NIPA Race Report by HOMER
McCabe team from Newry collect NIPA Penzance double –
Congratulations’ to J.F McCabe & Son of Newry & District on winning 1st Open NIPA Penzance and 1st Open NIPA Old Bird Championship. Today’s winner is bred from their top breeding g/son of De Jan bred by Wayne Doonan, Dromore. The dam is Black Lilly, the best breeding/dtr of the partnership’s No.1 pair. This season this hen has previously achieved: NIPA 1st Dale 2nd section 33rd open 10,790. NIPA 2nd Dale 8th section 39th open 5,590. NIPA Bude 19th section 63rd open 4,742 birds. Penzance id the penultimate race before France and would be the longest race to date in what was a difficult race season cross channel.
Congratulations to J.F McCabe & Son on winning 1st Open NIPA Penzance and 1st Open NIPA Old Bird Championship. Today’s winner is bred from their top breeding gson of De Jan bred by Wayne Doonan, Dromore. The dam is Black Lilly, the best breeding/dtr of the partnership’s No.1 pair. This season this hen has previously achieved: NIPA 1st Dale 2nd section 33rd open 10,790. NIPA 2nd Dale 8th section 39th open 5,590. NIPA Bude 19th section 63rd open 4,742 birds.
NIPA Race/Date
Penzance Saturday 20th June 2026 – Liberated at 10.45am in a Lt Variable wind
NIPA Penzance OB 381 members sent 4,539 pigeons - 1st (1G) J F McCabe & Son, Newry & District 1425, 2nd (1D) P & J Boal, Dromore 1396, 3rd (2D) J Gregory & Sons, Colin 1388, 4th (1F) Burgess & Brennan, Bangor 1373, 5th (2G) D & K Mallen, Drumnavaddy 1370, 6th (3G) Owen Markey, Ballyholland 1363, 7th & 8th (1E) & (2E) Gary Marsden, Hills & Maze 1363, 1363, 9th (4G) P Murtagh, Ballyholland 1363, 10th (5G) McGrath & McParland, Drumnavaddy 1358, 11th (3D) Russell Bros, Dromara 1358, 12th (6G) F Simpson, Banbridge 1355, 13th (1C) C McManus, Ligoniel & District 1354, 14th (7G) J Smyth & Sons, Drumnavaddy 1353, 15th (2C) J & D Braniff, West End 1352, 16th (4D) S & W English, Lisburn & District 1345, 17th (8G) W McDowell & Son, Drumnavaddy 1345, 18th (1B) Sefton Thompson, Crumlin & District 1340, 19th (3E) Ronnie Williamson, Bondhill Social 1340, 20th (5D) R Topping & Son, Lisburn & District 1337.
NIPA Penzance O/B Section A result 32/285 – 1st Siobhan McLaughlin, Meadows 1326, 2nd D Carolan, Coalisland 1303, 3rd Siobhan McLaughlin 1272, 4th Russell McAlary, Coleraine Premier 1262, 5th Sean Diamond, Coleraine Premier 1249, 6th Siobhan McLaughlin 1237, 7th & 8th Karl Murphy, Coalisland 1235, 1232, 9th Jimmy Hanson, Coleraine Premier 1229, 10th D Carolan 1224.
NIPA Sect A Clubs
Coalisland & District – 12/98 1st D Carolan 1303, 2nd & 3rd K Murphy 1235, 1232, 4th D Carolan 1224, 5th R Corey 1224, 6th B Morgan 1222.
Coleraine Premier HPS – 14/137 1st Russell McAlary 1262, 2nd S Diamond 1249, 3rd J Hanson 1229, 4th B & D Coyle 1220, 5th Diamond Bros 1220, 6th B & D Coyle 1199.
Cookstown Social – 4/40 1st & 2nd K Morton & Son 1223, 1213, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Billy McConnell 1170, 1163, 1160 & 1141.
