Carlow Racing Pigeon Clubs Single Bird Nomination.
Nowadays in pigeon racing, framentation and smaller clubs seem to be the order of the day, however there are individuals who have their sights set on promoting racing between local clubs and also at the same time trying to level the playing field between those who take part in such ventures. In the Carlow area we are lucky to have four pigeon clubs in close proximity to one another and although the clubs are local, the radius of members would be around 15 miles from the town centre, so sometimes the wind will play a part in the eventual result, anyway it was the brainchild of Noel o Connor to organise a €10 single bird nomination between the four clubs each week, with the help of Colm Keating in his own club, The Carlow Premier and also the help on a weekly basis from the other three club treasurer's the scene was set for a very competitive season of single bird nomination racing. There are about 20 members in each club in Carlow and although not everyone participated in the weekly nomination race, there were usually about 18 to 20 members from the four clubs competing against each other on a regular basis, generating a winner take all prize pot of between €180 to €200 per week, which in total generated a prize fund of over €3500 for the 20 races, both old and young birds.
Colm Keating. Carlow Premier.
It wasn’t going to be easy to win one of the single bird Noms as there would be anything up to twelve hundred birds going to each race from our area, sent by some of the most competitive fanciers in the country. Unfortunately I don’t have the race points for each winner, but I do know that the races were from 60 to 230 miles, including the channel races from Penzance.
Roly Brennan, John Fagan, Paul Byrne, Michael Purcell, Billy Brooks, Colin Nolan, Donal Begley, JJ Hurley, Davy Hurley, Noel o Connor & Tom Gorman all had one winner each during the season.
Roly Brennan, Carlow & Dist.
John Fagan. Carlow & Dist.
Paul Byrne, Carlow & Dist.
M Purcell. Carlow South
Colin Nolan, Carlow Premier.
Donal Begley. Barrow Valley.
Billy Brooks, Barrow Balley.
JJ Hurley, Barrow Valley.
Davy Hurley, Barrow Valley.
Tom Gorman. Carlow South.
Dwyane racing in the Ballon/Tullow area had two good wins to his credit.
D Brennan. Carlow South.
Up and coming PJ Doyle from Grange, Killerig, had a great season knocking up three wins for his inform lofts, and finally Joe Brennan was the highest prize winner for the inaugural season with Four Single Bird Nomination winners from the twenty races flown.
PJ Doyle, Carlow South.
Joe Brennan loves any sort of equal competition, including single bird noms, Breeder Buyer races or Gold ring races, anywhere that each fancier has to breed/buy and prepare a limited number of birds for certain events, you will always find Joe as a number one supporter of such events and generally one of those amongst the top prize winners.
Joe Brennan. Barrow Valley.
Thanks must go to Noel o Connor for collecting the entry sheets from the individual clubs each week and presenting the prize cheque to the winners each week, and to Colm Keating for collating the results. Hopefully we can carry on in the same vein for the coming season.
Could I just say a get well soon to two trojan workers for the sport of pigeon racing in the Carlow area who have been experiencing some health issues in the recent past, namely Big Ger Moran and his side kick John Bolger, both these guys along with Colm Keating do a tremendous job running the Sprint club every Tuesday evening for racing on a Wednesday morning, again this is for the four clubs plus any individuals that wish to compete each week. From all the members in the Carlow area and further afield, get well soon boys.
