EAST DOWN COMBINE

Reports by Clifford Browne

CLELAND CLINCHES PENZANCE

As mentioned at the end of last week’s article, the race marking for the East Down Combine Penzance and Penzance Classic races was postponed until Saturday evening June 23rd with the race planned for Monday 25th if the weather was suitable and the EDC were liberated along with the NIPA and U Fed at 8.50 am with no wind at the release point and very little at the home end. Once again the leading birds made good time but returns once again were very varied with some lofts failing to record an arrival and some clubs not filling the top twelve places. When we look around the various club winning velocities there is quite a range and yet others did well from this. Top place in the open is to Annsborough’s Jim Cleland who has had a super old bird season and he is just ahead of club mate J McNally & Son with both birds on 1350. With the race not taking place until the Monday I will have further details in next week’s column but in the meantime here are the top three from around the Combine clubs.

The Best from around the Combine Clubs - Penzance

Annalong it’s hard to keep the Rooneys from the no1 spot and this week they are 1st and 3rd club 1301 and 1185 with Bobby McConnell in the no 2 place on 1207

Annsborough with the top two in the Open Jim Cleland and J Mc Nally & son both on 1350 with Mickey Croskery 3rd on 1321 Ballylesson top two to C & D Smyth & sons and who are enjoying a good old bird season 1313 and 1289 with John Patterson 3rd on 1230

Ballynahinch Harry Wallace had a good race 1st and 3rd 1313 and 1004 with W Catherwood & son 2nd on 1087

Ballywalter 1st A&W Dorrian 1099 with a yearling Blue Cock flying natural, 2nd Junior Orr 1095 clocking a 2 year old Blue Cheq Hen and 3rd Sam Regan with a 3 year old Blue Pied Cattrysse Hen on 1080.

Bangor Reggie & David Moore win with their good 2 yo Soontjen based cock on 1299, this pigeon having done really well in this year’s tough channel programme and Burgess & Brennan have the next two these being the two that were in the prizes from the yearling national. Their velocities were 1269 and 1192

Cloughey sees Gordon bros & sons 1st and 3rd 1293 and 1199 with Harry Gordon & ptnrs 2nd on 1267

Comber was won by J Crockard & son and Alan won this race last year as well, winning velocity this year 1234. Burns bros were 2nd on 1164 and F Gilmore 3rd on 1150

Crossgar was won by McCartan & Woodsides on 1314 followed by S & K Duke on 1302 and A & A Cheevers on 1295

Donaghadee was won By Ferguson & Wilkinson with a 2yo cheq cock of Wall Lunt and Green bloodlines. Alex Trimble & sons have the next two 1182 and 1166 the first of these being the 5yo blue which was a prize winner from Talbenny and the next a cheq ylg cock, both Janssen x van Loon

Downpatrick Philip McCullough & Dtr win 1st and 3rd 1310 and 1267 with J Linden & son 2nd on 1271

Drumaness where Colin Laverty & dtr take the top three 1296, 1276 , 1275

Dundonald Top three here were Stephen Brown & Sons 1312, Len McKinistry 1245 and Mark Foulis 1229

Dundrum Former King’s Cup winners A Murray & son are 1st and 2nd 1163, 1053 with J Ringland & son 3rd 982

Hillfoot 1st and 2nd for W and L Robinson 1243and 1132 with David Brennan 3rd on 1088

Killyleagh Central S McLoughlin has the top three 1314, 1203 and 1202

Millisle Jackie Rankin has the top two 1230 and 1202 with John & Jean Hollinger 3rd on 1177

Newcastle Another great result for Jack & Jessica Rogan winning Penzance is a great achievement for this young pair the velocity was 1288. E & A Rogan were 2nd on 1191 and F & A Foster were 3rd on 1159

Newtownbreda Tom & David Marshall have the winner here on 1317. R & R Lambe were 2nd on 1295 and Fleming Keery 3rd on 1275

Tyrella the D McNabb & ptnrs team take the top three in the club 1207, 1100 and 1034.

