Joey Wright Of Ballymena & District wins 1st Mid Antrim Combine King's Cup National -
The Irish National Flying Club held their Blue Riband King's Cup race from St Allouestre in France on Sunday 2nd July. Liberation took place at 6.00am in light south westerly winds. Locally Joey Wright of Ballymena & District recorded the only bird in the Mid Antrim Combine when he clocked his yearling chequer cock at 14.22pm on the second afternoon to win 1st MAC, 39th North Section and 47th Open INFC National. Earlier in the season this cock returned home from 1st Talbenny badly injured and had to be stitched by the local vet. It therefore missed the Yearling National race and was set aside to recover. Joey said it had come into great order again and was prepared and sent to the King's Cup. Last season as a youngster it won 7th MAC and 156th Open INFC in the Penzance YB National 329 miles. The cock is definitely bred for the job being bred from the very best stock of N Black & Sons of Dromara who timed a record seven birds in the Open result. Joey just returned to the sport last season after a 40-year absence and while racing in the past won many top national positions including 2nd Open INFC Friendship National Beauvais in 1975 and the following year with the same Mosaic cock 6th Open INFC Kings Cup National from Rennes. He could fly rightly up Ireland too having topped the NIPA Open in a young bird race from Arklow with over 30,000 birds competing. Joey was the second longest flying member to clock at 504 miles. Well done Joey, great result. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Joey Wright of Ballymena & District, only bird timed in Kings Cup.