THE RACING PIGEON 19 APRIL 2024
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26th May at 8.30am in easterly winds turning south easterly and variable as the day went on. Alan Darragh had the top two in Cullybackey, and 3rd Combine on 1379 with a yearling blue cock bred by John Wheatcroft of Pinxton in England. In total Alan had five birds in the Top 20 of the Combine. Cullybackey HPS 14/296 – A Darragh 1379, 1372, M/M Robinson 1368, A Darragh 1356, 1349, 1331. Well done to Alan Darragh on winning a tricky race today, and well done to everyone on the sheet. 1st & 2nd Mid Antrim Combine for Alan Darragh of Cullybackey – The second Channel race of the season was again flown from Talbenny in South Wales. The NIPA liberated the birds at 8am on Saturday 3rd June in light northeast winds. Alan Darragh of Cullybackey had a fantastic race clocking eight birds in the top 20 of the Mid Antrim Combine including the winner and runner up spot. Alan timed his yearling blue w/f cock at 12.34pm for the 220 mile fly to the Swallow Brae Lofts in Galgorm. This cock bred by John Wheatcroft of Pinxton in England won the club from Talbenny last week finishing 3rd Combine, 5th Section & 39th Open NIPA 10,655 birds. This week the cock is placed 1st Combine, 2nd Section & 13th Open NIPA 8,983 birds. Cullybackey HPS 13/233 – Alan Darragh 1416, 1365, 1360, 1360, 1356, 1344. Mid Antrim Combine 2nd Talbenny 52/721 – A Darragh Cullybackey 1416, A Darragh Cullybackey 1365, D Dixon Rasharkin 1363, J Miller Randalstown 1360, A Darragh Cullybackey 1360, A Darragh Cullybackey 1360, A Barkley & Son Kells 1357, T Whyte Ahoghill 1356, A Darragh Cullybackey 1356, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1348. The NIPA were in County Cork for the ordinary Fermoy race and also the dupli- cated 5-Bird event. The birds were released on Saturday 3rd June at 8am in light northeasterly winds. Gary Gibson was best in Cullybackey on 1359 with a blue w/f yearling hen racing Roundabout. This hen another from Gary’s Donckers family was winning for the second time having won Kilbeggan as young bird and placed 6th Combine. Mid Antrim Combine Fermoy 41/535 – Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1393, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1377, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1377, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1377, D Dixon Rasharkin 1372, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1367, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1364, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1363, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1361, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1359, G Gibson Cullybackey 1359, G Gibson Cullybackey 1358. Cullybackey HPS 29/351 – G Gibson 1359, 1358, A Darragh 1347, M/M Robinson 1328, A Darragh 1323, 1317. Mid Antrim Combine 5-Bird 25/113 – D Dixon Rasharkin 1372, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1367, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1361, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1359, G Gibson Cullybackey 1358, D Craig Harryville 1354, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1350, A Darragh Cullybackey 1347, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1336, H Boyd
Kells 1336. The NIPA racing season continued with the third Channel race from Bude in Cornwall. The birds were liberated at 8.45am on Sunday 11th June in light southerly winds. Mr & Mrs Robinson won Cullybackey with a five year old chequer hen Vandenabeele x Deweerdt on Roundabout. She has raced well from the Channel since a yearly with a few club wins and good Section posi- tions.
Cullybackey HPS 11/82 – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1303, A Darragh 1293, McAlonan Bros 1216, A Darragh 1204, 1156, C & R McIntyre 1138. Mid Antrim Combine Penzance 47/373 – J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1344, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1340, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1303, T Whyte Ahoghill 1302, Surgenor Bros Kells 1299, A Darragh 1293, T & M Morrow, Broughshane 1271, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1265, D Dixon Rasharkin 1237, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1231, McAlonan Bros Cullybackey 1216. Mid Antrim Combine Penzance OB Classic – J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1344, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1303, T Whyte Ahoghill 1302, A Darragh Cullybackey 1293, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1265, D Dixon Rasharkin 1237, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1208, A Darragh Cullybackey 1204, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1192, A Barkley & Son Kells 1187. The final old bird race of the NIPA season was the OB National from St Malo in France. The birds were liberated on Thursday the 22nd June at 6.30am in light northerly winds and like the previous two season a very tough race followed with only 85 birds recorded over the three days of race time. Laurence & Heather Robinson were best in Cullybackey with a two year old blue cock timed at 12.08pm on the second afternoon to win 3rd Combine, 5th Section & 40th Open NIPA. The cock sent sitting 10 days on eggs was a late bred and only a few tosses as a young bird, one race as a yearling and three inland races this year plus the 1st Talbenny. His sire is a pure white cock gifted to them by their good friend the late Robbie Elliot of Ballymoney and his dam flew France for them a couple of years back and is down off a Grattan Bros pigeon gifted to them by Tommy Grattan. In the Mid Antrim Combine the partnership win both the old bird average and cross Channel Averages. Seven times National winner Alan Darragh of Cullybackey timed a 5yo chequer pied hen to win 4th Combine, 7th Section & 72nd Open NIPA. This hen is down from the Van Wildemeersch pigeons when paired to the lines of Sir George, a pigeon that won 2nd Section from an Old Bird National. Cullybackey HPS – Mr & Mrs Robinson 575, A Darragh 372. Two of the best distance lofts in Mid Antrim, Mr & Mrs Robinson previously Ahoghill win their first France race in their new club ahead of the clubs best racer over many seasons Alan Darragh. Mid Antrim Combine St Malo OB National – Balmer Tom Young & Sons Ahoghill 627, A & C & T Tweed Rasharkin 625, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 575, Alan Darragh Cullybackey 372. Young Bird Season The NIPA commenced their young bird season with the opening race from Kilbeggan in County Westmeath. Liberation took place on Monday 24th July at 9am in light north westerly winds. Mr & Mrs Robinson had the best three birds in Cullybackey the winner doing 1075.
