Carrick Advertiser – Larne & Ballyclare Gaz 18/07/13

Hard Kings Cup from St Allouestre – Ballyclare loft Best in Centre

The Blue Riband race for the INFC the Kings Cup Grand National was flown on Friday 5^th July from Saint Allouestre a new point close to the previous one at Vannes. 2,332 birds were race marked at the Lisburn Centre on the Tuesday and the liberation on Friday was at 7.00am in a Lt North Easterly wind. It turned out a hard race which was won in the Portadown area by one of the stars of the sport Ronnie Williamson of Bondhill. This loft has won almost everything with over 50 x 1^st Open NIPA and had twice been 2^nd Open in the Kings Cup event. His bird was timed at 18.37hrs flying 480 miles to record velocity 1212.

Ron’s 2013 INFC King’s Cup winner has been named Rab’s Delight after his late father. Rab’s Delight flew the INFC Inland National Skibbereen, then the INFC Yearling National Sennen Cove, returning home hawked. He was paired up and sent to the King’s Cup sitting on 14-day eggs. His increased willingness to exercise well indicated to Ron that he had recovered from his hawk attack. Ron extends his thanks to his daughter Claire and Gerry Creaney for the part they played in the preparation. The bloodlines are that of Ron’s Champion “Lady Helen” with the inclusion of Gregg Bros & McCandless’ National winning stock and Maurice Wilkinson’s King’s Cup winning lines.

Locally the Muckamore Centre had 11 day birds and a further two dozen by lunch time on the second day, which had overall some 300 birds recorded across Ireland and all positions filled. The big early arrivals in Muckamore included B & M Gilmore from Ballyclare recording velocity 1138 for the 494 miles to finish 8^th North Sect & 9^th Open INFC and an early bird at 6.00am on the second morning from their entry of 4. They were followed by E & D McClurkin of the Ligoniel & Dist, former Nat Champions C & L Woodside also from Ballyclare, Billy McCaw from Ballymoney who timed around 21.05hrs flying 523 miles winning a Hall of Fame Diploma for the second time in just three seasons. J & N Simpson of Broughshane & District were best in Mid Antrim with a bird on the day.

Muckamore Centre St Allouestre – B & M Gilmore Ballyclare & Dist 1138, E & D McClurkin Ligoniel & Dist 1131, C & L Woodside Ballyclare & Dist 1116, W McCaw Ballymoney 1093, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1087, Speirs & Campbell Cookstown 1079, J Braniff Fortfield 1069, J Burrows Eastway 1049, N Sharpe Kingsmoss 1038, H Boyd Randalstown 996, J & N Lamb Crumlin & Dist 988, A Thompson Ballyclare & Dist 888, K Carolan Coalisland 884, B & M Gilmore 859, J Connolly Ballymoney 846, A Thompson 842, A Thompson 818, N Sharpe 814, J Cassidy Londonderry 788, A Darragh Cullybackey 784, J McGrugan Doagh & Dist 783, M Graham Ballymena 780, W Ramsey Harryville 778, R Duddy Ballyclare & Dist 771, Thompson Bros Crumlin 728, A Thompson 724, W Bleeks Coalisland 721, C Moore Ahoghill 701, M/M D Suitters Doagh & Dist 699, Grattan Bros Eastway 689, W Ramsey 689, A Gault Ballyclare & Dist 681, C & L Woodside 675, C & L Woodside 674, McManus & Mullan Ligoniel & Dist 672, D & S Graham Kingsmoss 627, R J Elliott Ballymoney 606, R Duddy 604, A Gault 593, D Jackson & Son Harryville 561, G F Lindsay Crumlin 559.

Not a lot of birds registered in the Mid Antrim Combine, just two fantastic birds on the day J & N Simpson of Broughshane & District and Hugh Boyd of Randalstown the birds finished 21^st & 54^th Open INFC. Former winner Alan Darragh was at 7.59am on the second morning taking 1^st Cullybackey, around the same time Martin Graham had 1^st Ballymena & District. Billy Ramsey timed two birds to take 1^st & 2^nd in Hasrryville, Chris Moore won his new club Ahoghill and further arrivals were recorded by D Jackson & Son and Charlie Young who enjoys this race.

