EAST DOWN COMBINE
Reports by Clifford Browne
ANNSBOROUGH LOFTS 1ST & 2ND OPEN BUDE
The East Down Combine were in Bude in Cornwall on Saturday June 14th for the 3rd channel race of the season and what a contrast from the previous two weeks, for this week no tail wind but rather a light northerly which gave the Combine a totally different race with the winning bird just below the 1100 ypm mark and some lofts struggling to record an arrival on the day. The Annsborough lofts of D Croskery & son and James Cleland have the top two birds in the open this week with the Millisle partnership of R Strain & son in 3rd, these being the top three birds in the East section. In the West section the best pigeon is to Stephen Brown &Sons of Dundonald followed by R & R Lambe of Newtownbreda and Len McKinistry of Dundonald.
Returns varied greatly from loft to loft with some doing better than other but most had some missing and the weather looks to be something similar for this week’s race from Penzance.
Top open and section places were:
East Down Combine Open
14/06/2014 Bude OB
172 Members 1783 Birds Wind Light Northerly
1 D.Croskery & Son Annsborough HPS 1092.164
2 James. Cleland Annsborough HPS 1073.103
3 R.Strain & Son Millisle & District HPS 1060.310
4 S.Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1044.786
5 S Milligan & Dtr Tyrella HPS 1040.478
6 R.McDowell & Son Annsborough HPS 1035.042
7 R & R Lambe Newtownbreda HPS 1034.527
8 R.J.Keown Annsborough HPS 1032.195
9 L. McKinstry Dundonald HPS 1031.982
10 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1021.065
11 Harper & Young Cloughey HPS 1020.040
12 M.Croskery Annsborough HPS 1016.027
13 S & K Duke Crossgar HPS 1002.970
14 J & R Young Portavogie 1002.642
15 R.Strain & Son Millisle & District HPS 997.149
16 S.Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 995.159
17 Mackey & Lockhart Ballylesson HPS 991.813
18 N.W. Hagen & Son Killyleagh Central HPS 987.775
19 A & E Muckle Millisle & District HPS 985.577
20 Harper & Young Cloughey HPS 978.711
West Section 56 Members 771 Birds Wind Light Northerly
1 S.Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1044.786
2 R & R Lambe Newtownbreda HPS 1034.527
3 L. McKinstry Dundonald HPS 1031.982
4 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1021.065
5 S & K Duke Crossgar HPS 1002.970
6 S.Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 995.159
7 Mackey & Lockhart Ballylesson HPS 991.813
8 Burns Bros Comber Social 974.706
9 L. McKinstry Dundonald HPS 970.832
10 J. McGreevy Crossgar HPS 963.300
11 T McConnell Dundonald HPS 961.164
12 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 959.559
East Section 116 Members 1012 Birds Wind Light Northerly
1 D.Croskery & Son Annsborough HPS 1092.164
2 James. Cleland Annsborough HPS 1073.103
3 R.Strain & Son Millisle & District HPS 1060.310
4 S Milligan & Dtr Tyrella HPS 1040.478
5 R.McDowell & Son Annsborough HPS 1035.042
6 R.J.Keown Annsborough HPS 1032.195
7 Harper & Young Cloughey HPS 1020.040
8 M.Croskery Annsborough HPS 1016.027
9 J & R Young Portavogie 1002.642
10 R.Strain & Son Millisle & District HPS 997.149
11 N.W. Hagen & Son Killyleagh Central HPS 987.775
12 A & E Muckle Millisle & District HPS 985.577
Around the Combine Clubs
Annalong 1st K. Rooney,Son & Dtr 961.83 2nd K. Rooney,Son & Dtr 957.08 3rd S Ferguson & Son 939.68
Annsborough 1st D Croskery & Son 1092.16 2nd James Cleland 1073.10 3rd R McDowell & Son 1035.04
Ballylesson 12 members sent 110 birds 1st Mackey & Lockhart 991 2nd J Patterson 928 &3rd 894
Ballynahinch 1st G Hillen & Ptnrs 951.10 2nd H Wallace 947.02 3rd D & R Topping 930.12
Ballywalter 1st and 3rd on 913 & 858. Palmer & McKay, Adam wins his first red card of the season with a four year old natural cock from a difficult Bude, 2nd Sam Regan with a Cattrysse 2 year old cock on 899
Bangor 1st Phillips Bros 947.14 2nd McQuaide & Briggs 736.60 3rd Phillips Bros 714.62
Cloughey 1st Harper & Young 1020.04 2nd Harper & Young 978.71 3rd Harper & Young 927.05
Comber 1st Burns Bros 974.70 2nd R Johnson 944.79 3rd F Gilmore 944.47
