NIPA Race Report by Homer - Benanore YB
Another 1st Open NIPA for Owen Markey of Ballyholland –
Benamore was the third race of the young bird season a mass liberation after two weeks of area liberations. The race was dominated by lofts in the Newry City area and the top loft once again was Owen Markey of Ballyholland.
Mambo Man the NIPA Champion OB 2026 for Owen Markey of Ballyholland.
NIPA Race/Date
Benamore YB Saturday 1st August 2026 – Liberated at 9.00am in a Lt West wind.
NIPA Benamore (1) Y/Bird 2026, 386 members sent 10,882 pigeons these were liberated on Saturday 1st August 2026 at 09.00am in a Light West Wind – 1st Open (1G) Owen Markey, Ballyholland 1728, 2nd (2G) Owen Markey 1720; 3rd (3G) Harry O’Hare, Ballyholland 1719; 4th & 5th (4G & 5G) Owen Markey 1719, 1719; 6th , 7th & 8th (6G, 7G & 8G) William Chambers, Newry & District 1716, 1713, 1712; 9th (9G) E & B McAteer, Ballyholland 1712; 10th (10G) Harry O’Hare 1711; 11th (1F) P Murray, Killyleagh Central 1711; 12th (11G) Harry O’Hare 1710; 13th (12G) William Chambers 1710; 14th (13G) Harry O’Hare 1709; 15th (14G) Owen Markey 1709; 16th (1D) Matthew Russell, Dromara 1707; 17th (15G) E & B McAteer 1707; 18th (16G) T Mooney & Son, Millvale 1704; 19th & 20th (1C & 2C) Bingham, Seaton & Dowie, Ligoniel & District 1698, 1698.
Congratulations to William Chambers on winning Saturday’s race from Benamore Today’s winner is bred down from the best of the Willy Jacob pigeons from Gerald Delaney of O’Roory Hill stud in Dromore.
NIPA Section A Result Benamore (1) Y/Bird 38/1,052 – 1st A O’Hare, Loughgall 1624; 2nd , 3rd & 4th G & S Smith, Cookstown Social 1610, 1608, 1608; 5th B Morgan, Coalisland & District 1607; 6th G & S Smith 1606; 7th , 8th , 9th & 10th A O’Hare 1605, 1605, 1604, 1604.
NIPA Sect A Clubs
Coalisland & District 15/372 – 1st B Morgan 1607, 2nd & 3rd G Quinn 1589, 1568, 4th G & G Larmour 1555, 5th H & J Devlin 1553, 6th B Morgan 1552.
Coleraine Premier HPS 11/391 – 1st J Hanson 1538, 2nd T McCrudden 1537, 3rd J Hanson 1520, 4th & 5th J Hanson 1511, 1510, 6th S Diamond 1499
Cookstown Social 6/177 – 1st , 2nd , 3rd , 4th , 5th & 6th G & S Smith 1610, 1608, 1608, 1606, 1600, 1600.
Dungannon & District 4/37 – 1st E Bleeks 1305, 2nd & 3rd K L Newell 1226, 1197, 4th & 5th B Loughran 1165, 1043, 6th E Bleeks 1030.
Windsor Social 4/98 – 1st R & J Parke 1535, 2nd & 3rd Mervyn Simpson 1471, 1469, 4th & 5th R & J Parke 1468, 1449, 6th Mervyn Simpson 1443.
NIPA Section B Result Benamore (1) Y/Bird 65/1,767 – 1st Sefton Thompson, Crumlin 1684; 2nd & 3rd A Steele, Muckamore 1652, 1652; 4th Sefton Thompson 1641; 5th D & J Thompson, Muckamore 1639; 6th Ryan Hope, Crumlin 1636; 7th John Harkness, Crumlin 1628; 8th T Johnston & Son, Ballymena & District 1628; 9th K & K Kernohan & Sons, Ballymena & District 1624; 10th Fleming Bros, Crumlin 1623, Sefton Thompson 1622, G Gibson Cullybackey 1619, Ryan Hope Crumlin 1615, K & K Kernohan & Sons 1611, 1610, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1609, Sam Murphy Cullybackey 1606, 1606, S & N Maginty Muckamore 1604, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1602.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club 6/165 – 1st J Smyth & Son 1548, 2nd E Stewart 1547, 3rd J Smyth & Son 1530, 4th J Whyte 1524, 5th & 6th J Smyth & Son 1522, 1520.
