Weather forces race to be rearranged

A very bad forecast received from the Met Office at lunchtime on Monday forced a rethink and plans to race Tuesday were cancelled.

Although it will not be satisfactory to many members a race at short notice was arranged for Thursday 2nd July and race marking for Corrin (2) will take place at all clubs on Wednesday evening.

The birds need all the racing they can get in preparation for the cross channel events and St Malo from France on Friday 31st July. Liberation on Thursday was at 10.30am, wind en-route to be Lt North West. Congratulations to man of the moment, Ron Williamson of Newry & District, 3 x 1st Open NIPA in just four races and over 20,000 birds each time.

NIPA Open Corrin (2) 742/21,265 –

1-1G Ron Williamson Newry & Dist 1467, 2-2G Ron Williamson 1459, 3-1C G & M Atcheson Ligoniel 1455, 4-3G J F McCabe & Son Newry & Dist 1453, 5-4G Ron Williamson 1450, 6-5G Ron Williamson 1450, 7-6G C O’Hare & Daughter Ballyholland 1448, 8-7G O Markey Ballyholland 1447, 9-8G Ron Williamson 1445, 10-9G J Smyth & Sons Drumnavaddy 1443, 11-1F K Rooney Son & Daughter Annalong 1443, 12-2C G & M Atcheson 1442, 13-1D P & J Boal Dromore 1441, 14-10G Ron Williamson 1441, 15-3C J & D Braniff Wheatfield 1441, 16-11G Ron Williamson 1440, 17-4C D McElhone Eastway 1440, 18-12G M/M G Delaney Dromore 1440, 19-13G Ron Williamson 1440, 20-14G P & C Shields Newry & Dist 1440.

Best in each NIPA Section:

Section A 60/1639 – L & W Bleeks Coalisland 1380, Danny Carolan Coalisland 1374, G & S Smith Cookstown 1359.

Section B 105/3022 – S & N Maginty Muckamore 1419, McConville Bros Crumlin & Dist 1386, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 1385.

Section C 132/3255 – G & M Atcheson Ligoniel 1458, G & M Atcheson 1442, J & D Braniff Wheatfield 1441.

Section D 82/2739 – P & J Boal Dromore 1441, J Greenaway Hills & Maze 1438, Cromie & Magee & Son Dromara 1433.

Section E 148/5061 – Sean Curran Lurgan Social 1424, Alan Craig Laurelvale 1418, G & A Campbell Armagh 1415.

Section F 55/1398 – K Rooney Son & Daughter Annalong 1443, McCartan & Woodsides Killyleagh & Dist 1438, McCartan & Woodsides 1438.

Section G 73/2992 – Ron Williamson Newry & District 1467, Ron Williamson 1459, J F McCabe & Son Newry & District 1453.

Section H 87/1159 – David Booth Mourne & Dist 1314, Alan Kelly Omagh & Dist 1295, Edward McGettigan Strabane & Dist 1292.

NIPA Race/Date

Corrin (2) Old Bird – Thursday 2nd July 2020, liberation at 10.30am wind Lt NW.

NIPA Sect A Clubs

Coalisland & District – L & W Bleeks 1380, Danny Carolan 1374, L & W Bleeks 1354, 1347, Danny Carolan 1339, B Morgan 1336.

Coleraine Premier 15/460 – J L Madden 1344, Sean Diamond 1340, J L Madden 1336, J Hanson 1334, S Diamond 1333, J Hanson 1332.

Coleraine & County Derry - Terence McCrudden 1328, 1303, David Platt 1295.

Cookstown Social – G & S Smith 1359, S Marshall 1357, G Marshall 1338, 1338, K Morton & Sons 1336, G & S Smith 1328.

Castledawson – Sam Watson 1328, 1300, Lynn & Leacock 1280.

Dungannon – Isbaner Barttec 1323, 1285, G & H Boyd 1285, J & J Sampson 1269, Isbaner Barttec 1250, C Reid 1245.

