Yearling National 2010 - Top 10 Report
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:26 pm
Record 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open for Alan Darragh of Cullybackey
Against the odds and what was regarded as a hard day for the far flying lofts Alan Darragh from Cullybackey has set new records with the Irish Nat FC, he had 5 x 1sts up to the present time, that itself was the overall record. Now he has hit the famous six, and he celebrated in style with 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open, a feat never previously achieved in the history of the INFC. She will all take some beating, but the record is set for that purpose. The Yearling Nat was flown from Sennen Cove on Friday 11th June, 844 members sent 4,337 birds competing for £36,685 in pools and prizes in one of the top events of the old bird season. Liberation was at 8.00am in a Lt NNE wind. The race was due to be flown on Wednesday but was delayed due to weather conditions on the Irish Sea. Some 400 birds were recorded on the day, a good success. Alan has won the Kings Cup with Independent Ranger in 1986, and has previously won the Yearling Nat, that came three years later with Swallow Brae Lad. Alan Darragh scored a best ever result in Mid Antrim winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd and a result that will be talked about for years.
1st, 2nd & 3rd Open Alan Darragh, Cullybackey 332 Miles, Vel 958, 958 & 937 plus £1,540.
As well as winning the Nelson Corry trophy Alan will also lift the Sam Buckley Memorial Trophy for the Best 2 Bird Average. All three birds were cocks on widowhood that had every race in Ireland, despite the fact the first two birds were timed together the winner was two minutes ahead and was slow to trap. Time lost might have been a big problem, but not on this occasion. I was asked to visit the loft and verify the arrivals, over the years I have been to this loft on several occasions. The winner a Blue Cheq has now been named Swallow Brae Star and was bred from stock obtained from John Wheatcroft of Nottingham who was well pleased to be involved with the winner. A hen was bred from birds obtained from John and this bird is proving to be invaluable in the stock loft, John is a regular visitor to Belgium and has obtained the very best bloodlines. The line involved here includes the very best of Koopman, Van Dyck and Maria Van De Velde. Alan had selected some stock when on a previous visit to the Wheatcroft loft in England. The nest-mate of this bird is a super racer for the Darragh loft, not always getting the publicity it deserves. In has a host of positions racing widowhood, a Cheq w/f cock he won three races on the trot including 1st MAC in the Skibbereen Inl Nat and 1st MAC in the Fermoy 5 Bird Classic with the NIPA. The second bird was like the other named by the grand-children, this one a Blue Pied cock Swallow Brae Warrior. This bird had won prizes and the breeding line includes a good hen that flew the Kings Cup three times and the best of the Swallow Brae Lad lines. The third bird a Blue cock has been named Swallow Brae Prince, he is from a hen that won 2nd in the YB Nat and the winner of 3rd Yearling Nat. As well as winning 6 x 1sts Nat the loft has come close on many other occasions, the 6 just the same will take some beating. Winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd Open in the INFC is as good as it gets, it could be a long time before that is equalled and the record in the meantime will stand with one of the best racers in the Island of Ireland – Alan Darragh.
4th Open B & M McCorriston, Dromore 300 Miles, Vel 937 plus £1,285.
Mo McCorriston from Dromore in County Down is already a 1st Nat winner and came very close again, 4th North Sect & 4th Open INFC and 1st Club Dromore HPS. The Blue Cheq cock racing on widowhood was the best of the Fletcher FVW containing the lines of De Beer and Crack Hen paired with a Frans Van Wildemeersch hen from Billy Hayes obtained at his Clearance Sale. The bird was a consistent racer and had scored previously, B & M McCorriston themselves have a good record in this particular race finishing 2nd, 4th, 9th and 26th Open. Many congratulations from all the members in Dromore HPS, well done indeed Mo.
5th Open D & B Lyness, Lurgan Social 303 Miles, Vel 935 plus £1,104.
