Homers Odyssey - Plougastel Friendship OB National - 09-10-26

Details: Published: 09 October 2026; Hits: 105

Homers Odyssey - Plougastel Friendship OB National

JOHN O’HARE wins the Friendship OB National –

This column will as usual feature race reports from across Ireland and a list of results including Marking Centres, Stations updates plus Feds and Combines. Most of my info is picked up from Facebook, if your area is not listed send reports and results to Homer and also inform the various Press Officers. No first day pigeons have been reported. - Hours of darkness are 22:42 until 04:50. The following arrivals have been reported. Saturday 11th July 2026. Mr & Mrs Curtis Sons & Daughters Shankill Dublin 05:56, G & J O’Hare Harmony H.P.S. 08:11, Donnelly Bros. Newry City 08:18 & 09:00, B Chambers Ballyholland 09:23, Mark Maguire & Son Millvale 09:52, S & N Lester Laurelvale 10:18, H Weir Ballyclare 10:54, G Buckley & Son Annaghmore 11:10. After winning the Kings Cup the week previous Donnelly Bros of Newry City came so close to winning the Friendship OB Nat in the same season. Around three dozen birds were recorded in race tine, unfortunately none of those into the far north including Mid Antrim. On now to the overall winner John O’Hare of Harmony HPS.

HIs wining pigeon was bred from a combination of the late Ken Rossbottem (Gits) and Jackie Warring of Lisburn (walkingshaws) his winner sent feeding a four day old youngster .he also took 44th open last year in the friendship race .johns no stranger to the channel racing scene having won the hall of Fame in the past and a couple of 2nds in the French Derby with the EDC. John started racing pigeons aged 9 some 60 yrs ago starting off with his uncle’s pat and Charlie small before going it alone. This cock had 4 inland races before being sent straight to France for another crack at this Nat Race. Congratulations once again John well deserved. Text John Turner of Harmony.

INFC Friendship National race report -

1st Open in the INFC Friendship National from Plougastel was G &j O’Hare of Harmony club, a previous Hall of Fame winner. John is an all-out French national racer and has been close a good few times, he thoroughly deserves this result. The pigeon he timed is a three year old black chequer cock named “Charlie Pat” after the two late uncles who started him in pigeons.

The 1st Open Friendship Nat winner in 2026 for John O'Hare of Harmony HPS.

The bird had five inland races counting comeback and was sent feeding a four day youngster. He was also 44th Open in the same race last season. Its breeding is from Jackie Waring, Lisburn and the late Ken Rosbottom, Belfast.

John O’Hare holding the INFC Friendship Nat winner from Plougastel.

2nd and 3rd Open was Donnelly Bros, Newry City. A week after winning the Kings Cup and 2nd Open in the N.I.P.A. French race, they had another fantastic result here in a difficult race. They also set a record in that they are the first loft to ever win The Harkness rose bowl and the H. Beattie and Son trophy the two bird averages in the same year. “Surprise” clocked at 8:18 am the second day to win 2nd National Friendship National. Why surprise? Well because she was home 10 minutes before they realised and John got a bit of a shock on seeing her. “Surprise” is a two year old blue chequer hen sent sitting on a 2 day old young check, her first of the year. Being previously raced on roundabout all year then paired up for the National, she had four inland races then one channel race from Bude plus private training from Skerries and Clougherhead with Ivan Mawhinney.

“Surprise” is bred in the purple, her mother scored in the young bird National from Penzance and then again scoring from the King’s Cup. She was then put into stock. Her bloodlines include “Lily” 1st Open Friendship National, only bird on the day from Quimper. Also their gold medal winner with the NIPA “Wee Wesley”, four times France and Portland National, he contains bloodlines from N. Black & Son, Dromara.

2nd & 3rd Open montage for, Donnelly Bros.

On the mother’s side is a daughter from Paul Dunlop’s silver award winner with the NIPA. Sire of “Surprise” is the “Houten Cock” carrying the bloodlines of” New Laureaat”, 1st International Barcelona also Wilbuik bloodlines 1st National Barcelona Netherlands. The Houten Cock is also the uncle of “Sweet Caroline” their King’s Cup Merit award winner in 2026. She was 33rd Open King’s Cup in 2025 and 64th Open King’s Cup 2026.

