Homers Odyssey - Mid Antrim Combine presentation.
Mid Antrim Combine dinner and presentation -
The Mid Antrim Combine held their prize giving in conjunction with the Rasharkin club in the Royal British Legion in Ballymoney just before the turn of the year. The Combine established in 1978 is still going as strong as ever. Membership and birdage may have decreased but it's still as competitive today as it was in the 80's. Coleraine fancier Bobby Coyle presented the awards after a great meal supplied by A Bite Above in Ballymoney.
Cup Winners 2024
2nd Talbenny & Penzance Individual Bird Meritorious Award - A Darragh Cullybackey GB23C22079 velo 1282.04
Bryan Eagleson Memorial Cup - Best Average All Old Bird Channel Races Excluding NIPA OB National - G Gibson Cullybackey velo 1143.13
Old Bird Inland Points - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 513 points
Johnston Eagleson topped the Mid Antrim Combine five times in 2024 & Eagleson bird - 2 x 1st Mid Antrim Combine and Section B Champion OB 2024 for Johnston Eagleson & Sons Ballymena & Dist.
Old Bird Inland Average - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena velo 1435.34
Champions League - D Dixon Rasharkin
Danny Dixon with awards won in the 2024 season with Mid Antrim Combine & Dixon bird - 1st Mid Antrim Combine and 1st Open INFC Penzance YB National for Danny Dixon of Rasharkin.
Old Bird Knockout - J Smyth & Son Ahoghill
Jimmy Smyth of Ahoghill won 3 x 1st in the Mid Antrim Combine 2024.
Old Bird Channel Points - A Darragh Cullybackey 251
Alan Darragh topped the Combine on five occasions in 2024.
Tommy Shanks Memorial Cup - Champion Old Bird Of The Year - D Dixon Rasharkin GB22V28516 - 89 Points - 4th, 5th, 5th, 15th, 15th & 17th Mid Antrim Combine
Old Bird Cross Channel Average - Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey velo 1102.35
Laurence Robinson topped the Combine from the NIPA French OB National & Robinson bird - 1st Mid Antrim Combine NIPA Plougastel OB National for Mr & Mrs Robinson of Ahoghill.
William McIlhagga Memorial Cup - 1st Mid Antrim Combine NIPA OB National - Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey velo 1060 1st Section & 9th Open NIPA
Les Mairs Memorial Cup - Old Bird Points Fancier Of The Year - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 696 points
New North Cup - Best Average Bude & Dale YB National - D Dixon Rasharkin 1178.15
Herbinson Cup- Young Bird Average - Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1585.60
YB Knock Out - K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena & Dist.
Mid Antrim Combine Chairman Robin Service presenting Keith Kernohan of Ballymena with the YB club points award for 2024.
Champion Young Bird Of the Year - Blair & Rankin Ballymena GB24A43431 - 84 Points - 1st, 1st, 2nd & 12th Mid Antrim Combine
Bertie Blair (Blair & Rankin) topped the Combine four times in 2024 & Blair bird - Mid Antrim Combine Champion YB 2024 for Bertie Blair of Ballymena & Dist.
Adams Cup - INFC Points / National Champion - A Darragh Cullybackey velo 1031.50
Young Bird Points - G Gibson Cullybackey 399
Gary Gibson of Cullybackey (l) topped the Mid Antrim Combine on three occasions in 2024.
Old Bird Points Club Shield - Cullybackey FC 101 Points r/u Ballymena & District 98
Cullybackey club won the old bird club points shield.
Young Bird Points Club Shield - Ballymena & District 66 r/u Ahoghill 63
Mid Antrim Combine Race Winners 2024
Old Birds:
Kilbeggan 20/04/24 - Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1521 - 45/1048
Roscrea 27/04/24 - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1424 - 57/1497
2nd Roscrea 05/05/24 - J & J Greer Cullybackey 1480 - 56/1426
Cullybackey's Jimmy Greer (l) and Jamie Greer (r) topped the Combine twice in 2024.
Fermoy 11/05/24 - J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1685 - 60/1636
2nd Fermoy 18/05/24 - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1096 - 58/1507
Skibbereen Inland National 27/05/24 - D Dixon Rasharkin 1765 - 32/188
3rd Roscrea 27/05/24 - J & J Greer Cullybackey 1795 - 37/601
Dale 01/06/24 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1159 - 49/661
2nd Dale 08/06/24 - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1212 - 43/488
3rd Fermoy 08/06/24 - S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1351 - 38/428
Shane Johnston & Son of Ballymena had two Mid Antrim Combine wins in 2024.
Fermoy 5 Bird 08/06/24 - S Johnston & Son Ballymena 1351
Bude 18/06/24 - D Dixon Rasharkin 1012 - 22/186
Skibbereen Yearling National 18/06/24 - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1176 - 19/124
Penzance 22/06/24 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1416 - 34/278
Penzance OB Classic 22/06/24 - A Darragh Cullybackey 1416 - 26/165
4th Fermoy 22/06/24 - J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1829 - 33/292
Plougastel OB National 26/06/24 - Mr & Mrs Robinson Cullybackey 1060 - 24/75
INFC Skibbereen National 04/06/24 - D Dixon Rasharkin 1367
INFC Penzance Yearling National 12/06/24 - C & R McIntyre Cullybackey 1267
Chris McIntyre of Cullybackey (l) collecting his Penzance Yearling National diploma from special guest Bobby Coyle.
INFC St Allouestre Kings Cup 29/06/24 - A Darragh Cullybackey 718
INFC Penzance Friendship National 13/07/24 - J Miller Randalstown 1096
John Millar (l) Secretary of Randalstown collecting the Penzance Friendship National award from Bobby Coyle.
Young birds:
1st Kilbeggan 27/07/24 - J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1563 - 42/1391
2nd Kilbeggan 03/08/24 - Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1858 - 44/1332
1st Roscrea 10/08/24 - J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1738 - 43/1047
2nd Roscrea 17/08/24 - G Gibson Cullybackey 1860 - 51/1550
Cloughmartin 24/08/24 - Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1631 - 46/1369
Paddy (r) and William McManus of Ahoghill won 2 x 1st in the Mid Antrim Combine in 2024.
Dale National 31/08/24 - G Gibson Cullybackey 1501 - 32/213
Fermoy 31/08/24 - Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1532 - 33/704
Fermoy 5 Bird 31/08/24 - Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1532 - 24/122
3rd Roscrea 07/09/24 - G Gibson Cullybackey 1403 - 31/543
Dunmanway National 13/09/24 - Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1741 - 20/208
INFC Penzance YB National 13/09/24 - D Dixon Rasharkin 1515
INFC Skibbereen National 20/09/24 - D Dixon Rasharkin 1214
Mervyn Eagleson - Mid Antrim Combine PO.
“Dark Delight” 2nd North Sect & 2nd Open INFC Penzance YB Grand Nat for Martin Graham of Ballymena & District.
Due to an objection MAC Chairman Robin Service has ordered that the AGM be reconvened to be held in the Ballymena & District HPS clubrooms on Wednesday 16th April at 7.30pm. Every club was represented at the earlier meeting and hopefully we get another full attendance.
Included on the agenda a Resolution from Ballymena & District HPS. Propose that any new member applying to join the Mid Antrim Combine be vetted by the Delegates of the existing member clubs, to have a Ballymena address and are not permitted to double duplicate to compete. Meeting date Wednesday 16th April at 7.30pm.
HOMER - Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
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http://www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
