Cyril & Hilary Beattie
C & H Beattie of Gilford were first open on a velocity of 904ypm over 443 miles, winning the Friendship Cup and £175. Cyril and Hilary are also the race sponsors for the Friendship race. The winning pigeon is a two year old blue hen sent to the race sitting a twelve day squeaker. The dam is a daughter of their second open King's Cup winner in 2013 when paired to a pigeon bought at Cyril's late father's sale. The sire is bred down from Maurice Wilkinson's bloddlines and was bought at a charity sale.
John Greenaway
J Greenaway of Bondhill was second open, velocity 900ypm over 447 miles and winning the British Barcelona Club trophy and £844. John timed a five year old cock bred down from the old Iron Lady bloodlines. The sire is a brother to the gold medal winner, Iron Man. It was raced on the roundabout system.
Gregory Bros
Gregory Brothers of Rathnew were third open on a velocity of 853ypm over 349 miles. They win the John Miller Logistics Cup and £224. The brothers timed a Soontjen x Delbar x Staf Van Reet tearling hen, the grandfather of which was Jeff Greenaway's Back to Back. It was sent to the race sitting chipping eggs.
Glen Buckley & Son
Glen Buckley and Sons of Annaghmore were fourth open on 703ypm over 447 miles and winning £490. The partners clocked a two year old, blue hen sent to the race sitting a three day old squeaker. The sire is a Vandenabeele, whilst the dam is a daughter of their second open King's Cup winner.
Speirs and Campbell of Cookstwon were fifth open on a velocity of 701ypm over 464 miles and winning £442. Their winner was a two year old, black chequer hen sent to the race sitting ten day eggs. The sire is a son of Jackie Waring's King's Cup gold medal winner through Christophert Bell of Cookstown. The dam is bred down from their old bloodlines of the late Jack Gilmour.
Tom Marshall
Sixth open was won by T Marshall and Son of Newtownbreda on a velocity of 684ypm over 441 miles. They win the Henry Beattie and Son trophy for the best two bird average and £31. They timed a yearling, dark chequer hen sent to the race sitting ten day eggs. It is bred down from Tom's old distance bloodlines being one quarter De Baere and three quarters Desmet.
Richard Donnelly
Donnelly Brothers of Millvale were seventh open on a velocity of 516ypm over 429 miles and winning £244. The brothers clocked a three year old, chequer cock sent sitting a seven day youngster. It is a grandson of their 2008 Friendship National winner on the sire's side when paired to a pigeon from Tom Marshall and Son. The dam is bred down from John Greenaway's Iron Lady bloodlines.
David Coulter
D Coulter of Glenavy was eighth open on a velocity of 449ypm over 446 miles and winning £218. David timed a yearling cock, the dam of which is Olivia, a hen from Harold Elliott. The sire of this pigeon came from Kevin Henderson and is bred down from his sixth open King's Cup winner.
Ken & Alan O'Brien
K O'Brien and Son were ninth openad on a velocity of 404ypm over 363 miles and winning £31. They timed a two year old, chequer hen sent sitting two newly hatched squeakers. The sire came from N Black and Son of Dromara and is bred down from their King's Cup winners. The dam contains Hansenne bloodlines and came from Terry Tregoinning through Art Kelly of Skerries.
Gerard Adair
Completing the top ten is G Adair from Crossgar on a velocity of 352ypm over 431 miles and winning £31.
That concludes the report on the Irish National Flying Club Friendship National race from Lamballe.