Pigeon Network

First Prize-Night for Mid Antrim Combine

Ballymena & District clubrooms was the venue for the first presentation of Mid Antrim Combine, held on Wednesday 22nd February, fanciers and friends attended from Randalstown, Rasharkin, Cullybackey, Ballymena, and Ahoghill. Previously the awards won each season were presented at the various club functions, maybe next time it will be at a presentation dinner. Chairman Jackie Steele from Rasharkin & Dist welcomed all present and said we managed to get through a first season without some clubs who had decided to leave. Dixon Contractors from Dunloy were thanked for the sponsorship of the major races with both NIPA and INFC and also the Champions League to the total tune of £600. Danny also agreed to look after the production of race winning Diplomas and also the engraving for both 2016 and 2017 seasons.

As a result of that it will not be necessary to collect club member fees for next year at least, but we intend to charge a nominal Club Fee of £3.00 to cover RPRA fees etc. This and the possibility of taking Associate Members at a fee of £5.00 per loft will be considered at the AGM which is set for Ballymena & District HPS Clubrooms on Wednesday 15th March at 8.00pm.

The AGM date will also confirm the Rules List as required by RPRA and copies going to all member clubs. All local clubs are eligible for membership in 2017, hopefully we can move back up to full strength. The Management Committee will be 2 Delegates from each member club.

Assisted by Secretary Willie Reynolds the MAC Chairman Jackie Steele presented the Diplomas and the NIPA & INFC awards and Danny Dixon presented cups and trophies.

Race winners were – J & M Milliken Rasharkin (8), Danny Dixon Rasharkin(6), Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill (4), J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena (3) and one win each for Stewart Bros Randalstown, T Kaczynski Rasharkin, W & J Smyth Ballymena, J Orr & Son Ahoghill, McAlonan Bros Ballymena, F J & G Dickey Tandalstown, Blair & Rankin Ballymena, J W Reynolds Ballymena, McFall & McManus Ballymena, W J McLean Rasharkin, W Livingstone Ahoghill, H Boyd Randalstown and K Wilkinson & Son New Antrim.

In the Champions League winners Rasharkin & District will collect £100 with £50 going to runner-up Randalstown HPS. Winners in the INFC races were – Skibbereen Old Bird won by J & M Milliken (Rasharkin) £25, William Livingstone (Ahoghill) won Sennen Cove Yearling £25, Hugh Boyd (Randalstown) had the only bird in the Kings Cup St Allouestre £50, Danny Dixon (Rasharkin) had the only bird in the Quimper Friendship Nat £50. In the Young Birds Danny Dixon had 1st Penzance £25, and Ken Wilkinson & Son (New Antrim) had 1st Skibbereen £25.

Major race winners in the NIPA were – Rosscarbery Inl won by J Eagleson & Sons (Ballymena) £25, Rosscarbery Ylr Hen won by Young McManus & Sons (Ahoghill) £25, Rosscarbery Ylr Cock won by D Dixon £25, Fermoy 5 Bird in Old Bird won by Young McManus & Sons £25, Sennen Cove Classic won by McAlonan Bros (Ballymena) £25, St Malo Nat won by J & M Milliken £50, Talbenny YB won by Percy Son & Murphy (Randalstown) £25, Fermoy 5 Bird in Young Bird won by J & M Milliken £25 and finally Rosscarbery Nat won by D Dixon £25.

Cups & Trophies won in 2016 -
Old Bird Inland Average won by J & M Milliken Vel 1409, Cross Channel Average won by J & M Milliken Vel 1246, Old Bird Ave won by J & M Milliken Vel 1358, McIlhagga Cup for 1st MAC St Malo won by J & M Milliken Vel 965, B Eagleson Memorial Cup best average Talbenny (1) & (2), Bude and Penzance won by W & J Smyth Vel 1323, T Shanks & Son Cup Old Bird of the Year won by J Eagleson & Sons (GB15B-03612), Les Mairs OB Fancier of the Year won by D Dixon 196 Points, Young Bird Ave won by D Dixon Vel 1548, New North Cup best average Bude & Talbenny YB won by J & M Milliken Vel 1192, Combine Average won by J & M Milliken, and Young Bird of the Year won by Blair & Rankin (GB16H-01693).
Club Points Shield for Old Birds and Young Birds was won by Rasharkin & Dist. Champions League won by Rasharkin (J & M Milliken) runner-up Randalstown HPS (F J & G Dickey). INFC Cup not won.
Ballymena & Dist HPS were thanked for the use of the clubrooms and we hope to see all present again at the AGM in the same venue on 15th March.


