IRISH NATIONAL FLYING CLUB - SKIBBEREEN OLD BIRD NATIONAL
The first of the 6 races organized by the Irish National Flying Club was held on Tuesday 23rd May from Skibbereen in Co Cork. 486 members sent 4,666 birds to compete for £16,898 in pools and prizemoney. This was slightly up on last year’s entry of 4,498 birds. The race was sponsored by Bamfords Top Flight and we are very grateful to them for their continued sponsorship. The race took the same format as last year with the Ronnie Johnston Challenge Cup and diploma awarded to the Overall winner and the Gerald Delaney Trophy awarded to the best velocity of the other two sections. The winner of the section with the lowest winning velocity will receive a coveted INFC diploma. There are no Open positions for the Skibbereen Nationals but prizes are allocated to the three sections. As the result is divided into 3 sections I will cover the top 5 in the three sections in this article. This article was delayed as the result was subject to appeal and other commitments following the appeal hearing.
The birds were liberated at 11.45 am in a light westerly wind, with the winning velocity recorded as 1673.
1st Middle Section, 1st Open, P Keegan & L Darling Donnycarney, Vel 1673, Flying 179 miles, winning £269 and the Ronnie Johnston Challenge Cup
The winners of this year’s Skibbereen Old Bird National are Paul Keegan and Luke Darling from the Donnycarney club in Dublin who have been racing together for 15 years. Paul is a Vice-President of the Irish Honing Union and also served on the INFC committee for eight years, while Luke is secretary of the Northside club. It’s good to see two men who put so much into the sport get something out of it. The pigeon timed here is a yearling chequer hen that was raced on the roundabout. The sire is a Gevaert cock that was bought from Gary Tomlinson, Derbyshire, while the dam is off a Paul Stobbs Soontjens. The dam was a super racer herself, she only had 12 races but won 6 of them including 1st Open Irish South Road Fed from Mallow (134 miles) with 13,500 birds competing. The National winner had all the races before the National including Barleycove (200 miles) two days before basketing for the National, when she was 3rd club, 67th Fed (4,500 birds) She had six races as a young bird and her best position was 41st Irish South Road Fed from Castletown (162 miles) with over 10,000 birds competing. Paul and Luke had a good year’s racing with many club positions. They had two club wins prior to the National race and had another two birds in the result here at 10th and 37th Middle section. In concluding they asked me to thank Fran Nash for all his help around the loft.
Paul Keegan and Luke Darling Donnycarney 1st Middle section 1st Open Skibbereen OB National
2nd Middle section, S Duran Blanchardstown, Vel 1661, Flying 174 miles, winning £205
2nd Middle section is Safet Duran from the Blanchardstown club who has had many great results in National racing in recent years. Safet had another super race here with other birds taking 9th, 13th, 14th, 22nd, 29th, 36th Middle section. The pigeon at 2nd Middle section is a medium sizes blue hen named ‘Vandara’. She was bred in May last year and had a few races as a young bird. This season she was trained and had 3 races. Breeding is Van Loon x Cooreman and her sire is a son of ‘Daro’, who had many wins for Louis Cooreman and is responsible for many winners. Safet’s Van Loon lines are well established and have produced many winners for him. Safet trains his pigeons Monday to Thursday from 30 to 50 miles. Safet asked me to thank his good friend Paul Foster for helping in and around the lofts with the pigeons, Liam Donnelly for his support and help, bring his pigeons to the Marking Station and his clock to Balbriggan, and also his daughter Merjem for all her help and for clocking the pigeons from the National.
