BHW/INFC KING'S CUP SINGLE BIRD CHALLENGE
by David Black
I would like to start this detailed report on the BHW/INFC Single Bird Challenge by thanking some people who helped the INFC to have such a successful season. Firstly Trevor Topping, our hard working secretary, who has to organise everything at the drop of a hat when Willy Hore, Tom Marshall and myself decide to move the race day forwards or backwards depending upon weather conditions. I'd also like to thank all the committee members, other helpers at the race markings, the drivers and convoyers who look after the birds so well on their way to the race points, Brian Stubbs in Jersey for getting up so early and checking out the line of flight in France, and the staff at Lands End airport. The help of all these people has been invaluable. Hopefully this teamwork can continue in 2011.
Paul Dunlop, Single Bird Challenge Winner
The winner of this year's challenge is continuing the tradition of the fantastic pigeons that have won it in the past. A four year old blue check hen called "The Big Hen" for Paul Dunlop of Edgarstown club in Portadown, this hen finished 13th Open. The breeding of the hen is Tommy Becket on the sire's side and Busschaert on the dam's side, in fact the dam is a daughter of Paul's own Old Bird Derby winner when paired to her own son when she was paired to Bradford's Yearling National winner. As a young bird she had two or three races, the next year raced through to the Yearling National, as a two year old she was 3rd Open Quimper in a very hard race, and as a three year old she was 119th Open Vannes and 10th in the Challenge. In preparation for Vannes she had four inland races only and then was very lightly trained Paul prefers to fly his birds at home one hour morning and night. Sent sitting four day old young bird her best condition. The feeding used is Verselaga plus some hemp seed and homoform.
In second place is Robert Gray Newtownabbey who races with Kingsmoss club. Robert timed a three year old blue check hen called "Treble six" which finished 27th Open. Her breeding is of Harry Granville lines on the sire's side and Masserella Van Hee lines on the dam's side. She was raced up to 150 miles as a young bird and as a yearling though to Penzance where she was clocked. It was in this race that she impressed Robert, influencing his choice for the Challenge. As a two year old she had three inland plus Tallbeny then Vannes were she was clocked on the day but out of the prizes. For Vannes 2010 she had again three inland plus Tallbeny, she had no more training tosses and was just flown night and morning. "Treble six" was sent to Vannes sitting eggs 15 days. The feeding is Beatties No 1.
In third is a previous King's Cup winner and a top pigeon man Maurice Wilkinson from Lurgan who races with Wilton Cross club. Maurice timed a 5 year old blue hen called "May" which finished 43rd Open. She has been a fantastic racer for Maurice throughout her racing career so far. The sire of "May" came from Eddie McKnight and the dam is a cousin of Maurice's Kings Cup winner "Mowo". She had four or five races as a young bird and the following year she was 63rd Open in the Yearling National. As a two and three year old "May" won numerous prizes inland and on the channel culminating with 33rd Open Dinard. As a four year old she again had a good season and flew Vannes were she probably would have made the prizes but Maurice didn't time her in, thinking all the prizes were gone. In 2010 she had three inland races plus first Tallbeny and Bude in preparation for Vannes then a few 40 mile tosses. "May" was sent sitting eggs 8/10 days. The feeding used is Beatties No1 Special.
In fourth place is P&K Braniff from Belfast who race in the Colin club., Paul timed a four year old blue check hen called "Mary Kate" which finished 59th Open. Although not a committee member Paul is a great worker for the INFC and a great worker at the marking centre. Paul's daughter Mary Kate does a lot of work with the birds and deserves a lot of credit for this performance. The sire of "Mary Kate" is Jim Donaldson lines through Dale Newcombe and the dam is N. Black & Son "Drumiller Hill Lad" lines through Harry Radcliffe, Yorkshire. Unraced as a young bird she was lightly trained up to 20 miles. As a yearling trained inland and then had her first race from Tallbeny were she was 5th club and then next unto the Yearling National to take 167th Open. As a two year old she was 2nd club Clonmel doing 1800 yards a minute, Tallbeny and brought back from Vannes. As a three year old three inland races and Vannes finishing 245th Open and 18th in the Challenge. In 2010 three inland races in preparation for Vannes plus one 60 mile toss per week and an open loft. "Mary Kate" was sent feeding a ten day young bird.
