Crehan & O'Connor Catalogue

CREHAN AND O’CONNOR ( U.K. ) ( ) TOTAL AUCTION MINUS RACED YB

FROM 3RD OF NOVEMBER TILL 16TH OF NOVEMBER 2014 AT WWW.PIPA.BE

Children ‘‘Mystique’’

‘‘VITALI’’ NWHU11X4148

‘‘ROGUE’’ GB09B23250

‘‘MYSTIQUE’’ GB07L02105

«In the history of English pigeon racing never before have 2 actual nest brothers taken NATIONAL ace pigeon awards in the same season like «Vitali» and «Vladimir» have done in 2013»

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crehan and o’connor

CREHAN AND O’CONNOR CATALOGUE INTRODUCTION

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t gives me great pleasure in introducing to you a set of fanciers and pigeons of exceptional quality: Crehan and O’Connor of Salford, UK. Since an early age, pigeons have been flowing through the veins of John Crehan.

Like all second generation fanciers, John spent his apprenticeship in the loft of his father Tommy who was himself a successful fancier of his day.

In 2003, the partnership of Crehan and O’Connor was born. The senior partner is John Crehan who was assisted at this time

by Andy O’Connor. Another figure, Dave Hulmes, joined the team in 2008 with Andy’s involvement slowly fading away and so it is now only John and Dave who care for and race their team of exceptional pigeons.

Right from the outset, John went about purchasing the best pigeons he could afford at the time. He sought the advice of another partnership that has excelled in the Manchester area at during this period: Wall, Lunt & Green of Irlam. On the partners’ advice John and Andy acquired some pigeons of the Peter Van De Merwe family.

Success soon followed as they topped their federation almost instantly and they literally haven’t stopped winning since!

Their family today is almost a cocktail of modern, winning pigeons. During the past 4 years alone the Crehan and O’Connor

partnership has averaged over 25 x 1st prizes and 5 x 1st federations per year.

They have topped the combine every single year since 2008 in all racing from 69 miles up to 390 miles with the combine having over 200 members and sending up to 6000 birds. Thus the partners have only considered introducing birds that are good enough to enhance their already successful team. To their mainly Janssen-based family of Peter Van De Merwe, they have introduced some pigeons from Syndicate Lofts, Gerard Koopman, the Eijerkamp family, Danny van Dyke, Leo Heremans and also some Andre Verbesselt birds.

This combination of bloodlines has kept the partnership firmly at the top; both in Manchester and the UK pigeon sport.

The partners have only ever sent to the Million Dollar Pigeon Race in Johannesburg on 2 occasions. In the 2010/11 series they had Plutology (the best pre final race pigeon ever) who had 12 x top 100 positions and won over $20,000 in pools and prize money.

They also had a full brother to Plutology, Nosey Nestmate, who also had 8 top 100 finishes winning a large amount of money.

The 3rd of the 3 full brothers/sisters they sent was Spanish Identity which was 120th in the Final race winning a share of the $500 pools. These 3 youngsters were all bred from Olympic Wolverine and Mystique.

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In the 2012/13 series they won 1st UK, 9th open in the Grand Averages from an initial entry of over 6000 birds with Lucky Tots.

This ace racer was bred from Clean Slate when he was paired to Bass Kick (half-sister to Mystique) and again won the $500 pools and $18000 in pool/prize money. They are the only fanciers to win the $500 pools for 2 years in succession; an accomplishment of which they are extremely proud especially when you consider all of the household names that compete at Sun City.

The sale promises to be one of the best auctions ever to emanate from the UK. Included in the sale are some truly remarkable racing and breeding pigeons.

Onto the open market will come pigeons such as Mystique: the 2nd national ace sprint RPRA winner of 2010, Clean Slate: the sire of the fantastic-racing nest pair Vitali and Vladimir, Colt 45: North West Region RPRA Award winner 2011, Blue Flash: the 6 x 1st prize winner and ace breeder and Olympic Wolverine: winner of 1st UK and 4th Olympiad Poznan 2011 Yearling category.

These bloodlines have proven themselves in the highest level of competition available in the UK and beyond. You simply won’t find any better than this!

