The young bird racing season continued with the sixth race again from Gowran Park in County Kilkenny. As like the previous two weeks the race was flown on a weekday due to bad weather at the weekend. Birds were liberated on Monday 23rd August at 10.45am in a light easterly wind. Best bird in the local area was timed by former Kings Cup winner Jimmy Greer and his grandson Jamie Greer. The Cullybackey Flying Club partnership clocked at 14.02pm for the 158 mile fly to their Tullynahinnion Lofts just outside Portglenone to record velocity 1413ypm. Their winning blue chequer cock also wins 4th Section B and 150th Open NIPA. The cock was 3rd club and 24th Section B last week and is coming into form at the right time for the classic events. Sire was a gift from Keith Kernohan of Harryville and is from the best of his Vermeerbergen - Wilms stock. Dam is Staf Van Reet x Braspenning with the G. G. Sire of the winner coming from clubmate Gary Gibson. Nest best was Danny Dixon of Rasharkin who topped the Mid Antrim Combine on 1412. Other local club winners were Lexie Mullan of Harryville on 1406, W & J Smyth with the top two in Ballymena 1389, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1375, Rasharkin fancier Trevor Whyte had the top three positions on 1367, Davy Houston & Son 1340 and Jimmy Smyth & Son the Ahoghill winners on 1333. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine 2nd Gowran Park 28/525 - D Dixon Rasharkin 1412, 1412, 1411, 1411, G Gibson Associate 1410, R H Clements Associate 1401, D Dixon 1395, 1395, 1395, 1393, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1389, A McBride Associate 1382, R H Clements Associate 1381, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1378, R Service & Son Ballymena 1376, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1375, R H Clements Associate 1372, R Service & Son Ballymena 1371, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1369, T Whyte Rasharkin 1367, G Gibson Associate 1366, T Whyte Rasharkin 1361, J Rock Associate 1361, R H Clements Associate 1358, T Whyte Rasharkin 1355, J Rock Associate 1353, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1351
Ballymena Area Clubs Gowran Park (2)
Cullybackey HPS – J & J Greer 1413, Gary Gibson 1410, 1366, ,1342, 1342, C & R McIntyre 1330. Today’s Cullybackey result from Gowan park. Would like to thank Kenneth Kernohan for the gift of the sire of today’s winner down from the best of the Veermeerburgens. This pigeon was also 3rd Club & 24th Section last week.
Harryville HPS 9/130 - L Mullan 1406, R H Clements 1401, A McBride 1382, R H Clements 1381, 1372, J Rock 1361, R H Clements 1358, J Rock 1353, K & K Kernohan 1351, J Rock 1347.
Ballymena & District 5/70 – W & J Smyth 1389, 1378, R Service & Son 1376, 1371, W & J Smyth 1369, R Service & Son 1350, Blair & Rankin 1347, W & J Smyth 1334, Blair & Rankin 1327, J Eagleson & Sons 1305. William and Joe Smyth were back to winning ways taking the top two positions. Their winner a blue w/f Frans Zwols hen was timed at 14.06pm.
Randalstown HPS 3/70 –Stewart Bros 1375, J McNeill & Son 1342, J Millar 1329, 1322, 1321, Stewart Bros 1304, 1303, J McNeill & Son 1213.
Rasharkin & District – T Whyte 1367, 1361, Steele & McNeill 1351, J & M Milliken 1335, 1330, Steele & McNeill 1313. Danny Dixon – 1412, 1412, 1411, 1411, 1395, 1395, 1395, 1393. Congratulations to Trevor Whyte taking top spots from today’s Gowran Park race for the second week.
Broughshane & District 2/14 – Davy Houston & Son 1340, 1272, 1229.
Ahoghill Flying Club 7/84 – J Smyth & Son 1333, 1333, Young McManus & Sons 1328, J Smyth & Son 1326, Young McManus & Sons 1322, J Smyth & Son 1302, Young McManus & Sons 1298, 1295, J Smyth & Son 1292, 1292. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – J Smyth & Son 1292.
