Hall of Fame awards for local fanciers

Gold medals are awarded to pigeons that are timed 4 times in the prizes from the King’s Cup. These are exceptional pigeons and this year we have one winner, Jackie Waring of Lisburn.

There were 11 Hall of Fame awards for pigeons timed 3 times in the prizes from the King’s Cup. There was also one winner of the Friendship National Triple Award for a pigeon 3 times in the result from the Friendship National.

W McClure, Kells & District - William timed his six-year-old hen, ‘Madam Delbar Deweerdt’ to collect his second Hall of Fame award having won one last year with his ten-year-old hen ‘Home Again’, which was a pure Deweerdt.

Sadly ‘Madam Delbar Deweerdt’ died within a week of coming home from this years race, a sad end for such a great racing pigeon. It was only the second time a loft had won the Hall of Fame in successive seasons.

As the name suggests ‘Madam Delbar Deweerdt’ is a Delbar x Deweerdt cross, the sire being Delbar from Donal Lavery and Jackie Patience. It is off a daughter of Jackie’s King’s Cup winner. The dam is direct Deweerdt. This bird won the single bird challenge in 2009.

By today’s standards this is a small team but a very successful one. William breeds only 20 young birds every year. He has 12 nest boxes so never has any more than 24 old birds at the beginning of the year.

Birds going to France are raced down Ireland and only go to Talbenny if the weather is going to be good. The birds are mated in February and rear a pair of young birds. They are then separated and are put back together before the French races so that they will be sitting on eggs for their Derby or National race.

‘Madam Delbar Deweerdt’ was sitting 14/15 days this year and Bill slipped her a young bird before basketing. The French birds are flown mornings and evenings with the young birds to keep them fit.

A Darragh, Cullybackey HPS - This is another top award for one of the top National fliers. Alan has won numerous awards at National level over the years and is a household name within the sport.

Last year Alan had a remarkable result in the Yearling National event by taking the top three positions in the Open.

Alan is also a former King’s Cup winner having won the blue ribbon event in 1986 from Jersey, it was his first time to win a Hall of Fame Diploma.

The winner of the Hall of Fame Award here is a three-year-old cock that was a gift bird from club mate Sammy Steele, a bit of a story with this one. Harry Richmond from Ballymena reared a youngster for Sammy and it ended taking up residence at Swallow Brae Lofts.

This cock is raced on Widowhood and then mated for the King’s Cup. Last year his he was sent sitting 5/6 days and this year he was sent sitting ten days. Alan just got his first young ones of this cock this year.

This year the bird was given every race down Ireland and then Talbenny when he was the second pigeon home for Alan. In preparation for the King’s Cup he was given a few short-training tosses and then flown out with the young birds.

INFC NEWS

As we approach a new season there is much to report from the Irish National Flying Club. The closing date for membership is Saturday 28th April. The membership fee is £15 for existing members and for those not members in 2011 the fee is £25. Forms are available for download on www.infc.co.uk

In 2012 the Yearling National will be a Diamond Jubilee event with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals going to 1st, 2nd and 3rd Open INFC. £1,000 has been added to the prize fund for the race with a Free Nom having 10 prizes of £100.

The same applies to the Friendship National in 2012, which will be known as the Olympic Friendship National. Again there will be Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Open in line with the Olympic theme. As in the Diamond Jubilee Yearling National there will be a Free Nom with 10 prizes of £100.

TRAINING

HOMER Training finally underway, weather still causing problems. Good turn-out reported by the trainers on Easter Saturday, next possible day looks like Tuesday, followed by the next three days. NIPA racing starts this weekend. Ballymena contacts - Homer Tel: 07538 238364. Tom McAlonan Tel: 07561 417232, Harry Richmond Tel: 07796 304926. Updates on the website.