EAST DOWN COMBINE
with Clifford Browne
K & B McConaghie and Son win Derby for 3rd time in 4 years!
The weekend of 26th /27th August saw the East Down Combine holding two races , the Talbenny Channel Derby and the 2nd race from Thurles . Weather on Saturday 26th was unsuitable for racing and the Combine hampered on the Saturday night for a Sunday race from Thurles whilst the Talbenny birds left on the Friday night also for a Sunday liberation .
The Talbenny birds were released at 10.30 in a Westerly wind whilst the Convoy in Thurles were up at 10.00am in a very light SW wind .
Looking first at the Talbenny result and what a good race the Ballylesson partnership of K & B McConaghie & son had with 4 birds in the result . Since the death of Ken McConaghie this loft has been managed by son Geoff ably assisted by mum Betty and it is a great credit to their management that in the last 4 years they have won this Derby 3 times starting back in 2013 when they won on a velocity of 1163, Then in 2014 they came 3rd on a velocity of 1305 . In 2015 they again won the race this time on 1495 and this year they have gone one better winning 1st and 2nd as well as 11th and 20th .
Talking to Geoff after this years race and looking at the previous year’s he has a system of racing which he adheres to and a common theme runs through the results , the youngsters are darkened ,they race to the perch and they are well trained going on a trailer 3 times per week .
This year’s winner is a blue cheq cock and is bred off two gift birds the dam being an ash Hen from Tom Marshall and the sire is a blue cock from Sam Duke . The bird at 2nd open is a blue hen and is bred from the same pair that produced last year’s winner which is from their own family which Geoffrey has cultivated from his Dad the late Ken McConaghie’s old family and includes bloodlines from Masserella . Just to complete a fantastic days racing the McConaghies won the Ballylesson club from Thurles finishing 2nd West Section 36th Open , what a great days racing for this modest young man and his Mum .
Staying with Talbenny the next two birds were to the Dundonald partnership and the 2015 Fanciers of the year Cowan & McCartney with Newtownbreda’s B Hogg& son 5th and A & A Cheevers of Crossgar 6th The full result including club results were :
East Down Combine
27/08/2016 Talbenny YB Derby
86 Members Sent: 377 Birds in a Light Westerly wind
Pools Pos Name Club Velocity Section Pool Total Grand Total
1 W1 K & B McConaghie & Son Ballylesson HPS 1201.092 a n A £56.05 £166.40
2 W2 K & B McConaghie & Son Ballylesson HPS 1193.596 a A N £71.25 £119.53
3 W3 Cowan & McCartney Dundonald HPS 1183.976 ab n ABC N £179.83 £216.04
4 W4 Cowan & McCartney Dundonald HPS 1166.716 £0.00 £24.14
5 W5 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1152.490 £0.00 £18.45
6 W6 A & A Cheevers Crossgar HPS 1143.876 AB £46.62 £60.07
7 W7 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1129.143 £0.00 £13.45
8 W8 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1115.292 ab AB N £73.23 £85.99
9 W9 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1111.221 £0.00 £12.76
10 E1 R Watson & Son Killyleagh Central HPS 1110.039 ab n ABC £157.90 £185.83
11 W10 K & B McConaghie & Son Ballylesson HPS 1106.029 a A £9.16 £16.92
12 E2 Ferguson & Wilkinson Donaghadee RPC 1101.576 £0.00 £19.34
13 W11 Cowan & McCartney Dundonald HPS 1085.701 £0.00 £7.76
14 W12 Cowan & McCartney Dundonald HPS 1082.886 £0.00 £7.76
15 E3 J Maguire & Ptnrs Dundrum HPS 1079.133 ab n AB £88.62 £104.38
16 W13 S Casement & Son Ballylesson HPS 1075.234 £0.00 £7.07
17 W14 S Casement & Son Ballylesson HPS 1071.831 ab AB £29.28 £36.35
