The NIPA Penzance and Classic event was flown on Thursday 1st July. Birds were released at 10.00am in light winds variable en route. Best two birds in the local area winning 1st & 2nd Mid Antrim Combine were recorded by William & Joe Smyth of Ballymena & Dist. I did a report on these gentlemen a few weeks back when they topped the Combine from Talbenny and finished 5th Open NIPA 605/8813. Well, I was back at their loft's again this week to handle their latest 1st Open NIPA Penzance Classic winner which has been named "Ken Aird Lad". If ever a result was truly deserved, it was to these guys. Countless Combine and Section wins and top open positions over the years especially from the cross channel events and at last the big 1st Open arrived. Their winning 2 year old blue widowhood cock was timed at 17.15pm after the 329 mile fly to the lofts on Carniny Road. This cock was winning it's 5th prize of the season and was placed in the section in both the Talbenny races. The sire is Koopman and won 1st Section B & 11th Open NIPA Talbenny in 2017. The sire of the dam is Lambrecht and won 2nd Section B & 7th Open NIPA Talbenny in 2019. This cock was one from a kit of six young birds from Jackie Steele of Rasharkin. It was off a brother of Jackie's good 02 cock when paired to a granddaughter of Quiverman. William & Joe timed their second bird 10 minutes later at 17.25pm to win 2nd Combine, 2nd Section B and 15th Open NIPA. This 3 year old blue widowhood cock won 21st Section in 1st Talbenny and 15th Section in 2nd Talbenny and was placed in the open result in both races. Breeding is Heremans - Ceuster from Jackie Traynor Co. Durham. A great day’s racing from the channel specialists 87 year old Billy and his brother 84 year old Joe. I'm sure anyone who knows these guys will be delighted for them. A massive well done from everyone. Mervyn Eagleson PO
Mid Antrim Combine Penzance 43.335 - W & J Smyth Ballymena 1332, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1301, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1288, D Dixon Rasharkin 1284, D Dixon Rasharkin 1269, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1262, A McBride Associate 1251, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1238, D Dixon Rasharkin 1233, H Turkington Kells 1230, C Moore Ahoghill 1224, A & C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1217, D Dixon 1216, W & J Smyth 1214, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1213, T Whyte Rasharkin 1213, J Rock Associate 1211, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1210, C & D Jackson Kells 1208, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1206, Young McManus & Sons 1203, Young McManus & Sons 1193, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1188, Houston Bros Randalstown 1179, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1178, R Alexander Ballymena 1175, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1174, R Service & Son Ballymena 1170, J Rock Associate 1169, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1165, J Millar Randalstown 1164, A McBride Associate 1157, J Millar Randalstown 1155 W & W Gilbert Randalstown 1155, Young McManus & Sons 1155.
Mid Antrim Combine Penzance OB Classic - W & J Smyth Ballymena 1332, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1301, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1288, D Dixon Rasharkin 1284, D Dixon Rasharkin 1269, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1262, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1238, D Dixon Rasharkin 1233, C Moore Ahoghill 1223, A & C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1217, D Dixon Rasharkin 1216, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1214, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1213, T Whyte Rasharkin 1213, J Rock Associate 1211, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1210, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1206, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1203, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1193, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1185, R Alexander Ballymena 1175, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1174, R Service & Son Ballymena 1170, J Rock Associate 1169, J Miller Randalstown 1164, J Miller Randalstown 1155, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1155, D Dixon Rasharkin 1154, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1151, J Miller Randalstown 1143.
Combine Old Bird Points Fancier of the Year inc. Penzance
Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 327, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 284, D Dixon Rasharkin 142, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 133, Harry Boyd Kells 104, Jimmy Rock Associate 85, W & J Smyth Ballymena 83.
Mid Antrim Combine Old Bird Knockout Final @ Penzance - Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1288 v D Dixon Rasharkin 1284.
MAC Champions League Final @ Penzance - Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1288 v Surgenor Bros Kells 0. Mr & Mrs Robinson of Ahoghill who have had an excellent channel season win both the Mid Antrim Combine Old Bird knock-out and Champions League finals for the second time in 3 seasons.
Ballymena Area Clubs Penzance
Ballymena & District 5/38 – W & J Smyth 1332, 1301, 1214, Blair & Rankin 1178, R Alexander 1175, W & J Smyth 1174, R Service & Son 1170, Blair & Rankin 1143, R Service & Son 1135, Blair & Rankin 1125.
Cullybackey HPS – A Darragh 1306, N & S Anderson 1162, A Darragh 1151, 1130, N & S Anderson 1093, D & H Kirkpatrick 1088, C & R McIntyre 1097, S Steele 1043, J McNaghten & Son 1040, N & S Anderson 1023.
Ahoghill Flying Club 9/85 – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1288, 1262, Young McManus & Sons 1238, Chris Moore 1224, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1213, Young McManus & Sons 1203, 1193, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1188, Young McManus & Sons 1155, 1151. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1288, 1213.
Harryville HPS – A McBride 1251, J Rock 1211, 1169, A McBride 1157, J Millar & Son 1111, J Rock 1098, A McBride 1064, M D C Magill 980, Johnston & Richards 976, R H Clements 959. Good win for Allen McBride timed at 5.41pm flying 328 miles. Sire of Jimmy Rocks 2 x 1st Sect winners and dam Hermans Ceusters.
Kells & District HPS – Henry Turkington 1230, C & D Jackson 1208, Sam Murphy 1141.
Rasharkin & District 6/23 – A C & T Tweed 1217, Trevor Whyte 1213, J & M Milliken 1165, 1141, Steele & McNeill 868, W McFetridge 863. Danny Dixon -1284, 1269, 1233, 1216, 1154.
Randalstown HPS 7/46 – Stewart Bros 1210, 1206 Houston Bros 1179, J Millar 1164, 1155, W & W Gilbert 1155, Houston Bros 1152, W & W Gilbert 1147, J Millar 1143, Houston Bros 1119.
Broughshane & District HPS – D Houston & Son 1127, Val Gage 1089, D Houston & Son 1045.
