1st Dale - Monday 2nd June 2025
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 9:21 am
Mid Antrim Combine Drug Testing - Moving forward the Mid Antrim Combine has acquired drug testing kits to be used in any of the NIPA and INFC races as per RPRA rules . Drug testing will take place before or after the race.
Robin Service Chairman. Willie Reynolds Secretary.
Mid Antrim Combine - NIPA 1st Dale 2nd June 2025
Danny Dixon wins 1st Section B & 4th Open NIPA Dale
The first Nipa channel race of the season was flown from Dale in Wales on Monday 2nd June. Liberation of the 10,776 birds took place at 8.00am in light north-westerly winds. Leading bird in the Mid Antrim Combine this week was timed by ace fancier Danny Dixon of Rasharkin on 1536. Danny timed his blue cock at 12.26pm flying 232 miles to the Ballymacaldrick lofts in Dunloy to win 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 1st Section B and 4th Open NIPA 551/10776. Danny's winner is off his Sticker Doncker Open winner from Tullamore in 2022. The grandsire is a son of Gary Gibson's golden pair. Danny's second bird timed was also well placed at 6th Section & 10th Open.
Cullybackey fancier Alan Darragh had the next three best positions in the Combine on 1531, 1527 & 1525. Alan had a fantastic race from Dale and his open position won included 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 12th, 13th Section & 5th, 6th, 8th, 15th, 19th, 21st Open etc 10776 birds. Alan's first two birds were bred by George Ferguson of Newtownards, the winner a blue yearling cock is Gus Jansen x Soontjen cross.
Paddy & William McManus had the best two birds in Ahoghill on 1521 with their winner a yearling chequer hen placed 11th Open Nipa. This one is bred from a pair of Van Der Putten's they brought in. Three wins on the spin now for the McManus Team.
Johnston Eagleson & Sons had the best two birds in Ballymena & District with their winning 2yo chequer cock recording 1519 and finishing 17th Open. The Busschaert sire is down from their old lines of 'Stormin' Norman' and 'Champion Whitecheeks' and the dam a daughter of Martin Graham's 'Denman' x daughter of 'Channel Queen'.
Henry Turkington was best in Kells on 1498 with a 2yo blue hen. This one was acquired from Johnston Eagleson & Sons and is off a top pair from the late Billy Smyth
.
John Millar had the top three in Randalstown, the winning 2yo blue hen was doing 1496 and is Leo Van Rijn x Minderhoud. Derek Millar had his first win of the season in Rasharkin on 1464 with a 3yo Busschaert x Leo Van Rijn hen on roundabout and the Broughshane winner John Getty also had his first win of the season on 1369 with a yearling red cheq cock off a Vanhee cock from Brian Herbinson of Cullybackey.
Mid Antrim Combine 1st Dale 43/659 -
D Dixon Rasharkin 1536, A Darragh Cullybackey 1531, A Darragh Cullybackey 1527, A Darragh Cullybackey 1525, D Dixon Rasharkin 1524,Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1521, A Darragh Cullybackey 1520, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1519, A Darragh Cullybackey 1517, A Darragh Cullybackey 1517, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1511, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1509, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1507, A Darragh Cullybackey 1506, A Darragh Cullybackey 1503, D Dixon Rasharkin 1501, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1501, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1499, H Turkington Kells 1498, J Millar Randalstown 1496, D Craig Cullybackey 1495, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1494, A Darragh Cullybackey 1492, J Whyte Ahoghill 1490, A Darragh Cullybackey 1490, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1488, T Whyte Ahoghill 1488, A Darragh Cullybackey 1488, A Darragh Cullybackey 1488, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1486, A Darragh Cullybackey 1486, D Dixon Rasharkin 1479, D Dixon Rasharkin 1477, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1477, H Boyd Kells 1476, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1473, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1472, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1470, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1469, H Boyd Kells 1465.
Les Mairs OB Points Fancier of the Year - Top 10 (1st Dale)
A Darragh Cullybackey 270, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 226, G Gibson Cullybackey 210, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 188, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 84, T Whyte Ahoghill 84, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 81, D Dixon Rasharkin 79, J Whyte Ahoghill 60, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 59.