Windsor Social 16/415 – A & M Boyle 1344, R & J Parke 1337, K Glass 1328, 1326, T Scott & Son 1319, A & M Boyle 1319.

NIPA Sect H Clubs

Amelia Earhart 12/93 - Fox & McGlinchey 1215, 1197, Jimmy Quigley & Son 1195, Hugh Hegarty 1182, Mickey Rabbett 1166, Hugh Hegarty 1120. Congratulations to Fox & McGlinchey on winning this week, also lifting the pools.

Derry & District 13/207 – A McCrudden 1259, J & G Ramsey 1259, A McCrudden 1244, P O’Donnell 1214, D Canning 1211, J & G Ramsey 1197.

Foyle RPS – Paul Maxwell 1188, B Page 1172, B Harte 1157.

Limavady – Ronnie Witherow 1233, 1232, 1207.

Londonderry PRS 6/58 – M McGrath 1270, 1211, L Flanagan & Son 1185, 1131, D Kelly 1104, B Houston 1071. Congratulations and very well done to new member Michael McGrath, breaking his novice status in style by taking 1st & 2nd in the Waterside. Well done Michael.

Maiden City 8/90 – T Rodgers 1226, R & G Martin 1224, P McLaughlin 1213, R & G Martin 1186, P McLaughlin 1179, P & M Healy 1164. Tougher fly, well done Tony – Great Flying.

Mourne & District – David Booth 1314, 1285, 1285, T Taggart 1282, 1282, David Booth 1281.

Omagh & District – Alan Kelly 1295, Ken Armstrong 1280, Alan Kelly 1275, Glen Quinn 1272, Ken Armstrong 1266, Glen Quinn 1249.

Strabane & District 19/220 – Eddie McGettigan 1292, 1286, 1246, Raymond Monteith 1228, Raymond McAteer 1214, 1194. This week Eddie made it four from four with a great performance having 6 in the Top 10. The cock that won it has now two x 1st clubs and a 3rd and has some impressive section results including 2nd, 3rd, and 8th and has won the Foyle Valley Combine result twice. His 2nd pigeon has 1 x 1st and 2 x 2nds this year and has a 3rd and 2 x 4th Sections, these pigeons are two full brothers. Eddie is looking forward to the channel now next weekend to see if he can keep it going, also well done to all in the results in a tough but steady race.

NIPA Sect B Clubs

Ahoghill Flying Club 9/262 – M/M Robinson 1385, 1354, Young McManus & Sons 1354, 1353, 1353, 1347, 1344, 1343, M/M Robinson 1341, 1338. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club M/M Robinson 1354, 1338.

Ballymena & District 10/291 – W & J Smyth 1374, R Service & Son 1373, Blair & Rankin 1369, J Eagleson & Sons 1347, 1347, R Service & Son 1342. William & Joe Smyth have the winner this week and also the best bird in the town and runner up spot in the Combine. The winning blue yearling cock timed at 14.56pm for the 208 mile fly is Coopman x Jackie Traynor of Co. Durham. Club Chairman Robert Service and son Robin who is Treasurer are runners up just decimals points behind. Four races flown and four different winners, big competition.

Ballymoney HPS 23/760 – D & H Stuart 1374, 1373, D Dixon 1370, 1346, J Connolly 1327, D Devenney 1323. Congratulations to D and H Stuart on winning the 2nd Corrin with 760 birds competing.

Dervock RPS 8/328 – D & H Stuart 1374, 1373, D Devenney 1323, 1316, D & G McMullan 1302, C McCook 1282.

Ballymoney West Combine 8/252 – L Neill 1320, M Gamble & Son 1318, J McDowell & Sons 1305, W Blair 1283, Brown & Stewart 1242, Curry & Gilmore 1228.

Broughshane & District 7/204 – T & M Morrow 1347, A Purvis 1344, D Houston & Son 1320, 1318, T & M Morrow 1316, R Wylie 1281.

