Mid Antrim Combine - France 2012
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:41 pm
The St Malo National was flown Friday 29th June, birds released at 6.30am in a helping SS Westerly wind, winners made good time but returns at the far end were few and far between. In the local Nat Centres, Danny Dixon was 1st Coleraine (1332), Alan Darragh 1st Cullybackey (1361) and Stewart Bros 1st Muckamore (1159). Cullybackey done reasonably well with 17 day arrivals, Coleraine had 7 day birds and Muckamore 3. The race was won by Maurice Wilkinson from Wilton Cross in Lurgan, he timed at 14.57hrs flying 448 miles doing velocity 1455. After such a difficult cross channel season the Premier OB Nat from St Malo in France will be regarded as quite successful with around 230 day arrivals. A change in the rules at the AGM made just 140 positions available for a prize, thankfully the recent NIPA Committee meeting decided that the cut off point for the various awards would be the same as the season previous at 200. It should be at least 200 prizes every year and the major race of the old bird season needs special funding or sponsorship.
Alan Darragh from Cullybackey completed a probably best ever old bird season by having the best bird from St Malo, he timed his 4 year old Blue cock at 16.43hrs recording velocity 1362 for the 474 miles. This bird had already won 1st Combine and had flown the race last season. He wins 1st Club, 1st Combine, 1st Sect B & 13th Open NIPA with 1,400 birds competing. Next best was William Livingstone of Ahoghill timing his 2 year old Dk Ch Pied hen at 16.56hrs followed by J & J Greer Cullybackey, M/M Robinson Ahoghill, Chris Moore 1st New Antrim (1297), Jimmy Rock 1st & 2nd Harryville (1278) his winner was pure Jacobs, Alan Barkley & Son 1st & 2nd Kells (1177) just two birds away and both on the day, and J & N Simpson 1st Broughshane & Dist (1147) another loft that has had a fantastic old bird season. Danny Dixon who races to lofts at Dunloy was best in the Coleraine Centre and will be well pleased with 1st Club in Ballymoney, 3rd Combine & Sect and 17th Open NIPA. Stewart Bros from Randalstown won the Muckamore Centre and finish 10th Comb, 13th Sect & 85th Open NIPA.
Cullybackey Centre St Malo 52/141 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1361, W Livingstone Ahoghill 1337, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1303, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1302, C Moore New Antrim 1297, J Rock Harryville 1278, J Rock 1220, A Barkley & Son Kells 1177, C Moore 1154, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1147, T Picken & Son New Antrim 1107, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1105, A Barkley & Son 1071, A Darragh 1015, D Houston & Son Broughshane 1010, A & N Young Ahoghill 993, B Ramsey Harryville 848.
Cullybackey had 17 birds on the day, included with the above Alan Darragh 20.12hrs, A & N Young Ahoghill 20.30hrs and Billy Ramsey Harryville 23.05hrs. At clock checking on the second morning B Swann & Son Kells 5.04am, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 5.48am, A Darragh 7.08am, B Ramsey 8.09am, George Barr Ballymena 8.45am, Harold Cubitt Rasharkin 8.53am, A & N Young 9.49am.
Mid Antrim Combine St Malo 54/154 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1361, W Livingstone Ahoghill 1337, D Dixon Rasharkin 1332, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1303, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1302, C Moore New Antrim 1297, J Rock Harryville 1278, J Rock 1220, A Barkley & Son Kells 1177, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1159, C Moore 1154, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1147, T Picken & Son New Antrim 1107, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1105, A Barkley & Son 1071, A Darragh 1015, D Houston & Son Broughshane 1010, A & N Young Ahoghill 993, B Ramsey Harryville 848.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 6/17 – W Livingstone 1337, M/M Robinson 1302, J Smyth & Son 1105, A & N Young 993.
Ballymena & Dist 8/15 – G Barr 670, McAlonan Bros 575, Blair & Rankin 568, Richmond Bros 528.
Broughshane 4/16 – J & N Simpson 1147, D Houston & Son 1010.
Cullybackey 8/30 – A Darragh 1361, J & J Greer 1303, A Darragh 1015, 727, 579, Reid Bros & McCloy 546, Russell Bros 497.
Harryville 5/15 – J Rock 1278, 1220, B Ramsey 848.
Kells & District 8/15 – A Barkley & Son 1177, 1071, B Swann & Son 610. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – B Swann & Son 610.
New Antrim Amal 4/17 – C Moore 1297, 1154, T Picken & Son 1106.
Randalstown 4/11 – Stewart Bros 1159, H Boyd 476.
Rasharkin & District 6/18 – A C & T Tweed 804, H Cubitt 679. Danny Dixon – 1332.544, 792.738.
