The pigeons were in Fermoy in Co. Cork for the penultimate young bird race of the season. The birds were liberated at 9.30am on Saturday 19th September in a north east wind. Danny Dixon was again best in the Mid Antrim Combine for the sixth time this season of which five of these wins have come in this remarkable young bird season. Danny who had the top six positions in the Combine timed his winner at 14.33pm for the 208 miles fly to Dunloy. The winning blue hen bred from pigeons Danny purchased directly from Rudy Van Reeth is also placed 2nd Section B and 62nd Open NIPA with 6797 birds. Next best to Danny in the Combine is the Kells & District winner Sam Crawford who has just started up again after a 28 year break. Sam's pigeon was the best in the 5 Bird Championship event and wins 1st Combine, 1st Section B and 40th Open NIPA with 1101 birds competing.
Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy (2) 32/418 - D Dixon Rasharkin 1208, D Dixon 1204, D Dixon 1203, D Dixon 1198, D Dixon 1185, D Dixon 1185, S Crawford Kells 1179, D Dixon 1177, D Dixon 1176, S Crawford 1156, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1147, R H Clements Associate 1139, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1139, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1134, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1117, J Rock Associate 1114, Surgenor Bros Kells 1111, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1109, F, G & J Dickey Randalstown 1108, S Crawford 1107, R Service & Son Ballymena 1099, R Service & Son 1098, George Bell Ballymena 1097, F, G & J Dickey 1097, S Crawford 1097, Blair & Rankin 1093, J Eagleson & Sons 1091, H Turkington Kells 1090, T Whyte Rasharkin 1085, H Turkington 1082
Young Bird Combine Points Top 6 - D Dixon Rasharkin 404, S Crawford Kells 68, C & D Jackson Kells 66, R H Clements Associate 65, R Service & Son Ballymena 44, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 44
Ballymena Area Clubs Fermoy (2)
Kells & District HPS 6/83 – S Crawford 1179, 1156, Surgenor Bros 1111, S Crawford 1107, 1097, H Turkington 1090, 1082, 1076. Fermoy 5 Bird – 5/24 – S Crawford 1179, 1069, C & D Jackson 1000, McFarlane & Agnew 965, Surgenor Bros 957. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – S Crawford 1179, Surgenor Bros 1111, S Crawford 1069, McFarlane & Agnew 965.
Harryville HPS 4/85 – K & K Kernohan 1161, 1148, 1143, R H Clements 1139, K & K Kernohan 1117, 1115, J Rock 1114, K & K Kernohan 1114, 1113, 1103, 1103, 1092. Fermoy 5 Bird – K & K Kernohan 1161, R H Clements 1139, J Rock 1114, K & K Kernohan 1114, 1113, 1092J Rock 1073, R H Clements 1069. Well done kKeith & Ken Kernohan having a fantastic year winner top Vermerburgen lines and they also win the 5 Bird.
Rasharkin & District HPS – Steele & McNeill 1139, W McFetridge 1117, T Whyte 1085, W McFetridge 1061, Steele & McNeill 1055, T Whyte 1029. Congratulations to Steele & McNeill winning Fermoy. Fermoy 5 Bird – Steele & McNeill 1139, T Whyte 1085, W McFetridge 1061, Steele & McNeill 1055, T Whyte 1029, W McFetridge 981. Fermoy double for Steele & McNeill.
Ballymena & District HPS 6/66 – Blair & Rankin 1147, J Eagleson & Sons 1134, Blair & Rankin 1109, R Service & Son 1099, 1098, George Bell 10987, Blair & Rankin 1093, J Eagleson & Sons 1091, Blair & Rankin 1075, R Service & Son 1059. Bertie Blair wins for the fourth time this season with a blue hen flying to the perch. Dam is Hartog from good friend Geoff Surgenor of Kells and the sire Soontjen. The hen was timed at 14.38pm flying 201 miles to Chichester Park. Fermoy 5 Bird 5/25 – J Eagleson & Sons 1134, Blair & Rankin 1109, R Service & Son 1099, George Bell 1097, Blair & Rankin 1093, J Eagleson & Sons 1091. Johnston Eagleson & Sons win the 5 Bird with a blue pied hen feeding a small youngster. This Van Den Bulk hen is off a granddaughter of the famous Kittle and was 1st Club from Fermoy a fortnight ago.
Cullybackey HPS – A Darragh 1114, 1113, J & J Greer 1112, 1102, C & R McIntyre 1093, N & S Anderson 1079, C & R McIntyre 1077, J McNaghten & Son 1048, 1005. Todays Fermoy winner is Alan Darragh. Timing his blue cock at 2.46pm to win 1st club with a velocity of 1114.315 and taking second on 1113.436. A tight race with 3 birds within 2 yards of each other. Well done Alan. Fermoy 5 Bird – J & J Greer 1102, A Darragh 1098, C & R McIntyre 1093, A Darragh 1077, J & J Greer 1052, J McNaghten & Son 1048, 1005, A Darragh 1005. Todays 5 Bird Fermoy winner is the partnership of J & J Greer. Timing their dark cheq cock at 2.49.39 with a velocity of 1102.334. This dark cock was 6th club last week from Talbenny and is a direct son of "Penny" their Meritorious Award winner.
Randalstown HPS 3/38 – F & G & J Dickey 1108, 1097, 1047, Stewart Bros 1030, 1004, 957, J Millar 924, 839. Fermoy 5 Bird – F & G & J Dickey 1097, 1047, 973.
Broughshane & District – D Houston & Son 1081, 1059, 1053.
Ahoghill Flying Club 9/97 – Young McManus & Sons 1067, A Shiels 1062, J Smyth & Son 1041, Young McManus & Sons 1040, 1021, J Orr & Son 1000, J Smyth & Son 990, M/M Robinson 972, Young McManus & Sons 967, 950. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Adrian Shiels 1062, Young McManus & Sons 1040. Fermoy 5 Bird – Adrian Shiels 1062, Young McManus & Sons 1040, 1021.
Sam Crawford 1st MAC in Fermoy 5 Bird -
The young bird 5 Bird Classic event was flown in duplicate from Fermoy in Co. Cork. Best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine was timed by Kells fancier Sam Crawford with a velocity of 1179. Sam is only back into the pigeons this season having been out of the sport for 28 years. His young bird have hit form in the past few weeks winning many club and Combine positions in the Top 10. His winner a blue pied cock flying to the perch was timed at 14.30pm after the 201mile fly to the lofts in Moorfields. The nestmate won 1st Club and 3rd Combine from Tullamore last weekend. Both birds are from a kit of youngsters from Gerard Delaney of O'Rorry Hill stud, the breeding being Gustaaf Emil Dillen.
Mid Antrim Combine 5 Bird Championship - Sam Crawford Kells 1179, D Dixon Rasharkin 1158, D Dixon 1140, R H Clements Associate 1139, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1139, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1134, J Rock Associate 1113, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1109, R Service & Son Ballymena 1099, George Bell Ballymena 1097, F & G & J Dickey Randalstown 1097, Blair & Rankin 1093, J Eagleson & Sons 1091, D Dixon 1089, J Rock 1073, D Dixon 1072, S Crawford 1069, R H Clements 1069, A Shiels Ahoghill 1057, D Houston & Son Associate 1053
Combine YB Points Top 5 (including normal Fermoy) - D Dixon Rasharkin 433, Sam Crawford Kells 83, R H Clements Associate 77, C & D Jackson Kells 66, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 56
For Sale – Stock Loft 10ft x 6ft in the Ballymena Area, includes perches and nest boxes. Tel: 028 2564 7175.
