The young bird racing season started on Saturday 16th July with a mass liberation from the new race point Kilbeggan in County Westmeath. Birds were released at 9.30am in light variable winds. Randalstown fanciers Ian and Eric Stewart had the best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine on 1518ypm. The brother's timed their chequer hen at 11.34am flying 107 miles. Sire is Sticker Donckers from Andy McCauley and dam "The Green Ring Hen" the best bloodlines of Paddy & William McManus of Ahoghill. This pair have bred good winners in the past. Stewart Bros last topped the Combine in the INFC King's Cup race from St. Allouestre last season when they finished 13th Open National. Geoff Surgenor of Kells & District had a great card timing 4 birds in 7 seconds to take the top four in the club and the next four Combine positions. His winner is bred from the "Marion Hen" This hen was a top racer for the lofts winning 2 x 1st Combine and 1st & 2nd Section B plus many more positions. Breeding is Busschaert x Hartog. The sire is Van Loon and is a son of Geoff's 1st Open NIPA Talbenny YB National winner "Christine". Alan Darragh won Cullybackey on 1489, A C & T Tweed best in Rasharkin 1473, Bertie Blair Ballymena winner on 1448 and Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill winners on 1436. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Kilbeggan 27/656 - Stewart Bros Randalstown 1518, Surgenor Bros Kells 1513, Surgenor Bros Kells 1513, Surgenor Bros Kells 1512, Surgenor Bros Kells 1512, D Dixon Rasharkin 1495, 1489, 1489, 1489, 1489, 1489, 1489, A Darragh Cullybackey 1489, D Magill Associate 1477, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1473, A Darragh Cullybackey 1471, F Barkley Rasharkin 1471, A Darragh Cullybackey 1469, A Darragh Cullybackey 1463, J Miller Randalstown 1459, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1454, D Magill1449, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1448, F Barkley Rasharkin 1443, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1442, S Murphy Kells 1442, 1442, 1441, 1441, 1440, 1440, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1436, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1435, S Murphy Kells 1432, A Darragh Cullybackey 1431.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 6/171 – M/M Robinson 1436, 1435, T & G Balmer 1423, J Smyth & Son 1402, 1393, 1382.
Ballymena & District 1/30 – Blair & Rankin 1448, 1400, 1389, 1388.
Cullybackey HPS 3/68 – A Darragh 1489, 1471, 1469, 1463, 1431, 1427.
Harryville HPS 7/195 – Johnston & Richards 1478, D Magill 1477, K & K Kernohan 1456, D Magill 1449, Johnston & Richards 1445, 1435.
Kells & District 4/123 – Surgenor Bros 1513, 1513, 1512, 1512, S Murphy 1442, 1442. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Gregg Bros 1363, B Swann & Son 1348, Surgenor Bros 1337, Gregg Bros 1033, A Barkley & Son 1012.
Randalstown 8/112 – Stewart Bros 1518, J Millar 1459, Stewart Bros 1454, 1442, J Millar 1426, 1403.
Rasharkin & District 3/45 – A C & T Tweed 1473, F Barkley 1471, 1443, A C & T Tweed 1403, J Millar & Son 1424.
Ian Stewart from Randalstown, 1st Club and 1st MAC from 1st Kilbeggan.