Comeback race attracts almost 15,000 birds

Weekend winners in Harryville HPS, Robert Service (l) and Jimmy Rock.

Section winners filled the top three places with 1st Open winner the ace Ahoghill partnership of Young McManus & Sons. Their Blue cock bred from Louis Thijs direct stock was timed at 11.57am to record velocity 1428 for the 144 miles to Croft Lofts in Ahoghill.

NIPA Race/Date

Roscrea Comeback – 14/05/16, Lib 9.00am wind Lt East

Strabane winner from Tullamore David Devine.

NIPA Open Roscrea Comeback 575/14,747: 1-1B Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1428, 2-1H D Mullan Strabane 1423, 3-1A K Murphy Coalisland 1422, 4-2A G & S Smith Cookstown 1419, 5-3A G & S Smith 1417, 6-2B J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1415, 7-4A G & S Smith 1414, 8-1D Kemp & McBride 1411, 9-2D Kemp & McBride 1411, 10-1C J & D Braniff Colin 1411, 11-2C D & J Campbell 1410, 12-3D Kemp & McBride 1410, 13-4D Kemp & McBride 1409, 14-3B M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1404, 15-5A G & S Smith 1403, 16-3C Beggs & Hall Larne 1403, 17-4C Beggs & Hall 1402, 18-4B J Hutchinson & Son Ballymoney 1402, 19-5C K & S Doherty Larne 1401, 20-6C S Maginty 1401.

Section A 53/1268 – K Murphy Coalisland 1422, G & S Smith Cookstown 1419, G & S Smith 1417, G & S Smith 1414, G & S Smith 1403, G & S Smith 1401, G & S Smith 1400, G & S Smith 1400, G & S Smith 1399, G & S Smith 1399.

NIPA Sect A Clubs

Coalisland & District 12/342 – K Murphy 1422, E Grew 1397, K Murphy 1373, S Hughes 1371.

Jeff Surgenor has won last 2 weeks in Kells & District.

Coleraine Premier 21/503 – Hanson & Harpur 1398, Diamond Bros 1397, Hanson & Harpur 1397, J L Madden 1389.

Coleraine & County Derry – T McCrudden 1393, Mrs B McCrudden 1383, S Thompson 1176.

Cookstown Social – G & S Smith 1419, 1417, 1414, 1403.

Castledawson – Lynn & Leacock 1366, 1364, R Dunseath 1337.

Rosie and Paddy McManus from Ahoghill with the winner of 1st Open NIPA Roscrea.

Section H 70/1089 – D Mullan Strabane 1423, A Hall Omagh 1395, A Hall 1393, A Kelly Omagh 1378, T Booth Mourne 1372, A Kelly 1371, D Booth Mourne 1364, J Ramsey & Son Derry & Dist 1349, P & M Healy Maiden City 1348, L Flanagan & Son Londonderry 1345.

NIPA Sect H Clubs

Amelia Earhart 11/76 – L McCloskey 1296, M & M Rabbett 1293, 1291, M Gill 1275.

Derry & District 17/215 – G & J Ramsey 1349, A McCrudden 1332, D Canning 1331, A McCrudden 1315.

Foyle RPS – P Maxwell 1335, 1319, 1290, Malone & McKinney 1273.

Limavady – R Witherow 1317, L Miller 1306, R Witherow 1293.

Londonderry PRS - L Flanagan & Son 1345, Wick & Murray 1307, L Flanagan & Son 1291.

Maiden City 19/253 – P & M Healy 1348, R & G Martin 1325, T & A & D Morrison 1316.

Mourne & District 6/189 – T Booth 1372, D Booth 1364, 1337, 1336.

Omagh & District – A Hall 1395, 1393, A Kelly 1378.

Strabane & District 8/171 – D Mullen 1423, D McNulty 1345, 1343, 1342. Well done Dessie. The Strabane district racing pigeon club birds were in Tullamore on 16th April. The birds were liberated at 9:30am into a north west wind. This was a good tight race and a well deserved win for another new partnership of Devine and Harper. This was David’s first win since he joined the club three years ago.

Section B 98/2462 – Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1428, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1415, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1404, J Hutchinson & Son Ballymoney 1402, J & M Milliken 1390, Young McManus & Sons 1388, Young McManus & Sons 1388, J McDowell & Sons Ballymoney 1383, D Devenney Ballymoney 1382, Young McManus & Sons 1381.

NIPA Sect B Clubs

Ahoghill Flying Club 10/279 – Young McManus & Sons 1428, M/M Robinson 1404, Young McManus & Sons 1388, 1388. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – M/M Robinson 1404, Young McManus & Sons 1348.

Ballymena & District 16/347 – J Eagleson & Sons 1377, Blair & Rankin 1363, G & A Eagleson 1360, J Eagleson & Sons 1349.

Ballymoney HPS 23/662 – J Hutchinson & Son 1402, J McDowell & Sons 1383, D Devenney 1382, D & H Stuart 1353.

