The third race of the season on Friday 7th May was from Gowran Park in Co. Kilkenny. The birds were liberated at 10am in a blue sky with no wind. Best two birds in the local area were clocked by Johnston Eagleson & Sons of Ballymena & District doing 1500ypm. Having been runners up in the Mid Antrim Combine in the opening two weeks of the season they went one better this week winning 1st & 2nd Combine with 1843 birds competing. Both birds were timed at 13.06pm for the 158 mile fly to the Cullybackey Road lofts. The winning bird a 2 year old blue chequer cock is full brother to the hen won Ballymena & Dist in the opening race of the season finishing 2nd Combine 1207 birds, another sister won Ballymena & Dist three weeks on the trot in 2017 and finished 1st, 3rd & 5th Mid Antrim Combine. The dam a double Combine winner from Tullamore and Corrin is the best bloodlines of Paddy & William McManus of Ahoghill and the sire "The Pest" is bred from top Lambrecht stock from Danny Dixon of Rasharkin. The second bird timed a blue chequer w/f cock was from Jackie Steele of Rasharkin. Sire is Van Den Bulk and is a grandson of "Blue Leo" and the dam is Patrick Boeckx and is a granddaughter of "Sagan". Next best in the local clubs were Sam Murphy winning Kells & Dist for the third week running on 1498, Allen McBride was the best Associate member on 1491. A full sister of his winner won the same race last season placed 2nd Combine. Sire is Jacob x Grondelaer and the dam Jacob from clubmate Jimmy Rock. Young, McManus & Sons were best in Ahoghill for the second week in a row on 1483, F & G & J Dickey tops in Randalstown on 1476 and Norman Bradley the Rasharkin winner on 1455.
MAC Gowan Park 60/1843 - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1500.5 J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1500.3 S Murphy Kells 1498 A McBride Associate 1491, J Eagleson & Sons 1490 J Eagleson & Sons 1489 J Rock Associate 1483 Young, McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1483 S Murphy 1482 S Murphy 1482 J Rock 1482 J Eagleson & Sons 1481 Mr & Mrs Robinson 1480 J Rock 1479 Young, McManus & Sons 1479 S Murphy 1478 J Eagleson & Sons 1478 J Eagleson & Sons 1478 Young, McManus & Sons 1477 Young, McManus & Sons 1477 Young, McManus & Sons 1477 Young, McManus & Sons 1476 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1476 F & G & J Dickey Randalstown 1476 Young, McManus & Sons 1476 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1476 J Eagleson & Sons 1475 Young, McManus & Sons 1475 Young, McManus & Sons 1474 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1473 S Murphy 1473 S Murphy 1472 S Murphy 1472 Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1472 Blair & Rankin 1471 Blair & Rankin 1471 S Crawford Kells 1471 W & J Smyth 1470 Young, McManus & Sons 1469 R Service & Son Ballymena 1467.
Mid Antrim Old Bird Points Fancier of the year Week 3 - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 119, Young, McManus & Sons Ahoghill 65, J Rock Associate 34, S Murphy Kells 26, A McBride Associate 23, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 22. Remember we need the list of old bird lofts racing in each club to compete in the Knock-Out competition and if not already sent the 4 lofts to represent the club in the Champions League. Some clubs have already confirmed the lofts to compete in the seasons Champions League. Ballymena & District HPS – J Eagleson & Sons, Blair & Rankin, R Service & Son, and W & J Smyth. Ahoghill Flying Club – J Smyth & Son, Mr & Mrs Robinson, T & G Balmer, and Chris Young. Kells & District – C & D Jackson, Surgenor Bros, H Boyd, and Henry Turkington.
MAC Clubs Gowran Park -
Ballymena & District HPS 10/356 – J Eagleson & Sons 1500, 1500, 1490, 1489, 1481, 1478, 1478, W & J Smyth 1476, J Eagleson & Sons 1475. Johnston Eagleson & Sons had an excellent race taking the top 7 positions in the club and 1st & 2nd Mid Antrim Combine. Winning bird a 2 year old blue chequer cock was unraced as a youngster. A full sister won Ballymena & District in the opening race of the season finishing 2nd combine and another sister won Ballymena & Dist three weeks on the trot in 2017 finishing 1st, 3rd & 5th Mid Antrim Combine. The dam a double Combine winner from Tullamore and Corrin is bred from the best bloodlines of Paddy & William McManus of Ahoghill. The sire "The Pest" is bred from Danny Dixon of Rasharkin Lambrecht stock. The second bird timed a blue chequer w/f cock was from Jackie Steele of Rasharkin. Sire is Van Den Bulk and is a grandson of "Blue Leo" and the dam Patrick Boeckx and is a granddaughter of "Sagan"
Kells & District – Sam Murphy 1498, 1482, 1482, 1478, 1473, 1472, 1472, Sam Crawford 1471. Super Card for Sam Murphy and three wins on the trot. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – B Swann & Son 1466, H Turkington 1465, Surgenor Bros 1452, H Boyd 1425, S Murphy
Harryville HPS 14/391 – A McBride 1491, J Rock 1483, 1482, 1379, 1467, 1467, 1465, D Craig 1450, J Rock 1459. L Mullan 1457.
Ahoghill Flying Club 10/365 – Young McManus & Sons 1483, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1480, Young McManus & Sons 1479, 1477, 1477, 1477, 1476, 1476, 1475, 1474. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – M/M Robinson 1480, Chris Moore 1397.
Randalstown HPS 8/200 – F & J & G Dickey 1476, 1466, 1463, Stewart Bros 1441, 1437, 1434, J Millar 1434, 1415, 1400, Houston Bros 1397. The winners today is wee hamper man Frank Dickey taking the first three his first bird is a daughter of the Causeway Flyer and a daughter of his number one Sticker Doncker hen Wonderful.
Broughshane & District 7/178 – T & M Morrow 1466, 1453, D Houston & Son 1444, 1435, Smyth & Wylie 1433, Mrs V Gage 1431, D Houston & Son 1425, Smyth & Wylie 1408, 1388, A Purvis 1383.
Rasharkin & District HPS 11/267 – Norman Bradley 1455, Steele & McNeill 1453, Norman Bradley 1451, T Whyte 1451, J & M Milliken 1449, 1449, H Cubitt 1443, W McFetridge 1441. Danny Dixon – 1448.68, 1444.42.
