Farming Life - Wednesday 06/10/10
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 3:29 pm
It seems like only yesterday since we opened the loft to accept the first arrivals for this year’s Emerald Classic, now regarded by many as the best International One Loft Race in the UK & Ireland. Again for the 3rd year in succession our percentages have been unequalled - 589 birds were raced marked for HS1 and after five hotspot races up to a distance of 280km / 175mls and numerous daily training flights, we were able to basket 75% (441) of these birds for the final race. With 354 birds recorded we had an 81% return from what many regard to be the toughest route in the One Loft calendar.
For the 3rd year in a row and despite the financial crisis, we received numerous entries from around Europe, the biggest coming from Team Germany, a professional syndicate comprising some of the country’s best fanciers. We had Teams from Romania, and Malta who flew birds in for the event, along with entries from Harrie & Johan Van Boxmeer, Ype Hemstra, Jos De Ridder, Erik Reijnen, Bert & Marco Brasspenning, De Scheemeacker Bros, to name but a few.
Closer to home, we had support from some of the top lofts in the UK and Ireland for example Mr & Mrs Bill Lewis winners of a UK One Loft Race, Alistair Hogg winner of a OL race in Germany, Peter Robinson winner of the RPRA OLR 2009, and Peter Fox of the world renowned Syndicate Lofts partnership Colijn/Gannus/Fox who have won numerous OL races around the world. W Gray & Son winners of last year’s Emerald Classic, Richard Owen & Ken Hogarth winners of this year’s RPRA OLR, Hennie & Anette Kallymeyer who have won numerous races both in Ireland and South Africa, Jeff Greenaway whose record is second to none, and Maurice (Prince ABU) O’Donnell a big supporter of OL races around the world.
As soon as the 5th and final hotspot was over we had a 2 week period to prepare the birds for this year’s grand final. Having had a testing final HS which saw the winners taking 4 hrs to cover the 280km a number of daily training flights were sufficient to maintain the fitness of the birds, they received their final training flight on Thursday morning from 56km.
As race day approached the birds were race marked on Friday morning under the supervision of our normal team and some of our overseas visitors who had already starting flying in for the weekend. As soon as they were all marked the birds were returned to the loft and the loft was securely locked. I am deeply indebted to Gerard & Colin who looked after the security of the birds during the Friday night.
Saturday morning dawned just as expected, having conversed with our race controller Alan Darragh several times during the previous week, he reckoned we were going to get the best weekend of the year and he was absolute right, brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies.
The birds received an early morning feed and drink and at 2.00pm with the help of a number of overseas visitors the birds were basketed and loaded onto the transporter which left for Ross Carberry at 3pm, under the supervision of Billy Bissett for the 3rd year in a row.
It was then time to relax and entertain our guests from Wales, England, Scotland and Germany the general topic of discussion over a beer was how well the birds were looking, some commenting that they had never seen birds in any one loft race look so well and they had attended many!
After dining with Prince ABU and his “bodyguards” Ger & Purdy, we enjoyed a pleasant evening socialising with our many overnight guests in the comfortable surroundings of Corrs Corner Hotel, the attentiveness of the staff and high standard of accommodation was commented on by all. Sunday morning arrived and unlike the previous dawn there was not just as much early morning mist as expected, a quick phone call to Billy confirmed the birds had been on site for several hours, had been watered and were enjoying the early morning sun in Ross Carberry. The next call was to Alan Darragh who confirmed there was no mist about and the road home was clear, the wind at the race point was NW turning W/NW up Ireland. With a few Dublin organisations due to liberate in the same vicinity, it was agreed that the birds would be liberated at 9.00 am.
Just after 9.00am I received the call I had been waiting for from Billy who confirmed the birds had been liberated and had cleared without even a half turn, just as they had been doing all year, the next call was from Alan who felt if the wind stayed the way it was we would have birds home in around 5 hours.
By 12.30pm the atmosphere at the loft was buzzing, with the brisk west wind it was slightly cooler than previous years, but still we had clear blue skies and strong sunshine. With a mixture of different accents around the tables on the patio area you could have been enjoying lunch in any typical European city! Temperatures were raised even further with a menu of Irish stew, chilli and baked potatoes washed down with a wide selection of beverages including the traditional Guinness.
As the arrival time approached everyone started to take up their positions for a ring side seat. At approximately 14.10 just over the 5 hours, a shout went up as a single bird was spotted approaching the loft. At first it looked like a returnee from an earlier race by the way it circled the loft several times, obviously spooked from the sight of so many people which hadn’t been there the day before. Eventually it landed showing evidence of nerves - just then it was joined by a further 4 birds and all proceeded to trap. The name of Henni & Anette Kallymer popped up on the computer screen linked to the Mega timing system as the Winner of this year’s Emerald Classic International One Loft Race.
I knew Hennie & Anette unfortunately had not been able to join us for the final, as Hennie had phoned me first thing that morning to wish me luck and let me know his own club having, held over on Saturday, had liberated in Skibereen at 8.00am. The next time we spoke was whenever I phoned him to congratulate him on their victory, after realising I was not joking he agreed to make 2 ½ hour trip to join us for the gala dinner. Arriving at the loft before 5.30 he was welcomed by numerous handshakes and congratulations all round.
