EAST DOWN COMBINE
Reports by Clifford Browne
ROY IRWIN BEST FROM 2ND FERMOY
The East Down Combine were back in Fermoy on May 25th for their 2nd race from there and as always the weather was the key factor governing release. With an ever changing weather pattern in this country the weather committee deserve full marks for another excellent decision for the only real window of fair weather looking at the forecasts was for early in the morning before rain from the West arrived so it was no great surprise to learn that the birds were away at 7.30am into a light predominately Southerly wind which got the leading birds recording almost a mile a minute. Members enjoyed another good race and with birds home well before lunchtime.
The Dundonald club claim the top five places in the Open from over 5,000 birds competing with Roy Irwin being out in front on 1710. Mark Foulis was next on 1703 and then it was the 2012 fanciers of the year Stephen Brown & sons with 3 on 1700. Ballynahinchs Rab Hunter was next on 1692, followed by R Moore & son (Bangor) who were the East Section winners with A Cousins and sons taking the next three in the open the first on 1690, and two on 1689.
Next week sees the start of the cross channel programme with the first event from Talbenny but before that is the first of the INFC Nationals the Old Bird Inland National from Skibbereen. However in the meantime back to last week's Fermoy and the top places open and section were:
East Down Combine Open
25/05/2013 2nd Fermoy OB
216 Members 5218 Birds Wind Variable
1 R. Irwin Dundonald HPS 1710.884
2 M .Foulis Dundonald HPS 1703.440
3 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1700.833
4 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1700.833
5 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1700.692
6 R Hunter Ballynahinch HPS 1692.200
7 R Moore & Son Bangor RPC 1691.300
8 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1690.913
9 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1689.764
10 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1689.046
11 McComb Bros Killyleagh Central HPS 1684.862
12 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1684.347
13 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1683.655
14 Phillips Bros Bangor RPC 1682.591
15 P McCartan Annsborough HPS 1680.492
16 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1680.020
17 Lambert & Stewart Bangor RPC 1678.137
18 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1675.824
19 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1675.685
20 R. Irwin Dundonald HPS 1674.892
West Section 69 Members 1929 Birds Wind Variable
1 R. Irwin Dundonald HPS 1710.884
2 M .Foulis Dundonald HPS 1703.440
3 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1700.833
4 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1700.833
5 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1700.692
6 R Hunter Ballynahinch HPS 1692.200
7 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1690.913
8 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1689.764
9 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1689.046
10 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1684.347
11 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1683.655
12 R. Irwin Dundonald HPS 1674.892
East Section 130 Members 3289 Birds Wind Variable
1 R Moore & Son Bangor RPC 1691.300
2 McComb Bros Killyleagh Central HPS 1684.862
3 Phillips Bros Bangor RPC 1682.591
4 P McCartan Annsborough HPS 1680.492
5 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1680.020
6 Lambert & Stewart Bangor RPC 1678.137
7 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1675.824
8 Gordon Bros & Sons Killyleagh Central HPS 1675.685
9 J. McNally & Son Annsborough HPS 1674.755
10 McComb Bros Killyleagh Central HPS 1673.240
The Best From around the Clubs
Annalong where it was a 1,2,3 result for Kevin Rooney, son & dtr with three together 1635, 1635 and1634. Annsborough P McCartan has the red card on 1680 with J McNally & son 2nd on 1674 and R J Keown 3rd on 1671. Ballylesson 12 members sent 228 birds and the top three places to Albert Cousins & Sons 1690, 1689, 1689 who, as the photo shows, is helped by young Madison.