 

The week previous to Penzance was the Fermoy race which was substituted for Bude again owing to the weather and it appears to have been one of the best races of the year with, as I mentioned last week, Annalong’s Kevin & Kristopher Rooney having the top two in the Open and Brendan has full details in his report. The Rooneys took 8th open with their third pigeon. Downpatrick’s Bob Connelly has the next two followed by Winston & Hugh McMaster of Ballywalter. The Annsborough team of Paddy & Geraldine Brown have 3 in the top dozen of the open with the top twelve being completed by Downpatrick’s Jackie Crossan and Paddy Lue and Crossgar’s Sam Duke. The open and section results were:

East Down Combine 17/06/2012 2nd Fermoy. 163 Members 2213 Birds. Wind Westerly.

1 K. Rooney & Son Annalong HPS 1520.9

2 K. Rooney & Son Annalong HPS 1520.8

3 R Connolly Downpatrick HPS 1499.2

4 R Connolly Downpatrick HPS 1492.2

5 W. McMaster & Son Ballywalter SPC 1491.8

6 G & P. Brown Annsborough HPS 1483.9

7 G & P. Brown Annsborough HPS 1483.0

8 K. Rooney & Son Annalong HPS 1481.1

9 J Crossan Downpatrick HPS 1479.6

10 P. Lue & Son Downpatrick HPS 1478.6

11 G & P. Brown Annsborough HPS 1477.1

12 S & K Duke Crossgar HPS 1475.4

West Section: 61 Members 1010 Birds 1 S & K Duke Crossgar HPS 1475.4 2 S & K Duke Crossgar HPS 1460.4 3 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1456.8 4 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar HPS 1456.7 5 R. Johnson Comber Social HPS 1455.8 6 C & G Adair Crossgar HPS 1455.5

East Section: 102 Members 1203 Birds 1 K. Rooney & Son Annalong HPS 1520.9 2 K. Rooney & Son Annalong HPS 1520.8 3 R Connolly Downpatrick HPS 1499.2 4 R Connolly Downpatrick HPS 1492.2 5 W .McMaster & Son Ballywalter SPC 1491.8 6 G & P. Brown Annsborough HPS 1483.9 　

　 　

East Down 2bird News

The 2 bird results for 2nd Talbenny and 2nd Fermoy were: 2nd Talbenny - 1 McCartan & Woodsides Crossgar 1298.3 (9th open), 2 McCartan &Woodsides Crossgar 1291.3 (11th open), 3 J Young &ptnrs Dundonald 1274.5, 4 C Healy Killyleagh Central 1253.7, 5 F Gilmore Comber Social 1252.7, 6 S Brown &sons Dundonald 1250.3

