FINAL LOFT MANAGERS REPORT - 21st September
"Irelands Premier International One Loft Race"

It seem like only yesterday since we opened the loft to accept the first arrivals for this year's Emerald Classic, now regarded by many as the Number 1 Premier One Loft race in the UK & Ireland, although only in our second year we are not far behind the Europeans in being the best there also. Whilst others around us have revised their race points, we are now currently one of the longest One loft Races and fly what many regard to be the toughest route in the One Loft calendar.

For a second year in a row and despite the financial, crisis we received over seven hundred birds from 10 different countries which include such prominent flyers as Team Germany, a professional syndicate comprising some of the country's best fanciers who have scored in numerous one loft races around the world, including having the Ace Pigeon in the prestigious Million Dollar Race. Thorsten Daum, last year's runner up, Wilhelm & Ricky Blankenaufulland, Ed Sittner from Las Vegas last year's winner, Harrie & Johan Van Boxmeer, Ype Hemstra winner of last year's Ace Pigeon and many more.

Closer to home we had no less than 5 One Loft winners compete with us, Mr & Mrs Brian Clayburn winner of this year's prestigious Million Dollar Race, Mr & Mrs Bill Lewis winner last year of a UK One Loft race , Alistair Hogg joint winner of a UK One Loft race and only last month winner of the Odenwald Derby in Germany, Peter Robinson winner of the RPRA One Loft Race, and Peter Fox of the world renowned Syndicate Lofts partnership Colijn/Gannus/Fox who have won numerous One Loft races around the world, to name but a few, in all a true international event comprising some of the world's best.

After months of preparation and training the first Hotspot was flown on Sunday 2nd August delayed for two days due to bad weather, 584 birds were race marked and with a further 15 hospitalised we had one bird short of 600 in the loft, after a further four Hotspot races up to a distance of 280 km and numerous training tosses, we had 434 birds remaining for this year's Grand Final that equates to over 72% of the 599 birds we started HS1 with, NO other One Loft race in the UK or Ireland can match these figures.

With a gap of two weeks between the last Hotspot and the final race, the birds were exercised around the loft daily and received their final course of medication, as race day approached the birds were race marked on Friday morning under the supervision of some of our overseas visitors who had already starting flying in for the weekend.

Saturday morning dawned just as expected and having conversed with our race controller Alan Darragh several times during the previous week, he reckoned we were going to get the best weekend of the year and he was absolute right, brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies. After meeting and greeting a large number of overseas guests which included my good friends and one of our main sponsors Brian and Vivian Wall, we all enjoyed a few refreshments and sandwiches with some local friends and visitors from Wales, England, Scotland and Germany and the general topic of discussion was how well the birds were looking, some commented they had never seen birds in any One loft race look so well and they had been to many. As the local clubs were competing with the NIPA from the same race point that day, word was starting to filter through that due to a heavy mist which was slow to clear, the birds had been held until 11.30 which caused me some concern.

After enjoying our lunch and conversation the birds were basked and loaded on to the state of the art Geraldy Transporter which was very kindly leant to us for the weekend by my good friends in St Mary's RPC down in Limerick (see our photo gallery), under the supervision of Leslie Madden, Stuart Culbert, Brian Wall and our resident press officer Steven "The New Kid on the Block" Mc Garry. Once they were loaded, securely locked up and the water tank filled they were safely on their way under the supervision of Billy Bissett our resident Convoyer, I must say it was only then that I felt relaxed.

Sunday morning arrived and unlike the previous dawn there was not as much early morning mist as expected, a quick phone call to Billy confirmed the birds had been on site for several hours, had been watered and were enjoying the early morning sun in Rosscarberry. However, as feared there was mist on the mountains, the next call was to Alan Darragh who confirmed there was some mist about the liberation point and apart from that, the road home was clear and we had virtually no wind. It was therefore agreed that we would assess the situation in an hour and if everything was ok the birds would be liberated at 10.00 am. Just after 10.00am I received the call I had been waiting for from Billy who confirmed the birds had been liberated and had cleared without even a half turn, the next call was from Alan who felt if the wind stayed the way it was we would have birds before six hours. By 12.30pm the atmosphere at the loft was buzzing and with clear blue skies and strong sunshine for the second year in a row, the stage was set for a good honest steady race. With a mixture of different accents around the tables on the patio area you could have been enjoying lunch in any typical European city! Temperatures were raised even further with a menu of Irish stew, chilli and baked potatoes washed down with a wide selection of beverages including the traditional Guinness. Several people tried to enhance their chances by throwing a few coins in the wishing well and making a wish and as I pointed out to them, the bigger the coin the greater the wish, Ha Ha!

