Pigeons update: Toon’s McDowell and Sons take 1st Section B

After a fantastic racing season with excellent returns the wheels came off at Talbenny when all the Irish birds including the NIPA were in South Wales for the first cross channel event.

With a bad forecast it was touch and go whether to proceed or not, the decision was to collect as normal and monitor the weather as birds were in transit.

Everything appeared perfect and the birds were released on Saturday 2nd June at 7.30am in Talbenny.

We soon got reports the birds were slow to clear and the race turned out after that as expected, very erratic and just over half the convoy home.

As we go to press the result is not available, from the leading positions on Saturday evening it looks like Alan Craig of Tandragee will top the NIPA for the second time this season, recording velocity 1201. Locally Ronnie Witherow from Limavady took 1st Section H and 2nd Open NIPA, Jack McDowell & Sons from Ballymoney took 1st Section B and 3rd Open NIPA and G Donaghy Sons & Grandson from the Windsor in Coleraine took 1st Section A and 7th Open NIPA.

Leading Lofts Talbenny (1) – 1-1E A Craig Tandragee 1201, 2-1H R Witherow Limavady 1190, 3-1B J McDowell & Sons Ballymoney 1181, 4-2B A Darragh Cullybackey 1171, 5-3B Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1164, 6-4B A Darragh Cullybackey 1164, 7-1A G Donaghy Son & Grandson Windsor Soc 1159, 8-2E N Weir Loughgall 1158, 9-2A S McConnell Dungannon 1153, 10-5B D Dixon Ballymoney 1141.

NIPA Race/Date – Talbenny (1) 02/06/12

Coleraine Triangle Talbenny (1) – G Donaghy Son & Grandson Windsor Soc 1159, Diamond Bros Coleraine Prem 1154, T McCrudden Coleraine & Co Derry 1141, Newton & Quinn Coleraine Prem 1138, T McCrudden 1130, Hanson & Harpur Coleraine Prem 1130, T & J McDonald Coleraine Prem 1123, Diamond Bros 1116, G Donaghy Son & Grandson 1092, S Harpur Coleraine Prem 1092, Hanson & Harpur 1090, R & J Parke Windsor Soc 1072, Diamond Bros 1071, Horner & Scott Windsor Soc 1063, R Montgomery Coleraine Prem 1061, T McCrudden 1056, J L Madden Coleraine Prem 1055.

NIPA Sect A Clubs

Coleraine Premier 14/121 – Diamond Bros 1154, Newton & Quinn 1138, Hanson & Harpur 1130, T & J McDonald 1123, Diamond Bros 1116, S Harpur 1092, Hanson & Harpur 1090, Diamond Bros 1071, R Montgomery 1061, J L Madden 1055.

Coleraine & County Derry – T McCrudden 1141, 1130, 1056, D Platt & Son 1042. The top three for Terence McCrudden and he wins the pools.

Castledawson – T Leacock & Son 1082, 1029, Gilmour & Watson 1009.

Windsor Social 11/93 – G Donaghy Son & Grandson 1159, 1092, R & J Parke 1072, Horner & Scott 1063, R & J Parke 1050, R McCann 1030, 981, K Glass 972, 966, R McCook 956. Willie wins All Pools & DTW with this 2 year old Blue cock, best bird in Coleraine.

Limavady 10/49 – R Witherow 1190, W McIlmoyle 1020, R Witherow 987, D Johnston 935, W McIlmoyle 862, H Crawford 862, 845.

NIPA Sect B Clubs

Ballymena & Dist 14/167 – T R Alexander & Son 1120, W & J Smyth 1090, Blair & Rankin 1075, 1065, G & A Eagleson 1063, G Barr 1061, G Gilmour 1056, G & A Eagleson 1054, W & J Smyth 1040, McAlonan Bros 1035.

Ballymoney 23/328 – J McDowell & Sons 1181, D Dixon 1141, A & M Boyle 1128, J Connolly 1124, R J Elliott 1092, W & L McCaw 1090, D Dixon 1088, D & G McMullan 1087, A & M Boyle 1083, J Connolly 1073. Jack McDowell & sons yearling Cheq hen goes forty ypm clear to win Talbenny and chalk up another success. The dam is Lindelauf and the sire is their good double section winning Soontjen cock.

Ballymoney West Combine 9/117 – J McDowell & Sons 1181, R J Elliott 1092, D Laverty 1037, W Blair 1010, Curry & Gilmore 1001, Brown & Stewart 962, L Neill 926, D Gage 921.

Dervock RPS 8/122 – A & M Boyle 1128, W & L McCaw 1090, D & G McMullan 1087, A & M Boyle 1083, 1070, D & H Stuart 1070, D & G McMullan 1067, A & M Boyle 1027, S Laverty 1025, D & H Stuart 1008.

Rasharkin & District 10/146 – Steele & McNeill 1109, J & D Surgenor 1091, 1083, Milliken & Barkley 1080, W & J McLean 1079, H Cubitt 1079, 1056, A C & T Tweed 1039. Four wins in a row for Steele & McNeill who are having a super season, this week’s winner a yearling Kevin Van Gaskel widowhood cock was bred by Danny Dixon. Nom: J & D Surgenor. D Dixon: 1141.996, 1088.272, 1050.493. Race sponsored by Noel Twaddle Contracts (Ballymoney).

Homer will be taking bird photos in the Ballymena & Dist HPS Clubrooms on Tuesday 19th June from 7.00pm, bring along your big winners and favourites. Deposit required for all orders. Tel: 07538 238364. Race marking for the NIPA Yearling Cock & Hens Nat will take place in Cullybackey today (Tuesday) between 3.00pm and 5.00pm, it is hoped the race can be flown on Wednesday.

Darragh best in Mid Antrim -

Cullybackey HPS lofts dominated the top places in the race from Talbenny in South Wales, liberation was at 7.30am in an Easterly wind. Alan Darragh was best again recording velocity 1171 followed by Reid Bros & McCloy on 1164, the lofts take 1st & 2nd in Mid Antrim Combine. Danny Dixon was well placed on 1141, and other big club winners included Jack Millar & Son 1st Harryville HPS (1124), T R Alexander & Son 1st Ballymena & Dist (1120) winning the club for the first time, and Simon Millar winning 1st Randalstown HPS (1108) for the second successive race.

Subject to correction. Mid Antrim Combine Talbenny (1) – A Darragh Cullybackey 1171, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1164, A Darragh 1164, D Dixon Rasharkin 1141, J Millar & Son Harryville 1124, T R Alexander & Son Ballymena 1120, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1112, B Herbison Cullybackey 1111, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1109, S Millar Randalstown 1108, Russell Bros Cullybackey 1104, J & D Surgenor Rasharkin 1091, J Millar Randalstown 1090, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1090, B Herbison 1089, D Dixon 1088, H Boyd Kells 1086, J & D Surgenor 1083, D Robinson Cullybackey 1083, A Darragh 1081, D Houston & Son Broughshane 1081, Milliken & Barkley Rasharkin 1080, B Herbison 1080, S Steele Cullybackey 1080, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1079, W & J McLean Rasharkin 1079, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1079, A Darragh 1077, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1075, J & N Simpson 1074.