Dale (1) - Friday 29/05/26
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2026 10:24 am
Mid Antrim Combine - NIPA 1st Dale 29/05/26:
Gary Gibson (Cullybackey) best from Dale -
The first channel race of the season from Dale in Pembrokeshire, West Wales was flown on Friday 29th May. The convoy of over ten thousand birds was liberated at 11.00am in south south westerly winds.
Gary Gibson of Cullybackey had the best bird in the local area after timing at 15.15pm flying 224 miles to win 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 2nd Section B and 62nd Open Nipa 10670 birds velo 1549. Gary timed a blue yearling cock on widowhood. The sire is a grandson of 'Donker Leo' and his dam is Stickers Donckers from Derek Parr, she is the mother of 'Megan' a winner of 1st Mid Antrim Combine and 1st Section Talbenny YB National in 2021.
Alan Darragh of Cullybackey was runner up in the Combine on 1542 and placed 3rd Section with a 2yo cheq hen that won 3rd Section & 6th Open Nipa Dale last season.
Joshua Whyte was best in Ahoghill for the second week on the trot and placed 3rd Combine & 4th Section on 1537. His winner a yearling mealy hen was bred by Russell McAlary of Coleraine.
Johnston Eagleson & Sons had the Ballymena & District winner on 1534 and placed 4th Combine & 5th Section. Their 2yo blue hen was 2nd Combine & 2nd Section B last season from Bude beaten by a loftmate. Sire was the Van Den Bulck 'Dirk' cock which is sire of 12 x 1st and the dam a self bred Louis Thijs (Paddy & William McManus) x Lambrecht (Danny Dixon). Bertie Blair was 2nd & 3rd in Ballymena & District and 5th & 10th Combine and 7th & 12th Section on 1520 & 1506 followed by Randalstown winners Stewart Brothers on 1521. This 3yo Louis Thijs hen has now won 4 x 1st in Randalstown. Harry Boyd was best in Kells on 1490 with a 2yo bird that won the club from Cloughmartin last year finishing 2nd Combine. The Sire Van Wildemeersch and dam bred down from 'Night Rider'
Freddie Barkley was the winner in Rasharkin on 1484 with a 3yo cheq Van De Merwe hen winning for the third time and John Getty opened his account for the season with the Broughshane winner on 1456. The bird won 2nd Dale and Bude into the club last season.
Mid Antrim Combine 1st Dale 43/858 - Gary Gibson Cullybackey 1549, Alan Darragh Cullybackey 1542, Joshua Whyte Ahoghill 1537, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1534, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1525, G Gibson Cullybackey 1521, A Darragh Cullybackey 1520, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1520, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1512, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1506, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1502, A Darragh Cullybackey 1500, A Darragh Cullybackey 1500, A Darragh Cullybackey 1499, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1496, A Darragh Cullybackey 1493, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1492, H Boyd Kells 1490, F Barkley Rasharkin 1484, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1484, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1482, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1481, A Darragh Cullybackey 1477, H Boyd Kells 1477, D Dixon Rasharkin 1474, H Boyd Kells 1474, D Dixon Rasharkin 1473,, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 147, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1472, A Darragh Cullybackey 1471, A Darragh Cullybackey 1470, A Darragh Cullybackey 1470, A Darragh Cullybackey 1470, A Darragh Cullybackey 1469, G Gibson Cullybackey 1468, G Gibson Cullybackey 1468, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1467, B Swann & Son Kells 1465, H Boyd Kells 1464.
MID ANTRIM COMBINE 2 BIRD CLUB 1ST DALE
1st H Boyd Kells 1490 GB24X14766
2nd Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1473 GB25C14513
Harry Boyd won the 2 Bird from 1st Dale with his Kells & District winner on 1490. His winner has won before including 2nd Combine Cloughmartin last season.
OLD BIRD CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 KNOCKOUT (winners in capitals)
R Service & Son 0 v A BARKLEY & SON 1418
K & K Kernohan & Sons 1374 v H BOYD 1490
J WHYTE 1537 v M Neilly 1436
A DARRAGH 1542 v F Barkley 1484
Surgenor Bros 1356 v BLAIR & RANKIN 1525
STEWART BROS 1512 v D Dixon 1474
G GIBSON 1549 v Young & McManus & Sons 1502
J EAGLESON & SONS 1534 v J Smyth & Son 1482
OLB BIRD KNOCKOUT LAST 16 (winners in capitals)
Mr & Mrs Robinson 1454 v J SMYTH & SON 1482
G GIBSON 1549 v M Neilly 1436
J MILLAR 1446 v K & K Kernohan & Sons 1374
F Barkley 1484 v STEWART BROS 1512
R Service & Son 0 v BLAIR & RANKIN 1525
J McNEILL & SON 1442 v Bye
H CUBITT 1446 v Surgenor Bros 1356
D DIXON 1474 v Gregg Bros 1433.
