
JOURNEY’S END – NIPA RACE REPORTS – SECTIONS C, D, F, & G
‘LOUGHVIEW QUEEN’ TRIUMPS FOR MCGRATH & MCPARLAND IN THRILLING NATIONAL RACE
In this report I will cover the first National race of 2026 for the NIPA. The OB Inland National Race was held in a new race point of Bantry in County Cork. Also held on the same day was the Benamore 3 race making it the first double race weekend. Thursday was Racemarking day in allocated Centres for the 20 Bird Limit Inland OB National. A total of 321 NIPA Members sent 3,445 birds to the Bantry Old Bird Inland National in Co. Cork. Saturday morning the 23rd of May the birds were liberated at 10:00hrs in a South Southwest Wind.

The Winning Bird from the NIPA Old Bird Inland National belongs to McGrath & McParland of Drumnavady HPS in Section G.
P&J Boal is a name known to many and is no stranger to success racing in the NIPA. Topping the NIPA open from this week in Benamore has added another to his racing CV. The National winning pigeon has been named ‘Loughview Queen’ and clocked the winning velocity of 1993.14YPM. A blue 2 year old hen GB24 D 02109 this past 3 weeks was 198th NIPA Open Gowran Park 13,526 birds vel 1258. 11th NIPA Open Grenagh 15,833 birds vel 1410. 2nd Drumnavady Gold Ring winning £400. And this week Winning 1st National Bantry. Bred mainly from the best of P&J Boal Van Herck lines crossed with Pouw Bros Janseen. Sire being bro of old Penzance cock 5 times in the open result Penzance (all head winds) paired to granddaughter Jacky Pouw Bros. Dam Van Herck cock down £50 cock crossed to granddaughter Karlski. Many thanks to Philip Boal for giving me the best he has.
Many Congratulations to McGrath & McParland on Winning 1st NIPA National Bantry 3,445 birds.
Also, Congratulations to 2nd National Grattan Bros of Doagh & District HPS in Section C
And Congratulations to 3rd National J&L Smyth of Trinty RPC in Section D
NIPA BANTRY OB INLAND NATIONAL TOP 20 RESULT
1st (1G) MCGRATH & MCPARLAND, DRUMNAVADY 1993; 2nd (1C) GRATTAN BROS, DOAGH & DISTRICT 1992; 3rd (1D) J&L SMYTH, TRINTY RPC 1979; 4th (2G) W. MCDOWELL & SON, DRUMNAVADY 1976; 5th (2C) J&D BRANIFF, WEST END 1974; 6th (1E) T. MAWHINNEY, DROMORE 1971; 7th (2E) DC&P MCARDLE, LOUGHALL 1965; 8th (3C) J&D BRANIFF, WEST END 1942; 9th (4C) D. MCELHONE & DTR, WEST END 1938; 10th (1A) A. O’HARE, LOUGHALL 1937; 11th (5D) O. O’NEILL & SON, GLENARM & DISTRICT 1937; 12th (2D) J. GREENAWAY, HILLSBOROUGH & MAZE 1936; 13th (2A) B. MORGAN, COALISLAND 1933; 14th (5C) D&J CAMPBELL, DOAGH & DISTRICT 1933; 15th (3D) J. GREGORY & SONS, COLIN 1933; 16th (4D) K. JOHNSTON, DERRIAGHY 1932; 17th (5D) J. GREGORY & SONS, COLIN 1932; 18th (6D) J. TURNER, HARMONY 1930; 19th (3G) J J MCCABE, NEWRY & DISTRICT 1930; 20th (6C) D&J ARMSTRONG & SON 1930
SECTION C REPORT
The Winner of Section C (65/735) from Bantry Inland National was Grattan Bros of Doagh & District HPS. The Grattan’s top the Doagh Centre from Bantry and also win Section C (735 birds) and in the National places they obtained a podium finish in 2nd National NIPA (3,445 birds) The brothers Sire of their winner was bred by Phillip Baadjou, Holland. He is a direct son of ‘Champion 202 winner of 1st NPO Reims 7,985 birds, 1st 774 birds, 1st 589 birds, 1st 987 birds, 612 birds. Dam of their winner is Willy Jacobs cross Luv Vervoort. She is a direct daughter of ‘Prince Zot’ bred by Luv Vervoort from ‘De Zot’. ‘Price Zot’ was paired to ‘Diamond Princess’ winner of 2 x 1st Opens NIPA. She is a grandmother to 3 first National winners.

