Anthony Mcdonnell - The Irish Record Maker

[retired]

To have managerial ability and the courage and confidence to reach for the stars is what is admired by those who know Anthony McDonnell of Coleraine, in the County of Derry. For this pigeoner bred and raced the great 'Bann King' who won the Blue Riband of Irish old bird racing from Les Sables in France in 1963 at a distance of 631 miles. This was the longest winner of the Irish National since the competition began and it was won into the far north west of Ireland.

 

 

To have done so at such a young age is the more remarkable. But this win alone does not make our subject the master of long distance and marathon racing into Ireland for who could forget the outstanding 'Bann Pride' who conquered 1,013 miles twice from Palamos in Spain, while experiencing during the last stretch of the journey the temperamental Irish Sea in the aftermath of the island of Britain and the English Channel. The overcoming of such hurdles is what spells out greatness.

 

Apparently our subject joined the Coleraine Premier Club in 1948 as a schoolboy while not racing until 1951. Then his stock came from local fanciers to be followed by other bloodlines during the 1950s including birds from Billy Erwin, Alex O'Rourke and George Barr to name but a few. The objective in mind was always long distance and by the 1960s success at the distance had been experienced to the extent that by 1963 after scoring the first four positions from Penzance (350 miles) in the club while recording 13 out of 14 enteries, the lofts sent 'Bann King' to Les Sables and won the National. This great thoroughbred athlete had 5 inland races and one channel before being jumped 400 miles.

 

 

Bann King

 

'Bann King', like his nestmate brother, was the produce of late breds and the brother was also a great racer. In fact he recorded wins from Sutton (County Dublin) to St. Malo in France where he scored 34th Open at 490 miles. Another fine racer was a blue hen who was 56th Open from Nantes in France. The latter was also good at stock. Of course 'Bann Queen' warrants a mention for she was 78th Open National as well as mothering 90th Open Nantes. And all this plus more over an extremely difficult course.

Finally, let us look at the marathon athlete i.e. 'Bann Pride'. This great pigeon flew Penzance (350 miles) three times in the prizes. He also flew three times from France namely Dinard, St Malo and Nantes. Then from Palamos in Spain (25 days) in 1968 he scored 162nd out of a British and Irish entry of 451 pigeons. Upon his arrival he was badly injured and all his secondaries were missing from one wing. Apparently it was an early attack from a predator for the spilt blood was very hard on his feathers upon his arrival. However he was prepared to face the same task in 1969 where he scored 119th position from 565 of an entry. Surely a great thoroughbred racing pigeon at the marathon distance.

 

 

Bann Pride

 

To conclude, there is no doubt that Anthony McDonnell is in the opinion of many a master in the art and science of marathon pigeon racing for aside from the Palamos successes the winning of the National at 631 miles was of marathon status. But without the right material even the greatest of master pigeoners would find it a difficult task to succeed. Therefore our subject at the time had at his disposal Irish racing pigeon gold. For both requirements are a necessary ingredient if one is to reach the heights that this Bannsider experienced. And since those record breaking and record making days in the 60s of the recently departed century the McDonnell lofts have had other successes including winning the N.I.P.A.Open recently from Clonmel while beating almost 29,000 of a convoy into the north of the land of the shamrock (just as I finish this article).