Ballymoney HPS 9/310 – 1st , 2nd , 3rd , 4th & 5th Danny Dixon 1562, 1530, 1526, 1525, 1523, 6th A & M Boyle 1520.
Broughshane & District 3/37 – 1st , 2nd , 3rd , 4th , 5th & 6th M Neilly 1569, 1569, 1543, 1542, 1529 & 1524.
Ballymena & District HPS 5/120 – 1st T Johnston & Son 1628, 2nd , 3rd & 4th K & K Kernohan & Sons 1624, 1611, 1610, 5th J Eagleson & Sons 1609, 6th Blair & Rankin 1602.
Cullybackey HPS 10/294 – 1st G Gibson 1619, 2nd , 3rd , 4th , 5th & 6th S Murphy 1606, 1606, 1559, 1553, 1553.
Crumlin & District 7/222 – 1st & 2nd Sefton Thompson 1684, 1641, 3rd Ryan Hope 1636, 4th Mr J Harkness 1628, 5th Fleming Bros 1623, 6th Sefton Thompson 1622. Tony’s Section B winner for Benamore raced under the late Sefton Thompson. Bred by a and p Jordan Leo Hernanes sire from Sammy Larkin and the dam Danny van dyke from Phillip Boalof Dromore.
Sefton Thompson Sect B winner timed by Tony Robinson in Crumlin & District.
Kells & District HPS 6/129 – 1st H Turkington 1575, 2nd A Barkley & Son 1567, 3rd Gregg Bros 1565, 4th H Turkington 1551, 5th S Scott & Son 1544, 6th Gregg Bros 1543. Sizzlers 2 Bird Club – S Scott & Son 1487, Gregg Bros 1487, 1471, S Scott & Son 1453, B Swann & Son 1324.
Muckamore HPS 6/207 – 1st & 2nd A Steele 1652, 1652, 3rd D & J Thompson 1639, 4th , 5th & 6th Knocker & Bill 1637, 1636 & 1630.
Randalstown HPS 5/100 – 1st & 2ndstewart Bros 1509, 1484, 3rd J O’Neil & Son 1444, 4thstewart Bros 1442, 5th J McNeil & Son 1424, 6th J Millar 1417.
Rasharkin &District HPS 5/108 – 1st & 2nd W McFetridge 1558, 1523, 3rd , 4th , 5th & 6th F Barkley 1510, 1495, 1491, 1490.
NIPA Section E Result Benamore (1) Y/Bird 64/2,076 – 1st J Barr, Lurgan Social 1687; 2nd & 3rd D & C & P McArdle, Loughgall 1679, 1677; 4th G O’Dowd, Gilford & District 1671; 5th Patrick O’Neill, Loughgall 1669; 6th Davy Mawhinney & Son, Beech Park Social 1665, 7th , 8th & 9th W A Feeney, Gilford & District 1658, 1657, 1653, 10th G O’Dowd 1653.
NIPA Sect E Clubs
Annaghmore 3/110 – 1st J & E Calvin 1568, 2nd R D Calvin 1554, 3rd J & E Calvin 1545, 4th R D Calvin 1531, 5th & 6th J & E Calvin 1524, 1523.
Armagh HPS 4/186 – 1st Ian Blair 1603, 2nd , 3rd , 4th , 5th & 6th G Stevenson & Son 1600, 1566, 1565, 1535 & 1505.
Beechpark Social 3/46 – 1st , 2nd , 3rd D Mawhinney & Son 1665, 1602, 1586, 4th G Lavery 1568, 5th D Mawhinney & Son 1555, 6th G Lavery 1552.
Edgarstown 8/347 – S & E Buckley 1622, 2nd David Love 1618, 3rd & 4th T Wilson 1606, 1603, 5th Richard Cassells 1594, 6th S & E Buckley 1589.
Winning bird from Benamore for S & E Buckley of Edgarstown.
Gilford & District 5/202 – 1st G O’Dowd 1671, 2nd , 3rd & 4th W A Feeney 1658, 1657, 1653, 5th & 6th G O’Dowd 1653, 1652.
Laurelvale 5/131 – J H Muldrew & McMurray 1606, 2nd A Craig 1602, 3rd M Milligan & Son 1600, 4th A Craig 1592, 5th M Milligan & Son 1573, 6th A Craig 1560.