Windsor Social – 6/53 1st Mervyn Simpson 1172, 2nd E & J McGarry 1101, 3rd Mervyn Simpson 1094, 4th & 5th E & J McGarry 1092, 1080, 6th Mervyn Simpson 1043.
NIPA Penzance O/Bird Section B Result 45/468 1st Sefton Thompson, Crumlin & District 1340, 2nd Rock & Moore, Cullybackey 1336, 3rd J Eagleson & Sons, Ballymena & District 1335, 4th Alan Darragh, Cullybackey 1333, 5th McConville Bros, Crumlin & District 1332, 6th T Whyte, Ahoghill 1325, 7th Rock & Moore 1322, 8th Gary Gibson, Cullybackey 1306, 9th John Connolly, Ballymoney 1302, 10th S Johnston & Son, Ballymena & District 1300, J Eagleson & Sons 1300, D Dixon Rasharkin 1289, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1286, D Dixon 1285, S Murphy Cullybackey 1281, D Dixon 1277, D & H Stuart Ballynoney 1271, S & N Maginty Muckamore 1267, GaryGibson 1264, S & N Maginty 1261.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club – 6/50 1st T Whyte 1325, 2nd Young, McManus & Sons 1286, 3rd J Whyte 1251, 4th J & K Balmer 1237, 5th T Whyte 1234, 6th W Livingstone 1224.
Ballymoney HPS – 1st J Connolly 1302, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Danny Dixon 1289, 1285 & 1277, 5th D & H Stuart 1271, 6th J Connolly 1236.
Ballymena & District HPS – 6/57 1st J Eagleson & Sons 1335, 2nd S Johnston & Son 1300, 3rd, 4th & 5th J Eagleson & Sons 1300, 1253 & 1233, 6th S Johnston & Son 1232.
Cullybackey HPS – 12/125 1st Rock & Moore 1336, 2nd A Darragh 1333, 3rd Rock & Moore 1322, 4th G Gibson 1306, 5th S Murphy 1281, 6th G Gibson 1264.
Crumlin & District – 6/97 1st Sefton Thompson 1340, 2nd McConville Bros 1332, 3rd & 4th Sefton Thompson 1242, 1238, 5th & 6th Mr J Harkness 1234, 1220. Tony Robinson’s Penzance winner, Tony races in the name of the late Sefton Thompson, this bird is from A & P Jordan Bros and it is bred of a Sammy Larkham bird paired to a Danny Van Dyck.
Winning bird for Tony Robinson in Crumlin & District 1st NIPA Section B.
Kells & District HPS – 3/31 1st & 2nd H Turkington 1247, 1243, 3rd & 4th H Boyd 1184, 1139, 5th H Turkington 1114, 6th A Barkley & Son 1050. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – 1st Harry Boyd 1139.
Muckamore HPS – 1st & 2nd S & N Maginty 1267, 1261, 3rd & 4th A Steele 1238, 1238, 5th T Patterson & Son 1229, 6th Magill & Lavery 1229.
Randalstown HPS – 4/44 1st & 2nd J Millar 1256, 1249, 3rd & 4th W & W Gilbert 1183, 1174, 5th J McNeil & Son 1150, 6th W & W Gilbert 1143.
Rasharkin &District HPS – 3/11 1st F Barkley 1211, 2nd H Cubitt 1166.
NIPA Penzance O/Bird Section E Result 82/1118 – 1st & 2nd Gary Marsden, Hills & Maze 1363, 1363, 3rd Ronnie Williamson, Bondhill Social 1340, 4th & 5th Alan Craig, Laurelvale 1336, 1336, 6th Gary Marsden 1335, 7th D & C & P McArdle, Loughgall 1329, 8th McClean & Craig, Edgarstown 1329, 9th Gary Marsden 1320, 10th Ronnie Williamson 1316.
Gary Marsden & Son from Hills & Maze won 1st & 2n Section e in the old bird Penzance.
