Corrin YB National Race Report by HOMER
Gary Harkness of Cookstown wins Corrin YB National -
The NIPA released in Corrin at 1.30 in a 6mph southerly wind, cloud was high and broken in places. The venue of the final classic of the young bird season was changed at short notice when conditions for release were unsuitable, and the convoy was moved back closer to home. Overall winner was Gary Harkness from Cookstown who had a super card and indeed a super young bird season with five times 1st Section A, well done Gary.
NIPA Race/Date
Corrin YB Nat Sunday 13th September 20226 – Liberated at 1.30pm in a Southerly wind.
NIPA Corrin Y/Bird National 148 members sent 1,568 pigeons. Liberated Sunday 13th September 2026 at 13.30pm in a Light Southerly Wind. 1st & 2nd (1A) & (2A) Gary Harkness, Cookstown 1592 & 1592 £36 & £114; 3rd (1E) J & E Calvin, Annaghmore 1578 £53; 4th (1B) John Harkness, Crumlin 1575 £53; 5th (2E) P Duffy, Armagh 1572 £48; 6th (3E) T McClean & S Craig, Edgarstown 1571 £36; 7th (4E) Thompson & Lunn, Newry City 1568 £67; 8th (5E) Ronnie Williamson, Bondhill 1565 £36; 9th (3A) Sean Diamond, Coleraine Premier 1559 £30; 10th (6E) T McClean & S Craig 1556 £25; 11th (1C) Crawford & Robinson, Larne & District 1555 £51; 12th (7E) Larkin Bros, the Meadows HPS 1552 £25; 13th (2C) T Rodgers, Larne & District 1552 £42; 14th (8E) W A Feeney, Gilford 1551 £175; 15th (9E) P Duffy 1551 £25; 16th (2B) John Harkness 1550 £44; 17th (10E) Ronnie Williamson 1550 £25; 18th & 19th (4A) & (5A) Gary Harkness 1548, 1548 £30 & £24; 20th (3C) A & T Agnew, Ballyclare 1548 £85; 21st & 22nd (11E) & (12E) Ronnie Williamson 1546, 1546 £25 & £25; 23rd (4C) T Rodgers 1545 £33; 24th (13E) G & C Simmons, Edgarstown 1544 £25; 25th (6A) Gary Harkness 1542 £24; 26th (14E) J & E Calvin 1540 £25; 27th (15E) J Barr, Lurgan Social 1539 £25; 28th (5C) Grattan Bros, Doagh & District 1538 £33; 29th (1G) W McDowell & Son, Drumnavaddy 1537 £41; 30th (3B) Blair & Rankin, Ballymena 1537 £37; 31st (6C) J & D Braniff, West End Dromore 1536 £27; 32nd (4B) John Harkness 1535 £37; 33rd (7C) P Travers, West End Dromore 1535 £250; 34th (8C) D McMurray & H Anderson, Ligoniel 1534 £27; 35th (1D) O & M Monaghan, Colin 1534 £81; 36th (9C) A & T Agnew 1533 £62; 37th (10C) J & D Braniff 1532 £27; 38th (2D) J & L Smyth, Trinity 1530 £142; 39th (5B) Fleming Bros, Crumlin 1529 £37; 40th (B) Mr M Simpson, Windsor Social 1528; 41st (11C) G McKenna, Doagh & District 1528 £190; 42nd (16E) G & C Simmons 1527 £25; 3rd (3D) O & M Monaghan 1527 £54; 44th (12C) Crawford & Robinson, Larne & District 1526 £27; 45th & 46th (13C) & (14C) M Witherspoon, Larne & District 1525, 1525 £27 & £27; 47th (15C) G McKenna 1525 £27; 48th (6B) Sefton Thompson, Crumlin 1525 23; 49th (4D) Jeff Greenaway, Hills & Maze 1524 £38; 50th (17E) S & E Buckley, Edgarstown 1524 £25; 51st (16C) Crawford & Robinson 1524 £27; 52nd (17C) Mr G Robinson, Carrick Social 1524 £321; 53rd (7B) T & J McDonald, Coleraine Premier 1523 £70; 54th (18E)Thompson & Lunn 1523 £46; 55th (7A) B Morgan, Coalisland 1521 £24; 56th (19E) Larkin Bros 1521 £25; 57th (18C) G McKenna 1521 £27; 58th (A) B Morgan 1521; 59th (19C) Bingham, Seaton & Dowie, Ligoniel 