South East Ireland
with
Billy Walsh
South Central Super Club from Skibbereen had 26 members sending 510 birds. It proved an extremely tough encounter with heavy showers en route and quite a few missing at nightfall. Even the early ones came with their wings around their ankles, bleary eyed and purple wattled wondering what in the name of Buddha just happened? There's nowt as unpredictable as pigeon racing, which is, after all, one of its attraction. And it also gets you out of doing the dishes, hoovering the floor, and seeing your children grow up. But what did happen next on this occasion was a clear winner for Sean & Jack Leahy from Na Deise club, hitting the front for the second week running on 1095. This bird will also top the South Leinster Fed so big well done to the lads and shows the strength of competition within the Super Club. .This yearling hen is one of Sean and Jack's Sticker Doncker family originating in the Co Antrim loft of Elkie and Martin Sempey. Peter Whelan yet again the bridesmaid on 1045. S & J Leahy in again for 3rd on 1040. Jimmy Maher was in tune again over at the Hotel California topping the Abbeyside club and 4th Super Club with Jimmy's son Pat taking 5th and also the nom with a cock that has been flying very consistently this year. The sire is Geernickx cock son of World Cup Willie who is brother to the Geerinckx Hen Super breeder at G V D Wouwer Dam of 1st National Bourges etc. .Dam is from Pat's good friends at Allemeersch Van Pary being Marcel Aelbrecht bloodlines. It was an all Dungarvan affair with the man himself O'Donnell Bros in 6th. The top ten completed by Peter Whelan in 7th and 9th. Peter is flying a really good bird this year and the Numero Uno spot will come soon. Ian Harty has adapted quickly to the South road scene is in at 8th with O'Donnell Bros completing the top ten. At the Tower Invitation it was Derek Walsh on 1005 knocking Brendan Buckley of the top spot with a yearling cock of Andre Roodhooft breeding. Markus Power who is having a very consistent season in 2nd spot on 975. The same hen Markus clocked to take 2nd club Kinsale two weeks previously. Marcus tells me she is a blue w/f late bred with the parents obtained locally from Pat O Brien. She has the making of a very good pigeons. Markus is only in his second season racing so it augers well for the future and undoubtedly no 1 spot won't be long in coming. Bim Connors clocked one of his Jan Arden family in 3rd with Derek Walsh in again for 4th. Brendan Buckley clocked a brother to the Kinsale winner two weeks previously. Being down from the Lamballe Cock. But after three wins in the bounce Brendan has to settle for 5th this week.
Up in the Shamrock club in New Ross I was delighted to see Keith Gardiner dipping a toe into the South Road with a single entrant. I know Keith won the race into Ross with the Leinster North Road for the second week running so well done on all fronts to Keith. Hopefully the lure of the South Road will prove too strong now to resist. ; A more helpful or enthusiastic young fancier as you will encounter who deserves all the success that comes his way. Try sending two next time Keith. Break the bank. This week in the Shamrock it was Francis Kelly claiming top spot on 990 with Mark Malone in 2nd place, John Fanning was 3rd.
Sean & Jack Leahy holding their good hen 7 times over the water. She is also the winner of the Ownahincha race.
You cannot ride two horses with one ass. Whatever about horses, I certainly don't have enough heads for my hats lately.Which is a mixed metaphor of ever there was one. Unfortunately,, in pigeons there is little choice but to keep going. This week's hat is primarily the one I wear for the Irish Homing Union National Flying Club. The Irish Night with the Stars benefit night to purchase transport, and really get this show on the road, literally, metaphorically,. metaphysically, Habeas Corpus and once and for all, is all set for the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport on October 22nd. The Event, The Big Do, The Gathering, The Shindig, This Night of All Nights is attracting immense attention. Tickets 35 euro. Spot prizes include, vouchers, products sponsored by a.o Nigel Cowood, Ben Hamil (who calls Ireland, Eire, God love him) race kits and YB from Colin Asher at Lindash Lofts down in Kent. Alan Devlin up in Cumbria. John Abernathy up at Harmony Lofts is also sponsoring a 2017 race kit. With much more yet to be announced. Free entry to both Algarve One Loft Races. Free entry to The South Africa Million Gazoolas Race is also be up for grabs. Panel is composed of Geoff & Catherine Cooper. Brian Bolton. S & B Goulding. Bob Fenech. Ringmaster for the evening is the terrific Ronnie Bigwood, who is so good, were it not for pigeons, it would have been Three Ronnies.
Mark Gilbert - Darren Catterson holding the Nieuwe Goede Rode.
