Adie reports on INFC winners 2025
Irish National Awards in 2025 -
All cups and trophies in the INFC won last year should be returned ASAP to the Secretary to arrange engraving. The annual dinner and prize presentation will be held on Friday 28th November at 7.00pm in the Stormont Hotel in Belfast. It might be the last time at Stormont Hotel are the land is down for redevelopment. Merit Awards will also be presented at the presentation on 28th November.
Tickets are available to book now and priced at £37.50 each. accommodation rates have been agreed with hotel and priced at: £120 – Single Room B&B, £140 – Double Room B&B, £160 – Family Room B&B
For Ticket & Accommodation requests, please contact Gary on Mobile 07955 04846 or in writing to 20 Drumford Meadow, Portadown, Co. Armagh, BT63 5GD.
Irish National Flying Club - Trophy and Award Winners 2025
King George V Challenge Cup- Saint Allouestre. Grand National old bird race winner. J. Murtagh, Ballyholland Vel: 875
Johnny Murtagh won the Blue Riband Kings Cup for the second time in 2025, previous occasion was in 2019 & “Annie” Kings Cup Grand National winner for J Murtagh & Son 2019 St Allouestre.
Nelson Vase – Saint Allouestre O.B.-- 1st RPRA member after winner in the Kings Cup race. P. Boyd, Annaghmore Vel: 773
Gilliland Cup—Saint Allouestre O.B. -- 1st IHU member after winner in the Kings Cup race. Gordon Bros & Sons, Killyleagh Central Vel: 855
East Down Combine Cup--Saint Allouestre O.B.--1st E.D.C. member in the Kings Cup race. Gordon Bros & Sons, Killyleagh Central Vel: 855
Ulster Federation Cup –Saint Allouestre O.B. 1st Ulster Federation member in the Kings Cup race. Johnston Bros, Fortfield Vel: 482
N.I.P.A. Cup—Saint Allouestre O.B--1st NIPA member in the Kings Cup race. J. Murtagh, Ballyholland Vel: 875
“Kate” the 2025 Kings Cup winner for J Murtagh & Son 1st Open INFC St Allouestre.
Joe Cullen Memorial Cup—Saint Allouestre O.B.--1st East Coast Fed. member in the Kings Cup race. J. Guildea & Son, Balbriggan Vel: 666
Billy Ingle Trophy-- Saint Allouestre O.B.—1st Irish South Road Federation member in the Kings Cup race. P. Rock & Son, Dublin North East Vel: 462
S.L.F. Cup--- Saint Allouestre O.B.—1st South Leinster Fed. member in the Kings Cup race. Gregory Bros, Rathnew Vel: 660
Duddy Extreme Distance Trophy-- Saint Allouestre O.B. Furthest flying member in the King’s Cup open prizes. D & H Stuart, Ballymoney 12th Open 521mls Vel: 530
Harkness Rose Bowl—Saint Allouestre O.B.--Best two bird average Kings Cup A Thompson, Ballyclare & District Vel: 568
Montage of the Harkness Rose Bowl winners Best 2 Bird Ave Kings Cup, 4th & 24th Open INFC for Arnold Thompson of Ballyclare & Arnold Thompson Harkness Rose Bowl winner in 025 a few days earlier he won the NIPA Old Bird Nat from Plougastel.
Joe Doheny Cup—Saint Allouestre O.B. Single bird challenge Kings Cup race. Agar Bros, Cloughey Vel: 506
Robinson Trophy—Saint Allouestre O.B. 14th position in the Kings Cup. G. Owens, Annaghmore Vel:520
McCloud Cup—Saint Allouestre O.B.-- 1st Yearling in the Kings Cup. Gregory Bros, Rathnew Vel: 660
Ronnie Johnston Challenge Cup - Skibbereen O.B - Inland National. L. Duffy, Blanchardstown Vel: 1718
“Brookhaven Star” being held by Lee Duffy. Also included is Val Flood of the INFC Management Committee who verified the 1st Skibbereen OB Nat winner.
Gerald Delaney Trophy - Skibbereen O.B - Best section winning velocity after winning section. O. Markey, Ballyholland Vel: 1692
Friendship Cup – Plougastel Friendship National. R. Straney, Killyleagh Central Vel: 1138
Bobby Straney won the Old Bird Friendship Nat for the second time in 2025, previous occasion was in 2022 & Bobby Straney from Killyleagh Central (l) collects the Friendship Cup for 1st Old Bird Nat St Malo from Homer in 2022.
“Double Nine” 1st Open INFC Friendship OB National 2022 for Bobby Straney of Killyleagh Central.
British Barcelona Club Trophy - Plougastel Friendship National - 2nd position in the Friendship National. J. Robinson, Edgarstown Vel: 1094
John Millar Logistics Trophy – Plougastel Friendship National - 1st member in the section not winning the open Friendship National. P J Corcoran & Son, Balbriggan Vel: 1052
Henry Beattie & Son Trophy - Plougastel Friendship National - Best two bird average Friendship National. Donnelly Bros, Newry City Vel: 1015
Nelson Corry Trophy - Sennen Cove Yearling National. T. Hobbs, Arklow United Vel: 1519
Tony Hobbs from Arklow holding ‘John’s Girl’ and Mr Eammon O’Brien who verified the pigeon.1st Open INFC Yearling Nat Sennen Cove.