Their second pigeon from the Friendship National winning 3rd Open was clocked at 9 am and is now called “On the Hour”. A two year old hen sent sitting 12 days on eggs. She also had four inland races and then a channel race from Bude before being paired up for the National. Her full sister was their second bird from Tourville old bird National with the NIPA the week before, winning 9th Section G and 55th Open. Another full sister turned up two weeks later from the Friendship National with half a tail.

On the Hour’s father is a pigeon we call “ Young Ivo”, he carries mostly Rutz & Son bloodlines from Germany, he is now sire of “On the Hour” 3rd Open Plougastel, “Sweet Caroline” 33rd Open King’s Cup 2025, 64th Open King’s Cup 2026 and 207th Open Yearling National 2024, also sire of 55th Open Tourville NIPA 2026. On the Hour’s mother is a hen we bred off stock called “All in One”, she is the daughter of “Isabella” 6th Open NIPA St Malo clocked at 10:32 pm after 16 hours on the wing. The year before that “Isabella” was 18th Open NIPA St Malo. She is a direct of “Smash Hit” 2nd Open NIPA St Malo when only ten birds were clocked in race time she was bred by N. Black & Son, Dromara. Isabella’s sire is a John Greenaway cock carrying Iron Lady Bloodlines.

4th Open was Hugh Weir, Ballyclare with a two year old Chequer Hen sent to the race sitting 12 day eggs. Prior to going to the National she had two inland races from Benamore and Fermoy with about eight training tosses with Ivan Mawhinney and this was her first ever channel race. Her sire was an on loan cock from David Strain and was bred by Stevie Lester. The dam was from a mealy cock again from David Strain coming down off his 5th Open Lamballe hen which was bred by Noel Higginson. We have a photo of the hen as Hugh is camera shy.

4th Open winner for Hugh Weir of Ballyclare

5th Open, 1st South Section is the Curtis Family - flying with the Shankill club and the East Coast Federation Firstly, Michael would like to thank the Irish National Flying Club for doing an article on his winning pigeon. The pigeon is a two-year-old Jan Arden cross. It is from the Dolly lines and a pigeon his good friend Mick Kane let him have on loan.

5th Open 1st South Section Mr & Mrs Curtis Sons & Daus.

Preparation for the race comprised of four inland races to Skibbereen followed by the East Coast Federation Penzance Open. The pigeon was then left on the open hole around the loft until basketing. This check two-year-old hen was raced using the natural system and was sitting on ten-day old eggs.

Michael feeds his channel team Mariman Variamax. Michael would also like to thank Jimmy Cullen and Trevor Doyle for all their help and support over the last few years.

6th Open was B. Chambers, Ballyholland, with a yearling hen that was sent sitting on a ten day old young bird and had two races up Ireland, Talbenny and Bude. Her breeding is mainly house of Arden with a touch of Jackie Waring Lisburn and Paddy Murray Dundrum, her grandfather is his NIPA Plougastel winner and his 36th Open King’s Cup hen and 16th open cock are all bred the same way.

6th Open B Chambers of Newry

7th Open was S & N Lester, Laurelvale. Stevie has a great national record and is never far away. The bird was a three year old Chequer Cock sent on two day old youngsters. The sire was 8th Open King’s Cup 2019. The dam was 10th, 13th and 20th Open St Malo. A full sister was timed on the night in this year’s King’s Cup.

7th Open S & N Lester Laurelvale

8th Open was Mark Maguire & Son, Millvale, previous Kings Cup winners and a top national loft. The pigeon they timed in the Friendship was a gift from his good friend Martin Graham which was bred off a hen belonging to Mark’s father and him. And the father was one of Martin Grahams top racing cocks which was 15th Open Bude and well up in the prizes in St Malo.

8th Open Mark Maguire & Son Millvale

9th Open was Glen Buckley & Son, Annaghmore, He timed a two year blue hen, and she was raced on roundabout system, mainly up Ireland. The sire is bred by Robert Buckley and the dam is off his own stock breeding. In the picture is Glen, his daughter Suzanne and grandchildren Grace and Daniel. The mealy hen in the picture was clocked in the King’s Cup.

9th Open Glen Buckley & Son Annaghmore

10th Open is W. Leckey, Newtownards with a hen that’s been in the prizes from a young bird right through to this year and was 1st Club, 47th Section from Penzance. She was on the roundabout all season. She was sent to Penzance with her cock but he didn’t return. She sat in her box without a mate but still flew well with the young birds every night. However, about ten days before the National her cock returned home and it was like a new leash of life to her. But he knew that leaving him in with would make her go eggy so they were parted, but he was let back two days before the National.

