Ballymena loft wins penultimate young bird race

FOR the penultimate race of the young bird season the Mid Antrim area had under 1,000 birds competing, birds were released on Saturday at 11.00am in a helping South West wind.

The birds romped home from the 200 mile event and most lofts in this area reported full returns.

Ballymena & Dist lofts feature at the top of the result, the two lofts in form again compete in a close finish with both returning top cards. Bertie Blair timed his Blue cock at 14.34hrs to record velocity 1652 for the 201 miles into Chichester Park, a yard ahead of Mr & Mrs Martin Sempey who had 8 birds in the Top 12. Its been a ding dong battle with these two lofts over recent races, they fill the top two places in the MAC and Ballymena & Dist record a fourth win in the young birds.

Other club winners well placed include George McDowell 1st Kells & Dist (1645) in his favourite race, Young McManus & Sons 1st Ahoghill (1644), D Logan & Son 1st Randalstown (1638), McFall & McManus 1st New Antrim Amal (1625), Reid Bros & McCloy 1st Cullybackey HPS (1620) a best ever young bird season and R H Clements 1st Harryville HPS (1617).

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 in Cullybackey between 2.00pm and 4.00pm and the race will be flown on Saturday weather permitting. Ballymena & Dist will collect entry forms etc on Thursday at 7.30pm until 8.00pm.

Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy 63/911 – Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1652, M/M M Sempey Ballymena 1651, G McDowell Kells 1645, M/M M Sempey 1645, G McDowell 1644, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1644, B Swann & Son Kells 1643, D Logan & Son Randalstown 1638, M/M M Sempey 1632, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1628, McFall & McManus New Antrim 1625, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1620, Blair & Rankin 1619, R H Clements Harryville 1617, G McDowell 1615, Russell Bros Cullybackey 1612, Reid Bros & McCloy 1610, M/M M Sempey 1610, A Purvis Broughshane 1610, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1608, M/M M Sempey 1606, Surgenor Bros Kells 1605, A Darragh Cullybackey 1604, G McDowell 1604, M/M M Sempey 1603, J McNaghten & Son 1601, Blair & Rankin 1600, R H Clements 1599, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1598, J & N Simpson 1597.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs

Ahoghill Flying Club 8/143 – Young McManus & Sons 1644, M/M Robinson 1628, Young McManus & Sons 1590, J Orr 1589, Young McManus & Sons 1588, D Stevenson 1572.

Ballymena & Dist 9/115 – Blair & Rankin 1652, M/M M Sempey 1651, 1645, 1632, Blair & Rankin 1619, M/M M Sempey 1610, 1606, 1603, J McNaghten & Son 1601, Blair & Rankin 1600, M/M M Sempey 1590, 1588.

Ballykeel Invitation – M/M M Sempey 1651, 1645, 1632, 1610, 1606, 1603, 1590, 1588.

Broughshane 4/46 – A Purvis 1610, J & N Simpson 1598, 1597, D Houston & Son 1590, A Purvis 1589, T & E Service 1580, D Houston & Son 1521, T & E Service 1419. Race sponsored by Hollies Injury Clinic, Ballymena Showgrounds.

Cullybackey 12/248 – Reid Bros & McCloy 1620, Russell Bros 1612, Reid Bros & McCloy 1610, A Darragh 1604, H & R McCloy 1584, A Darragh 1583, W Scott 1581, D Robinson 1580, H & R McCloy 1565, D Robinson 1556.

Harryville 7/95 – R H Clements 1617, 1599, 1596, A McBride 1586, J Ramsey 1573, L Mullan 1570, R H Clements 1565, J Millar & Son 1561, A McBride 1560, J Rock 1556.

Kells & District 9/91 – G McDowell 1645, 1644, B Swann & Son 1643, G McDowell 1615, Surgenor Bros 1605, G McDowell 1604, 1594, 1592. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – G McDowell 1615, Surgenor Bros 1605.

New Antrim Amal 3/18 – McFall & McManus 1625, 1570, 1533, MDC Magill 1521, 1514, McFall & McManus 1510, MDC Magill 1504, McGowan & Maternaghan 1422.

Randalstown 5/49 – D Logan & Son 1638, Stewart Bros 1608, D Logan & Son 1578, 1578, 1555, Stewart Bros 1547, D Logan & Son 1547, 1527.

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