Mid Antrim Combine OB Knock-Out Dale Winners in capitals
J Smyth & Son 1494 v YOUNG & McMANUS & SONS 1521
H BOYD 1476 v F Barkley 1459
W & J McLean 0 v J EAGLESON & SONS 1519
W & W Gilbert 1424 v J & J GREER 1435
Bye v J WHYTE 1490
Stewart Bros 1415 v D DIXON 1536
Surgenor Bros 1447 v A DARRAGH 1531
ROCK & MOORE 1509 v S Johnston & Son 1507.
Mid Antrim Combine Champions League Knock-Out. Dale. Winners in Capitals
A Barkley & Son 1366 v YOUNG & McMANUS & SONS 1521
D DIXON 1536 v G Gibson 1456
H Cubitt 0 v J EAGLESON & SONS 1519
S JOHNSTON & SON 1507 v H Boyd 1476
J SMYTH & SON 1494 v T Whyte 1488
F Barkley 1459 v J WHYTE 1490
A DARRAGH 1536 v Blair & Rankin 1459
J & J Greer 1435 v SURGENOR BROS 1447.
Mid Antrim Combine Club Points Shield - Week 7 Dale (1)
Cullybackey HPS 50, Ahoghill FC 43, Ballymena & District 38, Rasharkin & District 34, Kells & District 28, Randalstown HPS 15, Broughshane & District 14. Mervyn Eagleson MAC Press Officer.
NIPA Race/Date
1st Dale OB Monday 2nd June 2025 – Liberated at 8.00am in a Lt North-West wind
NIPA Open 1st Dale 551/10776 – 1-1A B & D Coyle Coleraine Prem 1546, 2-2A R McAlary Coleraine Prem 1545, 3-3A Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin Coleraine Prem 1538, 4-1B D Dixon Ballymoney 1536, 5-2B A Darragh Cullybackey 1531, 6-3B A Darragh 1527, 7-4A P O’Connor Coleraine Prem 1526, 8-4B A Darragh 1525, 9-5B A & M Boyle Ballymoney 1524, 10-6B D Dixon 1524, 11-7B Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1521, 12-5A R McAlary 1521, 13-8B J Connolly Ballymoney 1520, 14-9B S Murphy Cullybackey 1520, 15-10B A Darragh 1520, 16-6A J Hanson Coleraine Prem 1519, 17-11B J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1519, 18-7A J Hanson 1518, 19-12B A Darragh 1517, 20-8A J Hanson 1517.
NIPA Section B 1st Dale 80/1390 – D Dixon Ballymoney 1536, A Darragh Cullybackey 1531, 1527, 1525, A & M Boyle Ballymoney 1524, D Dixon 1524, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 121, J Connolly Ballymoney 1520, S Murphy Cullybackey 1520, A Darragh 1520.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 6/90 – Young McManus & Sons 1521, 1501, J Smyth & Son 1494, J Whye 1490 T Whyte 1488, J Smyth & Son 1477.
Ballymoney HPS 17/274 – D Dixon 1526, A & M Boyle 1524, D Dixon 1524, J Connolly 1520, L Neill 1504, D Dixon 1501.
Ballymoney West Combine 6/76 – Lynn Neill 1504, W Rodgers 1436, Young & Gibson 1421, J McConaghie 1398, M Gamble & Son 1317, Curry & Gilmore 1264.
Broughshane & District3/25 – John Getty 1369, 1339, 1265, D Houston & Son 1257, Narc Neilly 1201,m D Houston & Son 973.
Ballymena & District HPS 4/63 – J Eagleson & Sons 1519, 1511, S Johnston & Son 1597, J Eagleson & Sons 1499, 1488, S Johnston & Son 1470.
Cullybackey HPS 15/304 – A Darragh 1531, 1527, 1525, S Murphy 1520, A Darragh 1520, 1517.
Crumlin & District 8/150 - Fleming Bros 1488, McConville Bros 1449, 1449, 1440, Sefton Thompson 1440, McConville Bros 1439.
Kells & District HPS 5/68 – H Turkington 1498, H Boyd 1465, H Turkington1456, Surgenor Bros 1447, 1423. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – H Turkington 1498, H Boyd 1465, Surgenor Bros 1447, A Barkley & Son 1299.
Muckamore HPS 10/266 – S & J Bones 1493, Alan Steele 1477, 1477, S & J Bones 1475, S & N Maginty 1466, D J Thompson 1451.
Randalstown HPS 6/69 – J Millar 1496, 1463, 1445, W & W Gilbert 1424, Stewar Bros 1415, 1396.
Rasharkin &District HPS 4/28 – J Millar & Son 1464, F Barkley 1459, 1448, 1409, 1406, J Millar & Son 1406.