1520 £27; 60th E G & C Simmons 1520; 61st (8B) J & J Greer, Cullybackey 1520 £23; 62nd (20C) D McMurray & H Anderson 1519 £27; 63rd (21C) W Wickings, Ligoniel 1519 £27; 64th (5D) J Gregory & Sons, Colin HPS 1518 £38; 65th (6D) O & M Monaghan 1517 £201; 66th E J & E Calvin 1517; 67th (22C) D Donnelly & Partners, Larne & District 1517 £47; 68th (9B) John Harkness 1516 £23; 69th (10B) A & M Boyle, Ballymoney 1516 £23; 70th (23C) G McKenna 1516 £96; 71st A & M Boyle 1515 £23; 72nd (2G) S Ogle, Drumnavaddy 1515 £36; 73rd & 74th J Barr 1514, 1513; 75th D Mawhinney & Son, Beechpark 1513; 76th T Furphy, Lurgan Social 1512; 77th (12B) Sefton Thompson 1512 £23; 78th (c) T Rodgers 1512 £141; 79th (3G) W McDowell & Son 1511 £100; 80th (13B) A & M Boyle 1511 £23; 81st T Rodgers 1510; 82nd (14B) Danny Dixon, Ballymoney 1510 £23; 83rd (A) G Harkness 1509; 84th (7D) O & M Monaghan 1508 £34; 85th (c) J Dawson & Son, Kingsmoss 1508; 86th (8D) J & L Smyth, Trinity 1508 £62; 87th (c) T Rodgers 1507; 88th (9D) W Joss, Lisburn & District 1506 £33; 89th G Harkness 1506; 90th J Barr 1506; 91st Bingham, Seaton & Dowie 1506; 92nd D McMurray & H Anderson 1505; 93rd Lynch Bros, Ballycarry 1505; 94th Lynch Bros 1505; 95th P Travers 1504; 96th S & E Buckley 1504; 97th Mr T Fitzpatrick, Lurgan Social 1504; 98th W Wickings, Ligoniel 1504; 99th J & D Braniff 1504; 100th (15B) J Connolly 1504 £23; 101st & 102nd Ronnie Williamson 1503, 1503; 103rd J & E Calvin 1503; 104th T Rodgers 1502; 105th Larkin Bros 1502; 4G McCracken Bros, Banbridge 1501 £178; 16B Gary Gibson, Cullybackey 1500 £23; B Fleming Bros 1500 £15; 10D J Gregory & Sons 1496 £25; C Mr G Robinson 1496 £15; 11D R Topping & Son, Lisburn & District 1494 £25; 12D P & K McCarthey, Trinity 1494 £25; 13D O & M Monaghan 1492 £45; 14D J Gregory & Sons 1490 £25; 15D O & M Monaghan 1490 £25; A G Harkness 1489 £54; 5G J F McCabe & Son, Newry & District 1485 £114; 6G R Carson & Son, Banbridge 1485 £28; 7G S Ogle 1482 £28; 16D O & M Monaghan 1482 £25; 17D J Greenaway 1482 £25; B Gary Gibson 1479 £94; 8 & 9 G R Carson & Son 1478, 1478 £28 & £46; E Thompson & Lunn 1474 £6; 18D Russell Bros, Dromara 1472 £52; C J & D Braniff 1471 £6; D Hugh Dazell, Lisburn & District 1463 £52; 10G & 11G W McDowell & Son 1463 & 1461 £28 & £28; 12G C & G Quinn, Drumnavaddy 1441 £28; 1F Lambert & Stewart, Bangor 1429 £25; 13G McCracken Bros 1428 £28; 14G J F McCabe & Son 1428 £28; G Lyons & Kennedy, Hills & Maze 1426 £30; D M Russell 1414 £57; E Mr T Fitzpatrick, Lurgan Social 1411 £4; G J F McCabe & Son 1400 £9; A G Marshall 1394 £4; 2F & 3F P McQuaide, Bangor 1382, 1379 £35 & £26; D John Turner, Dromore 1390 £24; 4F & 5F P McQuaide 1382, 1379 £18 & £12; 6F Burgess & Brennan, Bangor 1348 £12; 7F P McQuaide 1342 £12; 1H Davie Booth, Mourne & District 1327 £24; F R Watson & Son, Killyleagh Central 1324; F P McQuaide 1282 £54; 2H Davie Booth 1275 £16; F T & G Black 1237 £10; F Lambert & Stewart 1222 £14.
NIPA Sect A Clubs
Coalisland & District – B Morgan 1521, 1521.
Coleraine Premier HPS – S Diamond 1559, T & J McDonald 1523, S Diamond 1440, 1432, 1422, 1413, 1382, T & J McDonald 1363, 1346, 1337, S Diamond 1305, J Hanson 1275, 1241.