Cullybackey HPS 4/74 – Mr & Mrs Robinson 1075, 1075, 1074, Bamber & Steele 1050, J & J Greer 1045, 1027. The second young bird race of the season was again from Kilbeggan in County Westmeath. Liberation took place on Friday 28th July at 9.30am in helping southerly winds and the birds romping home with the winning birds doing well over a mile a minute. Jimmy & Jamie Greer had a clear five minute winner in Cullybackey with a chequer cock bred from the best of Keith Kernohan’s Vermeerbergen-Wilms stock. The sire is full brother to 4th Section Gowran Park 2021 and the dam full sister to 9th Cullybackey Centre Skibbereen YB National 2021. Cullybackey HPS 9/274 – J & J Greer 1849, G Gibson 1777, A Darragh 1770, 1752, 1726, 1726. Today’s Cullybackey HPS winners where J & J Greer timing their chequer cock at 11:16:53.
Cullybackey HPS 6/52 – M/M Robinson 1169, G Gibson 1161, M/M Robinson 1159, 1137, 1097, A Shiels 1088. Mid Antrim Combine Bude 32/278 – J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1247, T Whyte & Son Ahoghill 1218, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1214, A & C & T Tweed Rasharkin 1178, D Dixon Rasharkin 1172, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1169, D Houston & Son Broughshane 1168, J Miller Randalstown 1165, G Gibson Cullybackey 1161, Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1159. Due to poor weather conditions fore- cast for County Cork on Saturday the NIPA decided to bring the birds back to Fermoy for their Yearling National. The bird were liberated at 10.20am in a light southeast wind and another good race followed. Jimmy & Jamie Greer had the winner in Cullybackey with a blue hen from the best of the Vermeerbergen- Wilms lines from good friend Keith Kernohan. Their winner is full sister to 3rd Club & 24th Section and 1st Club & 4th Section Gowran Park 2021. The NIPA were in Cornwall on Thursday the 22nd June for their Penzance and Penzance Classic event. Birds were liberated at 7.15am in light westerly winds and another tough race followed. Laurence & Heather Robinson were the Cullybackey winners on 1303 with a five year old chequer Roundabout hen. She is off a Van Herck cock from P & J Boal of Dromore paired to a Vandenabeele x DeWeerdt hen. She’s been their first pigeon from Penzance since she was a yearling winning club and Section prizes each season. This season she wins 3rd Section & 23rd Open Penzance and 2nd Section & 12th Open Penzance Classic. Gary Gibson of Cullybackey with his Dale Mid Antrim Combine winner.
The NIPA moved to Tullamore in County Offaly for their third young bird race of the season. The birds were liber- ated on Friday 4th August at 9.15am in westerly winds. Gary Gibson had the clear winner in Cullybackey on 1418 timing seven minutes in front of the next man. His winner a dark Lambrecht hen was bred by Derek Parr. Cullybackey HPS 11/223 – G Gibson 1418, 1364, A Darragh 1358, 1358, Bamber & Steele 1358, A Darragh 1326. The NIPA moved to Roscrea for their fourth young bird race of the season. Birds were liberated on Friday 11th August at 8am in fresh southerly winds with the winning birds recording well over a mile a minute. Alan Darragh had the top six in Cullybackey with his winner doing 2003. Cullybackey HPS 8/214 – Alan Darragh 2003, 1956, 1942, 1933, 1933, 1916. The NIPA continued their racing season with another race from Roscrea in County Tipperary. Birds were released on Sunday 20th August at 8.15am in southerly winds and another fast race followed. Gary Gibson the Cullybackey winner on 1977. Sire is off a direct Van Vugt Donckers cock a grandson of ‘Jackpot’ cross a daughter Danny Dixon’s good 2nd Open cock and the S & N Doherty of Cullybackey, 1st MAC Friendship Nat St Malo.
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