Next up on the screen was the name of Steven Bright from Newport in South Wales, closely followed in 3rd by Lakeside Lofts 27 a pigeon bred and entered by Derek Parr from Portadown the nest mate of which finished 11th and between them won the 2 bird average - a super performance with further birds in 8th & 16th position. In 4th place we had White Heather, bred by George Gauld & Elizabeth Morrison, who having made the trip from Crieff in Scotland, were on hand to celebrate with us, even in his spritely 80’s, I think I saw George doing a jig in the field.
There were a number of lofts who put up fantastic results having more than one bird in the prizes, to name but a few - Team Thomas 5th & 9th bred by the newly formed partnership of Jackson, Andrews & Kirby, Limerick Flyers 6th & 20th bred by Eugene Fitzgerald Limerick City, Fenwick & Howard 14th 22nd & 24th with three birds bred for the syndicate by B & J Wilson Dagenham Essex, Goodview Lofts 17th & 35th bred by Bill Buxton Warrington Cheshire, Team Germany 18th 29th 33rd 36th 42nd and 1st Ace Pigeon in 36th place bred by Toni Deigner, congratulations to all the prize winners.
The Gala Dinner took place later that night and following an excellent 4 course meal in the Mulberry Suite, of Corrs Corner Hotel, the presentation of prizes by our guest of honour, Pauline Cadwell from Bamfords Top Flight Grains, took place (see attached list). With the presentation over dancing continued into the early hours to a wide selection of music provided by Eddie Arthurs, the “Chris Evans” of Ballycarry. Although the music ended at 1.00am, the party continued until well after that unfortunately Hennie had to make the long journey home and couldn’t join us but we were kept entertained thanks to Ian Gray, Brian Shackelton, Prince ABU, Derek & Jason Doyle I don’t think Valerie and Pauline laughed as much, it seemed like a good idea at the time but having to entertain numerous visitors at the loft on Monday morning - it certainly wasn’t!
A big thank you goes to the following people who have helped make the Emerald Classic the resounding International success it has become in such a short space of time.
Our very generous sponsors: Mr & Mrs Brian Wall of Gem Supplements, Alan Bamford of Top Flight Pigeon Corn, Frederic Basch & Leslie Madden of Mega Systems, Dr O J Botha of Avio Med, Simon Carr of Carr’s, Derek Parr of Lakeside Lofts for the Beautiful 2 Bird Trophy, Jeff Greenaway Universal Pigeon Products and Billy Reynolds for his press coverage over the weekend and coming months.
Race Controller: Alan Darragh
Convoyer: Billy Bissett
Race Marking: Alistair, Leslie, Audrey, Fred, David, and Eddie
Training: William Clugsten
Race Day: The Caterers, The Bar Staff, Waitresses and everyone else who helped
The management and staff of Corrs Corner Hotel who provided an excellent meal, accommodation and made all our guests most welcome and to Valerie for co-ordinating everything and ferrying everyone around before, during and after race day.
Finally a “Big Thank You” to everyone who has supported us and have helped to make us the Number 1 “INTERNATIONAL ONE LOFT RACE” in the UK & Ireland and hopefully next year “Europe”. I hope you will all join us again next year where the 1st Prize will again be £20000. Unfortunately we will not be joining the buy one get 5 free brigade to inflate our numbers as at the end of the day they have to be paid, we will continue with what we know best and that is running a professional one loft race, keeping our clients informed and getting as many of our entries to that all important final race. A big congratulation goes to ALL this year’s prize winners. The leading lofts were:
1 HENNIE & ANETTE KALLMEYER IE10-0111764 14:13:47
2 STEPHEN BRIGHT WH10-1003246 14:13:48
3 LAKESIDE LOFTS 27 GB10-1003175 14:13:51
4 WHITE HEATHER SU10-1000309 14:14:48
5 TEAM THOMAS GB10-0092276 14:15:18
6 LIMERICK FLYERS IE10-0136147 14:15:33
7 J FITZSIMMONS & SON GB10-0025467 14:15:44
8 BIRD FOR SALE LSL 38 GB10-1003299 14:15:58
9 TEAM THOMAS GB10-0026667 14:16:00
10 LANE HEAD COOLEY BARN LOFTS GB10-1005665 14:16:21
11 LAKESIDE LOFTS 28 GB10-1003176 14:17:13
12 BTPO CLUB GB10-1003590 14:17:33
13 OWEN & HOGARTH WH10-1005391 14:18:46
14 FENWICK & HOWARD GB10-0022639 14:18:49
15 PHIL & SPIKE BOND IE10-0045562 14:18:51
16 BIRD FOR SALE LSL 30 GB10-1002688 14:18:55
17 GOODVIEW LOFTS GB10-0015816 14:18:56
18 TEAM GERMANY H MISSY & A GESSNER DV10-1000484 14:18:57
19 JOHN FALL GB10-0063305 14:18:58
20 LIMERICK FLYERS IE10-0136152 14:19:10
INFC Skibbereen YB National
Brendan McLoughlin the PO from the South Down Federation has been fantastic help all season and has done various small reports, with the Skibbereen Nat dominated by South Sect lofts I thought it would be a good idea to cover the leading pigeons in the North Sect, Brendan duly obliged and this report will add to coverage of the race.