Very Difficult Kings Cup event -
After a number of days delay the King Cup birds were race marked and the race flown as planned on Monday 9th July, my birthday. It turned out the most difficult race we have had for several years and will put to bed any thoughts of going further, at least for a few years till the numbers of distance birds builds up again. I do believe the entry in 2012 was probably the highest quality that had ever been sent to the Blue Riband event, a large number of birds were competing for the major awards, Gold Medal, Hall of fame, Triple Championship etc and most never turned up. It was hard going at the top end with only a handful of birds timed. Congratulations to all of those who managed to record an arrival, some lofts made it look easy – It was far from That! Just the two birds in Mid Antrim Combine, J & M Milliken of Rasharkin and Old Hand Bobby Smyth of the Ballymena & Dist.
The Red Cheq cock timed in the Kings Cup by J & M Milliken was sent feeding a big youngster, this bird was bred by James Smyth from Ahoghill. He was timed in 2011 Yearling National taking 104th Open and returned hurt from the Kings Cup in 2011 just missing the prize’s early the second morning. This year he was lightly raced down Ireland and sent to the Kings Cup race well fancied winning 1st Club, 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 26th North Sect & 34th Open INFC Kings Cup. Smyth Bros need no introduction, a host of big National results over the years and dual Hall of Fame winners. Very few birds are kept, two especially were trained weekly with the NIPA and both sent to Plaudren.
Muckamore Centre INFC Kings Cup – Collins & Pursley Doagh & Dist 837, Collins & Pursley 804, J Harkness Glenavy 706, J & M Milliken Rasharkin & Dist 578, J Walker & Son Eastway 524, Houston & McDonald Glenavy 456, Smyth Bros Ballymena & Dist 392, Collins & Pursley 366, Grattan Bros Eastway 364, C & L Woodside Ballyclare & Dist 360, J McGrugan & Son Doagh & Dist 287, W McCaw Ballymoney 262.
East Antrim Combined Plaudren/Vannes - Collins & Pursley Doagh & Dist 837, Collins & Pursley 804, J Walker & Son Eastway 524, Collins & Pursley 366, Grattan Bros Eastway 364, C & L Woodside Ballyclare & Dist 360, J McGrugan & Son Doagh & Dist 287.
Mid Antrim Combine Plaudren/Vannes - J & M Milliken Rasharkin & Dist 578, Smyth Bros Ballymena & Dist 392.
Mid Antrim Clubs Kings Cup
Rasharkin & Dist – J & M Milliken 578.
Ballymena & District – Smyth Bros 392. Bobby Smyth's pigeon is bred from his own old Kenyon family when crossed with a quarter Jan Theelen from Alan Darragh.
Ballymoney HPS – W McCaw 262. Billy McCaw gets the only bird home from the Kings Cup to record 67th Open and win an INFC Merit Award for twice in the prizes. This Cheq hen has flown the Kings Cup three years in a row and was his third bird home in 2010 and his second in 2011 winning 151st Open. The dam of this hen is the g/dam of his Hall of Fame winner and is Ken Hine bloodlines and the Sire is Van Bruaene/Van Der Wegan/Ken Hine.
Dervock RPS – W McCaw 262.
Quimper was a hard test -
The Friendship Nat was brought forward by a number of days, birds race marked and the race flown from Quimper as planned on Tuesday 10th July, the day after the Kings Cup release. Both races were going on at the same time, and although the day birds were less we had more home over the three days of the race. Yet again birds were scarce at the top end this time we managed three into Mid Antrim Combine. Alan Darragh has a powerful record locally in the INFC events and he adds another 1st Combine to what was already a fantastic racing season. He timed a second bird and the final one was for Danny Dixon who timed one from his famous Verschelde family of birds he has had over 10 years.
Muckamore Centre INFC Quimper – C & L Woodside Ballyclare 805, R Duddy Ballyclare 788, A Darragh Cullybackey 730, R Duddy 710, A Darragh 660, A Thompson Ballyclare 632, M & T Griffith Eastway 625, C & L Woodside 593, D Dixon Ballymoney 538, C & L Woodside 512, C & L Woodside 495, W & L McCaw Ballymoney 451.
East Antrim Combined Quimper - C & L Woodside Ballyclare 805, R Duddy Ballyclare 788, R Duddy 710, A Thompson Ballyclare 632, M & T Griffith Eastway 625, C & L Woodside 593, C & L Woodside 512, C & L Woodside 495.
Mid Antrim Combine Quimper - A Darragh Cullybackey 730, A Darragh 660, D Dixon Ballymoney 538.
Mid Antrim Clubs Quimper
Cullybackey HPS – A Darragh 730, 660.
