EAST DOWN COMBINE

Reports by Clifford Browne

Testing Start to Channel Programme

Saturday June 2nd 2012 saw the East Down Combine in Talbenny along with the other Northern Ireland organisations. Before Saturday, given the weather forecast, there was some doubt as to whether the birds would get a race at all that weekend, the feeling being that from the forecasts the only possibility for a liberation would be early on the Saturday morning as rain was coming in from the Southwest later in the day. Then the forecast was not great for the next few days so all three organisations decided to basket for a Saturday race. With a south east (tail) wind in Talbenny on Saturday morning which was turn NE en route, all three organisations released at 7.30am and, as can be seen from the following velocities, it did not turn out to be as fast a race as the SE wind would have led us to expect and only 9 birds in the EDC from the convoy of over 2 ½ thousand entered made over the 1000ypm and birds were coming in all day and the returns were not great with most lofts having birds out. However as against that some lofts put up great performances. Former EDC Fanciers of the Year (2009) Jim Young and ptnrs of Dundonald not only timed the open winner but had 3 more in the top twelve of the open. Bangor saw Burgess & Brennan at 2nd open and Reggie & David Moore 7th Open. Ballylesson had 4 in the top twelve of the open with John Patterson at 3rd open being the best of these. A Cousins & sons were 5th, Bailie & Smyth were 9th and A Crawford 10th with the top dozen being completed by T Marshall & son of Newtownbreda at 4th open. Jim Young and ptnrs have the winner of the West Section and it is the two Bangor birds which are the best in the East section. It was not the start we would have liked to the 2012 channel season and with the birds scheduled to go back to Talbenny this week we can only hope for something better - perhaps there is a lot of truth in the old saying “That an East wind is neither good for man or beast”. The top velocities on open and Section were:

East Down Combine Open

02/06/2012 1st Talbenny OB 183 Members. 2611 Birds. Wind Easterly.

1 J. Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 1050.9

2 Burgess & Brennan Bangor RPC 1033.2

3 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1030.2

4 T. Marshall & Son Newtownbreda HPS 1021.6

5 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1018.4

6 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1018.1

7 R Moore & Son Bangor RPC 1010.4

8 J. Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 1004.5

9 Bailie & Smyth Ballylesson HPS 1001.1

10 A. Crawford Ballylesson HPS 995.5

11 J. Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 994.2

12 J. Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 991.8

West Section

67 Members Sent 1059 Birds.

1 J. Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 1050.9

2 J Patterson Ballylesson HPS 1030.2

3 T. Marshall & Son Newtownbreda HPS 1021.6

4 A Cousins & Sons Ballylesson HPS 1018.4

5 S. Brown & Sons Dundonald HPS 1018.1

6 J. Young & Ptnrs Dundonald HPS 1004.5

East Section

116 Members Sent 1552 Birds.

1 Burgess & Brennan Bangor RPC 1033.2

2 R Moore & Son Bangor RPC 1010.4

3 Pritchard Bros Annsborough HPS 983.2

4 B. McConnell Annalong HPS 978.3

5 R.J. Keown Annsborough HPS 971.1

6 D & K McCutcheon Donaghadee RPC 969.7 　

The Best from around the Combine Clubs

Annalong Bobby McConnell won here and I understand this was the pigeon which won Bobby a Meritorious medal in 2011. His winning velocity was 978 with K Rooney & son having the next two 961 and 908

Annsborough was won by Pritchard Bros on 983, R J Keown was 2nd on 971 and B Cowan 3rd on 959

Ballylesson sees John Patterson with the red card and 3rd open on 1030, A Cousins & Sons were 2nd on 1018 and 5th open with Smyth & Bailie 3rd and 9th open on 1001

Ballynahinch Harry Wallace has the winner here on 989 with Rab Hunter 2nd on 948 and Jim Gillespie & sons 3rd 925

Ballywalter 1st Sam Regan on 890 with a three year old Blue Cattrysse Hen which won the same race last year. Runner up Adam Palmer 874 with a Chequer Pied Hen a two year old who just happened to be in the same place also last year. Third John Robinson timing a Yearling Blue Chequer Hen doing 864.

