Randalstown HPS continue to lift top prizes sitting half way between Antrim and Ballymena for the past number of seasons they have competed in the Mid Antrim Combine now with nine clubs and getting as big as a few Federations. Tom McMillan was a top competitor in the Chimney Corner where he won numerous 1sts up to 1st NIPA Section B. He was the leading loft in 2009 and I can remember before that A & S Bell, Mr & Mrs Magill and Tom Cotter to just mention a few that have reached the top. The Magill Family won Nationals with the INFC and had some Golden Years, and of course the great “Champion Sean” won a Hall of Fame and the Kings Cup for the late Arthur Simpson. Other great gentlemen who are long remembered include Bob Bell the long time secretary, long time chairman John Kyle was a past President NIPA and there were many others. Randalstown is a place I know quite well having stayed during many school holidays and probably spoiled by Granny Wallace in Daisy Hill. How the whole place has changed since those days when the Old Bleach was the place of work for most residents and they had a train station. For this year once again the NIPA have appointed myself alone as Press Officer to look after and cover the publicity, as far as possible, for all member clubs. The job does cover some small reward, having been done on a voluntary basis for well over 30 years. It is not the case now nor never has been the more you pay the better you get covered, that’s just idle chat. A number of clubs have a news contact, many do a fantastic job full of total dedication. I would say to my regular contacts, keep the news coming and for the rest. Remember what I mentioned before, if you are not getting covered I am not getting either the news or the result.
Now some quick racing performances in the old bird Tullamore T McMillan had two birds together to win 6th & 7th Combine and 9th & 10th Sect B, a fast day with his winner doing velocity 1872. Stewart Bros were best in Roscrea (1) 7th Comb, 24th Sect & 115th Open NIPA 1223/27,770, again over a mile a minute. In Tullamore (3) secretary John Millar had two birds together to win 11th & 12th Comb and 14th & 15th Sect, the winner doing velocity 1891. From Clonmel (1) Tom McMillen was a good 2nd Comb, 5th Sect 183/4945 on 1746 and Stewart Bros were best in Clonmel (2) finishing 9th Comb, 10th Sect & 149th Open NIPA 1164/26,870. Stewart Bros were best again in the Rosscarbery Inl Nat on another fast day doing velocity 1878 they finished 1st Sect & 27th Open NIPA 907/7,602 and were beat for the MAC by Jimmy Smyth of Ahoghill. They had the winner again from Fermoy doing vel 1948 the loft finished 5th Comb, 9th Sect & 74th Open NIPA 848/17,067. David Logan had a super result from Talbenny (1) taking 1st Comb, 1st Sect & 7th Open NIPA with almost 20,000 birds competing in the first cross channel race. He had the top three birds the next week in the comeback Fermoy all three well placed in Comb & Sect. At Talbenny the second time it was top success for the consistent Houston Bros finishing 4th Comb, 4th Sect & 81st Open NIPA 1038/14,664. David Logan continued the good form and was best again from Bude, three more early arrivals 6th, 8th & 10th Comb, 7th, 10th & 12th Sect and 42nd, 52nd & 64th Open NIPA 771/7060, his winner doing velocity 1612. The members had a great race from Penzance, the most difficult of the season to date. Stewart Bros doing velocity 941 finished 10th Comb, 14th Sect & 145th Open NIPA 866/9054. Also well placed were Houston Bros, D Logan (2 birds) and Tom McMillen. Stewart Bros were best in the duplicate OB Classic finishing 11th Sect & 96th Open NIPA 501/3,491. Houston Bros had the early arrival from St Malo in France, doing velocity 1161 the loft finished 3rd Comb, 4th Sect & 20th Open NIPA 575/1,904, others with day arrivals included Hugh Boyd and Campbell Shaw.
