Journey's End with Jordan Hughes - 28-04-26

JOURNEY’S END - N.I.P.A NOTES – SECTIONS C, D, F, & G

‘MAMBO’S THE MAN’ FOR MARKEY

 Just like that it’s the Mighty N.I.P.A. Season Opener for 2026. A very tough start to the year weather wise with what seemed to be a never ending spell of Rain and low temperatures. This of course made it an obstacle for training and for preparing for the first Old Bird Race. But nevertheless, the first race got up and running as planned on Saturday the 18^th of April. A total of 384 Members sent 10,769 Birds to Kilbeggan in County Westmeath for the beginning of the N.I.P.A. Old Bird Season. The Birds were liberated at 09:30AM in a West Wind.

The Winning Bird from the Opening Old Bird Race of the 2026 N.I.P.A. Season belongs to Owen Markey of Ballyholland H.P.S in Section G.

Owen Markey 1st NIPA Open Winner from Kilbeggan pictured along with Kristopher & Kevin Rooney Section F Winners from Kilbeggan

The Ballyholland flyer has been the name on everyone’s lips after his recent array of performances over these past few seasons and starts this season in the same fashion. The Kilbeggan Open winning pigeon has been named “Mambo Man” and clocked the Open Winning Velocity of 1780.6 YPM. He is a 2 Year Old Blue Cock GB24 A 66779. He is a previous winner of 2^nd Open NIPA 12,698 Birds beaten by teammate “Born Identity”. “Mambo Man” is also previous winner of 44^th Open NIPA 23,289 Birds, 46^th North Section INFC. His Nestmate is “Mambo Zot” Winner of 1^st Open NIPA Dunmanway Yearling National 2,210 Birds and 0-250 RPRA Irish Region Award Winner 2025 for Owen. They are both Grandchildren of “511 Het Elfje” of Luc Vervoort bred by Kevin & Kris Rooney.

'Mambo Man' 1st Open NIPA Winning Bird from Kilbeggan 10,769 Birds

Many Congratulations to Owen Markey on Winning 1^st N.I.P.A. Open from Kilbeggan.

 Also, Congratulations to 2^nd & 3^rd Open Winners Kevin Rooney & Son of Annalong H.P.S. in Section F. An outstanding team performance with 23 of the first 28 Open Positions.

N.I.P.A. KILBEGGAN TOP 20 OPEN RESULT

1 1G 1780.670 OWEN MARKEY BALLYHOLLAND; 2 1F 1775.652 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 3 2F 1775.279 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 4 3F 1775.078 T & G BLACK DOWNPATRICK; 5 4F 1774.905 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 6 5F 1774.905 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 7 6F 1774.532 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 8 7F 1774.507 T & G BLACK DOWNPATRICK; 9 8F 1773.787 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 10 2G 1773.620 OWEN MARKEY BALLYHOLLAND; 11 9F 1773.042 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 12 10F 1772.670 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 13 11F 1772.298 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 14 12F 1772.298 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 15 13F 1771.926 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 16 14F 1771.926 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 17 15F 1770.811 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 18 16F 1769.698 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 19 17F 1769.698 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG; 20 18F 1769.698 K ROONEY & SON ANNALONG;

SECTION C REPORT

The Winner of Section C (67/1,600) from Kilbeggan was David McElhone & Dtr of West End H.P.S. The Father & Daughter Racing Partnership Wins the first race of the season in their club (75 Birds) and in Section C were winners of 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th & 5^th Section (1,600 Birds) and finished 92^nd, 104^th and more prizes won in the N.I.P.A. Open (10,769 Birds). The Section C Winner for David & Maddie is a 2 year old Hen IHU24 N 10936 and has been named “Funny Wonder”. Her mother is from Mr Ian Gibb, and the father is from Mr John Wheatcroft. The McElhone’s would like to thank these two gentlemen. And would like to congratulate Owen Markey on his Open Win and all the best to everyone for next week.

David McElhone & Dtr Section C Winners from Kilbeggan

Many Congratulations to Section C Winners David McElhone & Dtr and Big Congratulations to all Club Winners

Ballycarry & District: (5/131) 1^st D&J Armstrong & Son 1689; 2^nd D&J Armstrong & Son 1689; 3^rd D&J Armstrong & Son 1688; 4^th D&J Armstrong & Son 1688; 5^th D&J Armstrong & Son 1656; 6^th D&J Armstrong & Son 1628

Ballyclare & District: (9/233) 1^st A&T Agnew 1590; 2^nd G&R Lawrie 1583; 3^rd A&T Agnew 1575; 4^th G&R Lawrie 1564; 5^th G&R Lawrie 1561; 6^th Higginson & Fasciola 1561

