For the first time in a month the weather was ideal for a weekend race. The birds were released in Fermoy in County Cork on Saturday 28th August at 10.45am in an easterly wind. Gary Gibson of Cullybackey timed his blue hen at 14.53pm to win 1st Mid Antrim Combine in both the Fermoy race and the 5 Bird Classic event. The winning blue hen is the best of Willy van Hercks. Sire is a son of Rea & Magill's No1 hen and is sire of 5th Open Penzance Classic and 10th Open Penzance. The dam is a daughter to Rea & Magill's 1st Open NIPA Talbenny YB National winner "Pole Dancer" Gary's winner was his first bird last week winning 5th Combine and 9th Section B 2nd Gowran Park. In total Gary had eight birds in the top twenty of the Combine. Around the other clubs and Jimmy Rock was best in Harryville on 1396, John & Mark Milliken won Rasharkin on 1387, Robert Service and son Robin had the Ballymena & District winner on 1367, John Miller had top two in Randalstown 1363, (6 wins in young birds), Chris Moore was best in Ahoghill 1343, Davy Houston and Son had the Broughshane winner and McFarlane & Agnew best in Kells & District. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy 37/447 - Gary Gibson Associate 1418, D Dixon Rasharkin 1413, 1413, J Rock Associate 1396, G Gibson Associate 1394, G Gibson Associate 1993, G Gibson Associate 1393, D Dixon Rasharkin 1390, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1387, G Gibson Associate 1385, D Dixon Rasharkin 1385, T Whyte Rasharkin 1381, G Gibson Associate 1370, R H Clements Associate 1369, D Dixon Rasharkin 1367, 1367, R Service & Son Ballymena 1367, D Dixon Rasharkin 1367, R H Clements Associate 1364, J Miller Randalstown 1363, G Gibson Associate 1362, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1361, R Service & Son Ballymena 1359, J Miller Randalstown 1357, G Gibson Associate 1352, J Rock Associate 1350, R Service & Son Ballymena 1350 R H Clements Associate 1349
Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy 5 Bird - Gary Gibson Associate 1418, J Rock Associate 1396, G Gibson Associate 1393, R H Clements Associate 1369, D Dixon Rasharkin 1367, 1367, G Gibson Associate 1362, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1361, J Rock Associate 1350, R H Clements Associate 1349, C Moore Ahoghill 1343, J Rock Associate 1340, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1338, R Service & Son Ballymena 1334, T Whyte Rasharkin 1322, J McNeill & Son Randalstown 1320, A McBride Associate 1319, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1315, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1313, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1307
Ballymena & Antrim Clubs Fermoy
Cullybackey HPS – G Gibson 1418.722. 14.53hrs flying 208 miles.
Harryville HPS 7/116 – J Rock 1396, K & K Kernohan 1374, R H Clements 1369, 1364, K & K Kernohan 1363, L Mullan 1357, K & K Kernohan 1355, 1355, J Rock 1350, R H Clements 1349.
Ballymena & District 5/40 – R Service & Son 1367, Blair & Rankin 1361, R Service & Son 1359, Blair & Rankin 1350, R Service & Son 1335, Blair & Rankin 1314, W & J Smyth 1307, 1301, R Service & Son 1300, Blair & Rankin 1296. Robert Service and son Robin were the club winners here timing at 15.02pm. Sire of the winner is their good 32 cock a winner of 5x 1sts and the dam was a Derek Parr Soontjen through clubmate Davy Jackson. Bertie Blair was best in the Fermoy 5 Bird timing at 15.04pm. This mealy hen was winning for the second time in the young birds having won both the club and MA Combine from Roscrea. The sire has also bred "Faith" Bertie's Talbenny YB National Open winner of 2019 and the dam was from Paddy and William McManus of Ahoghill. This hen was direct from Peter Stakenborg of Belgium and is a daughter of his foundation pigeon he calls "Poulidor"
Randalstown HPS 5/48 – J Millar 1363, 1357, Stewart Bros 1334, 1321, J McNeill & Son 1320, J Millar 1306, J McNeill & Son 1305, Stewart Bros 1283.
Ahoghill Flying Club 7/75 – C Moore 1343, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1322, 1321, 1321, J Smyth & Son 1321, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1319, Young McManus & Sons 1315, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1303, J Smyth & Son 1294, Young McManus & Sons 1292. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1303.
Kells & District HPS 2/15 – McFarlane & Agnew 1284, 1218.
Broughshane & District 1/10 – D Houston & Son 1191, 1138, 992.
Congratulations to William McFetridge taking the top spot from today’s race from Fermoy 5 Bird,
