Alan Darragh wins 1st MAC Talbenny –

Alan Darragh 1st MAC & 1st Sect B Talbenny (2).

The latest race from Talbenny was much better than the week previous from the same point, liberation was again at 8.30am, wind conditions were North East. Alan Darragh from Cullybackey had the best local bird timed at 13.16hrs to record velocity 1357, this bird was 2^nd Club last week. Danny Dixon was next best followed by Young McManus & Sons 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd in Ahoghill and then G & A Eagleson 1^st Ballymena & Dist, his bird also 2^nd Club last week. Champions League lofts were 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd in MAC – how do you compete with that? Jimmy Rock who had 1^st Harryville knocked out last season’s winners Reid Bros & McCloy.

The Quarter Final of the Champions League was flown from Talbenny (2). J Millar & Son (Harryville) v D Dixon (Rasharkin), A Darragh (Cullybackey) v J & N Simpson (Broughshane), J Rock (Harryville) v Reid Bros & McCloy (Cullybackey), Young McManus & Sons (Ahoghill) v Surgenor Bros (Kells). Winners were Danny Dixon, Alan Darragh, Jimmy Rock and Young McManus & Sons. The Fermoy 5 Bird entry fees will be collected in Cullybackey on Thursday 13th June between 8.30 and 9.30pm, race marking on Friday 14th June between 4.00 and 6.00pm.

Mid Antrim Combine Talbenny (2) 87/869 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1357, D Dixon Rasharkin 1341, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1333, Young McManus & Sons 1325, G & A Eagleson Ballymena 1316, McAlonan Bros Ballymena 1305, G & A Eagleson 1302, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1301, D Dixon 1298, Mrs M Smyth Kells 1296, J Rock Harryville 1295, Young McManus & Sons 1293, L Mullan Harryville 1291, H & R McCloy Cullybackey 1291, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1288, D Dixon 1285, A Darragh 1284, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1884, S Steele Cullybackey 1282, Surgenor Bros Kells 1281, D Dixon 1280, D Dixon 1275, Balmer T Young & Sons Ahoghill 1274, A Darragh 1274, J & N Simpson 1273, J & N Simpson 1270, J Millar & Son 1265, J & N Simpson 1265,  Russell Bros Cullybackey 1265, S Steele 1264.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Talbenny (2) –

Cullybackey HPS 14/148 – A Darragh 1357, H & R McCloy 1291, A Darragh 1284, S Steele 1282, A Darragh 1274, Russell Bros 1265, S Steele 1264, A Darragh 1250, Russell Bros 1249, J & J Greer 1249, Reid Bros & McCloy 1242, Russell Bros 1239.

Ahoghill Flying Club 12/153 – Young McManus & Sons 1333, 1325, 1293, Balmer Young & Sons 1274, C Young 1263, J Smyth & Son 1255, Young McManus & Sons 1249, C Young 1231, M/M Robinson 1228, C Moore 1228.

Ballymena & District 15/124 – G & A Eagleson 1316, McAlonan Bros 1305, G & A Eagleson 1302, J Harris 1261, M Graham 1260, G Barr 1258, W & J Smyth 1253, Blair & Rankin 1252, J McNaghten & Son 1251, M/M Sempey 1247. George & Ann Eagleson have the best bird in the club today from Talbenny. Their good yearling cock was 2nd Club, 2nd Sect last week and put in another top performance today into a north east wind.

Ballykeel Invitation – M/M M Sempey 1247, K & K Kernohan 1194, M/M M Sempey 1184.

Broughshane & District 6/44 – J & N Simpson 1301, 1273, 1270, 1265, D Houston & Son 1243, 1212, T & E Service 1172, C Kennedy 1117, 1086, J Getty 928. J & N Simpson won both Talbenny races with the top four positions in each.

Kells & District 10/98 – Mrs M Smyth 1296, Surgenor Bros 1281, Mrs M Smyth 1251, B Swann & Son 1239, 1239, 1224, A Barkley & Son 1218, 1216, G McDowell 1212, McFarlane & Agnew 1211. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – B Swann & Son 1224, A Barkley & Son 1216, Surgenor Bros 1208, R Herron & Son 1207, G McDowell 1191.

Harryville HPS 11/128 – J Rock 1295, L Mullan 1291, J Millar & Son 1265, A McBride 1259, J & C Letters 1257, J Millar & Son 1256, 1256, R H Clements 1252, A McBride 1246, J Rock 1238. Jimmy timed a 2 year old Grizzle cock, the sire Grondelaer/Hybrecht came from Gerald Delaney. The dam was a Grizzle hen bred from a pair of birds from Ronnie McCaughern and Bill McClure, full of distance bloodlines. The winner was timed a minute short of 5 hours flying 220 miles to Albert Place.

Rasharkin & District 9/83 – H Cubitt 1288, Steele & McNeill 1284, H Cubitt 1258, A C & T Tweed 1251, WJ & RJ Reid 1238, J & D Surgenor 1226. Danny Dixon – 1341, 1298, 1285, 1280, 1275. Race sponsored by Finvoy Tyre Services.

Randalstown 10/91 – Houston Bros 1245, J Millar 1234, Stewart Bros 1238, Houston Bros 1231, W & W Gilbert 1213, H Boyd 1207, Houston Bros 1206, Stewart Bros 1204.