EAST DOWN COMBINE
Reports by Clifford Browne
Gordon Bros & Sons Double Success
The East Down Combine were in Fermoy on Saturday August 24th as were the other two NI organisations and with a light westerly wind a good steady race was expected with early liberations as some rain was forecast to spread in from the west later in the day. The Combine liberation at 8.30am was the middle one of the three organisations and I am given to understand that on liberation at least two peregrines went into the birds with the resulting panic which resulted for many in an erratic race with returns varying from loft to loft, some good, some not so good with birds being widely reported from around the country and across the Irish sea. However Gordon Bros & Sons recorded another great win when they again won 1st openand this week they also won 2nd Open as well with the two birds trapping together for identical velocities, one entered by them in the Cloughey club and the other through Killyleagh.
Again the early birds were out on the east coast with Leslie Young (Portavogie) 3rd and 6th open then it is back to Cloughey to John Hall & son and then Portavogie again with Walker & Niall Cully at 5th Open, these being the top six in the East Section. Tom McConnell of Dundonald is the best in the West section followed by McCartan & Woodsides (Crossgar) and Ronnie Johnston (Comber Social). The top placings open and Section being:
East Down Combine Open
24/08/2013 Fermoy YB
189 Members 4895 Birds Wind Light West
1 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1440.223
2 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1440.223
3 L Young Portavogie 1435.996
4 J.Hall & Son Cloughey HPS 1435.715
5 W & N Cully Portavogie 1434.909
6 L Young Portavogie 1433.190
7 J Newell Annalong HPS 1432.178
8 M Adair & Sons Cloughey HPS 1432.055
9 J Crossan Downpatrick HPS 1431.503
10 C J Healy Killyleagh Central HPS 1431.252
11 T McConnell Dundonald HPS 1430.466
12 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1427.204
13 J.Hall & Son Cloughey HPS 1427.137
14 W.McMaster & Son Ballywalter SPC 1425.622
15 R. Johnson Comber Social HPS 1422.483
16 J & P Rice Killyleagh Central HPS 1419.820
17 W & N Cully Portavogie 1412.087
18 McComb Bros Killyleagh Central HPS 1411.841
19 J. McGreevy Crossgar HPS 1410.251
20 B & J Donnan Portavogie 1410.229
West Section 58 Members 1418 Birds
1 T McConnell Dundonald HPS 1430.466
2 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1427.204
3 R. Johnson Comber Social HPS 1422.483
4 J. McGreevy Crossgar HPS 1410.251
5 D & R Topping Ballynahinch HPS 1392.379
6 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1391.166
7 B & H Marshall Newtownbreda HPS 1391.019
8 Bunting & Reid Crossgar HPS 1390.240
9 D & R Topping Ballynahinch HPS 1388.755
10 M.Foulis Dundonald HPS 1386.521
11 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1385.963
12 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1385.704
East Section 131 Members 3477 Birds
1 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1440.223
2 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1440.223
3 L Young Portavogie 1435.996
4 J.Hall & Son Cloughey HPS 1435.715
5 W & N Cully Portavogie 1434.909
6 L Young Portavogie 1433.190
7 J Newell Annalong HPS 1432.178
8 M Adair & Sons Cloughey HPS 1432.055
9 J Crossan Downpatrick HPS 1431.503
10 C J Healy Killyleagh Central HPS 1431.252
11 J.Hall & Son Cloughey HPS 1427.137
12 W.McMaster & Son Ballywalter SPC 1425.622
THE BEST FROM THE CLUBS
