Local fancier Martin Graham is well placed

His Blue cock was sent sitting eggs 12 days and was in the prizes the week previous from Talbenny. He was timed at 16.23hrs to record velocity 1074 for the 289 miles. Bred for the job it was his old Van Wildemeersch family and a hen from Norman Thompson, the dam is a full sister to his Bronze Diploma winner.

Mid Antrim Combine Bude – M Graham Ballymena 1074, Danny Dixon Rasharkin 1065, J Rock Harryville 1063, A & N Young Ahoghill 1060, Alan McBride Harryville 1051, Danny Dixon Rasharkin 1049.88 C Young Ahoghill 1049, Simon Millar 1048.6, McAlonan Bros Ballymena 1048, Simon Millar 1047, Joe Devlin, Ballymena 1042, Milliken & Barkley 1037, Houston Bros 1036, T & G Cotter Ahoghill 1035, W Ramsey 1034.8, Alan Darragh 1034.3, Harry Smyth & Son Broughshane 1032, McFall & McManus New Antrim Amal 1032, T & G Cotter 1032, R H Clements Harryville 1031, Richmond Bros 1030.6, D Jackson & Son 1030, Alan McBride 1030, George Connolly Broughshane 1029, Alan Darragh Cullybackey 1028, Alan Darragh 1025, Alan Barkley & Son Kells & District 1023.8, Reid Bros & McCloy 1023.6, Harry Smyth & Son 1022, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1022.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Bude

Ballymena & Dist 10/87 – M Graham 1074, McAlonan Bros 1048, J Devlin 1042, Richmond Bros 1030, 1017, J Harris 1012, Blair & Rankin 996, M Graham 993, Richmond Bros 984, W & J Smyth 976.

Harryville HPS 16/124 – J Rock 1063, A McBride 1051, W Ramsey 1034, R H Clements 1031, A McBride 1030, R H Clements 1019, J Millar & Son 1018, J Rock 1011, J Millar & Son 1007, J Rock 1002.

Ahoghill & District 13/129 – A & N Young 1060, C Young 1049, T & G Cotter 1035, T & G Cotter 1032, Young McManus & Sons 1022, J Balmer 1018, C Young 1010, A & N Young 1009, J Orr & Son 996, A & N Young 983.

Randalstown HPS 8/116 – Simon Millar 1048, Simon Millar 1047, Houston Bros 1036, Houston Bros 1021, J Millar 1019, Simon Millar 1014, Houston Bros 1012, Simon Millar 1007.

Rasharkin HPS 13/74 – Milliken & Barkley 1037, H Cubitt 998, J & D Surgenor 994, Milliken & Barkley 990, D Mairs 956, A C & T Tweed 911, J & M Milliken 876, P McDonald 846. Nom won by J & M Milliken.

Cullybackey HPS 12/70 – A Darragh 1034, 1028, 1025, Reid Bros & McCloy 1023, Russell Bros 1008, Cochrane Bros 999, A Darragh 992, Russell Bros 961, 961, N & S Anderson 956.

Broughshane & District – 10/82 – H Smyth & Son 1032, G Connolly 1029, H Smyth & Son 1022, G Connolly 981, T & E Service 975, J & N Simpson 972, Mrs M Smyth 964, D Houston & Son 914.

New Antrim Amal – McFall & McManus 1032, D Jackson & Son 1030, McFall & McManus 993, D Jackson & Son 961, D Jackson & Son 953, T Picken & Son 948.

Kells & District HPS 8/63 – A Barkley & Son 1023, T & M Morrow 1020, Scott & Clements 1017, T & M Morrow 1014, Surgenor Bros 1014, McFarlane & Agnew 980, A Barkley & Son 971, 922. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – T & M Morrow 1020, Scott & Clements 1017.

The NIPA Fermoy birds were released on Saturday at 9.00am in a North West wind and had a steady race from 200 miles, Alan Darragh was best in Cullybackey Centre and tops Mid Antrim Combine. He timed at 13.40hrs to record velocity 1258, his Ch Pied cock is one of his best racers. In the last seven races this bird has had 4 x 1sts and 3 x 2nds beat twice by loft-mates and what about this? He is nest-mate of the Yearling National winner timed the day previous when the loft won a fantastic 1st, 2nd and 3rd Open INFC.