Bangor where the Burgess & Brennan partnership take 1st and 3rd club 2nd Open 1st East section with their first bird on 1033 and their 2nd bird on 968 with Reggie & David Moore 2nd club 7th open 2nd section on 1010

Cloughey where Harper & Young continue to enjoy a great season winning this week on 913. Gordon bros & Sons have the next two 904 and 881

Comber and the winner was A Edgar & Son on 960. Halliday bros were 2nd on 923 and F Gilmore was 3rd on 912

Crossgar Alex & Ann Cheevers are ahead on 980. S & K Duke a yard behind are 2nd on 979 and a yard behind. Sam Tom Horner & sons are 3rd on 978

Donaghadee sees D & K McCutcheon with another winner this time a two year old Blue Pied Staf van Reet on Roundabout with a velocity of 969. A & P Trimble & son have the next two 944 and 936, the first bird is a blue cheq cock a yearling the bloodlines being N Black & sons of Dromara and their 2nd bird is a 4yo Janssen / Van Loon

Downpatrick was won by Ward & McIntosh on 964. P Lue & son were 2nd on 919 with P Byrne & Sons 3rd on 887

Drumaness Burns & O’Neill take 1st and 3rd 945 &926 with E McLoughlin 2nd on 934

Dundonald top three places in the club all in the top dozen in the open Jim Young & ptnrs 1st and 3rd club 1st and 8th open 1st and 6th West section 1050 and 1004 with Stephen Brown & sons 2nd club 6th open 5th section on 1018

Dundrum 1st and 3rd club for the partnership of S Foster & Connor & Parry 907 and 841 with J Maguire & ptnrs 2nd on 852

Hillfoot Davy Brennan was 1st and 3rd club 958 and 895 with L & H Fields 2nd on 938

Killyleagh Central was won by McComb Bros on 910, Clifford Healy was 2nd on 891 and Morrow Bros were 3rd on 884

Millisle 1st and 3rd for Robt. Strain & son 934 and 921 with Jackie Rankin 2nd on 933

Newcastle sees Ronan McVeigh & son win on 937. The young team of J & J Rogan were 2nd on 929 with J & R Mills 3rd on 897 Newtownbreda and Tom Marshall & son are 1st and 2nd 1021 & 986 with Jim Tumelty 3rd on 977

Tyrella sees Sean Milligan & Dtr ahead of two for Sean Halpin & sons 913, 913 & 863

 

EAST DOWN COMBINE 2B NEWS

The top winning places in the 2 bird club from the 3rd Mount Charles race were: 1st S Brown & sons Dundonald 1167.6 (5th Open EDC), 2nd M Croskery Annsborough 1162.5, 3rd S Brown &sons Dundonald 1152.8 (10th open EDC), 4th F Black &sons Downpatrick 1146.9, 5th C&D Smyth &sons Ballylesson 1132.3, 6th H Ballentine &son Ballylesson 1123,3.

 

NEWS FROM AROUND THE ARDS PENINSULA & PENINSULA 3B CLUB

REPORT BY SAM REGAN

Gordon Brothers & Sons Back on Top

The final race of the inland programme prior to the start of the Channel racing saw the pigeons sent away to compete from Fermoy in Cork but on arrival at the liberation site the conveyers found that no access was permitted due to Army exercises, therefore the lorries had to be rerouted to Mount Charles for the release. The strings were cut at 8.45 into yet another head wind and this on the Ards Peninsula was East North East which generally rules out any chances of top open positions and keeps down the velocities. The Amalgamation result was compiled this week from members of two clubs taking all the places between them namely Cloughey and Donaghadee with the Open being won in Ballylesson by Alec Crawford on 1173 some fifty yards a minute faster than the top Peninsula velocity, showing the affect on the birds on the final leg home, well done Alec on your win. Winners of this race in the Amalgamation sees the Gordon Family time six pigeons into their lofts in the Park Ardkeen between the villages of Kircubbin and Portaferry gaining first. fifth to eight and fourteenth places with the Combine Fanciers of the Year of 2011 keeping up their consistency and always in the vanguard, congratulations on another victory.