Carwyn Harris

OPENING THE VAULT TO THE CROWN JEWELS OF GREAT BRITAIN : Crehan and O’Connor of Salford (UK) Since the birth of their partnership in 2003, Crehan and O’Connor have let nothing stand in their way of achieving top-level results with their team of racing pigeons. Considering the quality of both their breeding and racing lofts, I therefore ask: will a better team of pigeons be offered for sale in 2014?

Always at the top

John Crehan and Andy O’Connor established their partnership in 2003. When sourcing a family of pigeons to race, they had sought the advice of another of Manchester’s ace partnerships in the form of Wall, Lunt and Green. On their advice, John and Andy acquired the best lines from Peter van de Merwe of Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Success was almost instant as they won 1st Altrincham & District federation in their forth young bird race. Since this time, the Crehan and O’Connor partnership has averaged over 25 x 1st prizes and 5 x 1st federations per year. They have topped the combine every single year since 2008 in all racing from 69 miles up to 390 miles with the combine having over 200 members and sending up to 6000 birds. 2014 has been another magical season as the partnership won 18 x 1st club, 5 x 1st federation with the stand-out performance being their 1st club, federation and combine win from 6300 pigeons with their yearling cock, named Bullet.

The crown jewels

To find one or even two proven, exceptional racing and breeding pigeons in a sale is rare.

However within the sale list of Crehan and O’Connor, you will find a horde!

In this catalogue, we introduce some to you.

A glittering past, present and future

Crehan and O’Connor have enjoyed a meteoric rise to the very top in the UK pigeon fancy and have most certainly stayed there! Both John, Andy and in latter year Dave could only have dreamed about the success they would achieve in the pigeon sport when they began their partnership in 2003. On top of that, their breed is contributing to the excellent performances being put up by other fanciers; as Young Merlin illustrated in 2014. I therefore pose the question again: will a better collection of pigeons be available to purchase in 2014?

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Vitali and Vladmir

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hese two racing machines were 1st (Vladmir) and 2nd (Vitali) in the RPRA North West Region sprint category awards with 1800 competing members. Vitali then went on to gain 1st RPRA allround pigeon in the whole of the U.K (28000 members) with Vladmir achieving 3rd in the RPRA sprint pigeon category. This is the first time that such a performance has been achieved with nest mates.

In 2013, Crehan and O’Connor raced a pair of nest-brothers who between them recorded a series of remarkable results.

Vitali and Vladmir achieved the following performances: 1st club 240 birds, 1st fed 1324 birds, 1st combine 2947 birds.

1st club 169 birds, 1st fed 802 birds, 1st combine 1686 birds.

1st club 126 birds, 2nd fed 1026 birds, 6th combine 3708 birds.

1st club 264 birds, 3rd fed 1499 birds, 8th combine 3305 birds.

1st club 151 birds, 4th fed 1024 birds, 7th combine 1960 birds.

1st club 114 birds, 3rd fed 743 birds.

1st club 80 birds, 2nd fed 700 birds.

2nd club 264 birds, 4th fed 1499 birds, 9th combine 3305 birds.

4th club 151 birds, 5th fed 743 birds.

4th club 126 birds, 10th fed 1026 birds, 20th combine 3708 birds.

6th club 240 birds, 14th fed 1324 birds, 16th combine 2947 birds.

9th club 200 birds, 17th fed 1085 birds, 40th combine 2403 birds.

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‘‘MYSTIQUE’’ - GB07-L02105 2nd National Ace Sprint RPRA 28000 members 2010 • Winner of : ( No Doubles ) 1st prizes only 1st Cheltenham 4,316 birds 171km 1st Mangotsfield 3,801 birds 219km 1st Cheltenham 1,558 birds 171km 1st Portland 570 birds (3rd 3,055 birds) 322km 1st Kempsey 318 birds 147km 1st Cheltenham 45 birds 171km 1st Cheltenham 117 birds 171km • Mother of : Vitali 1st Nat Ace RPRA 2013 All round award 28,000 members • Mother of : 6 x 1st UK in Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race & Algarve Golden one loft race • Also mother of : (1st prizes only no doubles) 1st combine Portland 3,046 birds 322km 1st combine 2,947 birds 1st Kempsey 1,337 birds 147km 1st Carentan France 1,685 birds 400km (2nd combine 5,755 birds) 1st fed. 499 birds 1st fed. 1,455 birds 1st fed. 619 birds 1st club 114 birds 1st club 126 birds 1st club 151 birds 1st club 264 birds

