Grenagh Old Bird - Friday 15/05/26
Posted: Tue May 19, 2026 12:19 pm
Mid Antrim Combine
NIPA Grenagh 15/05/26
Alan Darragh Best In Combine & Section From Grenagh
The pigeon racing season continued on Friday 15th May with a race from Grenagh in County Cork, around 220 miles to the center of Ballymena. The NIPA liberated at 10.30am in northerly winds and just like last weekend a tough steady race followed. Alan Darragh of Cullybackey had the best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine timing at 15.14pm and also won 1st Section B on 1357. Alan's winner a 2yo blue cheq hen was bred at his Swallowbrae Lofts on the Fenaghy Road.
Runner up in the Mid Antrim Combine & Section B were the Ahoghill winners Paddy & William McManus on 1346. Four club wins on the bounce for the ace racers and breeders and this week's winner a 2yo pencil pied cock is another good racing cock having won before including 6th Section & 27th Open Dale young bird National in 2024 and 1st Section & 10th Open Drumnavaddy Gold ring race. The sire is their 3rd Open NIPA 'Bude cock' and the dam won Mid Antrim Combine Champion OB in 2022. Van Den Brande / Louis Thijs.
Gary Gibson of Cullybackey took the next two positions in the Combine 3rd & 4th on velos 1330 & 1320. Other club winners included Johnny Barkley in Kells on 1304 and 8th Combine with a 2 year old Lambrecht hen and Keith & Callum Kernohan with the winner in Ballymena & District on 1296 and also scooped the declared to win in the Ballymena club which had been running since old bird Penzance last season. Their winning 2yo cheq widowhood cock was placed 2nd club & 2nd Mid Antrim Combine last week from Gowran Park and was bought in a kit of young birds from Gerald Delaney's Oroory Hill stud in 2024.
John Millar was winning Randalstown on 1285 for the third week on the trot with the same yearling cock. Sire is Minderhoud and dam Danny Dixon 'Dixie Chick' lines.
Marc Neilly was best in Broughshane on 1276 with a 2yo cheq widowhood cock. The sire is the 'Van Mechelen Cock' from Paddy & William Mcmanus and the dam from Geoff Dickey was in a kit of ybs in 2021. A full brother won Kilbeggan earlier in season and Harold Cubitt had another winner in Rasharkin on 1232.
Mid Antrim Combine Grenagh 49/1321 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1357, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1346, G Gibson Cullybackey 1330, G Gibson Cullybackey 1320, A Darragh Cullybackey 1317, G Gibson Cullybackey 1315, A Darragh Cullybackey 1305, A Barkley & Son Kells 1304, G Gibson Cullybackey 1303, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1302, H Boyd Kells 1300, A Darragh Cullybackey 1298, G Gibson Cullybackey 1297, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1296, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1293, G Gibson Cullybackey 1293, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1291, G Gibson Cullybackey 1290, G Gibson Cullybackey 1290, H Boyd Kells 1289, A Darragh Cullybackey 1289, H Boyd Kells 1287, J Millar Randalstown 1285, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1281, D Dixon Rasharkin 1279, B Swann & Son Kells 1278, R Service & Son Ballymena 1278, R Service & Son Ballymena 1278, M Neilly Broughshane 1276, T & M Morrow Broughshane 1276, J Millar Randalstown 1275, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1275, Surgenor Bros Kells 1275, Surgenor Bros Kells 1274, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1274, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1273, M Neilly Broughshane 1273, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1272, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1269, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1268
MID ANTRIM COMBINE 2 BIRD CLUB GRENAGH
1st K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1296 GB24A43695
2nd D Dixon Rasharkin 1279 GB25B18204
Keith & Callum Kernohan win this weeks 2 bird with their Ballymena club winner a 2yo cheq Delaney cock on widowhood.
OLD BIRD CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE GOWRAN PARK
The top two in each group go through to the last 16 along with the two fanciers with the most points in third place.
In the result of a points tie the highest velocity in the last group match determines who goes through.
