East Down Combine News - 05-07-22

East Down Combine News

with Clifford Browne

GALLAGHER BROS(ANNSBOROUGH) WIN TESTING DERBY

The East Down Combine flew their French old Bird Derby again this year from St Malo when the195 birds entered by 64 members were released at 6.15am on Thursday June 23^rd into light variable winds . Once again this year this proved to be a testing race with no day arrivals .First bird next morning and the winner of the race was to Gallagher Bros of Annsborough who timed a three year old Blue hen at 5.50am on the second morning (now christened “Young Rhubarb” for reasons which I will explain in a moment ) next home was a black cheq w/f cock to Tom Marshall at 7.30am, and it was then back to Annsborough for the 3^rd arrival a blue hen to James Cleland . In total 9 birds were recorded in race time as follows :

Now a little about the leading 3 birds .

Gallagher Bros of Annsborough birds are raced by Kevin Gallagher and this loft is no stranger to success from French races having finished in the top ten in the INFC Friendship National about 5 times which included winning it in 2000 from Sartilly when only 4 birds were recorded in race time with their most recent success from France being in the INFC Lamballe Friendship National in 2021 when they finished 10^th open with a 2 year old black cock related to this year’s winner through their grandfather who was 5^th Open in a previous St .Malo .

Now a little about this year’s winner “ Young Rhubarb” first of all the name, unusual for a pigeon but the story behind it is that she is bred off a 3 times France pigeon of Kevin’s which was named “Rhubarb” by Kevin’s wife as she arrived from France on one occasion when he was picking Rhubarb in the garden . This year’s winner is full of distance blood for as well her mother having flown France 3 times ,her grandfather as mentioned earlier is a previous winner of 5^th open St. Malo .

Kevin’s pigeons originated from birds from the late great ,and former King’s Cup winner Bob Dunlop (Belfast) through Wilfie Harrison of Hill foot . Kevin has blended these in with birds from local fanciers John O’Hare and R J Keown .

The St. Malo winner, a 3 year old, was sent to the race sitting eggs 12days having already this season had two inland races of around 200 miles plus Talbenny (Wales) . I was speaking to Kevin on the second morning of this Year’s King’s Cup race in which he had timed in on the first day and when I was speaking to him had 4 out of 5 home and that was still before midday .Congratulations Kevin on yet another great result from France .

In second place was another loft which is no stranger to success from the French distance races the Newtownbreda lofts of Tom Marshall & son who have been the winner of this event on 5 previous occasions including a hat trick of wins in 2009,2010 & 2011 and have been second before as well . This year their 2^nd Open bird was a Black cheq W/F yearling cock which was not raced as a young bird only trained to the border and this year got one inland race and the 2 Talbennys . Bloodlines go back to the Marshalls old Bloodlines being ¾ Desmet and ¼ De Baere from one of Tom’s birds from Jim Whiteside .

In 3^rd spot was another fancier with a great record in French racing James Cleland and it’s back again to Annsborough for this one . James timed a 2yo Blue hen which this year had 3 races in total which included Talbenny and she went to St Malo feeding a two day old youngster and if ever a pigeon was bred for the job it is this hen . Back in 2014 from another very testing St. Malo Derby only 19 birds were recorded in race time and only two of these on the first day and both of them into Annsborough . The winner Bob McDowell timed a yearling blue cock and was the winner of the Miller Gold Cup and it was of Bertie Fletcher and Billy Leckey bloodlines ,two lofts which had some great distance performances .

The 2^nd bird that night was to James Cleland himself who timed a blue 2 year old hen after flying 15hours 10mins clocked at 10.40pm

She was bred specially for French racing as her Sire, a Vandenheede x Pros Roosen mating was 25th Open E.D.C. in the 2011 Penzance Classic and then sent to St Malo Friendship National with the INFC where he was 2nd E.D.C., 20th Open. Her Dam was 54th North Section, 63rd Open in 2009 Kings Cup race from Plaudren Vannes and she was also bred in the purple, from the 3rd Open Fougeres, 2002 Friendship National Cock when paired to Leslie Woodside's No. 1 stock hen.

Which brings us back to James 3^rd St. Malo hen for she is bred on the sire’s side from Bob McDowell’s 2014 winner paired to a daughter of James 2^nd open St. Malo of that year - certainly one bred for the task .

Congratulations to the owners of these three and the other six birds home in race time .

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East Down2bird News

BUDE 34 members sent 68 birds .

1^s

t M Foulis 1221.412 Prize money £30 pools £12

2^nd D Shaw 1170.518 nom £40 pools £ 9

3^rd J Patterson 1150.929 Pools £ 6

4^th Mr & Mrs S Brown & son 1140.341

5^th J Trimble & G’son 1121.412

6^th S McLoughlin 1108.265

7^th G Lyttle 1101.480

8^th Myles ,Kincaid, McCann,& Auld 1094.747 Pools £ 3

9^th M Foulis 1094.692

10^th Mackey &Lockhart 1093.573

11^th A & A Cheevers 1086.582

12^th B Hogg & Sons 1063.102

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Mark Foulis had yet another great result not only winning the 2 bird club but also having his second entry in the result . He is also the winner at Combine level of this year’s Old Bird Inland and Channel Championships ,A great Old bird season Mark .

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Well that concludes the 2022 EDC Old Bird Programme and the Young Bird season is due to start on the 16^th July.