I met Denis Lyness over the last couple of years at the race marking, unforgettable. I had covered this loft many times over a long number of years and Denis was glad to see I was sticking the pace so well. This was a famous loft in my early years in the sport, Castles & Lyness were big stars racing in the old Queens Club in Lurgan they topped the NIPA several times with their Fletcher Busschaert family. In the early eighties the loft won the Northern Ireland Fancier of the Year award, a photo will follow this report. In the Yearling Nat they timed a Lt Cheq hen on her first nest and feeding a young bird. She was raced lightly as a young bird and again this year, Denis was racing mostly the cocks. The hen had not been on the water before, bloodlines are Van Reet & Soontjen.
6th Open M & B McConville, Crumlin 316 Miles, Vel 926 plus £1,619.
Mickey and daughter Bronagh were putting up some fantastic results in Crumlin and it was no surprise they had an early bird home in the Yearling Nat, next best to Alan Darragh in the Muckamore Centre and best bird in the Antrim area. All told a massive 8 x 1sts were won in the old bird racing, great flying in a very competitive club. In the Yearling Nat the loft timed a Blue hen racing widowhood, a gift bird from Ian & Albert Cousins of Ballylesson. This Soontjen bird had a couple of young bird races and before Sennen Cove had most of the land races and Talbenny (1).
7th Open G & C Simmons, Edgarstown 307 Miles, Vel 920 plus £265.
Gary and Colin Simmons from Edgarstown in Portadown won 1st Club in the Yearling National and putting icing on the cake the very next day had 1st Club Fermoy and 1st Club Bude. Their Ylr Nat bird was a Cheq hen bred from stock purchased from Frank Tasker’s No 1 racing pair. The hen was very lightly raced as a young bird and had four races prior to Sennen Cove, sent on youngsters just hatched. Their winner from Bude was a Karl Boeckx hen from the Lakeside Lofts of Derek Parr racing Roundabout while the Fermoy 5 Bird winner was a Frank Sheader Soontjen cock racing on widowhood. Best into Portadown in the National is a super prize, thanks to Andrew for the info.
8th Open R Matthews, Sallynoggin 221 Miles, Vel 918 plus £803.
Ray Matthews is the first South Sect member to score in the INFC Top 10 finishing a good 8th Open, also 1st East Coast Federation. Ray will win the new James McGrugan Memorial Cup for the Section Winner not winning the Open. Ray Matthews sent seven birds and timed two arrivals, the loft had 1st Sallynoggin, 1st South Sect & 8th Open INFC, this bird was timed at 15.03hrs. This Blue cock was sent feeding two babies three days old. The sire of the bird won a Meritorious Award three times placed in France, he also won from Wadebridge and Sennen Cove. The dam is from the Golden Pair Janssen/Verheye. The second bird was timed at 15.38hrs, a Blue hen sitting on a 10 day youngster and similar bloodlines. Thanks Bren for all the help. Ray Matthews (l) with brother in-law Robbie in photo.
9th Open N Grant & Sons, Balbriggan 244 Miles, Vel 918 plus £392.
Noel Grant & Son from Balbriggan were just behind Ray Matthews, on the same yard in fact and with their Cheq hen finished 1st Club, 2nd South Sect, 2nd ECF and 9th Open INFC. She has the very best long distance bloodlines from two top lofts in Ireland Paddy Rock & Son from the Skerries and Liam McCall from Wicklow, both these lofts have an outstanding record. She had two races as a young bird, and this year had three land races and Talbenny (2) winning 6th Club before the Ylr Nat. Sent on overdue eggs she was slipped a 2 day old chick morning of basketing. This was the lofts best ever result, previously in this race they finished 2nd Sect & 15th Open INFC when racing with his father Noel. He passed away just before Christmas so the result is a little bit special, Adrian sent 11 getting five birds home and three in the result. The late Noel Grant served on the INFC Appeals Committee. Many thanks Adrian for your help and I look forward to seeing you in the results again.
10th Ron Williamson, Bondhill 304 Miles, Vel 917 plus £734.