Ballymoney HPS – D Dixon 538, W & L McCaw 451. Danny Dixon times the first of only two birds to make it home in race time, his three year old Verschelde Cheq cock is bred from his Section B RPRA Award winner. The Verschelde bloodline has been very successful for many years, not just for Danny but other lofts.
Dervock RPS – W & L McCaw 451. Leonard McCaw times his five year old Van Bruaene bird to win the Friendship National for the second year running. This Blue hen was 31st Open St Malo Friendship National last year and will receive an INFC Merit Award.
Alan Darragh from Cullybackey completed a probably best ever old bird season by having the best bird from St Malo, he timed his 4 year old Blue cock at 16.43hrs recording velocity 1362 for the 474 miles. This bird had already won 1st Combine and had flown the race last season. He wins 1st Club, 1st Combine, 1st Sect B & 13th Open NIPA with 1,400 birds competing. Next best was William Livingstone of Ahoghill timing his 2 year old Dk Ch Pied hen at 16.56hrs followed by J & J Greer Cullybackey, M/M Robinson Ahoghill, Chris Moore 1st New Antrim (1297), Jimmy Rock 1st & 2nd Harryville (1278) his winner was pure Jacobs, Alan Barkley & Son 1st & 2nd Kells (1177) just two birds away and both on the day, and J & N Simpson 1st Broughshane & Dist (1147) another loft that has had a fantastic old bird season. Danny Dixon who races to lofts at Dunloy was best in the Coleraine Centre and will be well pleased with 1st Club in Ballymoney, 3rd Combine & Sect and 17th Open NIPA. Stewart Bros from Randalstown won the Muckamore Centre and finish 10th Comb, 13th Sect & 85th Open NIPA.
Cullybackey Centre St Malo 52/141 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1361, W Livingstone Ahoghill 1337, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1303, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1302, C Moore New Antrim 1297, J Rock Harryville 1278, J Rock 1220, A Barkley & Son Kells 1177, C Moore 1154, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1147, T Picken & Son New Antrim 1107, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1105, A Barkley & Son 1071, A Darragh 1015, D Houston & Son Broughshane 1010, A & N Young Ahoghill 993, B Ramsey Harryville 848.
Cullybackey had 17 birds on the day, included with the above Alan Darragh 20.12hrs, A & N Young Ahoghill 20.30hrs and Billy Ramsey Harryville 23.05hrs. At clock checking on the second morning B Swann & Son Kells 5.04am, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 5.48am, A Darragh 7.08am, B Ramsey 8.09am, George Barr Ballymena 8.45am, Harold Cubitt Rasharkin 8.53am, A & N Young 9.49am.
Mid Antrim Combine St Malo 54/154 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1361, W Livingstone Ahoghill 1337, D Dixon Rasharkin 1332, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1303, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1302, C Moore New Antrim 1297, J Rock Harryville 1278, J Rock 1220, A Barkley & Son Kells 1177, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1159, C Moore 1154, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1147, T Picken & Son New Antrim 1107, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1105, A Barkley & Son 1071, A Darragh 1015, D Houston & Son Broughshane 1010, A & N Young Ahoghill 993, B Ramsey Harryville 848.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 6/17 – W Livingstone 1337, M/M Robinson 1302, J Smyth & Son 1105, A & N Young 993.
Ballymena & Dist 8/15 – G Barr 670, McAlonan Bros 575, Blair & Rankin 568, Richmond Bros 528.
Broughshane 4/16 – J & N Simpson 1147, D Houston & Son 1010.
Cullybackey 8/30 – A Darragh 1361, J & J Greer 1303, A Darragh 1015, 727, 579, Reid Bros & McCloy 546, Russell Bros 497.
Harryville 5/15 – J Rock 1278, 1220, B Ramsey 848.
Kells & District 8/15 – A Barkley & Son 1177, 1071, B Swann & Son 610. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – B Swann & Son 610.
New Antrim Amal 4/17 – C Moore 1297, 1154, T Picken & Son 1106.
Randalstown 4/11 – Stewart Bros 1159, H Boyd 476.
Rasharkin & District 6/18 – A C & T Tweed 804, H Cubitt 679. Danny Dixon – 1332.544, 792.738.
Very Difficult Kings Cup event -
After a number of days delay the King Cup birds were race marked and the race flown as planned on Monday 9th July, my birthday. It turned out the most difficult race we have had for several years and will put to bed any thoughts of going further, at least for a few years till the numbers of distance birds builds up again. I do believe the entry in 2012 was probably the highest quality that had ever been sent to the Blue Riband event, a large number of birds were competing for the major awards, Gold Medal, Hall of fame, Triple Championship etc and most never turned up. It was hard going at the top end with only a handful of birds timed. Congratulations to all of those who managed to record an arrival, some lofts made it look easy – It was far from That! Just the two birds in Mid Antrim Combine, J & M Milliken of Rasharkin and Old Hand Bobby Smyth of the Ballymena & Dist.