Annalong J Newell 1432, K Rooney & son & dtr 1406, H McDowell 1398 Annsborough G & P Brown 1385, M Croskery & son 1380, M Croskery 1379 Ballylesson 11 members 268 Birds 1st & 2nd John Patterson 1391, 1385, 3rd M & A Johnston 1381 Ballynahinch This week’s winner is a direct son of the hen that won the same race last year when she finished 7th open, this year’s winner finished 5th section. 1st & 2nd D & R Topping 1392, 1388, 3rd S & P Logan 1385 Ballywalter 1st and 3rd Winston and Hugh McMaster the winner a darkness Blue Hen on 1425 a consistent racer and second pigeon also a Blue darky hen on 1368. Adam Palmer 2nd on 1370 with a Blue Hen. Bangor Burgess & Brennan 1383, McQuaid & Briggs 1382, R Moore & son 1370 Cloughey Gordon bros & son 1440, J Hall & son 1435, M Adair & sons 1432 Comber R Johnston 1422, 1378, H McAvoy 1368 Crossgar McCartan & Woodsides 1427, J McGreevy1410, S McLoughlin 1393 Donaghadee 1st E & D & K Allan & sons 1395 with a blue van de Meyer cock, 2nd & 3rd Ferguson & Wilkinson 1391 and 1390, the first of these a Belge blue w/f cock and the second a blue John Joby cock Downpatrick J Crossan 1431,1380, P Lue &son 1371 Drumaness J Kirk & son 1365, 1361, R& K O’Neill 1344 Dundonald T McConnell 1430, M Foulis, 1386 J Young & ptnrs 1380 Dundrum J Maguire & ptnrs 1394, 1348, 1299 Hillfoot D Brennan 1366, W & L Robinson 1312, D Brennan 1282 Killyleagh Central Gordon Bros & Sons 1440, C Healy 1431, J & P Rice 1419 Millisle McCormick & Muckle 1390, 1385, 1377 Newcastle W McNeilly & son 1265, 1223, R McVeigh & son 1218 Newtownbreda B & H Marshall 1391, B Hogg & sons 1373, 1373 Portavogie where 16 sent 371 1st L Young 1435, 2nd W & N Cully 1434 3rd L Young 1433 Tyrella 1st S Milligan & Dtr 1409.8, 2nd D Mc Nabb & Ptrs 1402.1. 3rd Mc Sherry Bros 1396.6.
East Down2bird News
From the first Mt. Charles race the following were the prize-winners:
1st K Rooney & son & dtr 1847.3 (11th Open)
2nd Gordon Bros & sons 1835.6 (27th open)
3rd L Young 1829.2
4th M Croskery 1817.8
5th C Healy 1831.0
6th McComb Bros 1802.9
This week is both the 1st Skibbereen Derby and the cross channel Derby from Talbenny and from Skibbereen there is the added interest of the 2 bird nomination for 2 bird members for the Benzing timing system valued at £500, so good luck to all who have entered for this unique prize.
Harmony Lofts
Hot Spot Result Weekend 24/8/13: Having a very good year with his Harmony Lofts birds is the loft of Jimmy Burrows of the Eastway club clocking his Gaby Vandenabeele cock, ring No. 23175 vel 1534 for 4th Club, 16th Section C & 71st Open winning £50. Allister McEwen wins 2nd Club South Belfast, with bird ring No. 23466 vel 1482 for 2nd Hot Spot & collects £30. Back in the frame are Kincaid & McCann, Dunedin with bird ring No. 23212 vel 1456 to win £20.
Midweek Result 21/8/13:
Top Ulster Fed loft of Johnston Bros of the Andersonstown Club takes the top spot this week and the £50 prize in a very close race from Navan. Jim McAlorum of the Grosvenor Club had a good day to take 2nd and 3rd place to collect a total of £50.
The birds made excellent time and everybody was well pleased with their returns, with a total of 1800 birds on board our 2 transporters of racers and trainers, it made for a good race. We would like to thank all the fanciers who come along and support this venture.
Full result as follows:
1. Johnston Bros 1627
2. J McAlorum & Son 1623
3. J McAlorum & Son 1622
4. T & L Cooke 1620
5. T & L Cooke 1620
6. T & L Cooke 1620
7. Paul Carson & Son 1616
8. A & A Ferran 1616
9. A & A Ferran 1616
10. Paul Carson & Son 1616
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This week is Derby week for the EDC with Derby races from both Skibbereen and Talbenny. I have already mentioned the Benzing prize in the 2 bird club but don’t forget it is also the Combine’s breeder/buyer event from Skibbereen where the total first prize split 50:50 between the breeder and buyer will be £887. There will be a further three prizes also split 50:50 2nd will be 25%, 3rd 15% and 4th 10%.
Let’s hope the weather is kind and we have two good races. News as usual to tel. no 028 9146 5273 or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Or write to 29 West burn Crescent, Bangor BT20 3RN.
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