The big early bird into Mid Antrim where only two dozen birds made home lofts on the day was timed by Danny Dixon of the Ballynacaldrick Lofts in Dunloy. He takes 1st Ballymoney, 1st MAC, 1st Sect B & 18th Open NIPA with 4,389 birds competing doing velocity 900ypm. This 2 year old Blue cock the best of his Lambrecht/Jacobs was one of only three birds home in the club. He is a full brother to Suarez who won the RPRA Merit Award in 2013, brothers and sisters of this bird have won 13 x 1sts into Ballymoney HPS. Next best was Paddy McManus the ace racer in Ahoghill Flying Club doing velocity 894. The Champions League competition was delayed for one week, at Truro for the semi-final Steele & McNeill progressed at the expense of M/M M Sempey and the other match was a photo finish with Surgenor Bros (Kells) on 815 just ahead on J & N Simpson (Broughshane) on 812. A new name will appear on the trophy when the final is flown from Penzance this weekend Steele & McNeill of Rasharkin & District v Surgenor Bros of Kells.
Mid Antrim Combine Truro 50/413 – D Dixon Rasharkin 900, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 894, D Dixon 865, J & C Letters Harryville 846, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 841, Houston Bros Randalstown 841, J Balmer Ahoghill 834, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 833, J Millar & Son Harryville 819, Surgenor Bros Kells 815, Stewart Bros Randalstown 813, J & N Simpson Broughshane 812, McFall & McManus Ballymena 812, D Robinson Cullybackey 787, C McDowell Cullybackey 784, J Millar & Son 769, W & J Smyth Ballymena 765, S McKendry Cullybackey 748, A Darragh Cullybackey 716, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 714, M/M Robinson 704, C Young Ahoghill 695, A Darragh 657.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Truro
Ahoghill Flying Club 9/65 – Young McManus & Sons 894, M/M Robinson 841, J Balmer 834, M/M Robinson 704, C Young 695. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Young McManus & Sons 894, M/M Robinson 704.
Harryville HPS 6/63 – J & C Letters 846, J Millar & Son 819, 769.
Randalstown 7/36 – Houston Bros 841, Stewart Bros 813.
Rasharkin & District 5/35 – Steele & McNeill 833. Steele & McNeill take the Red Card with a Van Loon cock racing on widowhood. D Dixon: 900.404, 865.387.
Kells & District HPS 6/56 – Surgenor Bros 815.
Broughshane & District 2/16 – J & N Simpson 812.
Ballymena & District HPS 6/43 – McFall & McManus 812, W & J Smyth 765. What a week this partnership has had. Charlie is holding the 2nd Open winner
from Fermoy 5 Bird Championship and grandson William is holding the Truro winner and for good measure the McFall & McManus team win the comeback race from Mallow as well. With a strong head wind blowing all weekend this has to be one of the best performances from the partnership ever. The breeding of the 2nd Open winner is “Invincible Spirit” bloodlines and the dam is his son Paddy’s 4th Open St Malo winner which is Koopman & Van-De-Pasch. Paddy McManus is a master breeder not only for his own family but for many others across the province. Congratulations lads, fantastic racing.
Cullybackey HPS 9/99 – D Robinson 787, C McDowell 784, S McKendry 748, A Darragh 716, Reid Bros & McCloy 714, A Darragh 657.
Danny Dixon winner of 1st Mid Antrim Combine from Thuro.