PIGEONS: INFC Yearling National

Danny Dixon timed the early arrival flying to his Ballymacaldrick Lofts in Dunloy, taking 1st Ballymoney on velocity 1075, 3rd in the Mid Antrim Combine, 31st North Sect & 47th Open NIPA, Danny was flying 342 miles.

His latest winner was a blue cock, the best of his Fran van Wildemeersch bloodlines. James Walker was next best on 1072 his bird flying 350 miles, 1st Dervock and runner-up in Ballymoney.

Jack Millar and son Derek from the Harryville HPS in Ballymena had the best bird in the INFC Yearling Nat flown from Sennen Cove last Wednesday on a perfect flying day. Liberation was at 8.30am in a light NW wind and with helping conditions at the home end a good race was expected. It indeed turned out one of the best for many years with over 1,000 birds recorded on the day across Ireland in one of the top races of the year.

J Millar & Son timed at 5.07pm to record velocity 1124 for the 329 miles to the lofts at Cromkill on the main Antrim Road. Former winner of the race Alan Darragh was next best taking 1st Cullybackey (1076), followed by Danny Diixon 1st Ballymoney (1075) and G & A Eagleson 1st Ballymena & District (1074). J Millar & Son win 1st in the Mid Antrim Combine and will be even more pleased with 7th North Sect & 12th Open INFC 800/4,474.

The Champions League Final to be flown from Penzance is Alan Darragh (Cullybackey) v Jimmy Rock (Harryville).

Mid Antrim Combine Sennen Cove Ylr Nat – J Millar & Son Harryville 1124, A Darragh Cullybackey 1076, D Dixon Rasharkin 1075, G & A Eagleson Ballymena 1074, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1073, M Graham Ballymena 1073, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1070, A & N Young Ahoghill 1069, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1068, J Rock Harryville 1065.

Club Results Sennen Cove Ylr National

Harryville HPS – J Millar & Son 1124, J Rock 1065, J Millar & Son 953.

Cullybackey HPS – A Darragh 1076, Reid Bros & McCloy 1073, A Darragh 1047, 1012, 1005, 1004, S McKendry 1002, Reid Bros & McCloy 993, A Darragh 991, 987, H & R McCloy 967, J & J Greer 960.

Ballymoney HPS 8/49 – D Dixon 1075, J Walker 1072, Curry & Gilmore 864, D Dixon 792, 779, 558, 468, W & L McCaw 453.

Ballymena & District HPS – G & A Eagleson 1074, M Graham 1073, M Graham 1026, Blair & Rankin 999, M Graham 911, T R Alexander & Son 910, J McNaghten & Son 845, M Graham 841, M/M M Sempey 758.

Dervock RPS 3/16 – J Walker 1072, W & L McCaw 453.

Ahoghill Flying Club – M/M Robinson 1070, A & N Young 1069, M/M Robinson 1069, J Smyth & Son 1015, M/M Robinson 972.

Broughshane & District – D Houston & Son 1028.

Kells & District HPS – McFarlane & Agnew 1017, A Barkley & Son 1004.

Herbison Feeds (Ballymena) - July Holidays: Opening Sat 6th July from 9.00am until 12 Noon then closed for Summer Holidays until Monday 22nd July. Pass the word around and get stocked up!

A reminder that Race Sheets and Vaccination Forms need placed with the local clubs two weeks prior to racing. The opening race for young birds has been arranged for Saturday 20th July.

All clubs will be making arrangements to allocate rings for the various ETS Systems, give them some help by getting things done early without a last minute rush. The Premier OB National for the NIPA is due to be flown from St Malo (France) this Friday 28th June, IHU members will be competing for the famous Millar Gold Cup. With the INFC, the Grand Nat Kings Cup is due to be flown from Nort-sur Erdre on Friday 5th July with race marking on the previous Tuesday. This new race point is some 554 miles to Ballymena lofts.

The Friendship Nat from Quimper on Friday 12th July will complete the old bird racing for 2013. The NIPA birds were race marked last Saturday evening for Penzance, the same thing happened last season due to the weather, liberation was planned for Monday. Full details and results in next report.