Donaghadee club victors Harry Wilkinson and Bennett Ferguson continue to have a great season with their old bird team and timed a Blue Hen a previous winner for 2nd Amalgamation and the partnership added a second pigeon to the result, another Janssen for 9th place the source of which came via Lunt Wall and Green lines, very consistent flying gentlemen. Third pigeon into Peninsula goes to Donaghadee runners up the Allan family with Dave at the helm and they timed a Dark Cheq Cock and nice to see their birds starting to run into a bit of form before the start of the Channel racing as the Allan team prefer the water racing. Well done to you all. Next in the prize list is yet another duo who are racing brilliantly with their birds namely Drew Harper and Martin Young with three pigeons on the sheet taking 4th, 10th and 11th with pigeons mainly obtained from several top fliers in the North East of England and always thereabouts in the Cloughey club. The 12th and 13th positions are taken by Donaghadee’s Alec Trimble getting two birds close together from their mainly Van Loon family of pigeons and this fancier has been flying very steadily all old bird season.

That’s everything for this race and the next race brings the Irish Sea into operation with Talbenny kicking off the Channel races. Until then best wishes and good luck to all the readers.

Full result. 33 members sent 853 birds: 1st, 5th to 8th and 14th Gordon Bros & sons 1122, 1111x2, 1110, 1109, 1099. 2nd & 9th Ferguson & Wilkinson 1119, 1109. 3rd E.D &K. Allan & sons 1114. 4th, 10th & 11th Harper & Young 1114, 1109x2.

Now the three bird club result: 1st and 2nd Harper & Young 1114, 1100 both A.B.C pooled. 3rd Gordon Bros & sons 1099 A.B.C. nom.

 

SOUTH DOWN FEDERATION with Brendan McLoughlin

Cleland hits the crossbar again – 2nd Open EDC for second time this year

The East Down Combine were scheduled to go to Fermoy in Co Cork on Saturday 26th May but due to the Irish Army undertaking manoeuvres at the Fermoy liberation site they had to find another racepoint and the birds were taken to Mount Charles, just outside Nenagh in Co Tipperary. The birds were released at 8.45am in a north-easterly wind and while the early birds were right on their time there were big gaps again in the birds returning home. The winner of the South Down Fed this week is Annsborough’s James Cleland who takes second Open East Down Combine for the second time this year having been second Open the last time the birds were in Mount Charles just four weeks previous. James has had a tremendous Old Bird season and early indications are that he will win the east section Inland Championship. As well as his two x 2nd Opens he was also 6th Open from Fermoy and 12th Open from 1st Mount Charles. The winning pigeon this week is the Freddy Vandenheede pigeon that was 12th Open from 1st Mount Charles. 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. G & P Brown Annsborough continue their excellent run with two birds together to taking 2nd and 3rd Fed, 2nd and 3rd section, 3rd and 4th Open. Geraldine and Patrick then had another bird taking 7th Fed, 12th section, 22nd Open. The first of their birds was 1st Fed, 1st section, 2nd Open Fermoy two weeks ago. This yearling cock is a Van Dyck bred by the Rooneys. This one was 3rd Fed, 11th section, 27th Open 1st Mount Charles having been 3rd club Tullamore the previous week. So here we have in our first two birds this week two great contenders for the Old Bird of the Year. This Saturday’s Derek Wishart race could decide where this particular accolade goes this year. The Browns second pigeon is another yearling Van Dyck from Kevin and Kristopher Rooney. These birds have certainly proved their worth for Geraldine and Patrick. Their third bird at 7th Fed is a Busschaert from Busschaert from K Rooney & Son Annalong who provided the bloodlines for the Browns’ three pigeons in this week’s Fed result. Kevin and Kristopher obtained these Busschaerts from Davy Shiels Son & Dtr, Durham and they have produced a host of winners including the pigeon that was 1st Open for Geraldine and Patrick from Fermoy last year. The dam of the pigeon timed here is a Soontjens that has also bred prize-winners. Annsborough’s J McNally & Son had a very good race here with two birds in the result at 4th and 9th Fed, 4th and 15th section, 6th and 34th Open. Jimmy and Brendan have been working their pigeons well as can be seen by their results this year. Both birds timed here are Busschaerts from Alfie Williamson’s Down Lofts. The bird at 4th Fed is a two-year-old latebred hen that had very little training as a young bird and only a couple of races as a yearling. Their patience has paid off here. Their second bird is a yearling blue pied cock. Mickey Croskery Annsborough always to the fore when there are Open positions to be won is 5th Fed, 5th section and 7th Open this week with two-year-old hen out of a daughter of the Bude hen when paired to a son of John Jobey’s Queen’s Cup winner. Tyrella’s Sean and Jennifer Milligan follow up their first and second Fed last week from Skibbereen by taking 6th Fed, 8th section, 13th Open this week. This two-year-old hen was 5th Fed, 7th section, 11th Open in the Skibbereen Classic last year. The sire is a Braspenning from R McKelvey, Newry, while the dam is a Jos Van der Veken from G Delaney Dromore. This hen won the Nom in the club for Sean and Jennifer three times last year and wins it this week again. Annalong’s Kevin and Kristopher Rooney complete the result with two birds at 8th and 10th Fed. These birds take 14th and 16th section, 33rd and 35th Open. Kevin and Kristopher take the top five positions in the Annalong club as they did from 2nd Mount Charles. From the 1st Mount Charles they took the top three. Their first pigeon this week is a yearling from Telford Bros Downpatrick. The sire is a son of ‘Rab’ and ‘Tracy’ from Colin Gibson, Dromara while the dam was also bought at Gibson’s Clearance Sale. It is a Wal Zoontjens and is a daughter of Geoffrey Douglas’ number 1 pair. Their second pigeon is the bird that was 7th Fed, 9th Open Tullamore this year. It is a yearling whose sire is Gust Jansen while the dam is from top Belgian fancier, Rudi Diels. The dam is a daughter of ‘Goud Haantje’.

