Mid Antrim has now been going strong for in excess of 40 seasons and in that time the local members have achieved outstanding success topping the NIPA and INFC on numerous occasions and winning most if not all the major races over that period of time. On the top of that many titles of Fancier of the Year both in the NIPA and in Northern Ireland overall. When set out at the start by the late Davy Campbell it just involved a race result that usually had 30 to 50 positions listed in the hope the result could be published, at that time the local press gave massive space. A number of years back under Secretary George McDowell they joined the RPRA and in that way were more organized with annual meetings to vote on rule changes, adopt a balance sheet and elect officials. This gave the insurance that each member had rights and that everything was above board and done in a democratic way. That’s not to suggest that things were not right at the start, the move was just to bring the MAC into line with all other competing organisations and clubs. Now the members compete for a range of cups and trophies and a diploma for race winners, they were usually presented at local club dinner and awards nights but more recently have been presented in conjunction with a member club event. At the present time with more and more clubs opting not holding dinners etc the night has been rotated between Ballymena & District HPS and Rasharkin & District.
Because of the Covid 19 we missed having the AGM as usual in the middle of March, we have that to catch up on at some stage and then make plans for 2021 season. Some items are outstanding, we have a request to change the status of the B Eagleson Cup awarded for the usual best average on the four cross channel races. That has not been the situation over recent years with the NIPA changing the cross channel programme more often than not. Feeling is we should award the cup on the cross channel races flown. There has also been the case of former members of MAC moving to clubs that are not MAC members and a suggestion that the lofts that have changed clubs provided they have not moved address could compete as Associate Members, food for thought there for the future. Don’t think the MAC membership would be concerned about the quality of the loft wishing to compete, I remember a long while back the Harryville HPS opened for membership and took on two of the ace lofts at the time from Kells and Cullybackey namely the late Leslie Mairs and Alan Darragh, no worries at all in taking on two of the best lofts in the local area. If you were going to beat them in the Combine & Section, you had to beat them at club level. Very forward thinking at the time in a club with members dedicated to the sport of pigeon racing. In the early 70’s they had 30 racing members, some of the other local clubs had many more than that.
We have had our own internal problems and there is no need to dwell on the past serious as the situation was, over time the landscape has changed and the future should be getting our main attention with numbers in member clubs dropping down each and every year and have some thought what the situation might look like in a short period of time, the next two to three years. We have maintained our level of race achievements and got massive publicity for that and I need to mention the work of Mervyn Eagleson who covered the weekly report which always included photos of the winning lofts. He has helped in so many ways to keep MAC to the fore doing dedicated work each and every week, and that’s on top of covering PO in Ballymena & Dist who are also getting full advantage of his weekly efforts. Having done this job myself I know the effort required each week.
The awards up for the 2020 season were as follows:
Old Bird Inland Average won by J Eagleson & Sons 1421.76, Cross Channel Average, Old Bird Average, McIlhagga Cup for 1st MAC St Malo OB Nat, B Eagleson Memorial Cup best average Talbenny (1) & (2), Bude and Penzance (Not won in 2020), T Shanks Memorial Cup Old Bird of the Year, Les Mairs OB Fancier of the Year, Herbison Cup Young Bird Ave, New North Cup best average Bude OB & Talbenny YB, and Parker Cup Combined Average.
Club Points Shield for Old Birds, Club Points Shield Young Birds. Champions League Shield & Diploma, INFC Points Cup. Old Bird Knock-Out, Young Bird Knock-Out, Old Bird Points League & Young Bird Points League. Only one Diploma per member in 2020 regardless the number of 1sts won. Cup & Trophy list will be finally confirmed later. We are looking for claims re Old Bird of the Year, Young Bird of the Year and Best Individual Bird Talbenny & Bude as RPRA Merit Award.