P Brown Annsborough 1st North section 41st Open
The pigeon winning the North Section now known as ‘Geraldine’s Delight’ was named after Patrick’s wife who is a great asset around the loft. The parents of this pigeon are on loan from Annalong’s K Rooney & Son, and Patrick asked me to record his thanks to Kevin and Kristopher for all the help they have given him over the past few years. The sire of the pigeon timed here won an East Down Combine Open from Durrow in 2003 and has bred quite a few winners for Kevin and Kristopher. The breeding is Staf Van Reet from Brownlee, Ward & Nee. The dam is a Janssen from a pair bought at McCormack and Schofield’s clearance sale in Blackpool in 2006. The Janssen pair are ‘Mr Mack’ and ‘Amazing Grace’ and what a superb pedigree they have, having bred numerous winners for McCormack and Schofield including ‘Double 500’ winner of 1st City of Leeds Fed two years in a row from 500 miles. They have also bred many prize-winners for the Rooney’s at Club, Fed and Combine level. This young cock was sent to this race on chipping eggs as were the other two birds he timed in the result at 117th and 118th North section, 221st and 222nd Open INFC.
D Croskery & Son Annsborough 2nd North section 49th Open
Dominic and Dolen make it a 1, 2 for the Annsborough club just outside Castlewellan in Co Down. They had four birds in the result, taking the following North Section and Open positions – 2nd, 9th, 16th and 30th North Section and 49th, 79th, 89th and 115th Open. This was one of the best cards on the table on the day. Dominic and Dolen had a wonderful season at National level, winning a Hall of Fame in the King’s Cup, then winning the Robin Duddy Challenge from the Yearling National and Young Bird National and rounding the season off with this magnificent performance. Their first pigeon is off a Kees Bousa cock that they bought of John Gerard when paired to their good ‘01’ hen. ‘01’ is a daughter of the ‘Bolden’ cock and had positions from every Inland race in the club and has turned out to be a great stock hen. The pigeon timed here is the same way bred as one that was 1st Club, 3rd Fed 26th Open Tullamore earlier this year.
Mr & Mrs Stevenson Dromara 3rd North section 51st Open
This was another superb card for the Dromara partnership who timed their first pigeon at 3.52pm. They then had another four within 5 minutes and another shortly afterwards to give them 6 pigeons in the result at 3rd, 25th, 41st, 47th, 69th and 158th north section, 51st, 105th, 130th, 137th, 165th and 262nd Open. This result also gave them Best Average for the Old Bird Skibbereen National, and the Young Bird Skibbereen National, and winners of the ‘Gloria Hunniford Trophy’. This was certainly a loft in form as they were 5th Open NIPA Rosscarbery National the week before and had 15 birds in the Open result in the last 2 races of the season. This result is even more remarkable when it is considered that they started the season with only 33 young birds on the darkness and 6 naturals. The sire of their first pigeon timed here was 27th North section Old Bird Skibbereen National. The grandsire is a half Soontjens and was their 2006 NIPA Rosscarbery National winner, ‘Supreme Leader’. The dam is a Busschaert and is off the hen that won the silver diploma from NIPA Old Bird National from France. The pigeon timed here was a cock and was sent sitting on a day old youngster.
Glen Buckley & Sons Annaghmore 4th North section 58th Open
What another wonderful season this has been for G Buckley & Son racing out of the very competitive Annaghmore club. They are 4th north section, 58th Open here to add to an impressive list of National prizes this year which included 44th North section, 68th Open Old Bird Skibbereen, 9th, 18th and 79th North section, 11th, 22nd and 123rd Open Yearling National, 6th 64th, 111th, 164th North section, 7th, 76th, 141st, 200th Open Kings Cup, 4th, 51st, 59th North section, 8th, 60th,, 68th Open Friendship National and 91st, 131st, 152nd and 110th, 163rd, 190th Open Young Bird Penzance.The pigeon winning 4th North Section here is a half Soontjens from their own lines (its sire was 2nd Open Penzance Young Bird National) and a half Leo Van Ryan from Ken Darlington, Wales. These Van Ryans were brought in last year but this was the first time they were crossed. This bird is a hen that was sent flying to the perch and was very consistent throughout the season.
Spence Bros Lagan Valley 5th North section 62nd Open
This pigeon was the first Ulster Fed bird timed in the race to take 5th North section 62nd Open for Brian and Roy. The pigeon itself is a Blue cheq hen that was sent to this race sitting on eggs that were overdue. The breeding is Jos Thone with the sire being direct from Ian Stafford while the dam was a gift bird from B & H Spence (Brian’s brother) This young bird was brought to peak form for the latter races having been 1st Lisburn & District, 19th Section and 30th Open in the NIPA Rosscarbery National the previous week.
N Black & Son Dromara 6th North section 67th Open
This is another loft that has had superb season with the Irish National Flying Club and they can’t have been too far away from the overall Nat Championship. The pigeon timed here is one of six obtained from Brandon, Culshaw and Brandon from Rochdale who won section L of the NFC three weeks ago from St Malo. The Rochdale partnership had got birds from the Blacks a few years ago, which did really well for them. They decided over the winter months to swap 6 young birds this year, as Davy and Alan were keen to try their Janssen and Soontjens in the longer young bird races. This has certainly worked as three of the six were timed in Nationals – 1 in Penzance and 2 in Skibbereen. The pigeon timed at 6th North section here was probably the most consistent of them all, having been 4th club Rosscrea and 5th club Fermoy. She was actually their first bird from Rosscarbery the week before but didn’t trap. She was sent to this race sitting on eggs and was given a youngster the night before basketing. This obviously made her keener as she wasted no time here.