A&T Agnew Winner of Ballyclare & District 

Carrick Social: D/S

Doagh & District: (7/151) 1^st D&J Campbell 1689; 2^nd G. Kenna 1674; 3^rd R&W Irvine 1660; 4^th D&J Campbell 1658; 5^th G. Kenna 1632; 6^th D&J Campbell 1624

Glenarm & District: (5/87) 1^st O. O’Neill & Son 1463; 2^nd O. O’Neill & Son 1463; 3^rd McMullan Bros 1394; 4^th McMullan Bros 1394; 5^th G. McWhirter 1388; 6^th G. McWhirter 1387

O. O'Neill & Son Glenarm & District HPS Winner is from best of his grizzles line coming from Danny Dixon

Kingsmoss: (6/56) 1^st J. Dawson & Son 1591; 2^nd J. Dawson & Son 1564; 3^rd J. Dawson & Son 1559; 4^th T. Cairns & Son 1534; 5^th Knowles & Hill 1534; 6^th J. Dawson & Son 1523

J. Dawson & Son Kingsmoss HPS Winners

Larne & District: (12/318) 1^st D&P Harvey 1579; 2^nd D&P Harvey 1579; 3^rd Crawford & Robinson 1548; 4^th K. Doherty 1544; 5^th K. Doherty 1543; 6^th Crawford & Robinson 1542

D&P Harvey Larne & Dist HPS Winners

Ligoniel & District: (17/436) 1^st McMurray & Anderson 1696; 2^nd McMurray & Anderson 1691; 3^rd B&K Mullan 1691; 4^th McMurray & Anderson 1691; 5^th McMurray & Anderson 1691; 6^th C. McManus 1683

McMurray and Anderson Ligoniel & Dist Winner

West End: (2/75) 1^st D. McElhone & Dtr 1714; 2^nd D. McElhone & Dtr 1710; 3^rd D. McElhone & Dtr 1694; 4^th D. McElhone & Dtr 1693; 5^th D. McElhone & Dtr 1677; 6^th C. McVeigh & Dtr 1672

East Antrim Amalgamation Result: 1st D&J Armstrong 1689, 20 Points; 2^nd D&J Campbell 1689, 19 Points; 3^rd D&J Armstrong 1689, 18 Points; 4^th D&J Armstrong 1688, 17 Points; 5^th D&J Armstrong 1688, 16 Points; 6^th G. Kenna 1674, 15 Points; 7^th R&W Irvine 1660, 14 Points; 8^th D&J Campbell 1658, 13 Points; 9^th D&J Armstrong 1656, 12 Points; 10^th G. Kenna 1632, 11 Points; 11^th D&J Armstrong 1628, 10 Points; 12^th J. Robinson 1628, 9 Points; 13^th D&J Campbell 1624, 8 Points; 14^th D&J Campbell 1624, 7 Points; 15^th J. Reid 1621, 6 Points; 16^th D&J Campbell 1616, 5 Points; 17^th J. Robinson 1599, 4 Points; 18^th J. Dawson 1591, 3 Points; 19^th A&T Agnew 1590, 2 Points; 20^th J. Robinson 1586, 1 Point

D&J Armstrong & Son EAA Winners

East Antrim Amalgamation

Kilbeggan O/B 18/4/26

Pigeon season greetings to you all!

The EAA kicked off its 3rd season now with the first race in the calendar from Kilbeggan co Westmeath. Weather has hampered preparations for us all, that said there’s always the fancy who are game and send!

No stranger to the top deck of the EAA prize board is Jim Armstrong of D&J Armstrong Ballycarry HPS. Jim won the very 1st race in our first year and has replicated it again at the weekend backed up with a mighty card indeed! The winning blue hen was flown on roundabout & both her parents were bred by Alan Devlin of Cumbria, Jim informs me the hen only had 4 races last year, so it’s a great start for her and for Big Jim , well done on your latest victory !!

Good luck to everyone for this week

Jonny Baxter EAA Press Officer

SECTION D REPORT

The Winner of Section D (48/1,534) from Kilbeggan was Matthew Russell of Dromara H.P.S. Matthew took 1^st & 2^nd in his Club (122 Birds) and from Kilbeggan Wins 1^st Section D (1,534 Birds) and with the Section Winner finishing 29^th Open N.I.P.A. (10,769 Birds) Matthews Section Winning pigeon GB25 S 31462 was bred off 2 Winning Racers for himself. The Sire was from a Kit from Davy Smyth of Banbridge, and the Dam was from a Kit from Philip Boal of Dromore, this hen has been 2^nd Section twice and 3^rd section twice now adding a 1^st Section to its record.