Cullybackey HPS – A Darragh 1364, 1348, 1339.

Crumlin & District – McConville Bros 1386, 1382, Fleming Bros 1375, McConville Bros 1373, 1372, 1370.

Harryville HPS 12/287 – J Rock 1371, K & K Kernohan 1368, J Rock 1365, A McBride 1364, R H Clements 1354, J Rock 1343. Jimmy rock wins Harryville for the 2nd time with the same pigeon as the first race well done Jimmy.

Kells & District 7/200 – Surgenor Bros 1369, B Swann & Son 1367, H Boyd 1363, Surgenor Bros 1362, B Swann & Son 1360, H Boyd 1357. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – H Boyd, 1348, B Swann & Son 1343, 1328, C & D Jackson 1302, McFarlane & Agnew 1278. The members of Kells & Dist regret the death of the sister of their Chairman Harry Boyd and extend their sympathy to Harry and the family circle.

Muckamore HPS 10/271 – S & N Maginty 1419, A Steele 1375, S & N Maginty 1373, T Patterson & Son 1371, A Steele 1368, S & J Bones & T Yates 1346. Well done Sammy Maginty and Norman on winning today’s race in Muckamore HPS from Corrin. Same bird wins 1st Sect B for the second time this year, well clear.

Randalstown HPS 9/246 – J Millar 1355, 1344, 1320, Houston Bros 1308, W & W Gilbert 1302, Stewart Bros 1300.

Rasharkin & District 7/196 – H Cubitt 1352, J & M Milliken 1330, F Barkley 1317, T Whyte 1312, J & M Milliken 1310, W McFetridge 1302. Danny Dixon – 1370, 1346, 1335, 1335. Well done to the Chairman Harold Cubitt, he wins for the 3rd time this season with one from club-mate Jackie Steele, a famous Lambrechts.

NIPA Sect E Clubs

Annaghmore HPS – P Boyd 1408, 1401, G Buckley & Son 1398, 1393, Calvin & Calvin 1392, P Boyd 1390.

Armagh HPS 11/290 – G & A Campbell 1415, 1415, D C & P McArdle 1402, G & A Campbell 1385, 1384. J Campbell 1376.

Beechpark Social – D Mawhinney & Son 1393, 1390, 1383.

Blackwatertown HPS – R & G & G Donaldson 1365, 1359, Joe Brown 1350.

Bondhill Social – David Calvin 1401, 1401, 1400, Capper Bros 1387, David Calvin 1381, 1379.

Edgarstown 11/341 – S & E Buckley 1394, 1367, 1367, J Trotter 1366, P Hope 1365, J Trotter 1364. Pools 1st S & E Buckley, 2nd J Trotter. Super performance from the Buckley partnership today with six in the Top 10 and their second win of the season with the same hen who previously won Gorwan Park. Well done lads and to all in the result.

Gilford & District – C & H Beattie 1394, Rafferty & Toman 1394, G O’Dowd 1392, A Feeney & Son 1390.

Laurelvale 9/338 – Alan Craig 1418, 1395, 1383, 1381, 1381, C Duke & Sons 1374.

Loughgall – J McGeary 1404, 1398, N Weir 1382, 1376, 1375, J McGeary 1369.

Lurgan Social – Rodney Adamson 1438, 1437, Sean Curran 1424, Rodney Adamson 1415, 1415, 1404. Great flying by Rodney Adamson Lurgan Social first and second from Corrin. Just received a phone call from Sean Curran from Lurgan Social to tell me about his latest winner and here is the story of his success.

In 2017 I was asked to put up the top prize of 6, 2018 bred young birds at the INFC National show which I did without hesitation. Sean Curran was the lucky winner and following a phone call to Sean after the show we arranged a time for the following year when he could collect his prize.

I met Sean and we went through the six young birds in detail. I had picked out a stunning Blue Pied hen which I told him that I felt would do him a turn on the road. I even recommended putting a pair away for breeding.

