Mullingar 13/04/19 -

[willie reynolds]

The opening race of the old bird season was flown from Mullingar in County Westmeath, just over 11,000 birds were released at 10.45am in a fresh South East wind. As was expected the far flying lofts up into Derry City dominated the NIPA Open result with the winner for Coyle Bros of Maiden City recording velocity 1818. It was bred off a gift pair of Sootjen’s from Matt Wray the Harryville Secretary and also won from Dunmanway last year. Locally the Rasharkin & District dominated in the Mid Antrim Combine, J & M Milliken had a Card of the Day with the winner recording velocity 1665. Section B was topped by T & J McDonald of Coleraine Premier doing velocity 1698. Gary Gibson from Cullybackey had the best two birds in the Ballymena Area and took the top positions in the Seven Towers Championship.

Mid Antrim Combine Mullingar – J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1665, J & M Milliken 1661, J & M Milliken 1631, J & M Milliken 1630, W & J McLean Rasharkin 1618, W & J McLean 1617, J & M Milliken 1613, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1611, W McFetridge 1611, J & M Milliken 1600, J & M Milliken 1599, J & M Milliken 1599, D Dixon Rasharkin 1598, D Dixon 1598, G Gibson Associate 1597, J & M Milliken 1597, G Gibson 1596, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1594, Young McManus & Sons 1593, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1593.

MAC Clubs Mullingar –

Cullybackey HPS 7/193 – G Gibson 1597, 1596, A Darragh 1588, 1587, C & R McIntyre 1490, 1481, D Robinson 1454, 1457, C McDowell 1361, J McNaghten & Son 1261.

Ahoghill Flying Club 9/223 – Young McManus & Sons 1594, 1593, 1592, 1588, 1588, 1572, 1534, C Moore 1507, 1504, W Livingstone 1499. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird – Young McManus & Sons 1534, C Moore 1507.

Randalstown HPS 7/134 – Stewart Bros 1593, 1521, 1510, J Millar 1501, 1454, 1453, H Boyd 1425, Houston Bros 1425.

Harryville HPS 10/246 – L Mullan 1539, 1536, 1524, A McBride 1516, 1515, J Rock 1506, L Mullan 1504, R H Clements 1498, A McBride 1484, R H Clements 1484. Lexi had the top three, best bird in town timed at 12.42hrs flying 102 miles. His 2 year old Cheq hen was Van Loon x Jacob.

Ballymena & District HPS 5/126 – Blair & Rankin 1536, 1524, W & J Smyth 1520, 1518, 1515, George Bell 1508, Blair & Rankin 1496, R Service & Son 1488, 1467, 1461. Bertie Blair wins 1st and 2nd in the opening race timing at 12.42 and 12.43pm for the 102 mile fly. The winner was a two year old blue chequer widowhood cock. The sire a gift bird from Joe Ramsey of Harryville is Danny Dixon Lambrecht x Vande Brand while the dam is Soontjen from Albert Cousins of Belfast. Bertie's second pigeon was from Jackie Steele and has won on a number of occasions. The club would like to thank David Parker a local building contractor who has kindly sponsored this seasons NIPA old bird race programme. David's late father Ken used to race in the Ballymena & District many years ago and won 1st Open in the French NIPA Old Bird Derby. David can also be found on Facebook.

Broughshane & District 6/102 – Valerie Gage 1521, 1426, A Purvis 1423, 1422, J Getty 1415, A Purvis 1413, 1411, M Neilly 1409.

Kells & District HPS 6/107 – B Swann & Son 1501, Surgenor Bros 1500, C & D Jackson 1484, 1476, 1476, B Swann & Son 1468, McFarlane & Agnew 1462, Surgenor Bros 1454. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Surgenor Bros 1500, C & D Jackson 1438, B Swann & Son 1395, Gregg Bros 1337, A Barkley & Son 1333. Brian Swann won Kells & District with a blue cock bred by Sid Collins. The members of Kells & District wish to pass on their sympathy to Harry Boyd on the death of his brother.

New Antrim – K Wilkinson & Son 1392, 1360.

Rasharkin & District 9/254 – J & M Milliken 1665, 1661, W & J McLean 1618, 1617, W McFetridge 1611, 1611. D Dixon – 1598, 1598.

Very Select Young Bird Sale – To be held on Saturday 20th April, confirmed gift birds are Danny Dixon, long distance ace Hugh Boyd of Randalstown. Johnston Eagleson and sons, ace flyer and top prize winner in the Ballymena and Dist HPS. Martin Graham the 2018 INFC Yearling Nat winner with “Denman”, and a few others from fancier friends. Only a small select group of youngsters will be at the sale but they will be top quality. Venue is Ballymena and Dist clubrooms, viewing 6.30pm, sale starts at 7.00pm sharp.

Lot 1, bred by J Eagleson & sons.
Sire: cheq cock “Dixie” sire-g-sire and g-g-sire to 1st prizewiners. Dam: Herman cuester, dam of 2nd club 2nd comb. High hopes for this hen purchased in 2018.

Lot 2, bred by the long distance ace, Hugh Boyd - Randalstown.
Probably the best long distance racer in mid antrim with a record to back it up, sire: bleachgreen joe, winner of 1st club, 7th sect, 46th open st.malo 2014, 1st club, 1st sect, 3rd open st.malo 2015, flown France 2016, out of race time. Now put to stock. Dam: bleachgreen Martha, winner of 4th club st. Allouestre 2015, 1st club, 11th open st. Allouestre 2016 smash. Also dam of 1st club Penzance.

Lot 3, bred by the current infc yearling national winner Martin Graham.
On offer, a double grd dtr of the BIG HEN, sire has bred 1st club skib nat 2018, Dam has bred 13th open infc yb Penzance 2015 smash.

Lot 4, bred by J Eagleson & sons,
Sire: blue cock, bred by paddy McManus (Louis Thijs), this cock has bred 5 prizes inc 1st club-1st comb. Dam: grizzle, Roland Jansen, winner of 3 1sts plus many other prizes, Old bird of the year Ballymena & Dist 2016.

Lot 5, bred by Danny Dixon,
A full bro/sis to Danny’s 3rd open infc yearling national winner 2018, a very generous gift from a very good fancier, Sire: cheq cock “Kris” winner on the road for Gust van Aert, Dam is bred by jos Joosen Dtr of Bonga.

Lot 6, bred by G&A Eagleson,
Sire: cheq pied cock, this cock is the sire of 1st club, 1st comb, 90th sect and 135th open St allouestre 2017, 507 miles. Bred by Hugh Boyd randalstown,
Dam: cheq pied hen, raced lightly then stock, again bred by Hugh Boyd randalstown