Allan McDonald Portadown 7th North section 71st Open
Allan has had one of his best young bird seasons for a long time having topped the Portadown club on six occasions this year. In recent weeks he was 22nd Open from the Penzance Young Bird National. The young cock timed here was 1st Club, 17th section E (5137 birds) Rosscrea, and 1st club, 19th section (1063 birds) 178th Open(5054) birds in the NIPA National from Rosscarbery the week prior to the Skibbereen National. This youngster is bred from two direct Belgium pigeons from Scmit and Van Winkle who live near the famous Jos Soontjens. Alan is a regular visitor to the Dutch Show and when there he travels down to Belgium and buys a few birds. The sire and dam both have Dirk Van Dykk’s ‘Rambo’ and ‘Hannibal’ in their bloodlines. The young bird timed here at 7th North section was sent to Rosscarbery on chipping eggs and to Skibbereen on a 7-day-old youngster.
P Campbell & Sons Armagh 8th North section 72nd Open
This is another loft that was in peak form at the latter end of the season having won 3 races towards the end of the season. The pigeon timed here was a Vandenabeele hen bred as a gift bird by club mates E Murtagh & Son. Its nest mate was 8th Section in the 5 Bird Fermoy race. Its interesting to note that all three pigeons that won this year for Malachy were Vandenabeeles. This young bird was raced on the darkness and was keen on the nest but hadn’t actually laid so she was slipped an egg and was sent sitting to the National 17 days. Twenty minutes before basketing she was given a young bird, which she took to straightway.
D Croskery & Son Annsborough 9th North section 79th Open
This is the same loft that are 2nd North section in this race and the only loft in the North section with two birds in the top ten. Their second pigeon is a nest mate of their pigeon that was 1st South Down Fed, 1st East section and 12th Open East Down Combine from Skibbereen Derby. The dam is a direct Walter De Ryck, while the sire is a son of the cock that was 4th National Portsmouth. The De Ryck pigeons are only in the loft a couple of years now and have produced a host of prizewinners. The cock that was 4th National Portsmouth is down from Rodney & Jason Walker’s two National winners paired to one of their own De Klak pigeons.
Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central 10th North section 81st Open.
The Gordon’s have had a tremendous season with the East Down Combine and have taken numerous Open & Section positions. Their team of pigeons is based on the Vandenabeele family and it is indeed to the Vandenabeele that we go for the breeding of the pigeon at 10th North Section here. The sire is a direct M & D Evans and is a son of ‘Golden Gaby’. The dam is a Vandenabeele down from ‘Jester’and ‘Carrie’, M & D Evans’ top stock pair. The grand dam of the pigeon timed here was 3rd North Section, 5th Open in this race in 2002. This young bird is a cock that was sent paired but not sitting. It had been a consistent racer but hadn’t taken any major prizes before this.
SALE SEASON Update
KELLS & DISTRICT HPS – For the first time Kells & Dist will host a Pigeon Moot/Quiz in the Dunsilly Hotel Antrim (just off the M2 Dunsilly Roundabout). A perfect venue for such an event to be held on Friday 5th November entry £10 to include Hot Buffett Meal or £5 without the meal. Due to start at 8.00pm the evening will include presentation of awards. INFC President Syd Collins will chair an all star panel which will include Ronnie Johnston, Roy Irwin, Anthony McDonnell, Alan Darragh, and Peter Martin. The next meeting for Kells & Dist will be held on Thursday 7th October at 8.00pm to discuss the Social Night, Show Series and the Open Show to be held again on Boxing Day probably held this year on Monday 27th December.
One of the top sales of the season in the winter of 2010 will be on behalf of the Beattie Family and the late Henry Beattie who was a pigeon legend in his lifetime. He had one of the best long distance lofts in Ireland and race records to match, one of the very few to win both the INFC Friendship Nat and the Kings Cup from France. Henry has blended his old Harkness bloodlines with pigeons from Kings Cup winners Davie Black and Alan Darragh plus National Champions C & L Woodside. The present team are about the best he has ever had over the last 50 years and will leave their mark in the years to come. The sale of his birds will take place in Glenavy on Saturday 23rd October and one week later at the same venue. Remember the dates 23rd and 30th October, it will be packed out. Auctioneer is the long time family friend Ronnie Johnston, for further details and Sale List Tel: (028) 90 483625, or Cyril Beattie Tel: (028) 38 840486. Watch Press for updates.
A Frank Sheader Soontjen Sale will be held in Glenavy on Saturday 16th October at 2.30pm, birds on view from 1.30pm. Sale Lists are now available, Commission Bids etc to Ronnie Johnston Tel: (028) 90 483625.
Ronnie Johnston Sale Dates: 16th October Frank Sheader (Glenavy), 23rd October Henry Beattie (Glenavy), 30th October Henry Beattie (Glenavy), 1st November Tommy Lillie Clearance Sale (Newtownbreda), 8th November M/M Clayburn Soontjens for A Cousins & Son (Newtownbreda).
EMERALD CLASSIC http://www.emeraldclassic .co.uk
The auctions have started on line at www.emeraldclassic.co.uk/auction
with the Top 20 birds going on PIPA on 12th October.
NORTH COAST CLASSIC http://www.northcoastclassic.co.uk
The third sale is on Friday 8th October at Chimney Corner Football Club. Viewing will commence at 7pm until 8pm. The auction will begin at 8pm sharp.