Is any result complete without a mention of Rocket Ron Williamson, 10th Open INFC doing velocity 917. This loft continues to score at the very highest level, over 50 x 1sts now with the NIPA, 4 x 1st INFC and the former NI Fancier of the Year – And not done yet. I was at the loft recently but missed the man, I will be catching up with him shortly. This is another loft I have been covering since I started to scribe, he has won almost everything. Well done again Ron and I will see you soon, an updated report is overdue.
Sponsorship is very important in any organisation and the Committee and Members of the INFC are very grateful to Samuel McCausland Ltd for their sponsorship given to this particular race, the winning fancier Alan Darragh receives 5 bags of feeding, also McCauslands who have always been associated with first’s and have duly sponsored all the first places from 21st up to 101st Open the winners of 1 bag of feeding include 21st Open A Kelly Skerries; 31st Mr & Mrs Harris Bray South End; 41st J Campbell Balbriggan; 51st E Campbell Balbriggan; 61st Mr & Mrs Harris Bray South End; 71st N Black & Son Dromara; 81st Owen Kirwan Gorey RPS; 91st L F & B McGrath Drumnavaddy; 101st Brian O’Rawe Ballymena. The result is sponsored by the BHW.
In Mid Antrim Alan Darragh had the super 1st, 2nd & 3rd, Willie Gilbert and his dad had a bird each into Randalstown, but 1st Club was won by Hugh Boyd. Danny Dixon was well placed again with the best bird in Rasharkin and Billy Ramsey was 1st Club Harryville and 1st MAC in this race last season. Other winners included Brian O’Rawe 1st Ballymena ahead of three birds for Richmond Bros who have previously topped the MAC in this race, George Connolly who is having a good season 1st Club Broughshane and Charlie Young 1st Club Ahoghill ahead of the previous weeks MAC winners Mr & Mrs Robinson.
Mid Antrim Combine Sennen Cove Ylr Nat – A Darragh Cullybackey 958, A Darragh 958, A Darragh 937, W & N Gilbert Randalstown 868, D Dixon Rasharkin 859, W Ramsey Harryville 850, Russell Bros Cullybackey 847, B O’Rawe Ballymena 833, G Connolly Broughshane 822, C Young Ahoghill 821, D Dixon 819, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 812, L Mullan Harryville 802, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 801, G Connolly 798, A Darragh 796, L Davidson Cullybackey 795, A Purvis Broughshane 786, W Ramsey 776, H Boyd Randalstown 775, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 774, A Purvis 774, Richmond Bros Ballymena 773, H Smyth & Son Broughshane 765, Richmond Bros 749, D Mairs Rasharkin 748, A Darragh 739, Stewart Bros Randalstown 694, Wray & McFadden Harryville 689.
Jimmy Burrows recorded the best in East Antrim, another very good result for the Eastway loft, he was followed by Horner Bros & Son from Ballyclare with two birds together and ace racers from the same club Sammy Rodney and son Allen. McMurray & Anderson were best in Ligoniel.
East Antrin Sennen Cove National – J Burrows Eastway 896, Horner Bros & Son Ballyclare 885, Horner Bros & Son 883, S Rodney & Son Ballyclare 871, McMurray & Anderson Ligoniel 846, R Duddy Ballyclare 837, N J Arthurs Ballycarry 837, R McMeekin Kingsmoss 833, S & A Leitch Doagh & Dist 831, L Savage & Son Eastway 830, J Kirk Ballyclare 815, J Burrows Eastway 804, M/M B McNeilly Doagh & Dist 792, T Cairns & Sons Glengormley 780, W Gault & Son Kingsmoss 778, S McGarel Horseshoe 774, A & E Bell Muckamore 773, M/M D Suitters Doagh & Dist 772, J Burrows 754, A & N Lewis Doagh & Dist 754, J Burrows 752, McMurray & Anderson 751, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 742, D & J Campbell & Bigger Glengormley 734, S & A Leitch 734, A Thompson Ballyclare 726, M/M C Hayes Ballyclare 725, C & L Woodside 697, R Gray Kingsmoss 690, A & N Lewis 686, W Gault & Son 686, J & S Graham Kingsmoss 684.
