LEINSTER NORTH ROAD FEDERATION
by Francis Corcoran
October 2014
Recently I had reason to go up to Roscrea to collect a Silver Cup for our Federation Doo which took place on Friday 24th of October, more on that later. Whilst in Roscrea I took the opportunity to visit one of the stalwarts of North road racing in the town, namely John Donavan, the winner of the Eire National Flying Club longest north road race from Thurso in 2013.
John Donavan
The Club
John started pigeons as a young boy catching strays with his brother Joey, but before long they got involved in the formation of the Roscrea pigeon club, along with the likes of PJ Hayes, M Regan Ger McMahon, Purdy Loughnan and others, affiliating themselves to the Munster Federation with whom they would race the north road. Initially John raced with his brother Joey to their home address in Limerick Street, but he has now been racing on his own for the past fifteen years from the rear of his own house in Chapel Lane. The lofts consist of a twenty-four foot racing loft that has two sections, one for old birds and one for youngsters, and a sixteen foot loft for the stock birds.
The Stock Birds
If John had to name one failing that he has, it would be his tendency to buy too many stock birds from different fanciers. Over the years he has had many fine examples of the different strains available. In latter times he has more or less settled on the birds of M & F Russell and Ron Williamson of Northern Ireland and finds that these birds are producing what he wants, that is, birds that will face the Irish Sea and the rough terrain that is encountered whilst the birds are on their way home from the north of Scotland. Having said all that, he did show me one new introduction that he has purchased on recommendation, to cross into the Russell pigeons.
One of the new introductions for next year
The Race Birds
About forty five old birds are raced each year mainly on the natural system and around seventy young birds are bred and raced naturally.
Racing System
John is really only interested in channel races and the Nationals. In that respect the birds are now lightly raced as young birds as in the past they have been raced to the bitter end which resulted in the loss of some good young birds over the years.
Training
For the old birds is as many training spins as he can get in before he starts racing, beginning at about ten miles up to a max of forty miles, and once racing starts it is cut back to once a week at thirty miles. For the young birds, they are trained right the way through the young bird season with the odd race in between. The idea is to get them well educated as youngsters with the intention of racing them on as yearlings and older, and in recent years this strategy has worked out well for John.
The National
The 2013 Thurso National race was a very stern test for the birds, with no arrivals on the day and only three gallant birds in race time, all of which returned on the second day. John had waited patiently on the blue cock in which he had every confidence, and was rewarded by him pitching onto the landing board at 11.30am to record his famous victory of 1st Club, 1st Section, 1st Munster Fed and 1st Open Eire North Road National Flying Club and the An Taoiseach Cup, the most coveted cup in north road racing into Ireland.
The An Taoiseach Cup
The Winning Bird
Bubbles as he is now known is a first cross between a Ron Williamson sire and an M & F Russell dam. He was well raced before the event and had already scored well from the Mauchline National in 2012. In 2013 before he went to Thurso he had scored 3rd from Coalisland and also 3rd from Mauchline. He is now retired to the stock loft and is producing some useful pigeons. Last year after his victory he was mated to Jimmy Kelly’s three times National winning hen and four nice young birds have been bred from that mating so it will be interesting to see what turns up for John over the coming years.
Dam of the 1st Open National winner for John Donavan
Sire of the 1st Open National
In closing, John would like to thank all those fanciers and friends that congratulated him on his achievement. It was an incredible journey for both him and his gallant pigeon and he is always hopeful that it may happen again sometime.
Leinster North Road Federation Prize Presentation
Moving on now to our Federation doo which took place on Friday night the 24th of October and was held in the Rugby club in Newross, an ideal venue for the event. Firstly I would like to pay tribute to both Kathleen Delaney and Joe o Neill the secretary and chairman of the Fed for all the hard work they put into the event and their efforts made sure that everything went off smoothly - congratulations to both on a job well done. It is a reflection of the fairness in this Fed when one sees over forty different prize winners coming to the table to receive their awards and prize money. Also notable was the fact that the five of the six highest prize money winners came from five different clubs. Pride of place as highest prize winner went to Edward Holden of the Cill Cheannaigh club. Next was the partnership of Onario Rocca & Roly Brennan from the Barrow Valley RPC. Then Joe O Neill from the Newross club followed by Lyn Griffiths of the Wexford club, Jimmy Hurley of Barrow Valley and finally John Dobbs of the Enniscorty club who made up the top six in the Leinster North Road Federation.
As mentioned above, there were forty two members that won a slice of the 8000 prize money paid out on the night. It was noticeable on the night, the difference between now and the end of the season a few weeks ago, when most fanciers sounded quite despondent about pigeon racing and particularly about the season past, but it was obvious on this night out that after just a few weeks rest everybody present was looking forward to next year with renewed vigour.
It’s amazing how short our memories can be when it comes to this most fascinating hobby. It appears that within a very short time all the problems and set backs from the previous year can be forgiven and forgotten about in the hope that next year will bring better sport and results for each of us.
Edward Holden, Highest Prizewinner in the Leinster North Road Federation.
David Barron, David Doheny, Francis Corcoran and Harry Beale at the Fed Doo.
Martin O Connor, David Barron & Colm Sullivan.
Mr & Mrs Tom McNally
To finish, I have included a photo of one of our new recruits to the Barrow Valley RPC namely Michael Ramsbottom who joined our club only last year. Whilst not having the best of starts with his pigeons, Michael has become a great asset to our club in that there is no job that he will not do, from cleaning baskets with Frank and Joe, marking birds with the rest of the lads, and staying on for the loading of the lorry. Even when it’s not his turn, he has accompanied the birds to the National marking station when asked. It’s not that he has to do any of these jobs but being the good club member that he is, he is always ready to volunteer his services. He’s the type of club man that any club would be proud of. I’m sure Michael will make it with his pigeons in the future, certainly if he puts in the same effort as he does for his club he cannot but succeed.
Michael Ramsbottom of Barrow Valley RPC
Any news or photos can be sent to Francis
