One-two for Kells loft from Clonmel

THE Mid Antrim birds were in Clonmel last weekend, another very good call by the NIPA who decided on an early liberation to avoid rain later in the day.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd May 2010, 10:25 BST
Updated 4th May 2010, 11:52 BST

The birds were released at 7.30am and again made light work of the journey to home lofts.

The best birds locally were timed by Scott & Clements of Kells the winner a three year old Blue Ch cock timed at 10.57am recording velocity 1532.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For good measure the top prize-winners from last year were next best and the loft takes 1st & 2nd in the Mid Antrim Combine where just short of 3,000 birds were competing.

Young McManus & Sons had another big card in Ahoghill, race winner again with the same bird as the week previous doing velocity 1518. Allen McBride also had the top three in Harryville and his winner doing velocity 1515 was the winner the week previous.

Martin Graham with a small team competing had a top card in Ballymena, he has timed the same bird for three races.

Mid Antrim Combine Clonmel (1) 123/2,877 – Scott & Clements Kells 1532, Scott & Clements 1529, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1518, A McBride Harryville 1515, G McDowell Kells 1507, M Graham Ballymena 1505, A McBride 1505, M Graham 1504, M Graham 1502, M Graham 1498, D Dixon Rasharkin 1495, Young McManus & Sons 1490, G Connolly Broughshane 1490, J Devlin Ballymena 1489, G Connolly 1486, H Smyth & Son Broughshane 1486, Young McManus & Sons 1486, A Darragh Cullybackey 1486, A & N Young Ahoghill 1484, H Smyth & Son 1484, Milliken & Barkley Rasharkin 1483, A McBride 1483, S Millar Randalstown 1482, McFall & McManus New Antrim 1482, J Millar Randalstown 1482, J Balmer Ahoghill 1481, Milliken & Barkley 1480, H Boyd Kells 1480, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1480, H Turkington Kells 1480.

Mid Antrim Clubs Clonmel (1)

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kells & District HPS 14/318 – Scott & Clements 1532, 1529, G McDowell 1507, H Boyd 1480, H Turkington 1480, G McDowell 1479, H Boyd 1475, Surgenor Bros 1468, 1459, H Boyd 1454. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Scott & Clements 1532, 1529. Golden Minute (57) won by Roy Lorimer.

Ahoghill Flying Club 14/354 – Young McManus & Sons 1518, 1490, 1486, A & N Young 1484, J Balmer 1481, Young McManus & Sons 1476, 1459, 1459, 1456, A & N Young 1451.

Harryville HPS 16/410 – A McBride 1515, 1505, 1483, K & K Kernohan & Sons 1466, A McBride 1461, 1460, J Millar & Son 1459, R H Clements 1459, 1454, 1447.

Ballymena & Dist 12/274 – M Graham 1505, 1504, J Devlin 1489, 1479, Blair & Rankin 1464, W & J Smyth 1464, 1463, Blair & Rankin 1456, J Harris 1441, McAlonan Bros 1428.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Broughshane & Dist 12/248 – G Connolly 1490, 1486, H Smyth & Son 1486, 1484, J & N Simpson 1463, D Houston & Son 1435, A Purvis 1431, J & N Simpson 1424.

Cullybackey HPS 19/495 – A Darragh 1486, Russell Bros 1464, 1452, H & R McCloy 1429, A Darragh 1428, H & R McCloy 1421, D & H Kirkpatrick 1418, L Davidson 1405, Reid Bros & McCloy 1401, 1396.

Randalstown HPS 12/327 – S Millar 1482, J Millar 1482, Stewart Bros 1480, 1467, 1465, Houston Bros 1456, 1454, H Boyd 1446.

New Antrim Amalgamated 9/177 – McFall & McManus 1482, R McFall & Son 1449, McFall & McManus 1446, C Moore 1444, C McDowell 1444, McFall & McManus 1441, C Magill 1425, 1386.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Positions after Week 3: Group (1) Stewart Bros 48, M Graham 39, C Magill 33, Scott & Clements 29, L McNeill 14. Group (2) A McBride 63, H Smyth & Son 45, D Dixon 44, Surgenor Bros 15, J Devlin 14. Group (3) Young McManus & Sons 71, G McDowell 46, Milliken & Barkley 26, A Purvis 24, S Millar 5, McFall & McManus 4. Group (4) Harry Boyd 25, A & N Young 18, A Darragh 18, J & N Simpson 17, Blair & Rankin 7.

HILLTOP CHALLENGE LEAGUE

Neal Adams runs the weekly Hilltop League and can be contacted at Hilltop Feeds 19a Old Ballymoney Road, Ballymena. In this early part of the old bird season the shop will be open late each Thursday. Tel: 25 648425, Mobile: 07599 706717.

Race winners were Tullamore (1) Danny Dixon, Tullamore (2) Stewart Bros, Roscrea Danny Dixon. Neil has agreed to provide sponsorship to the Mid Antrim Combine Champions League, details to follow.

Homer will be training for the first time and will try to cover areas where there is a demand or with an arrangement for dedicated customers. Collections will be Harryville/Ballymena, Galgorm/Gracehill, Ahoghill, Randalstown, Antrim/Muckamore and Crumlin.

Birds can be hampered the night previous at Ballykeel, days and times will be confirmed later. For those interested Tel: (028) 256 44683 or Mobile: 07939 684876.