Ballynahinch Rab Hunter takes the top two on 1692 and 1660 with Robt Trimble 3rd on 1653. Ballywalter 1st Winston and Hugh McMaster with a two year old blue w/f hen winning her second race of the year velocity 1663. Runner up the Shoreline lofts of Sam Regan with a Cattrysse roundabout cock on 1639 and third Junior Orr and son with a yearling blue cock on 1616. Bangor Reggie & David Moore are 1st with a yearling hen on 1691 for 7th open 1st East Section. Phillips Bros are 2nd on 1682 with a blue cheq cock and Lambert & Stewart are 3rd also a yearling cock on 1678. Cloughey Gordon bros & sons win here on 1680 with Harper & Young having the next two on 1663. Comber Making it 4 in a row Ronnie Johnston again wins at Comber in fact two together on 1668 for 1st and 2nd with Halliday bros 3rd on 1660. Crossgar Skibbereen Derby winners McCartan & Woodsides continue their good form taking the top two in the club this week 1672 and 1648 with S & K Duke 3rd on 1640. Donaghadee Alex Trimble (A & P Trimble & Sons) wins here with a blue yearling van Lint Louella hen on roundabout on a velocity of 1649. 2nd Were Ferguson &Wilkinson also on 1649 with a 2yo cheq w/f hen bloodlines Russell Bros of Cullybackey and 3rd were McCormick & Muckle on 1644 with A De Klak/Leon Boers racing natural. Downpatrick Red Card to Tony Smyth on 1663 just ahead of Jackie Crossan also on 1663 with a second bird for 3rde on 1662. Drumaness John Kirk & son are having a great season and take 1st and 2nd this week 1645, 1621 with Colin Laverty & dtr 3rd on 1608. Dundonald Top three take the top three in the open Roy Irwin 1st on 1710, Mark Foulis 2nd on 1703 and Stephen Brown & sons 3rd on 1700 with 3 pigeons. Dundrum Keith & Josie (J Maguire & ptnrs) were 1st and 3rd 1592 and 1557 with Archie and Paddy Murray 2nd on 1591. Hillfoot W & L Robinson have the best three here 1651, and two on 1632. Killyleagh Central A switch round from the 1st Fermoy with McComb Bros having the red card on 1684 and Gordon bros & sons having two together on 1675 for 2nd and 3rd. Millisle Jackie Rankin takes the top two places 1648, 1647 with R Strain & son 3rd on 1640. Newcastle E & A Rogan have the top three 1625, 1584 and 1577. Newtownbreda Tom Marshall (T Marshall & son) sets the pace here with the top three 1656, 1656 &1649. Portavogie where 17 sent 348 and saw Billy Donnan (B & J Donnan) back in the number 1 spot on 1640 with another close behind on 1639 and Gary Coffey was 3rd on 1623. Tyrella Top three places go to S Milligan & Dtr 1653.4, 1643.8, 1636.2.
Mr Gibb wins Skibbereen classic
Moving on now as promised to the Skibbereen classic and the final result which sees the Crossgar partnership of McCartan & Woodsides as reported last week winning this race for the second consecutive year, and this years winner is aptly named Mr Gibb as he was bred for the partnership by Ian Gibb and is a Van Tilburg. A 4yo blue cock, he has a tremendous racing record which Darren has very kindly supplied me with and just look at this for results:
1st Club, 1st West Section, 1st Open EDC Skibbereen OB classic.
1st Club Tullamore 342 birds, 8th Section F, 31st Open NIPA 24873 birds.
1st Club Clonmel 344 birds, 7th Section F.
1st Club Mount Charles 481 birds, 10th West Section 1991 birds, 18th Open EDC 5639 birds.
2nd Club Mullingar 326 birds, 2nd West Section 1417 birds, 8th Open EDC 4097 birds(Came with loftmate who won 1st Sect).
2nd Club Tullamore 418 birds,6th West Section 1932 birds (Came with loftmate who won 1st Club).
2nd Club Fermoy Classic, 15th Open EDC (Came with loftmate who won 1st Club).
2nd Club Rosscarbery OB National, 121st Open NIPA 6172 birds. (Beaten by loftmate).
2nd Club Mullingar 388 birds (Beaten by loftmate).
3rd Club Skibbereen YB Derby, 10th Open EDC.
4th Club Skibbereen OB National, 19th North Section 3467 birds, 149th Open INFC.
6th Club, 14th West Section, 38th Open Skibbereen OB Classic.
6th Club Navan 373 birds.
6th Club Mount Charles 554 birds.
What a great record.
McComb Bros of Killyleagh Central who have already won the open this season are in 2nd place with a black yearling cock on widowhood. This cock is bred from the McCombs No1 stock pair, a pair which is really producing a lot of winners for this loft. The sire of the black cock was purchased after the North Coast classic and is from the Larne partnership of G K & I Moxham who incidentally won the INFC old bird Inland National also flown from Skibbereen in 2005 and the bloodlines of the sire of the McComb pigeon is N Black (Dromara) and Ron Williamson. Mother of Bobby and Paddys 2nd open Skibbereen is a hen from the nearby Crossgar lofts of Gerard Adair.
In 3rd open it was the Cloughey lofts of Drew Harper and Martin Young who are having a great season and this 3rd open follows on from their outstanding performance from the 1st Fermoy when they took the first four places in the open. The bird they timed at 3rd open Skibbereen was a yearling blue cock racing roundabout ,breeding is Bob Donaldson and Alan Kelly.
Congratulations to all who were successful in this classic from Skibberee .