LES MAIRS MEMORIAL CUP - OLD BIRD POINTS FANCIER OF THE YEAR - 1st DALE: G Gibson Cullybackey 458, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 261
A Darragh Cullybackey 223, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 180, D Dixon Rasharkin 84, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 80, H Boyd Kells 66, Surgenor Bros Kells 51, F Barkley Rasharkin 42, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 42, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 41.
OLD BIRD CLUB POINTS - 1st Dale
Cullybackey 51, Ballymena 38, Ahoghill FC 36, Rasharkin 33, Kells & Dist 26,
Randalstown 20, Broughshane 16. Mervyn Eagleson Mid Antrim Combine PO.
NIPA Section B 1st Dale 76/1473 – Ryan Hope Crumlin & Dist 1445, G Gibson Cullybackey 16549, A Darragh Cullybackey 1542, J Whyte Ahoghill 1537, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena & Dist 1534, S Murphy Cullybackey 1529, Blair & Rankin Ballymena & Dist 1525, G Gibson 1521, A Darragh 1520, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1520, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1512, Blair & Rankin 1506, Ryan Hope 1503, C & M McCook Ballymoney 1503, Young McManus & Wons Ahoghill 1502, A & M Boyle Ballymoney 1501, A Darragh 1500, 1500, 1499, Ryan Hope 1498.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club – 7/124. J White 1537. Young McCmanus & Son’s 1502. J Symth & Son 1482, 1481. Young McManus & Son’s 1467,1456.
Ballymoney HPS – 15/263. C & M McCook 1503. A & N Boyle 1501. D Dickson 1474, 1473. D & H Stewart 1469, 1468.
Broughshane & District – 3/35. J Getty 1456. N Neilly 1436, 1370, 1366, 1334. J Getty 1332.
Ballymena & District HPS – 5/86. J Eagleson & Son’s 1534. Blair & Rankin 1525, 1506. T Johnston & Son 1496. J Eagleson & Son’s 1492, 1484.
Cullybackey HPS – 11/336. G Gibson 1549. A Darragh 1542. K Murphy 1529. G Gibson 1521. A Darragh 1520. Rock & Moore 1520.
Crumlin & District – 11/278. Ryan Hope 1556, 1503, 1498. S Thompson 1496. Ryan Hope 1493. K Carson 1493. The hen that won yesterday from 1st Dale. she has previously been 3rd club 160th open Dale YB Nat 2024, 339th Open Dale OB,
2nd Club 18th Section 226th Open 2nd Dale. Plus 25th,8th,18th,36th sections in up Ireland races plus 26th section from Bude. She is also the dam of 1st Club, 19th Open Dale YB National. Her sire is a Soontjen cock from Jim Newells Sale and the dam is a hen from Reggie & David Moore from Bangor.
Kells & District HPS – 7/84. H Boyd 1490, 1477, 1474. B Swan & Son 1465. H Boyd 1464. H Turkington 1457.
Muckamore HPS – 9/183. A & E Bell 1490, 1469. A Steele 1468. Knocker & Bill 1465. S & N McGinty 1459, 1456.
Randalstown HPS – 5/79. Stewart Bros 1512. W & W Gilbert 1453. J Millar 1446, 1442. J McNeill & Son 1442. J Millar 1453.
Rasharkin &District HPS – 4/39. F Barkely 1484. H Cubitt 1446, 1404. N F Barkley 1379. J Millar & Son 1320. W McFetridge 1269.
NIPA Section B 1st Dale 76/1473 – Ryan Hope Crumlin & Dist 1556, G Gibson Cullybackey 1549, A Darragh Cullybackey 1542, J Whyte Ahoghill 1537, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena & Dist 1534, S Murphy Cullybackey 1529, Blair & Rankin Ballymena & Dist 1525, G Gibson 1521, A Darragh 1520, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1520, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1512, Blair & Rankin 1506, Ryan Hope 1503, C & M McCook Ballymoney 1503, Young McManus & Wons Ahoghill 1502, A & M Boyle Ballymoney 1501, A Darragh 1500, 1500, 1499, Ryan Hope 1498.