Best in the Ulster Federation was another loft that has had success for many years, the McAuley Kell & Bowles team finished 13th Open INFC doing velocity 906, the Shankill & Dist bird was well fancied and collects a fantastic £2,085.
All in all a very successful Yearling National event for the INFC many thanks again to all who were involved, those who helped at the race marking, and that included the setting of clocks including the help with the ETS. 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. Where would we be without this great team of dedicated worker’s? After helping with the race crates in the Skibbereen race I had a five hour plus stint on the Unikon ETS, and I was not the only one who covered a lot of time. 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 this report is some reward for all of that. Next time we move on to cover the Blue Riband Kings Cup, due to be flown again from Plaudren/Vannes.
Willie Reynolds
INFC Press Officer
Email reynoldshomer@aol.com
Tel: 07939 684876
Mobile: 07538 238364
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.infc.co.uk
JUST CHAMPION - Alan Darragh (Cullybackey) holding the INFC Yearling Nat winner.
He wins the Yearling Nat for the second time, and had a record 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open.
Swallow Brae Star, 1st North Sect & 1st Open INFC Yearling Nat Sennen Cove
for Alan Darragh, Cullybackey.
Swallow Brae Warrior, 2nd Open INFC Yearling Nat for Alan Darragh, Cullybackey.
Swallow Brae Prince, 3rd Open INFC Yearling Nat for Alan Darragh, Cullybackey.
Mo McCorriston from Dromore had 4th North Sect & 4th Open INFC Yearling Nat.
Mickey McConville won 8 x 1sts in the old bird season at Crumlin and
a super finish in the Yearling Nat, 6th North Sect & 6th Open INFC.
Gary & Colin Simmons from Edgarstown won 1st Club in the Yearling Nat
and had wins the next day from Fermoy and Bude, a weekend to remember.
Ray Matthews from Sallynoggin (l) with brother in-law Robbie.
On left is Teddy Guildea and on right is Adrian Grant of
Noel Grant & son with the 3 birds timed in the result.
Del and Ronnie Williamson (Bondhill) winner of 55 x 1st Open NIPA
and another Top 10 finish with the INFC at Sennen Cove.
Against the odds and what was regarded as a hard day for the far flying lofts Alan Darragh from Cullybackey has set new records with the Irish Nat FC, he had 5 x 1sts up to the present time, that itself was the overall record. Now he has hit the famous six, and he celebrated in style with 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open, a feat never previously achieved in the history of the INFC. She will all take some beating, but the record is set for that purpose. The Yearling Nat was flown from Sennen Cove on Friday 11th June, 844 members sent 4,337 birds competing for £36,685 in pools and prizes in one of the top events of the old bird season. Liberation was at 8.00am in a Lt NNE wind. The race was due to be flown on Wednesday but was delayed due to weather conditions on the Irish Sea. Some 400 birds were recorded on the day, a good success. Alan has won the Kings Cup with Independent Ranger in 1986, and has previously won the Yearling Nat, that came three years later with Swallow Brae Lad. Alan Darragh scored a best ever result in Mid Antrim winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd and a result that will be talked about for years.
1st, 2nd & 3rd Open Alan Darragh, Cullybackey 332 Miles, Vel 958, 958 & 937 plus £1,540.