Gary Marsden - Penzance 2026, 4,489 pigeons. 1st & 2nd Section E, 7th & 8th Open, with a total of 18 loft mates in the Open result. The pigeons came really well for me and Darragh yesterday. Gary races in Hillsborough & Maze.
NIPA Sect E Clubs
Annaghmore – 3/35 1st R D Calvin 1273, 2nd F & D McNeice 1228, 3rd J & E Calvin 1224, 4th & 5th R D Calvin 1219, 1205, 6th F & D McNeice 1203.
Armagh HPS – 5/29 1st G & A Campbell 1281, 2nd John Campbell 1253, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th R Parkes & Son 1177, 1175, 1156 & 1151.
Beechpark Social – 10/95 1st D Mawhinney & Son 1247, 2nd M Duggan & Son 1245, 3rd, 4th & 5th D Mawhinney & Son 1245, 1237 & 1215, 6th G McEvoy 1202.
Bondhill Social – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Ronnie Williamson 1340, 1316, 1300, 1297, 1276 & 1274.
Edgarstown – 10/161 McClean & Craig 1329, 2nd R G G Donaldson 1305, 3rd & 4th G & C Simmons 1293, 1291, 5th David Love 1279, 6th McClean & Craig 1272.
Gilford & District – 7/90 1st T Lennon 1312, 2nd W A Feeney 1271, 3rd Rafferty & Toman 1252, 4th T Lennon 1251, 5th Dillon & Morrow 1251, 6th W A Feeney 1246.
Laurelvale – 10/169 1st, 2nd & 3rd A Graig 1336, 1336, 1314, 4th J Serplus 1266, 5th A Graig 1257, 6th W Gillis & Son 1256.
Loughgall – 4/78 1st & 2nd D & C & P McArdle 1329, 1286, 3rd Sam Corrigan 1230, 4th, 5th & 6th D & C & P McArdle 1214, 1182, 1178.
Lurgan Social – 18/204 1st P Hatchell 1305, 2nd R Adamson 1300, 3rd T Furphy 1287, 4th D Carville & Son 1284, 5th J Byrne 1272, 6th D Carville & Son 1269.
Monaghan HPS – 1st, 2nd, 3rd Keith Allister 1241,1240, 1235, 4th Stephen O’Brien 1227, 5th Keith Allister 1216, 6th Stephen O’Brien 1179.
Portadown & Drumcree – 4/39 1st Sloan & Reid 1226, 2nd Alan McDonald 1222, 3rd & 4th C Reid 1171, 1155, 5th A McDonald 1101.
Congratulations to Francie Sloan for winning the Portadown & Drumcree club from Penzance at the weekend.
Meadows – 2/21 1st & 2nd Siobhan McLaughlin 1326, 1272, 3rd Joe Brown 1239, 4th, 5th & 6th Siobhan McLaughlin 1237, 1192, 1184.
NIPA Penzance O/Bird Section H Result 24/78 – 1st Ronnie Witherow, Limavady 1196, 2nd & 3rd Troy Booth, Mourne & District 1143, 1134, 4th & 5th Pat McLaughlin, Maiden City 133, 1105, 6th & 7th Davie Booth, Mourne & District 1095, 1095, 8th J & G Ramsey, Derry & District 1082, 9th Robin McIlmoyle, Limavady 1064, 10th F Patterson, Strabane & District 1059.
NIPA Sect H Clubs
Derry & District – 10/29 1st J & G Ramsey 1082, 2nd R Gallagher 1047, 3rd M Moran 1045, 4th R Gallagher 968,
Limavady – 7/32 1st Ronnie Witherow 1196, 2nd Robin McIlmoyle 1064.
Ronnie Witherow, who tops the Limavady club and Section H in Penzance.
Maiden City – 3/8 1st & 2nd Pat McLaughlin 1133, 1105, 3rd & 4th D Hamilton 1001, 984, 5th Concannon Bros 931.
