1st Roscrea YB - Sat 02/08/25

[willie reynolds]

NIPA Open Success for Gilbert & Wayne McBride -

The third race off the NIPA Young Bird Programme, seen a fleet of Transporters
belonging to the Mighty NIPA descend on one off the oldest towns in Southern
Ireland namely Roscrea, it’s a race point that’s bang in the middle off the Southern
Ireland map and has proved an excellent release point now for several years. Looking
back over last years result, members and pigeons competing are slightly down. Like
last year the convoy off 14,578 pigeons sent by 424 members were liberated early in a
Southwest Wind. Topping the Mighty NIPA this week also finishing runner-up are
the Drumnavaddy father and son team of Gilbert &; Wayne McBride, who finish 1st and 2 nd Section G and 1st and 2nd Open NIPA. Well Done, Gents.

NIPA Race/Date - 1st Roscrea Y/Birds flown Sat 2 nd August 2025 Liberated at 9.00amin a S/W Wind.

NIPA Open Result 1st Roscrea Y/Birds 424 members sent 14,578 pigeons. 1 st (1G)
Gilbert McBride & Son, Drumnavaddy 1697, 2 nd (2G) Gilbert McBride & Son 1695,
3 rd (1E) J & E Calvin, Annaghmore 1692, 4 th (3G) S Ogle, Drumnavaddy 1689, 5 th
(1D) John Turner, Harmony 1685, 6 th (2E) Rafferty & Toman, Gilford & District
1684, 7 th (1C) Knocker & Bill, Muckamore 1684, 8 th (3E) Rafferty & Toman 1684, 9 th
(4E) J & E Calvin 1681, 10 th (2D) John Turner 1681, 11 th (4G) Mark Maguire & Son,
Newry & District 1678, 12 th (5E) A Feeney & Son, Gilford & District 1676, 13 th (6E)
G Calvin & Son, Annaghmore 1675, 14 th (7E) C, J & B Ferris, Lurgan Social 1674,
15 th (8E) J Douglas & Son, Lurgan Social 1673, 16 th (9E) J Douglas & Son 1672, 17 th
(10E) J H Muldrew & McMurray, Laurelvale 1671, 18 th (11E) C, J & B Ferris 1671,
19 th (12E) Davy Calvin, Bondhill Social 1662, 20 th (13E) Richard McCracken,
Edgarstown 1660.
NIPA Section A Result 1 st Roscrea Y/Birds 38 members sent 1,196 pigeons – 1 st B
McLernon, Coalisland & District 1630; 2 nd J Hanson, Coleraine Premier 1578; 3 rd Lee
Smyth, Meadows 1578, 4 th & 5 th J Hanson 1577, 1577, 6 th L Hanson, Coleraine
Premier 1577, 7 th Siobhan McLaughlin, Meadows 1574, 8 th & 9 th D Carolan,
Coalisland & District 1573, 1573, 10 th P McGirr, Coalisland & District 1569.

Novice Success for Brian from Roscrea !!
It’s not often now that you touch base with a winner and discover they have only
started racing pigeons, this week in fact only his second ever race. Well done to Brian
McLernon on just not winning the Club which most set out to achieve in a maiden
season but also winning the Section. Brian clocked his Cheq Cock at 11.09am flying
just short of 120 miles recording a velocity of 1630.30. On checking in with Brian he
says that pigeon racing was something that always interested him from his teenage
years and just recently the notion came over him to give it a go for the first, no better
man to approach for pigeons than Gerald Delaney who supplies countless winners
every year to many fanciers all over the UK. Well Done Brain and continued success
with your team from Gerald Delaney.

