Farming Life - Wednesday 02/07/14

[willie reynolds]

The Premier Old Bird National & Derby from St Malo in France followed the trend of the earlier races of the cross channel season, very hard and a lot of empty perches. As I write the race is still in progress, liberation was at 7.30am on Sunday 29th June in a Light West, NW wind having been held over the previous day due to poor conditions over the route. The total arrivals from St Malo on Monday night at 10.00pm was 72 with 2 Centres unaccounted for - Larne 5 birds, Lisburn 6 birds, Dromore 3 birds, Newry 9 birds, Doagh 4 birds, Ligoniel 6 birds, Loughgall 13 birds, Coalisland 6 birds, Killyleagh 4 birds, Cullybackey 8 birds, Derry 1 bird, Carrick 1 bird, Coleraine 2 birds, Lurgan 4 birds. We have been unable to contact Portadown or Muckamore. There are a total of 130 open prizes in this race and it is still open for a further day. The website will be updated tomorrow evening when more information should be available. Congratulations to Hector Cordner on winning 1st Open, he had the only bird on the day in the NIPA timed in Annaghmore at 23.08hrs. The Cordner loft has had a fantastic 12 months winning the Blue Riband Grand National for Young Birds in last season’s Penzance and now winning the big NIPA event out of France.

Mid Antrim Combine arrivals on the second day – Danny Dixon from Ballymoney timed at 5.53am followed by Roy Clements Harryville 7.41am, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 10.17am, Martin Graham Ballymena & Dist at 10.17am & 10.21am, McAlonan Bros Ballymena & Dist 12.33pm, Hugh Boyd Randalstown 1.13pm, William Livingstone 6.27pm and H & R McCloy Cullybackey 6.38pm.

The race is full of great stories for those lucky enough to get a bird, a full report will follow at the close of the race. East Down Combine have now 17 birds reported with just one bird on the day to R McDowell & Son of Annsborough at 21.26hrs. Ulster Federation had two birds early on the second morning in the Grosvenor, John Ramsey at 6.30am and A & A Fearon at 9.01am. Race marking for the Blue Riband Kings Cup from Saint Allouestre was due on Tuesday but was delayed due to a poor forecast for this Friday. All the detailed reports will be published next week.

Testing race from Penzance -

In the penultimate week of the old bird season prior to the long distance events from France the NIPA birds were raced from Penzance with a comeback event arranged from Roscrea. Despite the fantastic weather conditions on the longest day of the year the Northerly wind was always going to be a big feature. Birds were liberated in Penzance at 7.30am in a NN East wind and the Roscrea convoy at 9.00am in a Lt Northerly wind. The Roscrea birds were home first taking over 3 hours for the approx. 140 miles, Penzance was a lot more difficult. Early birds here made good time but it turned out another hard race with a lot of lofts failing to time any arrivals.

From Penzance John Connolly had a big early bird up into Ballymoney to take 1st Sect B while John Millar of Randalstown took 1st in the Mid Antrim Combine. Steele & McNeill of Rasharkin who have had a very good year with a small team win the Champions League for Rasharkin for the second time. The best bird in Ballymena was timed in Drumtara by the MDC Magill partnership at 5.33pm flying 327 miles.

Mid Antrim Combine Penzance 39/196 - J Millar Randalstown 975, D Dixon Rasharkin 971, MDC Magill Ballymena 957, D Dixon 945, A Darragh Cullybackey 916, D Dixon 909, D Dixon 885, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 882, McFarlane & Agnew Kells 881, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 878, Steele & McNeill 872, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 866, Gibson & Dickey Cullybackey 856, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 854, A Darragh 842, A Darragh 839, W & J Smyth Ballymena 832, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 822, A Darragh 805, J Orr & Son Ahoghill 805, W & J Smyth 801, A Darragh 786, J Millar & Son Harryville 756, A Darragh 739, T R Alexander & Son Ballymena 738.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Penzance

Ballymena & District HPS 15/55 – MDC Magill 957, W & J Smyth 832, 801, T R Alexander & Son 738. MDC Magill win the £50 Show Special, T R Alexander & Son win Bobby Law Cup for 1st Yearling.

