Pigeons: Wendal welcomes Welsh winner!

THE Mid Antrim area entry was similar to the season previous for the Premier YB Nat which was flown last Saturday from Talbenny in South Wales, liberation was at 9.00am in a Westerly wind.

The birds were well split up but, the early arrivals were on time as usual. A lot of birds were still missing when the clocks were checked in late afternoon.

The best bird locally was timed by Wendal Scott of the Cullybackey HPS, a fancier who had won this race a number of years back and came very close again this year. His bird was timed at 13.27hrs and recorded velocity 1462 for the 222 miles.

Roy Clements of the Harryville HPS was next best his Cheq hen was sent sitting eggs and had a prize in the earlier races. Sire was Van Reet x Soontjen and the dam distance lines from Ron Williamson.

Other winners well placed included W & J Smyth 1st Ballymena & Dist (1408), McFall & McManus 1st New Antrim Amal (1385), McFarlane & Agnew 1st Kells & Dist (1383), Young McManus & Sons 1st Ahoghill (1370) and Harold Cubitt 1st Rasharkin & Dist (1367).

Mid Antrim Combine Talbenny 66/385 - W Scott Cullybackey 1462, R H Clements Harryville 1446, H & R McCloy 1427, J Millar & Son Harryville 1422, A Darragh Cullybackey 1418, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1408, McFall & McManus New Antrim 1385, McFarlane & Agnew Kells 1383, W Scott 1379, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1370, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1367, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1358, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1354, D Dixon Rasharkin 1341, J Rock Harryville 1340, G & A Eagleson Ballymena 1333, D Robinson Cullybackey 1330, H Boyd Randalstown 1327, H & R McCloy 1327, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1325, H & R McCloy 1320, Young McManus & Sons 1319, J Orr Ahoghill 1319, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1314, Reid Bros & McCloy 1305, Surgenor Bros Kells 1304, B O’Rawe Ballymena 1293, L Mullan Harryville 1291, Reid Bros & McCloy 1290, G Connolly Broughshane 1289.

The arrangements for the Cullybackey Centre regarding the final YB Nat Rosscarbery are as follows. The clubrooms will be open on Thursday 13th September between 8.30 and 9.30pm to collect the entry details and club cheques. Race marking is Friday 14th September between 2.00pm and 4.00pm and the race will be flown on Saturday weather permitting. Fermoy 5 Bird Championship race please note pigeons will be race marked at your own club and all pigeons have to be spread over the club crates as per the requirements of Rule 41.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs

Ahoghill Flying Club 7/46 – Young McManus & Sons 1370, M/M Robinson 1354, Young McManus & Sons 1319, J Orr 1319, M/M Robinson 1289, Young McManus & Sons 1279.

Ballymena & Dist 12/54 – W & J Smyth 1408, G & A Eagleson 1333, Blair & Rankin 1325, B O’Rawe 1293, Blair & Rankin 1170, J Harris 1144, 1144, McAlonan Bros 1122, M/M M Sempey 1079. Billy Smyth wins the YB Knock-Out beating Bertie Blair in a close final.

Ballykeel Invitation – M/M M Sempey 1079.

Broughshane 3/7 – J & N Simpson 1314, G Connolly 1289. Race sponsored by The Hollies Injury Clinic, Ballymena Show Grounds.

Cullybackey 12/92 – W Scott 1462, H & R McCloy 1427, A Darragh 1418, W Scott 1379, Reid Bros & McCloy 1358, D Robinson 1330, H & R McCloy 1327, 1320, Reid Bros & McCloy 1305, 1290.

Harryville 9/44 – R H Clements 1446, J Millar & Son 1422, J Rock 1340, L Mullan 1291, 1262, Wray & McFadden 1178, 1153, R H Clements 1113, A McBride 974. Kells & District 6/33 – McFarlane & Agnew 1383, Surgenor Bros 1304, 1271, B Swann & Son 1118, McFarlane & Agnew 933. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – Surgenor Bros 1304.

New Antrim Amal 4/12 – McFall & McManus 1385, C Moore 1178, McFall & McManus 1137. Well done Charlie on winning both races, great result!!!

Randalstown 6/33 – H Boyd 1327, Stewart Bros 1287, D Logan & Son 1184, Stewart Bros 1163, D Logan & Son 1103.

Local clubs gathered at the Cullybackey Centre on Friday night to load the birds for the comeback race from Tullamore flown on the Talbenny weekend.

Birds were released next day at 9.00am in a Westerly wind and made light work of the 120 odd miles home, in large numbers inside two hours. In Mid Antrim we had a really close finish with Blair & Rankin 1st Ballymena & Dist (2004) just ahead of McFall & McManus 1st New Antrim Amal (2004) and George McDowell 1st Kells (2003).

Mid Antrim Combine Tullamore 65/1188 – Blair & Rankin 2004, McFall & McManus New Antrim 2004, G McDowell Kells 2003, M/M M Sempey Ballymena 1995, Blair & Rankin 1993, Blair & Rankin 1992, M/M M Sempey 1973, D Dixon Rasharkin 1969, Surgenor Bros Kells 1962, Surgenor Bros 1958, D Stevenson Ahoghill 1958, A McBride Harryville 1952, A Purvis Broughshane 1950, Surgenor Bros 1949, Surgenor Bros 1948, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1939, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1937, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1926, Scott & Clements Kells 1925, G McDowell 1922, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1922, Scott & Clements 1920, K & K Kernohan Harryville 1920, J Millar & Son Harryville 1920, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1917, J Ramsey Harryville 1913, M/M M Sempey 1913, D Dixon 1913, M/M M Sempey 1911, M/M M Sempey 1911.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs

Ahoghill Flying Club 9/193 – D Stevenson 1958, Young McManus & Sons 1939, 1856, D Stevenson 1854, 1853, Balmer Young & Sons 1839.

Ballymena & Dist 10/162 – Blair & Rankin 2004, M/M M Sempey 1995, Blair & Rankin 1993, 1992, M/M M Sempey 1973, W & J Smyth 1937, M/M M Sempey 1913, 1911, 1911, 1910.

Ballykeel Invitation – M/M M Sempey 1995, 1973, K & K Kernohan 1920, M/M M Sempey 1913, 1911, 1911.

Broughshane 7/69 – A Purvis 1950, 1892, J & N Simpson 1891, T & E Service 1864, J & N Simpson 1858, D Houston & Son 1825, T & E Service 1803, D Houston & Son 1787. Race sponsored by The Hollies Injury Clinic, Ballymena Show Grounds.

Cullybackey 11/356 – Reid Bros & McCloy 1922, H & R McCloy 1883, D Robinson 1878, Russell Bros 1871, Reid Bros & McCloy 1864, D Robinson 1859, Russell Bros 1858, N & S Anderson 1848, 1846, B Herbinson 1845.

Harryville 9/164 – A McBride 1952, K & K Kernohan 1920, J Millar & Son 1920, J Ramsey 1913, J Rock 1900, 1899, L Mullan 1896, J Rock 1879, K & K Kernohan 1870, J Ramsey 1870.

Kells & District 8/127 – G McDowell 2003, Surgenor Bros 1962, 1958, 1949, 1948, Scott & Clements 1925, G McDowell 1922, Scott & Clements 1920. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – G McDowell 1850.

New Antrim Amal 5/76 – McFall & McManus 2004, C Moore 1885, McFall & McManus 1860, MDC Magill 1854, 1853, 1852, C Moore 1828, McFall & McManus 1808, Magowan & Maternaghan 1732.