Homers Odyssey - MAC 2 Bird
First season for MAC 2 Bird Club -
The newly formed Mid Antrim Combine 2 Bird kicked off in the 2026 old bird season. During the course of the season, over 600 birds were entered to compete for the weekly 1st & 2nd prizes and the winning diploma.
David Parker of DP Building Contracts has kindly sponsored the 2026 season and the 2027 season ahead. David's late father Kenny Parker raced in the Ballymena & District club and during the sixties won 1st Open from the NIPA French Old Bird National. Kenny was one of only a handful of fanciers who won this prestigious event in to the Ballymena area.
Gary Gibson of Cullybackey had five 2 Bird wins, Keith and Callum Kernohan of Ballymena four wins, three each for Danny Dixon of Rasharkin, Bertie Blair of Ballymena, Johnston Eagleson & Sons of Ballymena and Rock & Moore of Cullybackey and one win for Harry Boyd Kells, Jimmy & Jamie Greer Cullybackey, Stephen & Natalie Doherty Cullybackey, Chris & Robin McIntyre Cullybackey and Trevor Johnston & Son Ballymena.
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Gary Gibson of Cullybackey
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Callum & Keith Kernohan of |
Danny Dixon of Rasharkin 3 x 1st |
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Johnston & Mervyn Eagleson had 3 wins in |
Bertie Blair of Ballymena & District |
Jimmy Rock & Darrel Moore of Cullybackey |
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Chris & Robin McIntyre of Cullybackey |
Stephen & Natalie Doherty won |
Jimmy & Jamie Greer of Cullybackey |
The Champion Old Bird was won by Keith & Callum Kernohan of Ballymena with GB24A43965 (2 wins) and the overall points winner was won by Gary Gibson of Cullybackey. Prizemoney and diplomas will be given out in the Ballymena clubrooms later in the year.
Mid Antrim Combine 2 Bird Results 2026
Old Birds
Kilbeggan
1st J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1476 GB23B18238
2nd J Whyte Ahoghill 1468 GB25B35442
Benamore (1)
1st D Dixon Rasharkin 1620 GB24B10039
2nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1561 GB25V97808
Benamore (2)
1st D Dixon Rasharkin 1110 GB25B18204
2nd T Whyte Ahoghill 1106 GB25C11556
Gowran Park
1st J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1261 GB23B18209
2nd J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1225 GB23B18238
Grenagh
1st K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1296 GB24A43695
2nd D Dixon Rasharkin 1279 GB25B18204
Bantry OB Inland National
1st Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1880 GB25B35055
2nd G Gibson Cullybackey 1849 GB23C22223
Benamore (3)
1st G Gibson Cullybackey 1900 GB25C13967
2nd K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1815 GB25B35226
1st Dale
1st H Boyd Kells 1490 GB24X14766
2nd Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1473 GB25C14513
Harry Boyd of Kells 1st Combine 2 Bird from 1st Dale
2nd Dale
1st G Gibson Cullybackey 1746 GB24C18231
2nd J Whyte Ahoghill 1717 GB24A24329
Fermoy
1st J & J Greer Cullybackey 1869 GB25C14448
2nd D Dixon Rasharkin 1857 GB25X15210
Bude
1st J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1232 GB24S27276
2nd D Dixon Rasharkin 1187 GB23B27005
Dunmanway
1st K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1478 GB24A43695
2nd H Boyd Kells 1465 GB23X15604
Dunmanway Yearling National
1st D Dixon Rasharkin 1403 GB25X15210
2nd J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1395 GB25B35162
Penzance
1st Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1336 GB24B59853
2nd S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1300 GB25B35422
Cloughmartin
1st G Gibson Cullybackey 1611 GB25S35244
2nd D Dixon Rasharkin 1609 GB25B18203
Plougastel OB National
1st S & N Doherty Cullybackey 639 GB24C18443
2nd S & N Doherty Cullybackey 533 GB22A24615.
