LIBERATION NEWS - INFC Penzance Y/B Nat

[willie reynolds]

The INFC Blue Riband Young Bird Nat is being flown from the old point of Penzance, 458 members from across Ireland have entered 2,101 birds racing for £22,482 in pools and prizes. As expected the convoy which travelled in the East Down transporter were released at 8.15am on Wednesday 9th September in a fresh Northerly wind to be North/West en-route. The weather is to be perfect for the next few days and hopefully this helps for a very successful race, the headwind will make it very difficult. It is what it is and I wish all members every success. The Old Hens race is flown in conjunction with this event, 131 members sent 390 birds competing for £2,184 in pools and prizes. This page will update as usual when more info is available. For stopped clocks Ivan Mawhinney (Banbridge) Tel: 07761229147, Bobby Bethel (Muckamore) Tel: 07732653580, Mervyn Gibson (Lisburn) Tel: 92 604346.

[willie reynolds]

Well, where do we start, the race turned out as many expected very difficult with only 10 birds in Muckamore Centre on the day. All told we had 64 young birds recorded and 31 old hens, with good conditions available for the second day the level of returns might just increase a bit. Winners are winners and what we have is two star lofts at the top, former Northern Ireland Fanciers of the Year Donnelly Bros of Newry City timed at 16.20hrs to lift the Blue Riband YB title and the ever present Gregg Bros & McCandless from Ligoniel in Belfast take 1st Old Hens having timed one of three arrivals on the day at 17.29hrs.

Provisional details are YB Nat – Donnelly Bros Newry City 1023, Richard Cassells Edgarstown 987 (winner in 2008), McCracken Bros Banbridge 983, Peter Tierney Monaghan 947, W Prunty Drumcree 933, J Patterson Ballylesson 923, J & D Braniff Wheatfield 906, Ron Williamson Bondhill 903, J Dowey & Sons Tandragee 902, D Croskery & Son Annsborough 894.

Old Hens – Gregg Bros & McCandless Ligoniel 986, K Henderson & Son Lurgan Soc 933, R Fox Ballybrack 913, Turkington Bros Springvale 908, M Maguire & Son Newry 900.

Muckamore Centre day birds and early second day Old Hen – Gregg Bros & McCandless 986, Turkington Bros 908, Gregg Bros & McCandless 888, A Darragh Cullybackey 820, C & L Woodside Ballyclare 798, Gregg Bros & McCandless 773. Second Day – Gregg Bros & McCandless 754, Turkington Bros 672, A Darragh 621, J Millar Randalstown 599. YB Nat – M/M C Hayes Ballyclare 879, E & D McClurkin Ligoniel 846, M/M B McNeilly Doagh & Dist 839, Fleming Bros Crumlin 827. Second Day – Speirs & Campbell Cookstown 697, C & L Woodside 609, F Simpson Doagh & Dist 605, A Thompson Ballyclare 593, V Thom Cookstown 582, G McNeilly Ballyclare 574.
TEN birds on the day and TEN more early on the second day.

Centre Details for 2nd day (Thursday) Muckamore 12 to 1.00pm, Lisburn 10 to 11.00am, Banbridge 12 to 12.30pm.