Shane Johnston of Ballymena & District Tops The Combine From Roscrea.
The Nipa continued their racing season with another race from Roscrea in County Tipperary. Birds were released on Sunday 20th August at 8.15am in southerly winds and another fast race followed. Shane Johnston & Son of Ballymena & District had the clear winner in the local area timing at 10.15am for the 147 mile fly to their lofts on the Doury Road to record 2155ypm. Shane's winner flying at a speed of 73.6 miles per hour easily won the club and town by 9 minutes and finished 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 2nd Section B and 5th Open Nipa with 16, 981 birds competing. Shane's birds have hit form (must be the garlic) and only last week the loft won 2nd & 3rd in both the Combine and Section and 12th & 16th Open Nipa 17805 birds. The winning blue pied hen is bred from birds from good friend Gary Gibson. The sire is off a gson of Gary's Golden Couple and the dam is Lambrechts. Runner up in the Combine was Harold Cubitt who was again best in Rasharkin timing at 10.22am for the 149 miles to record 2068. Harold's winning chequer hen was bred off Lambrecht's from clubmate Jackie Steele.
Taking 3rd Combine was young Joshua Whyte from Ahoghill club on 2062. What a fantastic start to this young lads racing career. Only 8 years of age and in his third ever race wins 1st club, 3rd Combine, 7th Section and 34th Open. Joshua only sent two birds to the race and won 1st & 8th club and lifted both cuts of the 2bird. Joshua's bird was bred by top racing and breeding loft's of Paddy & William McManus. Sire is a son of the Bad Handler cock and dam Louis Thijs. Joshua would like to thank Paddy and William for breeding him the winner and for all the great advise and help they have given him. Well done Joshua a future star. Jonathan Barkley and Laura Surgenor had the best bird in Kells & District on 2059 and placed 4th Combine. Their winner a home bred mealy pied lambrecht cock was bred from birds acquired from Johnny Simpson of Broughshane. Jackie Steele of Rasharkin took 5th spot in the Combine with a black Lambrecht cock bred from a son of the 02 cock when paired to a sister of 38 hen. Other winners include S Crawford best in Harryville on 2044, Stewart Brothers best in Randalstown on 2003 with a Vandenabeele cock that won last week and Gary Gibson the Cullybackey winner on 1977. Sire is off a direct Van Vugt Donckers cock a gson of Jackpot x a daughter Danny Dixon's good 2nd Open cock and the dam is a daughter of Gary's Golden Couple hen x to her gson. A son of 2nd open cock and the good direct Donckers hen. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine 2nd Roscrea 46/1230 - Shane Johnston & Son Ballymena 2155, H Cubitt Rasharkin 2068, Joshua Whyte Ahoghill 2062, A Barkley & Son Kells 2059, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 2056, W McFetridge Rasharkin 2044, S Crawford Harryville 2044, W McFetridge Rasharkin 2037, W McFetridge Rasharkin 2033, S Crawford Harryville 2032, T Whyte Ahoghill 2026, H Cubitt Rasharkin 2016, H Cubitt Rasharkin 2013, D Dixon Rasharkin 2011, D Magill Harryville 2008, Stewart Bros Randalstown 2003, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 2001, S Crawford Harryville 2000, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1984, T Whyte Ahoghill 1980, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1980, G Gibson Cullybackey 1977, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1975, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1975, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1975, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1974, D Dixon Rasharkin 1973, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1961, J Rock Harryville 1958, H Boyd Kells 1957, J Rock Harryville 1957, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1951, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1949, S Crawford Harryville 1949, S Crawford Harryville 1948, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1938, G Gibson Cullybackey 1938, Surgenor Bros Kells 1937, A Barkley & Son Kells 1936, A Barkley & Son Kells 1935.
Mid Antrim Combine young bird Knock out q/f
Blair & Rankin 1949 v D DIXON 2011, J Rock 1958 v H CUBITT 2068, K & K KERNOHAN & SONS 2001 v J Smyth & Son 1897, SURGENOR BROS 1937 v J & J Greer 1868.
