George tops Mid-Antrim Combine in penultimate race of young bird season

George McDowell of Kells & Dist, the MAC winner from Fermoy.

Liberation was delayed due to low cloud in the release area. Strings were cut and the birds were away at 12.15pm in a North NE wind, a fairly hard race was expected for the 200 odd miles into Mid Antrim.

That’s how it turned out with a few big early arrivals and some birds missing at dark, they had just run out of time. MAC Secretary George McDowell was not hanging around recording his Blue hen at 17.12hrs to record velocity 1180 and take 1st Combine. Good reward for George who started late after some problems in the early training, the 5 Bird is a favourite race for the loft. Danny Dixon is next best followed by Alan Darragh (Cullybackey), Paddy McManus (Ahoghill) and Brian Swann (Kells) who all had good cards. Brian O’Rawe was best in Ballymena topping the big club for the first time with the young ones doing velocity 1153 into Warden Street.

Cullybackey Centre: Details for the Rosscarbery YB Inl Nat race marking are as follows. Entry fees etc. with club cheque collect Wednesday 10th September from 8.30 - 9.30pm at the Cullybackey club rooms. Birds will be race marked 2.00 - 4.30pm on Friday 12th September. All clocks ready after lorry leaves Cullybackey.

Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy (2) 62/979 – G McDowell Kells 1180, D Dixon Rasharkin 1175, A Darragh Cullybackey 1168, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1158, A Darragh 1157, B Swann & Son Kells 1153, B O’Rawe Ballymena 1153, J Rock Harryville 1151, J Millar & Son Harryville 1138, G McDowell 1135, Connolly & Purvis Ballymena 1131, D Dixon 1130, Young McManus & Sons 1128, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1128, Connolly & Purvis 1125, J Rock 1122, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1121, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1119, Young McManus & Sons 1116, R H Clements Harryville 1113, Young McManus & Sons 1113, Young McManus & Sons 1113, Houston Bros Randalstown 1111, K Wilkinson & Son New Antrim 1111.

NIPA Sect B Fermoy 77/1234 – J & N Lamb Crumlin 1184, G McDowell Kells 1180, Thompson Bros Crumlin 1178, McConville Bros Crumlin 1176, Fleming Bros Crumlin 1175, D Dixon Ballymoney 1175, A Darragh Cullybackey 1168, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1158, A Darragh 1157, B Swann & Son Kells 1153.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Fermoy (2)

Kells & District HPS 9/149 – G McDowell 1180, B Swann & Son 1153, G McDowell 1135, B Swann & Son 1131, 1131, Surgenor Bros 1122, B Swann & Son 1122, Surgenor Bros 1116. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – B Swann & Son 1100, Scott & Clements 1028, T Shanks & Son 1019, A Barkley & Son 975.

Cullybackey HPS 7/137 – A Darragh 1168, 1157, Russell Bros 1107, J & J Greer 1104, Russell Bros 1086, W Scott 1085, 1058, D Robinson 1051, 1041, N & S Anderson 1033, 1032, H & R McCloy 1025.

Ahoghill Flying Club 9/125 – Young McManus & Sons 1158, 1128, 1116, 1113, 1113, J Smyth & Son 1106, J Orr & Son 1099, J Balmer 1094, Young McManus & Sons 1086, J Smyth & Son 1085. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Young McManus & Sons 1116, J Smyth & Son 1085.

Ballymena & District HPS 12/163 – B O’Rawe 1153, Connolly & Purvis 1131, W & J Smyth 1128, Connolly & Purvis 1125, B O’Rawe 1109, M Graham 1108, W & J Smyth 1100, M/M M Sempey 1095, Blair & Rankin 1089, W & J Smyth 1072.

Harryville HPS 7/82 – J Rock 1151, J Millar & Son 1138, J Rock 1122, R H Clements 1113, J Millar & Son 1094, L Mullan 1087, R H Clements 1082, 1072, J Rock 1066, 1063.

Broughshane & Dist 5/43 – J & N Simpson 1121, D Houston & Son 1089, J & N Simpson 1061, D Houston & Son 1039.

Rasharkin & District 7/170 – J & M Milliken 1119, 1109, H Cubitt 1105, Steele & McNeill 1098, H Cubitt 1097, Steele & McNeill 1092, T Kaczynski 1088, A C & T Tweed 1004. J & M Milliken first and second from Harold Cubitt third. Danny Dixon: 1175.531, 1130.246.

Randalstown HPS 6/110 – Houston Bros 1111, Percy Son & Murphy 1084, Houston Bros 1073, Stewart Bros 1073, Houston Bros 1056, Percy Son & Murphy 1054, Stewart Bros 1052, F G J Dickey 1050, J Millar 1046, Percy Son & Murphy 1019.

Cullybackey Centre Fermoy 5B – J Rock Harryville 1151, J Millar & Son Harryville 1137, B Swann & Son Kells 1131, J Rock 1122, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1116, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1104, B Swann & Son 1099, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1098, M/M M Sempey Ballymena 1095, J Millar & Son 1094.

NIPA Sect B Fermoy 5 Bird 49/224 – McConville Bros Crumlin 1176, Fleming Bros Crumlin 1175, J Rock Harryville 1151, Thompson Bros Crumlin 1150, D & H Stuart Ballymoney 1150, J Millar & Son Harryville 1138, D & H Stuart 1133, B Swann & Son Kells 1131, J Connolly Ballymoney 1131, D Dixon Ballymoney 1130.

FERMOY 5-BIRD

Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy 5 Bird – J Rock Harryville 1151, J Millar & Son Harryville 1138, B Swann & Son Kells 1131, D Dixon Rasharkin 1130, J Rock 1122, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1116, K Wilkinson & Son New Antrim 1111, D Dixon 1108, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1104, D Dixon 1101, B Swann & Son 1099, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1098, M/M M Sempey Ballymena 1095, J Millar & Son 1094, Steele & McNeill 1092, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1089, Steele & McNeill 1087, L Mullan Harryville 1087, B Swann & Son 1084, D Dixon 1083, R H Clements Harryville 1082, G McDowell Kells 1071, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1070, Surgenor Bros Kells 1069.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Fermoy 5 Bird

Harryville HPS 6/30 – J Rock 1151, J Millar & Son 1137, J Rock 1122, J Millar & Son 1095, L Mullan 1087, R H Clements 1082, 1072, T Johnston & Son 1034, J Rock 1034, R H Clements 1018, R Service & Son 972, 959.

Kells & District 5/25 – B Swann & Son 1131, 1100, 1084, G McDowell 1071, Surgenor Bros 1069, Scott & Clements 1041, G McDowell 1007.

Ahoghill Flying Club – Young McManus & Sons 1116, 1058, 1020.

Cullybackey HPS 6/28 – J & J Greer 1104, Russell Bros 1060, A Darragh 1029, H & R McCloy 1025, A Darragh 1024, N & S Anderson 1002, W Scott 990, A Darragh 962, H & R McCloy 948, J & J Greer 938, A Darragh 931, 927.

Rasharkin & District 5/19 – Steele & McNeill 1098, 1092, J & M Milliken 1041, 1041, H Cubitt 1009, 954, W McFetridge 942. Steele & McNeill win the 5 Bird with another of their Lambrecht’s. D Dixon: 1130.246.

Ballymena & Distribt 7/32 – M/M M Sempey 1095, Blair & Rankin 1089, W & J Smyth 1070, 1041, McFall & McManus 1040, J W Reynolds 1029, McFall & McManus 1023, Blair & Rankin 1023, J W Reynolds 1021, 982.