Crossgar 1st McCartan & Woodsides 1021.06 2nd S & K Duke 1002.97 3rd J McGreevy 963.3
Donaghadee 1st Ferguson & Wilkinson 802.81 2nd R Teggart & Son 746.83 3rd Ferguson & Wilkinson 728.58
Downpatrick 1st P McCullough & Dtr 961.71 2nd J Crossan 909.59 3rd J Crossan 788.29
Dundonald 1st S Brown & Sons 1044.78 2nd L McKinstry 1031.98 3rd S Brown & Sons 995.15
Dundrum 1st A Murray & Son 968.53 2nd S Foster Connor & Parry 812.76 3rd A McNamara & Ptrs 804.07
Hillfoot 1st W & L Robinson 902.78 2nd W & L Robinson 885.61 3rd D Brennan 783.79
Killyleagh Central 1st N.W Hagen & Son 987.77 2nd J & P Rice 959.25 3rd Irvine Bros 945.77
Millisle 1st R Strain & Son 1060.31 2nd R Strain & Son 997.14 3rd A & E Muckle 985.7
Newcastle 1st 2nd 3rd E & A Rogan 868.2, 784.1,729.4
Newtownbreda 1st R & R Lambe 1034.52 2nd B & H Marshall 942.99 3rd T Marshall & Son 913.07
Portavogie 1st J & R Young 1002.64 2nd J Nixon 955.56 3rd L Young 936.06
Tyrella 1st S Milligan & Dtr 1003.92, 2nd R Straney 900.86, 3rd D Mc Nabb & Ptrs 896.19
INFC Yearling National -Success for Several Combine members
From the recent INFC Yearling National 3 Combine lofts finished in the top ten in the North section these being:-
Clifford Healy - 2nd North section 29th open
Sam Regan - 8th North Section 61st open
K Rooney, son & dtr - 10th North section 63rd open
Congratulations to these three and also all the other members of the EDC who finished in the result. I have one club result from this race from Newcastle which was:
1st R McVeigh & Son
2nd W McNeilly & Son
3rd, 4th &5th R McVeigh & Son
First bird timed was a show special for R McVeigh& Son
East Down Combine
08/06/2014 Derek Wishart Classic Mallow
90 Members 773 Birds Wind Southerly
1 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1549.422 £0.00 £100.00
2 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1547.069 ABCD £191.70 £261.70
3 Harper & Young Cloughey HPS 1540.663 £0.00 £50.00
4 C & D Smyth & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1537.577 ABCD N £212.11 £252.11
5 Burgess & Brennan Bangor RPC 1537.451 N £52.50 £82.50
6 M.Foulis Dundonald HPS 1534.109 £0.00 £25.00
7 A. Crawford Ballylesson HPS 1528.911 ABCD £105.44 £130.44
8 Burgess & Brennan Bangor RPC 1511.320 N £35.00 £60.00
9 A. Crawford Ballylesson HPS 1507.882 ABCD £76.68 £101.68
10 J.Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 1507.694 BC £30.10 £55.10
11 R Moore & Son Bangor RPC 1505.527 £0.00 £20.00
12 R Moore & Son Bangor RPC 1504.528 ABC £34.58 £54.58
13 Cowan & McCartney Dundonald HPS 1501.118 £0.00 £20.00
14 M & A Johnston Ballylesson HPS 1497.196 £0.00 £20.00
15 Burgess & Brennan Bangor RPC 1497.095 ABCD £47.93 £67.93
16 F Gilmore Comber Social 1497.088 ABCD £47.93 £67.93
17 McQuaide & Briggs Bangor RPC 1493.858 AB £13.92 £33.92
18 B & H Marshall Newtownbreda HPS 1491.466 £0.00 £20.00
19 R & R Lambe Newtownbreda HPS 1490.664 ABCD £41.01 £61.01
20 A. Crawford Ballylesson HPS 1489.612 ABCD £41.01 £61.01
21 M & A Johnston Ballylesson HPS 1489.241 ABC £27.66 £37.66
22 R.Strain & Son Millisle & District HPS 1488.384 ABCD £38.34 £48.34
23 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1487.383 £0.00 £10.00
24 Cowan & McCartney Dundonald HPS 1486.100 £0.00 £10.00
25 Mackey & Lockhart Ballylesson HPS 1484.742 ABC £27.66 £37.66
26 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1482.434 £0.00 £10.00
27 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1477.350 ABCD £38.34 £48.34
28 R.Strain & Son Millisle & District HPS 1475.537 £0.00 £10.00
29 R Moore & Son Bangor RPC 1473.263 £0.00 £10.00
30 A. Crawford Ballylesson HPS 1471.372 A CD £28.90 £38.90
31 R & R Lambe Newtownbreda HPS 1470.752 £0.00 £10.00
32 R.Strain & Son Millisle & District HPS 1469.055 D £10.68 £20.68
33 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1467.938 £0.00 £10.00
34 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1467.433 £0.00 £9.50
35 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1466.929 £0.00 £9.00
36 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1465.500 D £10.68 £19.68