As well as winning the Nelson Corry trophy Alan will also lift the Sam Buckley Memorial Trophy for the Best 2 Bird Average. All three birds were cocks on widowhood that had every race in Ireland, despite the fact the first two birds were timed together the winner was two minutes ahead and was slow to trap. Time lost might have been a big problem, but not on this occasion. I was asked to visit the loft and verify the arrivals, over the years I have been to this loft on several occasions. The winner a Blue Cheq has now been named Swallow Brae Star and was bred from stock obtained from John Wheatcroft of Nottingham who was well pleased to be involved with the winner. A hen was bred from birds obtained from John and this bird is proving to be invaluable in the stock loft, John is a regular visitor to Belgium and has obtained the very best bloodlines. The line involved here includes the very best of Koopman, Van Dyck and Maria Van De Velde. Alan had selected some stock when on a previous visit to the Wheatcroft loft in England. The nest-mate of this bird is a super racer for the Darragh loft, not always getting the publicity it deserves. In has a host of positions racing widowhood, a Cheq w/f cock he won three races on the trot including 1st MAC in the Skibbereen Inl Nat and 1st MAC in the Fermoy 5 Bird Classic with the NIPA. The second bird was like the other named by the grand-children, this one a Blue Pied cock Swallow Brae Warrior. This bird had won prizes and the breeding line includes a good hen that flew the Kings Cup three times and the best of the Swallow Brae Lad lines. The third bird a Blue cock has been named Swallow Brae Prince, he is from a hen that won 2nd in the YB Nat and the winner of 3rd Yearling Nat. As well as winning 6 x 1sts Nat the loft has come close on many other occasions, the 6 just the same will take some beating. Winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd Open in the INFC is as good as it gets, it could be a long time before that is equalled and the record in the meantime will stand with one of the best racers in the Island of Ireland – Alan Darragh.
4th Open B & M McCorriston, Dromore 300 Miles, Vel 937 plus £1,285.
Mo McCorriston from Dromore in County Down is already a 1st Nat winner and came very close again, 4th North Sect & 4th Open INFC and 1st Club Dromore HPS. The Blue Cheq cock racing on widowhood was the best of the Fletcher FVW containing the lines of De Beer and Crack Hen paired with a Frans Van Wildemeersch hen from Billy Hayes obtained at his Clearance Sale. The bird was a consistent racer and had scored previously, B & M McCorriston themselves have a good record in this particular race finishing 2nd, 4th, 9th and 26th Open. Many congratulations from all the members in Dromore HPS, well done indeed Mo.
5th Open D & B Lyness, Lurgan Social 303 Miles, Vel 935 plus £1,104.
I met Denis Lyness over the last couple of years at the race marking, unforgettable. I had covered this loft many times over a long number of years and Denis was glad to see I was sticking the pace so well. This was a famous loft in my early years in the sport, Castles & Lyness were big stars racing in the old Queens Club in Lurgan they topped the NIPA several times with their Fletcher Busschaert family. In the early eighties the loft won the Northern Ireland Fancier of the Year award, a photo will follow this report. In the Yearling Nat they timed a Lt Cheq hen on her first nest and feeding a young bird. She was raced lightly as a young bird and again this year, Denis was racing mostly the cocks. The hen had not been on the water before, bloodlines are Van Reet & Soontjen.
6th Open M & B McConville, Crumlin 316 Miles, Vel 926 plus £1,619.
Mickey and daughter Bronagh were putting up some fantastic results in Crumlin and it was no surprise they had an early bird home in the Yearling Nat, next best to Alan Darragh in the Muckamore Centre and best bird in the Antrim area. All told a massive 8 x 1sts were won in the old bird racing, great flying in a very competitive club. In the Yearling Nat the loft timed a Blue hen racing widowhood, a gift bird from Ian & Albert Cousins of Ballylesson. This Soontjen bird had a couple of young bird races and before Sennen Cove had most of the land races and Talbenny (1).
7th Open G & C Simmons, Edgarstown 307 Miles, Vel 920 plus £265.
Gary and Colin Simmons from Edgarstown in Portadown won 1st Club in the Yearling National and putting icing on the cake the very next day had 1st Club Fermoy and 1st Club Bude. Their Ylr Nat bird was a Cheq hen bred from stock purchased from Frank Tasker’s No 1 racing pair. The hen was very lightly raced as a young bird and had four races prior to Sennen Cove, sent on youngsters just hatched. Their winner from Bude was a Karl Boeckx hen from the Lakeside Lofts of Derek Parr racing Roundabout while the Fermoy 5 Bird winner was a Frank Sheader Soontjen cock racing on widowhood. Best into Portadown in the National is a super prize, thanks to Andrew for the info.
8th Open R Matthews, Sallynoggin 221 Miles, Vel 918 plus £803.
