The second channel race of the season was again flown from Talbenny in Wales. The NIPA liberated the birds at 8.00am on Saturday 3rd June in light north east winds. Alan Darragh of Cullybackey had a fantastic race clocking eight birds in the top twenty of the Mid Antrim Combine including the winner and runner up spot. Alan timed his yearling blue wf cock at 12.34pm for the 220 mile fly to the Swallow Brae Lofts in Galgorm. This cock bred by John Wheatcroft of Pinxton in England won the club from Talbenny last week finishing 3rd Combine, 5th Section & 39th Open NIPA 10,655 birds. This week the cock is placed 1st Combine, 2nd Section & 13th Open NIPA 8983 birds. Next best to Alan was Shane Johnston & Son who are having an excellent season and were best in Harryville and the Town with their yearling chequer cock timed at 12.41pm. This cock was one from a kit of six from Rea & Magill of Larne. Dunloy's Danny Dixon was placed 3rd in the Combine with a 2yo cock timed at 12.57pm flying 230 miles and finished 6th Section B. Around the other clubs and John Miller was the best in Randalstown and 4th Combine with a yearling blue hen sitting 10 eggs eggs. This one is the best of Davy Campbell of Eastway. Jonathan Barkley and Laura Surgenor were 1st & 2nd in Kells & District and 7th & 12th Combine. Their first bird a yearling blue hen is bred from a self bred Sticker Doncker x Staf Van Reet cock when paired to a Sticker Doncker x Staf Van Reet hen from Johnny Simpson of Broughshane. The second bird timed is their Combine and Section winner from Talbenny last weekend. Trevor Whyte was best in Ahoghill for the second week running with a yearling blue wf hen. This one is same way bred as last weeks Talbenny club winner and Combine runner up. This week's winner was 3rd club & 7th Combine from 1st Talbenny last weekend and is a granddaughter of Paddy and William McManus's "Bad handler Cock" bloodlines are Jespers-Van der Wegen. Tommy & Annie Tweed were best in Rasharkin with a yearling chequer hen of Jeff Greenaway bloodlines, Johnston Eagleson & Sons were best in Ballymena with a 2yo blue cock that was acquired from the late Billy Smyth and broke in and John Getty was best in Broughshane with a 3yo dark cheq cock bred off a cock of Mervyn Gregg of Kells. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine 2nd Talbenny 52/721 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1416, A Darragh Cullybackey 1365, D Dixon Rasharkin 1363, J Miller Randalstown 1360, A Darragh Cullybackey 1360, A Darragh Cullybackey 1360, A Barkley & Son Kells 1357, T Whyte Ahoghill 1356, A Darragh Cullybackey 1356, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1348,A Darragh Cullybackey 1344, A Barkley & Son Kells 1338, D Dixon Rasharkin 1336, A Darragh Cullybackey 1335, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1332, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1332, G Gibson Cullybackey 1330, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1330, A Darragh Cullybackey 1329, D Dixon Rasharkin 1326, A, C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1321, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1319, J Rock Harryville 1315, D Dixon Rasharkin 1313, G Gibson Cullybackey 1308, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1305, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1303, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1300, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1294, C Moore Cullybackey 1294, D Craig Harryville 1292, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1291, Gregg Bros Kells 1291, T Whyte Ahoghill 1288, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1285, Surgenor Bros Kells 1281, D Dixon Rasharkin 1281, Surgenor Bros Kells 1279, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1275, C Moore Cullybackey 1274.
Mid Antrim Combine OB Points - Talbenny & Fermoy Races
Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 316, D Dixon Rasharkin 295, A Darragh Cullybackey 233, H Cubitt Rasharkin 188, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 172, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 151, G Gibson Cullybackey 144, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 123, T Whyte Ahoghill 88, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 73, A Barkley & Son Kells 64, J Rock Harryville 61, Surgenor Bros 55, H Boyd Kells 52, Stewart Bros Randalstown 40.
Champion League Q/F flown from 2nd Talbenny. Draw made by Jamie Greer in Cullybackey clubrooms.Winners in capitals.
Young & McManus & Sons 1319 v A BARKLEY & SON 1357, T WHYTE 1356 v J Smyth & Son 1348, D DIXON 1363 v Harry Boyd 0, J Rock 1315 v A DARRAGH 1416.
Old Bird Knock-Out Q/F flown from 1st Talbenny. Draw made by Jamie Greer in Cullybackey clubrooms. Winners in capitals.
Mr & Mrs Robinson 1332 v A DARRAGH 1416, J ROCK 1315 v Blair & Rankin 1250, J Eagleson & Sons 1272 v SURGENOR BROS 1281, T WHYTE 1356 v J & M Milliken 0.
MAC Captions with report by Mervyn Eagleson.
Alan Darragh 1st Mid Antrim Combine from 2nd Talbenny.
Shane Johnston & Son best in Harryville and Town from Talbenny.
John Miller winner in Radalstown and 4th Combine from Talbenny.
Jonathan Barkley & Laura Surgenor best in Kells in both Talbenny races.
Trevor Whyte with daughter Zoe and his 2nd Talbenny winner.
Tommy & Annie Tweed with their Rasharkin winner from Talbenny.