Safet Duran (centre) Blanchardstown 2nd Middle section Skibbereen OB National
3rd Middle section, Mr & Mrs M Gilligan Finglas, Vel 1649.5, Flying 177 miles, winning £153
3rd Middle section is Mr & Mrs Mick Gilligan from Finglas in Dublin. Mick is well known throughout the pigeon sport and has always played an active part in the sport. Mick and Teresa had a great race here with three other birds in the result at 7th, 20th and 27th Middle section. The pigeon timed is a blue yearling Soontjens hen bred by Danny Dalton from pigeons obtained from Paul Stobbs, West Durham Amalgamation and Jimmy McGann, Belfast. This yearling hen was 5th Middle section in the Skibbereen Young Bird National in 2016. Interestingly their second pigeon that day taking 15th Middle section was also their second pigeon here to take 7th Middle section. Training is twice a day, going with Herbie Thorpe to Rathangan (35 miles) in the morning and then Mick and Liam Donnelly give them a 20 mile toss in the evenings.
Mick Gilligan Finglas 3rd Middle section Skibbereen OB National with grandchildren Grace and Leo
4th Middle section, T McLoughlin Naas, Vel 1649.1, Flying 158 miles, winning £267
4th Middle section is Tristan McLoughlin from Naas who has become a well known name in National racing. The pigeon timed here is a chequer yearling hen racing roundabout. She is one of a kit of ten from Mark Simpson from the North West Homing Union. They are a Janssen x Wal Zoontjens cross and have done well for Tristan. The yearling hen timed here was 1st club, 3rd Fed, 9th Open IHUNFC (2100 birds from Barleycove (177 miles) nine days prior to this race, and the week before that she was 7th club, 14th Mid Leinster Fed. Tristan trains five times a week up to the first race, weather permitting and reduces this to four times a week up to the third race. After that they are flown at home. Tristan had three other birds in the result here at 21st, 23rd and 38th Middle section.
Tristan McLoughlin Naas 4th Middle section Skibbereen OB National
5th Middle section Mr & Mrs K Guildea Balbriggan, Vel 1646, Flying 192 miles, winning £65
5th Middle section are Mr & Mrs Ken Guildea and son Gary from Balbriggan. This is a race that they target to win in the club each year as it’s for Ken’s father’s cup, so they were delighted when they not only did that but had the best bird in the East Coast Fed and 5th Middle section as well. The pigeon timed here is a 3-year-old cock now named ‘Our Ned’. Racing natural he was sent to this race starting to look at his hen. A consistent racer he has scored a few minor positions in the club. The sire of ‘Our Ned’ has bred 3 x 1st club winners plus a hen that was 2nd club, 3rd Open East Coast Fed from Truro. He is also sire of ‘The Rocket’ who topped the Fed by 8 minutes from Pilmore Beach in 2012 and went on to be 1st club, 14th Middle section in this race on 2013. The grandsire of ‘Our Ned’ was Brendan Richardson’s 2005 INFC Yearling National winner. The dam was a gift pigeon from Tommy Nelson of Malahide’s best Soontjens lines. Ken and Gary asked me to thank Tommy and Brendan for their help and support over the years.
Ken Guildea of Mr & Mrs K Guildea & Son Balbriggan 5th Middle section Skibbereen OB National
1st North Section J Gregory & Sons Colin HPS, Vel 1648, Flying 248 miles, winning £873 and the Gerard Delaney Trophy for the best Velocity in the Sections
not winning the Open
Winners of the North section and the Gerald Delaney Trophy are John Gregory and Sons Eamon, John and Steven from the Colin club in Belfast. Topping the north section here makes up for their disappointment in 2013 when they were beaten into second place on the second decimal. The pigeon timed here is a blue yearling hen and is a Vandenabeele from M & D Evans stock. She was in the top 5 in the Harmony Loft’s race from Navan three weeks before the National and was 27th section D, 141st Open NIPA from Rosscarbery a week before the National. A very consistent racer she had all the inland races except the first one. This line of pigeons have done well for the Gregorys. Her half brother was 4th Open NIPA Sennen Cove Classic in 2015. Another half brother was 1st section D, 3rd Open NIPA Rosscarbery Yearling cocks and a full sister was 12th North section in the Skibbereen Old Bird National in 2014 and 7th Open Rosscarbery and 13th Open Yearling Hens from Rosscarbery. Training is on Wednesdays with either John Abernethy or Rosie & Jim.