The Red Cheq cock timed in the Kings Cup by J & M Milliken was sent feeding a big youngster, this bird was bred by James Smyth from Ahoghill. He was timed in 2011 Yearling National taking 104th Open and returned hurt from the Kings Cup in 2011 just missing the prize’s early the second morning. This year he was lightly raced down Ireland and sent to the Kings Cup race well fancied winning 1st Club, 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 26th North Sect & 34th Open INFC Kings Cup. Smyth Bros need no introduction, a host of big National results over the years and dual Hall of Fame winners. Very few birds are kept, two especially were trained weekly with the NIPA and both sent to Plaudren.
Muckamore Centre INFC Kings Cup – Collins & Pursley Doagh & Dist 837, Collins & Pursley 804, J Harkness Glenavy 706, J & M Milliken Rasharkin & Dist 578, J Walker & Son Eastway 524, Houston & McDonald Glenavy 456, Smyth Bros Ballymena & Dist 392, Collins & Pursley 366, Grattan Bros Eastway 364, C & L Woodside Ballyclare & Dist 360, J McGrugan & Son Doagh & Dist 287, W McCaw Ballymoney 262.
East Antrim Combined Plaudren/Vannes - Collins & Pursley Doagh & Dist 837, Collins & Pursley 804, J Walker & Son Eastway 524, Collins & Pursley 366, Grattan Bros Eastway 364, C & L Woodside Ballyclare & Dist 360, J McGrugan & Son Doagh & Dist 287.
Mid Antrim Combine Plaudren/Vannes - J & M Milliken Rasharkin & Dist 578, Smyth Bros Ballymena & Dist 392.
Mid Antrim Clubs Kings Cup
Rasharkin & Dist – J & M Milliken 578.
Ballymena & District – Smyth Bros 392. Bobby Smyth's pigeon is bred from his own old Kenyon family when crossed with a quarter Jan Theelen from Alan Darragh.
Ballymoney HPS – W McCaw 262. Billy McCaw gets the only bird home from the Kings Cup to record 67th Open and win an INFC Merit Award for twice in the prizes. This Cheq hen has flown the Kings Cup three years in a row and was his third bird home in 2010 and his second in 2011 winning 151st Open. The dam of this hen is the g/dam of his Hall of Fame winner and is Ken Hine bloodlines and the Sire is Van Bruaene/Van Der Wegan/Ken Hine.
Dervock RPS – W McCaw 262.
Quimper was a hard test -
The Friendship Nat was brought forward by a number of days, birds race marked and the race flown from Quimper as planned on Tuesday 10th July, the day after the Kings Cup release. Both races were going on at the same time, and although the day birds were less we had more home over the three days of the race. Yet again birds were scarce at the top end this time we managed three into Mid Antrim Combine. Alan Darragh has a powerful record locally in the INFC events and he adds another 1st Combine to what was already a fantastic racing season. He timed a second bird and the final one was for Danny Dixon who timed one from his famous Verschelde family of birds he has had over 10 years.
Muckamore Centre INFC Quimper – C & L Woodside Ballyclare 805, R Duddy Ballyclare 788, A Darragh Cullybackey 730, R Duddy 710, A Darragh 660, A Thompson Ballyclare 632, M & T Griffith Eastway 625, C & L Woodside 593, D Dixon Ballymoney 538, C & L Woodside 512, C & L Woodside 495, W & L McCaw Ballymoney 451.
East Antrim Combined Quimper - C & L Woodside Ballyclare 805, R Duddy Ballyclare 788, R Duddy 710, A Thompson Ballyclare 632, M & T Griffith Eastway 625, C & L Woodside 593, C & L Woodside 512, C & L Woodside 495.
Mid Antrim Combine Quimper - A Darragh Cullybackey 730, A Darragh 660, D Dixon Ballymoney 538.
Mid Antrim Clubs Quimper
Cullybackey HPS – A Darragh 730, 660.
Ballymoney HPS – D Dixon 538, W & L McCaw 451. Danny Dixon times the first of only two birds to make it home in race time, his three year old Verschelde Cheq cock is bred from his Section B RPRA Award winner. The Verschelde bloodline has been very successful for many years, not just for Danny but other lofts.
Dervock RPS – W & L McCaw 451. Leonard McCaw times his five year old Van Bruaene bird to win the Friendship National for the second year running. This Blue hen was 31st Open St Malo Friendship National last year and will receive an INFC Merit Award.