Gowran Park 22/04/17 -

[willie reynolds]

For the third race of the old bird season the NIPA birds were at Gowran Park in Kilkenny over 25,000 birds were released at 10.45am in a Lt Variable wind. Conditions were overcast and the birds encountered problems en-route with parts of Northern Ireland blocked out and a large number failed to make home lofts on the day. No problems in the big Ballymena & Dist with Charlie McManus having the top card and winning the club for the 3rd time this year, also 1st in MAC.

MAC Gowran Park – McFall & McManus Ballymena & Dist 1284, W & J Smyth Ballymena & Dist 1229, McFall & McManus 1213, Percy Son & Murphy Randalstown 1213, F & G & J Dickey Randalstown 1205, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1203, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 1202, D Dixon Rasharkin 1192, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1176, K Wilkinson & Son New Antrim 1175, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1173, D Dixon 1168, A Purvis Associate 1159, W & W Gilbert 1157, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena & Dist 1156.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs –

Ballymena & District HPS 15/417 – McFall & McManus 1284 SS, W & J Smyth 1229 SS, McFall & McManus 1213, J Eagleson & Sons 1156 SS, W & J Smyth 1147, G & A EAgleson 1134, J Eagleson & Sons 11312, 1128, G Bell 1054, McFall & McManus 1045.

New Antrim Amalgamated – McFall & McManus 1284, 1213, K Wilkinson & Son 1175, McFall & McManus 1045, 1012, 993, 974.

Randalstown HPS 8/257 – Percy Son & Murphy 1213, F & G & J Dickey 1205, W & W Gilbert 1202, Stewart Bros 1176, W & W Gilbert 1157, Stewart Bros 1150, F & G & J Dickey 1142, Percy Son & Murphy 1120, Stewart Bros 1076, F & G & J Dickey 1049.

Rasharkin & District HPS 9/307 – Steele & McNeill 1203, H Cubitt 1127, J & M Milliken 1125, H Cubitt 1124, Steele & McNeill 1106, T Whyte 1100. Danny Dixon – 1192, 1168.

Ahoghill Flying Club 11/396 – M/M Robinson 1173, Young McManus & Sons 1132, J Smyth & Son 1124, Young McManus & Sons 1120, T Young & Son 1090, M/M Robinson 1089, Young McManus & Sons 1078, J Smyth & Son 1047, C Young 1016, 1008. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – J Smyth & Son 1124, C Young 1008.

The draws have been made for the various competitions for the year, the Knock-Out list has been circulated and starts this weekend. Champions League starts this weekend as well at Gowran Park run as usual with a League process followed by the Knock-Out matches with final at Penzance. Updates will follow. The Knock-Out list is also on the Ballymena Facebook page.

Group (a) – J Smyth & Son, McFall & McManus, Stewart Bros, D Dixon and K Wilkinson & Son. Group (b) – M/M Robinson, W & J Smyth, Percy Son & Murphy, and W J McLean. Group (c) – Young McManus & Sons, Blair & Rankin, F & G & J Dickey, and J & M Milliken. Group (d) – C Moore, J Eagleson & Sons, Hugh Boyd, and Steele & McNeill. As usual the League Competition runs in the Inland Programme up to and including Rosscarbery (no comeback races), The Top 2 in each Sect/Group will proceed to the Knock-Out stage, this year the races are Talbenny (2), Bude & Penzance for the Champions League Final.

After Week (1) Gowran Park – Group (a) McFall & McManus 15, D Dixon 8, Stewart Bros 7, K Wilkinson & Son 6, J Smyth & Son. Group (b) W & J Smyth 14, Percy Son & Murphy 12, M/M Robinson 5, W J McLean. Group (c) F G & J Dickey 11, Young McManus & Sons, Blair & Rankin, J & M Milliken. Group (d) Steele & McNeill 10, J Eagleson & Sons 1, C Moore, Hugh Boyd.