A full stock take has taken place and the results are available in the 'Newsletters' section on above. All those who have not sent their pedigrees with their birds could you please send them as soon as possible. It makes things much easier for when the birds go to the sales. After all of the sales are complete the total of the costs will be added together. The North Coast Classic will pay half and the other half will be deducted from the total sale amount of all the birds.
For the 3rd year in a row and despite the financial crisis, we received numerous entries from around Europe, the biggest coming from Team Germany, a professional syndicate comprising some of the country’s best fanciers. We had Teams from Romania, and Malta who flew birds in for the event, along with entries from Harrie & Johan Van Boxmeer, Ype Hemstra, Jos De Ridder, Erik Reijnen, Bert & Marco Brasspenning, De Scheemeacker Bros, to name but a few.
Closer to home, we had support from some of the top lofts in the UK and Ireland for example Mr & Mrs Bill Lewis winners of a UK One Loft Race, Alistair Hogg winner of a OL race in Germany, Peter Robinson winner of the RPRA OLR 2009, and Peter Fox of the world renowned Syndicate Lofts partnership Colijn/Gannus/Fox who have won numerous OL races around the world. W Gray & Son winners of last year’s Emerald Classic, Richard Owen & Ken Hogarth winners of this year’s RPRA OLR, Hennie & Anette Kallymeyer who have won numerous races both in Ireland and South Africa, Jeff Greenaway whose record is second to none, and Maurice (Prince ABU) O’Donnell a big supporter of OL races around the world.
As soon as the 5th and final hotspot was over we had a 2 week period to prepare the birds for this year’s grand final. Having had a testing final HS which saw the winners taking 4 hrs to cover the 280km a number of daily training flights were sufficient to maintain the fitness of the birds, they received their final training flight on Thursday morning from 56km.
As race day approached the birds were race marked on Friday morning under the supervision of our normal team and some of our overseas visitors who had already starting flying in for the weekend. As soon as they were all marked the birds were returned to the loft and the loft was securely locked. I am deeply indebted to Gerard & Colin who looked after the security of the birds during the Friday night.
Saturday morning dawned just as expected, having conversed with our race controller Alan Darragh several times during the previous week, he reckoned we were going to get the best weekend of the year and he was absolute right, brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies.
The birds received an early morning feed and drink and at 2.00pm with the help of a number of overseas visitors the birds were basketed and loaded onto the transporter which left for Ross Carberry at 3pm, under the supervision of Billy Bissett for the 3rd year in a row.
It was then time to relax and entertain our guests from Wales, England, Scotland and Germany the general topic of discussion over a beer was how well the birds were looking, some commenting that they had never seen birds in any one loft race look so well and they had attended many!
After dining with Prince ABU and his “bodyguards” Ger & Purdy, we enjoyed a pleasant evening socialising with our many overnight guests in the comfortable surroundings of Corrs Corner Hotel, the attentiveness of the staff and high standard of accommodation was commented on by all. Sunday morning arrived and unlike the previous dawn there was not just as much early morning mist as expected, a quick phone call to Billy confirmed the birds had been on site for several hours, had been watered and were enjoying the early morning sun in Ross Carberry. The next call was to Alan Darragh who confirmed there was no mist about and the road home was clear, the wind at the race point was NW turning W/NW up Ireland. With a few Dublin organisations due to liberate in the same vicinity, it was agreed that the birds would be liberated at 9.00 am.
Just after 9.00am I received the call I had been waiting for from Billy who confirmed the birds had been liberated and had cleared without even a half turn, just as they had been doing all year, the next call was from Alan who felt if the wind stayed the way it was we would have birds home in around 5 hours.
By 12.30pm the atmosphere at the loft was buzzing, with the brisk west wind it was slightly cooler than previous years, but still we had clear blue skies and strong sunshine. With a mixture of different accents around the tables on the patio area you could have been enjoying lunch in any typical European city! Temperatures were raised even further with a menu of Irish stew, chilli and baked potatoes washed down with a wide selection of beverages including the traditional Guinness.
As the arrival time approached everyone started to take up their positions for a ring side seat. At approximately 14.10 just over the 5 hours, a shout went up as a single bird was spotted approaching the loft. At first it looked like a returnee from an earlier race by the way it circled the loft several times, obviously spooked from the sight of so many people which hadn’t been there the day before. Eventually it landed showing evidence of nerves - just then it was joined by a further 4 birds and all proceeded to trap. The name of Henni & Anette Kallymer popped up on the computer screen linked to the Mega timing system as the Winner of this year’s Emerald Classic International One Loft Race.
I knew Hennie & Anette unfortunately had not been able to join us for the final, as Hennie had phoned me first thing that morning to wish me luck and let me know his own club having, held over on Saturday, had liberated in Skibereen at 8.00am. The next time we spoke was whenever I phoned him to congratulate him on their victory, after realising I was not joking he agreed to make 2 ½ hour trip to join us for the gala dinner. Arriving at the loft before 5.30 he was welcomed by numerous handshakes and congratulations all round.
Next up on the screen was the name of Steven Bright from Newport in South Wales, closely followed in 3rd by Lakeside Lofts 27 a pigeon bred and entered by Derek Parr from Portadown the nest mate of which finished 11th and between them won the 2 bird average - a super performance with further birds in 8th & 16th position. In 4th place we had White Heather, bred by George Gauld & Elizabeth Morrison, who having made the trip from Crieff in Scotland, were on hand to celebrate with us, even in his spritely 80’s, I think I saw George doing a jig in the field.
