J. Corcoran & Son, ECF Balbriggan (244th Open), Mr & Mrs P. Braniff, Colin HPS (246th Open).
After such a good race this year, hopefully 2010 will be the best year yet for the Single Bird Challenge, David Black.