Simple for Simon as he claims Mid-Antrim win

FERMOY site was not available at the weekend and the NIPA decided to use Clonmel, liberation on Saturday 26th May was at the early time of 7.30am in an East NE wind.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jun 2012, 15:26 BST

It was a steady enough race although the birds took a little longer than expected. The best bird locally was timed in Randalstown by Simon Millar who had a fantastic card, the winner a Blue cock racing on widowhood was timed at 11.22am recording velocity 1336 for the 176 miles.

Next best Allen McBride of Harryville timed at 11.29am flying 181 miles to the Antrim Road in Ballymena recording velocity 1335. This winner a 2 year old Blue Pied cock was his “Blue Star” an ace racer, already a winner of 1st Sect in the Rosscarbery Yearling Cocks Nat and 2nd Sect from Pilmore Beach.

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George McDowell was with the early birds straight on line to win 1st Kells & Dist (1334), Alan Darragh has another 1st Cullybackey (1321), and Mr & Mrs Robinson 1st Ahoghill Flying Club (1303). Most of the birds were home before clocks were run off.

The inland racing has been first class, next week we move into the cross channel programme with the first race from Talbenny in South Wales.

Mid Antrim Combine Clonmel (2) 110/2613 – S Millar Randalstown 1336, A McBride Harryville 1335, G McDowell Kells 1334, A Darragh Cullybackey 1321, A Darragh 1318, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1311, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1303, J Harris Ballymena 1302, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1296, J Rock Harryville 1289, D Dixon Rasharkin 1288, Milliken & Barkley Rasharkin 1287, Mrs M Smyth Kells 1287, Steele & McNeill 1287, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1285, Mrs M Smyth 1285, A Darragh 1284, McFall & McManus New Antrim 1281, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1280, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1279, Steele & McNeill 1279, H Boyd Kells 1279, K & K Kernohan Harryville 1277, J Balmer Ahoghill 1277, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1275, Milliken & Barkley 1275, J McNaghten & Son Ballymena 1275, Scott & Clements Kells 1274, S Millar 1273, H Boyd Kells 1273.

MAC Champions League 2012 – There was a big scramble for places in the final week of the Champions League with the final race last weekend from Clonmel, some top results came just too late. The Knock-Out stage will commence next weekend at Talbenny (1) and we have some very interesting competition. All four Ballymena & Dist lofts will be represented, three for Kells, 2 each for Cullybackey, Ahoghill and New Antrim, and one place each for Harryville, Randalstown and Rasharkin.

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Champions League Update Week (6): The sixth race for the Mid Antrim Champions League was from Clonmel last Saturday, the winners of each group were Alan Darragh Cullybackey 130 Points, Harry Boyd Kells 96 Points, Martin Graham Ballymena 72 Points and Danny Dixon Rasharkin 86 Points. The Points Score after Week (6): Sect (1) A – A Darragh 130 Points, W & J Smyth 93 Points, Scott & Clements 92 Points, Stewart Bros 45 Points. Missing out A McBride 42 Points, M/M Robinson 21 Points, H Cubitt 13 Points, A Purvis and C Moore. Sect (2) B – Harry Boyd 96 Points, J Smyth & Son 47 Points, J Rock 35 Points, Blair & Rankin 19 Points. Missing out J & M Milliken 2 Points, Hugh Boyd, H Smyth & Son, Russell Bros and R McFall & Son. Sect (3) C – M Graham 72 Points, Surgenor Bros 47 Points, MDC Magill 41 Points, Reid Bros & McCloy 20 Points. Missing out Milliken & Barkley 16 Points, G Connolly 14 Points, L Mullan 5 Points, A & N Young and N Percy & Son. Sect (4) D - D Dixon 86 Points, Young McManus & Sons 62 Points, G & A Eagleson 47 Points, McFall & McManus 38 Points. Missing out G McDowell 31 Points, Houston Bros 19 Points, J & N Simpson 16 Points, R H Clements 15 Points and J & J Greer 4 Points.

The Mid Antrim knock-out matches for the Round 2 at Talbenny (1) are: A Darragh v MDC Magill, Young McManus & Sons v Blair & Rankin, Harry Boyd v G & A Eagleson, W & J Smyth v Reid Bros & McCloy, M Graham v Scott & Clements, J Smyth & Son v McFall & McManus, D Dixon v J Rock, Surgenor Bros v Stewart Bros.

Note the arrangements for the NIPA Yearling Cocks & Hens Nat, Cullybackey Centre will open on Friday evening 1st June between 8.30pm and 9.30pm to collect the Club Cheque etc. Race marking will be in Cullybackey on Monday 4th June between 2.00pm and 4.00pm and clocks will be made ready after the transporter departs.

The NIPA Yearling Nat is due to be flown on Tuesday 5th June, the Bank Holiday long weekend. The birds for St Malo will be marked one day earlier on Tuesday 26th June, more details on this later. Ballymena & Dist will collect the fees for the Yearling Nat on Thursday night at the Talbenny marking.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs

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Randalstown 13/280 – S Millar 1336, 1273, 1273, 1270, 1269, 1265, Stewart Bros 1260, S Millar 1259.

Harryville 14/293 – A McBride 1335, J Rock 1289, K & K Kernohan 1277, J Rock 1268, R H Clements 1264, 1263, J Rock 1244, J Millar & Son 1235, R Service & Son 1231, L Mullan 1230.

Kells & District 14/323 – G McDowell 1334, M Smyth 1287, 1285, H Boyd 1279, Scott & Clements 1274, H Boyd 1273, Surgenor Bros 1269, H Boyd 1268, Scott & Clements 1267, G McDowell 1266.

Cullybackey 16/526 – A Darragh 1321, 1318, Reid Bros & McCloy 1296, H & R McCloy 1271, W Elliott 1268, Reid Bros & McCloy 1254, L Davidson 1242, J & J Greer 1242, Russell Bros 1240, J & J Greer 1239.

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Ahoghill Flying Club 12/278 – M/M Robinson 1303, J Balmer 1277, Young McManus & Sons 1269, 1267, J Smyth & Son 1266, Young McManus & Sons 1256, D Stevenson 1255, Young McManus & Sons 1251.

Ballymena & Dist 15/280 – J Harris 1302, W & J Smyth 1279, J McNaghten & Son 1275, W & J Smyth 1270, J Harris 1268, G & A Eagleson 1267, J McNaghten & Son 1264, G Gilmour 1253, McAlonan Bros 1250, Blair & Rankin 1245.

New Antrim Amal 7/207 – McFall & McManus 1281, C Moore 1259, 1247, 1246, R McFall & Son 1241, 1241, C Moore 1234, 1231, R McFall & Son 1227, C Moore 1223.

Broughshane 9/230 – J & N Simpson 1275, 1270, G Connolly 1270, 1256, D Houston & Son 1246, 1244, A Purvis 1230, 1226.