Local fanciers hope to land Kings Cup prize

THE St Malo National was flown Friday 29th June, birds released at 6.30am in a helping SS Westerly wind, winners made good time but returns at the far end were few and far between.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Jul 2012, 10:00 BST

In the local Nat Centres, Danny Dixon was 1st Coleraine (1332), Alan Darragh 1st Cullybackey (1361) and Stewart Bros 1st Muckamore (1159). Cullybackey done reasonably well with 17 day arrivals, Coleraine had 7 day birds and Muckamore 3. The race was won by Maurice Wilkinson from Wilton Cross in Lurgan, he timed at 14.57hrs flying 448 miles doing velocity 1455. After such a difficult cross channel season the Premier OB Nat from St Malo in France will be regarded as quite successful with around 230 day arrivals.

Alan Darragh from Cullybackey completed a probably best ever old bird season by having the best bird from St Malo, he timed his 4 year old Blue cock at 16.43hrs recording velocity 1362 for the 474 miles. This bird had already won 1st Combine and had flown the race last season. He wins 1st Club, 1st Combine, 1st Sect B & 13th Open NIPA with 1,400 birds competing.

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Next best was William Livingstone of Ahoghill timing his 2 year old Dk Ch Pied hen at 16.56hrs followed by J & J Greer Cullybackey, M/M Robinson Ahoghill, Chris Moore 1st New Antrim (1297), Jimmy Rock 1st & 2nd Harryville (1278) his winner was pure Jacobs, Alan Barkley & Son 1st & 2nd Kells (1177) just two birds away and both on the day, and J & N Simpson 1st Broughshane & Dist (1147) another loft that has had a fantastic old bird season. Stewart Bros from Randalstown won the Muckamore Centre and finish 10th Comb, 13th Sect & 85th Open NIPA.

Cullybackey Centre St Malo 52/141 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1361, W Livingstone Ahoghill 1337, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1303, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1302, C Moore New Antrim 1297, J Rock Harryville 1278, J Rock 1220, A Barkley & Son Kells 1177, C Moore 1154, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1147, T Picken & Son New Antrim 1107, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1105, A Barkley & Son 1071, A Darragh 1015, D Houston & Son Broughshane 1010, A & N Young Ahoghill 993, B Ramsey Harryville 848.

Mid Antrim Combine St Malo 54/154 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1361, W Livingstone Ahoghill 1337, D Dixon Rasharkin 1332, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1303, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1302, C Moore New Antrim 1297, J Rock Harryville 1278, J Rock 1220, A Barkley & Son Kells 1177, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1159, C Moore 1154, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1147, T Picken & Son New Antrim 1107, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1105, A Barkley & Son 1071, A Darragh 1015, D Houston & Son Broughshane 1010, A & N Young Ahoghill 993, B Ramsey Harryville 848.

NIPA Sect B Clubs

Ahoghill Flying Club 6/17 – W Livingstone 1337, M/M Robinson 1302, J Smyth & Son 1105, A & N Young 993.

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Ballymena & Dist 8/15 – G Barr 670, McAlonan Bros 575, Blair & Rankin 568, Richmond Bros 528.

Broughshane 4/16 – J & N Simpson 1147, D Houston & Son 1010.

Cullybackey 8/30 – A Darragh 1361, J & J Greer 1303, A Darragh 1015, 727, 579, Reid Bros & McCloy 546, Russell Bros 497.

Harryville 5/15 – J Rock 1278, 1220, B Ramsey 848.

Kells & District 8/15 – A Barkley & Son 1177, 1071, B Swann & Son 610. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – B Swann & Son 610.

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New Antrim Amal 4/17 – C Moore 1297, 1154, T Picken & Son 1106.

Randalstown 4/11 – Stewart Bros 1159, H Boyd 476.

KINGS CUP

Due to poor weather conditions the Kings Cup race marking was delayed three days, the birds left Lisburn on Friday evening en-route to France for a possible liberation on Monday.

Some 2,783 birds send by 794 members from across Ireland competing for £37,600 were released on Monday in Plaudren (Vannes) at 6.30am in Blue Sky and Sunshine. There was no wind at the release site and over the route home it will be Westerly turning NW.

It is expected to be a very hard race, birds at the top end will be flying over 500 miles with the Blue Riband Kings Cup going to the overall winner.