Bertie Blair is the best in Tullamorefor the second time in three races

For the second time in just three races Bertie Blair had the best local bird at the weekend.
Bertie Blair from Ballymena and District holding his winner from Tullamore.Bertie Blair from Ballymena and District holding his winner from Tullamore.
Bertie Blair from Ballymena and District holding his winner from Tullamore.

The NIPA were in Tullamore and had the first mass release of the year with 21,847 birds liberated at 11.00am in a helping Southerly wind.

Ballymena & District had the most birds away at almost 600 the largest entry since the year 2000 and Bertie timed his young Blue hen at 12.53hrs to record velocity 1957 for the 126 miles from County Offaly.

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The hen was in her first race of the year was sitting eggs and had a young bird slipped before basketing.

She was one of a small kit of young birds purchased from Jackie Steele of Rasharkin & Dist a Van Loon, the dam is a grand-daughter of Miss Perfect and Treble 7 and the sire is a nephew of dam with both sire and dam bred by Danny Dixon of Ballymacaldrick Lofts.

Bertie takes 1st MAC, and 1st NIPA Sect B and adds this result to the opening race from Mullingar when another bird from Jackie Steele won 1st MAC & 1st Open NIPA.

Club runner-up on both occasions was George Bell who is racing a team of birds bred by Premier Stud. MDC Magill in the first race of the year for them won 1st Harryville (1917), Alan Darragh 1st Cullybackey (1910) and Scott & Clements win for the 3rd time in Broughshane & District.

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Homer will be taking some bird photos at Ballymena & Dist on Wednesday evening for those interested.

Mid Antrim Combine Tullamore 89/2888 – Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1957, M D C Magill Harryville 1917, A Darragh Cullybackey 1910, Scott & Clements Broughshane 1897, Scott & Clements 1896, G Bell Ballymena 1893, J & D Surgenor Rasharkin & Dist 1884, J & D Surgenor 1884, J & D Surgenor 1884, J & D Surgenor 1882, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1882, M/M M Sempey Ballymena 1881, J & D Surgenor 1880, T Johnston & Son Harryville 1880, Blair & Rankin 1875, Blair & Rankin 1870, Tully Lofts Kells 1864, Tully Lofts 1863, K & K Kernohan Harryville 1862, K & K Kernohan 1862, G Connolly Ballymena 1852, J Simpson Broughshane 1851, G Bell 1851, J & D Surgenor 1850.

Mid Antrim Clubs Tullamore

Ballymena & District HPS 19/598 – Blair & Rankin 1957, G Bell 1893, M/M Sempey 1881, Blair & Rankin 1875, 1870, G Connolly 1852, G Bell 1851, M/M Sempey 1847, G Connolly 1836, G Bell 1834.

Ballykeel Inv – M/M Sempey 1881, K & K Kernohan 1862, 1862, M/M Sempey 1847, K & K Kernohan 1800, J W Reynolds 1789.

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Harryville HPS 12/376 – M D C Magill 1917, T Johnston & Son 1880, K & K Kernohan 1862, 1862, R Service & Son 1847, R H Clements 1844, 1843, D Craig 1839, 1837, 1832.

New Antrim Amalgamated – M D C Magill 1917, R McFall & Son 1833, M D C Magill 1811, McFall & McManus 1803, 1803, R McFall & Son 1801, McFall & McManus 1781, 1781.

Cullybackey HPS 15/559 – A Darragh 1910, Reid Bros & McCloy 1882, 1826, A Darragh 1823, D & H Kirkpatrick 1817, W Scott 1814, N & S Anderson 1785, Gibson & Dickey 1776, 1775, W Scott 1774, N & S Anderson 1750, D Robinson 1748.

Broughshane & District 7/190 – Scott & Clements 1897, 1896, J Simpson 1851, 1846, 1844, D Houston & Son 1841, 1834, A Purvis 1818, 1817, 1817.

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Rasharkin & District 10/369 – J & D Surgenor 1884, 1884, Steele & McNeill 1843, 1841, W McFetridge 1827, J & M Milliken 1822. D Dixon – 1824, 1823.

Kells & District 7/167 – Tully Lofts 1864, 1863, B Swann & Son 1832, J Millar & Son 1822, 1820, A Barkley & Son 1798, H Turkington 1793, 1793. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Tully Lofts 1864, A Barkley & Son 1798, H Turkington 1793, Tully Lofts 1790, J Millar & Son 1773.

Randalstown HPS 8/298 – Stewart Bros 1847, Percy Son & Murphy 1834, Stewart Bros 1832, Percy Son & Murphy 1828, Stewart Bros 1826, Percy Son & Murphy 1814, F & G & J Dickey 1739, 1728, 1727, Houston Bros 1712.

Ahoghill Flying Club 11/331 – A & N Young 1810, J Orr & Son 1757, A & N Young 1757, J Orr & Son 1755, J Smyth & Son 1741, 1741, 1740, T & G Balmer 1739, M/M Robinson 1736, Balmer Young & Sons 1734. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – J Orr & Son 1678, Balmer Young & Sons 1633.