Mourne & District HPS – 1st & 2nd Troy Booth 1143, 1134, 3rd & 4th Davy Booth 1095, 1095.
Strabane & District Inv RPC – 4/9 1st F Patterson 1059, 2nd Mr J White 1049.
Feds & Combines Penzance –
Mid Antrim Combine NIPA Penzance 20/06/26
Rock & Moore 2 x 1st MAC Penzance –
Well done R & J Parke on timing from Penzance to win the Windsor Social club in Penzance Classic race.
The Nipa were in West Cornwall for their Penzance and Classic events on Saturday 20th June. The birds were released at 10.45am in light winds and a good but tough race followed.
Jimmy Rock & Darrel Moore of the Cullybackey club timed their 2yo cheq cock at 18.00pm to their lofts in Albert Place in the Ballymena town to record 1336. The partnership finished 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 2nd Section B and 23rd Open Nipa 4539 birds. In the duplicated Classic event the lads won 1st MA Combine, 1st Section B and 14th Open. The sire is from Jimmy's 1st Open Nipa Talbenny YB National winner when paired to his 1st Open Nipa Penzance OB Classic winner. The dam is a Van Den Bulck x Jacobs hen from Gerald Delaney. The cock had all four channel races to date and was well fancied to win the Combine 2 Bird.
Jimmy Rock & Darrel Moore of Cullybackey 1st Combine, 1st Section & 13th Open Penzance Classic
Johnston Eagleson & Sons were runners up in the Combine in both races on 1335 and won 3rd Section & 24th Open Penance and 2nd Section & 15th Open in the Classic event. The 3yo cheq hen has won 5th & 15th Section from Dale in 2024 & 2025. Sire is the top stock cock 'The Pest' which is down from the very best of Danny Dixon's old Lambrecht lines acquired from Danny a decade ago. The dam is a Van Den Bulck granddaughter of Kittel. The Eagleson loft also collected the Champions League cup for the second year on the trot beating Stewart Brothers of Randalstown in the final.
Johnston & Mervyn Eagleson of Ballymena 2nd Section & 14th Open Penzance Classic
Alan Darragh was next best on 1333 and placed 4th Section & 26th Open followed by Trevor Whyte the Ahoghill winner on 1325. Trevor's winner a blue pied cock finished 6th Section & 34th Open. Sire Van Wildemeersch x Maurice Matthews. Dam is his 2023 Meritorious award winner.
Trevor Whyte best in Ahoghill from Penzance
John Millar had the top two in Randalstown on 1256 & 1249 and placed 23rd & 27th Section.
John Millar 1st & 2nd Randalstown from Penzance
Henry Turkington was best in Kells on 1247 and 28th Section. Henry timed a yearling blue pied cock gifted by Dessie and Robert Turkington. The sire and dam are both half brother and sister to their 4th Open INFC Lamballe Friendship National bird and Freddie Barkley had the winner in Rasharkin on 1211.
Henry Turkington had the Kells winner from Penzance
Freddie Barkley topped Rasharkin from Penzance
Mid Antrim Combine Penzance - 1st Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1336, 2nd J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1335, 3rd A Darragh Cullybackey 1333, 4th T Whyte Ahoghill 1325, 5th Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1322, 6th G Gibson Cullybackey 1306, 7th S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1300, 8th J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1300, 9th D Dixon Rasharkin 1289, 10th Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1286, 11th D Dixon Rasharkin 1285, 12th D Dixon Rasharkin 1277, 13th G Gibson Cullybackey 1264, 14th A Darragh Cullybackey 1259, 15th A Darragh Cullybackey 1257, 16th J Millar Randalstown 1256, 17th J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1253, 18th A Darragh Cullybackey 1253, 19th J Whyte Ahoghill 1251, 20th J Millar Randalstown 1249, 21st H Turkington Kells 1247, 22nd Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1246, 23rd H Turkington Kells 1243, 24th J & K Balmer Ahoghill 1237, 25th Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1236, 26th T Whyte Ahoghill 1234, 27th J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1233, 28th S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1232, 29th A Darragh Cullybackey 1232, 30th D Dixon Rasharkin 1230, 31st G Gibson Cullybackey 1226, 32nd G Gibson Cullybackey 1226, 33rd D Dixon Rasharkin 1225, 34th R Service & Son Ballymena 1225, 35th W Livingstone Ahoghill 1224, 36th A Darragh Cullybackey 1221, 37th Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1219, 38th F Barkley Rasharkin 1211, 39th Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1210
40th D Craig Cullybackey 1208.