Danny Dixon (r) presents the New North Cup to Mark Milliken. J & M Milliken won 6 cups and trophies.


Rasharkin & Dist have won the Champions League for the last 3 seasons. From (l) J Steele, M Milliken and D Dixon.


Jackie Steele MAC Chairman (l) presents Champions League awards to J & M Milliken.


Two cups won by Danny Dixon (l) Herbison YB Ave and Les Mairs OB Fancier of the Year.


Big season for Rasharkin & Dist from (l) D Dixon, Steele & McNeill, W J McLean and J & M Milliken.


NIPA Nat & Classic sponsored race winners.


INFC sponsored race winners, Hugh Boyd only bird Kings Cup and Danny Dixon only bird Quimper.


Race winners in the Mid Antrim Combine during 2016.


W & J Smyth from Ballymena won the Eagleson Memorial Cup for the second year.


Big Ballymena double B Blair (l) Champion YB and J Eagleson with the Tommy Shanks Mem Cup Champion OB.


Danny Dixon (r) presents the Shanks Memorial Cup to Johnston Eagleson.


Blair & Rankin from Ballymena had Champion Young Bird.


J & M Milliken won most cups with Chairman J Steele and D Dixon who presented awards.


Jackie Steele presents winning Diploma to Ken Wilkinson.

Mighty Mid Antrim -

We have some new developments with the Mid Antrim Combine, due to illness the presentations of the Dixon Sponsorship did not take place at the Ballymena & Dist HPS Dinner as planned, all those who won awards racing with the Mid Antrim Combine are invited to Ballymena & Dist HPS Clubrooms this Wednesday 22nd February at 8.00pm for the presentation. Just as a reminder the winners were.

For the first time ever sponsorship was obtained and Dixon Contractors from Dunloy put up £600 over the major National & Classic races. In the Champions League winners Rasharkin & District will collect £100 with £50 going to runner-up Randalstown HPS. Winners in the INFC races were – Skibbereen Old Bird won by J & M Milliken (Rasharkin) £25, William Livingstone (Ahoghill) won Sennen Cove Yearling £25, Hugh Boyd (Randalstown) had the only bird in the Kings Cup St Allouestre £50, Danny Dixon (Rasharkin) had the only bird in the Quimper Friendship Nat £50. In the Young Birds Danny Dixon had 1st Penzance £25, and Ken Wilkinson & Son (New Antrim) had 1st Skibbereen £25.

Major race winners in the NIPA were – Rosscarbery Inl won by J Eagleson & Sons (Ballymena) £25, Rosscarbery Ylr Hen won by Young McManus & Sons (Ahoghill) £25, Rosscarbery Ylr Cock won by D Dixon £25, Fermoy 5 Bird in Old Bird won by Young McManus & Sons £25, Sennen Cove Classic won by McAlonan Bros (Ballymena) £25, St Malo Nat won by J & M Milliken £50, Talbenny YB won by Percy Son & Murphy (Randalstown) £25, Fermoy 5 Bird in Young Bird won by J & M Milliken £25 and finally Rosscarbery Nat won by D Dixon £25.

Old Bird Inland Average won by J & M Milliken Vel 1409, Cross Channel Average won by J & M Milliken Vel 1246, Old Bird Ave won by J & M Milliken Vel 1358, McIlhagga Cup for 1st MAC St Malo won by J & M Milliken Vel 965, B Eagleson Memorial Cup best average Talbenny (1) & (2), Bude and Penzance won by W & J Smyth Vel 1323, T Shanks & Son Cup Old Bird of the Year won by J Eagleson & Sons (GB15B-03612), Les Mairs OB Fancier of the Year won by D Dixon 196 Points, Young Bird Ave won by D Dixon Vel 1548, New North Cup best average Bude & Talbenny YB won by J & M Milliken Vel 1192, Combine Average won by J & M Milliken, and Young Bird of the Year won by Blair & Rankin (GB16H-01693).
Club Points Shield for Old Birds and Young Birds was won by Rasharkin & Dist. Champions League won by Rasharkin (J & M Milliken) runner-up Randalstown HPS (F J & G Dickey). INFC Ave Cup not won. As can be seen a number of cups and trophies are Memorial Awards, there should be no dispute about them they were put up in good faith.

