The first classic race of the season was flown from Skibbereen in Co. Cork. The birds were liberated on Saturday 29th May at 11.15am in a light south east wind. Best bird winning 1st Mid Antrim Combine on 1535ypm was timed by the Ahoghill partnership of Paddy and William McManus (Young, McManus & Son) Their winning 2 year old blue pied hen was timed at 16.10pm for the 257 mile fly to the lofts at the crofts in Ahoghill. The winning hen bred from Belgium stock was placed 2nd Combine 55/1475 last week from Castletown and 10th Combine 70/1966 a fortnight ago from Fermoy. Paddy & William only sent 2 birds to Skibbereen and their second bird was placed 4th Combine. Next best with two good birds 2nd & 3rd Combine on 1520 was the F & J & G Dickey of Randalstown partnership winning their 4th race of the season. Other winners included Norman Bradley Rasharkin 1502, best associate member Jimmy Rock 1494, Sam Murphy best 3 birds in Kells on 1494 and 4th win of the season, Johnston Eagleson & Sons best two birds in Ballymena & Dist 1492 and 5th win of the season. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Skibbereen Inland National 47/365 - Young, McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1535 F & J & G Dickey Randalstown 1520, F & J & G Dickey Randalstown 1520 Young, McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1506 N Bradley Rasharkin 1502 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1501 D Dixon Rasharkin 1495 D Dixon Rasharkin 1494 J Rock Associate 1494 S Murphy Kells 1494 J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1492 J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1491 A McBride Associate 1491 A McBride Associate 1488 N Bradley Rasharkin 1486 F & J & G Dickey Randalstown 1484 N Bradley Rasharkin 1484 J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1481 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1479 J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1477 S Murphy Kells 1471 S Murphy Kells 1471 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1469 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1468 Surgenor Bros Kells 1467 W McFetridge Rasharkin 1466 H Turkington Kells 1463 D Dixon 1462 D Dixon 1462 R Service & Son Ballymena 1460 J Eagleson & Sons 1459 Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1457 W & J Smyth 1456 T Whyte Rasharkin 1454 J Eagleson & Sons 1452 George Bell Ballymena 1452 W & J Smyth 1451 C & D Jackson Kells 1446 Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1444 Houston Bros Randalstown 1444
Mid Antrim Combine OB Points Fancier Of The Year - Week 6 (excluding Fermoy Comeback) - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 195 Young, McManus & Sons Ahoghill 144 J Rock Associate 48 J & M Milliken Rasharkin 43 F & J & G Dickey Randalstown 38.
Champions League 2021 - Top 2 in each group progress to the quarter finals
Final group stages are as follows:-
Group 1 - Q. R Service & Son Ballymena 15, Q. Surgenor Bros Kells 11, Stewart Bros Randalstown 3, T & G Balmer Ahoghill 0, W McFetridge Rasharkin 0
Group 2 - Q. F & J & G Dickey Randalstown 25, Q. Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 17, W & J Smyth Ballymena 15, T Whyte Rasharkin 13, H Turkington Kells 0
Group 3 - Q. J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 74, Q. H Cubitt Rasharkin 8, C Young Ahoghill 0, C & D Jackson Kells 0, Houston Bros Randalstown 0
Group 4 - Q. D Dixon Rasharkin 19, Q. H Boyd Kells 11, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 3, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 0, J McNeill & Son Randalstown 0
Q/F 2nd Talbenny, S/F Bude and final Penzance
Q/F draw will take place in Ballymena Dist clubrooms on 1st Talbenny marking night
Mid Antrim Clubs Skibbereen –
Ahoghill Flying Club 9/46 – Young McManus & Sons 1535, 1506, M/M Robinson 1501, 1479, 1468. Balmer T Young & Son 1443, C Moore 1440, J Smyth & Son 1428, T & G Balmer 1428, W Livingstone 1419.
Randalstown HPS7/64 - F & G & J Dickey 1520, 1520, 1484, Houston Bros 1444, J Millar 1431, Stewart Bros 1429.
Rasharkin & District 9/65 – Norman Bradley 1502, 1486, J & M Milliken 1481, 1477, W McFetridge 1466, T Whyte 1454. D Dixon – 1495, 1494, 1462, 1462.
Harryville HPS - J Rock 1494, A McBride 1491, 1488, W Jackson 1451, A McBride 1438, Johnston & Richards 1438, W Jackson 1433, J Millar & Son 1433, D Craig 1431, L Mullan 1422.
Kells & District HPS 6/54 – Sam Murphy 1494, 1471, 1471, Surgenor Bros 1467, H Turkington 1463, C & D Jackson 1446, 1437, 1428.
Ballymena & District HPS 6/66 – J Eagleson & Sons 1492, 1491, W & J Smyth 1469, R Service & Son 1460, J Eagleson & Sons 1459, Blair & Rankin 1457, W & J Smyth 1456, J Eagleson & Sons 1452, George Bell 1452, Blair & Rankin 1444. Johnston Eagleson & Sons have the best two birds this week and their fifth win of the season. Their winning 2 year old blue pied hen was placed 9th Section B from the Skibbereen Yearling National last season and also joint bird of the year in the club. This season in the opening race from Tullamore she won 4th Mid Antrim Combine 42/1207. Their second bird timed won 3rd Combine and 3rd Section B from Roscrea earlier in the season
Cullybackey HPS – Alan Darragh 1472. Well done to Alan Darragh winning Skibbereen timing his blue cock at 16 24 55 to record velocity of 1472.160.
Broughshane & District 4/27 – D Houston & Son 1389, Mrs V Gage 1387, Smyth & Wylie 1382, Mrs V Gage 1378, Smyth & Wylie 1368, T & M Morrow 1368.