There were a number of lofts who put up fantastic results having more than one bird in the prizes, to name but a few - Team Thomas 5th & 9th bred by the newly formed partnership of Jackson, Andrews & Kirby, Limerick Flyers 6th & 20th bred by Eugene Fitzgerald Limerick City, Fenwick & Howard 14th 22nd & 24th with three birds bred for the syndicate by B & J Wilson Dagenham Essex, Goodview Lofts 17th & 35th bred by Bill Buxton Warrington Cheshire, Team Germany 18th 29th 33rd 36th 42nd and 1st Ace Pigeon in 36th place bred by Toni Deigner, congratulations to all the prize winners.
The Gala Dinner took place later that night and following an excellent 4 course meal in the Mulberry Suite, of Corrs Corner Hotel, the presentation of prizes by our guest of honour, Pauline Cadwell from Bamfords Top Flight Grains, took place (see attached list). With the presentation over dancing continued into the early hours to a wide selection of music provided by Eddie Arthurs, the “Chris Evans” of Ballycarry. Although the music ended at 1.00am, the party continued until well after that unfortunately Hennie had to make the long journey home and couldn’t join us but we were kept entertained thanks to Ian Gray, Brian Shackelton, Prince ABU, Derek & Jason Doyle I don’t think Valerie and Pauline laughed as much, it seemed like a good idea at the time but having to entertain numerous visitors at the loft on Monday morning - it certainly wasn’t!
A big thank you goes to the following people who have helped make the Emerald Classic the resounding International success it has become in such a short space of time.
Our very generous sponsors: Mr & Mrs Brian Wall of Gem Supplements, Alan Bamford of Top Flight Pigeon Corn, Frederic Basch & Leslie Madden of Mega Systems, Dr O J Botha of Avio Med, Simon Carr of Carr’s, Derek Parr of Lakeside Lofts for the Beautiful 2 Bird Trophy, Jeff Greenaway Universal Pigeon Products and Billy Reynolds for his press coverage over the weekend and coming months.
Race Controller: Alan Darragh
Convoyer: Billy Bissett
Race Marking: Alistair, Leslie, Audrey, Fred, David, and Eddie
Training: William Clugsten
Race Day: The Caterers, The Bar Staff, Waitresses and everyone else who helped
The management and staff of Corrs Corner Hotel who provided an excellent meal, accommodation and made all our guests most welcome and to Valerie for co-ordinating everything and ferrying everyone around before, during and after race day.
Finally a “Big Thank You” to everyone who has supported us and have helped to make us the Number 1 “INTERNATIONAL ONE LOFT RACE” in the UK & Ireland and hopefully next year “Europe”. I hope you will all join us again next year where the 1st Prize will again be £20000. Unfortunately we will not be joining the buy one get 5 free brigade to inflate our numbers as at the end of the day they have to be paid, we will continue with what we know best and that is running a professional one loft race, keeping our clients informed and getting as many of our entries to that all important final race. A big congratulation goes to ALL this year’s prize winners. The leading lofts were:
1 HENNIE & ANETTE KALLMEYER IE10-0111764 14:13:47
2 STEPHEN BRIGHT WH10-1003246 14:13:48
3 LAKESIDE LOFTS 27 GB10-1003175 14:13:51
4 WHITE HEATHER SU10-1000309 14:14:48
5 TEAM THOMAS GB10-0092276 14:15:18
6 LIMERICK FLYERS IE10-0136147 14:15:33
7 J FITZSIMMONS & SON GB10-0025467 14:15:44
8 BIRD FOR SALE LSL 38 GB10-1003299 14:15:58
9 TEAM THOMAS GB10-0026667 14:16:00
10 LANE HEAD COOLEY BARN LOFTS GB10-1005665 14:16:21
11 LAKESIDE LOFTS 28 GB10-1003176 14:17:13
12 BTPO CLUB GB10-1003590 14:17:33
13 OWEN & HOGARTH WH10-1005391 14:18:46
14 FENWICK & HOWARD GB10-0022639 14:18:49
15 PHIL & SPIKE BOND IE10-0045562 14:18:51
16 BIRD FOR SALE LSL 30 GB10-1002688 14:18:55
17 GOODVIEW LOFTS GB10-0015816 14:18:56
18 TEAM GERMANY H MISSY & A GESSNER DV10-1000484 14:18:57
19 JOHN FALL GB10-0063305 14:18:58
20 LIMERICK FLYERS IE10-0136152 14:19:10
INFC Skibbereen YB National
Brendan McLoughlin the PO from the South Down Federation has been fantastic help all season and has done various small reports, with the Skibbereen Nat dominated by South Sect lofts I thought it would be a good idea to cover the leading pigeons in the North Sect, Brendan duly obliged and this report will add to coverage of the race.
P Brown Annsborough 1st North section 41st Open
The pigeon winning the North Section now known as ‘Geraldine’s Delight’ was named after Patrick’s wife who is a great asset around the loft. The parents of this pigeon are on loan from Annalong’s K Rooney & Son, and Patrick asked me to record his thanks to Kevin and Kristopher for all the help they have given him over the past few years. The sire of the pigeon timed here won an East Down Combine Open from Durrow in 2003 and has bred quite a few winners for Kevin and Kristopher. The breeding is Staf Van Reet from Brownlee, Ward & Nee. The dam is a Janssen from a pair bought at McCormack and Schofield’s clearance sale in Blackpool in 2006. The Janssen pair are ‘Mr Mack’ and ‘Amazing Grace’ and what a superb pedigree they have, having bred numerous winners for McCormack and Schofield including ‘Double 500’ winner of 1st City of Leeds Fed two years in a row from 500 miles. They have also bred many prize-winners for the Rooney’s at Club, Fed and Combine level. This young cock was sent to this race on chipping eggs as were the other two birds he timed in the result at 117th and 118th North section, 221st and 222nd Open INFC.