Further additional news is that sponsorship has been obtained for both 2016 and 2017 seasons to cover the Race Winning Diplomas and covering engraving of the various cups and trophies. No member fees will be required for 2017 member clubs will just be charged a small nominal fee. The AGM will be held as usual during March venue will be Ballymena & District HPS Clubrooms. Clubs that resigned last year without reason can return for 2017, I am hearing some alternative is being set up, not just appreciated by all. The only way to go is back to where we were, it has caused nothing but problems in every individual club and breakdown on long time friendships relationships. Think about that and think also what the shape of the local sport will be in 5 years or even less. The whole thing is being turned into a Blues Club, was it not a lot better when just a result was being produced?

I heard over the weekend that Davy Campbell who first came up with the idea of a Mid Antrim result and produced same for many years had passed away after a short period of illness. I was last speaking to him in the Summer of last year and he was telling me his health had gone back in the year previous and he was going for more tests. Over the years Davy was involved at every level of the sport, a founder member of Harryville HPS he was Secretary for many years. He also raced in Ballymena & District and the old Ballymena Championship, he had some fantastic pigeons the best from lofts in Ireland and across the UK. He raced in partnership with the late Bob Francey who was a local bin-man and in my early years in the sport, and longer than that, Campbell & Francey were the loft to beat each week. He had not raced pigeons for several years, but will be long remembered. He was a founder member and both player and manager of the Raglan Homers, the Public Bar where the Harryville HPS was based at a time and held all their meetings at that venue. They changed their name to Harryville Homers and are one of the best Junior Football Clubs in County Antrim, just recently they completed the Blue Riband double bringing both the Junior Cup and Junior Shield back to the town. Condolences to the entire Campbell Family at this very sad time, when attending the home over my early years in the sport I was always looked after very well.

Race winners in 2016 were as follows, Diplomas have been ordered.

OLD BIRD RACES
Mullingar 09/04/16
1. J & M Milliken 1517
2. Steele & McNeill 1479
3. D Dixon 1473
Tullamore 16/04/16
1. J Eagleson & Sons 1308
2. Young McManus & Sons 1297
3. J & M Milliken 1297
Roscrea 23/04/16
1. Stewart Bros 1296
2. J Eagleson & Sons 1275
3. J Eagleson & Sons 1273
Fermoy (1) 30/04/16
1. J & M Milliken 1577
2. T Kaczynski 1573
3. A C & T Tweed 1269
Corrin 08/05/16
1. J & M Milliken 1323
2. T Kaczynski 1275
3. Mr & Mrs Robinson 1274
Roscrea (2) 14/05/16
1. Young McManus & Sons 1428
2. J & M Milliken 1415
3. Mr & Mrs Robinson 1404
Rosscarbery Nat 14/05/16
1. J Eagleson & Sons 1322
2. D Dixon 1312
3. J Eagleson & Sons 1302
Talbenny (1) 22/05/16
1. J & M Milliken 1410,
2. Mr & Mrs Robinson 1389
3. J & M Milliken 1375
Fermoy 5 Bird 28/05/16
1. Young McManus & Sons 1371
2. D Dixon 1363
3. Young McManus & Sons 1323
Talbenny (2) 29/05/16
1. T Kaczynski 1252
2. Mr & Mrs Robinson 1249
3. D Dixon 1245
New Bude 04/06/16
1. W & J Smyth 1238
2. T Kaczynski 1230
3. J & M Milliken 1208
Rosscarbery Y/C 04/06/16
1. D Dixon 1273
2. Steele & McNeill 1250
3. D Dixon 1234
Rosscarbery Y/H 04/06/16
1. Young McManus & Sons 1247
2. A & N Young 1235
3. T Kaczynski 1229
Penzance 11/06/16
1. J Orr & Son 1493
2. McFall & McManus 1474
3. Mr & Mrs Robinson 1465
Fermoy (2) 11/06/16
1. J Eagleson & Sons 1505
2. J Eagleson & Sons 1481
3. Young McManus & Sons 1459
Corrin 18/06/16
1. Young McManus & Sons 1332
2. Young McManus & Sons 1319
3. J Eagleson & Sons 1317
Sennen Cove Classic 18/06/16
1. McAlonan Bros 1047
2. Stewart Bros 1037
3. D Dixon 1024
St Malo Nat 24/06/16
1. J & M Milliken 965
2. W Livingstone 945
3. D Dixon 750

