‘Offaly’ good start to new season for Kells loft!

NIPA released early at 10.30am and winning birds into Mid Antrim took around three hours for the approx 125 miles from Tullamore in Co Offaly.

Kells & Dist had the best birds in the opening old bird race with Surgenor Bros who timed a yearling Cheq cock recording velocity 1226, a yard ahead of Scott & Clements.

J & M Milliken timed at 14.42hrs and were best in Rasharkin & Dist (1217) and Martin Graham was best in Ballymena. His yearling Mealy cock racing on widowhood was one of his Jacob Specials from Gerald Delaney, this bird had 2 x 1sts as a young bird. Raymond McFall & Son were best in New Antrim and Paddy McManus had a super card in Ahoghill with 8 birds in the Top 10 including the winner doing velocity 1212.

Almost 2,000 birds were competing in the Mid Antrim Combine.

Mid Antrim Combine Tullamore 94/1940 – Surgenor Bros Kells 1226, Scott & Clements Kells 1225, Scott & Clements 1221, Surgenor Bros 1218, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1217, M Graham Ballymena 1217, Surgenor Bros 1216, R McFall & Son New Antrim 1215, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1213, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1212, T R Alexander & Son Ballymena 1208, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1207, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1207, Scott & Clements 1204, Scott & Clements 1204, Scott & Clements 1203, M Smyth Kells 1202, M Smyth 1202, Scott & Clements 1201, A Darragh Cullybackey 1199, McFall & McManus New Antrim 1199, M/M M Sempey Ballymena 1198, Young McManus & Sons 1197, A Darragh 1196, Young McManus & Sons 1194, Young McManus & Sons 1192, D Dixon Rasharkin 1192, Young McManus & Sons 1192, G Connolly Broughshane 1191, G Connolly 1191.

Clubs should supply their entries for the seasons Champions League, four lofts from each member club with the Final Race from Penzance. The draw will be made in Ballymena & Dist on Friday and the first race is from Tullamore on Sat 21st April.

Ballymena – W & J Smyth, M Graham, Blair & Rankin, G & A Eagleson. Broughshane & Dist – H Smyth & Son, A Purvis, G Connolly, J & N Simpson. New Antrim Amal – M D C Magill, McFall & McManus, R McFall & Son, C Moore.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Tullamore –

Kells & Dist HPS 12/209 – Surgenor Bros 1226, Scott & Clements 1225, 1221, Surgenor Bros 1218, 1216, Scott & Clements 1204, 1204, 1203, M Smyth 1202, 1202.

Rasharkin & Dist 10/165 – J & M Milliken 1217, Steele & McNeill 1213, J & M Milliken 1189, Steele & McNeill 1182, H Cubitt 1173, A C & T Tweed 1172, H Cubitt 1156, A C & T Tweed 1155. D Dixon – 1192. 1181. Nom Harold Cubitt. Race sponsored by Noel Twaddle Contracts (Ballymoney).

Ballymena & Dist HPS 13/226 – M Graham 1217, T R Alexander & Son 1208, W & J Smyth 1207, M/M M Sempey 1198, G & A Eagleson 1189, T R Alexander & Son 1188, M Graham 1188, G Gilmour 1188, Blair & Rankin 1187, G Gilmour 1186.

Ballykeel Inv – M/M Sempey 1198, 1169, 1169, K & K Kernohan 1168, M/M Sempey 1167, K & K Kernohan 1150.

New Antrim Amal - R McFall & Son 1215, McFall & McManus 1199, M D C Magill 1185, 1174, 1174, 1174, 1159, McFall & McManus 1153, 1149, 1149. Great start to the old bird season for R Mc Fall & Son. Well done also to McFall & McManus and M.D.C Magill with impressive finishing.

Ahoghill Flying Club 11/250 – Young McManus & Sons 1212, J Smyth & Son 1207, Young McManus & Sons 1197, 1194, 1192, 1192, 1187, 1186, 1184, J Balmer 1182. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – A & N Young 1150, D Lowry & Sons 1148.

Cullybackey HPS 12/326 – A Darragh 1199, 1196, J & J Greer 1172, 1162, Russell Bros 1160, J & J Greer 1159, Reid Bros & McCloy 1151, 1151, 1149, D Robinson 1131, H & R McCloy 1130, D Robinson 1127.

Broughshane & Dist 8/188 – G Connolly 1191, 1191, H Smyth & Son 1174, J & N Simpson 1163, D Houston & Son 1157, J & N Simpson 1157, A Purvis 1149, J McNaghten & Son 1147.

Randalstown HPS 10/163 – F & G Dickey 1186, Stewart Bros 1174, Houston Bros 1158, W & W Gilbert 1156, Houston Bros 1156, Stewart Bros 1148, N Percy & Son 1142, W & W Gilbert 1138. Frank & Geoff Dickey who just started young birds last season win the opening old bird race sending just 6 birds.

Harryville HPS 11/252 – R H Clements 1169, K & K Kernohan 1168, L Mullan 1167, 1167, J Millar & Son 1162, 1162, A McBride 1158, J Rock 1157, R H Clements 1157, A McBride 1152.

Tom McAlonan Transporter - Training each week Tuesday & Thursday. Collections at Broughshane & Dist Clubrooms 9.30am until 10.00am. New Antrim Amal Clubrooms (Antrim Road) at 10.30am. Ballymena contacts - Homer Tel: 07538 238364. Tom McAlonan Tel: 07561 417232, Harry Richmond (Tuesday & Wed) Tel: 07796 304926. Homer will be covering the same route as last season, at Ballymoney Clubrooms leaving at 9.00am each day, going to Oxford Island. His collection route will include Rasharkin, Cullybackey, Ahoghill, Randalstown, Antrim and Crumlin. All details will be listed on website www.pigeonnetwork.com