As the arrival time approached everyone started to take up their positions for a ring side seat and at approximately 15.55, just minutes short of 6 hours a shout went up as five birds were spotted approaching the loft from behind, evident that the head wind had pushed them further west than expected. After a short hesitation due to 250 spectators which were not there yesterday and the extremely hot conditions which had clearly dehydrated the birds, the winning name popped up on the big screen declaring 1st place in this year's Emerald Classic to be "Grizzles Grenades" owned and bred by W Gray & Son from Coalstream on the Scottish borders. Son Ian was on hand to celebrate their success in this their second One Loft Race victory, next up was Team Germany with their entry bred by Team Co-ordinator Werner Waldow and partner Sylvia Thiel who were also there to celebrate. Next up was the first local bird for Eddie Arthurs of Brackenberg Lofts, initially bred by Alistair Mc Naughten who elected back in July not to activate it and as a result it was given to Eddie as a free replacement in accordance with Rule 9. In fourth place for the second year in a row was Steven Knox of the BTRO Club with a pigeon bred by his good friends, Brothers Ian & jimmy Fleming from Crumlin, last years Section B fanciers of the year. The birds kept on coming and by night fall 222 birds had been genuinely recorded by our Mega ETS, and with the good weather continuing into Monday, 351 birds were recorded in this years Grand Final and making this year's race another resounding success.

Later that night following an excellent four course seated meal in the Mulberry Suite, of Corrs Corner Hotel, the presentation of prizes by our guest of honour Alan Darragh took place ( see attached list) followed by dancing into the early hours to a wide selection of music provided by Eddie Arthurs, the "Chris Evans" of Ballycarry (watch out Norman Cooke). Although the music ended at 1 o'clock the party continued until well after three thanks to Ian Gray, Andrew Agnew, Owen Kirwan, Declan Wilson, Ken Lewis, Ron Bevin, Leslie, Audrey & Valerie etc, it seemed like a good idea at the time but having to entertain numerous visitors to the loft on Monday morning it certainly wasn't!

A big thank you goes to the following people who have helped make the Emerald Classic the resounding success it has become in such a short space of time:-
Our very generous sponsors, Mr & Mrs Brian Wall of Gem Supplements, Alan Bamford of Top Flight Pigeon Corn, Frederic Basch & Leslie Madden of Mega Systems, Dr O J Botha of Avio Med, Simon Carr of Carr's, Derek Parr of Lakeside Lofts for the Beautiful 2 Bird Trophy and Danny Dixon of Dixon Contracts for the "2 Bird Prize Money"
Race Controller: Alan Darragh
Convoyer: Billy Bissett
Race Marking: Alistair, Leslie, Audrey, Fred, David, and Eddie
Training: Philip & Thomas
Race Day: The Caterers, The Bar Staff, Waitresses and everyone else who helped
The management and staff of Corrs Corner Hotel who provided an excellent meal, accommodation and made all our guests most welcome, the members of St Marys RPS who put their Geraldy transporter at our disposal and to Valerie for co-ordinating everything and ferrying everyone around before, during and after race day.

Finally a big thank you to everyone who has supported us and have helped to make us the Number 1 "ONE LOFT RACE" in the UK & Ireland and hopefully next year "Europe".
I hope you will all join us again next year where the 1st Prize will be increased to £20,000

A big congratulation goes to ALL this year's prize winners, especially W Gray & Son Ian who's pigeon "Pride of Scotland" not only won 1ST PRIZE but was also the ACE PIGEON over the six races, and Team Germany who won our new annual 2 Bird Average Trophy.

John H Boyd - Race Director

LOFT MANAGERS REPORT - 20th September - "Irelands Premier International One Loft Race"

Due to the overwhelming success of the Emerald Classic, yet again we are now in the process of putting together all the detail for the Emerald Classic Auction site which will include the 222 birds timed on the day. The first 100 birds have all been photographed for the auction, however there are still a number of pedigrees outstanding despite polite requests. The remainder will also be auction off and the date, time and location to be confirmed in the coming week. Birds remaining without fully tabulated pedigrees by Friday 25th September in accordance with the rules will be withdrawn from all the auctions.

A full loft report for this year's Grand Final will follow shortly.

John H Boyd - Race Director