Homers Odyssey - New racing season update
Mid Antrim Combine Opening Day Winners 1978 - 2024 -
I compiled a wee bit of history this week on the opening day winners of the Mid Antrim Combine from back when it was formed in 1978 right up to the present day. Bertie Lynn who raced in Cullybackey Flying Club was the first ever winner of the Mid Antrim Combine back in 1978.
Johnston Eagleson & Sons lead the way with five opening day winners and also have the lowest winning velocity of 1012 from Arklow back in 1985. Bertie Blair and John & Mark Milliken of Rasharkin both topped the Combine three times on the opening day and Bertie along with Alan Darragh are the only two lofts to win the opening day Combine in consecutive seasons, Alan in 1994 & 1995 and Bertie in 1997 and 1998. The highest winning velocity of 2259 was put up by Harry Smyth & Son of Broughshane in 1996 from Arklow. It will be interesting to see who the winner will be for 2025 when the new season commences next week on Saturday 19th April.
1st in Mid Antrim -
1978 Arklow 205/2139 Bertie Lynn Cullybackey 1708
1979 Arklow 197/2156 F Swann Harryville 1205
1980 Arklow 181/2407 R & W Swann Kells 1035
1981 Arklow 180/2095 D McCullough & Son Kells 1411
1982 Arklow 170/2225 H & M Smyth Kells 1450
1983 Not to hand (Any member got an NIPA Sect Diploma for Old Birds)
1984 Belleek 142/1689 G Martin Broughshane 1436
1985 Arklow 138/1654 J Eagleson & Sons Harryville 1012
1986 Arklow 130/1611 S McKendry Cullybackey 1512
1987 Arklow 137/1661 J Eagleson & Sons Harryville 1964
1988 Kilkenny 140/1547 J Getty Broughshane 1629
1989 Kildare 146/1790 H & M Smyth Kells 1514
1990 Kildare 155/2010 W Erwin Ballymena 1165
1991 Kildare 93/1107 J Eagleson & Sons Harryville 1110
1992 Arklow L Mairs Kells 1300
1993 Arklow 160/2034 J Eagleson & Sons Harryville 1386
1994 Arklow 160/2210 A Darragh Cullybackey 1261
1995 Arklow A Darragh Cullybackey 1093
1996 Arklow 146/1959 H Smyth & Son Broughshane 2259
1997 Arklow 163/2635 B Blair Harryville 1252
1998 Arklow 182/2261 B Blair Harryville 1572
1999 Arklow 109/1357 J Eagleson & Sons Harryville 1477
2000 Kildare G McDowell Kells 1952
2001 Arklow 104/1417 W Workman Broughshane 1700
2002 Arklow 128/2173 J & N Simpson Broughshane 2116
2003 Mullingar 115/1889 Blair & Rankin Harryville 1308
2004 Mullingar 105/1565 G McDowell Kells 1191
2005 Mullingar 100/1359 McFarlane & Agnew Kells 1538
2006 Mullingar 76/1050 Houston Bros Randalstown 1293
2007 Mullingar 101/2083 Milliken & Barkley Rasharkin 1498
2008 Navan 93/1710 H Fullerton & Son Kells 1634
2009 Tullamore 96/1773 R H Clements Harryville 1977
2010 Tullamore 83/1762 D Dixon Rasharkin 1745
2011 Tullamore 101/2116 H Cubitt Rasharkin 1691
2012 Tullamore 94/1940 Surgenor Bros Kells 1226
2013 Tullamore 88/1817 Milliken & Barkley Rasharkin 2038
2014 Tullamore 89/1862 Surgenor Bros Kells 1617
2015 Tullamore 95/2404 Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1394
2016 Mullingar J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1517
2017 Mullingar Gibson & O'Neill Cullybackey 1667
2018 Mullingar Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1857
2019 Mullingar J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1665
2020 Tullamore J Rock Harryville 1436
2021 Tullamore 42/1207 J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1421
2022 Tullamore 51/1200 T Whyte Rasharkin 2011
2023 Tullamore 46/1311 H Cubitt Rasharkin 1757
2025 Kilbeggan 45/1048 Young & McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1521
Mervyn Eagleson MAC Press Officer.
NIPA Transportation Amendments 2025 -
The previous post which contained the collection times at collection points has now been declared null and void. The collections will be as normal at your clubs with the full fleet of 7 transporters doing this collection.