NIPA Open 2nd Roscrea 533/16,981
1-1E Nelson Weir Loughgall 2236, 2-2E Nelson Weir 2205, 3-1B T Patterson & Son Muckamore 2187, 4-3E R Calvin & Daughter Loughgall 2172, 5-2B S Johnston & Son Ballymena & Dist 2155, 6-1C T McNally South Belfast 2120, 7-4E C Brown Laurelvale 211, 8-1A G & S Smith Cookstown Soc 2111, 9-1D J Greenaway Hillsborough & Maze 2110, 10-5E D Calvin Bondhill Soc 2105, 11-6E D Calvin 2101, 12-1H R Witherow Limavady 2097, 13-2C T McNally 2094, 14-3C T McNally 2092, 15-4C D & S Suitters & Sons Doagh & Dist 2088, 16-2A B & D Coyle Coleraine Prem 2086, 17-3A B McCrudden Coleraine & Co Derry 2081, 18-5C Crawford & Robinson Larne & Dist 2080, 19-2D P & K McCarthy Trinity RPC 2080, 20-2H Robin McIlmoyle Limavady 2074.
NIPA Section B 2nd Roscrea 66/1997 – T Patterson & Son Muckamore 2187, S Johnston & Son Ballymena & Dist 2155, H Cubitt Rasharkin & Dist 2068, M & J Howard & Son Coleraine Prem 2067, T & J McDonald Coleraine Prem 2065, T & J McDonald 2064, J Whyte Ahoghill 2062, A Barkley & Son Kells & Dist 2059, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin & Dist 2056, W McFetridge Rasharkin & Dist 2044.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club6/143 – Joshua Whyte 2062, T Whyte 2028, 1980, 1931, J Smyth & Son 1897, 1892.
Ballymoney HPS 15/489 – D Dixon 2011, C McCook 2004, J Connolly 1984, R McCook 1983, D Dixon 1973, 1972. Danny Dixon winner today is the same bird that win the loft second Kilbeggan doing velocity 1974.
Ballymoney West Combine 6/129 –1st M Gamble & Son 1958, 2nd W Rodgers 1897, 3rd Young & Gibson 1854, 4th L Neill 1842, 5th W Blair 1694.
Ballymena & District HPS 8/224 – S Johnston & Son 2155, K & K Kernohan & Sons 2001, 1984, S Johnston & Son 1975, K & K Kernohan & Sons 1961, S Johnston & Son 1951.
Cullybackey HPS 7/127 – Gary Gibson 1977, 1938, 1921, 1920, 1903, N & S Anderson 1883.
Crumlin & District 7/200 – Fleming Bros 2009, 2007, 2001, R & S Hope 1973, Fleming Bros 1971, McConville Bros 1962.
Dervock RPS – C McCook 2004, R McCook 1983, C McCook 1959, R McCook 1939, D Devenney 1914, D & H Stuart 1898.
Harryville HPS – S Crawford 2044 2032, D Magill 2008, S Crawford 2000, J Roc 1958, 1957.
Kells & District HPS 6/162 – A Barkley & Son 2059, H Boyd 1957, Surgenor Bros 1937, A Barkley & Son 1936, 1935, 1935. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club - 1.A.Barkley&Son 1837, 2.Surgenor Bros 1827, 3.Gregg Bros 1786, 4.Surgenor Bros 1761. Surgenor Bros win YB Knock-out cup. A. Barkley & Son win Alan Barkley Memorial Cup.
Muckamore HPS 6/255 – T Patterson & Son 2187, S & J Bones and T Yates 1981, 1980, 1978, 1975, 1974.
Randalstown HPS 3/111 – Stewart Bros 2003, J Millar 1920, 1864, J McNeill & Son 1862, 1862, Stewart Bros 1855.
Rasharkin &District HPS 7/156 – Harold Cubitt 2068, Steele & McNeill 2056, W McFetridge 2044, 2037, 2033, Harold Cubitt 2016.
Shane Johnston of Ballymena with his Mid Antrim Combine winner from 2nd Roscrea.