St Malo OB Nat - Thursday 25/06/15

[willie reynolds]

Hard OB Nat from Saint Malo -

The N.I.P.A. would like to thank the members for their cooperation on getting the birds ready for Saint Malo on Tuesday morning, which allowed the lorry to leave on the 9-30pm ferry from the south of Ireland to sail straight into France it is very much appreciated .The birds arrived at the ferry at 7-00pm and got a light feed and then were watered, the water was left on the birds all night while the ferry sailed. Next morning the birds got another light feed and the drinkers topped up. The birds arrived in France today 24th June 2015 at 3-00pm our time, then they arrived on site at 6-30pm our time, they got another light feed at 7-00pm and watered. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank the two drivers for looking after the birds and putting the effort into making this possible for a Thursday morning liberation if possible ( weather permitting ).

Birds have been liberated at 7am with little to no wind, hope the returns are good...
Have a good one everyone...

The N.I.P.A. have liberated in Saint Malo at 7-00am, there was no wind at release point and they had blue sky and sunshine right up to Camborne which is approximately 25 to 30 miles north of Penzance. The wind is to pick up on route as the birds come north, it’s to go force 4 or 5 southerly later and the sea state slight to moderate, visibility moderate to good. There is to be some light rain at the home end and good luck to all.

The N.I.P.A. in conjunction with all other Irish racing organisations , racing today from St Malo , have liberated in St Malo at 7-00am, there was no wind at release point and they had blue sky and sunshine right up to Camborne which is approximately 25 to 30 miles north of Penzance. It is also crystal clear in Bude with no wind at this moment, in Fishguard there is full cloud cover with a fresh southerly wind visibility unlimited. The wind is to pick up on route as the birds come north, it’s to go force 4 or 5 southerly later and the sea state slight to moderate, visibility moderate to good. There is to be some light rain at the home end and good luck to all.

Best in Ballymena in the Old Bird Nat was Brian O’Rawe the big NIPA event was flown from St Malo on Thursday 25th June at 7.00am in a Lt Southerly wind having been marked early on Tuesday. Brian had a best ever result timing his yearling Dark Cheq hen at 6.32pm flying 473 miles to Warden Street in the town. She was flying to the perch and earlier in the INFC Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove scored 3rd Club flying almost 13 hours for vel 751 over the 332 miles. She contains a lot of his old Wildemeersch bloodlines, including stock bred by club-mate Martin Graham.

Many congratulations to Old Hand Hugh Boyd from Randalstown, seven years on the trot he has timed in the OB Nat winning 3 x 1sts and 4 x 2nds with this season best of all. He recorded his bird at 16.35hrs flying 467 miles for velocity 1430. Finishing 1st MAC, 1st Sect & 3rd Open NIPA 434/1477 and collects the Bronze Diploma, last year he finished 7th Comb & Sect plus 46th Open NIPA timing on the second day at 13.13hrs just over 100 birds home. Scott & Clements had 1st Kells & District at 17.15hrs, J & J Greer former Kings Cup winners 1st Cullybackey at 17.44hrs, William Livingstone 1st Ahoghill for the second year at 17.43hrs, Brian O’Rawe 1st Ballymena & Dist at 18.32hrs and Thomas Kaczynski 1st Rasharkin & Dist at 18.50hrs.

Mid Antrim Combine St Malo 54/136 – H Boyd Randalstown 1430, Scott & Clements Kells 1342, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1303, W Livingstone Ahoghill 1301, A Darragh Cullybackey 1293, A Darragh 1270, D Dixon Rasharkin 1222, D & H Kirkpatrick Cullybackey 1218, B O’Rawe Ballymena 1204, T Kaczynski Rasharkin 1196, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1162, Gibson & Dickey Cullybackey 1159, T R Alexander & Son Ballymena 1101, W Livingstone 1097, D Dixon 988, N & S Anderson Cullybackey 982, A Darragh 810, M Graham Ballymena 772, G Bell Ballymena 668, Houston Bros Randalstown 647, A Darragh 644, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 611, Wray & McFadden Harryville 603, W & J Smyth Ballymena 584, G Bell 582, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 581, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 562, B Swann & Son Kells 562, Wray & McFadden 555, Wray & McFadden 530, S McKendry Cullybackey 455.

NIPA Sect B St Malo 78/201 – H Boyd Randalstown 1430, R & J Parke Windsor Soc 1380, Scott & Clements Kells 1342, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1303, W Livingstone Ahoghill 1301, A Darragh Cullybackey 1293, A Darragh 1270, T Fleming Muckamore 1228, D Dixon Ballymoney 1222, D & H Kirkpatrick Cullybackey 1218.

Mid Antrim Clubs St Malo

Randalstown HPS 7/19 – H Boyd 1430, Houston Bros 647, W & W Gilbert 562.
Kells & District 5/10 – Scott & Clements 1342, B Swann & Son 562.
Cullybackey HPS 15/47 – J & J Greer 1303, A Darragh 1293, A Darragh 1270, D & H Kirkpatrick 1218, Gibson & Dickey 1159, N & S Anderson 982, A Darragh 810, A Darragh 604, S McKendry 455.
Ahoghill Flying Club 5/14 – W Livingstone 1301, M/M Robinson 1162, W Livingstone 1097, J Smyth & Son 611.
Ballymena & District 13/25 – B O’Rawe 1204, T R Alexander & Son 1101, M Graham 772, G Bell 668, W & J Smyth 584, G Bell 582, Blair & Rankin 581.
Rasharkin & District 4/7 – T Kaczynski 1196.
Harryville HPS 4/13 – Wray & McFadden 603, Wray & McFadden 555, Wray & McFadden 530.

We had the very sad news this week that Tom Cotter had passed away at home in Cullybackey after a short period in hospital. The King as he enjoyed being called was an ace racer going back many years, winning top prizes in all the clubs he raced in including Harryville, Randalstown and Ahoghill. Not only could he race a bit, he enjoyed the Show Season and was often called to judge at the various local events. In 2013 he covered the Eye-sign Class at the Ballymena & District, he was a big follower of this subject and enjoyed the debate and craic big time. The King will be sadly missed, sincere condolences to his partner Rosemary and the girls Alicia and Amanda, and the entire Family Circle.

Hugh Boyd tops Sect B from St Malo -

Many congratulations to Old Hand Hugh Boyd from Randalstown, seven years on the trot he has timed in the OB Nat winning 3 x 1sts and 4 x 2nds with this season best of all. He recorded his bird at 16.35hrs flying 467 miles for velocity 1430. Finishing 1st MAC, 1st Sect & 3rd Open NIPA 434/1477 and collects the Bronze Diploma, last year he finished 7th Comb & Sect plus 46th Open NIPA timing on the second day at 13.13hrs just over 100 birds home. Scott & Clements had 1st Kells & District at 17.15hrs, J & J Greer former Kings Cup winners 1st Cullybackey at 17.44hrs, William Livingstone 1st Ahoghill for the second year at 17.43hrs, Brian O’Rawe 1st Ballymena & Dist at 18.32hrs and Thomas Kaczynski 1st Rasharkin & Dist at 18.50hrs. The birds had been released is St Malo (France) on Thursday 25th June at 7.00am in a Lt Southerly wind for the Premier race of the old bird season. Tom Fleming who has had a great season was best in Muckamore Centre, S McFlynn was best in Castledawson and Forbes Lindsay had the only two birds into Crumlin on the day.