Ballymoney West Combine – J Hutchinson & Son 1402, J McDowell & Sons 1383, L Neill 1343, W Blair 1284.

Dervock RPS 8/308 - J Hutchinson & Son 1402, D Devenney 1382, D & H Stuart 1353, A & M Boyle 1349.

Broughshane & District 6/117 – T & M Morrow 1358, J Simpson 1341, 1340, T & M Morrow 1321.

Cullybackey HPS 13/369 – Reid Bros & McCloy 1380, A Darragh 1380, J & J Greer 1376, Reid Bros & McCloy 1369.

Harryville HPS – R Service & Son 1340, MDC Magill 1333, R H Clements 1331, MDC Magill 1329.

Muckamore 8/260 – A & E Bell 1355, 1320, T Fleming 1309, 1308.

New Antrim Amal – K Wilkinson & Son 1252, 1236, McFall & McManus 1278.

Randalstown HPS 5/110 – Houston Bros 1357, J McNeill & Son 1352, Houston Bros 1336, 1327.

Rasharkin & District HPS 10/225 – J & M Milliken 1415, 1390, J McLean 1386, T Kaczynski 1372. D Dixon 1346, 1325.

Section E 113/3516 – D Calvin Bondhill 1400, E Grew Coalisland 1397, A Craig Laurelvale 1394, A Craig 1394, T McClean Annaghmore 1381, D Carville & Son Wilton Cross 1381, B & A Beattie Bondhill 1381, A Craig 1381, A Craig 1381, T McClean 1380.

NIPA Sect E Clubs

Annaghmore 6/320 – T McClean 1381, 1380, B & M McGilly 1372, 1371.

Armagh – D C & P McArdle 1370, G & A Campbell 1362, 1356.

Beechpark Social 11/417 – G McEvoy 1357, 1357, 1331, 1330. 2 Bird Club – G McEvoy 1331, D Mawhinney & Son 1306, G McEvoy 1330.

Bondhill Social – D Calvin 1400, B & A Beattie 1381, D Calvin 1373, 1373.

Laurelvale – A Craig 1394, 1394, 1381, 1381.

Loughgall – N Weir 1374, 1367, 1367, 1367.

Lurgan Social – J Douglas & Son 1359, 1359, 1343.

Markethill – P McCall 1357, A Humphries & Son 1333, K & R Black 1326, P McCall 1323.

Monaghan - G Swift 1375, B Corley 1351, Allister & Kruger 1350.

Portadown & Drumcree 3/76 – Larkin Bros 1362, 1348, 1338, 1316.

Wilton Cross – D Carville & Son 1381, G Douglas 1337, D Carville & Son 1318, 1313.

Borough of Ballymena Update - Best birds in the Ballymena area were timed in Ahoghill, another fantastic card for Paddy McManus with five early birds, Mr & Mrs Robinson were a close runner-up and looking forward to the cross channel races. Reid Bros & McCloy were 1st Cullybackey with Alan Darragh on the same yard and J Eagleson & Sons completed a good day with another first in Ballymena.

Mid Antrim Update – The comeback race at the weekend was flown from Roscrea and despite the collection problems a good entry was sent from local lofts with birds collected late Friday at Cullybackey and Harryville where good help was available. What a result for Paddy McManus in Ahoghill Flying Club, the ace racer locally won 1st MAC, 1st Sect B & 1st Open NIPA with 14,747 birds competing. His yearling Blue cock was timed at 11.57hrs to record velocity 1428 flying to The Croft in Ahoghill some 144 miles. This late bred was well trained last year and this season had every race, showing for the first time in this race. He was driving the hen another from the direct Louis Thijs stock 3rd Club in this race and a previous winner from Fermoy. The birds are trained twice a week from Banbridge, this loft is the one to beat every week!

MAC Roscrea – Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1428, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1415, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1404, J & M Milliken 1390, Young McManus & Sons 1388, Young McManus & Sons 1388, Young McManus & Sons 1381, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1377, Young McManus & Sons 1373, T Kaczynski Rasharkin 1372, T Kaczynski 1372, T Kaczynski 1372, T Kaczynski 1371, J & M Milliken 1368, A C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1363.

North West Review – In the comeback race from Roscrea the best bird in Coleraine was timed by Hanson & Harpur of the Coleraine Premier recording velocity 1398, just clear of Diamond Bros by one yard. Best bird in the local area was timed by J & M Milliken of Rasharkin (1415) while J Hutchinson & Son had 1st Ballymoney HPS, 1st Dervock and 1st Ballymoney West Combine.

Coleraine Triangle Roscrea - Hanson & Harpur 1398, Diamond Bros 1397, Hanson & Harpur 1397, T McCrudden Co Derry 1393, J L Madden 1389, Mrs B McCrudden Co Derry 1383, E & D Tosh 1374, J L Madden 1369, R Montgomery 1363, Hanson & Harpur 1361, J L Madden 1361, JL Madden 1360, Hanson & Harpur 1359, Hanson & Harpur 1359, T & J McDonald 1354.