Skibbereen OB Inl Nat 2010 - Top 10 Report
Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 12:52 pm
Skibbereen National Success for the “Special One”
The Bamfords Top Flight sponsored INFC Skibbereen O/Bird National was flown on Tuesday 25th May with 489 members three down on the same race last year sending a convoy of 3,754 pigeons just one down on the number entered in this corresponding event in 2009. The convoy of potential hopefuls were liberated at 10.00am in a Light North Easterly Wind, with a good steady race expected. Over the years this race has associated itself with a band of successful fanciers who excel from this particular race point both in the North of Ireland and the South, known to many as the Skibbereen specialists. As it turned out to be it was to be the turn of the Wexford area to dominate the top National positions in this particular race yet again having left their consistent mark over recent years. But a much bigger story was to emerge as the day progressed, rumour had it that their was a batch of early pigeons into the Wexford area, nothing unusual in that, but one major factor was to surface and that the name of Billy Cullimore, a previous winner of this same race in 2006 and 2007. Billy racing a superb team of Staf Van Reets is certainly no stranger to the INFC Prize Distribution and more so no stranger to this particular race as previous events have proved, simply he has it mastered, in all he has now won this race 3 times in the last 5 years. Flying 130 miles he went one better and also finished 2nd Open with the loft of R & M Hillis also from the same Club finishing 3rd Open having previously finished 4th Open in this same race in 2007 and 52nd Open in the 2008 event. Another major name in the National Flying Club Ger Furlong was also to have his say once again from Skibbereen finishing 4th, 6th & 8th Open, yet again he we have a fancier who has more than proved his pedigree from this event, in 2009 1st South Section finishing 5th Open INFC, in 2008 he was 7th South Section in a race that was dominated by the fancier from the North over-all he finished a credible 103rd Open INFC, 2007 he was just pipped for 1st Open by six yards by this years winner in the 2007 Ger Furlong also finished 6th, 18th, 25th & 30th Open INFC just to name a few, a superb National flyer without any doubt.
Sponsorship is very important in any organisation and the Committee and Members of the INFC are very grateful to Bamfords Top Flight for the sponsorship given to this particular race, the winning fancier will receive 5 bags of corn, with 3 bags of corn going to the first member of the following organisations to time NIPA, EDC, ISRF, Ulster Federation and East Coast Federation. The winners are 1st Open Billy Cullimore 5 x Bags; 7th Open (1st NIPA) P & J Boal Dromore 3 Bags; 14th Open (1st EDC) Alec Crawford Ballylesson 3 Bags; 12th Open Alan Nulty (1st ISRF) 3 Bags; 35th Open (1st Ulster Fed) P & K McCarthy 3 Bags and 69th Open (1st ECF) J Mulroy 3 Bags.
1st Open Billy Cullimore, Wexford North & South Vel 1260.
‘The Special One’ is a superb pigeon of Billys having previously won 1st Open South Leinster Fed from the O/Bird Derby, the Derby and National Winners are very few and far between, and one that Billy I am sure is very proud of on the day the pigeon was the first timed from the event flying 130 miles and held on to top the National result completing the hat-trick for Billy in this event, if it where the Champions League he would be keeping the Cup. The National winner is a direct from ‘Stitch’ winner of Bird of the Year in 2005, 06, 07 and runner-up in 08, coming down from the best of the Staf Van Reet lines. Dam is also a Staf Van Reet now at stock she is a winner herself from Skibbereen and is a direct daughter of the 99 cock who in turn is G/Sire to a couple of previous National Winner including 5 times 1st Open Winners, what a pigeon.
2nd Open Billy Cullimore, Wexford North & South Vel 1260.
With point three of a yard separating both pigeons for Billy really any of the two could have won the National this one has been named also as ‘The Boss Cock’ like many of Billy’s good compact team this one is also a winner previously having won twice 1st Open South Leinster Federations. ‘The Boss Cock’ is a direct son of a super pigeon of Billy’s winner of no less than 5 x 1st and a ½ brother of the famous ‘Stitch’. Dam is a Staf Van Reet and a direct daughter of the famous ‘99’ Cock, see previous text in association to 1st National.
3rd Open R & M Hillis, Wexford North & South Vel 1215.
R & M Hillis, like the aforementioned two fanciers have proved their worth in this race from Skibbereen having previously finished 4th Open in 2007 and 52nd Open in the 2008. They timed on this occasion a Yearling Hen to finish 3rd South Section and 3rd Open INFC, they are like many fanciers in the Wexford area previously have had their fair share of success, Robin and Mary like Billy Cullimore have a superb team of Staf Van Reets and they continue to win out of turn.
