Triple Crown report by Irish Rover -

[willie reynolds]

INFC Triple Crown –

The INFC have an outstanding record of introducing the type of award that lets the individual pigeon come to the fore. The Hall of Fame Diploma has now been on the race programme for some 40 years and then followed the Gold Medal award some 30 years ago. The Hall of Fame Diploma is awarded to any pigeon three times in the INFC Open prize list from the Kings Cup. The Gold Medal is another step up as the pigeon must be four times in the Kings Cup Open prize list. How difficult is this medal to win? – Over the 30 year period of competition only 11 have been won.

The Triple Crown Award sorts out the real special pigeon that we all strive to breed and race. To win this award a pigeon must be an Open prize winner from three INFC National races. The pigeon will start from Penzance Young Bird Nat, the following year the Yearling Nat is next up and then finally in its third year racing the Kings Cup. Would you like to own one of these pigeons? Any fancier would.

The first Triple Crown Award was won in 2009 when we had two winners, in 2010 3 winners, 2011 2 winners and nil in 2012. These three races are flown from across the channel and each one is a stiff test. Let’s go back to 2009 and look in more depth at the first two winners. From the South Sect J McLoughlin & Sons from Blanchardstown with a Cheq Pied hen – 2007 Sennen Cove YB Nat 49th Open, 2008 Sennen Cove Yearling Nat 223rd Open, 2009 Vannes Kings Cup 55th Open. From the North Sect Tommy McClean of Annaghmore – 2007 Sennen Cove YB Nat 5th Open, 2008 Sennen Cove Yearling Nat 138th Open, 2009 Vannes Kings Cup 30th Open. Tommy’s winning pigeon was a Blue hen. Hens 2 – Cocks 0.

2010 saw three Triple Crown Awards all won un the North Sect. Glen Buckley & Son of Annaghmore won their Triple Crown Award with a Blue w/f hen – 2008 Sennen Cove YB Nat 134th Open, 2009 Sennen Cove Yearling Nat 29th Open, 2010 Vannes Kings Cup 201st Open. The Annaghmore HPS added another Triple Crown to its total, Willie Neill claimed his with a Blue hen – 2008 Sennen Cove YB Nat 89th Open, 2009 Sennen Cove Yearling Nat 62nd Open, 2010 Vannes Kings Cup 53rd Open. From all three races the hen was in the Top 100 of the Open Result! Ronnie Williamson of Bondhill has already won a Merit Award, Hall of Fame Diploma, Gold Medal and now adds the Triple Crown Diploma to his CV. Ronnie’s winner is a Blue Pied hen – 2008 Sennen Cove YB Nat 32nd Open, 2009 Sennen Cove Yearling Nat 194th Open, 2010 Vannes Kings Cup 72nd Open. Hens 5 – Cocks 0.

The 2011 season saw two more Triple Crown Awards won, the first of these to Sam Duke of Crossgar, the East Down Combine Secretary and a top class National flyer. The winning pigeon is a Blue Chew hen and her record to win the award the first in EDC – 2009 Penzance YB Nat 75th Open, 2010 Sennen Cove Yearling Nat 83rd Open, 2011 Vannes Kings Cup 94th Open. Sam had just the second pigeon to be placed in the Top 100 in all three races. Willie Corrigan of Loughgall is the first member to win the Triple Crown Award with a cock. This Blue cock collected his award with the following results – 2009 Penzance YB Nat 135th Open, 2010 Sennen Cove Yearling Nat 126th Open, 2011 Vannes Kings Cup 143rd Open. Willie is a brother to Sam Corrigan and has a very good National record.

2012 and for the first time since the award was flown for we have no winners. This award has now been flown for over four seasons and we have a total of seven winners. Hens 6 – Cocks 1. To date the hens have been more successful, Mid Ulster lofts have a super record winning no less than five of the seven awards to date. Irish Rover.