South East Ireland
with
Billy Walsh
New Year New News New Face In Vogue
New year new news new face in vogue. South Cent Fed is Under New Management with Ger Hopalong Roche in the chair and the new Sec/Treas in the persona of Sean Cooke, .Ger is well know for his bag pipes and has plenty of time to practice Auld Lang Syne at the moment having waved not only goodbye to the auld guard but also having waved goodbye to his knees. New knees are on the mend Ger is well on the way to recovery after his spell in hospital. And speaking of hospitals the new committee have been handed a right hospital pass in the form of the Fed transporter in need if much overhaul. But the lads are determined to be up and running for the new season. They also, I am informed, have modernised their pooling and prize money and have taken their roles to progress the sport and their federation and I know we all wish them well in their endeavours. Their can do positive approach is what is always needed. This column is at their disposal for any news or info.
New Committee also installed in the Leinster North Road Federation. Some have said the last throw of the dice for the North Road in Leinster so I wish them every success. Recognising their is a problem is always the start of a solution. Living in denial serves no useful purpose. Once again I wish these lads every success in their efforts. Again this column is at their disposal.
I know my criticism of the North Road die heard upset some, many even, but it has also forced many more to try and address the issues. Journalism and freedom of expression is not always welcome, it is often unfair, unbalanced, even wrong. But taken overall will we choose to live without it? Will we use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Once there exists the right to reply then discussion always creates progress. There is no other way for people to make a well informed choice. It seems in the case of the LNRF they have decided to tackle the issues head on.
I had an interesting chat with my old mate Paddy Hehir recently and as always the subject of losses within the Munster Fed bared its scabby head. Paddy is a dyed in the wool, die hard, to the last drop, north road fancier. Has been longer than the Queen has be sat on her throne. Paddy was the first chairman I worked with during my tenure as Sec of that federation back when Adan was a boy. To his credit he left me with a free hand to implement change and supported it from the get go. Never once flinched. He should have the eternal respect of everyone in Munster for that, he certainly has mine. We, naturally, disagreed on the issue of losses.
We agreed of course that Paddy and others want to fly pigeons from as far as possible as often as possible. We spoke about the old day when birds were plentiful in the 50s 60s 70s. The golden years for the North Road. In those golden days the Munster Federation had 3 old bird federation races and I believe 2 young birds. It then went to 7 or 8.
I came in and in a short space of time the number of federation races increased dramatically. Approx 14. The prize money was huge. D& T Ryan were flying extremely well especially in the shorter race races, but further afield also. Peter Power the same. Both into Waterford. So in order to negate the advantage of the easterly clubs the race program was, over time, moved to a where birds were asked to fly too far too often . Several weeks of 200 mile races for youngsters is too much. It became a war of attrition. The approach of getting them "as far up the country as far as you can as fast as you can" has been disastrous. Some, many in point of fact, insist the transporter bough several years ago is itself is too blame, being often described as an oven with a tax disc. Never having used it I won't comment. Paddy insists, "I want to fly from those places" Ballycastle, Coleraine, Malin Head etc. And while that has to be respected, the question must be asked, is it too much? I understand as little as 70 birds competed in one of the Young Bird federation races.
Paddy was heading to a funeral so the conversation will continue next time with perhaps some progress on a solution. In any event I wish Paddy and all the Youghal lads the very best for the season.
The South Central Superclub auctions will be held 28rth March at the Sarsfield where Dublin, North County Wicklow, Northern Ireland and UK birds from Liverpool, Midlands, Leeds Huddersfield, Manchester and North Wales will be auctioned. Auctioneer Henry Byrne.
Everything else in Waterford on the 1st April where Gerry McCourt will be the auctioneer.
Having given the matter some serious consideration then it seems only right to have a prize for the first pigeons RACED into Northern Ireland. Dependant on the number of fanciers competing of course, but even if there is only 1 fancier there will be a respectable prize even for that fancier. I really would like a prize of £1,000 at least, but it will be from £150 upward depending on the numbers that compete as buyers.. Even if only one fancier races the minimum figure of £150 will cover his expenses to Dublin and his IHUNFC fee and perhaps the price of the bird. The Northern lads are also eligible for the "above 160 miles" prize for breeder & buyer. Everyone must have a crack of the whip. It really depends on numbers but it will be fair and proper. This will be the richest BB race in UK and Ireland in 2017.
On the home front here at Superior Lofts the birds are in terrific form and the breeding season in full flow. I made up a tea based on the old Frank Tasker formula and have been hugely impressed, It's like the birds were subjected to a cattle prod up the jacksie. Yearling that were content to hold hands in the back row of the movies are suddenly driving themselves and their hens ragged to nest. Bawling, clapping, scrapping, puffing their chests, Remarkable.
I have selected a number of cocks that will be mated to several hens, Not on the bull, definitely no. But once eggs are laid the hen will be removed and another hen introduced. One such cock is the one I call Pitbull (in homage to his ancestor) bred by Johan Donckers from Grobbendonk. Bred winners from his 1st nest sent to the UK. Being from the Yonge Asduif and the Karel Laenen hen, a daughter of Super 19 winner of 6 x1st for Karel. Super 19 is herself a daughter of Pitbull of Karel Laenen which is where the grizzle comes through.
His present hen, a direct dgtr of Sagan of Patrick Boeckx, will be removed as soon as I complete this article, and another hen introduced. Johan's pigeons will be hugely successful here. Here is a fancier who flies several disciplines at the same time, often 5 races in one weekend, with a relatively small team, And works full time. I am reluctant to use the phrase "next big thing" because the next big thing are generally the next disaster. Too many being bred too soon with little or no testing. However, that is not the fault of the birds. Johan has so many good lines running through his loft, all producing a high percentage of quality birds this is what I looked for on restarting. They just have that "ooomh factor". The few that have left here for the UK in 2016 were very impressive. And so for a change I thought this week, having been repeatedly asked to do so, I would post a pic or two of my own birds.
News & views on any matter of anyone requiring information on the BB race the email is
Prometheus.