Loughgall 4/137 – 1st & 2nd D & C & P McArdle 1679, 1677, 3rd Patrick O’Neill 1669, 4th D & C & P McArdle 1635, 5th & 6th A O’Hare 1624, 1605.
Lurgan Social 18/465 – 1st J Barr 1687, 2nd Rodney Adamson 1645, 3rd S Curran 1644, 4th Tony & Stevenson 1642, 5th & 6th J Douglas & Son 1629, 1629.
Monaghan HPS 6/184 – 1ststephen O’Brien 1487, 2nd Keith Allister 1486, 3rdstephen O’Brien 1478, 4th Brendan Corley 1419, 5th Richard Mulligan 1405, 6thstephen O’Brien 1354.
Portadown & Drumcree 6/205 – 1st & 2nd Alan McDonald 1638, 1623, 3rd & 4th J Whitten & Son 1553, 1550, 5th & 6th B Creaney 1540, 1539.
Allan McDonald won his second young bird race in Portadown & Drumcree.
Meadows 3/91- 1st , 2nd & 3rd Siobhan McLaughlin 1596, 1527, 1484, 4th Aidan Mallon 1464, 5th & 6th Siobhan McLaughlin 1436, 1435.
NIPA Section H Result Benamore (1) Y/Bird 45/908 – 1st , 2nd , 3rd Davie Booth, Mourne & District 1369, 1369, 1369; 4th John Healy, Amelia Earheart 1330; 5th A McCrudden, Derry & District 1329; 6th L Flanaghan, Londonderry 1325; 7th Davie Booth 1315; 8th J & G Ramsey, Derry & District 1305; 9th Glen Duddy, Limavady 1298, 10th Robin McIlmoyle, Limavady 1295.
NIPA Sect H Clubs
Amelia Earhart 4/24 – 1st John Healy 1330, 2nd & 3rd Noel & Ciara Doherty 1047, 1044. John Healy wats to say a big thank you to Jim Ramsey and Brian Maguire for training his pigeons. The parents off this young bird came from Mr Miss Kral Guenther from Scotland Dumfries.
John Healy of Amelia Earhart, best in Derry Fed from Benamore.
Derry & District 7/128 – 1st A McCrudden 1329, 2nd & 3rd J & G Ramsey 1305, 1251, 4th & 5th A McCrudden 1227, 1227, 6th J & G Ramsey 1180.
Limavady 8/239 – 1st Glen Duddy 1298, 2nd Robin McIlmoyle 1295, 3rd J McArthur 1249, 4th Glen Duddy 1200, 5th Tam Kealy 1194, 6th J McArthur 1190.
Londonderry RPS 4/60 – 1st L Flanaghan 1325, 2nd J Cassidy 1216, 3rd , 4th & 5th L Flanaghan 1176, 1118, 1070, 6th J Cassidy 890.
Maiden City 8/204 – 1st , 2nd & 3rd Pat McLaughlin 1135, 1089, 1069, 4th , 5th & 6th P & M Healy 1045, 1044, 1044.
Mourne & District HPS – 1st , 2nd , 3rd , 4th , 5th & 6th Davie Booth 1369, 1369, 1369, 1315, 1260 & 1225.
Strabane & District Inv RPC 14/253 – 1st D McNulty 1223, 2nd Ian Brown 1150, 3rd &4th D McGranaghan 1149, 1149, 5th D McNulty 1123, 6th Noel McConnell 1103.
Mid Antrim Combine - NIPA Benamore 01/08/26
Trevor Johnston f Ballymena & Dist. 1st Mid Antrim -
The third young bird race of the season was held on Saturday 1st August. The birds were liberated in Benamore in County Tipperary at 9.00am in light westerly winds. Trevor Johnston of Ballymena & District had the best bird in the Ballymena Town timing his blue hen at 11.37am to win 1st Mid Antrim Combine on 1628 with nearly one thousand birds competing. The sire is a double grandson of Gary Gibson's 'Golden Couple' which Trev's son Shane reared him. The dam is from Gary Gibson which was gifted to Trevor’s grandson Ethan.
Trevor Johnston of Ballymena & District 1st Mid Antrim Combine Benamore young birds
Runners up in the Mid Antrim Combine were Keith & Callum Kernohan of Ballymena & District. The lads had a good race taking 2nd, 4th, 5th & 10th Combine.