4th Open Ger Furlong, Wexford North & South Vel 1213.
You could talk all day about these Wexford Fanciers, but let us let this pigeon finishing fourth Open speak for itself, it is a superb racer, having finished 6th Open INFC Skibbereen in 2007 on a velocity of 1441ypm, then in 2008 sent again finishing in a predominately Northern suited race 34th South Section and 130th Open over-all. On top of these National positions this pigeon has won 2 x 1st Clubs and has another eighteen prizes in the top ten positions in both Club and Federation. Already this season Ger has won 1st Club, 1st Section, 1st Federation finishing 12th Open Waterville IHU National. In 2009 Ger also won 1st South Section and 5th Open INFC O/Bird National Skibbereen with 3,755 birds competing. Also in 2007 Ger was 2nd & 6th Open in the INFC Skibbereen O/B National with 3600 birds competing. Ger first two arrivals are from his own strain of pigeons that he and his late uncle Jimmy cultivated themselves over the years with great success. Gers third arrival winning 8th open is a Janssen bred from new introductions to the lofts in the last year a superb racer especially from Skibbereen with the National Flying Club.
5th Open Thomas Hore, Wexford North & South Vel 1212.
Thomas’s first arrival now named ‘JP’ is a Jos Soontjen bred from bloodlines obtained from none other than John Patterson from Belfast. ’JP’ is bred down from the ‘Stud Cock’ who is responsible for 18 x 1st Combine winners. The ‘Stud Cock’ is the grandfather of ‘The 147’ winner of 1st Club, 1st Section, 1st Open EDC Skibbereen Classic 1,187 Birds; 1st Club, 3rd Section, 4th Open EDC Fermoy 6,107 Birds; 2nd Club, 6th Section, 6th Open EDC Thurles 4,894 birds; 1st Club, 1st Section, 1st Open EDC Thurles 6,312 Birds; 1st Club, 1st Section, 3rd Open Tullamore 3,833 Birds. Plus many more positions. The ‘147’ was also EDC Bird of the Year in 2006. ‘Stud cock’ is also responsible for “The 718” winner of 1st Club, 1st Section, and 1st Open East Down Combine Mallow 5,541 pigeons and is also g/sire of the ‘One’ hen who was the Skibbereen YB National winner for John in 2008.
6th Open Ger Furlong, Wexford North & South Vel 1212. (see 4th Open Detail)
7th Open – 1st North Section P & J Boal, Dromore HPS Vel 1207.
One of the top performing lofts this season without a shadow of doubt is that of Phillip & Joe Boal of Dromore, the brothers have been in electrifying form just not producing winner after winner themselves but also doing it for others with Billy Harris the latest in a long line of success stories coming from the Boal Stock Lofts. Billy Harris of the Dublin North East Club recently won the ISRF Open Race from Valentia bred down from a pair of pigeons sourced from the lofts of Phillip & Joe Boal, Billy is just one of a number who can’t lump enough praise firstly of Phillip but secondly the famous family of Willy Van Herck pigeons that the brothers own. Just some of the brothers results this season to date racing in the very competitive Section D of the mighty NIPA include :- Tullamore (1) 5th, 6th & 35th Section D with 99 members sending 2,093 pigeons; Tullamore (2) 1st, 14th, 15th, 40th, 41st & 42nd Section D finishing 2nd, 54th, 57th, 150th & 165th Open NIPA 1101 members sending 24,776 pigeons; on to Roscrea where the loft was to finish 2nd, 32nd & 33rd Section D finishing 113th Open NIPA against 28,018 pigeons; fourth race of the season was from Clonmel the Boal loft continued its consistent form finishing 5th, 28th & 32nd Section D and over-all 17th Open NIPA against 25,998 pigeons, the following week the NIPA returned to Clonmel and the Boal loft once again finished well in the Section result 5th, 7th, 8th & 21st against 3,344 pigeons in the Open result with a birdage of 26,551 the loft finished 107th, 110th & 111th. The sixth race of the NIPA programme was from Fermoy the Boal loft in Section D finished 11th, 12th, 14th, 21st & 35th and in the corresponding NIPA Open result they where 62nd, 65th, 68th & 113th against 26,159 pigeons. Moving onto Rosscarbery where the NIPA where to fly their Inland O/Bird National which was to be the weekend before the INFC Skibbereen, the Boal loft enjoyed a super result finishing 3rd, 5th, 8th, 17th, 28th, 30th and 31st Section D finishing 43rd, 51st, 91st, 153rd, 246th, 252nd & 255th Open with 846 members sending 6,681 pigeons. Over the last couple of seasons Phillip & Joe have actively watched the Belgium scene with Phillip a regular reader of the weekly Duif, with many good friends already established in Belgium it wasn’t long before he was directed to an 84 year old fancier by the name of Frans Van Tilbourg, this man although keeping a small team has been year in year out at the top of his game with an average of 20 – 30 1st’s per season. So impressed was Philip that he now owns 26 direct from the Frans Van Tilbourg lofts, and these are now starting to reward Philips belief at that time that they where to be the up and coming strain to enter Ireland. This brings us nicely onto the winner of 1st North Section and 7th Open INFC Skibbereen National, she is a Frans Van Tilbourg Blue Cheq Hen flying on widowhood. She is an absolute stunning pigeon to handle, but look at her performances for a yearling, just this year 1st Club, 1st Section D, 2nd Open NIPA Tullamore 24,776 pigeons, then 3rd Section D, 43rd Open NIPA Rosscarbery National 6,681 pigeons before going to Skibbereen where she is 1st North Section finishing 7th Open flying 236 miles.