Cullybackey 9/99 – A Darragh 916, Reid Bros & McCloy 878, Gibson & Dickey 856, A Darragh 842, 839, 805, 786, 739, B Herbison 706, A Darragh 704.

Rasharkin & District 7/36 – Steele & McNeill 882, 872. Steele & McNeill take the Red Card from Penzance. Danny Dixon: 971.666, 945.430, 909.045, 885.911.

Ahoghill Flying Club 9/47 – Young McManus & Sons 866, M/M Robinson 854, 822, J Orr & Son 805. Nice photo of Paddy McManus with grandchildren Erin and Joel after winning todays races from Roscrea and Penzance.

Harryville 6/54 – J Millar & Son 756, G Price 678.

Kells & District – McFarlane & Agnew 881.

Randalstown 7/35 – J Millar 975, Stewart Bros 700, Houston Bros 678, D Logan & Son 666, Houston Bros 663.

Mid Antrim Combine Penzance OB Classic - J Millar Randalstown 975, D Dixon Rasharkin 971, MDC Magill Ballymena 957, D Dixon 945, A Darragh Cullybackey 916, D Dixon 909, D Dixon 885, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 882, McFarlane & Agnew Kells 881, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 878, Steele & McNeill 872, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 866, Gibson & Dickey Cullybackey 856, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 854, A Darragh 842, A Darragh 839, W & J Smyth Ballymena 832, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 822, A Darragh 806, W & J Smyth 801, A Darragh 786, J Millar & Son Harryville 756, A Darragh 739, B Herbison Cullybackey 706.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Penzance Classic

Randalstown – J Millar 975, Stewart Bros 700, Houston Bros 678, D Logan & Son 666, Houston Bros 663.

Ballymena & District HPS 13/41 - MDC Magill 957, W & J Smyth 832, 801.
The Magill partnership win the Penzance & Penzance Classic which turned out to be
another tough fly with the wind being from the North. Their 2 year old Cheq Pied cock has been timed on many occasions on the channel including the Yearling Nat last year. This year he was timed in Talbenny before being set up for the OB Classic. His breeding is Busschaert from Chris Houston who has the best of these bloodlines while the dam is Jos Thone from A Cousins & Sons (Belfast). The partnership slipped the winner a small baby 2 days before. It certainly motivated this fine pigeon to win and will be well placed in both the Sect & Open result. Congratulations on this fine win, on a very hard day with just 3 birds in the club.

Cullybackey 9/99 – A Darragh 916, Reid Bros & McCloy 878, Gibson & Dickey 856, A Darragh 842, 839, 805, 786, 739, B Herbison 706, A Darragh 704.

Rasharkin & District 5/33 – Steele & McNeill 882, 872. Steele & McNeill top the club from Penzance Classic. Danny Dixon: 971.666, 945.430, 909.045, 885.911.

Kells & District – McFarlane & Agnes 881.

Ahoghill Flying Club – Young McManus & Sons 866, M/M Robinson 854, 822.

Harryville HPS 6/37 – J Millar & Son 756, G Price 621, R H Clements 605, G Price 526, 474, 461, R H Clements 438, Wray & McFadden 432, J Millar & Son 428, G Price 415, R H Clements 382.

Kells & District loft’s best from Roscrea -

For the first time we had a comeback race on the same day as Penzance, liberation in Roscrea was at 9.00am in a Lt Northerly wind, the best local birds were timed in Kells & District. Surgenor Bros were to get some compensation after missing out on the Champions League topping the MAC on velocity 1282 followed by B Swann & Son. For Surgenor Bros it was the 4 x 1st in MAC old bird season, super flying, the Roscrea result was dominated by Kells & District lofts. Race Sheets and Vaccination Forms need to be with member clubs two weeks prior to the young bird racing, Ballymena & Dist members should return same to either W Reynolds or J Harris. Homer will start training Tuesday 15th July collecting at usual points. Lost: Red Pied GB13F 31754, check lofts please and telephone 07538 238364. RPRA award claims should be made to Robert Reid immediately, best individual bird performance from Talbenny & Penzance. Also the distance awards for both Adult & Young Fancier. Full report on the France races next week, there were no NIPA birds on the day from St Malo.

