2011 North Coast Classic
Ace Pigeon
£1000
P & D Donnelly
The North Coast Classic is now in its third year! In our first two years we have paid out over £53,500 in prize money!
In these two years the pools money has exceeded £18,000!
All our prize money and pool money has been paid within 10 days.
We have SIX Hotspot races prior to the North Coast Classic Race from Cork. The six "Hot Spot" races will take place from 60, 95, 115, 135, 175, and 200 miles on consecutive Sundays.
Each week we have given prizes for the top 5 in each Hotspot race.
The final race, "The North Coast Classic", from Cork will be 240 miles.
News
Article from British Homing World : November 4th 2011
News and Views of Tommo Jnr
It’s the time of the year when the final races are taking place at one loft races. There are not so many one loft races out there now , many working class pigeon fanciers are very disillusioned with them but for me there is one race which stands apart from any other , this is the North Coast Classic , which was founded in 2009 and is now one of the best one loft races in the Uk and Ireland. We have always been interested in one loft racing and have entered pigeons in such races many times; it gives the working class fancier a chance to race for big money. We entered one bird in the North coast classic in 2009 and visited the lofts, we were made very welcome, and I must give a special mention to “Beefy” the joiner who built this fabulous loft. It was clear to me as a pigeon fancier for over 30 years that here we had a first class loft manager in Sean Diamond; the diamond family are a force to be reckoned with in the Coleraine Premier FC. I asked many questions regarding racing in Ireland and what the plans were for this race and I must say , Sean was very open about his future plans and he , like many others made me and Annette very welcome . In 2009 the final race itself was a great success, our bird made 24th and we won £150. In 2010 I again decided the North Coast classic would be the one loft we would support. I contacted Sean and decided we would enter four pigeons which we sent over in mid march via John Millar and the birds arrived at the loft in first class condition. We had some success in the hot spot races, winning the first race and going into the final hotspot we still had all four entries’ decided we would attend the final race and booked ourselves into the Lodge Hotel which was about a mile away from the brilliant loft. The atmosphere was immense on the final day, some 30 birds arrived together, and two of our birds were amongst them, unfortunately our first bird through the trap finished 24th, our second bird 30th. The birds where in top condition, which again is a credit to Sean and we had all birds home within 2 hours. In 2011 we decided it was the north coast classic we would support. This year we entered 6 birds and as we were going to Steve McGarrys spring fare in March we delivered the birds in person. Upon arrival at the lofts we were greeted by Willie Bond who is one of Sean’s right hand men. Willie is the wizard of Coleraine, he can turn his hand to anything. We watched the progress of our birds on the internet as the weeks came by and coming into the final race we had 3 entries. I really did fancy a red cock which was specially bred for this race , but it would need a tough race. The birds were liberated at 1030hrs in a southerly wind , the wind direction I did not like. The birds would encounter quite a lot of rain en route , which was sure to make the race very hard. I was unable to attend the race due to our federations Grand National race and as I was out on business I was unable to keep tract of the race via the live screen on the internet so I waited and waited but no news. I anticipated the leading pigeons would be home in under six hours and I actually said to Annette that we would have to try again next year .At 6.15 , my phone rang and it was Sean diamond , who told us our bird had finished in 3rd place. I asked which bird it was, and was told it was the red one . The race has been very tough the leaders flew 265 miles in 7 hours 30 minutes and the winning bird , owned by Alpine Lofts was timed at 17.28 . I congratulated Sean and wished him well , I would also like congratulate all this years winners , Alpine Lofts you have an exceptional pigeon and Alex’s dream team who were second well done . If any fanciers are considering entering a one loft race in 2012 , give the North Coast Classic a go . I can assure you this race is run very professionally, you are made very welcome and you can ring Sean at any time and ask how your birds are going, There is not a loft manager anywhere who cares more for your birds than Sean Diamond and his team. If your pigeons can endure the hard racing down Ireland then who knows, 2012 could be your year, but as the saying goes you’ve got to be in it to win it. Trust me I would not keep entering this race if we did not have a fair chance. Until Next year remember, He who Dares Wins.