8th Open Ger Furlong, Wexford North & South Vel 1205. (See 4th Open Detail)
9th Open Brendan Smith, Wexford North & South Vel 1203.
Brendan’s three year old winner flying 131 miles was bred for him by his brother Robbie who himself is a previous winner of the INFC Y/Bird National. This bird is a Staff Van Reet bred from two birds which Robbie purchased from Dean Pallet. The loft also finished 54th Open with a small team of eight entered.
10th Open – 2nd North Section Jeff Greenaway, Dromore Vel 1198.
One of the top pigeon men in the North of Ireland and current NIPA Section D Fancier of the Year is Jeff Greenaway racing as Universal Lofts (N). Jeff timed a 2 year old Blue Hen racing on the Roundabout system. She is a direct daughter from a Vandenbelle Hen gifted to Jeff by good friend Eddie McGimpsey of Ards and already a breeder of some very good prize winners, when paired to an Andre Roodhooft Cock, Jeff has been good friends with Andre now for a few years and has some super stock now at his lofts from this legend of a fancier. The winning pigeon timed at 15.46pm flying 235 miles has been racing steadily up till now, she is a previous winner of 141st Open INFC Yearling National on a velocity of 1091ypm. From Clonmel on the Saturday before basketing she was in the first bunch to arrive at the Greenaway lofts, a race that Jeff won Section D of the NIPA, which was just the start of a winning weekend for the loft, scoring also 2nd , 15th , 19th , 24th Section D and 40th , 128th , 173rd , 210th Open from the Rosscarbery O/Bird Inland National, in this same race the loft of D & P Harvey racing with the Horse Shoe HPS finished 8th Open with one purchased from Jeff, also in the Skibbereen National result finishing 12th Open is Alan Nulty of Dublin also with one purchased last year from Jeff Greenaway. Super pigeon man with super pigeons.
All in all a very successful first race for the INFC many thanks to all who were involved, those who helped at the race marking, and that included the setting of clocks for the first time and then the race checking. I always say it is a massive effort to run the race and all those who assist, and there are many, all need to be thanked. Can I thank as well all those who were involved in helping with this race report, those especially who supplied text and photos. Again another massive team effort that is very much appreciated, and I hope the report is some reward for all of that.
Willie Reynolds
INFC Press Officer
Email reynoldshomer@aol.com
Tel: 07939 684876
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.infc.co.uk
Loft Manager & Trainer Tommy Byrne pictured with the National winning Billy Cullimore
with the 1st & 2nd National pigeons in the frame.
The loft of Robin & Mary Hillis finished 3rd Open in the National from Skibbereen,
Robin pictured here with Grandson Adam.
Ger Furlong knows a thing or two about Skibbereen and once again
had a superb race finishing 4th, 6th and 8th National.
A nice shot of the set up of Thomas Hore from Wexford
winner of 5th Open in the INFC Skibbereen National.
Philip Boal of the P & J Boal team from Dromore winner of 1st North
Section and 7th Open in the Skibbereen National collecting £1,200
Brendan Smith completed a remarkable race for the Wexford North &
South Club finishing 9th National and had another finishing 54th Open
to crown a good race.
2nd North Section and 10th National INFC Skibbereen goes to Jeff Greenaway
of Dromore who enjoyed an excellent weekend of racing.