Well last week the NIPA were racing from Corrin and the wee Pied hen “70” did just that. Sean won 1st club 1st Section E 57th Open from 21,265 birds. Breeding of Sean’s winner is from my multiple winning family of Hereman Cuesters. Many thanks to Sean for the phone call. Gary Jennings.

Markethill – J & H Muldrew & McMurray 1391, 1365, 1365, 1365, P McCall 1353, J & H Muldrew & McMurray 1352.

Monaghan 13/360 – P McFadden 1409, K Allister 1406, Cooney Bros 1402, K Allister 1399, 1387, 1385.

Portadown & Drumcree 12/360 – J Whitten & Son 1398, 1397, Larkin Bros 1391, J Geary & Son 1390, Larkin Bros 1389, J Whitten & Son 1381. 2 Bird Club – J Whitten & Son, J Geary & Son. Nomination won by J Geary & Son.

Wilton Cross 7/166 – Joe Brown 1344, G Douglas 1375, M Duggan & Son 1372, G Douglas 1372, J Brown 1371, 1368. Congratulations to big Joe Brown on taking the spoils from Corrin and to all in the result. Joe wins his second race with the same bird, a Soontjen 1st Club Tullamore and now 1st Club Corrin.

Antrim Update - Due to weather problems over the last weekend race marking for the Corrin (2) event, the fourth race in the old bird season was firstly delayed and then re-arranged for Tuesday. A very bad forecast received from the Met Office at lunchtime on Monday forced a rethink and plans to race Tuesday were cancelled. Although it will not be satisfactory to many members a race at short notice was arranged for Thursday 2nd July and race marking for Corrin (2) took place at all clubs on Wednesday evening. The birds need all the racing they can get in preparation for the cross channel events and St Malo from France on Friday 31st July.

Liberation on Thursday was at 10.30am, wind en-route to be Lt North West. The NIPA gave racing a miss for the second weekend in a row and will race mark early on Monday with the possible liberation in Barleycove on Tuesday 7th July for the seasons OB Inland National.

From Corrin (2) the big early local bird was timed in Muckamore HPS, the S & N Maginty team timed the same bird as won 1st Sect B in the opening race from Tullamore to again win 1st Section B.

Ballymena Update – With ongoing weather problems at present it’s a case of chop and change. First we had the Thursday race from Corrin and then no race planned for either Saturday or Sunday. The Old Bird Inland Nat was to be at the start of this week and on Saturday evening due to a poor forecast from Met Erin it was brought forward to have the race marking on Sunday with a possible liberation on Monday not from Barleycove but Skibbereen which is easier got to.

All being well later in the week the birds will be race marked for the first cross channel event and many lofts are looking forward to Talbenny on Saturday.

The big early bird locally on Thursday was timed in the Ahoghill Flying Club by Mr & Mrs Robinson, they lifted the big prize of 1st MAC from Corrin (2), a loft getting ready for the water.

Feds & Combines Update

Corrin in Co Cork was the venue for the fourth old bird race of the season. Birds were liberated on Thursday 2nd July at 10.30am in a north west wind. Taking top spot this week in the Mid Antrim Combine are the husband and wife partnership of Lawrence and Heather Robinson of Ahoghill FC. They timed their winning 2 year old chequer roundabout hen at 14.50pm flying 204 miles to their tidy lofts on the Glebe Road in Ahoghill. The bird had two races as a youngster and raced steady as a yearling winning a couple of club prizes and was 3rd bird the previous week. Sire is Willy van Herck from P & J Boal of Dromore in Co Down and dam is a cross of Vandenabeele from Harry Boyd of Kells and Janssen from Heather’s dad Willy Greer. Another top result from last season’s Champion League and old bird Knock-Out winners in the Mid Antrim Combine. Mervyn Eagleson PO.