NIPA Sect A Clubs
Coalisland & District – 11/308 1 st B McLernon 1630, 2 nd & 3 rd D Carolan 1573, 1573,
4 th P McGirr 1569, 5 th S Hughes 1536, 6 th G Quinn 1516.
Coleraine Premier HPS – 13/535 1 st , 2 nd & 3 rd J Hanson 1578, 1577, 1577, 4 th L
Hanson 1577, 5 th T & J McDonald 1568, 6 th B & D Coyle 1566.
Cookstown Social – 5/117 1 st & 2 nd G & S Smith 1556, 1530, 3 rd K Morton & Son
1500, 4 th G & S Smith 1473, 5 th K Morton & Son 1467, 6 th J Campbell & Son 1465. A
repeat result 1 st & 2 nd Club for the Smith loft for the second year on the trot.
Dungannon & District – 4/44 1 st W Lecky 1454, 2 nd & 3 rd J & J Sampson 1424, 1368,
4 th B Loughran 1340, 5 th J & J Sampson 1303, 6 th W Lecky 1265.
Windsor Social – 6/204 1 st & 2 nd R & J Parke 1629, 1622, 3 rd Kenny Glass 1566, 4 th &
5 th R & J Parke 1553, 1532, 6 th Kenny Glass 1528.

NIPA Section B Result 1 st Roscrea Y/Birds 72 members sent 2,397 pigeons – 1 st J
Smyth & Son, Ahoghill 1657; 2 nd Young & McManus & Sons, Ahoghill 1645; 3 rd D &
H Stuart, Ballymoney 1640; 4 th & 5 th Sefton Thompson, Crumlin & District 1638,
1638; 6 th M Graham, Ballymena & District 1636; 7 th Mr John Harkness, Crumlin &
District 1631; 8 th R & J Parke, Windsor Social 1629; 9 th Alan Darragh, Cullybackey
1626; 10 th R & J Parke 1622.

NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club – 5/170 1 st J Smyth & Son 1657, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th Young, McManus &
Sons 1645, 1606, 1590, 5 th & 6 th J Smyth & Son 1585, 1568. Super pigeon for the
Smyth Loft winning NIPA Section B after finishing runner-up in the Section result
last year in the same race. With an excellent card from Paddy & William close
behind.
Ballymoney HPS – 8/243 1 st D & H Stuart 1640, 2 nd D Dixon 1597, 3 rd J Connolly
1596, 4 th D Dixon 1585, 5 th & 6 th C & M McCook 1567, 1546. Red Card this week for
the Stuart Partnership with a super pigeon finishing 3 rd Section, the loft topped the
Club last year in this corresponding race as well.
Ballymoney West Combine –
Broughshane & District – 4/58 1 st & 2 nd T & M Morrow 1592, 1578, 3 rd J Getty 1517,
4 th & 5 th A Purvis 1509, 1475, 6 th M Neilly 1473.
Ballymena & District HPS – 7/220 1 st & 2 nd M Graham 1636, 1614, 3 rd T Johnston &
Son 1607, 4 th & 5 th K & K Kernohan & Sons 1606, 1588, 6 th J Eagleson & Sons 1583.
Cullybackey HPS – 12/407 1 st Alan Darragh 1626, 2 nd Rock & Moore 1598, 3 rd & 4 th
Gary Gibson 1589, 1567, 5 th J & J Greer 1562, 6 th G Gibson 1559. Alan gets the Red Card this week with over 400 pigeons competing topped the Club in this race last year
also.
Crumlin & District – 6/175 1 st & 2 nd Sefton Thompson 1638, 1638, 3 rd Mr J Harkness
1631, 4 th & 5 th Sefton Thompson 1612, 1584, 6 th R & S Hope 1577. Outstanding
racing from Sefton yet again this week.
Kells & District HPS – 4/103 1 st A Barkley & Son 1608, 2 nd Surgenor Bros 1602, 3 rd A
Barkley & Son 1598, 4 th Surgenor Bros 1571, 5 th & 6 th A Barkley & Son 1529, 1526.
Muckamore HPS – 7/273 1 st , 2 nd & 3 rd Knocker & Bill 1684, 1630, 1610, 4 th & 5 th S &
J Bones 1606, 1605, 6 th Knocker & Bill 1598. Yet another smashing result for the Knocker & Bill Partnership topped the Club last year in this race also.
Randalstown HPS – 5/144 1 st Stewart Bros 1541, 2 nd N Percy & Son 1536, 3 rd J Millar
1501, 4 th Stewart Bros 1478, 5 th N Percy & Son 1464, 6 th J Millar 1439.
Rasharkin &District HPS – 5/140 1 st J & M Milliken 1548, 2 nd W McFetridge 1542, 3 rd
& 4 th Harold Cubitt 1531, 1531, 5 th W McFetridge 1513, 6 th Steele & McNeill 1491.