BREEDING WONDER ‘‘Drum’’ Super Breeder and son to Tips X Geschelpst Kannibaaltje

‘‘Doran’’ Daughter Ermerveens Hope X Golden Lady

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‘‘CLEAN SLATE’’ - GB07-B41341 Winner of 1st Lancashire Nantes 2 bird race Portland

SUPER BREEDER

• 3rd Bamfords Gold Ring Race Poole 1,300 birds 300km • Sire of : (1st prize winners only) 1st fed. Cheltenham 1,455 birds • Vitali 1st NW Region RPRA All round Award 2013 1,800 members 2nd NW Region RPRA sprint award 0-250 miles 2013 (Beaten only by nest brother Vladmir) 1,800 members 1st National Ace All round Award of the RPRA 2013 28,000 members In 2012 winner of 1st Kempsey 253 birds 1st fed. 1,337 birds 1st prize combine 1,685 birds 2nd prize combine 5,300 birds 290 miles (400km) 1st prize fed. 499 bird 2nd prize combine 1,072 birds 1st club 114 birds 1st club 126 birds 1st prize combine 2,947 birds 1st prize 264 birds 1st prize 151 birds • Vladmir winner of : 1st Cheltenham 2,947 birds 107 miles 1st Cheltenham 177 birds 107 miles 1st Mangotsfield 151 birds 137 miles 1st Mangotsfield 264 birds 137 miles • Gsire Blue Flash winner of : 1st club Cheltenham 243 birds 107 miles 1st club Wollaston 209 birds 69 miles 1st club Cheltenham 125 birds 107 miles 1st club Mangotsfield 152 birds 137 miles • Gsire : GB10B31103 1st club Tewksbury 70 birds 101 miles 1st club Cheltenham 96 birds 107 miles 1st club Cheltenham 227 birds 107 miles (2nd combine 3,143 birds) 1st club Cheltenham 222 birds 107 miles 7

‘‘COLT 45’’ - GB09-B23245 • Winner of : (No doubles) NW Region RPRA Award winner 2011

1st Cheltenham Combine 3,143 birds

‘‘R.I.P’’ Super breeder

1st fed. Tewksbury 361 birds 1st club Tewksbury 161 birds 2nd Cheltenham 1,151 birds 107 miles 2nd fed. Tewsbury 288 birds

‘‘Spitfire’’ Original Koopman

6th combine Portland 5,584 birds 201 miles 10th combine 3,704 birds 28th combine Cheltenham 3,104 birds 107 miles 38th combine Mangotsfield 6,331 birds 137 miles • Sire of : “Ronaldo” 3 x 1st UK Algarve one loft race (5th,

10th, 11th Open)

• Sire of : nest mate Ronaldo 1st Club 4th fed. 6th combine • Gsire of : WHU”69 One of the best pigeons in Wales 2014

As a yb 2014 a winner of : SWINDON 68 miles 1st Club 199 birds ,1st Cynon Valley Amal 428 birds, 1st Centre Sec Rhondda Valley fed. 2,084 birds & 1st Open Rhondda Valley fed. 4,316 birds 10th August 2014 - SWINDON 68 miles 1st Club 300 birds 1st Cynon Valley Amal 685 birds, 3rd Centre sec Rhondda Valley fed. 2,310 birds & 4th Open Rhondda Valley fed.

5,165 birds 16th August 2014 - NEWBURY 89 miles 2nd Club 356 birds, 2nd Cynon Valley Amal 601 birds, 19th Open Rhondda Valley fed. 5,078 birds 23rd August 2014 - EPSOM 136 miles 1st Club 246 birds 4th Cynon Valley Amal 466 birds 31st August 2014 MAIDSTONE 171 miles 1st Club 129 birds , 1st Cynon Valley Amal 381 birds, 1st Centre Sec 1,545 birds 2nd Open Rhondda Valley fed. 3,167 birds, 3rd Centre Section Welsh SE National & 4th OPEN Welsh SE National 2,706 birds 8

‘‘VITALI’’ - NWHU11X4148 ‘‘Clean Slate’’

‘‘Mystique’’

