Mid Antrim Combine Pilmore Beach 27/05/11

[willie reynolds]

With the weather poor all week the NIPA decided to replace the cross channel Talbenny with a land race from Pilmore Beach that would be flown one day earlier on Friday 27th May. It was intended that liberation would be later in the day but the weather again had an influence and the birds were liberated at the early time of 7.30am. The birds made reasonable time and although a bit gappy most birds had made home lofts on the day. Best bird reported locally was in New Antrim where young Chris Moore had his best ever result to win 1st Club, 1st Combine and 1st Sect doing velocity 1474. His yearling Blue hen flying to her first eggs was timed at 11.48am flying 217 miles. Her sire is a Van den Bosch from the lines of Gouden Witneus from Karel Meuleman and the dam was a gift from Paddy McManus of Ahoghill, she is Van de Weil and bred from one of his top producing hens. Chris wishes to record a vote of thanks to Paddy for supplying him with many super pigeons over the years, and for his help and advice. Thanks as well to the many friends and local fanciers who called to say congratulations, well done Chris. A couple of weeks back Chris won the club from both Rosscarbery and Roscrea and his best result before that was the Portland OB Derby when he was very well placed.

NOTE - The race marking at Cullybackey on Monday for the Yearling Nat NIPA Cock & Hen is between 3.00pm and 4.00pm. Pass the word around, the collection time is a lot earlier.

Mid Antrim Combine Pilmore Beach 108/2,114 – C Moore New Antrim 1474, A McBride Harryville 1471, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1469, A Darragh Cullybackey 1452, W & J Smyth 1448, Surgenor Bros Kells 1447, S Millar Randalstown 1443, D Dixon Rasharkin 1441, D Dixon 1441, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1441, D Dixon 1439, A McBride 1439, Richmond Bros Ballymena 1438, H Boyd Kells 1435, W & J Smyth 1433, Houston Bros Randalstown 1431, B Swann & Son Kells 1427, Scott & Clements Kells 1427, J Rock Harryville 1419, Scott & Clements 1416, A McBride 1413, Surgenor Bros 1412, D Dixon 1412, A Darragh 1409, S Millar 1408, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1407, Mrs M Smyth Broughshane 1407, S Millar 1406, S Millar 1404, Scott & Clements 1404,

Scott & Clements 1403, G McDowell Kells 1403, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1400, Richmond Bros 1400, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1399, G & A Eagleson Ballymena 1398, L Mullan Harryville 1397, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1397, J & N Simpson 1396, D Dixon 1396, D Dixon 1395, H Boyd Randalstown 1395, S Millar 1394,

A Darragh 1392, J Devlin Ballymena 1392, Young McManus & Sons 1392, G McDowell 1390, K & K Kernohan Harryville 1389, G McDowell 1389, G Price Harryville 1386, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1383, M/M Clarke New Antrim 1381, A Darragh 1480, C Moore 1380, Young McManus & Sons 1380, C Magill New Antrim 1378, Young McManus & Sons 1378, B Swann & Son 1377, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1376, J Smyth & Son 1376, Russell Bros Cullybackey 1375, S Steele Cullybackey 1374, G & A Eagleson Ballymena 1374, Russell Bros 1372, Mrs M Smyth 1371, D Jackson & Son New Antrim 1371, A Darragh 1370, Young McManus & Sons 1369, T & M Morrow Kells 1369, W McIlveen & Son Harryville 1368, J Millar & Son Harryville 1368, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1368, A & N Young Ahoghill 1368, W McClure Kells 1367, L Mullan 1367, G & G Jackson Ahoghill 1366, J Balmer Ahoghill 1365, McAlonan Bros Ballymena 1364, K & K Kernohan 1359, S Steele 1359, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1358, J Millar & Son 1357, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1356,

The Champions League continued, not at Talbenny as planned for the first knock-out round but a replaced race from Pilmore Beach. The weekend matches were: 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. In that list we had 6 x 1st Club winners and two of those were knocked out! Very bad luck for W & J Smyth and J & N Simpson. The next round Quarter-Final matches are – D Dixon v A McBride, G McDowell v S Millar, A Darragh v Stewart Bros, Young McManus & Sons v Surgenor Bros.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Pilmore Beach -

Ahoghill Flying Club 12/322 – Young McManus & Sons 1397, 1392, 1380, 1378, J Smyth & Son 1376, 1376, Young McManus & Sons 1369, A & N Young 1368, G & G Jackson 1366, J Balmer 1365.

Ballymena & Dist 12/190 – W & J Smyth 1469, 1448, Richmond Bros 1436, 1400, G & A Eagleson 1398, J Devlin 1392, G & A Eagleson 1374, McAlonan Bros 1364, M/M M Sempey 1344, G Barr 1338.

Broughshane 8/120 – J & N Simpson 1407, Mrs Smyth 1407, J & N Simpson 1396, Mrs Smyth 1371, T & E Service 1346, 1315, D Houston & Son 1314, H Smyth & Son 1311. Johnny and Norman have the winning bird just piping Moira Smyth by decimals. The winner was a yearling Kipp/Thas Blue cock racing Roundabout and timed at 12.00.

Cullybackey 14/381 – A Darragh 1452, 1409, Russell Bros 1375, S Steele 1374, Russell Bros 1372, J & J Greer 1368, S Steele 1359, Reid Bros & McCloy 1356, S McKendry 1349, Reid Bros & McCloy 1345.

Harryville 17/333 – A McBride 1471, 1439, J Rock 1419, A McBride 1413, L Mullan 1397, K & K Kernohan 1389, G Price 1386, W McIlveen & Son 1368, J Millar & Son 1368, L Mullan 1367. Allen’s back on top this week with a gift bird from good friend Pat O’Neill of Glenarm. The Soontjen yearling Blue w/f cock was sent on eggs, timed at 11.46am flying 214 miles.

Kells & District 14/196 – Surgenor Bros 1447, H Boyd 1435, B Swann & Son 1427, Scott & Clements 1427, 1416, Surgenor Bros 1412, Scott & Clements 1404, 1403. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Scott & Clements 1427, G McDowell 1320. Surgenor Bros win with a Blue yearling hen, Busschaert & Braspenning.

New Antrim Amal 8/138 – C Moore 1474, M/M Clarke 1381, C Moore 1380, C Magill 1378, D Jackson & Son 1371, McFall & McManus 1351, 1350, T Picken 1344, McFall & McManus 1338, M/M Clarke 1338.

Randalstown 11/202 – S Millar 1443, Stewart Bros 1441, Houston Bros 1431, S Millar 1408, 1406, 1404, H Boyd 1395, S Millar 1394.

Rasharkin & District 12/232 – W McFetridge 1400, A C & T Tweed 1399, J & M Milliken 1383, H Cubitt 1358, W McFetridge 1354, Milliken & Barkley 1352. William McFetridge wins with a Van Reet, A C & T Tweed are runner-up. Nom A C & T Tweed. D Dixon: 1441.698, 1441.610, 1439.934, 1412.113, 1396.196, 1395.699. Race sponsored by Leck NI Ltd (Ballymoney).