NIPA Section E Result 1 st Roscrea Y/Birds 103 members sent 3,963 pigeons – 1 st J &
E Calvin, Annaghmore 1692; 2 nd & 3 rd Rafferty & Toman, Gilford & District 1684,
1684; 4 th J & E Calvin 1681; 5 th A Feeney & Son, Gilford & District 1676; 6 th G
Calvin & Son, Annaghmore 1675; 7 th C, J & B Ferris, Lurgan Social 1674; 8 th & 9 th J
Douglas & Son, Lurgan Social 1673, 1672; 10 th J H Muldrew & McMurray, Laurelvale 1671.

NIPA Sect E Clubs
Annaghmore – 10/342 1 st & 2 nd J & E Calvin 1692, 1681, 3 rd G Calvin & Son 1675, 4 th
R D Calvin 1639, 5 th P Boyd 1638, 6 th R D Calvin 1623. What a result for the J & E
Calvin team finished 3 rd Club last week and have trumped home this week with 2
flyers finishing 1 st and 4 th Section, 3 rd and 9 th Open NIPA very well done.
Armagh HPS – 12/472 1 st R Parkes & Son 1635, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th Ian Blair 1616, 1589,
1588, 5 th R Parkes & Son 1566, 6 th P Duffy 1545.
Beechpark Social – 5/118 1 st & 2 nd G & P Lavery 1600, 1487, 3 rd D Mawhinney & Son
1473, 4 th R Bothwell 1465, 5 th G & P Lavery 1448, 6 th R Bothwell 1445.
Bondhill Social – 5/453 1 st Davy Calvin 1662, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th S Eglington 1650, 1648,
1641, 5 th & 6 th Davy Calvin 1638, 1638.
Edgarstown – 9/452 1 st Richard McCracken 1660, 2 nd Tommy McClean 1637, 3 rd & 4 th
David Love 1635, 1626, 5 th & 6 th Tommy McClean 1559, 1559.
Gilford & District – 9/249 1 st & 2 nd Rafferty & Toman 1684, 1684, 3 rd A Feeney &
Son 1676, 4 th , 5 th & 6 th Tom Wilson 1607, 1607, 1587. The Rafferty & Toman
partnership to the fore this week from Roscrea finishing 2 nd & 3 rd Section and 6 th & 8 th
Open NIPA against 14,578 pigeons.

Laurelvale – 6/192 1 st & 2 nd J H Muldrew & McMurray 1671, 1639, 3 rd M Milligan &
Son 1571, 4 th G & C Topley 1570, 5 th A Craig 1545, 6 th G & C Topley 1530.
Loughgall – 7/306 1 st , 2 nd & 3 rd Sam Corrigan 1594, 1511, 1510, 4 th & 5 th D & C & P
McArdle 1510, 1507, 6 th William Corrigan 1496.
Lurgan Social – 21/706 1 st C J & B Ferris 1674, 2 nd & 3 rd J Douglas & Son 1673, 1672,
4 th C J & B Ferris 1671, 5 th Ted Murphy 1643, 6 th Rodney Adamson 1636. Tight finish
in what is one off the strongest Clubs within the Section and indeed the NIPA, well
done to the Ferris team on taking the Red Card finishing 7 th Section and 14 th Open
NIPA.
Monaghan HPS – 5/188 1 st Keith Allister 1546, 2 nd Richard Mulligan 1512, 3 rd
Brendan Corley 1502, 4 th , 5 th & 6 th Richard Mulligan 1485, 1448, 1447.
Portadown & Drumcree – 6/230 1 st J Sterritt 1623, 2 nd B Creaney 1622, 3 rd J Whitten
& Son 1605, 4 th J Sterritt 1602, 5 th & 6 th J Whitten & Son 1554, 1526.
Meadows – 7/305 1 st Alan Larkin & Sons 1621, 2 nd Larkin Bros 1587, 3 rd Lee Smyth
1578, 4 th Siobhan McLaughlin 1574, 5 th Geoff Douglas 1566, 6 th Siobhan McLaughlin1562.