Full Result: J Cleland Annsborough 1168; 2, 3, G & P Brown Annsborough 1167.765 ABCDNom £34.50, 1167.765; 4, J McNally & Son 1164; 5, M Croskery 1162 ABCD £16.80; 6, S Milligan & Dtr Tyrella £11.20; 7, G & P Brown 1133; 8, K Rooney & Son Annalong 1124; 9, J McNally & Son 1123.67; 10, K Rooney & Son 1123.56:

Draw for semi-finals of Loft Knock Out to be flown from 2nd Talbenny; 1, J McNally & Son v K Rooney & Son; 2, J Newell v J Cleland: Next pool race is Bude.

PROMOTING THE SPORT IN BANGOR

The Bangor club chairman Drew Caskey is very committed to his other great love football and is heavily involved with Castle Juniors Football club so when they recently held a fun day for the kids Drew thought it would be a great opportunity to let the youngsters learn something about the sport of pigeon racing so with the help of fellow pigeon club member Albert Close whose grandsons belong to Castle Juniors he set about preparing a stand at the grounds showing all aspects of pigeon racing and even had some Squeakers with him which attracted great attention and I am told the stand was very well received and attracted a lot of attention from parents and children alike - this was an excellent opportunity to promote the sport and hopefully it will encourage some younger members to get involved with pigeons.

 

MAVERICK MAKES HOME AND 3RD OPEN DESPITE INJURIES

Dundonald’s Roy Irwin has won the East Down Combine several times over the last number of years and a certain blue Hartog x Janssen cock named “Maverick” has been responsible for winning 1st open and section twice , as well as a 2nd open and section and then just a few weeks ago 3rd open 3rd section from Mount Charles but on this occasion Roy says he was lucky to get him in this race as he came home hawked and bleeding badly and fell onto the landing board. A game pigeon indeed (see photo for details).

Well that’s it for another week. This week the Combine has two races planned and both are scheduled for the Saturday, a second race from Talbenny and the Derek Wishart memorial race from Fermoy. As I pen these notes we are experiencing dreadful weather not just for June but for any time of the year and there are weather warnings out around the country for damaging gales and very heavy rain. It is to be hoped that the weekend will see a marked improvement.