We worked out the Champions League as best we could, the league part in the inland programme was completed at Skibbereen Inland Nat and just 2 lofts qualified from each group. Quarter Final at Talbenny was D Dixon v C Moore, M/M Robinson v Blair & Rankin, Harry Boyd v W & J Smyth and J Eagleson & Sons v R Service & Son. The Semi Final at Bude was D Dixon v Blair & Rankin and W & J Smyth v J Eagleson & Sons and in the final from St Malo Danny Dixon was successful for Rasharkin & District (4th time) having a free run against W & J Smyth who did not send.
Champions League winners - 2008 Harryville (R H Clements), 2009 Rasharkin & Dist (D Dixon), 2010 Ballymena & Dist (M Graham), 2011 Randalstown (S Millar), 2012 Cullybackey (Reid Bros & McCloy), 2013 Cullybackey (A Darragh), 2014 Rasharkin & Dist (Steele & McNeill), 2015 Rasharkin & Dist (D Dixon), 2016 Rasharkin & Dist (J & M Milliken). 2017 Rasharkin & Dist (D Dixon), 2018 Rasharkin & Dist (J & M Milliken). 2019 Ahoghill Flying Club (M/M Robinson), 2020 Rasharkin & Dist (D Dixon).
I will look back now at the race season for the old birds, due to restrictions it started late but we did manage to go through to France and enjoy an Old Bird National from St Malo which was one of the best races for several years. Mervyn Eagleson penned the race reports.
Best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine from this first old bird race of the year from Tullamore was clocked by Jimmy Rock of Harryville HPS. The former Talbenny YB National and Penzance OB Classic winner timed his yearling blue chequer cock at 14.20pm from the 126 mile race to his lofts in Albert Place in the centre of Ballymena town. This cock was sitting 6 days on his first eggs of the season. The sire a Manderlartz cock from club-mate Lexi Mullan was a winner of 3 x 1st. The dam a Soontjen hen from club-mate Allen McBride was a winner of 1st Section B and 3rd Open NIPA Tallbenny and also 1st Club Rosscarbery. Another top result from a very popular fancier, great race for Jimmy Rock.
Mid Antrim Combine Tullamore - J Rock Associate 1436, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1433, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1418, J Eagleson & Sons 1418, J Eagleson & Sons 1417, R H Clements Associate 1415, J Rock 1414, J Eagleson & Sons 1414, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1408, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1406, Young McManus & Sons 1406, C & D Jackson Kells 1404, R H Clements 1403, J Rock 1399, A McBride Associate 1399.
Second week Mid Antrim Combine winner from Gowran Park was clocked in the village of Kells. Harry Boyd clocked his two year old blue chequer Van Den Bulck widowhood hen at 15.59pm after the 155 mile fly to his lofts. The hen wins Kells & Dist by a clear 10 minutes and also wins 1st MA Combine, 1st Section B and a good 28th Open NIPA with 24,972 birds competing. The loft won 1st & 2nd Section B last season from Gowran Park, and again with a Van Den Bulck.
Mid Antrim Combine Gowran Park – Harry Boyd Kells 1301, A McBride Associate 1264, J Rock Associate 1263, J Rock 1263, J Rock 1262, J Rock 1258, G Gibson Associate 1256, G Gibson 1255, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1255, J Smyth & Son 1255, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1253, R H Clements Associate 1253, D Dixon Rasharkin 1253, R H Clements 1253, J Rock 1252.
Corrin in Co Cork was the venue for the third race of the season. Birds were liberated on Saturday 20th June at 07.35am and a fast race was expected. Best local bird was clocked by last year’s Talbenny YB National winner Bertie Blair of Ballymena & Dist. His winning 2 year old blue chequer Van Den Bulck widowhood cock was timed at 10.42am for the 207 mile fly to the Chichester Park lofts. This gift bird from good friend Lexie Mullan of Harryville HPS wins 1st Combine, 2nd Section B and 18th Open NIPA 24,284 birds. Well done Bertie, always good for a 1st Combine winner.
