The first channel National of the Irish National Flying Club was flown on Wednesday 12th June. The 3,086 entries were released at 8.00am in light north westerly winds and another tough channel race followed. Father and son partnership of Chris and Robin McIntyre had the best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine after timing their blue cock at 16.02pm flying 347 miles to the loft's in Dervock. The lads who race in the Cullybackey club and have a good channel record over the years finish 9th North Section and 12th Open National winning £525. Their winning cock sitting on chipping eggs is full brother to 6 x 1st for the loft including their good 5yo blue Merit Award winning cock, a winner of 52nd Open & 64th Open INFC Friendship National 493 miles. He is also a full brother to winners from Talbenny and Rosscarbery young bird National's. Another top result for two decent and likeable fellows.
Runner up in the Combine was Anthony McNeill of Randalstown who finished 21st & 49th open winning £746. Both bird's were bred by Geoff Dickey of Farmview Loft's. The first bird is off a Stefan Lambrechts cock that carries Porsche Vroom bloodlines and has has bred 5x1sts. The dam is from their good cock Redstar who is responsible for many 1sts prize winners. While racing Redstar won 1st Section & 15th Open in the Nipa yearling cock National. The mother of the dam is their No1 hen "Wonderful", she's responsible for many winners including "Buster"1st Mid Antrim Combine & 1st Open Mullingar. Anthony's second bird a blue hen feeding a 2 day old chick again contains the best of the Dickey Donckers including "Wonderful" the No1 hen at Farmview Loft's and Gary Gibson's "Golden Couple" Anthony's blue hen won 87th North Section & 99th Open in the INFC Penzance young bird National last season.
Next best was Stephen & Natalie Doherty of Portglenone who also race in Cullybackey Flying Club. The Father and Daughter partnership timed a blue pied hen sitting on eggs and was slipped two chicks on the Friday before Monday basketing. The dam "Natalie's Girl" was gifted by Alistair McNaughton of Cushendall. She is dam of 8th MA Combine & 238th Open Penzance Yearling National 2022 and grandam of 13th MA Combine 243rd Open Talbenny YB National 2022 and 11th MA Combine, 14th Section & 143rd Open Dale 2024. The sire is Jan Aarden bred by Cedarwood Loft's. The loft's had an excellent team performance being placed 24th, 71st, 199th, 261st & 285th Open National with the 24th & 285th birds being the same way bred. The Doherty team who have only been racing three years had 7 birds home on the night from 8 entries and already have won some top positions including this and last season 1st Mid Antrim Combine & 11th Open INFC St Malo Friendship national. Stephen and Natalie would like to thank Mr & Mrs Connolly of Portglenone for their kind generosity for allowing them the use of their field where the lofts are erected.
Ace racers and breeders Paddy & William McManus had the best bird in Ahoghill and 28th Open National. This blue w/f hen sitting eggs 12 days won the club from the Skibbereen Inland National earlier in the season and contains their top Van Den Brande lines. The dam is half sister to "Sammy's Girl" 1st Open INFC Penzance YB National for Martin Graham having the same mother. "Sammy's Girl" was bred by Paddy & William last season and purchased in a kit by Martin and Sammy Steele. The sire of their 28th Open hen is a grandson of "Indy" of Falco Ebben. Alan Darragh was next best in the Combine and had another good National result being placed 39th, 194th, 207th, 215th & 234th Open National.
Bertie Blair was best in Ballymena & District and had the best bird in the Town finishing 102nd Open. Bertie's pencil blue cock is father and daughter pairing. The dam being "Faith" 1st Open Nipa Talbenny YB National in 2019 and has now bred 4 x 1st prize-winners. The sire is a Lambrecht son of Danny Dixon's "Aviary Cock" when paired to a daughter of Danny's "Heartbreaker". This cock has bred Bertie 3 x 1st Nipa Open winners in the past season's. Other's to be placed in the Open result include Neil & Steven Anderson of Cullybackey 122nd Open, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 135th, 184th & 222nd Open, J & J Greer Cullybackey 140th Open, Joey Wright Ballymena 149th Open, D Dixon Rasharkin 152nd, 241st & 275th, Stewart Bros 170th Open and G & A Eagleson Cullybackey 209th Open. Mervyn Eagleson Mid Antrim PO.
MAC Penzance Yearling National - C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 1267, J McNeill & Son Randalstown 1232, S & N Doherty Cullybackey 1223, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1202, A Darragh Cullybackey 1179, J McNeill & Son Randalstown 1170, S & N Doherty Cullybackey 1145, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1119, N & S Anderson Cullybackey 1105, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1098, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1093, Joey Wright Ballymena 1080, D Dixon Rasharkin 1077, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1066, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1048, A Darragh Cullybackey 1039, S & N Doherty Cullybackey 1035, A Darragh Cullybackey 1028, G & A Eagleson Cullybackey1027, A Darragh Cullybackey 1024, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1020, A Darragh Cullybackey 1008, D Dixon Rasharkin 1003, S & N Doherty Cullybackey 987, D Dixon Rasharkin 982, S & N Doherty Cullybackey 975, A Darragh Cullybackey 962, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 947, A Darragh Cullybackey 925, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 922, G & A Eagleson Cullybackey 921, W Livingstone Ahoghill 914, J & J Greer Cullybackey 911, A Darragh Cullybackey 882, G & A Eagleson Cullybackey 853, A Darragh Cullybackey 811, 808.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs INFC Ylr National
Cullybackey HPS – C & R McIntyre 1267, S & N Doherty 1223, A Darragh 1179, S & N Doherty 1145, N & S Anderson 1105, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1098, J & J Greer 1093, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1048, A Darragh 1039, S & N Doherty 1035, A Darragh 1028, G & A Eagleson 1027, A Darragh 1024, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1020, A Darragh 1008, S & N Doherty 987, 975, A Darragh 962, 925, G & A Eagleson 921, J & J Greer 911, A Darragh 882, G & A Eagleson 853, A Darragh 811, 808.
Randalstown HPS – J McNeill & Son 1232, 1170,Stewart Bros 1066,
Ahoghill Flying Club – Young McManus & Sons 1202, W Livingstone 914.
Ballymena & District HPS – Blair & Rankin 1119, J Wright 1080, J Eagleson & Sons 947, S Johnston & Son 922.
Rasharkin & District – D Dixon 1077, 1003, 982.
Chris (l) and Robin McIntyre with their Mid Antrim Combine winner and 12th Open National cock