Ray Matthews is the first South Sect member to score in the INFC Top 10 finishing a good 8th Open, also 1st East Coast Federation. Ray will win the new James McGrugan Memorial Cup for the Section Winner not winning the Open. Ray Matthews sent seven birds and timed two arrivals, the loft had 1st Sallynoggin, 1st South Sect & 8th Open INFC, this bird was timed at 15.03hrs. This Blue cock was sent feeding two babies three days old. The sire of the bird won a Meritorious Award three times placed in France, he also won from Wadebridge and Sennen Cove. The dam is from the Golden Pair Janssen/Verheye. The second bird was timed at 15.38hrs, a Blue hen sitting on a 10 day youngster and similar bloodlines. Thanks Bren for all the help. Ray Matthews (l) with brother in-law Robbie in photo.
9th Open N Grant & Sons, Balbriggan 244 Miles, Vel 918 plus £392.
Noel Grant & Son from Balbriggan were just behind Ray Matthews, on the same yard in fact and with their Cheq hen finished 1st Club, 2nd South Sect, 2nd ECF and 9th Open INFC. She has the very best long distance bloodlines from two top lofts in Ireland Paddy Rock & Son from the Skerries and Liam McCall from Wicklow, both these lofts have an outstanding record. She had two races as a young bird, and this year had three land races and Talbenny (2) winning 6th Club before the Ylr Nat. Sent on overdue eggs she was slipped a 2 day old chick morning of basketing. This was the lofts best ever result, previously in this race they finished 2nd Sect & 15th Open INFC when racing with his father Noel. He passed away just before Christmas so the result is a little bit special, Adrian sent 11 getting five birds home and three in the result. The late Noel Grant served on the INFC Appeals Committee. Many thanks Adrian for your help and I look forward to seeing you in the results again.
10th Ron Williamson, Bondhill 304 Miles, Vel 917 plus £734.
Is any result complete without a mention of Rocket Ron Williamson, 10th Open INFC doing velocity 917. This loft continues to score at the very highest level, over 50 x 1sts now with the NIPA, 4 x 1st INFC and the former NI Fancier of the Year – And not done yet. I was at the loft recently but missed the man, I will be catching up with him shortly. This is another loft I have been covering since I started to scribe, he has won almost everything. Well done again Ron and I will see you soon, an updated report is overdue.
Sponsorship is very important in any organisation and the Committee and Members of the INFC are very grateful to Samuel McCausland Ltd for their sponsorship given to this particular race, the winning fancier Alan Darragh receives 5 bags of feeding, also McCauslands who have always been associated with first’s and have duly sponsored all the first places from 21st up to 101st Open the winners of 1 bag of feeding include 21st Open A Kelly Skerries; 31st Mr & Mrs Harris Bray South End; 41st J Campbell Balbriggan; 51st E Campbell Balbriggan; 61st Mr & Mrs Harris Bray South End; 71st N Black & Son Dromara; 81st Owen Kirwan Gorey RPS; 91st L F & B McGrath Drumnavaddy; 101st Brian O’Rawe Ballymena. The result is sponsored by the BHW.
In Mid Antrim Alan Darragh had the super 1st, 2nd & 3rd, Willie Gilbert and his dad had a bird each into Randalstown, but 1st Club was won by Hugh Boyd. Danny Dixon was well placed again with the best bird in Rasharkin and Billy Ramsey was 1st Club Harryville and 1st MAC in this race last season. Other winners included Brian O’Rawe 1st Ballymena ahead of three birds for Richmond Bros who have previously topped the MAC in this race, George Connolly who is having a good season 1st Club Broughshane and Charlie Young 1st Club Ahoghill ahead of the previous weeks MAC winners Mr & Mrs Robinson.