MID ANTRIM COMBINE 2 BIRD PENZANCE
1st Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1336 GB24B59853, 2nd S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1300 GB25B35422
Jimmy Rock and Darrel Moore win the Combine 2 Bird with their 2yo cheq cock that topped the Combine in both Penzance & Penzance Old Bird Classic.
OLD BIRD CHAMPIONS LEAGUE KNOCKOUT FINAL PENZANCE (winner in capitals) Stewart Brothers v J EAGLESON & SONS 1335.
OLB BIRD KNOCKOUT FINAL PENZANCE (winner in capitals)
D Dixon 1289 v G GIBSON 1306.
LES MAIRS MEMORIAL CUP - OLD BIRD POINTS FANCIER OF THE YEAR – Penzance and Cloughmartin,
G Gibson Cullybackey 797, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 571, A Darragh Cullybackey 356, D Dixon Rasharkin 300, Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 267, H Boyd Kells 119, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 109, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 107, S Johnston & Son Ballymena 79, F Barkley Rasharkin 73, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 72, J & J Greer Cullybackey 69, Surgenor Bros Kells 63, Stewart Bros 62, M Neilly Broughshane 61.
Mid Antrim Combine OB Classic Penzance - 1st Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1336, 2nd J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1335, 3rd A Darragh Cullybackey 1333, 4th T Whyte Ahoghill 1325, 5th Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1322, 6th G Gibson Cullybackey 1306, 7th S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1300, 8th J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1300, 9th D Dixon Rasharkin 1289, 10th Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1286, 11th D Dixon Rasharkin 1285, 12th D Dixon Rasharkin 1277, 13th G Gibson Cullybackey 1264, 14th A Darragh Cullybackey 1259, 15th A Darragh Cullybackey 1257, 16th J Millar Randalstown 1256, 17th J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1253, 18th A Darragh Cullybackey 1253, 19th J Whyte Ahoghill 1251, 20th J Millar Randalstown 1249, 21st Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1236, 22nd T Whyte Ahoghill 1234, 23rd J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1233, 24th S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1232, 25th A Darragh Cullybackey 1232, 26th D Dixon Rasharkin 1230, 27th G Gibson Cullybackey 1226, 28th G Gibson Cullybackey 1226, 29th D Dixon Rasharkin 1225, 30th R Service & Son Ballymena 1225.
OLD BIRD CLUB POINTS - PENZANCE & CLOUGHMARTIN
Cullybackey 102, Ballymena 85, Ahoghill FC 71, Rasharkin 69, Kells & Dist. 51
Randalstown 29, Broughshane 28. Mervyn Eagleson Mid Antrim Combine PO.
Coleraine Triangle Penzance – Russell McAlary Coleraine Prem 1262, Sean Diamond Coleraine Prem 1249, Jimmy Hanson Coleraine Prem 1229, B & D Coyle Coleraine Prem 1220, Diamond Bros Coleraine Prem 1220, B & D Coyle 1199, B & D Coyle 1196, Russell McAlary 1191, Jimmy Hanson 1183, Diamond Bros 1180, Jimmy Hanson 1180, Paul O’Connor Coleraine Prem 1177, Mervyn Simpson Windsor Soc 1172, Jimmy Hanson 1156, B & D Coyle 1149, Sean Diamond 1146, Jimmy Hanson 1141, Diamond Bros 1123.
