The 2023 racing season commenced on Saturday 15th April with the opening race from Tullamore in County Offaly. The NIPA released the birds at 10.45am in light southerly winds and an excellent race followed. Rasharkin fancier Harold Cubitt had a great start to the new season timing the first of his birds at 12.54pm to win 1st, 2nd, 7th, 9th & 19th Mid Antrim Combine and 8th, 10th, 32nd, 59th & 113th Open NIPA 14706 birds velo 1757. Harold's Combine winner a yearling chequer cock is bred from his own family of birds and the second yearling cock timed 2 seconds later was bred by his good friend Jimmy Smyth of Ahoghill. Young & McManus & Sons the Ahoghill winners were next best on 1753 plus 13th Open NIPA with a 4 year old dark cock driving the hen. This cock is a son of their No1 Karel Laenen stock cock and has now won Paddy and William 3 x 1st. Other club winners included Gary Gibson who had a top card in Cullybackey including 1st & 2nd club on 1726. Gary's winner a dark yearling hen won 1st Club & 3rd Combine from Gowran park last season and is bred by D, C & P McArdle of Armagh, breeding being their Van Den Brande family. Jimmy Rock had the best bird in the town and topped Harryville on 1712 with a 4 year old chequer cock. This cock has now won 4 x 1st and topped the Combine as a yearling from Tullamore. The sire is Manderlartz from the late Lexi Mullan and is a winner of 3 x 1st. The dam a Soontjen hen from the late Allen McBride was a winner for Jimmy of 1st Section B and 3rd Open NIPA Talbenny. Jimmy who is recovering from a wee op is being helped this season by his son in law Darryl Moore and they've got off to a fine start. Harry Boyd had the best two birds in Kells on 1703 with a blue yearling cock bred by Sammy Ogle of Drumnavaddy. Sire is Lambrecht and the dam a Van Den Bulck Kittel hen. John Miller took the top three in Randalstown on 1679 with a yearling blue w/f Leo Vanrijn hen sitting 14 days, Johnston Eagleson & Sons best in Ballymena & Dist on 1666 with a 4-year-old chequer cock that topped the Combine from Gowran Park in 2021 and Mark Neilly was best in Broughshane on 1580. Rasharkin have 50 x 2023 rings available. Mervyn Eagleson PO. Homer training this week Tuesday and Wednesday weather permitting.
Mid Antrim Combine Tullamore 46/1311 - H Cubitt Rasharkin 1757, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1756, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1753, D Dixon Rasharkin 1753, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1745, D Dixon Rasharkin 1744, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1738, G Gibson Cullybackey 1726, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1724, G Gibson Cullybackey 1724, A & C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1722, D Dixon Rasharkin 1722, 1722, 1722, 1721, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1720, G Gibson Cullybackey 1714, J Rock Associate 1712, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1710, G Gibson Cullybackey 1707, H Boyd Kells 1703, T Whyte Ahoghill 1703, W J & R J Reid Rasharkin 1702, C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 1701, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1698, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1695, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1695, F Barkley Rasharkin 1694, H Boyd Kells 1692, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1691, W McFetridge 1690, A & C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1687, C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 1687, G Gibson Cullybackey 1687 Gary Gibson Cullybackey 1684, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1684, C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 1684, F Barkley Rasharkin 1684, T Whyte Ahoghill 1684, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1682
Mid Antrim Clubs Tullamore
Rasharkin & District HPS 6/99 – H Cubitt 1757, 1756, W McFetridge 1745, A C & T Tweed 1722, WJ & RJ Reid 1702, W McFetridge 1695, F Barkley 1694, A C & T Tweed 1687. Danny Dixon 1753, 1744.
Ahoghill Flying Club 6/262 – Young McManus & Sons 1753, T Whyte 1703, Young McManus & Sons 1698, J Smyth & Son 1695, T Whyte 1684, Young McManus & Sons 1682.
Cullybackey HPS 10/283 – G Gibson 1726, 1724, M/M Robinson 1720, G Gibson 1714, 1707, C & R McIntyre 1701, J & J Greer 1691, C & R McIntyre 1687, G Gibson 1687, 1684. Well done to Gary Gibson on taking 1st and 2nd today, great start to the season. We'll done to all in the result.
Harryville HPS 7/194 – J Rock 1712, 1667, 1665, S Crawford 1659, S Johnston & Son 1659, S Crawford 1654, J Rock 1643, 1643, S Johnston & Son 1638, 1638. Well done Jimmy Rock, great result.
Kells & District HPS 7/171 – H Boyd 1703, 1692, Surgenor Bros 1679, 1671, 1659, A Barkley & Son 1645, Gregg Bros 1637, 1636, 1631, B Swann & Son 1667. Well done to Harry Boyd for taking top 2 spots in Kells today. Well done to everyone on the sheet.
Randalstown HPS 6/133 – J Millar 1679, 1678, 1675, Stewart Bros 1670, 1668, 1664, N Percy & Son 1592, W & W Gilbert 1565. Good start for Secretary John Millar,
Ballymena & District HPS 3/139 – J Eagleson & Sons 1666, 1659, 1658, 1658, Blair & Rankin 1653, J Eagleson & Sons 1651, Blair & Rankin 1646, 1634, J Eagleson & Sons 1632, 1625.
Broughshane & District 3/39 – M Neilly 1580, J Getty 1565, T & M Morrow 1557, 1557, J Getty 1497, M Neilly 1486.
NIPA Section B Tullamore 77/2274 – T & J McDonald Coleraine Prem 1768, J Connolly Ballymoney 1758, H Cubitt Rasharkin & Dist 1757, D & H Stuart Ballymoney n1756, H Cubitt 1756, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1753, D Dixon Ballymoney 1753, D & H Stuart 1752, D & H Stuart 1751, M & J Howard & Son Coleraine Prem 1748.
Harold Cubitt from rasharkin, 1st MAC Tullamore