10th Open W Leckey of Newtownards

Her sire was son of “The Gaffer” bred by Mike Samuels and her dam was a daughter of John Patterson’s No 1 pair. This pair has bred winners inland and cross channel at club, section and open level.

Billy passes on his congratulations to the winner and everyone in the prizes and would like to thank everyone that phoned and texted to say well done noting that there still good and honest pigeon people out there.

2nd and 3rd South Section and 18th and 20th Open is Brendan Cahill flying with Skerries RPC and the East Coast Federation.

2nd & 3rd South Section B Cahill

The pigeon that was 18th Open and 2nd South Section is a two-year-old blue cock bred from a Noel Shields cock purchased in the East Coast Federation fundraiser in 2022. The dam is bred from his Gerry O'Reilly & Sons pigeons. This pair also bred the 36th Open winner in this race. He was sent sitting on his first nest of the year.

The pigeon that won 20th Open 3rd South Section is a blue 3-year-old hen. She is also bred from the Gerry O'Reilly & Sons' pigeons. In 2025, this pigeon also won the 20th Open in the Friendship National. She will qualify for a merit award and was sent on a newly hatched youngster. All birds raced the full land programme and either Bude or Penzance. All yearlings must fly the channel. Feeding is mainly Beatty's Champion Supreme purchased from Tommie Nelson of Ballymun.

His advice for new starters would be to get the right pigeons for the job, either sprint or distance, then go to a good fancier with a proven record at either distance.

Brendan would like to thank Gerry O'Reilly & Sons for the pigeons and for all their encouragement and advice over the years, especially given French racing can be soul destroying at times. Thanks also to Art Kelly for bringing his birds to Lisburn for the three nationals this year and to Noel Shields for donating his pigeon to the East Coast Federation fundraiser.

4th South Section and 23rd Open is Gerry O'Reilly and Sons flying with Malahide RPC and East Coast Federation.

4th South Section Mr G O’Reilly

The winning pigeon is a two-year-old check cock sitting on 14-day old eggs. He is a Cheetham cock from Jimmy Anderson's bloodlines and a hen on loan from Pat Lambert of Arklow, another great long-distance flier. He was privately trained and had three inland races and two channel races. They feed natural mixes from Richard Donnelly and add vitamins and fats closer to the race. They believe in CEST products as getting the birds in the best possible condition for the race in hand is a must.

Congratulations to all who clocked in our three national races.

The Donnelly brothers, Richard and John have set a very high standard in pigeon racing from France this year, many congratulations to them.

I would also like to mention Gerry O'Reilly & Sons. They have had a superb racing season from France this year. Their breeding has also proved to be successful for other fanciers.

Another loft which deserves a mention is L. O’Neill & Son of Harmony who live in Larne. This loft was 14th Open in the King’s Cup, winning the Robinson Cup and 11th Open in the Friendship National. In most years these two performances would have the Irvine Trophy for the best average in the two French races but with Donnelly Bros winning the King’s Cup and being second in the Friendship National they were going to be hard to beat. David Black and Kevin Anderson INFC Press Officers.

L O’Neill & Son 14th Open kings cup and 11th Open Friendship National.