The last 16 Knock-Out stage starts at 1st Dale
Group (1) G Gibson Cullybackey 289, H Cubitt Rasharkin 7, J Millar Randalstown 4, R Service & Son Ballymena 0
Group (2) J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 215, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 30, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 0, W McFetridge Rasharkin 0
Group (3) Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 162, Surgenor Bros Kells 51, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 7, A Purvis Broughshane 0
Group (4) D Dixon Rasharkin 34, H Boyd Kells 34, J Whyte Ahoghill 8, T & M Morrow Broughshane 4
Group (5) F Barkley Rasharkin 39, J & J Greer Cullybackey 7, M Neilly Broughshane 5, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 0,
Group (6) A Darragh Cullybackey 109, Stewart Bros Randalstown 5, T Whyte Ahoghill 0, H Turkington Kells 0
Group (7) K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 41, A Barkley & Son Kells 17, N Percy & Son Randalstown 0, J Getty Broughshane 0.
MID ANTRIM COMBINE OLD BIRD KNOCK OUT
Any fancier with a velocity of 1200 or above from Grenagh qualifies for the last 32 of the knock out commencing from the Bantry OB Inland National.
LES MAIRS MEMORIAL CUP - OLD BIRD POINTS FANCIER OF THE YEAR – GRENAGH - Gary Gibson Cullybackey 289, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 215, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 162, A Darragh Cullybackey 109, Surgenor Bros Kells 51, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 41, F Barkley Rasharkin 39, H Boyd Kells 34, D Dixon Rasharkin 34, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 30. Mervyn Eagleson Mid Antrim Combine PO.
NIPA Section B and Club results
NIPA Section B Grenagh 84/2452 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1357, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1346, J Harkness Crumlin 1339, G Gibson Cullybackey 1330, Fleming Bros Crumlin 1325, Ryan Hope Crumlin 1321, G Gibson 1320, A Darragh 317, G Gubson 1315, D Hamilton Crumlin 1313, S & N Maginty Muckamore 1312, Ryan Hope 1311, 1310, A Darragh 1305, A Barkley & Son Kells 1304, G Gibson 1303, Young McManus & Sons 1302, H Boyd Kells 1300, A Darragh 1298, G Gibson 1297.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 8/224 – Young McManus & Sons 1346, 1302, 1291, JSmyth & Son 1273, 1266, Young McManus & Sons 1266.
Ballymoney HPS 19/583 – D Dixon 1279, D & H Stuart 1241, C & M McCook 1237, D Dixon 1229, J Connolly 1223, 1215.
Broughshane & District 5/80 – M Neilly 1276, T & M Morrow 1276, M Neilly 1273, A Purvis 1239, 1231, J Getty 1219.
Ballymena & District HPS 6/202 – K & K Kernohan & Sons 1296, J Eagleson & Sons 1281, R Service & Son 1278, 1278, J Eagleson & Sons 1275, 1274.
Cullybackey HPS 13/457 –A Darragh 1357, G Gibson 1330, 1320, A Darragh 1317, G Gibson 1315, A Darragh 1305.
Crumlin & District 10/319 –1339, Fleming Bros 1325, Ryan Hope 1321, D Hamiton 1313, Ryan Hope 1311, 1310.
Kells & District 6/141 – A Barkley & Son 1304, H Boyd 1300, 1289, 1287, B Swann & Son 1278, Surgenor Bros 1275. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Surgenor Bros 1258, B Swann & Son 1256, A Barklry & Son 1252, Gregg Bros 1217.
Muckamore HPS 8/254 – Knocker & Bill 1355, S & N Maginty 1312, T Patterson & Son 1269, S & N Maginty 1266, A & E Bell 1248, 1247.
Randalstown HPS 6/105 -J Millar 1285, 1275, N Percy & Son 1253, J Millar 1250, J McNeill & Son 1230, 1229.
Rasharkin &District HPS 4/62 – H Cubitt 1232, F Barkley 1232, H Cubitt 1226, F Barkley 1193, W McFetridge 1126, 1124.