Many Congratulations to Section D Winners Matthew Russell and Big Congratulations to all Club Winners

Colin H.P.S: (6/248) 1^st O&M Monaghan 1717; 2^nd O&M Monaghan 1703; 3^rd O&M Monaghan 1700; 4^th J. Gregory & Sons 1692; 5^th P. McKernan & Son 1685; 6^th O&M Monaghan 1680

O&M Monaghan Colin HPS Winners

Derriaghy: (4/106) 1^st K. Johnston 1690; 2^nd D. Johnston 1670; 3^rd D. Johnston 1646; 4^th K. Johnston 1638; 5^th D. Johnston 1613; 6^th K. Johnston 1609

Dromara H.P.S: (5/122) 1^st M. Russell 1758; 2^nd M. Russell 1703; 3^rd Russell Bros 1699; 4^th D. Aiken 1693; 5^th C. Rooney & Sons 1693; 6^th M. Russell 1692

Dromore West End: D/S

Dromore H.P.S: (5/180) 1^st P&J Boal 1707; 2^nd P&J Boal 1691; 3^rd P&J Boal 1691; 4^th P&J Boal 1690; 5^th P&J Boal 1690; 6^th P&J Boal 1689

P&J Boal Winner of Dromore H.P.S.

Glenavy & District: (3/127) 1^st I. Gibb & Sons 1619; 2^nd G&S Owens 1618; 3^rd I. Gibb & Sons 1599; 4^th I. Gibb & Sons 1581; 5^th I. Gibb & Sons 1581; 6^th I. Gibb & Sons 1575

Harmony H.P.S: (7/148) 1^st J. Turner 1675; 2^nd J. Turner 1668; 3^rd J. Turner 1646; 4^th J. Turner 1637; 5^th Abernethy & Turner 1635; 6^th J. Turner 1632

Hillsborough & Maze: (5/230) 1^st J. Greenaway 1694; 2^nd J. Greenaway 1694; 3^rd J. Greenaway 1693; 4^th J. Greenaway 1690; 5^th J. Greenaway 1689; 6^th J. Greenaway 1685

Jeff Greenaway Hills & Maze Winner

Lisburn & District: (9/189) 1^st Smyth & Adams 1675; 2^nd R. Topping & Son 1629; 3^rd L. Magee & Son 1621; 4^th R. Topping & Son 1621; 5^th L. Magee & Son 1621; 6^th A. Houston 1621

South Belfast H.P.S: (3/89) 1^st R. Kenna 1668; 2^nd T. McNally 1636; 3^rd T. McNally 1634; 4^th T. McNally 1605; 5^th M. Lavery 1595; 6^th M. Lavery 1572

Titanic H.P.S: D/S

Trinity H.P.S: (4/141) 1^st J&L Smyth 1714; 2^nd J&L Smyth 1691; 3^rd J&L Smyth 1664; 4^th J&L Smyth 1614; 5^th J&L Smyth 1612; 6^th J&L Smyth 1611

J&L Smyth Trinity H.P.S. Winners

SECTION F REPORT

The Winner of Section F (44/1,079) from Kilbeggan was Kevin Rooney & Son of Annalong H.P.S. The father and son racing partnership tops their club and in their Section result they win 1^st & 2^nd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th plus 8^th till 25^th Section F positions (1,079 Birds) They rounded off a terrific day being winners of 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 9^th & 11^th to 25^th Open N.I.P.A (10,769) The Rooney’s Section F, 2^nd Open Winning Bird is a Yearling Blue Pied Hen GB25 A 58657. Her mother is a Raf Claes. She was a brilliant racing hen winning 3x1ts Sections for them. Father is a son of one of their main breeders “Tony” He was a brilliant racing cock 4^th Open EDC plus may more prizes. He’s a full brother to “Too Hot Tonight” 3^rd Open, 2^nd Section F Winner GB25 D 57277 is a son of “Tony” and the mother is of a daughter of “De Zot” from Luc Vervoort.

Kevin Rooney & Son Section F Winner from Kilbeggan

Many Congratulations to Section F Winners Kevin Rooney & Son and Big Congratulations to all Club Winners.

Annalong: (/) 1^st K. Rooney & Son 1775.6; 2^nd K. Rooney & Son 1775.2; 3^rd K. Rooney & Son 1774.9; 4^th K. Rooney & Son 1774.9; 5^th K. Rooney & Son 1774.5; 6^th K. Rooney & Son 1773

Bangor R.P.C: (8/192) 1^st R. Moore & Son 1676; 2^nd Lambert & Stewart 1675; 3^rd R. Moore & Son 1672; 4^th Burgess & Brennan 1665; 5^th Burgess & Brennan 1663; 6^th R. Moore & Son 1657

R. Moore & Son Bangor R.P.C. Winners

Cloughey H.P.S: (5/60) 1^st M. Adair 1723; 2^nd M. Adair 1702; 3^rd C&H Cully 1700; 4^th C&H Cully 1678; 5^th C&H Cully 1671; 6^th Gordon Bros & Sons 1670

