The first classic race of the season was the Inland National from Skibbereen. Birds were liberated on Monday 6th July at 10.00am in a light north-west wind. Best bird in the area and winning the Mid Antrim Combine was Johnston Eagleson & Sons of Ballymena & Dist. The winning 2 year old dark chequer hen was timed at 15.27pm for the 260 mile fly to the lofts on the Cullybackey Road. This very tame hen flying on Roundabout wins the Ballymena club and the town by a clear 20 minutes also winning 1st Section B, and 137th Open National 4,236 birds. Breeding is Lambrechts. The sire being "Dixie" a top stock cock acquired from Danny Dixon of Rasharkin and the dam was purchased from across the water. Another top result from the Eagleson Lofts who topped the Section in the same race in 2016.
After five races Associate member Jimmy Rock still leads the OB Points Fancier of the Year ahead of this week’s Combine winners Johnston Eagleson & sons of Ballymena and Mr & Mrs Robinson of Ahoghill who have moved up in to third.
Top 10 - J Rock Associate 106, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 75, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 64, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 49, G Gibson Associate 40, D Dixon Rasharkin 38, Harry Boyd Kells 37, A McBride Associate 28, R H Clements Associate 24, W & J Smyth Ballymena 22.
Mid Antrim Combine – I have started to gather up the nominations from member clubs for the seasons Champions League and lists of club members to compete in the Old Bird Knock-Out. I will publish as I get them and after that the various draws for competition. Remember its points won for the inland racing then knock-out for cross channel races and final at Penzance.
Ballymena & District will have for Champions League – Blair & Rankin, J Eagleson & Sons, R Service & Son and W & J Smyth. Added for the Knock-out – R Alexander, George Bell, G & A Eagleson, W & N Gilbert, M Graham, J Harris and D Mitchell.
Ahoghill Flying Club lofts Champions League – Mr & Mrs Robinson (winners in 2019), Young McManus & Sons, J Smyth & Son and C Moore. Added for Knock-out – T & G Balmer, A Shields, T Young & Son, W Livingstone and J Orr.
Kells & District HPS lofts Champions League – Surgenor Bros, C & D Jackson, Harry Boyd and Henry Turkington. Added for the Knock-out – McFarlane & Agnew and A Barkley & Son.
Randalstown HPS lofts Champions League – John Millar, Stewart Bros, Hugh Boyd and N Percy & Son. Added for Knock-out – Houston Bros, F & J & G Dickey, W & W Gilbert, A McNeill and Smylie Bros.
Rasharkin & District lofts for Champions League – D Dixon, J & M Milliken, H Cubitt and F Barkley.
Associate Members include – T & M Morrow, D Houston & Son, A Purvis, G Gibson, McAlonan Bros, R H Clements, A McBride, J Rock, Wray & McFadden, W Jackson and J Millar & Son.
Mid Antrim Combine Skibbereen – J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1399, D Dixon Rasharkin 1360, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1338, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1338, Gary Gibson Associate 1331, D Dixon 1326, Harry Boyd Kells 1325, J Rock Associate 1320, Gary Gibson 1319, A McBride Associate 1317, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1314, J Rock 1310, W & J Smyth 1309, J Eagleson & Sons 1308, Blair & Rankin 1305, J Eagleson & Sons 1295, J Rock 1295, J Rock 1293, J Eagleson & Sons 1293, J Rock 1291, A McBride 1286, Surgenor Bros Kells 1286, Surgenor Bros 1286.
Ballymena Area Clubs Skibbereen –
Ballymena & District HPS 7/63 – J Eagleson & Sons 1399, W & J Smyth 1314, 1309, J Eagleson & Sons 1308, Blair & Rankin 1308, J Eagleson & Sons 1295, 1293, M Graham 1291, R Service & Son 1280, Blair & Rankin 1257. Johnston Eagleson & Sons have the clear winner here by 20 minutes. The winning 2 year-old dark chequer hen was timed at 15.27pm for the 260 miles fly to the lofts. This very tame hen flying on roundabout also wins 1st MA Combine, 1st Section B and 137th Open National 4236 birds. Breeding is Lambrechts. The sire being "Dixie" a top stock cock acquired from Danny Dixon of Rasharkin and the dam was purchased from across the water. She was the first bird to the lofts the previous week. Last week’s winners William & Joe Smyth are 2nd & 3rd.
Ahoghill Flying Club – M/M Robinson 1338, 1338, Young McManus & Sons 1257, 1244, J Smyth & Son 1234, Young McManus & Sons 1223, 1220, T & G Balmer 1137.
Cullybackey HPS – Gary Gibson 1331, 1319.
Kells & District HPS 6/39 – H Boyd 1325, Surgenor Bros 1286, 1286, Surgenor Bros 1277, C & D Jackson 1263, 1252, A Barkley & Son 1248. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – H Boyd 1325, C & D Jackson 1252, McFarlane & Agnew 1171, A Barkley & Son 1154.
Harryville HPS - J Rock 1320, A McBride 1317, J Rock 1310, 1295, 1293, 1291, A McBride 1296, 1282,1270, K & K Kernohan 1260.
Broughshane & District – D Houston 1284, 1261, T & M Morrow 1252, 1197, B Wylie 1076.
Rasharkin & District 6/45 – Harold Cubitt 1267, W McFetridge 1238, T Whyte 1197, 1186, H Cubitt 1156, A C & T Tweed 1128. Danny Dixon – 1360, 1326, 1274, 1263, 1248, 1248, 1241.
Johnston Eagleson from Ballymena & Dist,
1st MAC and 1st Sect B Skibbereen.