Danny Dixon from Dunloy 1st Combine, 1st Section B and 4th Open NIPA Dale.
Robin Service Chairman. Willie Reynolds Secretary.
Mid Antrim Combine - NIPA 1st Dale 2nd June 2025
Danny Dixon wins 1st Section B & 4th Open NIPA Dale
The first Nipa channel race of the season was flown from Dale in Wales on Monday 2nd June. Liberation of the 10,776 birds took place at 8.00am in light north-westerly winds. Leading bird in the Mid Antrim Combine this week was timed by ace fancier Danny Dixon of Rasharkin on 1536. Danny timed his blue cock at 12.26pm flying 232 miles to the Ballymacaldrick lofts in Dunloy to win 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 1st Section B and 4th Open NIPA 551/10776. Danny's winner is off his Sticker Doncker Open winner from Tullamore in 2022. The grandsire is a son of Gary Gibson's golden pair. Danny's second bird timed was also well placed at 6th Section & 10th Open.
Cullybackey fancier Alan Darragh had the next three best positions in the Combine on 1531, 1527 & 1525. Alan had a fantastic race from Dale and his open position won included 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 12th, 13th Section & 5th, 6th, 8th, 15th, 19th, 21st Open etc 10776 birds. Alan's first two birds were bred by George Ferguson of Newtownards, the winner a blue yearling cock is Gus Jansen x Soontjen cross.
Paddy & William McManus had the best two birds in Ahoghill on 1521 with their winner a yearling chequer hen placed 11th Open Nipa. This one is bred from a pair of Van Der Putten's they brought in. Three wins on the spin now for the McManus Team.
Johnston Eagleson & Sons had the best two birds in Ballymena & District with their winning 2yo chequer cock recording 1519 and finishing 17th Open. The Busschaert sire is down from their old lines of 'Stormin' Norman' and 'Champion Whitecheeks' and the dam a daughter of Martin Graham's 'Denman' x daughter of 'Channel Queen'.
Henry Turkington was best in Kells on 1498 with a 2yo blue hen. This one was acquired from Johnston Eagleson & Sons and is off a top pair from the late Billy Smyth
.
John Millar had the top three in Randalstown, the winning 2yo blue hen was doing 1496 and is Leo Van Rijn x Minderhoud. Derek Millar had his first win of the season in Rasharkin on 1464 with a 3yo Busschaert x Leo Van Rijn hen on roundabout and the Broughshane winner John Getty also had his first win of the season on 1369 with a yearling red cheq cock off a Vanhee cock from Brian Herbinson of Cullybackey.
Mid Antrim Combine 1st Dale 43/659 -
D Dixon Rasharkin 1536, A Darragh Cullybackey 1531, A Darragh Cullybackey 1527, A Darragh Cullybackey 1525, D Dixon Rasharkin 1524,Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1521, A Darragh Cullybackey 1520, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1519, A Darragh Cullybackey 1517, A Darragh Cullybackey 1517, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1511, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1509, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1507, A Darragh Cullybackey 1506, A Darragh Cullybackey 1503, D Dixon Rasharkin 1501, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1501, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1499, H Turkington Kells 1498, J Millar Randalstown 1496, D Craig Cullybackey 1495, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1494, A Darragh Cullybackey 1492, J Whyte Ahoghill 1490, A Darragh Cullybackey 1490, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1488, T Whyte Ahoghill 1488, A Darragh Cullybackey 1488, A Darragh Cullybackey 1488, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1486, A Darragh Cullybackey 1486, D Dixon Rasharkin 1479, D Dixon Rasharkin 1477, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1477, H Boyd Kells 1476, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1473, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1472, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1470, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1469, H Boyd Kells 1465.
Les Mairs OB Points Fancier of the Year - Top 10 (1st Dale)
A Darragh Cullybackey 270, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 226, G Gibson Cullybackey 210, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 188, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 84, T Whyte Ahoghill 84, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 81, D Dixon Rasharkin 79, J Whyte Ahoghill 60, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 59.
Mid Antrim Combine OB Knock-Out Dale Winners in capitals
J Smyth & Son 1494 v YOUNG & McMANUS & SONS 1521
H BOYD 1476 v F Barkley 1459
W & J McLean 0 v J EAGLESON & SONS 1519
W & W Gilbert 1424 v J & J GREER 1435
Bye v J WHYTE 1490
Stewart Bros 1415 v D DIXON 1536
Surgenor Bros 1447 v A DARRAGH 1531
ROCK & MOORE 1509 v S Johnston & Son 1507.