Keith, Lewis & Callum Kernohan with their 2nd, 4th & 5th Combine birds from Benamore
First bird on 1624 was a gift from good friend Robin Service, the sire Leo Hermans from Terry Jobes and dam Willy Jacobs from O'Roory Hillstud. Second bird timed was Vermeerbergen/Wilms x 'Happy Days' Mid Antrim Combine Champion Young Bird 2024 bred by O'Roory Hillstud and the third bird timed was one of two young birds won at Lisburn Show from John Abernathy Harmonystud.
Gary Gibson finished 3rd Combine and 1st in Cullybackey club on 1619. His winning red cocks sire is a son of the Superace 494 and the No1 daughter Golden Couple. The cock has been 4th MAC Grenagh and 3rd MAC 28th North Section Skibbereen YB National 2025.the winners dam has been placed 3rd MAC 4th Section Bantry National and she's from club old bird of the year 2024 and 1st Section Dale YB National hen 2024, etc.
Gary Gibson timed another winner in Cullybackey, record breaking season to date.
Henry Turkington was best in Kells on 1575 and Marc Neilly took the top spot in Broughshane on 1569 . Marc's winner was the same hen that won the first race and 6th Combine. The sire is Soontjen x Delaney from Robin Service and the dam was purchased from Gerald Delaney. Other club winners included William McFetridge Rasharkin 1558, Jimmy Smyth Ahoghill 1548 and Ian Stewart in Randalstown 1509.
Marc Neilly with his cheq hen that has won Broughshane twice from three starts
Mid Antrim Combine Benamore 40/975 - 1st T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1628, 2nd K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1624, 3rd G Gibson Cullybackey 1619, 4th K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1611, 5th K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1610, 6th J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1609, 7th Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1602, 8th T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1601, 9th H Turkington Kells 1575, 10th K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1575, 11th T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1574, 12th J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1570, 13th Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1570, 14th M Neilly Broughshane 1569, 15th M Neilly Broughshane 1569, 16th A Barkley & Son Kells 1567, 17th Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1566, 18th Gregg Bros Kells 1565, 19th J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1563, 20th D Dixon Rasharkin 1562, 21st T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1559, 22nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1559, 23rd W McFetridge Rasharkin 1558, 24th K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1556, 25th J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1554, 26th H Turkington Kells 1551, 27th J Smyth & Son Kells 1548, 28th E Stewart Ahoghill 1547, 29th A Darragh Cullybackey 1546, 30th Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1546, 31st Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1546, 32nd S Scott & Son Kells 1544, 33rd J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1543, 34th Gregg Bros Kells 1543, 35th M Neilly Broughshane 1543, 36th Gregg Bros Kells 1542, 37th M Neilly Broughshane 1542, 38th T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1542, 39th G Gibson Cullybackey 1540, 40th T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1539.
MID ANTRIM COMBINE 2 BIRD - BENAMORE
1st G Gibson Cullybackey 1619 GB26C07138
2nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1575 GB26B28309.
MAC YOUNG BIRD KNOCK OUT BENAMORE 01/08/26 (winners in capitals)
Gregg Bros 1565 v J EAGLESON & SONS 1609, MR & MRS ROBINSON 1490 v B Hanson 1468, H Cubitt 1395 v M NEILLY 1569, J & M Milliken 1452 v S SCOTT & SON 1544, E Stewart 1547 v Young & McManus & Sons 0, H TURKINGTON 1575 v J McNaghten & Son 0, J SMYTH & SON 1548 v F Barkley 1510, J GETTY 1424 v G & A Eagleson 1386, T JOHNSTON & SON 1628 v A Barkley & Son 1567, Rock & Moore 1466 v BLAIR & RANKIN 1602, E Johnston 1505 v A DARRAGH 1546, K & K KERNOHAN & SONS 1624 v D Dixon 1562, W McFETRIDGE 1558 vstewart Bros 1509, C & R McINTYRE 1449 v J Millar 1417, J & J GREER 1529 v D Craig 1516, N & S Anderson 1434 v G GIBSON 1619.
