Pigeon Network

W & J Smyth lead the Mid Antrim Combine -

The first cross channel race of the NIPA old bird season was flown from Talbenny in South Wales last Saturday, almost 11,000 birds were liberated at 7.30am in a Lt SW wind. As usual a lot of top results none better than by W & J Smyth in the Ballymena & Dist HPS recording their two year old Blue cock at 12.01hrs to record velocity 1429 for the 220 miles to Carniny Road. It’s a first win of the year for Billy and Joe and it came at a good time, best bird locally the loft finish 1st MAC, 1st Sect B & a good 11th Open NIPA.

MAC Talbenny (1) – W & J Smyth Ballymena 1429, G & A EAgleson Ballymena 1399, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1397, D Houston & Son Associate 1392, F & G & J Dickey Randalstown 1392, F & G & J Dickey Randalstown 1391, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1385, F & G & J Dickey 1378, T Whyte Rasharkin 1377, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1377, J Millar Randalstown 1376, D Dixon Rasharkin 1375, W & J Smyth 1375, D Dixon 1374, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1372.

MAC Knock-Out update now at Semi-Final stage next round is the weekend race from Talbenny (2). Gibson & O’Neill (Associate) v W & J Smyth (Ballymena), Hugh Boyd (Randalstown) v Young McManus & Sons (Ahoghill). Every individual loft in MAC was included in the old bird competition, same will apply for all those racing young birds.

Champions League competition between member clubs has reached the Knock-Out stage. Matches will be Danny Dixon (Rasharkin) v F G & J Dickey (Randalstown), Percy Son & Murphy (Randalstown) v Steele & McNeill (Rasharkin), J & M Milliken (Rasharkin) v Stewart Bros (Randalstown), J Eagleson & Sons (Ballymena) c W & J Smyth (Ballymena).

Cullybackey Centre Marking 5 Bird - Money for Fermoy 5 Bird will be collected in Cullybackey Clubrooms on Wednesday 24th May 8.30pm to 9.30pm. Birds will be race marked on Friday 26th May 4.00pm to 6.00pm in Cullybackey Clubrooms. All ETS clocks to be cleared of all races, T3 Clocks ready after lorry leaves clubroom.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs

Ballymena & District 11/111 – W & J Smyth 1429, G & A Eagleson 1399, W & J Smyth 1375, M Graham 1366, W & J Smyth 1365, Blair & Rankin 1353, W & J Smyth 1338, J Eagleson & Sons 1336, McFall & McManus 1336, 1336. This week’s show special results - 1st W & J Smyth, 2nd Blair & Rankin, 3rd J Eagleson and sons.
Well done gents.

Ahoghill Flying Club 10/164 – M/M Robinson 1397, J Smyth & Son 1385, M/M Robinson 1377, Young McManus & Sons 1368, Balmer Young & Son 1354, J Orr & Son 1344, Balmer Young & Son 1331, J Orr & Son 1326, J Balmer 1309, T & G Balmer 1305. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – M/M Robinson 1377, Balmer T Young & Son 1364.

Randalstown HPS 8/148 – F & G & J Dickey 1392, 1391, 1378, J Millar 1376, Stewart Bros 1372, Houston Bros 1358, Stewart Bros 1354, J Millar 1339, W & W Gilbert 1338, J Millar 1338. The Dickey boys take 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Randalstown with 3 Stickers Doncker hens all sitting eggs. Two birds arrived together at 11.59hrs flying 213 miles winner was a yearling Blue hen.

Rasharkin & District 10/104 – T Whyte 1377, J & M Milliken 1351, H Cubitt 1348, 1347, Steele & McNeill 1340, 1340. D Dixon : 1375.941, 1374.776, 1361.029, 1352.266, 1351.591. H Cubitt ABC. Trevor breaks his Novice Status in Rasharkin, not an easy club to win. Gift birds produced the winner, sire from Kenny Glass and dam from Paddy McManus, Trevor thanks both Paddy and Chris Moore for all their help and support since he started the sport.

New Antrim Amalgamated – McFall & McManus 1336, 1336, 1276, 1238.

Cullybackey Centre - Money for Yearling Cocks & Hens Nat will be collected in Cullybackey Clubrooms on Wednesday 31st May from 8.30 to 9.30pm. Bird’s race marked on Friday 2nd June in Cullybackey from 4.00 to 6.00pm. Please Note - 3 Cheques to be made out, all ETS systems to be cleared of all races, T3 Clocks ready after lorry leaves Cullybackey.

The Talbenny (2) weekend was a great time for the members of Mid Antrim Combine, Round (1) of the Champions League with just the winners going through and then the Semi-Final of the new Old Bird Knock-Out. The Champions League competition is between member clubs, four lofts are nominated to compete.

Matches were Danny Dixon (Rasharkin) v F G & J Dickey (Randalstown), Percy Son & Murphy (Randalstown) v Steele & McNeill (Rasharkin), J & M Milliken (Rasharkin) v Stewart Bros (Randalstown), J Eagleson & Sons (Ballymena) v W & J Smyth (Ballymena). Previous winners were - 2008 Harryville (R H Clements), 2009 Rasharkin & Dist (D Dixon), 2010 Ballymena & Dist (M Graham), 2011 Randalstown ( S Millar), 2012 Cullybackey (Reid Bros & McCloy), 2013 Cullybackey (A Darragh), 2014 Rasharkin & Dist (Steele & McNeill), 2015 Rasharkin & Dist (D Dixon), 2016 Rasharkin & Dist (J & M Milliken).

MAC Knock-Out update now at Semi-Final stage next round is the weekend race from Talbenny (2). Gibson & O’Neill (Associate) v W & J Smyth (Ballymena), Hugh Boyd (Randalstown) v Young McManus & Sons (Ahoghill). The Final will be flown from Penzance. Every individual loft in MAC was included in the OB Competition, same will apply for all those racing young birds, including any new members who wish to join as individual members. Many thanks to James Harris who agreed to run the competition in 2017 and also collate the weekly results.