Mid Antrim Combine Corrin - Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1946, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1934, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1922, Blair & Rankin 1909, Blair & Rankin 1908, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1907, C Moore Ahoghill 1890, J Millar & Son Harryville 1890, R Service & Son Ballymena 1888, T & G Balmer Ahoghill 1885, G Gibson Associate 1882, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1877, R H Clements Associate 1876, R H Clements 1874, J Rock Associate 1868.
Corrin in Co Cork was the venue for the fourth old bird race of the season. Birds were liberated on Thursday 2nd July at 10.30am in a north west wind. Taking top spot this week in the Mid Antrim Combine are the husband and wife partnership of Laurence and Heather Robinson of Ahoghill FC. They timed their winning 2 year old chequer roundabout hen at 14.50pm flying 204 miles to their tidy lofts on the Glebe Road in Ahoghill. The bird had 2 races as a youngster and raced steady as a yearling winning a couple of club prizes and was 3rd bird the previous week. Sire is Willy Van Herck from P & J Boal of Dromore and dam is a cross of Vandenabeele from Harry Boyd of Kells and Janssen from Heather's dad Willy Greer. Another top result from last season’s Champion League and old bird Knock-Out winners in the Mid Antrim Combine.
Mid Antrim Combine Corrin (2) – Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1385, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1374, R Service & Son Ballymena 1373, J Rock Associate 1371, D Dixon Rasharkin 1370, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1369, Surgenor Bros Kells 1369, J Rock 1365, A McBride Associate 1364, Harry Boyd Kells 1363, Surgenor Bros 1362, Harry Boyd 1357, Harry Boyd 1356, John Millar Randalstown 1355, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1354.
The first classic race of the season was the Inland National from Skibbereen. Birds were liberated on Monday 6th July at 10.00am in a light north-west wind. Best bird in the area and winning the Mid Antrim Combine was Johnston Eagleson & Sons of Ballymena & Dist. The winning 2 year old dark chequer hen was timed at 15.27pm for the 260 mile fly to the lofts on the Cullybackey Road. This very tame hen flying on Roundabout wins the Ballymena club and the town by a clear 20 minutes also winning 1st Section B, and 137th Open National 4,236 birds. Breeding is Lambrechts. The sire being "Dixie" a top stock cock acquired from Danny Dixon of Rasharkin and the dam was purchased from across the water. Another top result from the Eagleson Lofts who topped the Section in the same race in 2016.
Mid Antrim Combine Skibbereen – J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1399, D Dixon Rasharkin 1360, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1338, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1338, Gary Gibson Associate 1331, D Dixon 1326, Harry Boyd Kells 1325, J Rock Associate 1320, Gary Gibson 1319, A McBride Associate 1317, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1314, J Rock 1310, W & J Smyth 1309, J Eagleson & Sons 1308, Blair & Rankin 1305.
The first channel race of the season was from Talbenny in South Wales. The birds were liberated on Saturday morning 6th July at 9.00am in a light north wind variable en-route. Best bird in the area and winning the Mid Antrim Combine for the second race on the trot was Johnston Eagleson & Sons of Ballymena & Dist. The winning 2 year old blue hen was timed at 13.47pm for the 220 mile fly to the lofts on the Cullybackey Road. This hen as a young bird was 2nd club from the Talbenny YB National and last season was the third bird home from Penzance. She was sitting on eggs and was one from a kit of youngsters from the top racing and breeding lofts of Paddy and William McManus of Ahoghill. She wins the Ballymena & Dist club and the town by a clear 9 minutes, and also 1st Section B and 20th Open NIPA 14,232 birds. Back to back inland and channel Combine and Section B wins from the Eagleson Loft.
Mid Antrim Combine Talbenny – J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1348, D Dixon Rasharkin 1320, D Dixon 1306, J Rock Associate 1305, A McBride Associate 1304, R H Clements Associate 1295, J Millar Randalstown 1291, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1290, T & G Balmer Ahoghill 1288, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1287, M/M Robinson 1287, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1285, D Dixon 1285, J Eagleson & Sons 1284, J Millar 1281.
