The young bird season continued with the fifth race from Gowran Park in County Kilkenny on Saturday 13th August. The NIPA liberation took place at 6.30am in east to northeast winds. Trevor Johnston & Son of Harryville had a big early arrival timing the best bird in the local area at 9.57am to their loft's on the Doury Road to record 1355. Trevor's winning chequer white flight cock wins 3rd Section B and was purchased in a kit from his cousin Chris Houston. Danny Dixon of Dunloy was next best topping the Mid Antrim Combine with two birds on 1326 & 1322. Danny's two birds both red cocks are uncle's to clubmate Davy Devenney's NIPA Open winner from 2nd Kilbeggan. Gary Gibson the Cullybackey winner was next best on 1322 with a dark hen bred by D, C & P McArdle of Armagh and is from their Van den Brande family. Other local winners included Henry Turkington of Kells on 1310 with a young bird bred by clubmate Geoff Surgenor, Frank Dickey best in Randalstown on 1288 and Young & McManus & Sons best in Ahoghill on 1287 under strong pressure from Trevor Whyte. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Gowran Park 39/926 - D Dixon Rasharkin 1326, D Dixon Rasharkin 1322, G Gibson Cullybackey 1322, D Dixon Rasharkin 1321 D Dixon Rasharkin 1320, H Turkington Kells 1310, D Dixon Rasharkin 1308, D Dixon Rasharkin 1308, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1307, G Gibson Cullybackey 1305, G Gibson Cullybackey 1305, H Boyd Kells 1303, A Barkley & Son Kells 1299, Gregg Bros Kells 1297, H Boyd Kells 1294, G Gibson Cullybackey 1293, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1288, A Darragh Cullybackey 1288, F & G & J Dickey Randalstown 1288, A Darragh Cullybackey 1288, G Gibson Cullybackey 1287, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1287, W & J McLean Rasharkin 1286, A Darragh Cullybackey 1286, F & G & J Dickey Randalstown 1286
Mid Antrim CombineYoung Bird Knock-Out Q/F (winners in capitals)
F Barkley v STEWART BROS, YOUNG & McMANUS & SONS v J Eagleson & Sons (never sent), J Miller v SURGENOR BROS, A Shiels v D DIXON.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Gowran Park
Ahoghill Flying Club 13/249 – Young McManus & Sons 1287, T Whyte 1274, 1261, 1259, J Smyth & Son 1258, T Whyte 1238. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – T Whyte 1261, 1282.
Cullybackey HPS 5/215 – G Gibson 1322, J & J Greer 1307, G Gibson 1305, 1305, 1293, J & J Greer 1288.
Harryville HPS 10/234 – T Johnston & Son 1355, 1325, Johnston & Richards 1324, 1308, 1304.
Kells & District HPS 5/118 – H Turkington 1310, H Boyd 1303, A Barkley & Son 1299, Gregg Bros 1297, H Boyd 1294, Surgenor Bros 1267. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – H Turkington 1260, Gregg Bros 1246, Surgenor Bros 1160, Gregg Bros 1017, A Barkley & Son 873. Henry Turkington wins the Alan Barkley Memorial Shield and Harry Boyd wins the YB Knock-out cup beating Surgenor Bros in the final.
Randalstown HPS 6/135 – F & G & J Dickey 1288, 1286, Stewart Bros 1226, 1219, F & G & J Dickey 1216, W & W Gilbert 1215.
Rasharkin & District 6/66 – W & J McLean 1286, A C & T Tweed 1248, H Cubitt 1236, A C & T Tweed 1235, W & J McLean 1221, H Cubitt 1220.
Obituary – I have the sad duty to inform the fancy of two more big stars of recent years having passed away firstly William McKillen who raced for many years in the Ballymena & District under W & S McKillen. He scored many top results when racing and was especially interested in the long-distance events and had a great team of birds based on the old Kenyon family of birds raced in the same club by the famous Smyth Bros. For many years he operated Hilltop Feeds on the Old Bal;lymoney Road and always had a top selection of the various mixtures. Over the weekend I was informed of the passing of Matt Wray who raced with great success in the Harryville HPS where he was a founder member and more recently filled the post of Secretary. In his hey-day he could score from all points and again he had a great interest in the long-distance events not having success just for himself racing under Wray & McFadden but had produced several birds to win for other lofts across Ireland. He never missed the annual Blackpool Show and I travelled with him on the last occasion I was there myself, his final house move was to 141 Moat Road, and I have mentioned before we ourselves lived there in the early 70’s and had great fun in our early days in the sport. Out in company Matt was always great craic, never let his bone go to the dog. Due to ill health, he retired from the sport earlier this year, he will be sadly missed. HOMER.
Danny Dixon from Dunloy wins 1st and 2nd in the MAC from Gowran Park.
Included in the photo is his grand-daughter Danni McMullan.