YOUNG BIRD RACES
Mullingar (1) 16/07/16
1. F J & G Dickey 1596
2. McFall & McManus 1595
3. Blair & Rankin 1505
Mullingar (2) 23/07/16
1. Blair & Rankin 1550
2. G Connolly 1541
3. Blair & Rankin 1534
Tullamore 30/07/16
1. J W Reynolds 1500
2. Blair & Rankin 1492
3. Stewart Bros 1476
Roscrea 06/08/16
1. D Dixon 1768
2. J & D Surgenor 1754
3. J & M Milliken 1753
Gowran Park (1) 13/08/16
1. McFall & McManus 1476
2. F J & G Dickey 1467
3. McFall & McManus 1465
Fermoy (1) 21/08/16
1. D Dixon 1427
2. D Dixon 1427
3. J Balmer 1412
Gowran Park (2) 27/08/16
1. W & J McLean 1523
2. F J & G Dickey 1519
3. Blair & Rankin 1518
Fermoy (2) 02/09/16
1. J & M Milliken 1730
2. D Dixon 1674
3. McFall & McManus 1674
Fermoy 5 Bird 02/09/16
1. J & M Milliken 1730
2. McFall & McManus 1674
3. D Dixon 1662
Talbenny Nat 04/09/16
1. Percy Son & Murphy 1226
2. J & M Milliken 1177
3. Stewart Bros 1142
Rosscarbery Nat 10/09/16
1. D Dixon 1640
2. D Dixon 1628
3. J & M Milliken 1609

INFC RACES
Skibbereen OB 24/05/16
1. J & M Milliken 1320
2. Mr & Mrs Robinson 1300
3. Geo Bell 1281
Sennen Cove Ylr 08/06/16
1. W Livingstone 1114
2. W & J Smyth 1067
3. D Dixon 1049
St Allouestre KC 05/07/16
1. H Boyd 614
Quimper Fship 08/07/16
1. D Dixon 509
Penzance YB 07/09/16
1. D Dixon 1498
2. M Graham 1322
3. G & A Eagleson 1314
Skibbereen YB 16/09/16
1. K Wilkinson & Son 1291
2. Blair & Rankin 1284
3. D Dixon 1233

Old Bird Inland Average won by J & M Milliken Vel 1409, Cross Channel Average won by J & M Milliken Vel 1246, Old Bird Ave won by J & M Milliken Vel 1358, McIlhagga Cup for 1st MAC St Malo won by J & M Milliken Vel 965, B Eagleson Memorial Cup best average Talbenny (1) & (2), Bude and Penzance won by W & J Smyth Vel 1323, T Shanks & Son Cup Old Bird of the Year won by J Eagleson & Sons (GB15B-03612), Les Mairs OB Fancier of the Year won by D Dixon 196 Points, Young Bird Ave won by D Dixon Vel 1548, New North Cup best average Bude & Talbenny YB won by J & M Milliken Vel 1192, Combine Average won by J & M Milliken, and Young Bird of the Year won by Blair & Rankin (GB16H-01693).
Club Points Shield for Old Birds and Young Birds was won by Rasharkin & Dist. Champions League won by Rasharkin (J & M Milliken) runner-up Randalstown HPS (F J & G Dickey). INFC Ave Cup not won. Objections within 7 days to Secretary Willie Reynolds.