East Down Combine
19/05/2013 Skibbereen Classic
126 Members 1432 Birds Wind South East
1 W1 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1345.355 abc ABCD N £291.70 £523.14
2 E1 McComb Bros Killyleagh Central HPS 1340.367 £0.00 £201.18
3 E2 Harper & Young Cloughey HPS 1333.995 abc D £145.37 £316.11
4 E3 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1332.676 £0.00 £130.31
5 E4 M.Croskery Annsborough HPS 1293.446 abc £90.60 £189.47
6 W2 L. McKinstry Dundonald HPS 1257.718 £0.00 £95.18
7 W3 R.Irwin Dundonald HPS 1256.916 bc BC N £153.99 £240.13
8 E5 Burgess & Brennan Bangor RPC 1256.292 abc n ABCD N £213.23 £292.96
9 W4 A. Crawford Ballylesson HPS 1255.235 abc ABC £98.81 £175.90
10 E6 K.Rooney,Son & Dtr Annalong HPS 1242.151 £0.00 £79.73
11 W5 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1241.773 £0.00 £51.08
12 E7 M.Croskery Annsborough HPS 1232.748 £0.00 £56.73
13 E8 J & R Young Portavogie 1230.610 abc £60.40 £112.98
14 E9 R.J.Keown Annsborough HPS 1227.279 £0.00 £52.58
15 E10 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1224.054 £0.00 £52.58
16 E11 McComb Bros Killyleagh Central HPS 1215.536 £0.00 £52.58
17 E12 K.Rooney,Son & Dtr Annalong HPS 1212.718 £0.00 £52.58
18 W6 B. Hogg & Sons Newtownbreda HPS 1209.974 £0.00 £51.08
19 E13 McCormick & Muckle Donaghadee RPC 1208.926 bc £39.45 £87.89
20 E14 Gordon Bros & Sons Cloughey HPS 1205.042 abc ABCD £77.93 £126.37
East Down2bird News
The 2 bird results from the 1st Fermoy were:
1st R & G Thompson 1590.867 (6th Open EDC)
2nd W & N Cully 1556.690 (11th Open EDC)
3rd Gordon Bros & sons 1538.64 (23rd Open EDC)
4th Gordon Bros & sons 1536.88 (25th Open EDC)
5th W & N Cully 1524.082
6th M Croskery 1521.410
and from the Skibbereen Classic:
1st M Croskery 1293.446 ( 5th Open EDC )
2nd J Abernethy 1194.654 (24th Open EDC )
3rd J Abernethy 1185.883
4th S&K Duke 1160.925
5th D&W Carlisle& son 1148.461
6th J Maguire &ptnrs 1146.854
Sam Regan reports
From
Around The Ards Peninsula
Harper and Young - Brilliant Fermoy Result
The Peninsula Amalgamation moved further south to Fermoy in Cork for the fourth race of the old bird season when 52 members sent 1438 birds.
The Peninsula members have had a great start to the racing year and following last week's great open win by Billy Donnan beating his good friends and near neighbours Drew Harper and Martin Young into second and third places from Mt Charles. This week saw Drew Harper and Martin Young have a brilliant result from Fermoy timing the first four pigeons into the Combine and also a fifth bird to be 7th. What a great day for the Cloughey club partnership tops in both Open and Peninsula flying into their loft situated in the fishing village of Portavogie.
The winning bird which was the only bird to clock with a velocity of over 1600 y.p.m. was from Bob Donaldson and Alan Kelly from North East England and four of the top five pigeons contained Donaldson bloodlines, while the third placed bird was from yet another up North Combine team namely George Roberts and partner Basely.
This was an excellent performance by the fanciers who have been racing quite fabulously since the first race of the year and have their team in a great form, great flying Drew and Martin you both must be looking forward to next week's first Derby the Skibbereen Classic well done on your success.
The next pigeon which was in fifth place in both open and Amalgamation is the winning bird in the Portavogie club belonging to the father and son team of Robert and Glen Thompson clocking a fancied pooler which also took second position in the three bird club.
In sixth spot it is the Gordon Family who have three pigeons on the sheet the latter two are 11th and 12th in the Amalgamation but all the top fourteen Amal places are featured in the top twenty-one of the open with the Gordons taking 6th, 12th and 13th from a team who are always to the fore in racing.
The Portavogie partnership of father Ronnie and son Jim Young are runners up in their club with their first pigeon being 8th Amalgamation and eighth in the Combine, plus two others in 13th and 14th Amalgamation also taking 14th and 21st open, nice racing gentlemen - three good birds.
Last week's Open winner Billy Donnan is also having a good year and comes in at 9th Amalgamation and 10th Open. W'ell done to you on another fine days racing. The next loft and again one flying very consistently is the third Portavogie father and son team on the result sheet that of Walker and Nail Cully continuing yet another well placed bird taking 10th Amalgamation and 11th Open - nice work folks.
Full Result
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th &7th Harper & Young 1607, 1596x2, 1595, 1560.
5th R& G. Thompson 1590.
6th, 11th &12th Gordon Bros & sons, 1584, 1556x2.
8th, 13th & 14th R& J. Young 1560, 1556, 1543.
9th B& J. Donnan 1557.
10th W&N.Cully 1556.
3 Bird Club. 22/66.
1st Harper & Young 1596. A.B.C. NOM.
2nd R&G.Thompson 1590. A.B.C.
3rd Gordon Bros & sons 1584. A.B.C.
Thats all for this week, next race is the first Derby of the year from Skibbereen, until then best of luck to all readers.
***
Well that completes the 2013 inland programme with the exception of the Derek Wishart memorial race and it is now on to the first of the cross channel events.
---