The birds on offer for the elite auction include Mark Gilbert. Michael Collins direct from Donkere Leo. Llyod & Kelly, double national winners in 2015. P & D racing and breeding stud. Darren & Paul are sending a specially bred yb for this event, Nieuwe Goede Rode when mated to daugher Blauwe Leo, one of cornerstones of the Van Den Bulcke dynasty. M & D Evans world renowned Myrtle Lofts. Crammond & Langstaff. Herbie Thorpe Kings Cup winner 2015. Billy Cullimore direct from No 1 breeder Shergar. Billy Wallace, from Miss Woodruff a super super hen which will attract big interest from the UK. Arthur & Adam Wealthall the Midland sprint aces are sending another specially bred pigeon. Sire of the wonder hen, Olivia, mated to daughter of Olivia. Woodruff Bros are sending from their best , so too are Soderlund & Madison. A true Galaxy of Stars. 30 premium, ultra, mega, even divine lots. Quality. Gerry McCourt is on the hammer. and will be dealing with all enquiries re the sale.. Throw in is 7pm. Date is 22nd October. Mark the calender.. Tattoo it on your forehead so even if you do forget the rest of the pigeon world will be there. Do you really want to miss this night? It will be talked about long after the night. If looking to stay overnight a discount is available for early bookers thought these reserved rooms are almost sold out. The lots on sale will be covered in greater detail between now and then. I would need more room than the editor would allow to cover it all today. If your patience gets the better of you my email address is on the bottom of this piece. This national is on the up and is about to have a major impact on the sport here. I believe, (it's no secret my thoughts on it at this stage). it must be a stand alone organisation and operate completely independently of all federations, clubs and organisations. Transport its own birds with only National Pigeon in the convoy. Trying to develop while at the same time looking to see who is going where, and when, is like living inside a metal box. Every time you try to stretch you keep banging your head on the lid. And it's not even your lid. Someone else has their boot heel on it.
Speaking to Niall O Reilly from Malahide recently on the matter of Irish Night with the Stars,, I was quite delighted to hear that Niall and his father are wholly supportive of the initiative to move away from Cornwall and St Malo in order to fly the route across to South East England into Kent then on to Ypres and Rosemont. Essentially, the route the Welch fanciers have been flying for 15 years now and with tremendous success. Flying this route the sea crossing to Ireland is cut by more than half down to 90 miles. The Irish seas in and of itself is not an issue, it is that we choose to cross it at it's widest point, almost, 200 miles, that's the real issue.. It is born out of nothing more lubricious than habit, And a bad habit at that. Birds up North can follow the coast of England and have a narrow crossing. The opportunity to develop long distance racing into southern Ireland must be grasped now and grasped with every available limb. . The sensible thing to do t is liberate with the Welch lads for 2 or 3 years until we develop the birds on the route . When fanciers of the calibre of Gerry and Niall O Reilly support the initiative then it gives terrific credibility. These have won both the King's Cup and the Millar Gold Cup in the last few years and are sending down to the night a specially bred yb from their Millar Gold Cup winner 2015 when mated to a daughter of Riverview Red their 2012 Kings' Cup winner. Liam McCall, too, is a strong advocate of this route and it is an idea gathering true support at this stage. Even the north road flyers I have spoken to are in favour of this route and would turn south to fly it. . It will lead to a whole new era for pigeons racing here.
Flying 450 miles, when the most you have been flying is 350 miles, it's not easy to adjust. 500 miles, its not easy. 550 miles is not easy. It won't become any easier by looking at it. We must do it and do it without fear. We have the birds and the fanciers of the calibre needed. Competition will increase. Prize money will grow and grow rapidly. It is progress. Without progress , without the struggle to improve., without realizing our true worth we will stagnate. Membership this year is over well above 400. Next year it will be heading to 600 members and rising.
Proposed new route
Keeping to the subject, I had an interesting conversation with BICC President, John Tyreman in the matter. Health permitting, John will be a guest of the National on the 22nd. He was keen to point out the merits of a strong national. How it benefits the sport. The BICC was once a pioneering group of 40 It now flies no fewer that 17 National races and International races. with 1600 members. As for the sea crossing to Ireland. John himself lives right on the waters edge in Portsmouth. His birds must cross the final 100 miles over water and this from 500 and 600 miles and further. The same distance Irish birds will cross on the proposed route. John has cultivated the old Kirkpatrick's and Eric Cannon pigeons into a true long distance family regularly clocking from 500 miles and over after 15 hours on the wing. He has been clocking day birds at these distances at 9 and and 10 o clock at night for over 40 years. Proof,, if required, how do able it is to Ireland. Once the Irish birds hit the Welch coast after flying 300 or 400 miles they won't stop when they see water. The won;'t behave as they do in Cornwall going up and down the coast looking for a crossing, bombarded by birds of prey, dragged hither and thither by pigeons going in an entirely different direction. John Tyreman's pigeons do not stop at the coast of France with 100 miles of water to cross. They keep on coming. So will ours. And many more good distance fliers do the same in the UK. We must, develop national and distance racing here in a like manner to the B.I.C.C. National pigeons only. The time is now. This is what every fancier dreams of . 500 miles, 550 miles on the day. Make it real. Believe. It is your National. Wear it with pride. Fly with distinction.
Race Program: 14th May, Barleycove, ?1.00 per bird. 28th May, Barleycove, ?1.00 per bird. 4th June, Bude, ?1.00 per bird. 11th, June, Penzance, ?1.00 per bird. 24th June ,St Malo, ?2.00 per bird. Young Bird: 13th Aug, Barleycove, ?1.00 per bird. 27th Aug, Talbenny, ?1.00 per bird. 10th Sept, Barleycove, ?1.00 per bird
Patsy Dowling Sec Mobile 087 8365004 Fred Malone Treas Mobile 0862771489 Email
Prometheus.
