YB Grand Nat (INFC) - Tuesday 23/09/25

[willie reynolds]

Mid Antrim Combine - INFC Rosudgeon Young Bird National 23/09/25

Jimmy Smyth Of Ahoghill Wins 1st Open INFC Rosudgeon YB National
The Irish National Flying Club held their young bird Grand National from Rosudgeon in west Cornwall on Tuesday 23rd September. The birds were liberated at 9.00am in light easterly winds. A tough race followed with only 30 odd birds timed on the first day. Jimmy Smyth of Ahoghill fulfilled a lifetime ambition of winning a National when he clocked his cheq hen at 16.43pm flying 331 miles to record 1256 ypm and win 1st Open INFC Rosudgeon YB National 133/923. Jimmy has an excellent record over the past number of seasons in this race including 6th Open in 2023, 5th, 26th, 119th & 142nd Open last season and 1st, 38th & 72nd North Section and 1st, 38th & 78th Open this season. Jimmy has also placed 8th Open INFC in the French Friendship National from Lamballe in 2019.

Danny Dixon Ballymoney 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th & 7th North Section & 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th & 7th Open. 340 Miles Velo 1228
What more can be said about 4 time national winner Danny Dixon of Dunloy, twice over all winner of this race in 2010 with 'Dixie Chic' and last season with 'Venus' add to that 1st Open NIPA Rosscarbery YB National in 1996 and 1st Open INFC Skibbereen YB National in 1998. Danny's Penzance young bird National results over the past ten seasons have been totally amazing 2015 - 10th Open, 2016 - 6th Open, 2019 - 7th, 14th, 35th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd & 59th Open, 2022 - 9th, 11th, 30th, 70th & 74th Open, 2023 - 47th, 50th & 54th Open, 2024 - 1st, 12th & 13th Open.

This season Danny timed five birds in 35 minutes with the first blue white flight cock timed at 17.08pm. The sire of this cock is a son of 'Dixie Chic' and the dam a great granddaughter of 'Dixie Chic'. The second bird timed is off a son of Wilf Reid’s 'Darkie' and the dam a red hen was sent up to Danny by Pompeii Plunkit from Bray. Sire of the third bird timed was another son of 'Dixie Chic' when paired to a niece of 'Dixie Chic'. The fourth and fifth birds were both bred by Eamon Quigley, the first one is down from his Madam Butterfly pigeons and the second one from a son of Eamon's 'Madam Butterfly' when paired to a daughter of Diamond Carson's Friendship national winner. Another top result for Danny following on from 1st & 2nd Section and 4th & 5th Open NIPA Dale YB National a few weeks ago. Henry Turkington had the only Kells bird on 783 and 35th Open. Henry's bird was in a kit of young birds from Danny Dixon and the breeding is Wildermeersch. Gary Gibson had the only Cullybackey bird on 381 and placed 74th Open. This hen is off Gary's 'Channel Pair' which are the grand parents of Gary's four birds he timed in the Open result in same race last season.

Rasharkin & District & Mid Antrim Combine annual Dinner & Presentation to be held in Ballymoney Royal British Legion 3 Course Turkey & Ham or Roast beef dinner, to be served at 7.30pm on Saturday 8th November Followed by music by Tom Laverty . Contact Jackie Steele on 07359323262 to book tickets £25 each.

INFC Rosudgeon YB National
J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1256
D Dixon Rasharkin 1228
D Dixon Rasharkin 1216
D Dixon Rasharkin 1173
D Dixon Rasharkin 1168
D Dixon Rasharkin 1146
H Turkington Kells 783
J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 763
G Gibson Cullybackey 381
J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 309
Mervyn Eagleson MAC Press Officer