18 W15 T. Horner & Sons Crossgar HPS 1071.560 £0.00 £7.07
19 W16 T. Horner & Sons Crossgar HPS 1071.267 £0.00 £7.07
20 W17 K & B McConaghie & Son Ballylesson HPS 1071.042 ab AB £25.36 £32.43
21 E4 H.McDowell Annalong HPS 1067.479 £0.00 £12.17
22 W18 T Marshall & Son Newtownbreda HPS 1060.163 £0.00 £7.07
23 E5 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1053.405 £0.00 £10.98
24 E6 M.Croskery Annsborough HPS 1048.020 ab AB £58.26 £69.24
25 E7 J Crossan Downpatrick Premier 1047.940 ab £32.62 £43.60
26 E8 Phillips Bros Bangor RPC 1038.319 a £9.54 £19.32
27 W19 W & L Robinson Hillfoot HPS 1031.659 b B £15.68 £22.41
28 E9 P Byrne & Son Tyrella HPS 1030.682 ab A £27.84 £33.71
29 W20 A. Crawford Ballylesson HPS 1028.434 £0.00 £6.73
30 A & A Cheevers Crossgar HPS 1021.557 B £7.84 £12.84
31 E10 H.McDowell Annalong HPS 1017.033 £0.00 £9.78
32 Mackey & Lockhart Ballylesson HPS 1014.122 ab £7.30 £12.30
33 E11 Ferguson & Wilkinson Donaghadee RPC 1010.377 £0.00 £9.78
34 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1005.111 £0.00 £5.00
35 W.White & Son Newtownbreda HPS 1003.622 £0.00 £5.00
36 Cowan & McCartney Dundonald HPS 993.809 £0.00 £5.00
37 S. McLoughlin Crossgar HPS 990.263 ab BC £43.18 £48.18
38 A. Crawford Ballylesson HPS 988.689 ab £7.30 £12.30
39 A. Crawford Ballylesson HPS 981.040 b £4.90 £9.90
40 E12 Angus&Son&McConkey Donaghadee RPC 980.274 a £6.00 £15.78
Remainder Pools and East Section
E13 J.Orr & Son Ballywalter SPC 948.271 £0.00 £3.59
E14 Ferguson & Wilkinson Donaghadee RPC 946.866 £0.00 £3.59
J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 939.286 b B £12.74 £12.74
E15 A McNamara & Ptrs Dundrum HPS 927.197 £0.00 £3.59
E16 K.Rooney,Son & Dtr Annalong HPS 914.848 £0.00 £3.59
E17 D.Croskery & Son Annsborough HPS 913.877 £0.00 £3.59
E18 R McVeigh & Son Newcastle HPS 890.343 a £6.00 £9.59
E19 K & J McCulla Annalong HPS 855.304 £0.00 £2.99
T Marshall & Son Newtownbreda HPS 788.139 C £22.16 £22.16
E20 W.McMaster & Son Ballywalter SPC 564.860 ab C £32.33 £35.32
Around the Combine Clubs Talbenny
Annalong 1st H McDowell 1067.475 2nd H McDowell 1017.029
3rd K .Rooney,Son & Dtr 914.848
Annsborough 1st M Croskery 1048.02 2nd D Croskery & Son 913.877
Ballylesson 1st K & B Mc Conaghie & son 1201 2nd K & B Mc Conaghie & son 1193
3rd J Patterson 1115
Ballynahinch 1st Burns & O'Loan 968.192 2nd R Hunter 880.529
Ballywalter 1st J Orr & Son 948.23 2nd W McMaster & Son 564.89
Bangor 1st Phillips Bros 1038.316
Cloughey 1st Gordon Bros & Sons 1053.402
Crossgar 1st A&A Cheevers 1143.863 2nd T Horner & Sons 1071.557
3rd T Horner & Sons 1071.264
Donaghadee 1st Ferguson & Wilkinson 1101.629 2nd Ferguson & Wilkinson 1010.423
3rd Angus&Son;& McConkey 980.316
Downpatrick Premier 1st J Crossan 1047.94
Dundonald 1st Cowan & McCartney 1183.976 2nd Cowan & McCartney 1166.716
3rd Cowan & McCartney 1085.701
Dundrum 1st J Maguire & Ptrs 1079.129 2nd A McNamara & Ptrs 927.195
Hillfoot 1st W & L Robinson 1031.657
Killyleagh Central 1st R Watson & Son 1110.035
Newcastle 1st R Mc Veigh & Son 890.3
Newtownbreda 1st B Hogg & Sons 1152.49 2nd B Hogg & Sons 1129.143
3rd B Hogg & Sons 1111.221
Tyrella 1st P Byrne & Son 1030.682
GORDON BROS &SONS ON TOP AGAIN --THIS TIME IT’S 2ND THURLES
Turning now to Thurles and it was another great day for Gordon bros & Sons who had the first 17 place in the open and East section with other birds well places ,what a phenomenal season they have had . Over in the West section the winners were McCartan & Woodsides who had a further 11 birds places in the West Section result .2nd section as mentioned earlier went to K & B McConaghie & son .