NIPA Open/Section H Result 1 st Roscrea Y/Birds 46 members sent 951 pigeons,
liberated at 8.30am in a S/W Wind – 1 st Davy Booth, Mourne & District 1470; 2 nd R
McMonagle, Maiden City 1461; 3 rd N Murray, Londonderry 1449; 4 th Noel
McConnell, Strabane & District 1445; 5 th , 6 th , 7 th & 8 th P Hegarty, Derry & District
1445, 1445, 1445, 1445; 9 th Barry Hart, Foyle 1444; 10 th Pat McLaughlin, Maiden
City 1443; 11 th , 12 th & 13 th D Canning, Derry & District 1442, 1442, 1442; 14 th J & G
Ramsey, Derry & District 1442; 15 th D Canning 1442; 16 th , 17 th , 18 th Pat McLaughlin
1442, 1441, 1439; 19 th & 20 th F Patterson, Strabane & District 1439, 1439;

NIPA Sect H Clubs
Amelia Earhart – 1 st Noel & Ciara Doherty 1402;
Derry & District – 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th P Hegarty 1445, 1445, 1445, 1445, 5 th & 6 th D
Canning 1442, 1442.
Foyle RPS – 1 st Barry Hart 1444, 2 nd John Coyle 1429, 3 rd Paul Maxwell Jnr 1421, 4 th
Billy Page 1395.
Limavady – 1 st Robin McIlmoyle 1408, 2 nd Glen Duddy 1407.
Londonderry RPS – 1 st N Murray 1449.
Maiden City – 1 st R McMonagle 1461, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th & 6 th Pat McLaughlin 1443,
1442, 1441, 1439, 1439.

Mourne & District HPS – 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th Davie Booth 1470, 1423, 1423, 1422, 1400.
Strabane & District Inv RPC – 1 st Noel McConnell 1445, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th F Patterson 1439,1439, 1419, 5 th Noel McConnell 1416, 6 th Mr J White 1400. would just like to congratulate my friend and fellow club mate, Noel McConnell on being first club today in Strabane and District in only his second race ever,super performance Noel. Paul Walters.

Feds & Combines 1st Roscrea

Coleraine Triangle 1st Roscrea – R & J Parke Windsor Soc 1629, R & J Parke Windsor Soc 1622, J Hanson Coleraine Prem 1578, J Hanson 1577, J Hanson 1577, J Hanson 1577, L Hanson Coleraine Prem 1577, T & J McDonald Coleraine Prem 1568, B & D Coyle Coleraine Prem 1566, Kenny Glass Windsor Soc 1566, B & D Coyle 1554, R & J Parke 1553, R & J Parke 1532, Kenny Glass 1528, R & J Parke 1525, R & J Parke 1524, A McDonnell Coleraine Prem 1523, B & D Coyle 1523, J Hanson 1518, A McDonnell 1516, A McDonnell 1516, S Diamond Coleraine Prem 1503, J Hanson 1501, L Hanson 1496, J Smolinski Coleraine Prem 1492, Mervyn Simpson Windsor Soc 1491, A McDonnell 1490, B & D Coyle 1485, L Hanson 1477, R McAlary Coleraine Prem 1476, S Diamond 1467, R McAlary 1466.