✓
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NIPA Grenagh 15/05/26
Alan Darragh Best In Combine & Section From Grenagh
The pigeon racing season continued on Friday 15th May with a race from Grenagh in County Cork, around 220 miles to the center of Ballymena. The NIPA liberated at 10.30am in northerly winds and just like last weekend a tough steady race followed. Alan Darragh of Cullybackey had the best bird in the Mid Antrim Combine timing at 15.14pm and also won 1st Section B on 1357. Alan's winner a 2yo blue cheq hen was bred at his Swallowbrae Lofts on the Fenaghy Road.
Runner up in the Mid Antrim Combine & Section B were the Ahoghill winners Paddy & William McManus on 1346. Four club wins on the bounce for the ace racers and breeders and this week's winner a 2yo pencil pied cock is another good racing cock having won before including 6th Section & 27th Open Dale young bird National in 2024 and 1st Section & 10th Open Drumnavaddy Gold ring race. The sire is their 3rd Open NIPA 'Bude cock' and the dam won Mid Antrim Combine Champion OB in 2022. Van Den Brande / Louis Thijs.
Gary Gibson of Cullybackey took the next two positions in the Combine 3rd & 4th on velos 1330 & 1320. Other club winners included Johnny Barkley in Kells on 1304 and 8th Combine with a 2 year old Lambrecht hen and Keith & Callum Kernohan with the winner in Ballymena & District on 1296 and also scooped the declared to win in the Ballymena club which had been running since old bird Penzance last season. Their winning 2yo cheq widowhood cock was placed 2nd club & 2nd Mid Antrim Combine last week from Gowran Park and was bought in a kit of young birds from Gerald Delaney's Oroory Hill stud in 2024.
John Millar was winning Randalstown on 1285 for the third week on the trot with the same yearling cock. Sire is Minderhoud and dam Danny Dixon 'Dixie Chick' lines.
Marc Neilly was best in Broughshane on 1276 with a 2yo cheq widowhood cock. The sire is the 'Van Mechelen Cock' from Paddy & William Mcmanus and the dam from Geoff Dickey was in a kit of ybs in 2021. A full brother won Kilbeggan earlier in season and Harold Cubitt had another winner in Rasharkin on 1232.
Mid Antrim Combine Grenagh 49/1321 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1357, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1346, G Gibson Cullybackey 1330, G Gibson Cullybackey 1320, A Darragh Cullybackey 1317, G Gibson Cullybackey 1315, A Darragh Cullybackey 1305, A Barkley & Son Kells 1304, G Gibson Cullybackey 1303, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1302, H Boyd Kells 1300, A Darragh Cullybackey 1298, G Gibson Cullybackey 1297, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1296, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1293, G Gibson Cullybackey 1293, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1291, G Gibson Cullybackey 1290, G Gibson Cullybackey 1290, H Boyd Kells 1289, A Darragh Cullybackey 1289, H Boyd Kells 1287, J Millar Randalstown 1285, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1281, D Dixon Rasharkin 1279, B Swann & Son Kells 1278, R Service & Son Ballymena 1278, R Service & Son Ballymena 1278, M Neilly Broughshane 1276, T & M Morrow Broughshane 1276, J Millar Randalstown 1275, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1275, Surgenor Bros Kells 1275, Surgenor Bros Kells 1274, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1274, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1273, M Neilly Broughshane 1273, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1272, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1269, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1268
MID ANTRIM COMBINE 2 BIRD CLUB GRENAGH
1st K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1296 GB24A43695
2nd D Dixon Rasharkin 1279 GB25B18204
Keith & Callum Kernohan win this weeks 2 bird with their Ballymena club winner a 2yo cheq Delaney cock on widowhood.
OLD BIRD CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE GOWRAN PARK
The top two in each group go through to the last 16 along with the two fanciers with the most points in third place.
In the result of a points tie the highest velocity in the last group match determines who goes through.
