The old bird season started on the best day of the weekend (not been too many of those lately), the NIPA birds were in Tullamore in County Offaly. Liberation was at 9.30am in a helping South West wind, the race was a little erratic but most lofts have reported good returns. In a fast race the best birds were at the top end, Rasharkin & District enjoyed a very good race with Milliken & Barkley topping Mid Antrim Combine on velocity 2038ypm with Steele & McNeill next best on velocity 2002. Blair & Rankin were best in Ballymena getting two birds together at 11.21am. Clubs should list their results ASAP at the weekend and we are still short of some teams for the Mid Antrim Combine Champions League.
Mid Antrim Combine Tullamore (1) 88/1817 – Milliken & Barkley Rasharkin 2038, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 2002, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1999, Blair & Rankin 1998, J & D Surgenor Rasharkin 1995, T & M Morrow Kells 1988, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1985, A Darragh Cullybackey 1968, Steele & McNeill 1968, Steele & McNeill 1967, A Darragh 1964, D Dixon Rasharkin 1963, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1963, M/M Sempey Ballymena 1962, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1962, A Darragh 1961, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1961, A Darragh 1958, Russell Bros Cullybackey 1958, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1957, Milliken & Barkley 1956, J Smyth & Son 1956, Milliken & Barkley 1955, W & J McLean Rasharkin 1955.
Best reported bird locally at the weekend was in Ballymoney HPS where over 400birds were competing, A & M Boyle are always well trained and record a fantastic velocity of 2069ypm, the husband and wife team look set to top the Mighty NIPA. Runner-up J Hutchinson & Son will be well placed doing velocity 2038 and so will the Bushmills loft of Kenny Glass who races with the Windsor Social doing 2057.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs –
Ahoghill Flying Club 12/341 – J Smyth & Son 1961, 1956, 1945, Young McManus & Sons 1940, J Smyth & Son 1938, D Stevenson 1936, A & N Young 1925, J Smyth & Son 1919, Young McManus & Sons 1918, J Smyth & Son 1916.
Ballymena & Dist 17/244 – Blair & Rankin 1999, 1998, M/M M Sempey 1962, J Harris 1953, McAlonan Bros 1948, McFall & McManus 1918, G & A Eagleson 1916, M/M M Sempey 1914, MDC Magill 1910, J Harris 1909. Champions League team W & J Smyth, Blair & Rankin, M/M M Sempey, Martin Graham. Bertie Blair has 1st & 2nd in Ballymena & Dist two birds at 11.21am flying 126 miles. The winner a Blue Pied was Soontjen & Hartog and the second bird a Delaney Special Mealy, both cocks racing on Widowhood. Well done Bertie, a great start.
Ballykeel Inv – M/M M Sempey 1962, 1914, 1905, 1901, K & K Kernohan 1878, 1875, 1874, Magowan & Maternaghan 1799.
Broughshane 5/116 – J & N Simpson 1957, 1905, A Purvis 1896, C Kennedy 1895, 1894, A Purvis 1874. Champions League lofts – J & N Simpson, A Purvis, D Houston & Son, and T & E Service.
Cullybackey 10/301 – A Darragh 1968, 1964, Russell Bros 1958, 1950, Reid Bros & McCloy 1935, 1935, J & J Greer 1929, D Robinson 1926, 1892, N & S Anderson 1820. Champions League lofts – Alan Darragh, Russell Bros, J & J Greer and Reid Bros & H McCloy.
Harryville 14/355 – A McBride 1937, J Rock 1933, J Ramsey 1931, R H Clements 1929, J Millar & Son 1921, A McBride 1919, J Millar & Son 1898, A McBride 1898, J Rock 1895, L Mullan 1895. Winner was a 2yo Blue cock racing widowhood, timed at 11.24am flying 125 miles. Sire was Hartog son of Harry Richmond’s Yearling Nat winner and the dam was Soontjen, a daughter of Spartacus.
Kells & District 12/238 – T & M Morrow 1988, Scott & Clements 1947, G McDowell 1937, McFarlane & Agnew 1928, 1921, Mrs M Smyth 1891, 1890, B Swann & Son 1888. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Scott & Clements 1882, T & M Morrow 1861.
Randalstown 10/190 – Stewart Bros 1962, 1920, J Millar 1887, Stewart Bros 1887, 1883, 1879, 1879, 1876, Houston Bros 1867, D Logan & Son 1862.
Rasharkin & District 8/139 – Milliken & Barkley 2038, Steele & McNeill 2002, J & D Surgenor 1995, A C & T Tweed 1985, Steele & McNeill 1968, 1967t, H Cubitt 1963, Milliken & Barkley 1956, 1955t, W & J McLean 1955. D Dixon – 1963, 1916. Milliken & Barkley win the opening race of the old bird season with a Soontjen yearling cock on Widowhood, Steele & McNeill were runner-up. Champions League team D Dixon, Steele & McNeill, H Cubitt and Milliken & Barkley.