2bird club Fermoy 17/6/201

1 M Jennings Annsborough 1465.3

2 D&R Topping Ballynahinch 1446.5

3 M Jennings Annsborough 1445.9

4 S&K Duke Crossgar 1443.6

5 M Croskery& son Annsborough 1441.0

6 McLoughlin Bros Annalong 1435.5

News From Around The Ards Peninsula & Peninsula 3 Bird Club

Report by Sam Regan

McMaster Family Victorious from Fermoy

The Peninsula members' penultimate race of the old bird year saw the East Down Combine change from the scheduled race point in Bude to an inland race from Fermoy due to adverse weather conditions forecast for the weekend. The pigeons went up on Sunday the 17th June into a light North Westerly wind and good visibility for their flight back to the Ards Peninsula, an average distance of 200 miles to their lofts. Top fliers this week are Ballywalter's winning team of Winston and Hugh McMaster getting a clear victory with a yearling Blue Hen gaining her second win of the season, both from this race point, and on this occasion lifts 5th Open with the Combine. The family have been having a very consistent 2012 with their old birds and this is their best result to date very well done. Runner's up need no introduction as they are never very far from the top in any races and on this occasion the Gordon Bros and sons clocked six pigeons on the result sheet and their second bird is victorious in the three bird club, the first two timed are placed 2nd and 3rd Amalgamation and 32nd and 35th Open with the E.D.C. while their next are 6th, 7th, 11th, 13th to continue yet another good days racing for the Cloughey Club winners. The fourth and tenth spots into the Peninsula sees another fancier who is having a great year with his team of pigeons and followed up his fine result last week with another win into Donaghadee and Alec Trimble and his family are having one of their best season's racing and the winner is a 2 year old Blue Janssen/van Loon cock, while the second bird is a Slatey Hen also Janssen/Van Loon -well done Alex on your latest win. In 5th place sees Harry Gordon another Cloughey member get into the shake up with a good bird which is runner up in the three bird club, well picked and it's nice to see his pigeons come to the fore as Harry prefers Channel racing. The runner up in Ballywalter club is Sam Regan timing a two year old Blue Hen flown on roundabout, she is a Cattrysse crossed with stock from North Wales husband and wife team of D.L & E. Jones and this pigeon clocked into the Shoreline lofts is 8th Amalgamation and also wins 3rd spot in the three bird club. Returning to Donaghadee were the club secretary Kieran McCutcheon also continues to fly very well clocking aVan Reet/ Soontjen yearling Blue w/f Cock racing roundabout for 2nd club and 9th Fed. It's back to Cloughey Club for the final two positions not mentioned with Drew Harper and Martin Young again flying very consistently gaining 12th place and the father and son team coming 14th are Ronnie and Jim Young who also have had a great year in all organisations and I am sure they are looking forward to the French racing. That’s all for this week and with all this very unsettled weather that we have been having and even poorer conditions to come who would be a race controller but lets give credit to them for their efforts keep up the hard work, so until the next time best wishes and good health to all.

Full Result 30/450. 1st W. McMaster & son 1491. 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 11th & 13th Gordon Bros & sons 1451, 1449, 1435x2, 1432, 1429. 4th & 10th A & P. Trimble & sons 1448, 1433. 5th H. Gordon & ptnrs 1438. 8th Sam Regan 1435. 9th D&K. McCutcheon 1435. 12th Harper & Young 1429. 14th J& R. Young 1429.

SOUTH DOWN FEDERATION

with Brendan McLoughlin

Kevin & Kristopher Rooney - 1st & 2nd Open from Fermoy

The East Down Combine weather committee decided against going to Bude for their race on Saturday 16th June. It was decided however that conditions were favourable for an inland race from either Fermoy or Mount Charles, with Fermoy being the selected race point. According to the forecast it was never going to be favourable enough for a race on Saturday and as a result the birds were hampered on Saturday evening for a Sunday race. Many used the race as an opportunity to give their French candidates a good fly before the forthcoming Derby and National races while others saw it as another race. As it turned out there was a good entry of birds with 163 members sending 2,213 birds. Sunday morning was bright and clear and the birds were released at 9.15am in a light north west wind and South Down fanciers were hopeful once again of obtaining good Combine honours and they weren’t to be disappointed with 13 Fed birds in the Open result.

Pride of place goes to Annalong’s K Rooney & Son who were 1st and 2nd Open and rounded the day off well with another bird taking 5th Fed, 8th section, 8th Open. Kevin and Kristopher’s birds have shown a lot of good form in recent weeks and they have featured in both the Fed and Open results over the last few races. Their birds have put up some wonderful performances for other fanciers throughout the country and Geraldine and Patrick Brown Annsborough have achieved a lot of success at Combine level with their performances. Kevin and Kristopher will be delighted with this win in their own name, and I know that they have been putting in a big effort with Kristopher putting a few of his own ideas on motivating the birds into practice. Their Open winner this week is off a Danny Van Dyke cock that was newly bought in last year. This bird has already produced a few winners for them and for other fanciers, in particular for G & P Brown, as mentioned above. The dam is a direct Marijke Vink hen. This yearling cock has been their most consistent racer this year and should have won a few weeks ago only for a bad trap. This pigeon is now aptly named ‘Superstar’.

