Penzance - 21/06/14

[willie reynolds]

Testing race from Penzance -

In the penultimate week of the old bird season prior to the long distance events from France the NIPA birds were raced from Penzance with a comeback event arranged from Roscrea. Despite the fantastic weather conditions on the longest day of the year the Northerly wind was always going to be a big feature. Birds were liberated in Penzance at 7.30am in a NN East wind and the Roscrea convoy at 9.00am in a Lt Northerly wind. The Roscrea birds were home first taking over 3 hours for the approx. 140 miles, Penzance was a lot more difficult. Early birds here made good time but it turned out another hard race with a lot of lofts failing to time any arrivals.

From Penzance John Connolly had a big early bird up into Ballymoney to take 1st Sect B while John Millar of Randalstown took 1st in the Mid Antrim Combine. Steele & McNeill of Rasharkin who have had a very good year with a small team win the Champions League for Rasharkin for the second time. The best bird in Ballymena was timed in Drumtara by the MDC Magill partnership at 5.33pm flying 327 miles. St Malo (France) birds will be race marked in Cullybackey today (Wednesday ) between 4.00pm and 6.00pm.

Mid Antrim Combine Penzance 39/196 - J Millar Randalstown 975, D Dixon Rasharkin 971, MDC Magill Ballymena 957, D Dixon 945, A Darragh Cullybackey 916, D Dixon 909, D Dixon 885, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 882, McFarlane & Agnew Kells 881, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 878, Steele & McNeill 872, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 866, Gibson & Dickey Cullybackey 856, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 854, A Darragh 842, A Darragh 839, W & J Smyth Ballymena 832, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 822, A Darragh 805, J Orr & Son Ahoghill 805, W & J Smyth 801, A Darragh 786, J Millar & Son Harryville 756, A Darragh 739, T R Alexander & Son Ballymena 738.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Penzance

Ballymena & District HPS 15/55 – MDC Magill 957, W & J Smyth 832, 801, T R Alexander & Son 738. MDC Magill win the £50 Show Special, T R Alexander & Son win Bobby Law Cup for 1st Yearling.

Cullybackey 9/99 – A Darragh 916, Reid Bros & McCloy 878, Gibson & Dickey 856, A Darragh 842, 839, 805, 786, 739, B Herbison 706, A Darragh 704.

Rasharkin & District 7/36 – Steele & McNeill 882, 872. Steele & McNeill take the Red Card from Penzance. Danny Dixon: 971.666, 945.430, 909.045, 885.911.

Ahoghill Flying Club 9/47 – Young McManus & Sons 866, M/M Robinson 854, 822, J Orr & Son 805. Nice photo of Paddy McManus with grandchildren Erin and Joel after winning todays races from Roscrea and Penzance.

Harryville 6/54 – J Millar & Son 756, G Price 678.

Kells & District – McFarlane & Agnew 881.

Randalstown 7/35 – J Millar 975, Stewart Bros 700, Houston Bros 678, D Logan & Son 666, Houston Bros 663.