• Winner of : 1st National ace pigeon All round Award of the RPRA 28,000 members 2013 (0-450 miles) 1st Kempsey 253 birds 1st fed. 1,337 birds 1st prize combine 1,685 birds 2nd prize combine 5,300 birds 290 miles (400km) 1st prize fed. 499 birds 2st prize combine 1,072 birds 1st club 114 birds 1st club 126 birds 1st prize combine 2,947 birds 1st prize 264 birds 1st prize 151 birds 9

‘‘OLYMPIC WOLVERINE’’ - GB09-N04319

OLYMPIC PIGEON

• Winner of : 1st UK 4th Olympiad Poznan 2011 Yearling category 1st Swainswick 2,660 birds 141 miles 2nd Swainswick 2,638 birds 141 miles 2nd Cheltenham 1,654 birds 107 miles 4th Cheltenham 3,090 birds 107 miles 5th Portland 2,315 birds 200 miles • Sire of : Plutology, Nosey Nestate, Spanish identity, 30 x top 100 position in 2011 South African million dollar race

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‘‘LISA’’ - GB08-B02183

• Winner of : 1st federation Cheltenham 1,055 birds 107 miles 1st federation Wollaston 710 birds 69 miles 1st Combine Portland 1,811 birds 201 miles • Dam of 5 x 1st prize winners

‘‘R.I.P’’ Super breeder

‘‘Spitfire’’ Original Koopman

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‘‘DHD’’ - NL08-1564832

‘‘ROSIE’’ - NL08-1545546

• Sire of : 10 x 1st club winners 1st 1,328 birds 1st NWCC 800 birds 1st 1,238 birds 1st 1,800 birds • Gsire : 1st 1,456 birds 1st 1,233 birds 1st 904 birds 1st 856 birds

• Dam of : 10 x 1st club winners 1st 1,328 birds 1st NWCC 800 birds 1st 1,238 birds 1st 1,800 birds • GDam : 1st 1,456 birds 1st 1,233 birds 1st 904 birds 1st 856 birds

SUPER PAIR

X

Original Peter Van de Merwe 12

‘‘ROGUE’’ - GB09-B23250 DIRECT DAUGHTER MYSTIQUE

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• Winner of : 1st Portland 3,046 birds 201 miles 1st Mangotsfield 1,133 birds 137 miles 1st Park FC Cheltenham 278 birds 1st Park FC Kempsey 173 birds

‘‘DAUGHTER DE JAN’’ - BE12-6123688 ORIGINAL LEO HEREMANS

• Dam, in just 1 seasons breeding, of : 1st fed. 1,234 birds 2nd fed. 1,800 birds 3rd 961 birds

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‘‘CRACKERJACK’’ SON ‘‘JACKPOT’’ NL12-1231265

‘‘NEVADA’’ SON ‘‘LAS VEGAS’’ NL11-1724034

• Sire of : in one year of breeding: No doubles 2nd Club 156 birds Mangotsfield 220 km 3rd Yeovil 153 birds 283 km 36th Falaise Combine 3,007 birds (91st 7,048 birds) 450 km • Gsire : 1st fed. 2,020 birds

• Brother to : 1st NPO 6,179 birds 1st Mantes 2,575 birds • Sire of : GB12D06112 blue hen, 1st club 213 birds Talbenny, 22nd Section 1,759 birds, 151st Open NIPA 13,771 birds and 41st Section 2,135 birds Fermoy, 132rd Open NIPA 17,691 birds GB12D06135 Blue Cheq Cock, 14th Section 1,795 birds Tullamore, 131st Open NIPA 14,733 birds and GB12D06077, Blue cheq hen, 20th Section 2,987 birds Roscrea, 134th Open NIPA 25,007 birds

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‘‘GREY LADY’’ DTR OF CLEAN SLATE NWHU11X4164

‘‘DEVASTATION’’ FULL BTR ‘‘PLUTOLOGY’’ GB11-B46122 DIRECT SON TO SUPER PAIR ‘‘OLYMPIC WOLVERINE’’ X ‘‘MYSTIQUE’’

• Winner of : 1st Combine Messac 1,035 birds 627 km 2nd Kempsey 1337 birds 120 km 4th Portland 2,377 birds 323 km • Dam of : 1st 136 birds 1st 203 birds 2nd 1,435 birds