After four races Associate member Jimmy Rock has a clear lead in the race for OB Points Fancier of the Year. Ballymena lofts of Johnston Eagleson and Blair & Rankin are next best followed by this week’s Combine winners Mr & Mrs Robinson of Ahoghill. Top 10 - J Rock Associate 94, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 58, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 48, Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 39, Harry Boyd Kells 28, R H Clements Associate 24, G Gibson Associate 22, A McBride Associate 22, R Service & Son Ballymena 20, Young & McManus Ahoghill 19.

Entries are being gathered up for the seasons Champions League and Old Bird Knock-out competitions, both finals will be arranged from Penzance or alternative. Remember the Champions League operates as a league for inland racing and Knock-out over the cross channel season. So far we have the following lofts confirmed. Ballymena & Dist have Blair & Rankin, J Eagleson & Sons, W & J Smyth and R Service & Son. Ahoghill have Mr & Mrs Robinson, Young McManus & Sons, J Smyth & Son and Chris Moore. Kells & Dist have Surgenor Bros, C & D Jackson, Harry Boyd and Henry Turkington. Randalstown HPS have John Millar, Stewart Bros, Hugh Boyd and N Percy & Son.

Mid Antrim Combine Corrin (2) – Mr & Mrs Robinson Ahoghill 1385, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1374, R Service & Son Ballymena 1373, J Rock Associate 1371, D Dixon Rasharkin 1370, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1369, Surgenor Bros Kells 1369, J Rock 1365, A McBride Associate 1364, Harry Boyd Kells 1363, Surgenor Bros 1362, Harry Boyd 1357, Harry Boyd 1356, John Millar Randalstown 1355, Mr & Mrs Robinson 1354, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1354, R H Clements Associate 1354, Young McManus & Sons 1353, Young McManus & Sons 1351, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1352.

Coleraine Triangle Corrin (2) – J L Madden Coleraine Prem 1344, A & M Boyle Windsor Soc 1344, S Diamond Coleraine Prem 1340, R & J Parke Windsor Soc 1337, J L Madden 1336, J Hanson Coleraine Prem 1334, S Diamond 1333, J Hanson 1332, D Coyle & Son Coleraine Prem 1329, K Glass Windsor Soc 1328, T McCrudden Coleraine & Co Derry 1328, K Glass 1326, L Hanson & Son Coleraine Prem 1322, T Scott & Son Windsor Soc 1319, A & M Boyle 1319, P O’Connor Coleraine Prem 1318, R McCann Windsor Soc 1318R McAlary Coleraine Prem 1315, K Glass 1312, S Diamond 1312.

Foyle Valley Combine Corrin (2) – E McGettigan Strabane 1292, E McGettigan 1286, M McGrath Londonderry 1270, A McCrudden Derry & District 1259, J & G Ramsey Derry & Dist 1259, E McGettigan 1246, A McCrudden 1244, R Monteith Strabane 1228, T Rodgers Maiden City 1226, R & G Martin Maiden City 1224, Fox & McGlinchey Amelia Earhart 1215, P O’Donnell Derry & Dist 1214, R McAteer Strabane 1214, P McLaughlin Maiden City 1213, D Canning Derry & Dist 1211, M McGrath Londonderry 1211, Fox & McGlinchey 1197, J & G Ramsey 1197, J Quigley & Son Amelia Earhart 1195, R McAteer 1194.

City of Derry Federation Corrin (2) - M McGrath Londonderry 1270, A McCrudden Derry & District 1259, J & G Ramsey Derry & Dist 1259, A McCrudden 1244, T Rodgers Maiden City 1226, R & G Martin Maiden City 1224, Fox & McGlinchey Amelia Earhart 1215, P O’Donnell Derry & Dist 1214, P McLaughlin Maiden City 1213, D Canning Derry & Dist 1211, M McGrath Londonderry 1211, Fox & McGlinchey 1197, J & G Ramsey 1197, J Quigley & Son Amelia Earhart 1195, P Maxwell Foyle 1188.