The NIPA commenced their young bird season with the opening race from Kilbeggan in County Westmeath. Liberation took place on Monday 24th July at 9.00am in light north-westerly winds. Best bird in the local area was timed by K & K Kernohan & Sons of Ballymena & District at 11.39am flying 113 miles to their Ballykeel loft's to win 1st Mid Antrim Combine on 1251. The partnership consisting of Keith and his father Ken and Keith's two sons Callum and Lewis timed a Willy Jacobs x Emiel Dillon blue hen that was part of a kit of youngsters purchased from Oroory Hill Stud. The Kernohan team who were the highest prize winners in the Harryville club last season decided to have a wee break at the start of the season and didn't race any old birds. They joined Ballymena & District and rejoined the Mid Antrim Combine and are back with a bang winning the club and topping the Combine. Runner up in the Combine was Bertie Blair of Ballymena who timed at 11.40am to record 1239. Bertie's winner was bred from a pair of P & D Van den Bulcks acquire from the late Lexie Mullan. Other club winners include Geoff Surgenor who had the top three in Kells on 1216. Sire was from Bertie Blair and is a g/son of Gary Gibson's Golden Couple. Dam is Van Rijn and is from Geoff's good 39 cock a winner of 3 x 1st. Freddie Barkley was best in Rasharkin on 1212, Jimmy Rock had the best birds in Harryville. His winner bred from a Jacobs cock from Oroory Hill Stud and a hen from Gary Gibson of Cullybackey. Stewart Bros had the top two in Randalstown their winner a Lambrecht cock doing 1171, Jimmy Smyth & Son were best in Ahoghill on 1148 and Mr & Mrs Robinson had the best three birds in Cullybackey the winner doing 1075. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine 1st Kilbeggan 29/654 - K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1251, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1239, D Dixon Rasharkin 1233, D Dixon Rasharkin 1233, D Dixon Rasharkin 1233, D Dixon Rasharkin 1233, D Dixon Rasharkin 1233, D Dixon Rasharkin 1233, D Dixon Rasharkin 1232, D Dixon Rasharkin 1232, Surgenor Bros Kells 1216, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1214, F Barkley Rasharkin 1212, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1211, Surgenor Bros Kells 1207, Surgenor Bros Kells 1197, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1191, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1186, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1183, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1182, T Johnston & Son Associate 1180, J Rock Harryville 1178
K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1177, J Rock Harryville 1177, J Rock Harryville 1175, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1171, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1168, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1166, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1166, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1165, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1165, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1165, T Johnston & Son Associate 1164, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1152, J Miller Randalstown 1150, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1149, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1148, J Rock Harryville 1145, A & C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1145, J Rock Harryville 1144.
NIPA Section B 1st Kilbeggan 55/1532 – S & J Bones and T Yates Muckamore 1303, 1279, R & S Hope Crumlin & Dist 1262, S & J Bones and T Yates 1260, 1258, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena & Dist 1251, Blair & Rankin Ballmena & Dist 1239, Fleming Bros Crumlin & Dist 1237, D Dixon Ballymoney 1233, 1233.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 3/68 – J Smyth & Son 1148, 1114, Young McManus & Sons 1097, J Smyth & Son 1091, 1091, 1090.
Ballymoney HPS 9/317 – Danny Dixon 1233, 1233, 1233, 1233, 1233, 1233. The winner is out of a daughter of Heartbreaker when paired to a direct Rudy van Reeth.
Ballymena & District HPS 4/87 – K & K Kernohan & Sons 1251, Blair & Rankin 129, K & K Kernohan & Sons 1214, 1211, 1186, Blair & Rankin 1183.
Cullybackey HPS 4/74 – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1075, 1075, 1074, Bamber & Steele 1050, J & J Greer 1045, 1027.
Crumlin & District 5/131 – R & S Hope 1262, Fleming Bros 1237, G Grant 1220, Fleming Bros 1208, R & S Hope 1185, 1179.
Dervock RPS – D & H Stuart 1194, A & M Boyle 1193, A & M Boyle 1088, D & H Stuart 1087, D Devenney 1085, 1085.
Harryville HPS 3/83 – J Rock 1178, 1177, 1175, S Murphy 1161, 1160, J Rock 1145.
Kells & District HPS 5/86 – Surgenor Bros 1216, 1207, 1197, A Barkley & Son 1134, Gregg Bros 1134, A Barkley & Son 1134. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club -1. Surgenor Bros 1216, 2. A.Barkley & Son 1134, 3. Gregg Bros 1087, 4. H.Turkington 1081, 5. Gregg Bros 1037. Well done to Surgenor Bros taking the top three spots on the first young bird race of the season, well done to everyone on the sheet.
Muckamore HPS 8/269 – S & J Bones and T Yates 1303, 1279, 1260, 1258, S & N Maginty 1221, 1221.
Randalstown HPS 4/75 – Stewart Bros 1171, 1152, J Millar 1150, 1124, Stewart Bros 1120, J Millar 1113.
Rasharkin &District HPS 6/153 – F Barkley 1212, W McFetridge 1191, A C & T Tweed 1145, W McFetridge 1142, F Barkley 1124, W J & R J Reid 1122.
Keith Kernohan and son Lewis holding their 1st Ballymena & Dist,
best in the town and 1st Mid Antrim Combine winner from Kilbeggan.