Penzance in Cornwall was to be the race point for the third channel race of the season. Because of poor weather on the day of liberation and the following day it was decided to bring the birds back to Ireland for a race from Fermoy in County Cork. The birds were liberated on Saturday 25th July at 08.00am in a westerly wind. Best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine this week are Randalstown old hands 85 year old Bobby and 79 year old Allen who make up the Houston Bros partnership. They timed their 2 year old widowhood cock at 11.45am for the 195 mile fly to their lofts situated off the Antrim line close to the Ramble Inn. Breeding is their old distance lines with a touch of Verheye. A good win for the brothers who have previously won 1st and 2nd Open NIPA Tramore, a number of years ago.
Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy Comeback - Houston Bros Randalstown 1527, R Service & Son Ballymena 1516, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1514, Harry Boyd Kells 1514, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1500, C & D Jackson Kells 1499, McAlonan Bros Associate 1498, R H Clements Associate 1487, R Service & Son 1481, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1478, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1476, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1476, J Eagleson & Sons 1468, R Service & Son 1465, Houston Bros 1460, Houston Bros 1460, Harry Boyd 1459, D Dixon Rasharkin 1457, A Barkley & Son Kells 1457, T & M Morrow Associate 1457, D Dixon 1456, W & J Smyth 1456
Danny Dixon of Rasharkin still leads the Combine OB Points ahead of Associate member Jimmy Rock and Johnston Eagleson & Sons of Ballymena. Top 10 - Danny Dixon Rasharkin 176, Jimmy Rock Associate 147, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 132, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 125, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 85, Harry Boyd Kells 82, Alan McBride Associate 63, John Miller Randalstown 56, R Service & Son Ballymena 55, R H Clements Associate 52. The Old Bird Knock-Out and Champions League are being worked on and as soon as I have the results the winners will be advertised, in the meantime I need to know any new members competing in young bird alone so they can be included in the Young Bird Knock-Out.
Ballymena Area Clubs Fermoy –
Randalstown HPS 7/75 – Houston Bros 1527, Stewart Bros 1476, Houston Bros 1460, 1460, J Millar 1453, W & W Gilbert 1436, Stewart Bros 1433, J Millar 1431.
Ballymena & District HPS 9/70 – R Service & Son 1518, W & J Smyth 1514, J Eagleson & Sons 1500, R Service & Son 1481, Blair & Rankin 1478, J Eagleson & Sons 1468, R Service & Son 1465, W & J Smyth 1456, 1443, J Eagleson & Sons 1440. Robert Service and son Robin win their third race of the season and also have the best bird in the town and finish 2nd in the MA Combine. The partnership timed at 11.52am for the 200 mile fly to their Drumtara lofts. This yearling blue cock was driving his hen and was winning it's second race of the season having won Gowran Park. A good yearling cock this considering it was unraced as a youngster. Sire is from Dave Stone of Derbyshire and dam is from their good Soontjen cock which has bred a 5 x 1st winner and a 2 x 1st winner. Well done guys.
Kells & District 7/57 – Harry Boyd 1514, C & D Jackson 1499, Harry Boyd 1459, A Barkley & Son 1457, Surgenor Bros 1449, A Barkley & Son 1448, B Swann & Son 1438, C & D Jackson 1420. Sizzlers 2 Bird club – A Barkley & Son 1448, B Swann & Son 1398, H Turkington 1387, 1367.
Cullybackey HPS – McAlonan Bros 1498, Alan Darragh 1476, 1436.
Harryville HPS 7/62 – R H Clements 1487, Johnston & Richards 1479, K & K Kernohan 1478, J Millar & Son 1450, R H Clements 1446, K & K Kernohan 1445, MDC Magill 1445, R H Clements 1440, Johnston & Richards 1436, MDC Magill 1430. Roy wins with the same way breed as 1st Club & 18th Open YB Nat Talbenny. Sire was Busschaert x Van Heee and the dam Tommy Beckett.
Ahoghill Flying Club – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1476, 1431, 1427, Young McManus & Sons 1425, 1416, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1411, 1403, T & G Balmer 1401, W Livingstone 1394, J Orr & Son 1378.
Broughshane & District – T & M Morrow 1457, 1444, D Houston & Son 1361.
Rasharkin & District 5/36 – A C & T Tweed 1424, H Cubitt 1405, 1384, A C & T Tweed 1322, W McFetridge 1177, T Whyte 1004. Danny Dixon – 1457, 1456.