The second major race of the season was the Yearling National from Skibbereen. Birds were liberated on Wednesday 15th July at 10.30am in a light westerly wind. Best bird in the area and winning the Mid Antrim Combine was Kells fancier Harry Boyd. He timed his blue chequer widowhood cock at 16.12pm for the 257 miles fly to the village. The bird was from R & J Baxter of Ballycarry, and he also wins 2nd Section B and 148th Open National 2980 birds. This was Harry's second combine win of the season having topped both Combine and Section from Gowran Park in the second week of the season.
Mid Antrim Combine Skibbereen Yearling National - H Boyd Kells 1324, J Rock Associate 1318, A McBride Associate 1312, R Service & Son Ballymena 1311, H Boyd 1311, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1307, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1284, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1269, H Boyd 1248, A Barkley & Son Kells 1247, D Dixon Rasharkin 1237, Blair & Rankin 1233, J Rock 1230, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1229, D Dixon 1228.
Bude in Cornwall was the venue for the second channel race of the season. Birds were liberated on Sunday 19th July at 7.45am in little wind but the birds would encounter a strong north westerly wind as the day went on. Best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine was Rasharkin fancier Danny Dixon. He timed his 2 year old black w/f cock at 15.55pm for the 300 miles fly to the village of Dunloy. This cock won Talbenny the previous week, and also took 2nd Combine and 2nd Section B. The dam is an inbred sister of "Heartbreaker" and the sire is a son of "Heartbreaker". That's 1st & 2nd Combine and twice x 2nd Section B for this cock in the space of 9 days.
Mid Antrim Combine Bude – D Dixon Rasharkin 1077, M Graham Ballymena 1074, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1065, J Millar Randalstown 1065, C & D Jackson Kells 1058, D Dixon 1058, Surgenor Bros Kells 1045, D Dixon 1045, M Graham 1043, J Millar & Son Associate 1031, J Millar 1022, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1018, D Dixon 1011, H Boyd Randalstown 1009, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 1009.
Penzance in Cornwall was to be the race point for the third channel race of the season. Because of poor weather on the day of liberation and the following day it was decided to bring the birds back to Ireland for a race from Fermoy in County Cork. The birds were liberated on Saturday 25th July at 08.00am in a westerly wind. Best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine this week are Randalstown old hands 85 year old Bobby and 79 year old Allen who make up the Houston Bros partnership. They timed their 2 year old widowhood cock at 11.45am for the 195 mile fly to their lofts situated off the Antrim line close to the Ramble Inn. Breeding is their old distance lines with a touch of Verheye. A good win for the brothers who have previously won 1st and 2nd Open NIPA Tramore, a number of years ago.
Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy Comeback - Houston Bros Randalstown 1527, R Service & Son Ballymena 1516, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1514, Harry Boyd Kells 1514, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1500, C & D Jackson Kells 1499, McAlonan Bros Associate 1498, R H Clements Associate 1487, R Service & Son 1481, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1478, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1476, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1476, J Eagleson & Sons 1468, R Service & Son 1465, Houston Bros 1460.
Race marking as usual for St Malo took place early on Tuesday and with restricted travel arrangements and our usual route not available the birds ended up being transported direct to France. The convoy were one day earlier on site and a Thursday was available for liberation, the forecast had it as the best day and some 4,000 birds were released on Thursday 30th July at 6.30am in a helping South East wind.
Best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine was timed by Rasharkin fancier Harold Cubitt. Harold's only entry in the race was timed at 15.25pm after flying the 483 miles to the lofts on the Finvoy Road in Rasharkin. The winning 2 year old blue chequer cock was feeding chicks just hatched two days before basketing. The cock had four races as a young bird and three races as a yearling. Before the derby it had Talbenny were it was placed 4th club. The sire was a gift from John McConaghie of Ballymoney and the dam another gift bird from Harry Richmond of Ballymena. The winning bird also wins 2nd Section B and 24th Open NIPA National 2714 birds. Harold a small team racer was winning his 6 x 1st of the season.