Grattan Bros Section C Winners & 2nd National from Bantry
Congratulations to Section C Winners Grattan Bros and Congratulations to all Club Winners
Doagh Centre
1st Grattan Bros 1992; 2nd D&J Campbell 1933; 3rd D&J Campbell 1927; 4th G. McKenna 1916; 5th G. McKenna 1904; 6th G. McKenna 1887; 7th G. McKenna 1886; 8th Grattan Bros 1880; 9th Grattan Bros 1879; 10th G&R Lawrie 1875
Ligoniel Centre
1st J&D Braniff 1974; 2nd J&D Braniff 1942; 3rd D. McElhone & Dtr 1938; 4th C. McVeigh & Dtr 1927; 5th Bingham, Seaton & Dowie 1921; 6th McMurray & Anderson 1912; 7th C. McManus 1905; 8th Bingham, Seaton & Dowie 1904; 9th McMurray & Anderson 1902; 10th C. McVeigh & Dtr 1895

J&D Braniff Ligoniel Centre Winners
East Antrim Amalgamation
Bantry O/B Inland Derby
23/5/26
53 members sent 623 pigeons
The inaugural race took place from Bantry Co. Cork on a bright & sunny day. Conditions were just about perfect with a promise of a sprinters paradise, and it did not disappoint! Taking the Red card in the EAA was Tommy Gratton of Gratton Bros Doagh HPS. With a smoking velocity of 1993.14 he also finished up 1st sec c & 2nd open NIPA. A super pigeon, the sire was bred by Philip Baadjon of Holland, he is direct from “champion 202” winner of 1st NPO Reims 7985 birds. 1st 744 bird’s 1st 589 bird’s 1st 987 bird’s 1st 612 birds! The Dam, bred at O’Roory hill stud is a Willy Jacobs Luc Vervoort cross. She is a direct daughter of prince Zot bred by Luc from De Zot! Prince Zot was mated to Diamond princess winner of 2 first NIPA opens. She is G/Mother to three National winners!
Well done Tommy
A mention to club mate Pat O’Neill who finished a very impressive 2nd EAA & 11th open NIPA tramping down into Carnlough! Yet again our members throughout the sheet doing our organisation proud! Well done to you all
Jonny Baxter EAA press officer
SECTION D REPORT
The Winner of Section D (35/434) from Bantry Inland National was J&L Smyth of Trinty RPC. Joe wins Dromore Centre while having 3 in the top 10 places (242 birds) and makes it a memorable race winning 1st Section D (434 birds) and also topping a super result in winning 3rd National NIPA (3,445 birds)

J&L Smyth Section D Winners & 3rd National Bantry
Congratulations to Section D Winners J&L Smyth and Congratulations to all Club Winners
Dromore Centre
(15/242) 1st J&L Smyth 1979; 2nd T. Mawhinney 1971; 3rd M. Russell 1912; 4th J&L Smyth 1903; 5th P&J Boal 1900; 6th P&J Boal 1898; 7th T. Mawhinney 1897; 8th J&L Smyth 1896; 9th P&J Boal 1891; 10th T. Mawhinney 1889
SECTION F REPORT
The Winner of Section F (18/164) from Bantry Inland National was W. Leckey of Ards HPS. Billy has been in super form this season so far continuing it by winning 1st section (164 birds) and finishing 55th National NIPA (3,445 birds) Billys Section Winner GB24 A 08447 is a 2 year red cock and has performed great from a young bird with performances as follows. 2nd Club Fermoy, 2nd Club Roscrea, 3rd Club Roscrea, 9th Club Cloughmartin, 9th Club Roscrea, 1st Club Benamore, 2nd Club Grenagh. His parents are from his good friend J. Wheatcroft.

W. Leckey Section F Winner from Bantry
Congratulations to Section F Winner W. Leckey and Congratulations to all Club Winners.
SECTION G REPORT
The Winner of Section G (31/387) from Bantry Inland National was McGrath & McParland of Drumnavady HPS. (See opening report for more info) Brendan had the best result from Bantry winning 1st Banbridge Centre (134 birds) winning 1st Section G (387 birds) and winning 1st National NIPA (3,445 Birds)

McGrath & McParland 1st National NIPA OB Inland National Winner from 3,445 birds winning with 'Loughview Queen'
Congratulations to Section G & National Winner McGrath & McParland and Congratulations to all Club Winners.
Banbridge Centre
(13/134) 1st McGrath & McParland 1993; 2nd W. McDowell & Son 1976; 3rd R. Carson & Son 1903; 4th D&K Mallen 1891; 5th McGrath & McParland 1888; 6th F. Simpson 1888; 7th W. McDowell & Son 1887; 8th W. McDowell & Son 1882; 9th J. Brush 1878; 10th R. Carson & Son 1873
Newry Centre
1st J J McCabe 1930; 2nd J.F McCabe & Son 1918; 3rd J J McCabe 1902; 4th J J McCabe 1900; 5th Donnelly Bros 1890; 6th Mark Maguire & Son 1885; 7th J.F McCabe & Son 1884; 8th J.F McCabe & Son 1883; 9th J.F McCabe & Son 1881; 10th J.F McCabe & Son 1881

John J McCabe Newry Centre Winner from Bantry
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G K & I Moxham Larne & Dist Winner from Bantry |
W. Degnan & T. McKee Ballycarry & Dist Bantry Winners |
Could all club representatives/race secretaries within my covered sections of C, D, F & G to contact myself to be included in my weekly NIPA race Reports, with Club, Section & Open Winning photos, along with the winning pigeon’s info etc.
Yours in Sport ,
Jordan Hughes
N.I.P.A. Press Officer
JORDAN HUGHES
‘JOURNEYS END’
N.I.P.A PRESS OFFICER
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