Mid Antrim Combine Sennen Cove Ylr Nat – A Darragh Cullybackey 958, A Darragh 958, A Darragh 937, W & N Gilbert Randalstown 868, D Dixon Rasharkin 859, W Ramsey Harryville 850, Russell Bros Cullybackey 847, B O’Rawe Ballymena 833, G Connolly Broughshane 822, C Young Ahoghill 821, D Dixon 819, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 812, L Mullan Harryville 802, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 801, G Connolly 798, A Darragh 796, L Davidson Cullybackey 795, A Purvis Broughshane 786, W Ramsey 776, H Boyd Randalstown 775, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 774, A Purvis 774, Richmond Bros Ballymena 773, H Smyth & Son Broughshane 765, Richmond Bros 749, D Mairs Rasharkin 748, A Darragh 739, Stewart Bros Randalstown 694, Wray & McFadden Harryville 689.
Jimmy Burrows recorded the best in East Antrim, another very good result for the Eastway loft, he was followed by Horner Bros & Son from Ballyclare with two birds together and ace racers from the same club Sammy Rodney and son Allen. McMurray & Anderson were best in Ligoniel.
East Antrin Sennen Cove National – J Burrows Eastway 896, Horner Bros & Son Ballyclare 885, Horner Bros & Son 883, S Rodney & Son Ballyclare 871, McMurray & Anderson Ligoniel 846, R Duddy Ballyclare 837, N J Arthurs Ballycarry 837, R McMeekin Kingsmoss 833, S & A Leitch Doagh & Dist 831, L Savage & Son Eastway 830, J Kirk Ballyclare 815, J Burrows Eastway 804, M/M B McNeilly Doagh & Dist 792, T Cairns & Sons Glengormley 780, W Gault & Son Kingsmoss 778, S McGarel Horseshoe 774, A & E Bell Muckamore 773, M/M D Suitters Doagh & Dist 772, J Burrows 754, A & N Lewis Doagh & Dist 754, J Burrows 752, McMurray & Anderson 751, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 742, D & J Campbell & Bigger Glengormley 734, S & A Leitch 734, A Thompson Ballyclare 726, M/M C Hayes Ballyclare 725, C & L Woodside 697, R Gray Kingsmoss 690, A & N Lewis 686, W Gault & Son 686, J & S Graham Kingsmoss 684.
Best in the Ulster Federation was another loft that has had success for many years, the McAuley Kell & Bowles team finished 13th Open INFC doing velocity 906, the Shankill & Dist bird was well fancied and collects a fantastic £2,085.
All in all a very successful Yearling National event for the INFC many thanks again to all who were involved, those who helped at the race marking, and that included the setting of clocks including the help with the ETS. 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. Where would we be without this great team of dedicated worker’s? After helping with the race crates in the Skibbereen race I had a five hour plus stint on the Unikon ETS, and I was not the only one who covered a lot of time. 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 this report is some reward for all of that. Next time we move on to cover the Blue Riband Kings Cup, due to be flown again from Plaudren/Vannes.
Willie Reynolds
INFC Press Officer
Email reynoldshomer@aol.com
Tel: 07939 684876
Mobile: 07538 238364
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
http://www.infc.co.uk
JUST CHAMPION - Alan Darragh (Cullybackey) holding the INFC Yearling Nat winner.
He wins the Yearling Nat for the second time, and had a record 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open.
Swallow Brae Star, 1st North Sect & 1st Open INFC Yearling Nat Sennen Cove
for Alan Darragh, Cullybackey.
Swallow Brae Warrior, 2nd Open INFC Yearling Nat for Alan Darragh, Cullybackey.
Swallow Brae Prince, 3rd Open INFC Yearling Nat for Alan Darragh, Cullybackey.
Mo McCorriston from Dromore had 4th North Sect & 4th Open INFC Yearling Nat.
Mickey McConville won 8 x 1sts in the old bird season at Crumlin and
a super finish in the Yearling Nat, 6th North Sect & 6th Open INFC.
Gary & Colin Simmons from Edgarstown won 1st Club in the Yearling Nat
and had wins the next day from Fermoy and Bude, a weekend to remember.
Ray Matthews from Sallynoggin (l) with brother in-law Robbie.
On left is Teddy Guildea and on right is Adrian Grant of
Noel Grant & son with the 3 birds timed in the result.
Del and Ronnie Williamson (Bondhill) winner of 55 x 1st Open NIPA
and another Top 10 finish with the INFC at Sennen Cove.