The pigeon at second Open is off a Staf Van Reet cock that was ironically second Open himself, also beaten by a loft mate. The dam is a Janssen from Simon Schofield, Leeds, and she has already bred two Open winners. Scolfield’s Janssens have been their number one stock pigeons breeding many many winners. This yearling cock wasn’t raced as a young bird and has been called ‘Buster’. Their pigeon taking 8th Open is off a Gust Jansen pigeon when paired to a daughter of McCartan & Woodsides’ ‘601’ cock, which has bred numerous winners at Open and club level. This pair has been together for a couple of years now and has bred many good winners.

Geraldine & Patrick Brown have another superb race here with three birds in the result. This has been another super season for one of the leading lofts in the Combine. Having already achieved 1st and 2nd Open themselves they won’t begrudge the same achievement to Kevin and Kristopher whose birds do so well for them. Geraldine and Patrick’s first bird is from the Rooney loft and is a Van Dyke x Lindelauf yearling cock winning its first club race here. It also takes 3rd Fed, 6th section, 6th Open. Their second pigeon taking 4th Fed, 7th section, 7th Open is the bird that was 1st Open from 1st Fermoy. Another one from the Rooneys this one is a yearling Busschaert and is from the same lines as the bird that was 1st Fed, 3rd section, 9th Open from 1st Mount Charles. The sire is Lindelauf and these birds have featured regularly for both the Rooneys and the Browns. The dam is Busschaert from the birds Kevin and Kristopher got from D Shields, Son & Dtr from the North East of England. Their third bird at 6th Fed, 11th section, 11th Open again from Kevin and Kristopher and is a Van Dyke yearling cock. This one was 3rd Open from 3rd Mount Charles.

Michael Jennings Annsborough is 7th Fed, 15th section, 16th Open here for another good result. Michael has had a very consistent season taking a Fed position most weeks and that’s not easy. The pigeon timed here was 4th Open 1st Fermoy, and 5th Fed, 23rd Open from the Derek Wishart Fermoy. He obviously likes Fermoy. The pigeon timed is a Willy Jacobs cock from Mr & Mrs Gerald Delaney’s Oroory Hill Stud. The dam of this cock was 1st club, 1st Fed from Mullingar last year.

James Cleland Annsborough with three birds in the top ten completes the result. This has been another wonderful season for James who has taken some impressive positions this year. James’ first bird here was 8th Fed, 16th section, 17th Open and is a Freddy Vandenheede. This one has already put up some sterling results this year taking, was 12th Open from 1st Mount Charles and 1st Fed, 2nd Open Fermoy. This yearling cock was unraced as a young bird but certainly has learned very quickly this year and will be a contender for Old Bird of the Year at both Fed and Combine level. James’ second pigeon, taking 9th Fed, 17th section, 18th Open is off the ‘01’ cock, that was 2nd Open in the first ever Derek Wishart Memorial race in 2007. James was 2nd Open last year again in the Derek Wishart race with another the same way bred. The bird at 9th Fed here was 3rd Fed in the Derek Wishart race this year when he was 19th Open. The pigeon at 10th Fed for James, taking 18th section, 20th Open is a Pros Roosen x Soontjens, from Maurice Alexander. This pigeon was 10th Fed, 32nd Open in the Derek Wishart race.

Full Result: 1, 2, K Rooney & Son Annalong 1520.944, 1520.810; 3, 4, G & P Brown Annsborough 1483.9, 1483.0; 5, K Rooney & Son 1481; 6, G & P Brown 1477; 7, M Jennings Annsborough 1465; 8, 9, 10, J Cleland 1461, 1460, 1459.

The three French races will have a £2 Nom. The DTW will resume from 1st Navan.

The committee and members of the South Down Fed would like to sympathise with Alan and Albert Benson on the death of their mother last week.

The report on the Derek Wishart has had to be deferred for another week.