Cit of Derry Federation 1st Roscrea 27/479 – Birds Liberated at 8.30am in a Lt SW wind –
R McMonagle Maiden City 1461, N Murray Londonderry 1449, P Hegarty Derry & Dist 1445, 1445, 1445, 1445, B Hart Foyle 1444, P McLaughlin Maiden City 1443, D Canning Derry & Dist 1442, 1442, 1442, J & G Ramsey Derry & Dist 1442, D Canning 1442, P McLaughlin 1442, 1441, 1439, P McLaughlin 1439, M McGrath Derry & Dist 1438, 1438, 1438, R McMonagle 1437, M McGrath 1437, R Lyle Maiden City 1432, R McMonagle 1432, M McGrath 1431, R McBride Derry & Dist 1430, 1430, 1429, John Kyle Foyle 1429, R McBride 1428, 1427, P Maxwell Jnr Foyle 1421, M Harkin Derry & Dist 1420, N & C Doherty Amelia Earhart 1402, Billy Page Foyle 1395.

Foyle Valley Combine tion 1st Roscrea – Birds Liberated at 8.30am in a Lt SW wind – R McMonagle Maiden City 1461, N Murray Londonderry 1449, Noel McConnell Strabane 1445, P Hegarty Derry & Dist 1445, 1445, 1445, 1445, B Hart Foyle 1444, P McLaughlin Maiden City 1443, D Canning Derry & Dist 1442m 1442m 1442m S & G Ramsey Derry & Dist 1442m D Canning 1442, P McLaughlin 1442, 1441m 1439, F Patterson Strabane 1439, F Patterson Strabane 1439, P McLaughlin 1439, M McGrath Derry & Dist 1438, 1438, 1438, R McMonagle 1437, M McGrath 1437, R Lyle Maiden City 1432, R McMonagle 1432, M McGrath 1431, R McBride Derry & Dist 1430, 1430, 1429, John Klle Foyle 1429, R McBride 1428, 1427, P MaxwellJnr Foyle 1421, M Harkin Derry & Dist 1420, F Patterson Strabane 1419, Noel McConnell Strabane 1416, N & C Doherty Amelia Earhart 1402, J White Strabane 1400, J White Strabane 1399, J White Strabane 1399, Billy Page Foyle 1395.

Mid Antrim Combine - NIPA Roscrea 02/08/25
Ahoghill Loft's lead the way from Tipperary

The third young bird race of the season was from Roscrea in County Tipperary. The NIPA released over fourteen thousand birds at 09.00am on Saturday 2nd August in South westerly winds. Best bird recorded in the Mid Antrim Combine was by Jimmy Smyth of Ahoghill at 11.33am and he also won 1st Section B, 67/2120 on 1657. Runners up in the Combine and Section B were clubmates Paddy & William McManus doing 1645. The top racing and breeding McManus team timed a Vrancken/Lambrecht gay pied hen at 11.34am. The Ballymena & District winner Martin Graham was next best with 3rd & 5th Combine on 1636 & 1614. Both of Martin's birds were bred by Paddy & William McManus, the first is off a Lambrecht cock and a Fermoy Section winning hen and the second is VDPutten/Docx.

Cullybackey winner Alan Darragh split Martin's two birds to finish 4th Combine on 1626. Jonny Barkley & Laura Surgenor had the Kells winner on 1608 and 6th Combine. The sire won 1st Section from Talbenny in 2023 and the dam was in a kit from Gerard Delaney and was in the prizes as a young bird. Around the other clubs and Marcus Morrow had the best two in Broughshane for the second week on the trot on 1592. Marcus timed two Lambrecht nestmates, the parents acquired from top Ballycarry fancier Nigel Arthurs. John & Mark Milliken were best in Rasharkin on 1548 with a Lambrecht x Vandenbulck and Stewart Bros had the winner in Randalstown on 1541.