The Bamfords Top Flight sponsored INFC Skibbereen O/Bird National was flown on Tuesday 25th May with 489 members three down on the same race last year sending a convoy of 3,754 pigeons just one down on the number entered in this corresponding event in 2009. The convoy of potential hopefuls were liberated at 10.00am in a Light North Easterly Wind, with a good steady race expected. Over the years this race has associated itself with a band of successful fanciers who excel from this particular race point both in the North of Ireland and the South, known to many as the Skibbereen specialists. As it turned out to be it was to be the turn of the Wexford area to dominate the top National positions in this particular race yet again having left their consistent mark over recent years. But a much bigger story was to emerge as the day progressed, rumour had it that their was a batch of early pigeons into the Wexford area, nothing unusual in that, but one major factor was to surface and that the name of Billy Cullimore, a previous winner of this same race in 2006 and 2007. Billy racing a superb team of Staf Van Reets is certainly no stranger to the INFC Prize Distribution and more so no stranger to this particular race as previous events have proved, simply he has it mastered, in all he has now won this race 3 times in the last 5 years. Flying 130 miles he went one better and also finished 2nd Open with the loft of R & M Hillis also from the same Club finishing 3rd Open having previously finished 4th Open in this same race in 2007 and 52nd Open in the 2008 event. Another major name in the National Flying Club Ger Furlong was also to have his say once again from Skibbereen finishing 4th, 6th & 8th Open, yet again he we have a fancier who has more than proved his pedigree from this event, in 2009 1st South Section finishing 5th Open INFC, in 2008 he was 7th South Section in a race that was dominated by the fancier from the North over-all he finished a credible 103rd Open INFC, 2007 he was just pipped for 1st Open by six yards by this years winner in the 2007 Ger Furlong also finished 6th, 18th, 25th & 30th Open INFC just to name a few, a superb National flyer without any doubt.
Sponsorship is very important in any organisation and the Committee and Members of the INFC are very grateful to Bamfords Top Flight for the sponsorship given to this particular race, the winning fancier will receive 5 bags of corn, with 3 bags of corn going to the first member of the following organisations to time NIPA, EDC, ISRF, Ulster Federation and East Coast Federation. The winners are 1st Open Billy Cullimore 5 x Bags; 7th Open (1st NIPA) P & J Boal Dromore 3 Bags; 14th Open (1st EDC) Alec Crawford Ballylesson 3 Bags; 12th Open Alan Nulty (1st ISRF) 3 Bags; 35th Open (1st Ulster Fed) P & K McCarthy 3 Bags and 69th Open (1st ECF) J Mulroy 3 Bags.
1st Open Billy Cullimore, Wexford North & South Vel 1260.
‘The Special One’ is a superb pigeon of Billys having previously won 1st Open South Leinster Fed from the O/Bird Derby, the Derby and National Winners are very few and far between, and one that Billy I am sure is very proud of on the day the pigeon was the first timed from the event flying 130 miles and held on to top the National result completing the hat-trick for Billy in this event, if it where the Champions League he would be keeping the Cup. The National winner is a direct from ‘Stitch’ winner of Bird of the Year in 2005, 06, 07 and runner-up in 08, coming down from the best of the Staf Van Reet lines. Dam is also a Staf Van Reet now at stock she is a winner herself from Skibbereen and is a direct daughter of the 99 cock who in turn is G/Sire to a couple of previous National Winner including 5 times 1st Open Winners, what a pigeon.
2nd Open Billy Cullimore, Wexford North & South Vel 1260.
With point three of a yard separating both pigeons for Billy really any of the two could have won the National this one has been named also as ‘The Boss Cock’ like many of Billy’s good compact team this one is also a winner previously having won twice 1st Open South Leinster Federations. ‘The Boss Cock’ is a direct son of a super pigeon of Billy’s winner of no less than 5 x 1st and a ½ brother of the famous ‘Stitch’. Dam is a Staf Van Reet and a direct daughter of the famous ‘99’ Cock, see previous text in association to 1st National.
3rd Open R & M Hillis, Wexford North & South Vel 1215.
R & M Hillis, like the aforementioned two fanciers have proved their worth in this race from Skibbereen having previously finished 4th Open in 2007 and 52nd Open in the 2008. They timed on this occasion a Yearling Hen to finish 3rd South Section and 3rd Open INFC, they are like many fanciers in the Wexford area previously have had their fair share of success, Robin and Mary like Billy Cullimore have a superb team of Staf Van Reets and they continue to win out of turn.