City of Derry Federation Penzance – Pat McLaughlin Maiden City 1133, Pat McLaughlin 1105, J & G Ramsey Derry & Dist. 1082, R Gallagher Derry & Dist. 1047, M Moran Derry & Dist. 1045, D Hamilton Maiden City 1001, D Hamilton 984, R Gallagher 958, Concannon Bros Maiden City 931.
Foyle Valley Combine Penzance – Pat McLaughlin Maiden City 1133, Pat McLaughlin 1105, J & G Ramsey Derry & Dist. 1082, F Patterson Strabane & Dist. 1059, J White Strabane & Dist. 1049, R Gallagher Derry & Dist. 1047, M Moran Derry & Dist. 1045, D Hamilton Maiden City 1001, D Hamilton 984, R Gallagher 958, Concannon Bros Maiden City 931.
NIPA Open & Sect Result Penzance Old Bird Classic:
NIPA Penzance O/Bird Classic Saturday 20th June 2026 – Liberated at 10.45am in light variable winds. 209 members sent 1,971 pigeons – 1st (1G) J F McCabe, Newry & District 1425 £513; 2nd (1D) P & J Boal, Dromore 1396 £60; 3rd (2D) J Gregory & Sons, Colin HPS 1388 £48; 4th (2G) D & K Mallen, Drumnavaddy 1370 £358; 5th (3G) McGrath & McParland, Drumnavaddy 1358 £38; 6th (3D) Russell Bros, Dromara 1358 £42; 7th (G) F Simpson, Banbridge 1355; 8th (1C) C McManus, Ligoniel HPS 1354 £256; 9th (4G) J Smyth & Sons, Drumnavaddy 1353 £143; 10th (2C) J & D Braniff, West End Dromore 1352 £410; 11th (5G) W McDowell & Son, Drumnavaddy 1345 £32; 12th & 13th (1 & 2 E) A Craig, Laurelvale 1336, 1336 £76 & £67; 14th (1B) Rock & Moore, Cullybackey 1336 £45; 15th (2B) J Eagleson & Son, Ballymena 1335 £40; 16th (6G) Wen Jian Zhang, Banbridge 1334 £32; 17th (3B) Alan Darragh, Cullybackey 1333 £34; 18th (7G) J McParland, Newry & District 1332 £27; 19th (3E) D & C & P McArdle, Loughgall 1329 £50; 20th (4E) T McClean & S Craig, Edgarstown 1329 £108; 21st (4D) D Johnston, Derriaghy 1328 £27; 22nd (1A) S McLaughlin, Meadows 1326 £44; 23rd (3C) C McVeigh & Son & Daughter, West End Dromore £239; 24th (4B) T Whyte, Ahoghill 1325 £28; 25th (5D) P & J Boal, 1324 £27; 26th (4C) D & J Campbell, Doagh & District 1323 £29; 27th (5B) Rock & Moore 1322 £28; 28th (8G) McCracken Bros, Banbridge 1320 £27; 29th (5E) Ronnie Williamson, Bondhill 1316 £41; 30th (6E) A Craig 1314 £41; 31st (9G) McGrath & McParland 1313 £27; 32nd (10G) R Carson & Son, Banbridge 1313 £27; 33rd (6D) Jeff Greenaway, Hills & Maze 1312 £27; 34th (11G) McCracken Bros, Banbridge 1312 £27; 35th (5C) D & J Campbell 1310 £29; 36th (12G) Lyons & Kennedy, Hills & Maze 1309 £117; 37th (6B) Gary Gibson, Cullybackey 1306 £28; 38th (13G) W McDowell & Son, Drumnavaddy 1306 £68; 39th (7E) R G & G Donaldson, Edgarstown 1305 £23; 40th (14G) C O’Hare & Daughter, Ballyholland 1303 £27; 41st (2A) D Carolan, Coalisland 1302 £35; 42nd (7B) J Connolly, Ballymoney 1302 £28; 43rd (15G) Owen Markey 1300 £27; 44th (8E) Ronnie Williamson 1300 £23; 45th (9E) Rodney Adamson, Lurgan Social 1300 £23; 46th (8B) S Johnston & Son 1300 £98; 47th (9B) J Eagleson & Son 1300 £101; 48th (7D) Jeff Greenaway 1299 £27; 49th (6C) A & T Agnew, Ballyclare 1297 £46; 50th (10E) Ronnie Willamson 1297 £23.