John Gregory and Sons Colin 1st North section Skibbereen OB National
2nd North Section M Foulis Dundonald, Vel 1647, Flying 254miles, winning £747
2nd North section is Mark Foulis from the Dundonald club just outside Belfast. Mark was 2nd North section in the Skibbereen Young Bird National, a year that saw him win the Charles Hunniford Memorial Trophy for Best Averages (North section) Skibbereen Old Bird and Young Bird Nationals. The pigeon timed here is a mealy yearling hen racing roundabout. Breeding is Lambrecht from Derek Parr, Portadown. Mark has been buying birds from Derek for a number of years and they have always performed exceptionally well. This bird certainly has earned her perch this year as she was also 1st section D, 15th Open Fermoy Old Bird 5 Bird in the NIPA, winning £450 in the process. Training is generally from Finnis and Mark says that his wife Rosie is very helpful both with training and generally around the lofts.
Mark Foulis Dondonald 2nd North section Skibbereen OB National
3rd North Section V Cooney & Son Andersonstown, Vel 1645.8, Flying 249 miles, winning £822
3rd North section are Vincent Cooney and his son Niall from the Andersonstown club in Belfast. Plumbers by trade Vincent and Niall work together and sometimes have different views on how to manage the birds but they never fall out. The pigeon timed here is a light blue cheq yearling cock racing roundabout. The sire is Van Den Horst, a gift bird from their very good friend Paddy McGarrity from Glenavy. The dam is Van Den Bulck and was bought from Ronnie Johnston, West Brom. He had a win and a couple of minor prizes as a young bird and as a yearling she was a very consistent racer. His nestmate and another pair the same way bred all scored in the club and in the Ulster Fed as young birds. Vincent and Niall give the birds a few tosses before racing starts and then they are flown at home.
4th North Section R Moore & Son Bangor, Vel 1645.7, Flying 261 miles, winning £471
We go to the Bangor in Co Down for 4th North section to the lofts of Reggie and David Moore. Reggie and David had a fantastic Old Bird season prior the National and had won all but two of the Inland races before it and collected many Open and section positions within the East Down Combine. They had 6 birds in the result here taking 4th, 12th, 18th, 192nd, 239th and 297th North section. The pigeon at 4th section is a yearling blue hen from their Guido Verheyen lines. She is a direct daughter of their number One breeding cock ‘Dakota 801’, when paired to another hen of the same lines ‘02’. This hen has put up some outstanding performances. From Skibbereen last year she was 1st section, 3rd Open East Down Combine and this year she was 5th section, 11th Open Skibbereen Old Bird Classic. This line of bird have done well for the Moores, with ‘801’ himself having been 5th section, 6th Open Skibbereen Old Bird Classic and he is also the Great Grandsire of their 2015 Skibbereen Derby winner.
Reggie and David Moore Bangor 4th North section Skibbereen Old Bird National
5th North Section D & J Campbell Eastway Vel 1642, Flying 256 miles, winning £170
5th North section is Davy Campbell racing as D & J Campbell from the Eastway club just to the north of Belfast. The ‘J’ in the partnership name is Davy’s late father Jack. The pigeon timed here is a cheq w/f hen racing roundabout. Her sire is Gregg Bros and McCandless and was bought at PigeonCraic’s Fair in Ballyclare. The dam was 2nd North section in this race in 2012 and has bred a host of prizewinners. The nestmate of the bird timed here was 1st Open NIPA Yearling Cocks from Rosscarbery. Davy started the hens in the fourth race this year so this was the hen’s fourth race this year. She had raced well as a young bird picking up a few cards and had another few this year again. Davy calls this hen ‘Flash’ as she goes in like a flash from every race. The hens are trained once a week but otherwise are flown at home.