4th Open Ger Furlong, Wexford North & South Vel 1213.
You could talk all day about these Wexford Fanciers, but let us let this pigeon finishing fourth Open speak for itself, it is a superb racer, having finished 6th Open INFC Skibbereen in 2007 on a velocity of 1441ypm, then in 2008 sent again finishing in a predominately Northern suited race 34th South Section and 130th Open over-all. On top of these National positions this pigeon has won 2 x 1st Clubs and has another eighteen prizes in the top ten positions in both Club and Federation. Already this season Ger has won 1st Club, 1st Section, 1st Federation finishing 12th Open Waterville IHU National. In 2009 Ger also won 1st South Section and 5th Open INFC O/Bird National Skibbereen with 3,755 birds competing. Also in 2007 Ger was 2nd & 6th Open in the INFC Skibbereen O/B National with 3600 birds competing. Ger first two arrivals are from his own strain of pigeons that he and his late uncle Jimmy cultivated themselves over the years with great success. Gers third arrival winning 8th open is a Janssen bred from new introductions to the lofts in the last year a superb racer especially from Skibbereen with the National Flying Club.
5th Open Thomas Hore, Wexford North & South Vel 1212.
Thomas’s first arrival now named ‘JP’ is a Jos Soontjen bred from bloodlines obtained from none other than John Patterson from Belfast. ’JP’ is bred down from the ‘Stud Cock’ who is responsible for 18 x 1st Combine winners. The ‘Stud Cock’ is the grandfather of ‘The 147’ winner of 1st Club, 1st Section, 1st Open EDC Skibbereen Classic 1,187 Birds; 1st Club, 3rd Section, 4th Open EDC Fermoy 6,107 Birds; 2nd Club, 6th Section, 6th Open EDC Thurles 4,894 birds; 1st Club, 1st Section, 1st Open EDC Thurles 6,312 Birds; 1st Club, 1st Section, 3rd Open Tullamore 3,833 Birds. Plus many more positions. The ‘147’ was also EDC Bird of the Year in 2006. ‘Stud cock’ is also responsible for “The 718” winner of 1st Club, 1st Section, and 1st Open East Down Combine Mallow 5,541 pigeons and is also g/sire of the ‘One’ hen who was the Skibbereen YB National winner for John in 2008.
6th Open Ger Furlong, Wexford North & South Vel 1212. (see 4th Open Detail)
7th Open – 1st North Section P & J Boal, Dromore HPS Vel 1207.
One of the top performing lofts this season without a shadow of doubt is that of Phillip & Joe Boal of Dromore, the brothers have been in electrifying form just not producing winner after winner themselves but also doing it for others with Billy Harris the latest in a long line of success stories coming from the Boal Stock Lofts. Billy Harris of the Dublin North East Club recently won the ISRF Open Race from Valentia bred down from a pair of pigeons sourced from the lofts of Phillip & Joe Boal, Billy is just one of a number who can’t lump enough praise firstly of Phillip but secondly the famous family of Willy Van Herck pigeons that the brothers own. Just some of the brothers results this season to date racing in the very competitive Section D of the mighty NIPA include :- Tullamore (1) 5th, 6th & 35th Section D with 99 members sending 2,093 pigeons; Tullamore (2) 1st, 14th, 15th, 40th, 41st & 42nd Section D finishing 2nd, 54th, 57th, 150th & 165th Open NIPA 1101 members sending 24,776 pigeons; on to Roscrea where the loft was to finish 2nd, 32nd & 33rd Section D finishing 113th Open NIPA against 28,018 pigeons; fourth race of the season was from Clonmel the Boal loft continued its consistent form finishing 5th, 28th & 32nd Section D and over-all 17th Open NIPA against 25,998 pigeons, the following week the NIPA returned to Clonmel and the Boal loft once again finished well in the Section result 5th, 7th, 8th & 21st against 3,344 pigeons in the Open result with a birdage of 26,551 the loft finished 107th, 110th & 111th. The sixth race of the NIPA programme was from Fermoy the Boal loft in Section D finished 11th, 12th, 14th, 21st & 35th and in the corresponding NIPA Open result they where 62nd, 65th, 68th & 113th against 26,159 pigeons. Moving onto Rosscarbery where the NIPA where to fly their Inland O/Bird National which was to be the weekend before the INFC Skibbereen, the Boal loft enjoyed a super result finishing 3rd, 5th, 8th, 17th, 28th, 30th and 31st Section D finishing 43rd, 51st, 91st, 153rd, 246th, 252nd & 255th Open with 846 members sending 6,681 pigeons. Over the last couple of seasons Phillip & Joe have actively watched the Belgium scene with Phillip a regular reader of the weekly Duif, with many good friends already established in Belgium it wasn’t long before he was directed to an 84 year old fancier by the name of Frans Van Tilbourg, this man although keeping a small team has been year in year out at the top of his game with an average of 20 – 30 1st’s per season. So impressed was Philip that he now owns 26 direct from the Frans Van Tilbourg lofts, and these are now starting to reward Philips belief at that time that they where to be the up and coming strain to enter Ireland. This brings us nicely onto the winner of 1st North Section and 7th Open INFC Skibbereen National, she is a Frans Van Tilbourg Blue Cheq Hen flying on widowhood. She is an absolute stunning pigeon to handle, but look at her performances for a yearling, just this year 1st Club, 1st Section D, 2nd Open NIPA Tullamore 24,776 pigeons, then 3rd Section D, 43rd Open NIPA Rosscarbery National 6,681 pigeons before going to Skibbereen where she is 1st North Section finishing 7th Open flying 236 miles.