37 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1465.201 £0.00 £9.00
38 J & R Young Portavogie 1464.399 £0.00 £9.00
39 W.McMaster & Son Ballywalter SPC 1462.962 £0.00 £9.00
40 J. Tumelty Newtownbreda HPS 1462.464 £0.00 £9.00
Remainder Pools
41 J. Scates & Son Hillfoot HPS 1459.889 D £10.68 £10.68
42 M.Foulis Dundonald HPS 1437.046 D £10.68 £10.68
East Down Combine
08/06/2014
3 Bird Channel Championship 2nd Talbenny OB
59 Members 174 Birds Wind Northerly
1 B C T Foulis & Gill Dundonald HPS 2058.68 £0.00
2 A. Edgar & Son Comber Social HPS 2040.35 AB £53.40
3 Burns Bros Comber Social 1896.82 AB £40.05
4 C. Lavery & Son Ballynahinch HPS 1809.09 AB £33.38
5 R Moore & Son Bangor RPC 1792.12 AB £26.70
6 E D & K Allan & Sons Donaghadee RPC 1790.61 A £8.18
7 E D & K Allan & Sons Donaghadee RPC 1782.59 A £5.45
8 Mr & Mrs E. Spence Hillfoot HPS 1780.78 AB £17.30
9 J.& J. Hollinger Millisle & District HPS 1777.90 AB £13.35
10 R. Johnson Comber Social HPS 1758.21 £0.00
11 C. Lavery & Son Ballynahinch HPS 1707.30 AB £13.35
12 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1700.53 AB £13.35
13 F Gilmore Comber Social 1683.39 AB £13.35
14 J.Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 1671.04 AB £13.35
Remainder Pools
15 W & L Robinson Hillfoot HPS 1572.49 B £7.90
16 A & J Brown Dundonald HPS 1566.83 B £7.90
East Down2bird News
From the 2nd Talbenny the result was:
1st B&T Foulis & Gill Dundonald 2058 3rd open
2nd J Scates & sons Hillfoot 1856 19th Open
3rd J&J Hollinger Millisle & dist 1771
4th J Patterson Ballylesson 1700
5th D Croskery & Son Annsborough 1687
6th F Gilmore Comber soc 1683
7th J Young & pts Dundonald 1671
8th R Moore & Son Bangor 1661
9th J&J Hollinger Millisle & dist 1625
10th C Browne Bangor 1582
11th S Regan Ballywalter 1558
12th RJ Keown Annsborough 1555
Sam Regan reports From Around The Ards Peninsula
Walter and Norman Carlile win the rerouted Mallow (2) which had to be flown from Mullingar.
The East Down Combine were in Mallow on the weekend of the 24 & 25th of May but poor weather conditions never cleared all the time at the liberation site and even Monday remained the same so it was decided to bring the convoy back closer to home and they released in Mullingar at 13.00 following three nights in the crates. The top two pigeons into the Ards Peninsula went to Ballywalter club members with Walter and Norman Carlile clocking a yearling Blue Cock flying natural to not only win their club but also take 1st Amalgamation, 1st East Section and 4th Open and also totted up two more firsts by winning the Peninsula 3 Bird Club and the Combine two bird club to round off a great performance. This pigeon was bred by the partnership of Harold Muckle and Rodney McCormick and is a Vandenabeele x Soontjen cross and a great win for the father and son team, very well done. Runners up were Winston and Hugh McMaster two yards behind the winning pigeon and 6th Open and this loft has been in great form since the start of the old bird season.
Full result. 45 members sent 873 birds.
1st D& W. Carlile & son 1353.
2nd & 8th & 10th W. McMaster & son 1351, 1294. 1292.
3rd, 13th &14th Gordon Bros & sons 1325, 1286, 1285.
4th & 5th J. Rankin 1313, 1312.
6th Ferguson & Wilkinson 1309.
7th J & R. Young 1307.
9th Harper & Young 1293.
11th R. Strain & son 1290.
12th McCormick & Muckle 1286.
3 Bird Club
1st W& D. Carlile & son A.B.C. 1353.
2nd McCormick & Muckle A.B.C. 1286.
3rd Gordon Bros & sons A.B.C 1286
The Nomination was won by Harper & Young on 1226.
***
Combine Race Controller has a pair of birds which make a lovely couple (see photo). The cock named “Big Rooster” and his hen “Peaches” have both won the East Down Open, the Cock from Tullamore this year from 5,613 birds and the hen from Fermoy in 2013 from 5,218 birds. A nice pair to have Roy.
Well that is it for this week. The Combine are off to Penzance this week as I mentioned and this for many clubs is their final Old Bird Club race as it is off to France after this for the Derby and Nationals.
---