✓
https://photobucket.com/share/d86f4142- ... d4ad7726af
Gary Gibson 1st MAC 1st Dale
Gary Gibson (Cullybackey) best from Dale -
The first channel race of the season from Dale in Pembrokeshire, West Wales was flown on Friday 29th May. The convoy of over ten thousand birds was liberated at 11.00am in south south westerly winds.
Gary Gibson of Cullybackey had the best bird in the local area after timing at 15.15pm flying 224 miles to win 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 2nd Section B and 62nd Open Nipa 10670 birds velo 1549. Gary timed a blue yearling cock on widowhood. The sire is a grandson of 'Donker Leo' and his dam is Stickers Donckers from Derek Parr, she is the mother of 'Megan' a winner of 1st Mid Antrim Combine and 1st Section Talbenny YB National in 2021.
Alan Darragh of Cullybackey was runner up in the Combine on 1542 and placed 3rd Section with a 2yo cheq hen that won 3rd Section & 6th Open Nipa Dale last season.
Joshua Whyte was best in Ahoghill for the second week on the trot and placed 3rd Combine & 4th Section on 1537. His winner a yearling mealy hen was bred by Russell McAlary of Coleraine.
Johnston Eagleson & Sons had the Ballymena & District winner on 1534 and placed 4th Combine & 5th Section. Their 2yo blue hen was 2nd Combine & 2nd Section B last season from Bude beaten by a loftmate. Sire was the Van Den Bulck 'Dirk' cock which is sire of 12 x 1st and the dam a self bred Louis Thijs (Paddy & William McManus) x Lambrecht (Danny Dixon). Bertie Blair was 2nd & 3rd in Ballymena & District and 5th & 10th Combine and 7th & 12th Section on 1520 & 1506 followed by Randalstown winners Stewart Brothers on 1521. This 3yo Louis Thijs hen has now won 4 x 1st in Randalstown. Harry Boyd was best in Kells on 1490 with a 2yo bird that won the club from Cloughmartin last year finishing 2nd Combine. The Sire Van Wildemeersch and dam bred down from 'Night Rider'
Freddie Barkley was the winner in Rasharkin on 1484 with a 3yo cheq Van De Merwe hen winning for the third time and John Getty opened his account for the season with the Broughshane winner on 1456. The bird won 2nd Dale and Bude into the club last season.
Mid Antrim Combine 1st Dale 43/858 - Gary Gibson Cullybackey 1549, Alan Darragh Cullybackey 1542, Joshua Whyte Ahoghill 1537, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1534, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1525, G Gibson Cullybackey 1521, A Darragh Cullybackey 1520, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1520, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1512, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1506, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1502, A Darragh Cullybackey 1500, A Darragh Cullybackey 1500, A Darragh Cullybackey 1499, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1496, A Darragh Cullybackey 1493, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1492, H Boyd Kells 1490, F Barkley Rasharkin 1484, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1484, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1482, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1481, A Darragh Cullybackey 1477, H Boyd Kells 1477, D Dixon Rasharkin 1474, H Boyd Kells 1474, D Dixon Rasharkin 1473,, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 147, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1472, A Darragh Cullybackey 1471, A Darragh Cullybackey 1470, A Darragh Cullybackey 1470, A Darragh Cullybackey 1470, A Darragh Cullybackey 1469, G Gibson Cullybackey 1468, G Gibson Cullybackey 1468, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1467, B Swann & Son Kells 1465, H Boyd Kells 1464.
MID ANTRIM COMBINE 2 BIRD CLUB 1ST DALE
1st H Boyd Kells 1490 GB24X14766
2nd Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1473 GB25C14513
Harry Boyd won the 2 Bird from 1st Dale with his Kells & District winner on 1490. His winner has won before including 2nd Combine Cloughmartin last season.
OLD BIRD CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 KNOCKOUT (winners in capitals)
R Service & Son 0 v A BARKLEY & SON 1418
K & K Kernohan & Sons 1374 v H BOYD 1490
J WHYTE 1537 v M Neilly 1436
A DARRAGH 1542 v F Barkley 1484
Surgenor Bros 1356 v BLAIR & RANKIN 1525
STEWART BROS 1512 v D Dixon 1474
G GIBSON 1549 v Young & McManus & Sons 1502
J EAGLESON & SONS 1534 v J Smyth & Son 1482
OLB BIRD KNOCKOUT LAST 16 (winners in capitals)
Mr & Mrs Robinson 1454 v J SMYTH & SON 1482
G GIBSON 1549 v M Neilly 1436
J MILLAR 1446 v K & K Kernohan & Sons 1374
F Barkley 1484 v STEWART BROS 1512
R Service & Son 0 v BLAIR & RANKIN 1525
J McNEILL & SON 1442 v Bye
H CUBITT 1446 v Surgenor Bros 1356
D DIXON 1474 v Gregg Bros 1433.