Russell McAlary (l) of the Coleraine Prem receiving three £25 Meat vouchers sponsored by Apperley’s Ballymoney for the winners of Coleraine, Ballymoney and Cullybackey Centres from Dale Golden Ring Nomination.
Cookstown Social – Gary Harkness 1592, 1592, 1548, 1548, 1542, 1509, 1506, 1489, G Marshall 1394.
Gary Harkness of Cookstown Social winner of the YB Nat Corrin,
Windsor Social – M Simpson 1528, R & J Parke 1421, M Simpson 1350, R & J Parke 1346, 1337.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ballymoney HPS – A & M Boyle 1516, 1515, 1511, D Dixon 1510, J Connolly 1504.
Broughshane & District – M Neilly 1434, 1402.
Ballymena & District HPS – Blair & Rankin 1537, K & K Kernohan & Sons 1484, T Johnston & Son 1478, K & K Kernohan & Sons 1453, E Johnston 1428 1425, K & K Kernohan & Sons 1408,vE Johnston 1379.
Cullybackey HPS – J & J Greer 1520, G Gibson 1500, 1479, Rock & Moore 1475, G Gibson 1463, 1456, C & R McIntyre 1421, Rock & Moore 1410, C & R McIntyre 1375.
Crumlin & District – John Harkness 1575, 1550, 1535, Fleming Bros 1529,sthompson 1525, John Harkness 1516,sthompson 1512, Fleming Bros 1500.
Kells & District HPS – A Barkley & Son 1499, 1480, H Turkington 1429.
Radharkin & District – F Barkley 1471, W McFetridge 1418, F Barkley 1408.
NIPA Sect E Clubs
Annaghmore HPS – J & E Calvin 1578, 1540, 1517, 1503,
Annagh HPS – P Duffy 1572, 1551,
Beechpark Social – D Mawhinney & Son 1513,
Bondhill Social – R Williamson 1565, 1550, 1546, 1546, 1503, 1503,
Edgarstown – McClean & Crai 1571, 1556, G & C Simmons 1544, 1527, S & E Buckley 1524,G & C Simmons 1520, S & E Buckley 1504,
Gilford & District – W A Feeney 1551,
Lurgan Social – J Barr 1539, 1514 1513, T Furphy 1512, J Barr 1506, T Fitzpatrick 1504, 1411,
Meadows – Larkin Bros 1552, 1521, 1502,
NIPA Sect H Clubs
Mourne & District HPS – D Booth 1327, 1275,
Mid Antrim Combine
Bertie Blair Of Ballymena 1st Combine & 30th Open Corrin National
NIPA Corrin YB National-
The final Nipa race of the season was the Corrin young bird National held on Saturday 12th September. The birds were released in County Cork at 13.30pm in light southerly winds. The best bird in the local area was timed by Bertie Blair of Ballymena & District at 17.27pm flying 207 miles to his Chichester Park Lofts in Harryville. Bertie's winning cheq cock has been in top form winning 3rd club & 4th Combine Benamore, 1st club, 6th Combine, 16th Section & 86th Open Dale YB National last weekend and now 1st club, 1st Mid Antrim Combine, 3rd Section and 30th Open Corrin YB National. The cock also won the Combine 2 bird from the Dale National the sire is a Van Den Bulck cock from clubmate Johnston Eagleson and is half-brother to Champion Old Bird in Section B last season. The dam is from Keith Allister of Monaghan and is a daughter of Keith's Hereman Ceuster cock 'Sky Leader ‘that won 1st Open NIPA Fermoy 23347 birds. That’s 5 x 1st club wins and 2 x 1st Combine wins for Bertie during another top young bird season.
Bertie Blair of Ballymena & District 1st Mid Antrim Combine & 30th Open NIPA Corrin YB National
Jimmy & Jamie Greer were runner up in the Combine on 1520 and 8th Section & 61st Open. The sire is Sticker Doncker gifted to Jamie by Gary Gibson and is a grandson of the Golden Pair and is also uncle to 'Double Top' a winner of 2 x 1st Mid Antrim Combine for Jamie and his Granda Jimmy. Dam is Vermeerbergen-Wilms off the Favourite pitbull lines gifted to Jamie by Keith Kernohan. This line from Keith is now responsible for 4 x 1st clubs. The cock is a full brother to 1st Club & 6th combine INFC Skibbereen 2025.
