Randalstown fancier John Miller wins 1st Mid Antrim Combine & 10th Open Friendship National. The final old bird race of the season was the Irish National Flying Club Friendship National from Penzance held on Saturday 13th July. Liberation took place at 8.00am in light northerly winds. Another hard race followed with many birds missing at dark.
Randalstown fancier John Miller timed two good birds on 1096 & 1046 to win 1st & 3rd Mid Antrim Combine, 2nd & 5th Muckamore Centre, 8th & 30th North Section and 10th & 42nd Open National 1308 birds. John's first bird timed at 16.46pm was a 3yo blue w/f cock bred by Glen Buckley. It had four inland races and both Dale races while racing on widowhood. The tough Dale races took a bit out of him and he had lost a bit of weight. John paired him and built him up with one of the later races in mind. John's second bird timed at 17.00pm was a 2yo blue hen bred by David Campbell of Eastway. She was paired to the 10th Open cock and also had four inland races and both Dale races. The pair were sent sitting around 17 days. A top result for a very popular fancier and secretary of the local club.
Alan Darragh was runner up in the Combine timing at 16.56pm to record 1081 and win 11th North Section & 15th Open with a 3yo blue hen. This hen seems to like the water having been placed 3rd Section B & 29th Open Nipa from 1st Dale also 9th Section B & 55th Open Penzance and 8th Section B & 28th Open Nipa Penzance Classic only weeks earlier.
Chris & Robin McIntyre of Cullybackey were fourth best in the Combine and placed 52nd North Section & 66th Open National. The lads timed a yearling blue cock that won 12th Section & 57th Open in the Penzance OB Classic this season. This cock's nestmate won 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 9th North Section and 12th Open National from the Infc Penzance Yearling National this year winning £525. The nestmate's are full brother to 7 x 1st for the loft including their good 5yo blue Merit Award cock, a winner of 52nd Open & 64th Open INFC Friendship National 493 miles. They are also full brother's to winners from Talbenny and Rosscarbery young bird National's.
Other Combine loft's making the open result included triple National winner Danny Dixon of Rasharkin 5th Combine and 83rd Open followed by Chris Moore of Cullybackey 92nd Open, Alan Darragh with another two birds 95th & 129th Open and Jimmy Smyth & Son of Ahoghill 124th Open. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
INFC Penzance Friendship National MAC - J Millar Randalstown 1096, A Darragh Cullybackey 1081, J Millar Randalstown 1046, C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 1020, D Dixon Rasharkin 1000, C Moore Cullybackey 990, A Darragh Cullybackey 986, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 949, A Darragh Cullybackey 944, D Dixon Rasharkin 914, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 911, D Dixon Rasharkin 902, D Dixon Rasharkin 840, Joey Wright Ballymena & District.
Mid Antrim Combine Clubs
Randalstown HPS – J Millar 1096, 1046.
Cullybackey HPS – A Darragh 1081, C & R McIntyre 1020, C Moore 960, A Darragh 986, 944, M/M Robinson 911.
Ahoghill Flying Club – J Smyth & Son 949.
Ballymena & District HPS – Joey Wright.
John Millar of Randalstown with his 10th & 42nd Open Friendship National birds, also winner in the Mid Antrim Combine.