Mid Antrim Combine Roscrea 55/589 – Surgenor Bros Kells 1282, B Swann & Son Kells 1269, Mrs M Smyth Broughshane 1264, D Dixon Rasharkin 1251, D Dixon 1250, H Boyd Kells 1250, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1246, G McDowell Kells 1244, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1240, G McDowell 1238, H Boyd 1237, G McDowell 1234, H Boyd 1234, J Millar & Son Harryville 1233, Surgenor Bros 1231, B Swann & Son 1230, D Dixon 1230, G McDowell 1226, D Dixon 1225, J Millar & Son 1225, A Darragh Cullybackey 1222, G McDowell 1222, Steele & McNeill 1220, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1219.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Roscrea

Kells & District 8/113 – Surgenor Bros 1282, B Swann & Son 1269, H Boyd 1250, G McDowell 1244, 1238, H Boyd 1237, G McDowell 1234, H Boyd 1234. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Surgenor Bros 1282, H Boyd 1234, B Swann & Son 1218, Scott & Clements 1215, H Boyd 1203.

Broughshane & District 3/18 – Mrs M Smyth 1264, J & N Simpson 1219, Purvis & Connolly 1216, Purvis & Connolly 1201, J & N Simpson 1200.

Rasharkin & District 8/75 – Steele & McNeill 1246, 1220, T Kaczynski 1169, A C & T Tweed 1161, W & J McLean 1153, H Cubitt 1130, P McDonald 1130, W & J McLean 1116. Steele & McNeill take the Red Card with their good Ad van Berkal widowhood cock. This bird wins for the fourth time this season previously topping the Section and Combine from Rosscarbery. Danny Dixon: 1251.993, 1250.832, 1230.011, 1225.633.

Ahoghill FC 11/93 – Young McManus & Sons 1240, D Lowry 1199, J Smyth & Son 1193, J Balmer 1192, J Smyth & Son 1191, C Moore 1185, J Balmer 1185, C Moore 1175, 1175, 1175.

Harryville HPS 7/77 – J Millar & Son 1233, 1225, 1216, 1202, R H Clements 1199, 1199, J Millar & Son 1196, 1196, T Johnston & Son 1185, J Millar & Son 1177.

Cullybackey 8/128 – A Darragh 1222, Gibson & Dickey 1215, J & J Greer 1205, D Robinson 1201, C McDowell 1199, Gibson & Dickey 1197, A Darragh 1195, Reid Bros & McCloy 1182, C McDowell 1168, J & J Greer 1164, Reid Bros & McCloy 1161, N & S Anderson 1160. Members and friends have been sad to learn that Old Hand Alfie Greenwood has passed away at an advanced age, he was still training some birds earlier in the year. The Greenwood name was prominent in the results for many years and he especially liked the long distance events from France where he scored on many occasions. Sincere condolences to the family circle at this sad time.

Ballymena & District HPS 10/85 – W & J Smyth 1202, McFall & McManus 1199, W & J Smyth 1196, 1196, McAlonan Bros 1188, 1188, Richmond Bros 1176, McFall & McManus 1173, Blair & Rankin 1167, 1166.

Photo Captions

Hector Cordner from Annaghmore won last seasons INFC Penzance Blue Riband YB Nat and now wins the Premier OB Nat in the NIPA from St Malo in France.

Danny Dixon (l) holding the "Danske Kid" 1st MAC & 1st NIPA Sect B from St Malo, with NIPA Vice President Anthony McDonnell.

Kells Chairman Brian Swann (l) congratulated the MAC winner from Roscrea Jeff Surgenor.