LES MAIRS MEMORIAL CUP - OLD BIRD POINTS FANCIER OF THE YEAR - 1st DALE: G Gibson Cullybackey 458, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 261
A Darragh Cullybackey 223, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 180, D Dixon Rasharkin 84, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 80, H Boyd Kells 66, Surgenor Bros Kells 51, F Barkley Rasharkin 42, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 42, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 41.
OLD BIRD CLUB POINTS - 1st Dale
Cullybackey 51, Ballymena 38, Ahoghill FC 36, Rasharkin 33, Kells & Dist 26,
Randalstown 20, Broughshane 16. Mervyn Eagleson Mid Antrim Combine PO.
NIPA Section B 1st Dale 76/1473 – Ryan Hope Crumlin & Dist 1445, G Gibson Cullybackey 16549, A Darragh Cullybackey 1542, J Whyte Ahoghill 1537, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena & Dist 1534, S Murphy Cullybackey 1529, Blair & Rankin Ballymena & Dist 1525, G Gibson 1521, A Darragh 1520, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1520, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1512, Blair & Rankin 1506, Ryan Hope 1503, C & M McCook Ballymoney 1503, Young McManus & Wons Ahoghill 1502, A & M Boyle Ballymoney 1501, A Darragh 1500, 1500, 1499, Ryan Hope 1498.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club – 7/124. J White 1537. Young McCmanus & Son’s 1502. J Symth & Son 1482, 1481. Young McManus & Son’s 1467,1456.
Ballymoney HPS – 15/263. C & M McCook 1503. A & N Boyle 1501. D Dickson 1474, 1473. D & H Stewart 1469, 1468.
Broughshane & District – 3/35. J Getty 1456. N Neilly 1436, 1370, 1366, 1334. J Getty 1332.
Ballymena & District HPS – 5/86. J Eagleson & Son’s 1534. Blair & Rankin 1525, 1506. T Johnston & Son 1496. J Eagleson & Son’s 1492, 1484.
Cullybackey HPS – 11/336. G Gibson 1549. A Darragh 1542. K Murphy 1529. G Gibson 1521. A Darragh 1520. Rock & Moore 1520.
Crumlin & District – 11/278. Ryan Hope 1556, 1503, 1498. S Thompson 1496. Ryan Hope 1493. K Carson 1493. The hen that won yesterday from 1st Dale. she has previously been 3rd club 160th open Dale YB Nat 2024, 339th Open Dale OB,
2nd Club 18th Section 226th Open 2nd Dale. Plus 25th,8th,18th,36th sections in up Ireland races plus 26th section from Bude. She is also the dam of 1st Club, 19th Open Dale YB National. Her sire is a Soontjen cock from Jim Newells Sale and the dam is a hen from Reggie & David Moore from Bangor.
Kells & District HPS – 7/84. H Boyd 1490, 1477, 1474. B Swan & Son 1465. H Boyd 1464. H Turkington 1457.
Muckamore HPS – 9/183. A & E Bell 1490, 1469. A Steele 1468. Knocker & Bill 1465. S & N McGinty 1459, 1456.
Randalstown HPS – 5/79. Stewart Bros 1512. W & W Gilbert 1453. J Millar 1446, 1442. J McNeill & Son 1442. J Millar 1453.
Rasharkin &District HPS – 4/39. F Barkely 1484. H Cubitt 1446, 1404. N F Barkley 1379. J Millar & Son 1320. W McFetridge 1269.
NIPA Section B 1st Dale 76/1473 – Ryan Hope Crumlin & Dist 1556, G Gibson Cullybackey 1549, A Darragh Cullybackey 1542, J Whyte Ahoghill 1537, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena & Dist 1534, S Murphy Cullybackey 1529, Blair & Rankin Ballymena & Dist 1525, G Gibson 1521, A Darragh 1520, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1520, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1512, Blair & Rankin 1506, Ryan Hope 1503, C & M McCook Ballymoney 1503, Young McManus & Wons Ahoghill 1502, A & M Boyle Ballymoney 1501, A Darragh 1500, 1500, 1499, Ryan Hope 1498.
✓
https://photobucket.com/share/d86f4142- ... d4ad7726af
Gary Gibson 1st MAC 1st Dale