The INFC Friendship National was held on Friday 8th July with the birds liberated at 6.00am in calm condition. Jimmy Smyth & Son of Ahoghill FC had the best local bird winning 1st in the Mid Antrim Combine and 29th Open INFC National. Jimmy timed his yearling red hen sitting eggs 10 days at 10.26am on the second morning after her 474 miles fly. The sire is from Glenn Smith of Cookstown and the dam from Sam Murphy of Randalstown. Jimmy, always a good supporter of this race won 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 5th North Section and 8th Open INFC when the race was flown from Lamballe in 2019 when only 49 birds were recorded in race time. Runners up in the Combine were Chris & Robin McIntyre of Cullybackey who timed at 20.39pm on the second day flying 493 miles to their Dervock lofts. This 3-year-old blue cock raced roundabout all season and was then paired up for St. Malo and sent on 9 day old eggs. A good racer having been in the section and open prizes from Talbenny last season and Penzance this year. He is full brother to 5 x 1st prize-winners for the brothers including 1st club & 4th Section Talbenny YB National and 1st club & 10th Section Rosscarbery YB National. Last season Chris & Robin had the best bird in the local area from this race winning 15th Open National this season they finish 1st club & 64th Open. In 2019 the loft won 3rd Section B & 10th Open in the NIPA French OB National from St. Malo and only last week in the Kings Cup race from Saint Allouestre they were placed 1st Club & 110th Open. Good consistent flying from the lads. The only other Combine member to be placed in the open result was Ahoghill's William Livingstone who timed at 9.54am on the fourth morning. William's yearling chequer cock sitting on newly hatched chicks is bred down from his old stock that he has inbred over the years and is closely related to last season's 7th Section & 72nd Open NIPA OB National St. Malo. The cock had 1st Talbenny and Bude before being sent to the Friendship. William who races a small team timed in all the INFC channel races this season having been placed 2nd Combine & 108th Open Sennen Cove Yearling National, 5th Combine & 155th Open King's Cup Saint Allouestre and from this race 3rd Combine & 88th Open Friendship National St. Malo. Not many can say they recorded arrivals in all three races this season and considering these results were achieved with a total of 8 birds sent to 3 races. Top racing. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Saint Malo Friendship National - 1st Jimmy Smyth & Son Ahoghill 624, 2nd Chris & Robin McIntyre Cullybackey 444, 3rd William Livingstone Ahoghill 242
Jimmy Smyth of Ahoghill topped the MAC in the INFC Friendship National.
Chris & Robin McIntyre of Cullybackey holding 1st Club, 2nd Combine & 64th Open Friendship
National and 1st Club, 3rd Combine & 110th Open Kings Cup St Allouestre.
William Livingstone holding 3rd Comb, 88th Open Friendship Nat, loft also placed in Kings Cup.