Local pigeon racers win Grand National

Local pigeon racers win Grand National

19 September 2018

A DOWNPATRICK pigeon loft was flying high last Sunday when they took centre stage in one of the most prestigious races in the Irish racing calendar. 

Colin and Alan Telford and the father-and-daughter pair of Sean and Jennifer Milligan ruled the airways in the Irish National Flying Club’s Penzance Young Bird Grand National. 

Just over 251 members INFC members from all over Ireland entered 1,326 pigeons, competing for £14,587 in pools and prize money.

The birds were released in Penzance on Sunday morning and despite battling heavy rain and wind, the Dowpatrick pigeon took just seven hours and 47 minutes to fly home and stop the standings. 

Sean, one of the loft partners, couldn’t hide his delight at his bird’s success.

“The pigeon was only bred earlier this year and did a fantastic job for us,” he said.

“I raced out of Tyrella for many years, but decided recently to team up with Colin and Alan Telford at the Downpatrick Premier club and a better result I could not have asked for. 

“Wins like this don’t come too often so we will enjoy the moment and hope the wee bird goes to on even greater things.

My daughter Jennifer and Alan and Colin only pooled our resources a few months ago and things have gone perfectly, but winning the Penzance race was something we never expected.  

“I think Downpatrick’s Jackie Crossan was the last local fancier to win this race two decades ago and we are absolutely delighted to be following in his footsteps,” he added.

“The season is almost at an end, but we have what will be a glittering awards night to attend now in the Stormont Hotel, Belfast, after this win and we will be rubbing shoulders with some of the sports biggest loft owners and fanciers.” 

The race proved to be a big hit for two other local lofts as Killyleagh’s Dean Grieves took fourth place and Crossgar’s Sean McLoughlin was seventh.