Mid Antrim Combine Champions League Knock-Out. Dale. Winners in Capitals
A Barkley & Son 1366 v YOUNG & McMANUS & SONS 1521
D DIXON 1536 v G Gibson 1456
H Cubitt 0 v J EAGLESON & SONS 1519
S JOHNSTON & SON 1507 v H Boyd 1476
J SMYTH & SON 1494 v T Whyte 1488
F Barkley 1459 v J WHYTE 1490
A DARRAGH 1536 v Blair & Rankin 1459
J & J Greer 1435 v SURGENOR BROS 1447.
Mid Antrim Combine Club Points Shield - Week 7 Dale (1)
Cullybackey HPS 50, Ahoghill FC 43, Ballymena & District 38, Rasharkin & District 34, Kells & District 28, Randalstown HPS 15, Broughshane & District 14. Mervyn Eagleson MAC Press Officer.
NIPA Race/Date
1st Dale OB Monday 2nd June 2025 – Liberated at 8.00am in a Lt North-West wind
NIPA Open 1st Dale 551/10776 – 1-1A B & D Coyle Coleraine Prem 1546, 2-2A R McAlary Coleraine Prem 1545, 3-3A Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin Coleraine Prem 1538, 4-1B D Dixon Ballymoney 1536, 5-2B A Darragh Cullybackey 1531, 6-3B A Darragh 1527, 7-4A P O’Connor Coleraine Prem 1526, 8-4B A Darragh 1525, 9-5B A & M Boyle Ballymoney 1524, 10-6B D Dixon 1524, 11-7B Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1521, 12-5A R McAlary 1521, 13-8B J Connolly Ballymoney 1520, 14-9B S Murphy Cullybackey 1520, 15-10B A Darragh 1520, 16-6A J Hanson Coleraine Prem 1519, 17-11B J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1519, 18-7A J Hanson 1518, 19-12B A Darragh 1517, 20-8A J Hanson 1517.
NIPA Section B 1st Dale 80/1390 – D Dixon Ballymoney 1536, A Darragh Cullybackey 1531, 1527, 1525, A & M Boyle Ballymoney 1524, D Dixon 1524, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 121, J Connolly Ballymoney 1520, S Murphy Cullybackey 1520, A Darragh 1520.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 6/90 – Young McManus & Sons 1521, 1501, J Smyth & Son 1494, J Whye 1490 T Whyte 1488, J Smyth & Son 1477.
Ballymoney HPS 17/274 – D Dixon 1526, A & M Boyle 1524, D Dixon 1524, J Connolly 1520, L Neill 1504, D Dixon 1501.
Ballymoney West Combine 6/76 – Lynn Neill 1504, W Rodgers 1436, Young & Gibson 1421, J McConaghie 1398, M Gamble & Son 1317, Curry & Gilmore 1264.
Broughshane & District3/25 – John Getty 1369, 1339, 1265, D Houston & Son 1257, Narc Neilly 1201,m D Houston & Son 973.
Ballymena & District HPS 4/63 – J Eagleson & Sons 1519, 1511, S Johnston & Son 1597, J Eagleson & Sons 1499, 1488, S Johnston & Son 1470.
Cullybackey HPS 15/304 – A Darragh 1531, 1527, 1525, S Murphy 1520, A Darragh 1520, 1517.
Crumlin & District 8/150 - Fleming Bros 1488, McConville Bros 1449, 1449, 1440, Sefton Thompson 1440, McConville Bros 1439.
Kells & District HPS 5/68 – H Turkington 1498, H Boyd 1465, H Turkington1456, Surgenor Bros 1447, 1423. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – H Turkington 1498, H Boyd 1465, Surgenor Bros 1447, A Barkley & Son 1299.
Muckamore HPS 10/266 – S & J Bones 1493, Alan Steele 1477, 1477, S & J Bones 1475, S & N Maginty 1466, D J Thompson 1451.
Randalstown HPS 6/69 – J Millar 1496, 1463, 1445, W & W Gilbert 1424, Stewar Bros 1415, 1396.
Rasharkin &District HPS 4/28 – J Millar & Son 1464, F Barkley 1459, 1448, 1409, 1406, J Millar & Son 1406.
Danny Dixon from Dunloy 1st Combine, 1st Section B and 4th Open NIPA Dale.