D Croskery & Son Annsborough 2nd North section 49th Open
Dominic and Dolen make it a 1, 2 for the Annsborough club just outside Castlewellan in Co Down. They had four birds in the result, taking the following North Section and Open positions – 2nd, 9th, 16th and 30th North Section and 49th, 79th, 89th and 115th Open. This was one of the best cards on the table on the day. Dominic and Dolen had a wonderful season at National level, winning a Hall of Fame in the King’s Cup, then winning the Robin Duddy Challenge from the Yearling National and Young Bird National and rounding the season off with this magnificent performance. Their first pigeon is off a Kees Bousa cock that they bought of John Gerard when paired to their good ‘01’ hen. ‘01’ is a daughter of the ‘Bolden’ cock and had positions from every Inland race in the club and has turned out to be a great stock hen. The pigeon timed here is the same way bred as one that was 1st Club, 3rd Fed 26th Open Tullamore earlier this year.
Mr & Mrs Stevenson Dromara 3rd North section 51st Open
This was another superb card for the Dromara partnership who timed their first pigeon at 3.52pm. They then had another four within 5 minutes and another shortly afterwards to give them 6 pigeons in the result at 3rd, 25th, 41st, 47th, 69th and 158th north section, 51st, 105th, 130th, 137th, 165th and 262nd Open. This result also gave them Best Average for the Old Bird Skibbereen National, and the Young Bird Skibbereen National, and winners of the ‘Gloria Hunniford Trophy’. This was certainly a loft in form as they were 5th Open NIPA Rosscarbery National the week before and had 15 birds in the Open result in the last 2 races of the season. This result is even more remarkable when it is considered that they started the season with only 33 young birds on the darkness and 6 naturals. The sire of their first pigeon timed here was 27th North section Old Bird Skibbereen National. The grandsire is a half Soontjens and was their 2006 NIPA Rosscarbery National winner, ‘Supreme Leader’. The dam is a Busschaert and is off the hen that won the silver diploma from NIPA Old Bird National from France. The pigeon timed here was a cock and was sent sitting on a day old youngster.
Glen Buckley & Sons Annaghmore 4th North section 58th Open
What another wonderful season this has been for G Buckley & Son racing out of the very competitive Annaghmore club. They are 4th north section, 58th Open here to add to an impressive list of National prizes this year which included 44th North section, 68th Open Old Bird Skibbereen, 9th, 18th and 79th North section, 11th, 22nd and 123rd Open Yearling National, 6th 64th, 111th, 164th North section, 7th, 76th, 141st, 200th Open Kings Cup, 4th, 51st, 59th North section, 8th, 60th,, 68th Open Friendship National and 91st, 131st, 152nd and 110th, 163rd, 190th Open Young Bird Penzance.The pigeon winning 4th North Section here is a half Soontjens from their own lines (its sire was 2nd Open Penzance Young Bird National) and a half Leo Van Ryan from Ken Darlington, Wales. These Van Ryans were brought in last year but this was the first time they were crossed. This bird is a hen that was sent flying to the perch and was very consistent throughout the season.
Spence Bros Lagan Valley 5th North section 62nd Open
This pigeon was the first Ulster Fed bird timed in the race to take 5th North section 62nd Open for Brian and Roy. The pigeon itself is a Blue cheq hen that was sent to this race sitting on eggs that were overdue. The breeding is Jos Thone with the sire being direct from Ian Stafford while the dam was a gift bird from B & H Spence (Brian’s brother) This young bird was brought to peak form for the latter races having been 1st Lisburn & District, 19th Section and 30th Open in the NIPA Rosscarbery National the previous week.
N Black & Son Dromara 6th North section 67th Open
This is another loft that has had superb season with the Irish National Flying Club and they can’t have been too far away from the overall Nat Championship. The pigeon timed here is one of six obtained from Brandon, Culshaw and Brandon from Rochdale who won section L of the NFC three weeks ago from St Malo. The Rochdale partnership had got birds from the Blacks a few years ago, which did really well for them. They decided over the winter months to swap 6 young birds this year, as Davy and Alan were keen to try their Janssen and Soontjens in the longer young bird races. This has certainly worked as three of the six were timed in Nationals – 1 in Penzance and 2 in Skibbereen. The pigeon timed at 6th North section here was probably the most consistent of them all, having been 4th club Rosscrea and 5th club Fermoy. She was actually their first bird from Rosscarbery the week before but didn’t trap. She was sent to this race sitting on eggs and was given a youngster the night before basketing. This obviously made her keener as she wasted no time here.