Mid-Antrim Combine Fermoy 5 Bird 52/229 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1258, G Connolly Broughshane 1255, Scott & Clements Kells 1247, G Connolly 1246, Surgenor Bros Kells 1245, G McDowell Kells 1232, H Boyd Kells 1231, T & M Morrow Kells 1231, H Smyth & Son Broughshane 1230, A Purvis Broughshane 1230, Scott & Clements 1228, J Millar & Son Harryville 1225, G McDowell 1220, A McBride Harryville 1220, A McBride 1219, J McNaghten & Son Broughshane 1216, J Devlin Ballymena 1215, J Getty Broughshane 1215, Danny Dixon Rasharkin 1213, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1210, Danny Dixon 1208, G McDowell 1207, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1205, A Darragh 1204, Young McManus & Sons 1201, McFarlane & Agnew Kells 1201, M Graham Ballymena 1200, Russell Bros Cullybackey 1200, A & N Young 1199, J Balmer Ahoghill 1198.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Fermoy 5 Bird

Cullybackey HPS 12/66 – A Darragh 1258, 1204, Russell Bros 1200, A Darragh 1172, H & R McCloy 1164, S Steele 1138, L Davidson 1138, Cochrane Bros 1133, S Steele 1131, Russell Bros 1129.

Broughshane & District 8/32 – G Connolly 1255, G Connolly 1246, H Smyth & Son 1230, A Purvis 1230, J McNaghten & Son 1216, J Getty 1215, A Purvis 1194, J & N Simpson 1181

Kells & District 9/35 – Scott & Clements 1247, Surgenor Bros 1245, G McDowell 1232, H Boyd 1231, T & M Morrow 1231, Scott & Clements 1228, G McDowell 1220, 1207. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Scott & Clements 1247, Surgenor Bros 1245.

Harryville HPS 5/25 – J Millar & Son 1225, A McBride 1220, 1219, J Millar & Son 1198, 1193, R H Clements 1190, A McBride 1182, 1175, 1118, R H Clements 1094.

Ballymena & District 9/36 – J Devlin 1216, W & J Smyth 1210, M Graham 1200, 1196, McAlonan Bros 1167, W & J Smyth 1150, 1148, J Harris 1091, McGowan & Maternaghan 1077, J Devlin 1069.

Ahoghill & District HPS 4/18 – Young, McManus & Sons 1205, Young, McManus & Sons 1201, A & N Young 1199, J Balmer 1198, J Balmer 1192, J Smyth & Sons 1136, J Balmer 1131, Young McManus & Sons 1112.

Rasharkin & District 6/30 – W McFetridge 1161, Lucas McNeill 1157, Steele & McNeill 1155, Milliken & Barkley 1149, Steele & McNeill 1147, Lucas McNeill 1145, W McFetridge 1140, Milliken & Barkley 1125.

NIPA Section B Fermoy 5 Bird 87/375 – T Patterson & Son Muckamore 1272 ABCDE 115, A Darragh Cullybackey 1258 26, G Connolly Broughshane 1255 26, Scott & Clements Kells & Dist 1247 15, G Connolly 1246 15, Surgenor Bros Kells & Dist 1245 15, G McDowell Kells & Dist 1232 15, H Boyd Kells & Dist 1231 15, T & M Morrow Kells & Dist 1231 15, H Smyth & Son Broughshane 1230 ABCDE 84, A Purvis Broughshane 1230 15, Scott & Clements 1228 15, J Millar & Son Harryville 1225 ABCDEF 104, G McDowell 1220 15, A McBride Harryville 1220 15, A McBride 1219 15, R J Elliott Ballymoney 1219 CD 33, M & B McConville Crumlin 1216 ABCDEF 80, J McNaghten & Son Broughshane 1216 11, J Devlin Ballymena 1215 11, J Getty Broughshane 1215 D 19, D Dixon Ballymoney 1213 11, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1210 ABCDEF 63, D Dixon 1209 ABCDFN 46. End of Prizes. G McDowell 1207 ABC 7, McFarlane & Agnew Kells 1201 ABN 11.

