2010 North Coast Classic
Ace Pigeon
£2000
Alpine Lofts
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
Sunday 4th September and the NCC Final Race is here.
Last night the birds were hampered starting at 2200 and loaded onto the transporter and on the road at 12am.
The birds arrived at Rosscarbery at 0710am.
Know doubt Donny and Fred were tired on arrival.
The NCC would like to thank John and Ronnie McCandless for over seeing the computer and to Trevor Hughes from Wales and Darren Tosh, John Edgar and Beefy in the hampering and loading of the transporter.
The NCC would also like to thank Anthony Wall for his expertise in the help in the liberation from Rosscarbery.
Conditions at the site this morning were poor with heavy rain and poor visibility.
The birds had the water on the transporter up until 1015.
Speaking to Anthony Wall the weather conditions at the race point were improving with an expected liberation time of 1030 once the conditions had improved.
After a few phone calls the convoy of 248 pigeons were in the sky in a fresh ss wind and the birds cleared the race point in seconds.
The prize money for the Final race is as follows.
1. £12000
2. £2000
3. £1000
4. £500
5. £250
6th-10th. £100
11th-20th. £50
Ace Pigeon £1000
2 Bird Average £500
Team Charity £500.
A large crowd had gathered at the NCC to await the first arrivals.
The pigeons were going to get a very tight fly today and the winner was going to be a gutsy performer as conditions on route had got worse with driving east winds and rain. At the home end at times we were closed in then just before the first of the birds arrived it started to brighten up,but only for a while.
Then around the seven hour mark two pigeons were spotted approaching the loft and the crowd started to roar but then a silence quickly ascended as the people waited for what seemed an eternity for the birds to trap.
Unfortunately for the owner of the blue hen she jumped onto the aviary roof as both of the pigeons seemed to look for the trap.
Then the blue cock trapped for the winner of the Final race and collect a nice big check of £12000 for the Alpine Loft team of Francis and Margaret.
They couldn't have been more pleased and I got a lovely kiss from Margaret and at one stage I started to panic as I thought Francis was going to do the same! Only joking Francis it was marvellous to be there for your success.
The winning pigeon was a direct Luc Cuelman pigeon which have flown brilliantly for Francis in One Loft Races around Europe. Last year the loft won the Ace Bird with the same lines with a beautiful chequer hen which if my memory serves was bought back at the Glenavy sale. Know doubt there will be a lot of interest in the winner and possibly in the other Cuelman pigeons which have won two other Hotspots earlier. Well done.
In second spot goes to the syndicate of Alex Dream Team of Leonard Mc Caw who was over the moon. His winning bird is coming down through his old Van Brunne lines that have flown brilliantly for the loft over the years especially in tough conditions. Well done.
In third position goes to the loft of Big Gary's Junior'Tomlinson of England with a beautiful red cock. This line of pigeon has the Red Barcelona in him and I must admit I have fallen in love with this little red cock bird. Well done Gary you deserve it as you have helped support the NCC over the years. This is the man who kindly donated the Gold Medal to the winner of the two bird average.
I will be covering the Ace Pigeon later in week along with the 2 bird and the rest of top 20.
Coincidentally I must give a BIG Congratulations to the loft of Campbell+Bigger for placing seven of their birds which were bought by other fanciers as ventures in placing them in the top 20 in the final race. And not forgetting the single entry they put in for themselves that also placed highly and will be reported on later. This was without doubt one of the best performances of the day and especially in the Final race when conditions changed for the worse but in hindsight the better pigeons came through as they had to really work harder and use their brains.
Watch the site later in the week for a lot more coverage to come.
I'd like to thank everyone who helped support the NCC especially to everyone who participated in the one loft and we are already starting to make improvements for next year to make the NCC one of the best One Lofts around.
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Regards, NCC