Allan McDonald Portadown 7th North section 71st Open
Allan has had one of his best young bird seasons for a long time having topped the Portadown club on six occasions this year. In recent weeks he was 22nd Open from the Penzance Young Bird National. The young cock timed here was 1st Club, 17th section E (5137 birds) Rosscrea, and 1st club, 19th section (1063 birds) 178th Open(5054) birds in the NIPA National from Rosscarbery the week prior to the Skibbereen National. This youngster is bred from two direct Belgium pigeons from Scmit and Van Winkle who live near the famous Jos Soontjens. Alan is a regular visitor to the Dutch Show and when there he travels down to Belgium and buys a few birds. The sire and dam both have Dirk Van Dykk’s ‘Rambo’ and ‘Hannibal’ in their bloodlines. The young bird timed here at 7th North section was sent to Rosscarbery on chipping eggs and to Skibbereen on a 7-day-old youngster.
P Campbell & Sons Armagh 8th North section 72nd Open
This is another loft that was in peak form at the latter end of the season having won 3 races towards the end of the season. The pigeon timed here was a Vandenabeele hen bred as a gift bird by club mates E Murtagh & Son. Its nest mate was 8th Section in the 5 Bird Fermoy race. Its interesting to note that all three pigeons that won this year for Malachy were Vandenabeeles. This young bird was raced on the darkness and was keen on the nest but hadn’t actually laid so she was slipped an egg and was sent sitting to the National 17 days. Twenty minutes before basketing she was given a young bird, which she took to straightway.
D Croskery & Son Annsborough 9th North section 79th Open
This is the same loft that are 2nd North section in this race and the only loft in the North section with two birds in the top ten. Their second pigeon is a nest mate of their pigeon that was 1st South Down Fed, 1st East section and 12th Open East Down Combine from Skibbereen Derby. The dam is a direct Walter De Ryck, while the sire is a son of the cock that was 4th National Portsmouth. The De Ryck pigeons are only in the loft a couple of years now and have produced a host of prizewinners. The cock that was 4th National Portsmouth is down from Rodney & Jason Walker’s two National winners paired to one of their own De Klak pigeons.
Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central 10th North section 81st Open.
The Gordon’s have had a tremendous season with the East Down Combine and have taken numerous Open & Section positions. Their team of pigeons is based on the Vandenabeele family and it is indeed to the Vandenabeele that we go for the breeding of the pigeon at 10th North Section here. The sire is a direct M & D Evans and is a son of ‘Golden Gaby’. The dam is a Vandenabeele down from ‘Jester’and ‘Carrie’, M & D Evans’ top stock pair. The grand dam of the pigeon timed here was 3rd North Section, 5th Open in this race in 2002. This young bird is a cock that was sent paired but not sitting. It had been a consistent racer but hadn’t taken any major prizes before this.
SALE SEASON Update
KELLS & DISTRICT HPS – For the first time Kells & Dist will host a Pigeon Moot/Quiz in the Dunsilly Hotel Antrim (just off the M2 Dunsilly Roundabout). A perfect venue for such an event to be held on Friday 5th November entry £10 to include Hot Buffett Meal or £5 without the meal. Due to start at 8.00pm the evening will include presentation of awards. INFC President Syd Collins will chair an all star panel which will include Ronnie Johnston, Roy Irwin, Anthony McDonnell, Alan Darragh, and Peter Martin. The next meeting for Kells & Dist will be held on Thursday 7th October at 8.00pm to discuss the Social Night, Show Series and the Open Show to be held again on Boxing Day probably held this year on Monday 27th December.
One of the top sales of the season in the winter of 2010 will be on behalf of the Beattie Family and the late Henry Beattie who was a pigeon legend in his lifetime. He had one of the best long distance lofts in Ireland and race records to match, one of the very few to win both the INFC Friendship Nat and the Kings Cup from France. Henry has blended his old Harkness bloodlines with pigeons from Kings Cup winners Davie Black and Alan Darragh plus National Champions C & L Woodside. The present team are about the best he has ever had over the last 50 years and will leave their mark in the years to come. The sale of his birds will take place in Glenavy on Saturday 23rd October and one week later at the same venue. Remember the dates 23rd and 30th October, it will be packed out. Auctioneer is the long time family friend Ronnie Johnston, for further details and Sale List Tel: (028) 90 483625, or Cyril Beattie Tel: (028) 38 840486. Watch Press for updates.
A Frank Sheader Soontjen Sale will be held in Glenavy on Saturday 16th October at 2.30pm, birds on view from 1.30pm. Sale Lists are now available, Commission Bids etc to Ronnie Johnston Tel: (028) 90 483625.
Ronnie Johnston Sale Dates: 16th October Frank Sheader (Glenavy), 23rd October Henry Beattie (Glenavy), 30th October Henry Beattie (Glenavy), 1st November Tommy Lillie Clearance Sale (Newtownbreda), 8th November M/M Clayburn Soontjens for A Cousins & Son (Newtownbreda).
EMERALD CLASSIC http://www.emeraldclassic .co.uk
The auctions have started on line at www.emeraldclassic.co.uk/auction
with the Top 20 birds going on PIPA on 12th October.
NORTH COAST CLASSIC http://www.northcoastclassic.co.uk
The third sale is on Friday 8th October at Chimney Corner Football Club. Viewing will commence at 7pm until 8pm. The auction will begin at 8pm sharp.
A full stock take has taken place and the results are available in the 'Newsletters' section on above. All those who have not sent their pedigrees with their birds could you please send them as soon as possible. It makes things much easier for when the birds go to the sales. After all of the sales are complete the total of the costs will be added together. The North Coast Classic will pay half and the other half will be deducted from the total sale amount of all the birds.