The last 16 Knock-Out stage starts at 1st Dale
Group (1) G Gibson Cullybackey 289, H Cubitt Rasharkin 7, J Millar Randalstown 4, R Service & Son Ballymena 0
Group (2) J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 215, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 30, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 0, W McFetridge Rasharkin 0
Group (3) Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 162, Surgenor Bros Kells 51, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 7, A Purvis Broughshane 0
Group (4) D Dixon Rasharkin 34, H Boyd Kells 34, J Whyte Ahoghill 8, T & M Morrow Broughshane 4
Group (5) F Barkley Rasharkin 39, J & J Greer Cullybackey 7, M Neilly Broughshane 5, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 0,
Group (6) A Darragh Cullybackey 109, Stewart Bros Randalstown 5, T Whyte Ahoghill 0, H Turkington Kells 0
Group (7) K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 41, A Barkley & Son Kells 17, N Percy & Son Randalstown 0, J Getty Broughshane 0.
MID ANTRIM COMBINE OLD BIRD KNOCK OUT
Any fancier with a velocity of 1200 or above from Grenagh qualifies for the last 32 of the knock out commencing from the Bantry OB Inland National.
LES MAIRS MEMORIAL CUP - OLD BIRD POINTS FANCIER OF THE YEAR – GRENAGH - Gary Gibson Cullybackey 289, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 215, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 162, A Darragh Cullybackey 109, Surgenor Bros Kells 51, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 41, F Barkley Rasharkin 39, H Boyd Kells 34, D Dixon Rasharkin 34, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 30. Mervyn Eagleson Mid Antrim Combine PO.
NIPA Section B and Club results
NIPA Section B Grenagh 84/2452 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1357, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1346, J Harkness Crumlin 1339, G Gibson Cullybackey 1330, Fleming Bros Crumlin 1325, Ryan Hope Crumlin 1321, G Gibson 1320, A Darragh 317, G Gubson 1315, D Hamilton Crumlin 1313, S & N Maginty Muckamore 1312, Ryan Hope 1311, 1310, A Darragh 1305, A Barkley & Son Kells 1304, G Gibson 1303, Young McManus & Sons 1302, H Boyd Kells 1300, A Darragh 1298, G Gibson 1297.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 8/224 – Young McManus & Sons 1346, 1302, 1291, JSmyth & Son 1273, 1266, Young McManus & Sons 1266.
Ballymoney HPS 19/583 – D Dixon 1279, D & H Stuart 1241, C & M McCook 1237, D Dixon 1229, J Connolly 1223, 1215.
Broughshane & District 5/80 – M Neilly 1276, T & M Morrow 1276, M Neilly 1273, A Purvis 1239, 1231, J Getty 1219.
Ballymena & District HPS 6/202 – K & K Kernohan & Sons 1296, J Eagleson & Sons 1281, R Service & Son 1278, 1278, J Eagleson & Sons 1275, 1274.
Cullybackey HPS 13/457 –A Darragh 1357, G Gibson 1330, 1320, A Darragh 1317, G Gibson 1315, A Darragh 1305.
Crumlin & District 10/319 –1339, Fleming Bros 1325, Ryan Hope 1321, D Hamiton 1313, Ryan Hope 1311, 1310.
Kells & District 6/141 – A Barkley & Son 1304, H Boyd 1300, 1289, 1287, B Swann & Son 1278, Surgenor Bros 1275. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Surgenor Bros 1258, B Swann & Son 1256, A Barklry & Son 1252, Gregg Bros 1217.
Muckamore HPS 8/254 – Knocker & Bill 1355, S & N Maginty 1312, T Patterson & Son 1269, S & N Maginty 1266, A & E Bell 1248, 1247.
Randalstown HPS 6/105 -J Millar 1285, 1275, N Percy & Son 1253, J Millar 1250, J McNeill & Son 1230, 1229.
Rasharkin &District HPS 4/62 – H Cubitt 1232, F Barkley 1232, H Cubitt 1226, F Barkley 1193, W McFetridge 1126, 1124.
✓
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