Pigeon Network

At the beginning of last year the club decided to run a prize scheme for the racing season to add a bit more interest and competitiveness. This was sponsored by a lot of local businesses and from plenty of club members, which we are very thankful for.
The prize pot at the end of the year was tightly contested, with Matthew Russell doing his best to blow his lead but luckily for him he held on.
We are going to do a weekly loft report on members starting from the top prizewinner and working our way down. This means I'll be sticking a loft report up from Matty over the weekend. Hopefully everybody will enjoy reading the reports. Fantastic racing from all members this year and we are looking forward to 2025 as a club already.

Our first loft profile of the year comes from a very big personality in the club. He won the overall prizemoney in the club scheme this year and will be out to do even better this year.
1. Racing name – Matthew Russell
2. How long have you been racing – From as long as I can remember with my dad (Russell Bros), in 2019 I moved to my new house and started up on my own.
3. Who started you in racing pigeons – Dad.
4. Highlights of 2024 – 3rd and 4th open Skibereen old bird National, 1st club 55th open Kings Cup and 11th Single bird challenge.
5. Best 5 performances – When racing with dad and Luke 1st club 1st sect 1st open St Malo old bird National 2017. On my own 3rd open Corrin 5 bird YB 2019, 1st Sect 7th open Talbenny 2019, 1st club 12th North sect Skibereen yb (2nd Lurgan gold ring), 1st club 2nd sect 14th open St Malo national 2022, 2nd club 88th open Kings cup 2022 4th single bird challenge.
6. First person to call on a Saturday – Russell Bros.
7. What breed of pigeons do you race – Channel and French birds are from Russell Bros, sprint lines are from Philip Boal, J Smyth and sons and a few others.
8. Main rivalry – Russell bros now but in the old days when racing with dad it was very important to beat N Black and son.
9. Favourite races – Bude and St Malo but I do like the 5 bird races from Fermoy.
10. Goal for 2025 – Try and improve on 2024.
William Seaton
Brilliant Mr Russell

The second loft report comes from none other than the 'self proclaimed' PK. He ended the racing season in second place in the prize money initiative.
Racing Name : Darren Aiken, but the lads all call me PK because they think I’m the next pigeon king.
How long have you been racing pigeons for : I started racing young birds in 2017 but only starting to race a pigeon now.
Who got you started in pigeon racing : Fellow club members/ Neighbours Derek Edgar & Matt Jardine. Didn’t know what a raging pigeon was until I met those guys.
What are your goals for 2025 : My goal for next year is to be competitive within the club, just like 2024
What’s your best racing results : What a year! Two 1st section D’s, 3rd & 4th open, and 17th open INFC Penzance.
First person to call on a Saturday : Everybody phones me. Lol I try not to phone anybody because I prefer going to the club.
What breed are most of your birds : Bosua/Figo but a lot of my good pigeons from good fanciers crossed in.
Which club member do you want to beat every week : Always like to be in front of Davy Black, but France seems to be a problem! Nice to be in front of Matty too.
Which races do you aim for each year : Always liked a good Penzance, but from now on it will be them all.
What do you look for in pigeons : Good, honest pigeons and let the basket sort them out.
PK time.

This week for the loft report it is the club's recent big winners, the Russell Bros. A few good results throughout the season have enabled this partnership to finish 3rd in the club's prize scheme. I can't say too much about them otherwise I'll get a good bit of slagging from fellow club mates.
1. What is your racing name?
Russell Bros
2. How long have you been racing pigeons for?
50+ years
3. Who got you started in pigeon racing?
Jim Moreland
4. What are your goals for 2025?
A good result in 5 bird Fermoy and to do well in the classic. Generally more consistent through the racing season rather than the odd good result.
5. What is your best racing result?
Winning the OB Derby in 2017, winning the YB National in 2024 and being third in the Kings Cup in 2019. Dad is still adamant his best pigeon is a cheq hen who finished top 10 in the yearling national in the late 70s/early 80s. Luke would say it is '72' as she was 1st club 1st sect 5th open and 1st club 3rd sect 21st open, as well as breeding a silver medal winner.
6. First person to call on a Saturday after a race?
Matty usually calls us and usually tells wee fibs about his time before we tell him ours.
7. What breed are most of your birds?
A complete dolly mixture in the shed. My old birds would've been Delbars and then have been crossed to whatever breed Luke/Matty has decided to get in.
8. Which club member do you most want to beat every week?
Matthew Russell. The family rivalry is going strong.
9. Which race is your favourite?
One of the channel races, usually a good hard Bude is always a good race.
10. What system do you race your pigeons?
Try something new every year to see what works best for the birds.

This week's loft report comes from none other than Chris Rooney. Chris finished fourth in the club's recent prizemoney scheme and is constantly at the top of the sheet. For being a fairly recent starter he's got a good team of pigeons assembled and already knows how to get them to win.
1. What is your racing name?
C Rooney and Sons (No relation to the lofts of Kevin and Kristopher Rooney, He is not my da!)
2. How long have you been racing pigeons for?
Started with a kit of youngbirds in 2019 and lost the most of them in a bad toss.
3. Who got you started in pigeon racing?
I always had a few fantails flying about the house. They were housed in a rabbit hutch, then I built a bigger pen for them, which meant I could get a few more.
A friend of a friend sent me to Aiden McAteer one Saturday morning. Which just happened to be a race day and the birds were due home, he invited me to stay and watch.
I never knew anything about racing and never had an interest, but before I left his yard that day I knew I had to try it, when I seen the birds diving and trapping watching the sky. A few false alarms with wood pigeons, I loved it.
4. What are your goals for 2025?
Same as everyone! To win an open in the NIPA. Also need to sort out a dependable stock team.
5. What is your best racing result?
Best result would be 3rd open Skibb YB 2021.
6. First person to call on a Saturday after a race?
Packy Brown of G and P Brown Annsborough
7. What breed are most of your birds?
Most of my birds are Van Dyke/Gus Jansen got from my good friend and mentor Packy Brown.
8. Which club member do you most want to beat every week?
The man to beat Derek Edgar.
9. Which race is your favourite?
Skibbereen would be the one I would like to win the most. I don’t have enough experience for the channel racing yet.
10. What do you look for in pigeons?
Mainly size like big cocks and big hens with sprint racing in mind.


Chris Rooney.

With a few weeks of no reports from the fifth and sixth most successful fanciers in the prize scheme, we move on to the partnership that finished seventh in the club's prize scheme.

This week's loft report comes from the very reputable Davy Black of the N. Black & Son partnership. The Black family have had another successful year in the big races.

1. What is your racing partnership name? N.Black&Son.
2. How long have you been racing pigeons?
51 years.
3. Who got you started in racing pigeons? Russell Bros
4. What are your goals for 2025?
To be in the prizes in the Kings Cup.
5. What is your best racing result?
Close call between winning the Kings Cup, having 3 in the first 8 in the Kings Cup or winning a Gold Medal.
6. First person to call on a Saturday after a race?
Gerry Black.
7. What breed are most of your birds?
Always the same family Delbar/Dellmotte/ Jurion.
8. Which club member do you want to beat each week?
The ones whose names begin with an R.
9 Which race do you aim for each year?
Kings Cup.
10. What do you look for in a pigeon?
Pigeons which are never tired on returning from a race.


Black Family, Dromara