Mid Antrim Combine - Roscrea 44/1341 -
J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1657, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1645, M Graham Ballymena 1636, A Darragh Cullybackey 1626, M Graham Ballymena 1614
A Barkley & Son Kells 1608, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1607, K & K Kernohan & Son Ballymena 1606, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1606, Surgenor Bros Kells 1602, A Barkley & Son Kells 1598, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1598, D Dixon Rasharkin 1597, T & M Morrow Broughshane 1592, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1590, G Gibson Cullybackey 1589, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1588, D Dixon Rasharkin 1585, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1585, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1583, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1582, T & M Morrow Broughshane 1578, Surgenor Bros Kells 1571, R Service & Son Ballymena 1569, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1569, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1568, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1568, G Gibson Cullybackey 1567, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1566, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1566, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1562, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1562, G Gibson Cullybackey 1559, R Service & Son Ballymena 1559, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1556, G Gibson Cullybackey 1553, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1551, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1550, J Whyte Ahoghill 1548, J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1548.

Young Bird Knock Out-
J EAGLESON & SONS 1583 v G & A Eagleson 1538
A PURVIS 1509 v J & K Balmer 1370
Surgenor Bros 1602 v T JOHNSTON & SON 1607
H CUBITT 1531 v S & N Doherty 1394
Gregg Bros 1407 v N PERCY & SON 1536
M Neilly 1473 v W McFETRIDGE 1542
H Turkington 1518 v ROCK & MOORE 1598
J Millar 1501 v A DARRAGH 1626
Blair & Rankin 1582 v J SMYTH & SON 1657
J & J GREER 1562 v Mr & Mrs Robinson 1479
W Livingstone 1356 v T & M MORROW 1592
G GIBSON 1589 v Stewart Bros 1541
A Barkley & Son 1608 v YOUNG & McMANUS & SONS 1645
S JOHNSTON & SON 1551 v F Barkley 1472
K & K KERNOHAN & SONS 1606 v R Service & Son 1569
D DIXON 1597 v J Getty 1517.

Young Bird Points - Week 3 Roscrea
Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 119, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 103, D Dixon Rasharkin 84, A Darragh Cullybackey 82, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 65.

Young Bird Points - Club Shield
Ballymena & Dist 18, Ahoghill 17, Cullybackey 16, Rasharkin 12, Broughshane 10, Kells 6, Randalstown 4. Mervyn Eagleson PO Mid Antrim Combine

Adie & Homer race report on Elimar Pigeons click here! - https://www.elimarpigeons.com/articles/ ... ct-a-b-e-h

Adie McCormick
Mobile: 07921883997
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: Celestiallofts@aol.com
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Photo Captions NIPA printed below

Nipa Banner on top please

Brian McLernon from Coalisland 1st Section A Roscrea Y/Bird.

Congratulations to Jinky and Eileen Calvin on taking the top 2 positions today from Roscrea.

Team Parke Windsor Social winners Roscrea, also 1st in Coleraine Truangle.

Knocker & Bill have won all three races in the competitive Muckamore HPS.

Winner of the third race in Muckamore for Knocker & Bill team.

Winning bird for R & J Parke in the Windsor Social HPS, also best bird in the Coleraine Triangle.

Photo Captions Mid Antrim

Jimmy Smyth of Ahoghill 1st Mid Antrim Combine & 1st Section B from Roscrea.

William & Paddy McManus of Ahoghill 2nd Combine & 2nd Section from Roscrea.

Martin Graham 1st & 2nd Ballymena & District, 3rd & 5th Combine Roscrea.

Alan Darragh 1st in Cullybackey & 4th Combine Roscrea.

Jonny Barkley & Laura Surgenor with their Kells winner from Roscrea.

John & Mark Milliken with their Rasharkin winner from Roscrea.