8th Open Ger Furlong, Wexford North & South Vel 1205. (See 4th Open Detail)
9th Open Brendan Smith, Wexford North & South Vel 1203.
Brendan’s three year old winner flying 131 miles was bred for him by his brother Robbie who himself is a previous winner of the INFC Y/Bird National. This bird is a Staff Van Reet bred from two birds which Robbie purchased from Dean Pallet. The loft also finished 54th Open with a small team of eight entered.
10th Open – 2nd North Section Jeff Greenaway, Dromore Vel 1198.
One of the top pigeon men in the North of Ireland and current NIPA Section D Fancier of the Year is Jeff Greenaway racing as Universal Lofts (N). Jeff timed a 2 year old Blue Hen racing on the Roundabout system. She is a direct daughter from a Vandenbelle Hen gifted to Jeff by good friend Eddie McGimpsey of Ards and already a breeder of some very good prize winners, when paired to an Andre Roodhooft Cock, Jeff has been good friends with Andre now for a few years and has some super stock now at his lofts from this legend of a fancier. The winning pigeon timed at 15.46pm flying 235 miles has been racing steadily up till now, she is a previous winner of 141st Open INFC Yearling National on a velocity of 1091ypm. From Clonmel on the Saturday before basketing she was in the first bunch to arrive at the Greenaway lofts, a race that Jeff won Section D of the NIPA, which was just the start of a winning weekend for the loft, scoring also 2nd , 15th , 19th , 24th Section D and 40th , 128th , 173rd , 210th Open from the Rosscarbery O/Bird Inland National, in this same race the loft of D & P Harvey racing with the Horse Shoe HPS finished 8th Open with one purchased from Jeff, also in the Skibbereen National result finishing 12th Open is Alan Nulty of Dublin also with one purchased last year from Jeff Greenaway. Super pigeon man with super pigeons.
All in all a very successful first race for the INFC many thanks to all who were involved, those who helped at the race marking, and that included the setting of clocks for the first time and then the race checking. I always say it is a massive effort to run the race and all those who assist, and there are many, all need to be thanked. Can I thank as well all those who were involved in helping with this race report, those especially who supplied text and photos. Again another massive team effort that is very much appreciated, and I hope the report is some reward for all of that.
Willie Reynolds
INFC Press Officer
Email reynoldshomer@aol.com
Tel: 07939 684876
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.infc.co.uk
Loft Manager & Trainer Tommy Byrne pictured with the National winning Billy Cullimore
with the 1st & 2nd National pigeons in the frame.
The loft of Robin & Mary Hillis finished 3rd Open in the National from Skibbereen,
Robin pictured here with Grandson Adam.
Ger Furlong knows a thing or two about Skibbereen and once again
had a superb race finishing 4th, 6th and 8th National.
A nice shot of the set up of Thomas Hore from Wexford
winner of 5th Open in the INFC Skibbereen National.
Philip Boal of the P & J Boal team from Dromore winner of 1st North
Section and 7th Open in the Skibbereen National collecting £1,200
Brendan Smith completed a remarkable race for the Wexford North &
South Club finishing 9th National and had another finishing 54th Open
to crown a good race.
2nd North Section and 10th National INFC Skibbereen goes to Jeff Greenaway
of Dromore who enjoyed an excellent weekend of racing.