The young bird season started on Saturday 19th July with an excellent race from Kilbeggan in County Westmeath. Birds were released at 11.30am in south easterly winds.
Cullybackey loft's took the top two positions in the Mid Antrim Combine with G Gibson 1st on 1508 and Jimmy & Jamie Greer runner up on 1494. Big Jamie Greer timed a blue hen, the sire being his double combine winner 'Double top' winner of 2 x 1st clubs, 2 x 1st Combine and 2 x 3rd Section B in 2024 and 2nd club 2022. Breeding is Sticker Doncker x Van Herck. The dam is Vermeerbergen - Wilms x Staff Van Reet and is a winner of 1st club Fermoy Yearling National 2023 and is a daughter of 'Ballykeel Boy' sire and grandsire of 3 x 1sts and was gifted to Jamie by good friend Keith Kernohan. Danny Dixon was next best on 1491 with a youngster from his meritorious award winner 'New Heartbreaker' when he was paired to a hen from the 'Aviary Cock' x his good Jos Cools hen.
Best in Ballymena & District was Bertie Blair who was winning for the fourth time this season on 1452. Bertie's winner was from a Soontjen x Grondelaer cock he acquired from Paddy & William McManus of Ahoghill when paired to a Soontjen hen from Davy Hutchinson. Jimmy Smyth & Son were best in Ahoghill on 1432, Freddie Barkley had the top two in Rasharkin on 1408, Marc Neilly best in Broughshane on 1390, his winner a dark cheq pied hen is bred from a cock purchased at N. Ferguson & Son bereavement sale and the Vandenbrande dam was bought at Beggs & Hall bereavement sale. Noel Percy & Son were best in Randalstown on 1388 with an imported young bird.
Mid Antrim Combine Kilbeggan 23/581- G Gibson Cullybackey 1508, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1494, D Dixon Rasharkin 1491, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1452, D Dixon Rasharkin 1436, D Dixon Rasharkin 1436, A Darragh Cullybackey 1434, A Darragh Cullybackey 1433, A Darragh Cullybackey 1433, A Darragh Cullybackey 1432, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1432, D Dixon Rasharkin 1426, D Dixon Rasharkin 1426, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1425, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1424, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1424, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1421, A Darragh Cullybackey 1420, A Darragh Cullybackey 1420, A Darragh Cullybackey 1420, A Darragh Cullybackey 1419, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1417, D Dixon Rasharkin 1416, D Dixon Rasharkin 1415, D Dixon Rasharkin 1415, D Dixon Rasharkin 1414, A Darragh Cullybackey 1413, A Darragh Cullybackey 1412, J, Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1411, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1411. Mervyn Eagleson MAC Press Officer.
NIPA Section B 1st Kilbeggan 38/1043 Lib 11.30am – D Hamilton Crumlin & Dist 1510, G Gibson Cullybackey 1508, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1494, D Dixon Ballymoney 1491, Sefton Thompson Crumlin & Dist 1490, 1490, S & J Bones Muckamore 1448, Sefton Thompson 1473, 1473, 1473, R & S Hope Crumlin & Dist 1470, Sefton Thompson 1464, R & S Hope 1454, S & J Bones 1454, 1453, R & S Hope 1453, S & J Bones 1453, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1452, S & J Bones 1452, R & S Hope 1451.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 2/81 – J Smyth & Son 1432, 1425, 1424, 1411, 1411, 1406.
Ballymoney HPS 6/221 – D Dixon 1491, 1436, 1436, 1426, 1426, 1416.This is the result of the first young bird race of 2025 my winner today is of my Meritorious award pigeon l call the new Heartbreaker when pair to a daughter of the Avairy cock and my good Joss cool hen
Broughshane & District 3/35 – Marc Neilly 1390, 1348, 1347, 1346, John Getty 1331, 1261.
Ballymena & District HPS 3/52 – Blair & Rankin K & K Kernohan & Sons 1424, Blair & Rankin 1421, T Johnston & Son 1417, 1409, K & K Kernohan & Sons 1405. Another Red Card for the consistent Blair & Rankin.
Cullybackey HPS 6/205 – G Gibson 1508, J & J Greer 1494, Alan Darragh 1434, 1433, 1433, 1432. Cullybackey result today from 1st Kilbeggan with Gary Gibson taking the win on 1508.842 with his dark cheq cock, Today's winner is from co-breeding between good friends, sire is Trevor Whyte's 1st open nipa winner when paired to Shane Johnston's good hen dam to his 5th Open nipa winner.Well done to all in the result. J Greer Secretary.
Crumlin & District 4/103 – D Hamilton 1510, Sefton Thompson 1490, 1490, 1473, 1473, 1473. Well done David Hamilton first win in the Crumlin club, delighted for you. Also well done Ton, excellent clocking.
Muckamore HPS 4/146 – Knocker & Bill 1528, 1518, 1489, 1489, S & J Bones 1482, 1454. Not bad for the first race I breed winner of a grad son or the king boxer & Angelina I got or Ray Benson Back to a blue hen of white nose & a rudy van reeth
I got of Sean O Driscoll.1st 2nd 7th 8th section C - 55open 66 open over the moon. Bob Smyth.
Randalstown HPS 4/86 – N Percy & Son 1388, J Millar 1366, 1366, 1365, Stewart Bros 1323, 1323.
Rasharkin &District HPS 4/61 – F Barkley 1408, 1408, H Cubitt 1390, W McFetridge 1359, W & J McLean 1353, H Cubitt 1350.
Gary Gibson of Cullybackey, best in Mid Antrim from Kilbeggan