Mid Ulster Fed - 2nd Portlaoise YB 01/08/26

[willie reynolds]

Mid Ulster Federation – 2nd Portlaoise Young Bird Race

The Mid Ulster Federation returned to Portlaoise on Saturday 1st August for the second young bird race of the season. A total of 32 members sent 1,345 pigeons, with the convoy liberated at 8.38am into generally sunny conditions with a south-west to west wind of around 10–11mph, providing favourable racing conditions for the journey home.
The race produced a superb finish, with G & S McMullan of Bleary taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd Federation, their winning pigeon recording a velocity of 1861.399 ypm. Ronnie Williamson of the Hoggis Centre followed closely behind, claiming 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th Federation, another outstanding performance from one of the Federation’s leading lofts.
The Bleary Centre belonged to G & S McMullan, whose first three pigeons headed the Federation result. Their winning youngster has recently been named “Little Nims” in memory of one of the 14 mountaineers who tragically lost their lives in the recent avalanche.
“Little Nims” is bred from Ceuster × Rico. The sire of the winner and the dam of the second prize winner are summer-bred nestmates from last season. The partnership would also like to thank Tim Webster (UK) for the Rico bloodlines. Their third Federation pigeon is bred from Ceuster × Gabby, with all three pigeons sharing the same granddam—a wonderful example of the consistency within their family.
The Hoggis Centre once again saw Ronnie Williamson produce an exceptional performance, filling many of the leading Federation positions and demonstrating the tremendous form of his young bird team.
In the Meadows Centre, Geoffrey Douglas also enjoyed an outstanding race, taking the first three positions in the centre and placing 12th, 39th and 42nd Federation, another excellent card against strong competition.
Congratulations also go to G. A. Campbell, who topped the Armagh Centre, continuing another highly competitive week for the Federation.
A sincere thank you goes to Jackie McNeill Cars & Co. for generously sponsoring this week’s race and prize fund. Thanks also go to the convoying team, race controllers, centre officials and all the volunteers whose hard work ensures the smooth running of the Mid Ulster Federation each week.
Finally, congratulations to every member who featured in the result and to all who clocked pigeons on another excellent day of young bird racing. We wish everyone the very best of luck for next week’s race.