THE RACING PIGEON 27 OCTOBER 2023
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News & Views from Northern Ireland
Friendship National Fougeres only two birds in race time (3 days), Cyril & Hilary Beattie timed the only other pigeon for 2nd Open. Billy Hayes The stock sale for the late Billy Hayes has now been agreed with the family and will be held on Saturday 11th November at Newtonbreda Club Rooms, sale start 3pm birds on view 2.30pm. Most fanciers who will be attending the dale do not want to travel to the sale and then home in the dark, this arrangement will suit most fanciers. I now have the sale list and details of the main pigeons. Tel RJ 02890 483 625. Derek Walsh Winning two National in the same year has also been achieved twice Billy Cullamore, Wexford and just recently 2021 by the bril- liant loft of Derek Walsh, Waterford. Geoffery Beattie Cyril and Hilary have sent me an update on their son who was badly injured on a visit to the Isle Of Man TT race. He has been moved to Musgrave Park Hospital for treatment and has been allowed home for a one day visit before returning to hospital. Cyril is pleased with his recovery, but it will be slow. I will keep the fancy up-to-date on his progress. Ronnie Johnston
National, again from Skibbereen on 23rd September. One of the best returns for Skibbereen, 16th September that I have heard of was from the loft of Jeff Greenway who sent 20 and got eight on the day, 15 at the end of the second day for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Section D. Jeff has now won 5x1st Section D in succession, a record for the loft and this now gives the loft 8x1st Section D during 2023 and one can add to this 1st Open NIPA, 1st Open INFC. lam amazed at this level of racing as he has a major business that sees him away from home 8am-5pm not much time for pigeons! I was more than delighted to learn of the success of Nelson Weir who won Roscrea
The 2023 racing season will soon be at an end with only two major races to come, NIPA Skibbereen YB National East Down Combine and Ulster Federation YB Derby, 10th September and finally the Irish National Flying Club, Saturday 23rd September Skibbereen YB National. The weather has been very unsettled with heavy showers in all areas of Ireland and by Saturday the wind had moved to north and it was very cold. I had a bad feeling about the race and did not send, all three organisations liberated and a
RJ and Gerard Delaney. The family 1st, 2nd & 4th Skibbereen YB National.
and 17th B Hogg & Son; 2nd, 3rd and 15th Mr & Mrs Brown & Son; 4th John Patterson; 5th S Casement & Son; 6th and 14th S & K Duke; 9th and 9th J & R Young; 10th Mark Keenan & Partners; 11th Cowan & McCartney; 12th R & G Thompson; 16th C & DSmyth; 18th John Trimble & Grandson. Velocity of the winner 960ypm, 18th 698ypm. The Combine had a total of 18 birds home from an entry of 500. Around the Clubs. Newtownbreda (2/5), Dundonald (2/4), Portavogie (2/3), Crossgar (1/2), Ballylesson (2/2), Cloughey(1/1), Annalong (1/1). Only 11 members recorded a pigeon. I am told a number of young birds turned up Sunday morning, the NIPA has an entry of some 3,000 birds and look to have about 300 recorded. As yet I have no information on the
The two Ronnie’s.
hard race looked on the cards but it was to turn out a severe race, one of the worst I can ever remember, I doubt if 10% of the convoy made home on the day of liberation, I did hear that a small number turned in next morning. It was a one day race but Section F did not record a day bird and they had to go into a second day to record a winner. John
(1) NIPA. Look at this result: 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th. 9th, 10th, 11th Open (17,805 birds) then on to Roscrea (2) 1st and 2nd Open (16,800 birds). Nelson’s wife passed away in early March and it was a huge loss for him and his family, he was not going to race but the young birds had been bred and it would give him something to look forward to. I can go back a few years when Nelson flew a good pigeon with the INFC this good cock was sent to the NIPA OB Derby winning 47th Open and eight days later Nelson sent him to the INFC King’s Cup and he was up with the leaders to win 2nd North Section, 6th Open. Nelson is one of the old school of fanciers and I wish him well. The leading three fanciers from the EDC Skibbereen YB Classic are all former winners of the EDC Fancier of the Year and I think Mr & Mrs Brown & Son, Dundonald, will win the title this year as the have enjoyed a wonderful season. Martin Graham Martin achieved a magnificent National double this season, first winning 1st Section, 1st Open Yearling National, the second time he has won this race and then followed up with 1st Section, 1st Open INFC YB Grand National. The last time this feat was achieved was in 2004 by the super loft of Ronnie Williamson when he was at Bondhill 1st Section, 1st Open INFC OB National, Skibbereen followed by 1st Open INFC Two happy fanciers, 1st & 2nd King’s Cup 2023
The Racing Pigeon Pictorial International No 601 ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE RP
My sons home in Spain, no pigeons!
numbers recorded by the Ulster Federation. The East Down Combine and Ulster Fed both had small entries and decided to have separate liberations. It was not a day for fanciers to enjoy their birds racing, especially young birds. I am sure it will have an effect on the entry for the final race, INFC YB
Myles, a long standing friend, told me it was the first time in 50 years that he failed to clock from Skibbereen. John was not on his own as some 80% of fanciers failed to clock, yes, it was that bad. I am a member of the East Down Combine and now have the full result: 1st, 7th, 13th
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