NIPA Section A Penzance O/Bird Classic – 1st S McLaughlin, Meadows 1326, 2nd D Carolan, Coalisland 1302, 3rd S McLaughlin 1272, 4th Russell McAlary, Coleraine Premier 1262, 5th Sean Diamond, Coleraine Premier 1249, 6th S McLaughlin 1236, 7th K Murphy, Coalisland 1235, 8th K Murphy 1232, 9th Jimmy Hanson, Coleraine Premier 1229, 10th D Carolan 1224.
NIPA Section B Penzance O/Bird Classic – 1st Rock & Moore, Cullybackey 1336, 2nd J Eagleson & Son, Ballymena 1335, 3rd Alan Darragh, Cullybackey 1333, 4th T Whyte, Ahoghill 1325, 5th Rock & Moore 1322, 6th Gary Gibson, Cullybackey 1306, 7th J Connolly, Ballymoney 1302, 8th S Johnston & Son, Ballymena 1300, 9th J Eagleson & Son 1300, 10th Danny Dixon, Ballymoney 1289.
NIPA Section E Penzance O/Bird Classic – 1st & 2nd Alan Craig, Laurelvale 1336, 1336, 3rd D & C & P McArdle, Loughgall 1329, 4th T McClean & S Craig, Edgarstown 1329, 5th Ronnie Williamson, Bondhill 1316, 6th A Craig 1314, 7th R G & G Donaldson, Edgarstown 1305, 8th Ronnie Williamson 1300, 9th Rodney Adamson, Lurgan Social 1300, 10th Ronnie Williamson 1297.
NIPA Section H Penzance O/Bird Classic – 1st & 2nd Troy Booth, Mourne & District 1143, 1134, 3rd Pat McLaughlin, Maiden City 1133, 4th Jim Ramsey & Son, Derry & District 1082, 5th Freddie Patterson, Strabane 1059.
RPRA (Irish Region) Awards for 2026
For as long as I can remember the main awards regarding individual bird performance were competed for in two cross channel races a fortnight apart. The NIPA have 8 Sections and the current races are 2nd Dale and Penzance, we now have a Best Performance for Southern Ireland members long overdue. We have the usual Mileage Awards and look how well the Irish have done over the years in the National Championship. It’s now well advertised and no excuse for claims to be made. The Irish Region Awards have in recent years been presented at NIPA Ladies Night while the RPRA Awards are part of the Blackpool Show weekend.
A most recent addition was the Jimmy burrows Memorial Trophy for Best OB Performance over 0-250 miles and 251 to 450 miles individual bird. It was won for the first time by D & J Campbell of Eastway and we also have Best YB Performance won in 20325 by Sam Ogle of Drumnavaddy. William Knowles a long serving committee member and 90 years young has put up a cup for Best bird 0-250 miles, 251-450 miles and Over 450 miles. Not won yet and not sure this will often be achieved by and individual bird. Since we have Champion OB and Champion YB it might be the opportunity to make this award Best Long-Distance Performance. With 3 France races it should be won every year. For the other arrangement we could award a Diploma of Merit on any occasions a claim is submitted and approved.
Claims for the Meritorious awards must be made to the RPRA (Irish Region) Secretary Mr Noel Higgindon before 31st July 2026. Address: 201 Ballynure Road, Ballyclare, County Antrin, Northern Ireland BT39 9AJ. Telephone: Mobile 07518 748717.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
Email:
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
Mid Antrim Captions Penzance
