Bude in Cornwall was the venue for the second channel race of the season. Birds were liberated on Sunday 19th July at 07.45am in little wind but the birds would encounter a strong north westerly wind as the day went on. Best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine was Rasharkin fancier Danny Dixon. He timed his 2 year old black w/f cock at 15.55pm for the 300 miles fly to the village of Dunloy. This cock won Talbenny the previous week and also took 2nd Combine and 2nd Section B. The dam is an inbred sister of "Heartbreaker" and the sire is a son of "Heartbreaker". That's 1st & 2nd Combine and twice x 2nd Section B for this cock in the space of 9 days.
With only a few races to go Danny Dixon of Rasharkin takes the lead for the Combine OB points Fancier of the Year. Associate member Jimmy Rock is now second and Mr & Mrs Robinson of Ahoghill are third. Top 10 - D Dixon Rasharkin 176, Jimmy Rock Associate 147, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 120, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 118, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 79, Harry Boyd Kells 70, A McBride Associate 63, John Miller Randalstown 56, R H Clements Associate 44, M Graham Ballymena 42. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Bude – D Dixon Rasharkin 1077, M Graham Ballymena 1074, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1065, J Millar Randalstown 1065, C & D Jackson Kells 1058, D Dixon 1058, Surgenor Bros Kells 1045, D Dixon 1045, M Graham 1043, J Millar & Son Associate 1031, J Millar 1022, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1018, D Dixon 1011, H Boyd Randalstown 1009, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 1009, T Young & Son Ahoghill 1008, G Gibson Associate 1008, G Gibson 1007, M Graham 1005, T Young & Son 1005.
Ballymena Area Clubs
Ballymena & District 7/91 – Martin Graham 1074, 1043, 1006, 985, 981, 969, 961, W & J Smyth 931, Martin Graham 931, Blair & Rankin 923. Twice National winner Martin Graham had a super card here taking the top seven positions in the club and also the best two birds in the town beating the next fancier by a quarter of an hour. His winning blue yearling cock was clocked at 15.39pm for the 289 miles fly to the lofts on the Old Cullybackey Road. The cock was bred by Danny Dixon of Rasharkin. The sire being the famous "Belgie Cock" who is sire of many winners and the dam was in fact purchased by Danny for £900 at a sale of Martins and she is a direct daughter of "The Big Hen" This pair also bred Danny his 7th Open Penzance YB National pigeon last year. Martin's winner flew Talbenny last week and was then paired up to his hen.
Ahoghill Flying Club 6/102 – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1065, 1018, Tom Young & Son 1008, 1005, 996, C Moore 989, Young McManus & Sons 973, J Smyth & Son 931, C Moore 915, T & G Balmer 851. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – M/M Robinson 1065, T Young & Son 1008.
Randalstown HPS 9/117 – John Millar 1065, 1022, Hugh Boyd 1009, W & W Gilbert 1009, John Millar 995, Stewart Bros 974, W & W Gilbert 948, Smylie Bros 942.
Kells & District HPS 5/53 – C & D Jackson 1058, Surgenor Bros 1045, C & D Jackson 949, H Turkington 947, A Barkley & Son 918, McFarlane & Agnew 917, A Barkley & Son 903. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – C & D Jackson 949.
Harryville HPS – J Millar & Son 1031, 981, A McBride 978, 977, R H Clements 965, 938, J Rock 937, J Millar & Son 913, A McBride 913, J Rock 886.
Cullybackey HPS – G Gibson 1008, 1007, 988.
Rasharkin & District 5/57 – A C & T Tweed 943, H Cubitt 875, A C & T Tweed 874, H Cubitt 871, T Whyte 875. Danny Dixon – 1077, 1058, 1045.
Broughshane & District – Mrs Valerie Gage 788, Marc Neilly 782.