Moving to young birds John Millar on 1546 was a yard ahead of Stewart Bros in the Area Liberation from Tullamore, Tom McMillan had 1st Roscrea. Simon Millar was the winner at Clonmel doing velocity 1619 he finished 8th Comb, 20th Sect B 156/3,353. In the Talbenny YB Nat the best bird was timed by W & W Gilbert, doing 1135 the loft finished 5th Comb, 10th Sect & 65th Open NIPA 624/4,183. The loft is getting back to the show scene at the INFC Belfast Show in December had BOS, Best YB and Most Points. Simon Millar had all the early birds from Fermoy, a good card presented won 19th, 24th, 31st, 33rd and 36th Sect B 117/1730. One week later in the Rosscarbery YB Nat Simon Millar had the early birds again 4th & 5th Comb, 11th & 12th Sect and two other birds well placed.
Racing with the Irish Nat Flying Club Tom McMillan was best in the Yearling Nat flown from Sennen Cove, on vel 1111 and flying 323 Miles the loft finished 51st North Sect & 92nd Open INFC 786/4,134 plus £200. Campbell Shaw finished 79th North Sect & 130th Open INFC and the consistent J McNeill & Son also made the result. The Kings Cup was flown for the first time in three seasons and Hugh Boyd was best placed finishing 63rd North Sect & 73rd Open doing vel 1288 flying 505 Miles. J McNeill & Son were next best followed by Houston Bros and Stewart Bros who just got in to qualify for the highly prized Hall of Fame Diploma. Three times in the Kings Cup result with the same bird, 54th Open Messac in 2004, 64th Open Vannes in 2006 and 246th Open Plaudren in 2009. In a very unique position the Stewart Bros win a second diploma with birds the same way bred, a first for that. John Millar had the only bird from Penzance, his old hen finished 2nd Comb, 24th North Sect & 30th Open INFC flying 321 Miles doing velocity 599, real hard going.
1. T McMillan: Kyle Cup Av 2 Tullamore races OB, Millar Trophy Ave Roscrea & Clonmel OB, Mr & Mrs Magill Cup Most Points Old Birds, Old Bleach Cup 1st bird INFC Yearling National.
2. Stewart Bros: Marrion Cup Lowest Velocity OB, Inland Ave Cup, Bell, Kyle, Simpson Cup Penzance, Gribben Cup Penzance OB Classic, BOCM Cup Rosscarbery OB Nat NIPA, McKay Cup Ave 1st & 2nd YB Races, McComb Trophy Fermoy, Houston Trophy Best Old Bird 2009.
3. Simon Millar: W J Bell Cup Rosscarbery YB Nat NIPA, Mr & Mrs Magill Shield Most Points YB, Davis Trophy Best Young Bird 2009.
4. John Millar: Young Bird Average Cup.
David Logan: Kissick Cup Ave Bude & Penzance, Millar Cup Bude (1st Mid Antrim Combine), Shaw Cup 1st Talbenny. Houston Bros: J Boyd Cup Ave 2 Talbenny, Bude & Penzance, Clanmore Cup St Malo OB Nat NIPA, Castledawson Trophy 2nd Talbenny. Hugh Boyd: Simpson Shield Ave OB & YB NIPA, D Bell Cup OB Nat INFC Kings Cup Plaudren. W & W Gilbert: R Adair Shield Ave Talbenny & Rosscarbery YB Nat NIPA, J McKeown Cup Talbenny YB Nat NIPA, S McCausland Trophy Lowest Vel YB Races. Campbell Shaw: Old Bird Average Cup 2009. S Murphy: Simpson Trophy Best Novice 2009.
Congratulations goes to Simon Millar on winning in the racing pigeon classes at the BHW Show of the Year in Blackpool. He also won the Show Series in the Club Shows 2009 and I hear he has filled the position of Secretary for 2010.
INFC President Ken McConaghie presents the Hall of Fame Diploma to Randalstown brothers
Eric and Ian Stewart.
New Secretary in Randalstown HPS Simon Millar, had a weekend to remember at the recent
Blackpool Show of the Year. This performance will be hard to beat.
Secretary John Millar had a good bird in the INFC Old Hens National.
The racing set up of the high flying Stewart Bros of Randalstown.
Stewart Bros had a season to remember winning the INFC Hall of Fame award for the second time.
Getting the clocks checked at Cullybackey Centre in the St Malo OB National Campbell Shaw (l) and Hugh Boyd.
Houston Bros at the Lisburn Marking Centre.
Ian Stewart (l) with Anthony McNeill at the Muckamore Clock Station.