The last inland race of the old bird season was flown from Fermoy in Co Cork on Friday 17th June. The NIPA liberated the 3,400 birds at 9.30am in southerly winds. Johnston Eagleson & Sons of Ballymena & District had an outstanding result taking the top 6 positions in the Mid Antrim Combine. Their winner a yearling blue pied Lambrecht cock was timed at 13.35pm flying 201 miles to the Cullybackey Road lofts. This yearling cock had been set aside for next season after flying the Skibbereen yearling national the week previous and was put in a section with the other birds retired for the season. He quickly paired up with a hen that had just laid her second egg and was also paired to two other cocks. The next evening the cock had been beat up by one of the other cocks and was sat in the corner feeling sorry for himself. The next day when Johnston checked he had beat the other cocks up and was now sitting on the eggs. The cock was brought out of early retirement and topped the Combine. Johnston's second bird a 2-year-old chequer Lambrecht x Louis Thijs hen has now been placed 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 15th and 18th Combine and his third bird a 2-year-old Van den Bulck cock has now been placed 3rd, 5th, 11th, 18th, 20th Combine. Danny Dixon was next best with one off his "Aviary Cock" followed by Cullybackey winner Alan Darragh with a 4-year-old blue hen. This hen won 10th Combine in the opening race of the season from Tullamore and 5th Combine from Corrin. Paddy & William McManus had the best 3 birds in Ahoghill club. Their winner a very consistent 3-year-old blue pied Van den Brande hen was half- sister to last season's Mid Antrim Combine Bird of the Year. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1441, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1427, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1424, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1423, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1418, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1418, D Dixon Rasharkin 1404, A Darragh Cullybackey 1404, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1396, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1388, G & A Eagleson Ballymena 1387, D Dixon Rasharkin 1386, A Darragh Cullybackey 1383, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1382, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1380, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1373, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1373, D Dixon Rasharkin 1343, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1341, A Shiels Ahoghill 1337
Johnston Eagleson from Ballymena & Dist had Top 6 places in the Comeback OB Fermoy.
Holding the 1st MAC winner and the 1st Club Penzance flown on same day.