Eagleson loft best from Skibbereen Yearling National
The Nipa Skibbereen Yearling National was flown on Tuesday 18th June when the birds were liberated at 9.30am in north north easterly winds. It turned out another tough race with the local velocities in the 1100's. Winning the Mid Antrim Combine for the fourth time this season were Johnston Eagleson & Sons of the Ballymena & District club. They timed their cheq cock at 15.59pm flying 260 miles to the Cullybackey Road loft's to record 1176 ypm. Their first three birds timed winning 1st, 6th & 10th Combine and 4th, 10th & 14th Section were all the same way bred, the second bird won the Combine from 2nd Fermoy and the third bird has been placed 3rd, 4th, 6th, 10th, 16th & 23rd Combine this season. The sire was a gift from Paddy & William McManus of Ahoghill and is Van den Brande x a daughter of Danny Dixon's Champion Heartbreaker while the dam is a self bred, Herman Custer x a Van Den Bulck granddaughter of Kittel.
Runner up in the Combine was the Kells & District winner Harry Boyd on 1167. Harry who is having a great run of wins at the moment timed a blue cheq hen bred by Sam Ogle. Gary Gibson was best in Cullybackey and placed 3rd Combine on 1161 with a red cock bred from a son of the "Golden Couple" when paired to "Megan" 1st Section Talbenny YB National for Gary and bred by Derek Parr. Steele & McNeill topped Rasharkin on 1157 with a black cock bred from a son of his "38 Cock" when paired to a daughter of "02". This is one of Jackie's top pairs having bred many winners and a Section A bird of the year. Roy Clements was best in Harryville on 1068 and Jimmy Smyth & Son had the winner in Ahoghill on 1034. Mervyn Eagleson PO.
Mid Antrim Combine Skibbereen Yearling National - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1176, Harry Boyd Kells 1167, G Gibson Cullybackey 1161, D Dixon Rasharkin 1160, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1157, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1153, A Darragh Cullybackey 1153, G Gibson Cullybackey 1153, Harry Boyd Kells 1148, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1142, D Dixon Rasharkin 1141, A Darragh Cullybackey 1119, Surgenor Bros Kells 1113, G Gibson Cullybackey 1109, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1101, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1099, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1098, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1090, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1084, D Dixon Rasharkin 1082, D Dixon Rasharkin 1077, A Darragh Cullybackey 1075, G Gibson Cullybackey 1074, G Gibson Cullybackey 1069, R H Clements Ballymena 1068 , A Darragh Cullybackey 1068, W McFetridge Rasharkin 1066, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1066, D Dixon Rasharkin 1042, A Darragh Cullybackey 1041.
NIPA Section B Skibbereen Yearling Nat 32/227 – S & N Maginty West End 1200, 1184, T & J McDonald Coleraine Prem 1177, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1176, H Boyd Kells & Dist 1167, G Gibson Cullybackey 1151, D & H Stuart Ballymoney 1161, D Dixon Ballymoney 1160, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin & Dist 1157, J Eagleson & Sons 1153.
Cullybackey Centre – J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1176, H Boyd Kells 1167, G Gibson Cullybackey 1161, J Eagleson & Sons 1153, A Darragh Cullybackey 1153, G Gibson 1153, H Boyd 1148, J Eagleson & Sons 1142, A Darragh 1119, Surgenor Bros Kells 1113.
Ballymoney Centre – D & H Stuart Ballymoney 1161, D Dixon Ballymoney 1160, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1157, D Dixon 1141, J Connolly Ballymoney 1129, A & M Boyle Ballymoney 1111, D & H Stuart 1107, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1101, D & H Stuart 1097, A & M Boyle 1096.
Johnston Eagleson with his Mid Antrim Combine winner from Skibbereen Yearling National.