THE RACING PIGEON 26 APRIL 2024
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Mid Antrim Combine Diploma winners 2023 The popular Mid Antrim Combine was formed getting close to 50 years ago by the late Davy Campbell of Harryville to give some publicity and note performance by local lofts in the Ballymena Area. Founder members were Ballymena & District, Harryville, Ballymena Championship, Kells & District, Ahoghill, Cullybackey and Broughshane. In later years Rasharkin and Randalstown were added along with New Antrim when they moved their base to Ballymena. The Ballymena Championship and New Antrim Amal clubs have now closed. Over its long history many top awards have been won including Kings Cups for Alan Darragh and Jimmy Greer and members
Harold Cubitt from Rasharkin, 1st & 2nd MAC Tullamore.
Gary Gibson holding his 1st Comb & 1st Sect winner from Skibbereen OB Inland Nat.
& District) had 2x1sts each. Results collated by Mervyn Eagleson, Mid Antrim PO. Diplomas for Mid Antrim Combine 2023 Season Danny Dixon of Dunloy holding his Mid Antrim Combine winner from Fermoy (2). In 2023 the loft had 8x1sts. 46 Members 1,311 Birds 1 H Cubitt Rasharkin 1757 2 H Cubitt Rasharkin 1756 3 Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1753 Roscrea (1) (Sun) 23/04/23 51 Members 1,445 Birds 1 Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1361 2 J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1360 3 G Gibson Cullybackey 1339 OLD BIRD RACES Tullamore 15/04/23
Young McManus & Sons from Ahoghill 1st MAC from Roscrea.
Jonathan Barkley and Laura Surgenor with their Combine & Section winner from 1st Talbenny.
2 J Rock Harryville 1919 3 J Rock Harryville 1919 Fermoy (2) 13/05/23 60 Members 1,686 Birds 1 D Dixon Rasharkin 1632 2 C Moore Cullybackey 1614
have won at the highest level in the NIPA with a big list of Derby and National 1sts and many 1st’s as well achieved in the all-Ireland Irish Nat Flying Club. Numerous Fancier of the Year awards have been won in the NIPA including in Sect B, and, the Northern Ireland Fancier of the Year award on occasions. Winners Galore in the Mid Antrim Combine 2023: The race winners are presented with a winning diploma, only one per loft regardless of number of 1sts. Danny Dixon had 8x1sts, Young McManus & Sons (Ahoghill Flying Club) and K & K Kernohan & Sons (Ballymena & District) had 3x1sts each, Martin Graham (Ballymena & District), Harold Cubitt (Rasharkin & District), Alan Darragh (Cullybackey), Gary Gibson (Cullybackey), J Smyth & Son (Ahoghill Flying Club), J Eagleson & Sons (Ballymena & District), and S Johnston & Son (Ballymena The late Ken Parker who raced in Ballymena Championship showing his wife the Old Bird Derby winner from St Malo in 1964. It was a Golden Era for local lofts with race winners including Erwin Bros Ballymena 1948, James Anderson Cullybackey 1956, William Erwin Ballymena 1962, Ken Parker 1964 and then McClintock Bros Ballymena in 1970.
3 Young & McManus & Sons 1610 Skibbereen OB Inland National (Fri) 19/05/23 36 Members 279 Birds 1 G Gibson Cullybackey 1361 2 Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1354 3 Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1349 Pilmore Beach (Mon) 22/05/23 43 Members 978 Birds 1 D Dixon Rasharkin 1197 2 Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1183 3 H Cubitt Rasharkin 1181
Roscrea (2) (Fri) 28/04/23 62 Members 1,875 Birds 1 A Darragh Cullybackey 1477
Talbenny (1) 26/05/23 50 Members 806 Birds 1 A Barkley & Son Kells 1400 2 T Whyte Ahoghill 1380 3 A Darragh Cullybackey 1379
Alan Darragh 1st Mid Antrim Combine from 2nd Talbenny.
2 Surgenor Bros Kells 1465 3 A Darragh Cullybackey 1464
Talbenny (2) 03/06/23 52 Members 721 Birds
1 A Darragh Cullybackey 1416 2 A Darragh Cullybackey 1365 3 D Dixon Rasharkin 1363
Fermoy (1) (Sun) 07/05/23 53 Members 1,472 Birds 1 Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1934
Bertie Blair of Ballymena with his Mid Antrim Combine winner from Fermoy Ylr National.
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