Jimmy & Jamie Greer 2nd Combine & 61st Open Corrin YB National
Danny Dixon of Dunloy finished 3rd in the Combine on 1510 and placed 14th Section & 82nd Open
Danny Dixon of Dunloy 3rd Mid Antrim Combine & 82nd Open Corrin YB National
followed by Gary Gibson of Cullybackey 4th Combine & 16th Section on 1500.
Gary Gibson 4th Combine & 16th Section Corrin YB National
Johnny and Laura Barkley had the top two in Kells and placed 5th & 7th Combine. Their winning blue hen was bred from a Jacob cock from Johnny Baxter and the dam was a Lambrecht hen from a Noel Ferguson's sale.
Laura & Johnny Barkley 5th & 7th Combine Corrin YB National
Freddie Barkley finished the season with a Rasharkin win and placed 12th Combine on 1471 and Marc Neilly had the winner in Broughshane on 1434.the sire is a Hereman Ceuster x Van Den Bulck of Davy Moore's from Bangor and the dam a Van Den Brande from Bertie Blair, Ballymena.
Freddie Barkley 12th Combine Corrin National
Mid Antrim Combine Corrin YB National - 1st Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1537, 2nd J & J Greer Cullybackey 1520, 3rd D Dixon Rasharkin 1510, 4th G Gibson Cullybackey 1500, 5th A Barkley & Son Kells 1499, 6th K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1484, 7th A Barkley & Son Kells 1480, 8th G Gibson Cullybackey 1479, 9th T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1478, 10th D Dixon Rasharkin 1478, 11th Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1475, 12th F Barkley Rasharkin 1471, 13th G Gibson Cullybackey 1463, 14th G Gibson Cullybackey 1456, 15th D Dixon Rasharkin 1454, 16th K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1453, 17th M Neilly Broughshane 1434, 18th H Turkington Kells 1429, 19th E Johnston Ballymena 1428, 20th E Johnston Ballymena 1425, 21st C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 1421, 22nd W McFetridge Rasharkin 1418, 23rd Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1410, 24th K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1408, 25th F Barkley Rasharkin 1408, 26th D Dixon Rasharkin 1406, 27th M Neilly Broughshane 1402, 28th D Dixon Rasharkin 1389, 29th E Johnston Ballymena 1379, 30th C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 1375.
Mid Antrim Combine 2 Bird Corrin YB National
1st G Gibson Cullybackey 1479 GB26C07189
2nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1478 GB26B28309.
MID ANTRIM COMBINE YB POINTS FINAL TABLE
D Dixon Rasharkin 322
K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 296
G Gibson Cullybackey 290
T Johnston & Son Ballymena 245
Blair & Rankin Ballymena 222
A Barkley & Son Kells 163
M Graham 160
M Neilly Broughshane 145
Marc Neilly 1st in Broughshane from Corrin National
Rock & Moore Cullybackey 93
J McNeill & Son Randalstown 83.
Mid Antrim Combine Club points Shield Final Table -
Ballymena & Dist. 68, Cullybackey 56, Rasharkin 45, Kells 42 Ahoghill 42, Broughshane 33, Randalstown 16.
Mervyn Eagleson Race Secretary and Press Officer.
Feds & Combines Corrin YB Nat–
Coleraine Triangle - S Diamond 1559 Coleraine Prem, M Simpson Windsor Soc 1528, T & J McDonald Coleraine Prem 1523, S Diamond 1440, 1432, 1422, R & J Parke Windsor Soc 1421, S Diamond 1413, R & J Parke 1390, S Diamond 1382,T & J McDonald 1363, M Simpson 1350, , T & J McDonald 1346, T & J McDonald 1337, R & J Parke, 1346, 1337, S Diamond 1305, J Hanson Coleraine Prem 1275, 1241.
RPRA (Irish Region) Awards 2026
Secretary Noel Higginson has released the list of the seasons winners through the various NIPA Sections, and also Southern Ireland. Individual bird performance calculated over two cross channel races, 2nd Dale and, a fortnight later Penzance.
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.
Irish Region mileage awards 2026 –
65 to 250miles Minimum of 3 single bird performances.
251 to 450 miles, Minimum of 2 performances.
Best single bird performance over 450 miles.
Adult and young fanciers 8 to 16 years.
Best all round performance ,Minimum 0f 3 performances with a maximum of 2 from any 1 category.
Best performance by a young bird, Minimum of 3 performances from any category.
Jimmy Burrows Trophy, Best single bird performance 65 to 250 miles and 251 miles to 450 miles. William Knowles Trophy, Best single bird performance in all three categories. All claims to be with the Secretary Noel Higginson on or before the 9th October.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
Email:
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
