Irish Racing Route
Sheldon Leonard – Arklow
Over the past few seasons Sheldon has visited all the top lofts in Europe, sourcing nothing but the absolute cream to, as Sheldon states “ Produce the ultimate racing rachine” . Sheldon's present family of birds are basically the old Hofkens and Lou Wouters family, based on stock obtained from his best friend Mr Andre Roodhooft – The Emperor Of Antwerp. In the familly of pigeons that Sheldon now flies he has also introduced the Janssen Brother's direct & via André Roodhooft, the Aelbrecht family and the world famous Freddy & Jacque Vandenheede. Sheldon recently won 1st Irish National Flying Club Barleycove young bird. This year's 1st national winner is a Lou Wouters bird via André Roodhooft & also in the same race the 9th open National winner was a Lou Wouter's x Aelbrecht. In this season's INFC Sennon Cove yearling national, the premier event in Ireland for yearlings, Sheldon finished 2nd open. The 2012 2nd open INFC yearling national winner from Sennencove was Janssen Arendonk x Vandenheede. Also this season Sheldon finished highly in the INFC Penzance Old Bird National, finishing 8th open. The 8th open winner was Roodhooft x Vandenheede. As you can see Sheldon has blended the families well to form a good middle distance family of pigeons. Just in case you think these birds have just shot up, well alas you are wrong for only last season in the INFC old bird national event from Barleycove, Sheldon finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th open from a distance of 178 miles. Sheldon always plans ahead and looking to compete in the distance events has now introduced some Daniel Aerens from Drongen Belgium – As they say “keep watching”
Some of Sheldons results (past 3 seasons only)
Dungarven 12 sent 356 B 1st 2nd 3rd 4th club & 1st 2nd 3rd section B 941 B 78 miles Pilmore beach 16 sent 452 B 1st 3rd 8th club & 1st & 3rd section B 1233 B 95 miles Pilmore beach 11 sent 272 B 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th club & 2nd & 3rd section B 722 B 95 miles Pilmore Beach 13 sent 338 B 3,4,5,6,7,8 club 4,5,6,7,8,9 fed 1631B 95 miles Kinsale 19 sent 401 B 2,3,4,6 club 2,3,4th fed 1931B 124 miles Roscarbery 19 sent 419 birds 1,2,3,6, club & 3rd section B 1287 B 147 miles Castletownbere 20 sent 335B 1,2,3,6 club & 4th 5th 9th 20th fed 1393 B 178 miles Watervile 10 sent 70 B 1st & 3rd club 2nd section B 196 B 179 miles Skibbereen north ( single entry ) 1st club 213 B & 1st section B 809 birds & 2nd fed 1272 b 157 miles Barleycove 13 sent 229 B 1,2,3,4,8,9,10, club 178 miles Castletownbere 12 sent 214B 1,2,3,7,8,9,10 club 178 miles Barleycove 15 sent 257B 1,2,5, club 178 miles Barleycove 12 sent 149B 1,2,3,4,club , 1st 2nd 3rd section B & 3rd 4th 5 th 6th National 1414B 178 miles Kinsale 14 sent 277B 1,2,3,4,5,8,9 club & 7,8,9,10,11 fed 1554b 124 miles Castletownbere 11 sent 107 Birds 1,2,3,4,7,8 club Talbenny ( single entry ) 1st club 4th fed & 24th national - no birdage to hand - 83 miles channel race Skibbereen north 1st 6,7,8,9, club 1st section B & 21st 43rd 44th 45th 46th national 3037 bird's 157 miles Pilmore beach 17 sent 471B 2,3,4,5,6,7 club 3rd section B 1227 B 95 miles Skibbereen north 17 sent 332 B 1st 3rd 10th club 2nd section B 929B 157 miles Barleycove 14 sent 248 B 1st 3rd 4th 6th club 2nd section B 965B 34th 52nd 53rd 59th national 1083b 178 miles Rosscarbery12 sent 187 B 1st & 2nd club 16th 17th fed 1047B Sennencove I.N.F.C. yearling national 2nd national 4319 birds 188 miles 1st federation & 1st section . Sennencove 2nd 4th 8th club 9th 20th 38th national old bird N.F.C. Dungarven 15 sent 489 birds 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,club 4,5,6,7,8,9,11,14, 16,18, federation 1628B 75 miles Kinsale 19 sent 477B 1st & 6th club 2nd section B 1168 birds 124 miles Barleycove 14 sent 292B 1st,5,7,8,9 club 1st section B 656 birds 1st federation 1055B & 1st & 9th INFC young bird national
Billy Harris - Dublin
P & J Boal - Dromore
Hennie & Annette Kallmeyer - Dublin
Open Co-winner (1. Ireland/UK / 13. Open) 2012 Fauna Orheiului OLR(Moldova) HS1 against an original entry of 475+ birds Open Co-winner (1. Ireland/UK / 15. Open) 2012 Fauna Orheiului OLR (Moldova) HS2 against an original entry of 475+ birds Open Co-winner (2 + 3. Ireland/UK / 6. + 11.) Open 2012 Fauna Orheiului OLR (Moldova) HS3 against an original entry of 475+ birds Open Co-winner (1. Ireland / 1. Open) 2012 North Coast Classic OLR (UK) HS2 against an original entry of 733 birds Open Co-winner (1 Ireland / 2nd Open) 2012 Emerald Classic OLR (UK) HS1 against and original entry of 658 birds Open Co-winner (1 Ireland / 4th Open) 2012 Emerald Classic OLR (UK) HS2 against and original entry of 658 birds 1st UK and Ireland and 20th Open in the 2012 Balcanic Fairplay OLR, Romania (original entry of 950+ pigeons).
Hennie and Anette only compete in one loft races around the world and do not race a home team’ as only stock pigeons are kept. Only small teams are sent to one loft races which are bred from a stock team that consists of 9 old cocks and 3 yearlings. Around 20 hens are kept which are rotated on different cocks to find the best matings. From the start in 2010 the kingpin of the loft has been AU 2006 Clausing 115 or the famous Bear’. This potent cock breeds winners with different hens and is used in the early winter and late summer months as a polygamous stallion breeder. His children win with great consistency but 2011 and 2012 has shown that 80% of his children that were put to stock have bred winners already in their first year. Hennie and Annette are particularly excited over their new 2012 breeding sensation MJ – a son of Bear and Baby Blue – i.e. brother to Baby Bear, as all of his children bred with 2 different hens have already won hot spot races in July and August of 2012. Certainly this yearling cock has a great future ahead of him and will certainly be the successor of Bear to ensure Bear’s winning genes are passed onto future generations.
Billy Cullimore - Wexford