Some details on the top four open and section winners for the Gordons 1st sect 1st open Thurles is a Blue cheq hen which was 12th sect 31st open Skibbereen Derby 18th sect 39th open Tullamore beaten by loft mates. Breeding Andre Roodhooft.
2nd sect 2nd open Thurles Grizzle cock 15th sect 35th open Tullamore beaten by loft mates. This cock is 1/2 brother to their top racer 023 ( 6 times edc prize winner this season) . Wynants/roodhooft.
Grizzle cock 3rd sect 3rd open. Wynants breeding. This cock is 1/2 brother to their top racer 023 (6 times edc prize winner this season. The sire was EDC Ace pigeon 2014.
4th sect 4th open 2nd Thurles was a Pied hen which was 3rd sect 3rd open 1st Thurles. Breeding Andre Roodhooft.
The top places Open Section and from the clubs were :
East Down Combine Open & Section
03/09/2016 2nd Thurles YB
86 Members Sent: 1454 Birds in a Light South West Wind
Pos Name Club Velocity
1 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1509.662
2 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1509.574
3 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1498.008
4 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1492.986
5 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.933
6 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.933
7 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.933
8 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.933
9 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.794
10 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.794
11 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.794
12 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.794
13 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.794
14 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.655
15 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.655
16 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.655
17 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1491.821
18 Harper & Young Cloughey HPS 1491.745
19 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1491.682
20 Harper & Young Cloughey HPS 1491.477
West Section 27 Members Sent: 450 Birds in a Light South West Wind
1 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1489.453
2 K & B McConaghie & Son Ballylesson HPS 1486.881
3 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1482.960
4 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1477.149
5 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1474.674
6 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1473.075
7 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1472.830
8 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1472.405
9 A & A Cheevers Crossgar HPS 1464.974
10 R. Johnston Comber Social HPS 1448.394
11 E.McLaughlin Ballynahinch HPS 1439.988
12 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1434.462
East Section 59 Members Sent: 1004 Birds in a Light South West Wind
1 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1509.662
2 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1509.574
3 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1498.008
4 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1492.986
5 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.933
6 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.933
7 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.933
8 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.933
9 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.794
10 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.794
11 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.794
12 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1492.794
Around the Combine Clubs Thurles 2
Annalong 1st J Newell 1462.25 2nd McLoughlin Bros 1461.171 3rd McLoughlin Bros 1446.807
