Irish National Hall of Fame Diploma

Some great pigeons had put up fantastic performances over a number of seasons but at the end of the day had nothing to show for their courage.

The type of birds I was thinking about are a number from my own area in Ballymena ie. “Rennes Queen”, “Leading Lady” and “Wee Albert” raced by the very famous lofts of Smyth Bros and Barr Bros. Rob Smyth of Larne had “National Queen” and “Continental Queen” and do forgive me for others I have not mentioned. It was decided that the Hall of Fame Diploma be awarded to any pigeon which was recorded three times in the Kings Cup prize list and, at the time was the most coveted and the most difficult to win. Race points flown since then have been wide and varied including from the early days the famous names of Nantes, Rheims, Rennes and Les Sables.

1970 - Nantes: Sutherland & Devoy, Killyleagh, W M Thompson, Muckamore; 1971 – Nantes: Harold Elliott, Lisburn; 1972 – Nantes: R Law, Ballymena & Dist, H Hayes, Portstewart; 1973 – Nantes: G Burrell & Sons, Lurgan; 1974 – Nantes : A Simpson & Son, Randalstown, Reynolds & Creighton, Dollingstown; 1975 – Rheims: Alan McCartney, Crumlin; 1976 – Rennes: J Irvine & Son, Ballyclare; 1978 – Rennes: P Flannagan, Killyleagh; 1979 – Rennes: Hamilton & Burke, Portstewart, B Madden & Son, Dublin, W B Shaw, Newcastle, Harold Elliott, Lisburn & Dist, G Kilpatrick, Lisburn

1980 - Les Sables: J Shaw & Son, Randalstown, McCartney Bros, Moira, McCartney Bros, Moira; 1981 - Les Sables: J O’Neill, Dublin, Connor Bros, Dundrum, S Bunting, Belfast, J McCartan, Annalong, R & W McBride & Son, Lisburn, Smyth Bros, Ballymena & Dist, Smyth Bros, Ballymena & Dist; 1982 - Les Sables: G Kilpatrick, Lisburn, W Harrison, Belfast; 1989 – Rennes: W Clements & Son, Edgarstown, J Logan, Ballyclare, Gilmour & Beattie, Newtownbreda.

1990 – Rennes: W V Troughton, Gilford, S Bell, Dundonald, Gilmour & Beattie, Newtownbreda; 1991 – Rennes: William Erwin, Ballymena & Dist, W Catherwood & Son, Ballynahinch, R Kernaghan & Son, Dromore; 1992 – Rennes: B & H Marshall, Newtownbreda, Victor McDonald, Antrim, M Conlon & Son, Banbridge; 1993 – Rennes: Robin McIlvenna, Chimney Corner, Ron Williamson, Bondhill, G Kilpatrick, Ballymacbrennan, Belshaw & Anderson, Derriaghy, B McKeown & Son, Derriaghy; 1994 – Rennes: Hammond Bros, Cookstown, F McMaster, Kircubbin, F Scott & Son, Dromore, Burns Bros, Comber Soc; 1995 – Rennes: Mr & Mrs Flanagan, Downpatrick, J Waring & Son, Lisburn & Dist, Jimmy Cullen, Dublin, G Killops, Drumcree, N Black & Sons, Dromara, N Black & Sons, Dromara; 1996 Rennes: T Marshall & Son, Newtownbreda, W Hardy & Son, Annsborough, Jim Nelson, Milltown, E Matchett & Son, Edgarstown; 1997 - St Nazaire: R McCallum & Son, Ballymena & Dist, Davy Moore, Cullybackey, B E & L McNeilly, Ballynure, W Tollerton, Dunmurry, Lavery Bros, Hillsborough & Maze, Harper Bros, Dollingstown, Mr & Mrs Swann, Harryville, T Flanagan, Malahide & Dist; 1998 – Rennes: A Murray & Son, Dundrum, P J Corcoran, Balbriggan, T Marshall & Son, Newtownbreda, S Corrigan, Loughgall, Gilmour & Beattie, Newtownbreda, Ken Halliday, Newry.

2000 – Redon: E J Campbell, Milltown; 2002 – Redon: John Greenaway, Bondhill; 2004 – Messac: R Telford, Annaghmore, McCracken Bros, Banbridge; 2005 – Messac: L McCall, Wicklow South Road; 2006 – Vannes: G Benson, Lisburn, Burns Bros, Comber, S Corrigan, Loughgall, Stewart Bros, Randalstown; 2009 - Plaudren-Vannes: P Rock & Son, Skerries, Stewart Bros, Randalstown.

2010 - Plaudren-Vannes: J Waring & Son, Lisburn & Dist, D Croskery & Son, Annsborough, W McClure, Kells & Dist; 2011 - Plaudren-Vannes: W McClure, Kells & Dist, Rev TAB Sawyers & Son, Banbridge, P McCullough & Daughter, Downpatrick, S Corrigan, Loughgall, G Buckley & Son, Annaghmore, Ward & McIntosh, Downpatrick, N Black & Sons, Dromara, W McCaw, Ballymoney, G & J O’Hare, Crossgar, Alan Darragh, Cullybackey, Ron Williamson, Bondhill; 2012 - Plaudren-Vannes: W G Neill, Annaghmore, John Greenaway, Bondhill, Adamson & Anderson, Gilford; 2013 - Saint Allouestre: Malcolm Robinson, Bondhill, W McCaw, Ballymoney, C & L Woodside, Ballyclare; 2014 - Saint Allouestre: W English, Lisburn & Dist, J Cullen, Bray Invitation; 2015 - Saint Allouestre: Dando & Bennett, Beechpark Social; 2016 - Saint Allouestre: E Murtagh & Sons, Individual North; 2017 - Saint Allouestre: A McAteer & Sons, Ballyholland, Arnold Thompson, Ballyclare ; 2018 - Saint Allouestre: McKeown & McEvoy, Castlebellingham, Fintan Moran, Malahide & District, Noel Lusty, Muckamore HPS.