Mary Braniff holding Mary Kate
In fifth place in the Challenge, 66th Open is another loft which has had multiple timings in the Kings Cup this last couple of years, that of A.Hughes & Son, Lisburn & District. His timer here is a five year old blue check tip hen, the breeding is totally C & L Fryers, another top distance loft, the sire and dam both coming from Laurence. Not raced as a young bird she was trained up to 30 miles. As a yearling two inland plus every channel race. Again as a two year old two inland plus two channel then brought home from Vannes, this was repeated again the following year when she was three. In 2009 she had two inland plus first Tallbeny then Vannes were she was 25th Open. In 2010 she had one inland and first Tallbeny, after Tallbeny she was flown an hour night and morning plus four or five 30 mile tosses. She was sent sitting ten day eggs and the feeding was Gem Super Red.
In sixth place in the Challenge 89th Open, we have one of the top distance lofts in Ireland, that of T. Marshall & Son Newtownbreda. Tom's timer here was a two year old blue check hen called "Linda". Her sire was a red check De Baer cock and her dam Tom's good hen which was 4th in the Kings Cup. She was bred from a son of N.Black & son's "Drumiller Hill Lad" when paired to an ash hen of Tom's own family. As a young bird she had a three or four races and as a yearling flew up to Penzance. In preparation for Vannes 2010 "Linda" had two inland races, Bude were she had a nine hour fly which set her up nicely and after this she had a couple of tosses from Portrush. "Linda" was sent sitting 14 day eggs, the feeding is all Natural.
In seventh place in the Challenge, 110th Open is one of the top all-round lofts in Ireland, M. Maguire & Son from Newry who race in the Millvale club, previous Single Bird Challenge winners, National winners and Derby winners, the list goes on. Malachy timed a two year old blue check pied hen called "Just Perfect". As you can see her pedigree is just perfect as well, her sire is a son of Malachy's Derby winner "Home Alone" when he was paired to "Portavogie Lass", the only bird into Ireland from Dinard and purchased by Malachy. "Just Perfect" is slightly inbred as her dam is a daughter of "Home Alone" when mated to a Pete Arts Van Der Wegen hen. Raced as a young bird right through the programme, as a yearling she had an exceptional year winning best all round performance by any pigeon in the NIPA, also runner up adult middle distance in the RPRA. In preparation for Vannes in 2010 she had three or four inland races plus second Tallbeny and Penzance, she was sent to Vannes on her first young bird of the year which was eight days old. The feeding used is Beatties Irish mix plus some widowhood.
In eigth place in the Challenge, 112th Open is another loft making a name for himself at the distance, that of N.McCavery Downpatrick. Nicky's timer is a three year old blue hen called "Mollie", named after Nicky's late aunt. "Mollie" was bred from a blue cock obtained from N. Black & Son as an egg, a grandson of the Hall of Fame Hen. The dam also came from N.Black & Son, a half sister to their 2nd Open Rennes "Mother's Pride". As a young bird she was raced up to 150 miles winning two prizes. In her yearling year she had two or three inland races and was timed from the Yearling National then back to Penzance Classic where she was 17th section. As a two year old she had two or three inland and then 3rd club St Malo. In 2010 she had one inland and 12th club Rosscarbery plus timed from Penzance classic, after this a few 40 mile tosses and an open loft. The feeding was McCauseland Rocket mix (beans peas and tares) plus a few peanuts. "Mollie" was sent to Vannes feeding a 7 day young bird.
Nicky McCavery with Mollie
I would also like to congratulate everybody who timed a Challenge pigeon and wish everyone success in the 2011 Single Bird Challenge, which is going to be free to enter. The entry deadline is the same 17th March. Every member will receive an entry form with their statement of accounts and this can be posted or delivered to me. The INFC is guaranteeing £1500 in prize money and there will be twelve prizes: 1st £500, 2nd £300, 3rd £200, 4th £100, 5th-12th £50, W. Sawyers and Co. are again sponsoring the Diplomas for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and the winner will also receive the J.Doheny Trophy. The Robin Duddy Challenge is also going to be free with £1000 guaranteed, all you have to do is mark your three birds on the Yearling National race entry sheet and the same for Penzance Young Bird National you only need to time any one of the three in each race. Anyone needing clarification can call me on 07876157706 - David Black.
