The second young bird race of the season was again flown from Kilbeggan on Friday 22nd July. The NIPA released over 12,000 birds at 10.00am in light winds. Geoff Surgenor of Kells & District had the best two birds in the Mid Antrim Combine this week timing both at 12.18pm to his lofts in Moorfields to record 1447. Geoff had the top four in the Kells club last week and 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th MA Combine, this week he takes the top three and 1st, 2nd & 5th MA Combine and 2nd, 3rd & 10th Section B. Geoff's winner is the same blue hen that won 1st Club, 2nd MA Combine and 10th Section last week. Dam is the "Marion Hen", a top racer for the loft 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". A great start to the young bird season for Geoff and for his young blue hen 1st & 2nd Combine in the first two races. Next best in the Combine was Jackie Steele of Rasharkin on 1437. Jackie's winner is off his top Lambrecht stock bird "38 Cock". This cock has bred outstandingly over the years including 1st Open NIPA Mullingar for Bertie Blair of Ballymena & Dist, 1st Section B Skibbereen OB Inland National for clubmates John & Mark Milliken, 1st Combine & 13th Open INFC St. Allouestre Kings Cup for Stewart Bros of Randalstown, and Jackie's own "Isla" winner of 3 x 1st Combine and 3 x 1st Section B 2018. The nestmate of the "38 Cock" bred 1st Open NIPA Fermoy for John & Mark Milliken. Best bird in Harryville and Ballymena Town for the second week running was Johnston & Richards on 1428. Shane's winner was bred by good friend Gary Gibson of Cullybackey and is Stickers Donckers x Lambrecht. John Miller the Randalstown winner on 1425 was 4th Combine with a chequer Van Loon hen. Both parents bred by Steve Goulding of Liverpool. Other winners included Gary Gibson of Cullybackey who had the top three in the club. Young & McManus & Sons won Ahoghill on 1403, Bertie Blair had the top two in Ballymena & Dist on 1394. His winning blue pied Stickers Donckers hen is a double granddaughter of Gary Gibson's "Golden Pair" and Marcus Morrow best in Broughshane on 1373. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine - 2nd Kilbeggan 41/1285 - Surgenor Bros Kells 1447, Surgenor Bros Kells 1447, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1435, John Miller Randalstown 1425, Surgenor Bros Kells 1420, G Gibson Cullybackey 1410, G Gibson Cullybackey 1409, G Gibson Cullybackey 1409, D Dixon Rasharkin 1406, A Darragh Cullybackey 1406, D Dixon Rasharkin 1406, D Dixon Rasharkin 1405, D Dixon Rasharkin 1405, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1403, A Darragh Cullybackey 1400, C Moore Ahoghill 1398, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1394, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1393, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1393, A Darragh Cullybackey 1392, D Magill Associate 1391, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1388, D Magill Associate 1387, A Darragh Cullybackey 1382, G Gibson Cullybackey 1381, G Gibson Cullybackey 1380, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1378, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1378, D Magill Associate 1377, A Darragh Cullybackey 1377.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 10/373 – Young McManus & Sons 1403, C Moore 1398, J Smyth & Son 1376, Young McManus & Sons 1375, M/M Robinson 1374, 1371. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club A Shiels 1360, M/M Robinson 1348.
Ballymena & District 4/108 – Blair & Rankin 1394, 1393, J Eagleson & Sons 1393, 1378, 1378, Blair & Rankin 1373.
Broughshane & District 2/23 – T & M Morrow 1373, 1323, J Getty 643, 641.
Cullybackey HPS 4/152 – G Gibson 1410, 1409, A Darragh 1409, 1406, 1400, 1392.
Harryville HPS 9/266 – Johnston & Richards 1428, 1412, D Magill 1391, 1387, 1377, 1375.
Kells & District 6/153 – Surgenor Bros 1447, 1447, 1420, A Barkley & Son 1367, Gregg Bros 1363, 1363. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club. .
Randalstown 6/164 – J Millar 1425, Stewart Bros 1388, 1352, J Millar 1350, 1349, Stewart Bros 1341.
Rasharkin & District 6/121 – Steele & McNeill 1435, W J McLean 1375, 1370, F Barkley 1345, Steele & McNeill 1325, A C & T Tweed 1288.
Geoff Surgenor from Kells & District, two wins on the trot and 1st Mid Antrim Combine.