Joan Lenihan and Martin Sheill of Mallow Racing Pigeon Club, whose bird won the Yearling National, beating 5,200 other birds from South Wales back to home. Pic S Murphy.
When the members of Mallow Racing Pigeon Club decided in March of 2015 to join the INFC (Irish National Flying Club), little did they know what success was to come.
The INFC is based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland and its main objective is to promote national racing for the 32 counties of Ireland.
One of the biggest races on their programme is the Yearling National from Sennen Cove in South Wales on Wednesday 10th June. The birds were liberated at 7.45am into a light north-easterly breeze. 852 members sent 5,200 birds, and were competing for a prize fund of £35,530 sterling. 3,120 birds were representing Northern Ireland while the remaining 2,080 were from the south. The pressure was on and mounting. We knew the whistle would soon blow.
News Flash
A bird was clocked. Where? What time? North south? Well, a lone bird it was, clocked at 12.42pm, west of Mallow town at the Lombardstown loft of Martin Sheills and Joan Lenihan. Martin and Joan’s Blue Chequer cock-bred by their friend Danny Rice, flew the 197 miles in under 5 hours, doing a velocity of 1,167 yards per minute. As the hours passed, other birds were clocked around the 32 counties, but by nightfall we knew that Martin and Joan had won the National.
Martin and Joan love their animals. Their gun dogs are their first love and they are trained to field trial standard. The pigeons are also treasured and are housed in immaculate lofts in the beautiful surroundings of Lombardstown.
Well done to Martin and Joan from Mallow RPC members on a wonderful achievement. We wish them continued success in the future.