The second channel race of the season was flown from Talbenny in south Wales on Saturday 4th June. The birds were liberated at 6.00am in a north easterly wind and a very hard race was to follow with many birds again missing at dark. Best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine for the second channel race in a row was timed by Kells & District fancier Sam Murphy who recorded a velocity of 1230ypm. Sam's 2-year-old blue hen was timed at 11.06am flying 214 to Groggan Crescent lofts in Randalstown. Last week from 1st Talbenny the hen won 5th Combine & 7th Section B this week she wins 1st Combine, 1st Section B and 13th Open NIPA. She was purchased in a kit of young birds from Gary Gibson of Cullybackey and the breeding is Sticker Donkers. Next best was the Cullybackey winner Alan Darragh on 1225 followed by the Rasharkin winners John & Mark Milliken on 1221. Other winners included John Miller of Randalstown winning with the same blue chequer Soontjen cock for the second week in a row, 6th Combine from 1st Talbenny and 8th Combine 2nd Talbenny. This week John's bird is sitting on a newly hatched squeaker. Jimmy Smyth & Son were best in Ahoghill on 1203, worked hard all year and Johnston Eagleson & Sons again had the best bird in both Ballymena & District and the town on 1200ypm. Their winning cock is a son of "Channel Queen" winner of 2 x 1st Combine on the channel including 6th Open INFC Penzance YB Grand National. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine 2nd Talbenny 46/632 - S Murphy Kells 1230, A Darragh Cullybackey 1225, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1221, D Dixon Rasharkin 1216, D Dixon Rasharkin 1212, A Darragh Cullybackey 1211, S Murphy Kells 1209, John Miller Randalstown 1205, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1203, S Murphy Kells 1203, S Murphy Kells 1202, D Dixon Rasharkin 1202, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1200, S Murphy Kells 1184, S Crawford Associate 1173, F Barkley Rasharkin 1172, A Darragh Cullybackey 1167, C Moore Ahoghill 1164, G Gibson Cullybackey 1157, D Dixon Rasharkin 1156, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1156, S Murphy Kells 1155, R Service & Son Ballymena 1155, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1155, S Murphy Kells 1153, D Dixon Rasharkin 1152, A Darragh Cullybackey 1151, A Darragh Cullybackey 1151, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1150, A McBride Associate 1148.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 9/140 – J Smyth & Son 1203, C Moore 1164, J Smyth & Son 1156, 1155, M/M Robinson 1150, C Moore 1148. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1150, T & G Balmer 1078.
Ballymena & District 5/62 – J Eagleson & Sons 1200, R Service & Son 1155, 1130, J Eagleson & Sons 1126, 1103, 1066. Johnston Eagleson & Sons had the best bird in both Ballymena & District and the town timing at 11.23am. Sire of the winning 2-year-old chequer cock was on loan from clubmate Bertie Blair and originated from Paddy McManus of Ahoghill. Dam is "Channel Queen" winner of 2 x 1st Combine's on the channel, including 6th Open INFC Penzance YB Grand National for Johnston. "Channel Queen" was a Lambrecht bought in a kit of six from Jackie Steele of Rasharkin, this line has won for numerous local lofts.
Cullybackey HPS 8/89 – A Darragh 1225, 1211, 1167, G Gibson 1157, A Darragh 1151, 1151.
Harryville HPS 9/148 – S Crawford 1173, A McBride 1148, S Crawford 1121, 1121, A McBride 1117, 1117.
Kells & District 6/32 – S Murphy 1230, 1209, 1203, 1202, B Swann & Son 1187, S Murphy 1184. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – S Murphy 1203, A Barkley & Son 818, 809.
Randalstown 8/117 – J Millar 1205, Stewart Bros 1144, J Millar 1125, Stewart Bros 1100, J Millar 1092, F & G & J Dickey 1077.
Rasharkin & District 6/30 – J & M Milliken 1221, F Barkley 1172, 1114, H Cubitt 1067, A C & T Tweed 1046, 1038. Danny Dixon vels 1216, 1212, 1202, 1155, 1152, 1141, 1137.
Mid Antrim Combine OB Points Fancier of The Year Top 10 - Week 8 - 2nd Talbenny (Fermoy to be added). J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 248, S Murphy Kells 215, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 192, A Darragh Cullybackey 189, D Dixon Rasharkin 188, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 168, T Whyte Rasharkin 105, S Crawford Associate 90, F Barkley Rasharkin 54, Surgenor Bros 47.
Mid Antrim Combine Champions League Q/F Knock out 2nd Talbenny (winners in capitals) - S Crawford 1173 v S MURPHY 1230, SURGENOR BROS 1103 V Blair & Rankin 1013, J Smyth & Son 1203 v D DIXON 1216, F Barkley 1172 v J EAGLESON & SONS 1200.
Mid Antrim Combine OB Knock out 2nd Talbenny (winners in capitals)
J & M MILLIKEN 1221 V T & M Morrow (never sent), D Houston & Son (never sent) v G GIBSON 1157, S MURPHY 1230 V R H Clements 1042, Blair & Rankin 1013 v J EAGLESON & SONS 1200.
Sam Murphy from the Kells & District HPS with his 1st Combine
& Sect B winner in the 2nd Talbenny.