Mid Antrim Combine St Malo - H Cubitt Rasharkin 1589, R H Clements Associate 1518, Harry Boyd Kells 1509, D Dixon Rasharkin 1485, J McNeill & Son Randalstown 1485, H Turkington Kells 1483, D Houston & Son Associate 1481, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1461, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1451, John Miller Randalstown 1427, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1388, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1387, D Dixon 1368, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1362, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1344, John Miller 1343, D Dixon 1330, Harry Boyd 1321, M Graham Ballymena 1307, A C & T Tweed 1300, Hugh Boyd Randalstown 1297, Hugh Boyd Randalstown 1274, J Eagleson & Sons 1235, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1218, McFarlane & Agnew Kells 1210, M Graham 1208, Stewart Bros 1177, McFarlane & Agnew 1163 Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1160, McAlonan Bros Associate 1158.
Danny Dixon of Rasharkin is the new winner of the Mid Antrim Combine OB Points Fancier of the Year. Top 10 - Danny Dixon Rasharkin 206, Jimmy Rock Associate 147, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 136, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 135, Harry Boyd Kells 108, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 85, R H Clements Associate 80, John Miller Randalstown 68, Allen McBride Associate 63, R Service & Son Ballymena 55.
Mid Antrim Combine K/O Diploma - At long last the members names were gathered up and listed for the seasons Old Bird Knock-Out competition. I sorted out the names into a list and PO Mervyn Eagleson supplied the numbers as matched pairs for the competition. It was the best arrangement available in the season’s unusual circumstances. I hope to shortly publish the details used for the Champions League. As far as the OB Knock-Out goes we used four inland races, Tullamore, Gowran Park, Corrin (1) and Corrin (2). With the Penzance birds brought back to race from Fermoy we used Talbenny for the semi-final and then Bude for the grand final.
Just short of 64 lofts competed and after two rounds we had the following for the Lat 16 at Corrin (1). Gary Gibson v Danny Dixon, Houston Bros v Blair & Rankin, Young McManus & Sons v J Millar & Son, R Service & Son v Harold Cubitt, Allen McBride v Jimmy Rock, F & J & G Dickey v Stewart Bros, J Smyth & Son v R H Clements, John Millar v W & J Smyth. For Corrin (2) quarter final the matches were Gary Gibson v Blair & Rankin, J Millar & Son v R Service & Son, Allen McBride v Stewart Bros and R H Clements v W & J Smyth. The semi-final was flown from Talbenny Blair & Rankin v R Service & Son and Allen McBride v W & J Smyth. The final from Bude turned out a hard race and not much between the finalists, Blair & Rankin vel 923 v Allen McBride vel 978. The winner for 2020 was Associate Member Allen McBride, well done and a great competition.
Jimmy Rock an Associate member of MAC won the opening race from Tullamore County Offaly.
Harry Boyd from Kells & District won 1st MAC in the races from Gowran Park and Skibb Ylr Nat.
Bertie Blair from Ballymena & District had 1st MAC in the old bird race from Corrin (1).
Laurence and Heather Robinson from Ahoghill won 1st MAC in the race from Corrin (2).
Johnston Eagleson topped Mid Antrim Comb from Skibbereen & Talbenny in early July.
Danny Dixon from Dunloy had the major result winning 1st MAC from Bude in Cornwall.
Long time fancier Allen Houston of Houston Bros Randalstown holding his 1st MAC from Fermoy flown as a substitute for Penzance.
Harold Cubitt with a best ever season in Rasharkin, he had 1st MAC in the Premier OB Nat from St Malo in France at end of July.