HALL OF FAME DIPLOMA WARDED in the 2019 season

Gary Benson, Lisburn & District HPS. Blue Checker Pied hen GB13L-08642 - 2016, 34th Open St Allouestre, 2018, 32nd Open St Allouestre, 2019, 66th Open St Allouestre.

E. E. & S. Kavanagh, Arklow United RPC. Blue Checker hen IHU14S-12671 - 2017, 89th Open St Allouestre, 2018, 37th Open St Allouestre, 2019, 77th Open St Allouestre.

Parkin & Cairns, Castlebellingham RPC. Blue hen IHU14S-79432 - 2016, 58th Open St Allouestre, 2017, 19th Open St Allouestre, 2019, 34th Open St Allouestre.

Joe Doheny, Malahide & District RPC. Blue Checker cock GB13V-03179 - 2016, 62nd Open St Allouestre, 2017, 60th Open St Allouestre, 2019, 112th Open St Allouestre.

Paul Dunlop Edgarstown HPS. Blue Checker hen GB15E-01001 - 2017, 141st Open St Allouestre, 2018, 69th Open St Allouestre, 2019, 54th Open St Allouestre.

ECF two winners this year are Joe Doheny of Malahide & Parkin & Cairns of Castlebellingham so here’s a few words on both fanciers. Text supplied by Ken Guildea, P.R.O of the East Coast Federation.

Sean Parkin & Pat Cairns race in two clubs, Dundalk & Castlebellingham, Castlebellingham with the East Coast fed & Dundalk with the N.I.P.A. Pat moved to Dundalk in the early eighties from Gilford in Northern Ireland where he raced in partnership with his Brothers Seamus, Sean & Eamon under the name Cairns Bros. Pat & Sean have raced together for over 34 years and in that time became one of the top lofts in the East Coast Federation. These men formed a great friendship and a winning partnership. It was Pat who pushed the Sean towards distance racing and they obtained pigeons from Maurice Wilkinson of Northern Ireland to whom pat was a great friend with, these pigeons put the partners on the winning path. In 1987 they were 5th open I.N.F.C. Friendship National & 1st E.C.F, 3rd open I.N.F.C. Yearling national in 2009. Sadly three weeks prior to the king cup Pat passed away, leaving a great sadness in the pigeon world. This was a very tough time for Sean and pigeon racing was the last thing on his mind. Sean was not going to send the hen but his friends encouraged him to send her and the rest is history.

Their Hall Of Fame winner is a smashing pencil blue hen now named “Patsy’s Girl”, her record on the channel can only be described as outstanding. She was 2nd club, 32nd Fed Penzance in 2015. 3rd club, 11th fed & 58th Open St Alloustre kings cup in 2016. She was 1st club Talbenny 53rd fed, 3rd club, 18th Fed Penzance, & 3rd club 8th open E .C.F 19th open I.N.F.C Kings cup in 2017. She was 29th open E.C.F Talbenny, & 1st Club, 4th fed, 34th Open I.N.F.C Kings Cup 2019. Her preparation this year was Thurles & two Fermoy’s down the land plus Talbenny across the channel. Sean would normally send her to Bude or Penzance but as to be expected with pat passing away Seans heart just wasn’t in it. She had only one training spin after Talbenny with John Flood of about 30 miles to Malahide before she was sent to the Kings Cup. She was sent hatching 10 days and was timed after fourteen and a half hours on the wing to win their hall of fame.

Our next winner is one of Ireland’s top National fanciers Joe Doheny of Malahide. Joe also races with the East Coast Federation with whom he has topped the fed many times. Joe tells me he timed his first pigeon from France back in 1965 and since then has spent a life time putting together a family of pigeons to compete at the top level of national racing. His record can only be described as outstanding, racing only a small team of birds. The highest entry Joe would send to France would be a team of six. His wins with the I.N.F.C. are as follows; Joe has won the Kings cup twice and was 2nd open to Liam McCall in 2017. He is also the winner of the Miller gold cup twice and was runner up on three occasions. He also placed 2nd open I.N.F.C YB Penzance and has been I.N.F.C champion twice.

Joe has named his Hall of Fame winner “THE BEAST” as he is the most protective pigeon on the nest Joe has ever had, sometimes marking Joes hand with his temper. “The Beast” is a cracking 6 year old check cock with a very impressive racing career. As a young bird He had 3 races, as a yearling he flew Talbenny & Penzance. Than as a two year old he flew two channel races and was sent to the Friendship national, arriving home at midday on the 2nd day just outside the result. As a three year old he again had two channel races and was then sent to the Kings Cup finishing 65th Open. The following year as four year old he again had his two channel races and then onto the King cup where he finished 67th open. As a 5yr old Joe gave him 4 inland races plus the Kings Cup returning at 7am on the fourth morning just outside the three day race time. This year as “The Beast” had three 25 mile tosses prior to racing plus four inland races and a Bude, he was then sent to the Kings Cup finishing 112th Open and gaining a place in history winning the Hall of Fame.