Young Birds
1st Kilbeggan
1st K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1056 GB26B28477
2nd G Gibson Cullybackey 1048 GB26X30332
2nd Kilbeggan
1st C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 1446 GB26C07410
2nd E Johnston Ballymena 1437 GB26D29767
1st Benamore
1st G Gibson Cullybackey 1619 GB26C07138
2nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena GB26B28309
Cloughmartin
1st T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1713 GB26B28306
2nd K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1705 GB26B28217
Trevor Johnston of Ballymena 1st Combine 2 Bird from Cloughmartin YB
Fermoy
1st Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1043 GB26C07201
2nd G Gibson Cullybackey 1039 GB26X30337
Corrin
1st Rock & Moore Cullybackey 1218 GB26C07215
2nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1214 GB26B28308
2nd Benamore
1st Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1360 GB26B28618
2nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1310 GB26B28308
Dale YB National
1st Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1231 GB26B28604
2nd E Johnston Ballymena 1164 GB26V30589
3rd Benamore
1st K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena GB26B28239
2nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena GB26B28305
Corrin YB National
1st G Gibson Cullybackey 1479 GB26C07189
2nd T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1478 GB26B28309
Mervyn Eagleson - Press Officer & Race Secretary.
Congratulations Timmy Mawhinney and Gillian wining Best in Show in Carlow last weekend.
Clearance Sales A & T Agnew
Entire Clearance Sale on Behalf of A &T Agnew, Ballyclare & District HPS Part (1) and Part(2) to be held on the 31st October and the 7th November 2026 in Glenavy Protestant Hall, Viewing 1pm Sale to commence at 2pm on both dates.
A & T Agnew Ballyclare, Clearance Sales
All proceeds from the Sales will go to the Charity for Motor Neurone Disease.
The Sales will be a Mix of The OB race team and the Stock Birds which will include a NIPA Open Winner, Section and Club Winners.
Some of the highlights of the Race Team and the Stock birds that have been responsible for are as follows.
1st Club, 1st Sect, 1st Open Benamore, 1 st Club, 1st Section, 60th Open Dale YB National, 1st Club, 1st Section, 17th Open, Kilbeggan, 1st Club, 6th Section, 13th Open, Dale YB National, 1st Club, 2nd Sect Tullamore, 1st Club, 2nd Section, Talbenny, 1st Club, 4th Section, 42nd Open Fermoy, 1st Club, 7th Section, Roscrea, 1st Club, 10th Section, Skibbereen YB National, 2nd Club, 22nd Section, Penzance YB National, 2n Club, 2nd Section, Dale YB National, 1st Club, 5th Section, 118th Open Roscrea. 4th Club, 9th Section, 51st Open Touraville OB National. 4th North Section, 4th Open Sennan Cove Yearling National, There are many other Club, Section and Open results that these birds have been responsible for and also winning every young bird race in Ballyclare this year.
The lines of the birds are from, Harmony Lofts, O'Roory Hill Stud, David McElhone, A & N Lewis, Cockcrow Lofts, Ron Williamson, Jeff Greenaway Owen Markey and Cormac O'Hare. There will not be many Sales this year where you can Purchase an Open Winner, Section and Club Winners. Any Enquiries please re the Sales and commission bids please contact Noel Higginson on Tel: 07518748717.
NIPA Ladies Night - Tickets can now be ordered / purchased for Ladies night in the Banville Hotel Lenaderg Banbridge on the 13th November seated for 6.30 pm sharp . Tickets are £35 per head and the menu is Veg Soup, Turkey & Ham, Trio of desserts, Tea/ Coffee - anyone with other dietary needs please contact the Hotel directly on 028406 28884. Tickets can be ordered by phoning 07803 019641 or emailing
B&H Marshall Newtownbreda HPS. Helen after losing Bertie to Cancer.2025
Is unable to race her pigeons they will be sold in Newtownbreda Club rooms on Saturday 14th November 2026 A Lovely team of approx.. 20 + Bloodlines of Tom Marshall and 6 Y/ B of B Hogg & Sons Birds on view 1 PM Auction starts 2 PM Sharp. Auctioneer the one and only Ronnie Johnson. Any enquiries please Ronnie Johnston 02890483625 or Tom Marshall 07548212964. All income from auction will go to cancer research at the city hospital cancer unit.
Duddy Bus Trip to Blackpool Show –
We hope to run our annual bus trip to the show in 2027 on similar lines to the last couple of years. The bus will leave from the Coleraine area early Friday morning 15th Jan with various stops before catching the 7:30am Stenna Line Ferry to Cairnryan. We leave Blackpool about 12noon on the Sunday 17th Jan to catch the 7pm sailing from Cairnryan. Accommodation if required for the two nights will be as for last year at either Adelaide House or Adelaide Lodge in Adelaide Street right behind the Winter Gardens for bed/breakfast. A £50 deposit is required by the end of November 2026 with the balance at the end of December 2026. For more information please contact:- John McConnaghie 07753 268216, Robert Turkington. 07710483065, or Alan Shanks 075034 83328.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
Email:
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