MID ANTRIM COMBINE YOUNG BIRD POINTS (Benamore 01/08/26)
K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 134, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 79, Marc Neilly Broughshane 70, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 59, D Dixon Rasharkin 49, J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 37, Rock & Moore Cullybackey 34, H Turkington Kells 30. Mervyn Eagleson - MAC Race Secretary and MAC Press Officer
Feds & Combines Benamore –
Coleraine Triangle – Jimmy Hanson Coleraine Prem 1538, Terence McCrussen Coleraine Prem 1537, R & J Parke Windsor Soc 1535, Jimmy Hanson 1520, 1511, 1510, Sen Diamond Coleraine Prem 1499, B & D Coyle Coleraine Prem 1494, B & D Coyle 1494, B & D Coyle 1493e, Jimmy Hanson 1492, T & J McDonald Coleraine Prem 1490, S Diamond 1488, T & J McDonald 1488, B & D Coyle 1483, A McDonald Coleraine Prem 1481, Diamond Bros Coleraine Prem 1480, T & J McDonald 1480, B & D Coyle 1477.
City of Derry Federation – John Healy Amelia Earhart 1330, A McCrudden Derry & Dist. 1329, L Flanagan Londonderry 1325, J & G Ramsey Derry & Dist. 1305, J & G Ramsey 1251, A McCrudden 1227, 1227, J Cassidy Londonderry 1216, J & G Ramsey 1180, L Flanagan 1176, A McCrudden 1176, J & G Ramsey 1161, P McLaughlin Maiden City 1135, L Flanaghan 1118, J & G Ramsey 1110, , P McLaughlin 1089, J & G Ramsey 1081, L Flanagan 1070, P McLaughlin 106
Foyle Valley Combine Benamore – John Healy Amelia Earhart 1330, A McCrudden Derry & Dist. 1329, L Flanagan Londonderry 1325, J & G Ramsey Derry & Dist. 1305, J & G Ramsey 1251, A McCrudden 1227, 1227, D McNulty Strabane & Dist. 1223, J Cassidy Londonderry 1216, J & G Ramsey 1180, L Flanagan 1176, A McCrudden 1176, J & G Ramsey 1161, Ian Brownstrabane & Dist. 1150, D McGranaghan Strabane & Dist. 1149, D McGranaghan Strabane & Dist. 1149, P McLaughlin Maiden City 1135, D McNulty Strabane & Dist. 1123, L Flanaghan 1118, J & G Ramsey 1110, Noel McConnell Strabane & Dist. 1103, D McGranaghan Strabane & Dist. 1090, P McLaughlin 1089, J & G Ramsey 1081, L Flanagan 1070, P McLaughlin 1069, D McNulty Strabae & Dist. 1065.
NIPA Section Champion Old Bird 2026
Section A ¬ A O`Hare Loughgall
Blue Cheq Hen GB 25A 63503
Section B ¬ G Gibson Cullybackey
Blue Hen GB25S 35244
Section C ¬ J & D Braniff West End
Blue Cock GB25S 31422
Section D ¬ O & M Monaghan Colin
Cheq Hen GB25S 31071
Section E ¬ D C & P McArdle Loughgall
Blue Hen GB23A 86702
Section F ¬ Lambert & Stuart Bangor
Blue Cheq Hen GB24B 12142
Section G¬ O Markey Ballyholland
Blue Cock GB24A 66779
Section H ¬ D Booth Mourne
Dark Cheq Cock GB25A 66016
NIPA Champion Old Bird Overall 2026
J Moreland Memorial Trophy
O Markey Ballyholland
Blue Cock GB24A 66779
NIPA CHAMPION OLD BIRD 2026
DOUBLE NIPA OPEN WINNER
" MAMBO MAN"
1st. Open NIPA 10,769
1st. Open NIPA 3,922
2nd Open NIPA 12,968 BBLM
20th Open NIPA 885 (5B)
44th. Open NIPA 23,289
46th. North Section INFC
69th. Open NIPA 7,149
97th Open NIPA 4,970
255th Open NIPA 18,548
RPRA Awards 2026 –
Section A – Siobhan McLaughlin Meadows HPS Vel 1409, Section B – Trevor Whyte Ahoghill Flying Club Vel 1464, Section C – B & K Mullan Ligoniel & District Vel 1437, Section D – Gerard Monaghan Colin HPS Vel 1400, Section E – Timmy Mawhinney Dromore HPS Vel 1520, Section F – Burgess & Brennan Bangor RPC Vel 1403, Section G – J F McCabe & Son Newry & District Vel 1535, Section H – Troy Booth Mourne & District Vel 1215. Overall winner was J F McCabe & Son Newry & District Vel 1535.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
Email:
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