James McGrugan Memorial Cup - Sennen Cove Yearling National - Section winner not winning the open. T. Mooney & Son, Millvale Vel: 1474
Sam Buckley Memorial Cup – Best two bird average Sennen Cove Yearling National. T & S Molloy, Arklow United Vel: 1509
Charles Ingle Memorial Trophy - 10th Open position Sennen Cove Yearling National. McCartan & Woodsides, Crossgar Vel: 1466
J.M.K. McGugan Perpetual Cup--- Penzance —Y.B. Channel Grand National. J. Smyth & Son, Ahoghill Vel: 1256
Jimmy Smyth from Ahoghill won the Blue Riband YB Nat having previously won 5th Open in 2024 and 6th Open in 2023 & The YB Grand National winner for J Smyth & Son Ahoghill, 1st Open INFC Rosudgeon. He joins a long list of Mid Antrim winners of the McGugan Cup.
William Erwin Memorial Cup- Penzance- 1st Section Not Winning Open In Channel Y.B. National. B. Burke, Arklow Utd Vel: 556
De-Scheemaecker Trophy- Penzance Y.B- Best two bird average in Channel Y.B. National. D. Dixon, Ballymoney Vel:1222
Tom Marshall Trophy—Skibbereen—Y.B. Inland National G. Buckley & Son, Annaghmore Vel: 1624
Glen Buckley & Son Annaghmore took 1st & 2nd in the Young Bird Nat Skibbereen.
Framed Diploma – Skibbereen --- Y.B. Inland National section winner. L. Duffy, Blanchardstown Vel: 1540
Irvine Trophy - Best Average O.B. Nationals - Plougastel Friendship and Saint Allouestre Kings Cup J. Murtagh, Ballyholland Vel: 933
J. Gilmour Memorial Cup - Best average Saint Allouestre O. B. and Sennen Cove Yearling Nationals. J. Murtagh, Ballyholland Vel: 982
A. Darragh Cup - Best average Sennen Cove Yearling & Plougastel Friendship Nationals. Donnelly Bros, Newry City Vel: 1137
Jarvis Cup—Best Average Rosudgeon and Skibbereen Y.B. Nationals. D. Dixon, Ballymoney Vel: 1349
Rhead Trophy Best Average – Saint Allouestre O.B. and Rosudgeon Y.B. Nationals. P. Boyd, Annaghmore Vel: 855
Diamond Cup—Best Average Saint Allouestre O.B. Sennen Cove Yearling and Rosudgeon Y.B. Nationals P. Boyd, Annaghmore Vel: 937
Harkers Trophy—Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling and Rosudgeon Y. B. Nationals. N. Black & Son, Dromara Vel: 1198
Robin Duddy Trophy. Rosudgeon Y. B. Furthest flying member in the Penzance Young Bird channel national open prizes. S. Diamond, Coleraine Premier. Vel: 1178 Flying: 350mls
Charles Hunniford Memorial Trophy --- Best average (North Section) Skibbereen O.B. & Y.B. nationals. R. Parkes & Son, Armagh Vel: 1616
The New North Cup --- Best Average Sennen Cove Yearling, Saint Allouestre Kings Cup, Plougastel Friendship, Rosudgeon Young Bird Nationals. J. Murtagh, Ballyholland Vel: 841
President’s Cup--- Best Average Saint Allouestre Kings Cup, Sennen Cove Yearling, Rosudgeon Y.B. and Skibbereen Y.B. Nationals. P. Boyd, Annaghmore Vel: 999
De-Scheemaecker Trophy--Runner up best average all races. A. Thompson, Ballyclare & Dist. Vel: 883
Erwin Trophy—Best Average all races. J. Murtagh, Ballyholland Vel: 939
LADIES PRIZES WON BY
L. Duffy, T. Hobbs, J. Murtagh, R. Straney, J. Smyth & Son, G. Buckley & Son
FRAMED DIPLOMAS SPONSORED BY DANNY DIXON DUNLOY
SAINT ALLOUESTRE SINGLE BIRD CHALLENGE.
1st Agar Bros, Cloughey, 17th Open, Vel: 506
2nd Johnston Bros, Fortfield, 25th Open, Vel: 482
3rd T. McClean, Edgarstown, 51st Open, Vel: 342.
Former NI Fancier of the Year Calls it a Day
With some 70+ years of racing pigeons and with major success over the years, former Northern Ireland Fancier of the Year Willie Blair of Ballymoney has decided to call it a day. What a channel record this loft has registered over the years, more recently winning the O/Bird Cross Channel Section B Fancier of the Year with the NIPA. John McConaghie has advised me that all pigeons will be sold at the Ballymoney HPS in the next few weeks, John is to confirm a date very soon and a sale that will no doubt draw huge interest.
Adie McCormick
Mobile: 07921883997
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
Email:
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