INFC Plougastel Friendship National 2026. Sponsored by H Beattie & Son/Beattie Bird & Pet Foods. 166 members sent 933 pigeons. These were liberated at 06.15 am in Calm Conditions turning North Easterly on route, on Friday 10 th July 2026. Competing for £4,213 in pools and prize money. 1 st (1N) G & J O’Hare, Harmony HPS 619 £200; 2 nd (2N) Donnolly Bros, Newry City 607 £460; 3 rd (3N) Donnolly Bros 587 £493; 4 th (4N) Hugh Weir, Ballyclare 584 £68; 5 th (1S) Mr & Mrs Curtis & Sons & Daughters, ECF Shankill 579 £145; 6 th (5N) B Chambers, Ballyholland 571 £38; 7 th (6N) S & N Lester, Laurelvale 568 £260; 8 th (7N) Mark Maguire & Son, Millvale 564 £185; 9 th (8N) Glen Buckley & Son, Annaghmore 553 £38; 10 th (9N) W Lecky, Newtownards 547 £146; 11 th (10N) L O’Neill & Son, Harmony HPS 541 £23;, 12 th (11N) J Greenaway, Bondhill 538 £253; 13 th (12N) D Scott, Glenavy 526 £206;, 14 th (13N) McCracken Bros, Banbridge 510 £206; 15 th (14N) Burns Bros, Comber, Social 505 £96; 16 th (15N) B Chambers, Ballyholland 491 £23; 17 th (16N) A McAteer,, Ballyholland 463 £183; 18 th (2S) B Cahill, ECF Skerries 442 £23; 19 th (17N) A, Murray & Son, Dundrum 434 £52; 20 th (3S) B Cahill 415 £115; 21 st (18N) E Murtagh, & Sons, Individual North 408 £109; 22 nd (19N) B Chambers 390 £17; 23 rd (4S) Mr G O’Reilly, ECF Malahide & District 389 £24; 24 th (20N) B & M Gilmore, Ballyclare, 349 £17; 25 th (21N) Lyons & Kennedy, Hills & Maze 326 £15; 26 th (22N) A & N, Lewis, Doagh & District 322 £581; 27 th (23N) D & J Campbell, Doagh & District 312, £17; 28 th (24N) C McManus, Corrigs 303 £17; 29 th (5S) P Rock & Son, Dublin North, East RPC 295 £17; 30 th (25N) N Black & Son, Dromara 271 £17; 31 st (26N) C & L, Woodside, Ballyclare 266 £90; 32 nd (27N) N Black & Son 265 £14; 33 rd (28N) J & I, Moore, Bangor 259 £14; 34 th (29N) S & N Lester, Laurelvale 257 £14; 35 th (6S) M, McCabe & Son, ECF Shankill 250 £14; 36 th (7S) B Cahill 245 £14.

Sponsor prizes. 1st 3 bags of mixture, 2nd 2 bags of mixture, 3rd 1 bag of mixture.

INFC North Sect Friendship Nat- C & J O’Hare Harmony 619, Donnelly Bros Newry City 607, Donnelly Bros 587, Hugh Weir Ballyclare 584, B Chambers Ballyholland 571, S & N Lester Laurelvale 568, Mark Maguire & Son Millvale 564, Glen Buckley & Son Annaghmore 553, W Leckey Newtownards 547, L O’Neill & Son Harmony 541, John Greenaway Bondhill 538,McCracken Bros Banbridge 510, Burns Bros Comber Soc 505, B Chambers 491, A McAteer Ballyholand 463, A Murray & Son Dumrum 434, E Murtagh & Son Ind Norths 408, B Chambers 390, B & M Gilmore Ballyclare 349.

INFC South Sect Friendship Nat – Mr & Mrs Curtis Sons & Daughters Shankill 579, B Cahill Skerries 442, B Cahill 415, G O’Reilly Malahide & Dist 389, P Rock & Son Dublin North-east 295,M McCabe & Son Shankill 250, B Cahill 245.

(NIPA) Friendship Nat- C & J O’Hare Harmony 619, Donnelly Bros Newry City 607, Donnelly Bros 587, Hugh Weir Ballyclare 584, B Chambers Ballyholland 571, S & N Lester Laurelvale 568, Mark Maguire & Son Millvale 564, Glen Buckley & Son Annaghmore 553, W Leckey Newtownards 547, L O’Neill & Son Harmony 541, John Greenaway Bondhill 538,McCracken Bros Banbridge 510, Burns Bros Comber Soc 505, B Chambers 491, A McAteer Ballyholand 463, A Murray & Son Dumrum 434, E Murtagh & Son Ind Norths 408, B Chambers 390, B & M Gilmore Ballyclare 349.

East Coast Federation Plougastel – M/M Curtis Sons & Daughters Shankill 579, B Cahill Skerries 442, B Cahill 415, G O’Reilly Malahide & Dist 389, M McCabe & Son Shankill 250, B Cahill 245.

INFC Clubs Plougastel

Harmony HPS – G & J O’Hare 619, L O’Neill & Son 541.

Newry City Inv – Donnelly Bros 607, 587.

Ballyclare & District – Hugh Weir 584, B & M Gilmore 349, C & L Woodside 266.

Shankill – M/M Curtis sons & Daughters 579, M McCabe & Son 250.

Ballyholland – B Chambers 571, 491, A McAteer 463, B Chambers 390.

Laurelvale – S & N Lester 568, 257.

Millvale – Mark Maguire & Son 564.

Annaghmore – Glen Buckley & Son 553.

Newtownards – W Leckey 547.

Bondhill Social – John Greenaway 538.

Glenavy & District- D Scott 526.