Annsborough 1st P Brown & Son 1450.452 2nd M Croskery 1449.34
3rd D Croskery & Son 1449.034
Ballylesson 9members sent 176 birds 1st K & B Mc Conaghie & son 1486
2nd J Patterson 1473 3rd J Patterson 1405.7
Ballynahinch 1st E McLaughlin 1439.988 2nd E McLaughlin 1416.787
3rd E McLaughlin 1414.495
Ballywalter 1st W McMaster & Son 1465.615 2nd Palmer & McKay 1434.846
3rd S Regan 1432.846
Bangor 1st D Shaw 1438.681 2nd R Moore & Son 1431.624 3rd Lambert & Stewart 1431.541
Cloughey 1st Gordon Bros & Sons 1509.662 2nd Gordon Bros & Sons 1492.933
3rd Gordon Bros & Sons 1492.933
Comber 1st R Johnson 1448.39 2nd R Johnson 1423.57 3rd R Johnson 1412.69
Crossgar 1st McCartan & Woodsides 1489.453 2nd McCartan & Woodsides 1482.96
3rd McCartan & Woodsides 1474.674
Donaghadee 1st D & K McCutcheon 1419.704 2nd E D & K Allan & Sons 1414.236
3rd D & K McCutcheon 1402.288
Dundrum 1st J Maguire & Ptrs 1388.288 2nd S Foster Connor & Parry 1370.248
3rd J Maguire & Ptrs 1342.353
Killyleagh Central 1st Gordon Bros & Sons 1509.574 2nd Gordon Bros & Sons 1498.008 3rd Gordon Bros & Sons 1492.986
Millisle 1st McCormick & Muckle 1438.939 2nd J Rankin 1427.251
3rd McCormick & Muckle 1418.186
Newcastle E&A Rogan 1325,1323,1272,Good flying from E&A again this week from Thurles while Ronan clocks from across the water in a strange race
Newtownbreda 1st B Hogg & Sons 1477.149 2nd B Hogg & Sons 1426.543
3rd B Hogg & Sons 1420.491
Portavogie 1st J & R Young 1490.843 2nd B & J Donnan 1423.941 3rd K Ambrose 1415.003
Tyrella 1st C McManus & Dtr 1436.001 2nd C McManus & Dtr 1410.3
3rd C McManus & Dtr 1392.59
East Down2bird News
Skibbereen y/b derby 27/8/16
1st C&D Smyth & sons 1362 pools £11 20
2nd Cowan & Mc Cartney 1343
3rd Mackey & Lockhart 1318 pools £ 8 .40
4th B Hogg & sons 1287 pools £5 60
5th K & B Mc Conaghie & son 1271 pools £ 2 80
6th Mc Cormick & Muckle 1257
7th D Croskery & son 1237
8th Mc Cartan & Woodsides 1232
9th Cowan & Mc Cartney 1230
10th D Shaw 1211
11th S Regan 1207
12th Harper & Young 1175
C & D Smyth &Sons picked the right one with “Silver Dollar” to win this one and Cowan & McCartney had a good race with both their entries in the result .
Amended 2bird result for 2nd Tullamore YB
1st Gordon bros & sons 1714 pools £ 12
2nd R Irwin 1709
3rd R Irwin 1702
4th D Croskery & son 1695
5th Cowan & Mc Cartney 1694
6th J Kirk & sons 1687
7th J Patterson 1674 pools £9
8th R Moore & son 1672.30 pools £6
9th Mc Cormick & Muckle 1672.23 pools £3
10th D& W Carlile & son 1661
11th B Connolly 1660
12th J Patterson 1657
2nd in the 2016 Breeder/Buyer --D & R Topping (Ballynahinch)
The 2016 Breeder/Buyer was won by “Silver Dollar” In second place were the Ballynahinch HPS fanciers D & R Topping
David and Robert bought three birds at the sale and sent all three to the race from Skibbereen timing two with the third returning early next morning.
The blue chequer hen which was 2nd in this year’s breeder /buyer was raced on the darkness system flying to the Perch and also finished 41st open EDC. Bred by R Topping & Son of Lisburn & District HPS the sire was gifted by Good Friend David Mawhinney & Son of Beech Park from their top family of birds. The dam is from D&R Topping's Hartog family and the hen is closely related to their EDC Breeder Buyer Winner 2012, EDC Breeder Buyer winner 2013, Third EDC Breeder Buyer 2013, these Hartogs have bred numerous winners and prize winners over the years including their second open Navan this year Only competing three times in the East Down Combine Breeder Buyer D&R Topping have won it twice and also finished Second and third. Good Flying by this Partnership
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This week sees the final event in the East Down Combine’s 2016 race programme with the Ken McConaghie Skibbereen Derby.