Davy and Alastair Campbell - D & J Campbell Eastway 5th North section Skibbereen OB National
1st South Section C Nolan Carlow & Dist, Vel 1642, Flying 133 miles, winning £88
1st South Section and winner of a Framed Diploma is Colin Nolan of Carlow & District. Colin has been racing on and off for 15 years and won the Sheldon Leonard Classic from Truro three years ago winning £1,000 in the process. The pigeon timed here was a yearling hen racing roundabout. She is a Soontjens from Paul Byrne from direct Soontjens. As a young bird she had a couple of minor positions and was 8th club this year from Barleycove (155 miles) Her brother was 1st club, 7th Fed from Dunmanway (121 miles). Colin is very pleased with these birds and they are going well for him. Training is up to 25 miles before racing starts then they get one 40 mile toss. After that they are flown at home and raced every week. Colin told me that his son Kian helps with the training and is generally a good help round the lofts.
Colin Nolan
2nd South Section PJ Nangle Carlow & Dist, Vel 1629, Flying 133 miles, winning £65
2nd South section this year goes to P J Nangle like Colin Nolan from the Carlow & District club. PJ started racing in 1994 and his best performance to date was 1st Open IHUNFC from Sennen Cove in 2011. The pigeon timed here is a yearling hen racing roundabout. Breeding here is Louis Cooreman with the grandparents bought at a Bob Fenech auction in Bottom of the Hill pub in Finglas, Dublin. This bird had most races this year and was 3rd club, 17th Mid Leinster Fed from Tramore. Her nestmate was 30th Open Mid Leinster Fed last year from Skibbereen. A daughter of this hen was 1st club, 1st Fed, 1st section, 14th Open IHUNFC from Barleycove (154 miles). Training up until the 3rd race up to 30miles, then flown morning and evening at home.
PJ Nangle Carlow 2nd South section Skibbereen Old Bird National
3rd South Section S Duffy Wicklow South Road, Vel 1210, flying 168 miles, winning £130
3rd South section is Shamey Duffy from Wicklow. Shamey has been a lifetime in pigeons, from the day he was born. He raced in Newtownkilpeddar club for awhile he returned to the Wicklow club 5 years ago and has been the top prizewinner for the past four years. The pigeon timed here is a yearling blue pied hen, again racing roundabout. She is Soontjens x Delbar with the Soontjens coming from his cousin Robert Duffy from Rathnew. She was 1st club, 1st South Leinster Fed last year from Pilmore Beach (107 miles) and was also3rd club Skibbereen. Shamey’s birds were showing good form before the National race this year and on the Saturday before basketing he was 3rd, 4th and 5th club. Training is twice a week with Eric Kennedy to Rosslare (52 miles) and Courtown (26miles)
4th and 5th South Section N Dickenson & Son Wicklow South Road, 1612, 1609, Flying 168 miles, Winning £65
Noel and Aaron Dickenson from the Wicklow South Road Club are 4th and 5th South section. Noel started racing in 1983 with his father but like a lot of young guys other things took over for a period but he eventually got back to racing and now races with his 21-year-old son Aaron. Unfortunately fours years ago Noel was diagnosed with Pigeon Lung and COPD. Rather than backing off from the sport that he loved Noel throw himself into the pigeons and taking all the necessary precautions he is still a vey active pigeon man, though he does rely on Aaron to do much of the work. With two further birds in the result here at 11th and 15th South section their efforts have certainly paid off. They have just had a great year in the club, winning the Combined and Old Bird Averages, winning a total of seven races. Their first pigeon was a yearling Blue white flight cock sent to this race driving his hen to the nest. Breeding is Van loon bought in 2014 through Sheldon Leonard, Arklow. These Van Loons have bred many prizewinners for Noel and Aaron. The bird timed here had a 3rd club as a young bird and a 2nd and a 4th club this year. Their second bird here is a half brother to the first one and is a two-year-old blue cock. Racing on a jealousy system he was driving his hen to the nest and then removed from the nest and replaced by another cock. A very consistent racer he went on to win another race from Barleycove and had taken a few positions as a young bird.
Noel and Aaron Dickenson Wicklow 4th and 5th South section Skibbereen OB National
The committee of the Irish National Flying Club would like to thank all those who helped at the marking station and all who helped at the clock centres.
Thanks to all who helped with photographs.
Brendan McLoughlin
INFC Press Officer
