Benamore OB - Sat 25/04/26

[willie reynolds]

Mid Antrim Combine - NIPA Benamore 25/04/26
Gary Gibson Of Cullybackey Best From Benamore

The second race of the 2026 pigeon racing season was flown on Saturday 25th April from Benamore in County Tipperary. The NIPA liberated at 11.15am in south easterly winds and a fast race followed. Gary Gibson of Cullybackey had this week's Combine winner on 1682 after timing at 13.45pm flying 144 miles to his lofts. Gary timed a 2yo dark cheq widowhood cock to win 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 1st Section B and 16th Open NIPA with 17,728 birds competing. The cock won the club from Dunmanway Yearling National last season finishing 4th Mid Antrim Combine. He's a son of Gary's No1 pair of Willy Van Hercks and is also full brother to his Nipa Section B Champion YB of the year in 2024. Both the sire and dam are from his good friend Rab Rea of Larne, the sire is a son of his Talbenny YB National winner 'Pole Dancer' and dam is a daughter of 'Apollo' Rab's No1 breeding cock. Gary took the top five positions in the Cullybackey club and 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 12th Combine.
Runner up in the Combine was the Rasharkin winner Freddy Barkley on 1657. Freddy's winner was a Sticker Donckers racing on the roundabout system. Next best were Paddy & William McManus of Ahoghill on 1647 Their latest winner is off their old Karel Laenen cock which is one of their best ever stock cocks when he was paired to an Inbred Pitbull hen. The McManus team had a great card with 10 birds in the top 30 of the Combine result.

Shane Johnston & Son were best in Ballymena & District on 1625. Their winner was bred by good friend Gary Gibson and is Van Wildermeersch × Morris Matthews. Stewart Bros topped Randalstown on 1621 with a 2yo Walter Docx cock sitting eggs 10 days. Johnny Barkley was best in Kells on 1600 with a yearling hen bred from a Nigel Laycock cock when paired to a hen from clubmate Geoff Surgenor.
This pair has bred winners in the past. Marcus Morrow won Broughshane on1562 with a Vandenabeele bird bred down from stock acquired from Scott and Clements.

Mid Antrim Combine Benamore 47/1513- G Gibson Cullybackey 1682, F Barkley Rasharkin 1657, G Gibson Cullybackey 1655, G Gibson Cullybackey 1654, G Gibson Cullybackey 1647, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1647, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1646, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1645, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1643, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1635, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1629, G Gibson Cullybackey 1628, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1627, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1625, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1624, D Dixon Rasharkin 1623, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1621, D Dixon Rasharkin 1620, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1619, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1616, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1611, A Darragh Cullybackey 1611, A Darragh Cullybackey 1611, A Darragh Cullybackey 1611, A Darragh Cullybackey 1611
Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1606, F Barkley Rasharkin 1606, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1604, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1604
G Gibson Cullybackey 1604, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1604, R Service & Son Ballymena 1604, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1603, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1603, J McNaghten & Son Cullybackey 1601, A Barkley & Son Kells 1600, G Gibson Cullybackey 1600, J Millar & Son Rasharkin 1596, G Gibson Cullybackey 1595, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1588.

MID ANTRIM COMBINE 2 BIRD CLUB BENAMORE
1st D Dixon Rasharkin 1620 - 2 Points
2nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1561- 1 Point.
Danny Dixon won the Combine 2 bird with a 2yo cheq wf cock that has won many prizes including 2nd Section & 20th Open Nipa Dale young bird National in 2024. The cock is from a son of 'Champion Heartbreaker' when paired to a daughter of his good 'Aviary cock' a winner of 2nd Open Nipa Yearling Cock's National in 2012.

OLD BIRD CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE
The top two in each group go through to the last 16 along with the two fanciers with the most points in third place.
In the result of a points tie the highest velocity in the last group matches determines who goes through.
The last 16 knock out starts at 1st Dale
Group (1) G Gibson Cullybackey 153, R Service & Son Ballymena 0, H Cubitt Rasharkin 0, J Millar Randalstown 0
Group (2) J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 137, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 21, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 0, W McFetridge Rasharkin 0
Group (3) Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 77, Surgenor Bros Kells 0, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 0, A Purvis Broughshane 0
Group (4) D Dixon Rasharkin 10, T & M Morrow Broughshane 0, H Boyd Kells 0, J Whyte Ahoghill 0
Group (5) F Barkley Rasharkin 20, J & J Greer Cullybackey 7, M Neilly Broughshane 5, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 0,
Group (6) Stewart Bros Randalstown 5, A Darragh Cullybackey 0, T Whyte Ahoghill 0, H Turkington Kells 0
Group (7) K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 3, A Barkley & Son Kells 0, N Percy & Son Randalstown 0, J Getty Broughshane 0.

LES MAIRS MEMORIAL CUP - OLD BIRD POINTS FANCIER OF THE YEAR
G Gibson Cullybackey 153
J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 137
Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 77
J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 21
F Barkley Rasharkin 20
G & G Jackson Ahoghill 16. Mervyn Eagleson Mid Antrim Comb Press Officer.

NIPA Section B Benamore 86/2957 – G Gibson Cullybackey 1682, D Devenney Ballymoney 1666, R & J Parke Windsor Soc 1658, F Barkley Rasharkin & Dist 1657, G Gibson 1655, 1654, R & J Parke 1649, G Gibson 1647, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1647, 1646.

NIPA Sect B Clubs

Ahoghill Flying Club 8/222 – Young McManus & Sons 1647, 1646, J Smyth & Son 1645, Young McManus & Sons 1643, 1635, 1629.

Ballymoney HPS 21/880 – D Devenney 1666, A & M Boyle 1644, D & H Stuart 1635, 1635m J Connolly 1635, 1634.

Broughshane & District 4/109 –T & M Morrow 1562, M Neilly 1555, T & M Morrow 1543, M Neilly 1531, 1513, A Purvis 1505.

Ballymena & District HPS 6/238 – S Jihnston & Son 1625, J Eagleson & Sons 1616, R Service & Son 1604, J Eagleson & Sons 1603, Blair & Rankin 1581, 1581.

Cullybackey HPS 11/497 – Gary Gibson 1682, 1655, 1654, 1647, 1628, J & J Grer 1624.

Crumlin & District 10/251 – Ryan Hope 1627, S Thompson 1616, Fleming Bros 1602, S Thompson 1589, McConville Bros 1586, S Thompson 1582. This hen for Ryan Hope has previously been 2nd Club, 3rd Section and last week she was 2nd Club,2nd Section, she’s currently sitting on eggs paired to two other hens. She’s a Sticker Doncker from Geoffrey Dickey.

Kells & District HPS 6/137 – A Barkley & Son 1600, 1554, 1534, Surgenor Bros 1513, A Barkley & Son 1511, Surgenor Bros 1506. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club - 1. A Barkley & Son 1511, 2. B Swann & Son 1492. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club Kilbeggan 1. B Swann & Son 1416, 2. B Swann & Son 1347, 3. A Barkley & Son 1336, 4. Surgenor Bros 1325, 5. S Scott & Son 1315.

Muckamore HPS 10/313 – D J Thompson 1626, Knocker & Bill 1618, 1606, 1601, 1600, S McConnell 1587.

Randalstown HPS 6/133 -Stewart Bros 1621, 1547, 1542, J Millar 1532, 1531, J McNeill & Son 1528.

Rasharkin &District HPS 5/134 – F Barkley 1657, 1606, W McFetridge 1604, J Millar & Son 1596, F Barkley 1587, H Cubitt 1578.


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