The opening race of the Irish National Flying Club's season was the old bird inland National flown from Skibbereen on Tuesday 30th May. Liberation was at 8.30am in easterly winds. Dunloy's Danny Dixon was best in the Mid Antrim Combine on 1275 with a 3yo blue w/f Lambrecht cock timed at 14.37pm flying 266 miles to the lofts. The sire a brother of Heartbreaker and the dam a daughter of Quiverman. In total Danny had four birds in the National result 6th, 11th, 33rd and 86th Open INFCN. Alan Darragh was runner up in the Combine on 1268 and 9th Open INFC with a blue w/f yearling cock. Sire is Alan's good 5 times France cock and the dam won 2nd Open in the Yearling National. Laurence and Heather Robinson of Cullybackey were next best and 10th Open National on 1267 with a blue yearling hen. She was a late young bird last season and only got two races. The sire is Van Herck and was gifted to Laurence by Gary Gibson and the dam was a good racing hen that won good first's including 1st Section Bude. She is half Van Herck from P & J Boal and half Janssen. Chris Moore of Cullybackey also made the Open prizes finishing 31st Open on 1252. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine - INFC Skibbereen OB Inland National - D Dixon Rasharkin 1275, A Darragh Cullybackey 1268, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1267, D Dixon Rasharkin 1266, C Moore Cullybackey 1252, D Dixon Rasharkin 1249, D Dixon Rasharkin 1220, A Darragh Cullybackey 1197, A Darragh Cullybackey 1190, G Gibson 1174.
Danny Dixon of Dunloy best in Mid Antrim Combine from INFC Skibbereen and 6th Open.
Alan Darragh Cullybackey with his 9th Open Skibbereen National bird.