Mid Antrim Combine St Allouestre – J & N Simpson Broughshane 1087, H Boyd Randalstown 996, A Darragh Cullybackey 784, M Graham Ballymena 780, W Ramsey Harryville 778, C Moore Ahoghill 701, W Ramsey 689, D Jackson & Son Harryville 561, C Young Ahoghill.

Best in Muckamore B & M Gilmore recorded the early bird in East Antrim keeping up a big long distance tradition for the Ballyclare & District with C & L Woodside well placed with two birds, Arnold Thompson with four birds, Robin Duddy and Andy Gault. E & D McClurkin from Ligoniel were runner-up in the Muckamore Centre and other good birds included Jimmy Burrows 1^st Eastway, Norrie Sharpe 1^st Kingsmoss, and J McGrugan & Son 1^st Doagh & Dist. East Antrim is a hot-bed in the longer races be it old birds or young birds, Ballyclare & Dist have a proud record.

East Antrim Combined St Allouestre – B & M Gilmore Ballyclare 1138, E & D McClurkin Ligoniel & Dist 1131, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 1116, J Burrows Eastway 1049, N Sharpe Kingsmoss 1038, A Thompson Ballyclare 888, B & M Gilmore 859, A Thompson 842, A Thompson 818, N Sharpe 814, J McGrugan & Son 783, R Duddy Ballyclare 771, A Thompson 724, M/M D Suitters Doagh & Dist 699, Grattan Bros Eastway 689, A Gault Ballyclare 681, C & L Woodside 675, C & L Woodside 674, McManus & Mullan Ligoniel 672, J & S Graham Kingsmoss 627,

R Duddy 604, A Gault 593.

Doagh & District will be running their Golden Ring Nom this year again. There will be two races Talbenny as young birds and Penzance as old birds, it is £20 a ring nom and open to NIPA Section B & C fanciers only. Closing date is Monday after second Young Bird race. There will be £500 for each race winner. Lost: In the local Doagh area by new start Blue GB13E 38054, Tel: 07985 575399.

Race/Date

Saint Allouestre 05/07/13

East/Mid Antrim Clubs Saint Allouestre –

Ballyclare & District – B & M Gilmore 1138, C & L Woodside 1116, A Thompson 888, B & M Gilmore 859, A Thompson 842, 818, R Duddy 771, A Thompson 724, A Gault 681, C & L Woodside 675, 674, R Duddy 604, A Gault 593.

Ligoniel & District – E & D McClurkin 1131, McManus & Mullan 672.

Ballymoney HPS 8/20 – W McCaw 1093, J Connolly 846, R J Elliott 606. One bird on the day and two arrivals on the second day. Billy McCaw times his Dark Cheq “Greystone Dawn” to win Ballymoney again flying 523 miles this hen was the only bird in race time in last year’s Kings Cup flying 531 miles. This is her fourth time in the clock from France and will win a “HALL OF FAME” award. This will be his second Hall of Fame award in two years, some racing. John Connolly had another good result having won the NIPA Portland OB Nat the previous week.

Dervock RPS 3/7 – W McCaw 1093. Only bird in race time.

Broughshane & District – J & N Simpson 1087.

Eastway – J Burrows 1049, Grattan Bros 689.

Kingsmoss – Norrie Sharpe 1038, 814, J & S Graham 627.

Randalstown – H Boyd 996.

Crumlin & District – J & N Lamb 988, Thompson Bros 728, G F Lindsay 559.

Glenavy & District – I Gibb & Sons 974, D Coulter 681.

Cullybackey – A Darragh 784.

Doagh & District – J McGrugan & Son 783, M/M D Suitters 699.

Ballymena & District – M Graham 780.

Harryville HPS – W Ramsey 778, 689, D Jackson & Son 561.

Ahoghill Flying Club – C Moore 701, C Young.

Photo Captions

Brian & Mervyn Gilmore from Ballyclare had best local bird in the Kings Cup.

Arnold Thompson from Ballyclare had 4 birds on the second morning in the Kings Cup race from France.

Jim McGrugan had the best bird in Doagh & District.