The second channel race of the season was again from Talbenny in south Wales. The birds were liberated on Saturday 12th June at 8.00am in a light north westerly wind. The best pigeon winning 1st Mid Antrim Combine was timed by William & Joe Smyth of Ballymena & District. This partnership consisting of 87 year old William and 84 year old Joe have an outstanding channel record dating back 60 years which has included 2nd Open in both the NIPA French OB Derby and Penzance OB Classic. In the present-day racing, there is hardly a season goes past when they don't win the Combine or Section from a channel event especially Penzance their favourite race point. Their winning bird this week a 4 year old blue widowhood cock was timed at 12.41pm for the 220 mile fly to the lofts at Carniny Road and recorded 1377ypm. This cock was purchased direct from Jackie Traynor of Co. Durham and is probably their best racing cock at present having won countless prizes both inland and channel including 1st Talbenny and 2nd Bude and also bred there Fermoy winner a couple of weeks back. The Partnership took the top 5 positions in the club for the second week running and now have 3 wins for the season. Combine runner up on 1352 was Freddie Barkley of Rasharkin followed by Surgenor Bros of Kells on 1347, two good bird for Mr & Mrs Robinson who have the top 4 in Ahoghill 1346, John & Mark Milliken of Rasharkin 1321 and Jimmy Rock on 1320 who was winning for the 5th time this season. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Talbenny (2) 46/547 Top 40 - W & J Smyth Ballymena 1377 F Barkley Rasharkin 1352 Surgenor Bros Kells 1347 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1346, Mrs & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1340 J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1321 J Rock Associate 1320 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1319 D Dixon Rasharkin 1313 J & M Milliken 1302 S Murphy Kells 1302 S Murphy Kells 1296 C & D Jackson Kells 1295 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1293 S Murphy Kells 1292 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1290 Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1286 J Rock Associate 1286 Stewart Bros Randalstown 1281 W & J Smyth Ballymena 1280 Balmer Young & Sons Ahoghill 1279 J Miller Randalstown 1279 J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1277 D Dixon 1275 W & J Smyth 1275 D Houston & Son Associate 1273 D Dixon 1273 D Houston & Son 1272 R Service & Son Ballymena 1270 Surgenor Bros 1268 W & J Smyth 1268 McAlonan Bros Associate 1267 A & C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1265 S Murphy 1264 D Houston & Son 1260 C & D Jackson 1260 S Murphy 1255 A & C & T Tweed 1253 T Whyte Rasharkin 1253 S Murphy 1252.
MA Combine Old Bird Knockout Q/F 2nd Talbenny
S Murphy Kells 1302 v D Dixon Rasharkin 1313
Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1346 v Young McManus & Sons (Never sent)
J Rock Associate 1320 v J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena (Never sent)
T & G Balmer Ahoghill 1215 v Stewart Bros Randalstown 1281
MA Combine Champions League Q/F 2nd Talbenny
D Dixon Rasharkin 1313 v Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1346
H Cubitt Rasharkin 1249 v Surgenor Bros Kells 1347
H Boyd Kells (Never sent) v J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena (Never sent)
R Service & Son Ballymena 1270 v F & G & J Dickey Randalstown 0
Draws for both semi-finals will take place in Ballymena & Dist clubrooms on Bude marking evening. With all the results for three races some info might not be lined up as usually done, Fermoy and Fermoy 5 Bird will follow. Not enough hours at the weekend, and thanks again to PO Mervyn Eagleson for his invaluable contributions.
Ballymena Area Clubs Talbenny
Cullybackey HPS – A Darragh 1389, 1350, C & R McIntyre 1350, A Darragh 1349, 1320, C & R McIntyre 1283, 1278, McAlonan Bros 1267.
Ballymena & District HPS 6/83 – W & J Smyth 1377, 1319, 1290, 1280, 1275, R Service & Son 1270, W & J Smyth 1268, Blair & Rankin 1245, 1219, R Service & Son 1195. Another excellent result for old hands William & Joe Smyth taking the top 5 positions for the second channel race in a row. Their winner a 4 year old blue widowhood cock has won a host of prizes and has now won a deserved 1st MA Combine. Their second bird won 3rd club & 14th Combine from Talbenny last week and their 3rd bird timed won 5th club & 24th Combine last week again Talbenny. The fifth bird timed a dark w/f cock won 2nd Section B & 7th Open NIPA again from a Talbenny race two season's ago.
Rasharkin & District 8/93 – F Barkley 1352, J & M Milliken 1321, 1302, A C & T Tweed 1265, 1253, Trevor Whyte 1253. Danny Dixon – 1313.76, 1275.39, 1273.05.
Kells & District HPS 6/69 – Surgenor Bros 1347, S Murphy 1302, 1296, C & D Jackson 1295, S Murphy 1292, B Swann & Son 1283, 1269, Surgenor Bros 1268.
Ahoghill Flying Club 8/105 – M/M Robinson 1346, 1340, 1293, 1286, Balmer Young & Son 1279, J Smyth & Son 1277, T & G Balmer 1215, J Orr & Son 1215, W Livingstone 1143. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1346, 1340.
Harryville HPS 13/112 – J Rock 1320, 1286, L Mullan 1258, D Craig 1251, J Millar & Son 1250, J Rock 1242, MDC Magill 1235, L Mullan 1217, J Millar & Son 1216, K & K Kernohan 1214.
Randalstown HPS 8/96 – Stewart Bros 1281, J Millar 1279, Stewart Bros 1242, J McNeill & Son 1240, J Millar 1227, 1219, Houston Bros 1212, 1209.
Broughshane & District 6/49 – D Houston & Son 1273, 1272, 1260, Mrs V Gage 1196, T & M Morrow 1192, 1131, Mrs V Gage 1124, C Kennedy 1111.