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‘‘CHEEKY’’ NL11-1344335 ORIGINAL HANS & EVERT-JAN EIJERKAMP

• Dam of 1st : 8th Cheltenham 1,214 birds 107 miles 14th Mangotsfield 2,009 birds 137 miles • Gdam of : 3 x 1st prize winners

‘‘Ché’’ Basic breeder Hans & Evert-Jan Eijerkamp

‘‘Michelle’’, 1. NPO

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‘‘SON KANON’’ - BE12-6183861

‘‘BROTHER MAX’’ - BE11-4308779 • Sire of: 1st 203 birds • Gsire : 1st Amal 3,000 birds

• Winner Racing of: 27th Dourdan 2,568 birds 33th Orleans 340 birds 68th Dourdan 2,012 birds 88th Dourdan 3,222 birds

BRED AND RACED BY DANNY VAN DYCK

ORIGINAL ANDRÉ VERBESSELT

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‘‘BLUE FLASH’’ - NWHU09N3148 • Gson of : Clean Slate Winner of: (No doubles) 1st 1,151 birds 1st 591 birds 1st 209 birds 1st 155 birds 1st 66 birds 1st 60 birds 2nd 3,104 birds 12th 3,313 birds 17th 2,622 birds 28th 3,143 birds

• Sire of : 1st fed. Blandford 1,023 birds 127 miles 1st Club Worcester 173 birds 86 miles 1st Club Yeovil 102 birds 176 miles

• GGsire : of WHU’69 As a yb 2014 a winner of: SWINDON 68 miles 1st Open Rhondda Valley fed. 4,316 birds 10th August 2014 - SWINDON 68 miles 1st Club 300 birds 1st Cynon Valley Amal 685 birds, 3rd Centre sec Rhondda Valley fed. 2,310 birds 4th Open Rhondda Valley fed. 5,165 birds 16th August 2014 - NEWBURY 89 miles 2nd Club 356 birds, 2nd Cynon Valley Amal 601 birds, 19th Open Rhondda Valley fed. 5,078 birds 23rd August 2014 - EPSOM 136 miles 1st Club 246 birds 4th Cynon Valley Amal 466 birds 31st August 2014 MAIDSTONE 171 miles 1st Club 129 birds, 1st Cynon Valley Amal 381 birds, 1st Centre Sec 1,545 birds 2nd Open Rhondda Valley fed. 3,167 birds, 3rd Centre Section Welsh SE National & 4th OPEN Welsh SE National 2,706 birds 19

"In the history of English pigeon racing never before have 2 actual nest brothers taken NATIONAL ace pigeon awards in the same season like “Vitali” and “Vladimir” have done in 2013 Unique from “Mystique"

“DEVASTATION”

“VLADiMIR”

GB11B46122

Full brother to Plutology, Nosey Nestmate & Spanish Identity in the Sun City Million dollar race in South Africa these 3 brothers/sisters won 22 X Top 100 positions between them winning $30,000 in Pools and prizemonies

NWHU11X4147

Winner of 1st NW Region RPRA Sprint Award 0-250 miles 1800 members 2013 3rd National Ace pigeon RPRA 0-250 miles RPR 28000 members 2013 Winner of 5 x Individual 1st prizes

Crehan & O’Conner Children of “Mystique”

“MYSTIQUE” GB07L02105

“VITALI”

NWHU11X4148

Winner of 1st National Ace All round category United Kingdom 0-450 miles 2013 UK 28000 members 1st NW Region RPRA All round award 2013 1800 members 2nd NW Region RPRA Award Sprint Category 2013 1800 members Winner of 6 x Individual 1st prizes

“ROGUE”

GB09B23250

Winner of 5 x 1st Prizes Dam of winners.

Grand dam of young bird of the year in the Irish South Road Federation with up to 12,000 birds per week

2nd National Ace pigeon RPRA 0-250 miles 2010 28000 members Winner of 3 x Royal pigeon racing association awards Winner of 8 Individual 1st prizes

Photos : pigeonphotography.nl Lay-out : K10 Graphic Design

‘‘DEVASTATION’’ GB11B46122

‘‘VLADIMIR’’ NWHU11X4147

Eentveldstraat 18 B-9910 Knesselare (Belgium) P: +32 9 374 38 87 F: +32 9 236 60 32 E: sales@pipa.be W: www.pipa.be