Pigeon Network

Due to a poor weather forecast the birds for Fermoy were collected at the local clubs on Saturday evening. Liberation was on Sunday at 10.00am in a West NW wind. It took the birds a bit longer than expected but returns appear to have been good. The best local birds were timed in Kells & Dist, a good first win of the year for Surgenor Bros doing velocity 1600 followed by Harry Boyd. These two lofts take the top places in the Mid Antrim Combine with just short of 1,700 birds competing. Other winners well placed included Jimmy Rock 1st Harryville (1592), McFall & McManus 1st New Antrim (1588), J & N Simpson 1st Broughshane (1578), W & J Smyth 1st Ballymena & Dist (1577) and J & J Greer 1st Cullybackey (1573).

Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy (2) 89/1,688 – Surgenor Bros Kells 1600, H Boyd Kells 1597, J Rock Harryville 1592, J Rock 1591, McFall & McManus New Antrim 1588, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1578, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1577, R H Clements Harryville 1577, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1573, J Millar & Son Harryville 1572, McFall & McManus 1572, McFall & McManus 1572, D Dixon Rasharkin 1571, McFall & McManus 1571, J & N Simpson 1571, B Swann & Son Kells 1570, R H Clements 1569, D Dixon 1569, W & J Smyth 1564, T & M Morrow Kells 1563, B Swann & Son 1562, D Dixon 1560, D Dixon 1559, R H Clements 1559, L Mullan Harryville 1559, G Price Harryville 1557, G & A Eagleson Ballymena 1556, McFarlane & Agnew Kells 1555, T Johnston & Son Harryville 1555, Richmond Bros Ballymena 1555.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Fermoy (2)

Ahoghill Flying Club 11/252 – A & N Young 1534, Young McManus & Sons 1534, J Balmer 1533, J Smyth & Son 1532, A & N Young 1531, 1520, 1520, J Smyth & Son 1519, A & N Young 1517, D Stevenson 1513.

Ballymena & Dist 11/138 – W & J Smyth 1577, 1364, G & A Eagleson 1556, Richmond Bros 1555, G & A Eagleson 1554, Richmond Bros 1534, J Devlin 1525, 1520, Blair & Rankin 1517, M/M M Sempey 1514.

Broughshane 10/186 – J & N Simpson 1578, 1571, R Wylie 1552, D Houston & Son 1550, A Purvis 1547, 1538, Mrs M Smyth 1524, D Houston & Son 1520. Johnny and Norman are back on top again and winning the club Inland Average. The winner was a Red yearling cock Staf Van Reet racing on the Roundabout.

Cullybackey 9/279 – J & J Greer 1573, Reid Bros & McCloy 1537, H & R McCloy 1530, 1518, Russell Bros 1508, N & S Anderson 1506, Reid Bros & McCloy 1506, D Robinson 1502, L Davidson 1499, Russell Bros 1487, J & J Greer 1480, D Robinson 1464.

Harryville 14/232 – J Rock 1592, 1591, R H Clements 1577, J Millar & Son 1572, R H Clements 1569, 1559, L Mullan 1559, G Price 1557, T Johnston & Son 1555, A McBride 1555. This Blue Jacobs cock a yearling was timed at 13.42hrs flying 201 miles. It had already won 3rd Club earlier this year.

Kells & District 12/149 – Surgenor Bros 1600, H Boyd 1597, B Swann & Son 1570, T & M Morrow 1563, B Swann & Son 1562, McFarlane & Agnew 1555, T & M Morrow 1553, B Swann & Son 1548. Sizzlers 2 Bird – H Boyd 1597, B Swann & Son 1562. The winner for Surgenor Bros was a yearling Blue Braspenning cock.

New Antrim Amal 8/133 – McFall & McManus 1588, 1572, 1572, 1571, R McFall & Son 1535, D Jackson & Son 1531, C Magill 1529, 1523, M/M F Clarke 1506, C Moore 1493. Fantastic result for Charlie McManus, very well done from all the club-mates.

Randalstown 4/117 – S Millar 1540, 1536, Stewart Bros 1524, 1520, S Millar 1518, 1516, 1511, 1509.

Rasharkin & District 10/202 – J Robinson & Son 1527, J & M Milliken 1523, Milliken & Barkley 1516, Steele & McNeill 1516, 1486, Milliken & Barkley 1485. Second win of the season for J Robinson & Son from J & M Milliken second. Nom: Steele & McNeill. D Dixon: 1571.993, 1569.079, 1560.179, 1559.957, 1554.228, 1550.832. Race sponsored by LECK N.I Ltd (Ballymoney).

Race marking arrangements for the NIPA Yearling Nat due to be flown from Rosscarbery on Tuesday 31st May. Cullybackey Centre will be open on Friday 27th May for collection of the club entry fees. NIPA Cheque required for Cocks & Hens, to be kept separate, and two individual cheques required. Usual cheque required for the Cullybackey Centre. Race marking will be in Cullybackey on Monday 30th May between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, clubs to send two members to assist at the marking to include loading of the transporter. The T3 Clocks will be ready at 7.00pm on Monday.

The final week of the Champions League Week 6 was Fermoy (2) flown on Sunday 22nd May. 9 competitors get points with 4 moving up and 2 of those critical for qualifying ie. Surgenor Bros and W & J Smyth.

Sect 1(A) Qualified - D Dixon, S Millar, RH Clements & Surgenor Bros who got 27 points this week for winning 1st Combine moving them into 4th spot knocking out last years winner M Graham.

Sect 2(B) Qualified - A Purvis, Stewart Bros, McFall & McManus up 1 position and W & J Smyth who gained 2 positions at the expense of Harry Boyd & Russell Bros.

Sect 3(C) Qualified - A Darragh, Milliken & Barkley, J & N Simpson who were 6th Combine this week gaining 2 positions and Scott & Clements, with J Smyth & son just missing out at last hurdle.

Sect 4(D) No competitors gained any points this week so no change. Qualified - Young McManus & sons, A McBride, G McDowell, & R McFall & son.

After Week 6 flown from Fermoy we had the conclusion of the Champions League process and 16 lofts qualified for the knock-out stage. The matches for this weekend Talbenny (1) are as follows: D Dixon v J & N Simpson, A McBride v W & J Smyth, A Purvis v G McDowell, S Millar v Scott & Clements, A Darragh v R H Clements, Stewart Bros v R McFall & Son, Young McManus & Sons v McFall & McManus, Milliken & Barkley v Surgenor Bros.