Comber Central H.P.S: (/) 1^st C. Hutchinson 1637; 2^nd C. Hutchinson 1621; 3^rd G. Marshall 1597; 4^th G. Marshall 1485; 5^th C. Hutchinson 1478; 6^th C. Hutchinson 1477

Corrigs: D/S

Crossgar: (5/247) 1^st D. Grieves 1734; 2^nd D. Grieves 1721; 3^rd D. Grieves 1720; 4^th Adair & McCombs 1713; 5^th Adair & McCombs 1712; 6^th Adair & McCombs 1711

Dean Grieves Crossgar H.P.S. Winner

Downpatrick Premier: (10/288) 1^st T&G Black 1775; 2^nd T&G Black 1774; 3^rd T&G Black 1751; 4^th T&G Black 1750; 5^th T&G Black 1749; 6^th T&G Black 1732

T&G Black Downpatrick Premier Winners

Killyleagh Central: (5/90) McComb Bros 1712; 2^nd K. Murray 1695; 3^rd P. Murray 1686; 4^th McComb Bros 1685; 5^th McComb Bros 1684; 6^th Irvine Bros 1672

Bobby & Pat of McComb Bros Killyleagh Central Winners

Killyleagh & District: D/S

Kircubbin: D/S

Millisle & District H.P.S: (6/105) 1^st A&E Muckle 1624; 2^nd A. McDowell 1586; 3^rd A&E Muckle 1567; 4^th A&E Muckle 1557; 5^th A&E Muckle 1557; 6^th A. McDowell 1533

A&E Muckle Millisle & District Winning bird, her 3rd Win bred by O'Roory Hill Stud

Newtownards H.P.S: (5/97) 1^st B. Griffiths 1527; 2^nd J. Orr 1515; 3^rd B. Griffiths 1489; 4^th B. Griffiths 1488; 5^th B. Griffiths 1487; 6^th B. Griffiths 1481

B. Griffiths Ards HPS Winner

SECTION G REPORT

The Winner of Section G (28/1,272) from Kilbeggan was Owen Markey of Ballyholland H.P.S. (See opening report for more info) Owen Wins his Club along with the top 14 Positions (278 Birds) Wins 1^st & 2^nd Section G (1,272 Birds) And the Winner of 1^st N.I.P.A. Open (10,769 Birds)

Many Congratulations to Section G & 1^st Open Winner Owen Markey and Big Congratulations to all Club Winners.

Ballyholland: (6/278) 1^st O. Markey 1780; 2^nd O. Markey 1773; 3^rd O. Markey 1741; 4^th O. Markey 1738; 5^th O. Markey 1734; 6^th O. Markey 1724

Banbridge H.P.S: (4/185) 1^st R. Carson & Son 1692; 2^nd R. Carson & Son 1660; 3^rd R. Carson & Son 1659; 4^th F. Simpson 1658; 5^th R. Carson & Son 1648; 6^th R. Carson & Son 1643

R. Carson & Son Winners of Banbridge H.P.S

Drumnavady: (5/126) 1^st D&K Mallen 1696; 2^nd W. McDowell & Son 1669; 3^rd S. Ogle 1668; 4^th S. Ogle 1667; 5^th S. Ogle 1665; 6^th S. Ogle 1658            

D&K Mallen Drumnavady Winners

Millvale: (4/121) 1^st T. Mooney & Son 1744; 2^nd N. Murtagh 1686; 3^rd N. Murtagh 1677; 4^th N. Murtagh Son 1675; 5^th N. Murtagh 1673; 6^th T. Mooney & Son 1671

Tommy Mooney & Son Winners of Millvale H.P.S

Newry City: (1/51) 1^st Thompson & Lunn 1609; 2^nd Thompson & Lunn 1604; 3^rd Thompson & Lunn 1604; 4^th Thompson & Lunn 1594; 5^th Thompson & Lunn 1590

Newry & District: (8/546) 1^st Gary McLoughlin & Son 1766; 2^nd J.F McCabe & Son 1753; 3^rd J.F McCabe & Son 1753; 4^th J.F McCabe & Son 1753; 5^th J.F McCabe & Son 1753; 6^th J.F McCabe & Son 1752

Gary McLoughlin & Son Newry & Dist HPS Winners. Winner is from his Van Den Brande Cock to a Stefan Lambrecht Hen

 I just want to wish everyone the best of luck and good health for 2026 Raing Year and for all club representatives/race secretaries within my covered sections to contact myself to be included in my weekly Reports, with Club, Section & Open Winning Photos, along with the Winning Pigeons Info etc.

Yours in Sport ,

 Jordan Hughes

N.I.P.A. Press Officer

JORDAN HUGHES

‘JOURNEYS END’

 N.I.P.A PRESS OFFICER

Mobile:  07713808554

Email:  jordanhughespro.gmail.com

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