INFC Kings Cup - Mid Antrim Combined

[willie reynolds]

Mid Antrim Blue Riband Kings Cup -

The INFC Blue Riband for the old birds, the Grand Nat Kings Cup was flown last Friday from St Allouestre in France. Liberation on 3rd July was at 6.15am in a Lt South Easterly wind. Pre-race predictions were for a fast race and it turned out that way with all prizes filled on the day. Randalstown completed the OB Classic double after Hugh Boyd won 1st Sect, 1st Comb and 3rd Open NIPA St Malo the week previous. This time the club result was even better with Houston Bros 1st Combine, Hugh Boyd 3rd Combine and the new partnership of Noel Percy and Sam Murphy having their best result to date finishing 4th Combine. Danny Dixon was the MAC runner-up, Sammy Steele had 1st Cullybackey, former YB Nat winner Wesley Jackson had 1st Harryville, former OB Derby winner T Shanks & Son had 1st Kells and Young McManus & Sons had 1st Ahoghill Flying Club. Good to see Harry McCloy well placed after his recent trouble and new member Billy Ramsey had the only bird in Ballymena & District in the longest race of the year flying 510 miles to Glarryford.

Randalstown HPS finished the old bird season in good style from France, in the NIPA St Malo National Old Hand Hugh Boyd timed an early arrival on the day to take 1st Club, 1st MAC, 1st Sect B and a fantastic 3rd Open NIPA. That would be nearly good enough for any club, but just one week later in the INFC Blue Riband Kings Cup the club had an even better result from St Allouestre. This time the club had three early arrivals on the day following liberation at 6.15am on Friday 3rd July. Houston Bros recorded velocity 1405 flying 497 miles to finish 1st Club, 1st MAC, 26th North Sect & 38th Open INFC 766/2833. They were followed by the new partnership of Percy Son & Murphy and Hugh Boyd, finishing 3rd & 4th in the Mid Antrim Combine.

The Blue Riband Kings Cup was flown from Saint Allouestre in France on Friday 3rd July the INFC released just short of 3,000 birds competing for £33,856 in pools and prizes at 6.15am in a helping Lt SE wind. Birds were reported in all parts of Ireland and all prizes were filled on the day a bit unusual for this prestigious event. James Walker from Ballymoney scored a best ever result, he is a lot more interested in the longer races due to his shift work arrangements with Michelin. James timed his bird at 17.09hrs recording velocity 1408 for the 523 miles finishing a good 27th in the North Sect and 37th Open INFC. Club-mate Danny Dixon who races to Ballymacaldrick Lofts in Dunloy was next best and takes the runner-up place in Mid Antrim Combine.

The best bird in the Muckamore Centre was timed by Fleming Bros of Crumlin & District, they recorded velocity 1484 for the 487 miles and finished well placed on 4th North Sect & 10th Open INFC, a good end to the old bird season for one of the top lofts in the Antrim Area.

Muckamore Centre St Allouestre – Fleming Bros Crumlin & District 1484, D McClelland Ballyclare 1476, V Thompson Ballyclare 1447, Lindores Son & Nicholson West Belfast 1434, A Thompson Ballyclare 1433, J Braniff Fortfield 1421, J Walker Ballymoney 1408, Houston Bros Randalstown 1405, A Thompson Ballyclare 1390, Percy Son & Murphy 1390, S J G Bones Muckamore 1360, D Dixon Ballymoney 1342, L & S O’Neill & Sons Larne & Dist 1326, A McNaughton Cushendall 1316, H Boyd Randalstown 1311.

Mid Antrim Combine St Allouestre – Houston Bros Randalstown 1405, D Dixon Rasharkin 1342, H Boyd Randalstown 1311, Percy Son & Murphy Randalstown 1310, S Steele Cullybackey 1249, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1198, W Jackson Harryville 1167, Reid Bros & McCloy 1120, A Darragh Cullybackey 1119, T Shanks & Son Kells 1101, B Swann & Son Kells 1065, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1040, A Darragh 1040.

Mid Antrim Club Results INFC Kings Cup

Crumlin & District – Fleming Bros 1484, K Galloway 1129.
Ballymoney 8/29 – J Walker 1408, D Dixon 1342, W & L McCaw 687, W McCaw 594, A Gage 586, J Walker 554, W McCaw 407. James Walker had the best bird in the local club recording his arrival at 17.09 hrs on the day flying 523 miles.
Dervock RPS 4/17 – J Walker 1408, W & L McCaw 687, W McCaw 594, J Walker 554, W McCaw 407.

Randalstown 8/20 – Houston Bros 1405, H Boyd 1311, Percy Son & Murphy 1310, H Boyd 719, 584.

Muckamore – S J G Bones 1360.

Cullybackey – S Steele 1249, Reid Bros & McCloy 1198, 1120, A Darragh 1119, 1040.
Harryville – W Jackson 1167.
Kells & District – T Shanks & Son 1101, B Swann & Son 1065.
Ahoghill Flying Club – M/M Robinson 1093, Young McManus & Sons 1040, C Young 644, 592, 513.

Ballymena & District HPS - W Ramsey.