The NIPA Old Bird Derby was held from Saint Malo in France on Thursday 23rd June. Liberation took place at 06.15am in a light north-eastery wind turning south westerly en-route. Last season around 140 birds made it home in the three-day race, this season only 72 game birds were timed by their delighted owners. Only four birds were recorded in the Mid Antrim Combine with the best of these timed by two times National winner Martin Graham of Ballymena & District who timed his 3-year-old blue chequer cock sitting 10-day old eggs at 15.52pm on the second day. This was the third season in a row the cock had flown the French OB Derby(474 Miles) having won 2nd club in 2020, 10th Section & 109th Open in 2021, and this season 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 3rd Section & 46th Open NIPA. This year's result wins Martin the NIPA Bronze Diploma for a bird twice in the Open prizes in the OB National. Dam was a gift hen from top distance flyer Hugh Boyd of Randalstown and the sire a half-brother of "Brenda Anne" on the sire’s side. "Brenda Anne" was the only bird in Section B and placed 7th Open for Martin in the NIPA St Malo smash of 2017. This result follows up two good results last season when Martin won 6th, 8th & 10th Section, plus 50th, 100th & 109th Open NIPA St Malo OB National and then a week later 12th North Section & 19th Open Kings Cup from St. Allouestre. Martin has amassed many top National & Derby position over the last number of years with the best being 1st Open INFC Sennen Cove Yearling National 2018 with "Denman", 1st Open NIPA Skibbereen Inland National 2004 and 2nd Open NIPA OB National Lamballe in 2003. Martin's bird was flying 474 from St Malo and return home having been hawked on one wing. He is calling him " Hugh's Delight" after Hugh Boyd who gifted him the mother. Well done again Martin always thereabouts. Runner up in the Combine was another Ballymena & District fancier Robert Alexander who lives only a stone’s throw from Martin. Robert timed a 3-year-old dark chequer w/f hen at 08.59am on the third morning and like Martin's bird she also had an injury to one of her wings. This hen was sitting on a one-day old chick and is bred down from McCracken Bros of Banbridge, birds he's had, for a number of years. For all her efforts she wins 4th Section and 57th Open NIPA National. Last season Robert had his best result when he won 30th Open in the King's Cup race from St Allouestre. Third Combine was Danny Dixon of Dunloy with a 2-year-old chequer hen timed on the third day flying 484 miles. This hen was sitting eggs 10 - 15 days and she is a sister to Danny's 3rd Section & 23rd Open Penzance Classic bird last week. Dam is a sister of Dixie Chic, and sire is direct from Maurice Matthews. The only other loft to clock in the Combine was the Anne, Chris and Tommy Tweed partnership of Rasharkin & Dist. Their dark w/f hen was timed on the third evening to win the club for the second season in a row. Last season the hen was placed 5th Section & 43rd Open NIPA and this year 7th Section & 71st Open winning the partnership the Bronze Diploma. Dam is from Joe Murphy, and it contains top Scottish distance lines, the sire from Rudi Gage of Windsor Social is Fred Simpson x Robin Duddy best bloodlines. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine St Malo OB Derby - Martin Graham Ballymena 495, R Alexander Ballymena 350, D Dixon 304, A, C & T Tweed Rasharkin 280.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs St Malo
Ballymena & District – Martin Graham 495, Robert Alexander 350.
Rasharkin & District – A C & T Tweed 280. Danny Dixon vel 304.
NIPA Section B St Malo 45/163 – W & L McCaw Ballymoney 709, W Blair Ballymoney 665, M Graham Ballymena 495, R Alexander Ballymena 350, J Connolly Ballymoney 314, D Dixon Ballymoney 304, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin & District 280.
NIPA Section A St Malo Sean Hughes Coalisland 1025, J McConaghie Ballymoney 377, R Corey Coalisland 327, G Quinn Coalisland 280,
Ballymoney Centre St Malo - W & L McCaw Ballymoney 709, W Blair Ballymoney 665, J McConaghie Ballymoney 377, J Connolly Ballymoney 314, D Dixon Ballymoney 304, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin & District 280.
Ahoghill Centre St Malo - M Graham Ballymena 495, R Alexander Ballymena 350, J Connolly Ballymoney 314, D Dixon Ballymoney 304, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin & District 280.
Martin Graham topped the MAC for Ballymena & District HPS.