The INFC Yearling Nat was flown from Sennen Cove on Friday 11th June, 844 members sent 4,337 birds competing for 36,685 in pools and prizes in one of the top events of the old bird season. Liberation was at 8.00am in a Lt NNE wind. Last year the race was won by Liam Donnelly & Son from Finglas in Dublin. The race was due to be flown on Wednesday but was delayed due to weather conditions on the Irish Sea. Some 400 birds were recorded on the day, Alan Darragh from Cullybackey was the overall winner.

Against the odds and what was regarded as a hard day for the far flying lofts Alan Darragh from Cullybackey has set new records with the Irish Nat FC, he had 5 x 1sts up to the present time, that itself was the overall record. Now he has hit the famous six, and he celebrated in style with 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open, a feat never previously achieved in the history of the INFC. She will all take some beating, but the record is set for that purpose. Alan has won the Kings Cup with Ranger in 1986, and has previously won the Yearling Nat, that came three years later with Swallow Brae Lad. See Swallow Brae Loft website, or click on Alan Darragh Banner at www.pigeonnetwork.com

Alan Darragh scored a best ever result in Mid Antrim winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd and a result that will be talked about for years. Willie Gilbert and his dad had a bird each into Randalstown, but 1st Club was won by Hugh Boyd. Danny Dixon was well placed again with the best bird in Rasharkin and Billy Ramsey was 1st Club Harryville and 1st MAC in this race last season. Other winners included Brian O’Rawe 1st Ballymena ahead of three birds for Richmond Bros who have previously topped the MAC in this race, George Connolly who is having a good season 1st Club Broughshane and Charlie Young 1st Club Ahoghill ahead of the previous weeks MAC winners Mr & Mrs Robinson. Congratulations to Brian O’Rawe who has a new addition to the family, a top result in the same week.

Mid Antrim Combine Sennen Cove Ylr Nat – A Darragh Cullybackey 958, A Darragh 958, A Darragh 937, W & N Gilbert Randalstown 868, D Dixon Rasharkin 859, W Ramsey Harryville 850, Russell Bros Cullybackey 847, B O’Rawe Ballymena 833, G Connolly Broughshane 822, C Young Ahoghill 821, D Dixon 819, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 812, L Mullan Harryville 802, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 801, G Connolly 798, A Darragh 796, L Davidson Cullybackey 795, A Purvis Broughshane 786, W Ramsey 776, H Boyd Randalstown 775, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 774, A Purvis 774, Richmond Bros Ballymena 773, H Smyth & Son Broughshane 765, Richmond Bros 749, D Mairs Rasharkin 748, A Darragh 739, Stewart Bros Randalstown 694, Wray & McFadden Harryville 689.

Race Marking Arrangements for Cullybackey Centre

Race Marking for St Malo & Rosscarbery Yearling Nat arrangements are as follows. All monies/entry fees etc for the three races will be collected on Tuesday 22nd June, the Cullybackey Centre will be open between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. A separate club cheque is needed by the NIPA for each race, that is St Malo OB Nat, Yearling Cock Nat and Yearling Hen Nat. Race marking for St Malo will be early morning as usual Wednesday 23rd June between 6.30am and 9.30am. Birds for Rosscarbery will be race marked on Thursday, June 24 between 4.00pm and 6.30pm and please note all clocks will be set for both races on Thursday, ready at 9.00pm. Weather permitting the races will be flown, St Malo (France) on Friday, June 25 and the Rosscarbery Yearling Cock and Yearling Hen Nationals on Saturday, June 26. Entry Forms are with all local clubs for the Ballymena Ring Nom Race to be flown from Fermoy in August. Prizes will be based on the entry, as well as the winner getting the top prize the winning pigeon will also win a prize for the members club.