After a one day holdover due to poor weather conditions the NIPA released in Talbenny in Wales on Sunday morning the 6th June at 9.00am in a light north west wind. Best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine was a 3 year old blue chequer hen timed by Jimmy Smyth & Son of Ahoghill at 1.49pm for the 220 mile fly to their lofts to record 1340ypm. Combine runners up on 1334 were Associate members McAlonan Bros who enjoy plenty of success from the channel. Harold Cubitt last years Combine winner from the French OB Derby was nest best on 1330 followed by 2 good birds from Ahoghill's Mr & Mrs Robinson on 1329. Jimmy Rock was winning his fourth race of the season on 1312 with another bred from his good Delaney x Jacobs cock, channel specialists William & Joe Smyth had the top 5 in Ballymena & Dist 1307, Stewart Bros topped Randalstown for their third win of the season on 1305, Sam Murphy best in Kells on 1298 and Davy Houston & Son were best their club for third time on 1297. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Top 40 Talbenny 52/961 - J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1340 McAlonan Bros Associate 1334 H Cubitt Rasharkin 1330 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1329 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1315 McAlonan Bros Associate 1314 J Rock Associate 1312 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1307 Stewart Bros Randalstown 1305 J Rock Associate 1305 J Rock Associate 1304 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1300 S Murphy Kells 1298 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1297 D Dixon Rasharkin 1297 D Houston & Son Associate 1297 H Cubitt Rasharkin 1296 J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1295 J & M Milliken 1293 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1292 Balmer Young & Sons Ahoghill 1291 Mr & Mrs Robinson 1290 H Cubitt 1289 W & J Smyth 1289 Mr & Mrs Robinson 1289 A & C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1288 C Moore Ahoghill 1288 J Rock 1287 J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1284 G Gibson Associate 1284 J Smyth & Son 1283 R Service & Son Ballymena 1278 Surgenor Bros Kells 1276 J Millar & Son Associate 1276 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1275 S Murphy Kells 1274 Stewart Bros Randalstown 1272 S Murphy Kells 1271 H Cubitt Rasharkin 1269 J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1269
Mid Antrim Combine OB Points Fancier of the year Top 5
Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 207 J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 195 J Rock Associate 75 J & M Milliken Rasharkin 43 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 40
Mid Antrim Clubs 1st Talbenny
Cullybackey HPS 13/216 – A Darragh 1349, McAlonan Bros 1334, A Darragh 1324, 1320, McAlonan Bros 1314, J & J Greer 1303, A Darragh 1295, 1292, G Gibson 1284, A Darragh 1277.
Ahoghill Flying Club 9/170 – J Smyth & Son 1340, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1329, 1315, Balmer Young & Son 1291, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1290, 1289, C Moore 1288, J Smyth & Son 1284, 1283, T & G Balmer 1266. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Balmer Young & Son 1291, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1289.
Rasharkin & District HPS 9/177 – H Cubitt 1330, 1296, J & M Milliken 1295, 1293, A C & T Tweed 1288, T Whyte 1251. Danny Dixon – 1297, 1289, 1269. Super result for the Chairman Harold Cubitt, took 1st with his good Van Loon bird, winning for the 4th time and the breeding from clubmate Willie McLean.
Harryville HPS 12/180 – J Rock 1312, L Mullan 1307, J Rock 1305, 1304, 1287, J Millar & Son 1276, G Price 1268, A McBride 1264, J Ramsey 1262, J Rock 1260.
Ballymena & District HPS 8/177 – W & J Smyth 1307, 1300, 1297, 1292, 1289, R Service & Son 1278, W & J Smyth 1275, J Eagleson & Sons 1269, G & A Eagleson 1266, Blair & Rankin 1261.
Randalstown HPS 8/139 – Stewart Bros 1305, 1272, 1266, J McNeill & Son 1257, J Millar 1253, 1248, J McNeill 1240, W & W Gilbert 1134. Super 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Ace Racers Stewart Bros.
Kells & District 6/111 – Sam Murphy 1298, Surgenor Bros 1276, San Murphy 1274, 1271, 1268, 1262 1261, McFarlane & Agnew 1244. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – C & D Jackson 1222, Sam Murphy 1202, Gregg bBros 1180, 1127, Surgenor Bros 1122. Well done Sam Murphy, another win and good card.
Broughshane & District 6/53 – D Houston & Son 1297, Mrs Valerie Gage 1295, 1282, 1259, D Houston & Son 1242, Mrs Valerie Gage 1206, Smyth & Wylie 1197, D Houston & Son 1196, T & M Morrow 1127, 1108.
Mid Antrim Combine Knock Out Last 16 Draw for 1st Talbenny
Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill v Bye
F & J & G Dickey Randalstown 1080 v T & G Balmer Ahoghill 1266
Balmer Young & Sons Ahoghill 1291 v J Rock Associate 1312
Stewart Bros Randalstown 1305 v Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1261
J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1269 v C & D Jackson Kells 1222
S Murphy Kells 1298 v George Bell Ballymena 1181
Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1329 v Surgenor Bros Kells 1276
D Dixon Rasharkin 1297 v N Bradley Rasharkin 1214
Q/F draw will take place in Ballymena & Dist club rooms on 2nd Talbenny race marking night
Champions League Q/F draw for 2nd Talbenny
D Dixon Rasharkin v Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill
H Cubitt Rasharkin v Surgenor Bros Kells
J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena v H Boyd Kells
R Service & Son Ballymena v F & G & J Dickey Randalstown
For Sale – Complete Unikon ETS System, ready to go in excellent condition £425. Contact Joe Brown or Homer.
RPRA Meritorious Awards – Remember individual bird performance in the cross-channel races from 2nd Talbenny and Penzance, always a good idea to time plenty in Taslbenny. Medals for the best bird in each NIPA Section and Cup to the overall winner at Ladies Night.