These 7 transporters will require up to 4 extra men to be hired as the transporters will have to meet at a hub so that 7 transporters can be reduced to 4 possibly 5 to continue on to the race point.
This will significantly increase the cost and to meet this cost the price of the crates will rise by up to £3.00 per crate.
All clubs MUST phone the Assistant secretary on Mobile 078030 19641 on the night of basketing to relay the number of crates that are being sent to that race.
Collection times will be at your usual times as they were last season
In an effort to cut costs the NIPA had put in place a centre collection arrangement that would have finished collection of crates at the local club. A number of new rules were also put in place to cover the new arrangements. It went down badly with the membership and we now go back to collection at clubs that will bring an increase in the cost of a crate. Very wise move and hopefully additional costs will be kept to the minimum.
Following the period of good weather some lofts were training every day, weather permitting the opening race for the NIPA will be from Kibeggan on Saturday. Get your results and info to the various PO’s ASAP after the race.
Mid Antrim update - 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 this Wednesday 16th April at 7.30pm.
NIPA 2025 Race Programme as per website entry en23rd March
OLD BIRDS:
19/4/25 Kilbeggan
26/4/25 Roscrea
3/5/25 Cloughmartin
10/5/25 Fermoy
17/5/25 Grenagh (6039)
24/5/25 Dunmanway OB Inland Nat
24/5/25 Kinsale (6040)
31/5/25 Dale
7/6/25 Dale
7/6/25 Fermoy 5 Bird
14/6/25 Bude
14/6/25 Dunmanway Yearling Nat
21/6/25 Penzance & Classic
21/6/25 Cloughmartin
27/6/25 St Malo/ Plougastel.
YOUNG BIRDS:
19/7/25 Kilbeggan
26/7/25 Kilbeggan
2/8/25 Roscrea
9/8/25 Cloughmartin
16/8/25 Fermoy
23/8/25 Kinsale & 5 Bird
30/8/25 Dale YB Nat
30/8/25 Roscrea
6/9/25 Grenagh
13/9/25 Dunmanway YB National.
It looks like we will not be able to liberate pigeons in Kinsale, it's less than 10 miles directly south of the Cork International Airport runway. Changes will be announced later.
East Down Combine 1st Race of 2025
EDC Kilbeggan 12/4/25
1st EDC Open M Fouls Dundonald HPS
1st West Sect M Fouls Dundonald HPS
1st East Sect Ferguson & Wilkinson Donaghadee RPC.
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Annalong HPS 1st 2nd 3rd K Rooney & Son.
Annsborough HPS 1st 2nd 3rd P Brown & Son.
Ballylesson HPS 1st 3rd A Johnston & Son 2nd Gillespie Bros.
Ballynahanch HPS 1st 2nd 3rd Abernethy & Turner.
Ballywalter SPC 1st 2nd 3rd S Regan .
Belmont RPC 1st A Gregg 2nd 3rd W Morrison.
Cloughey HPS 1st C&H Cully 2nd 3rd Harper & Young.
Comber Social HPS 1st 2nd 3rd R Johnston.
Crossgar HPS 1st 2nd 3rd Mc Cartan & Woodsides.
Donaghadee RPC 1st Ferguson & Wilkinson 2nd A&P Trimble & Sons 3rd Rainey Bros .
Dundonald HPS 1st M Fouls 2nd J Young & Ptnrs. 3rd C&J Reid.
Dundrum HPS 1st 2nd 3rd Foster Connor & Parry.
Killyleagh & District HPS 1st 3rd Morrison Bros 2nd D George.
Killyleagh Central HPS 1st 2nd 3rd Mc Comb Bros .
Newtownbreda HPS 1st S Casement & Son 2nd 3rd B Hogg & Sons.
Portavogie HPS 1st R&G Thompson 2nd C Angus 3rd Ambrose & Kelly.
Congratulations Mark on winning the East Down Combine Open from Kilbeggan on Saturday. Dorothy Smyth PO. In the South of Ireland, a start was made with around 10,ooo birds liberated in Cloughmartin at 10.00am for Irish South Road Federation and East Coast Federation, winners exceeded, a mile a minute.
Mark Foulis from Dundonald topped the East Down Combine in the opening race of 2025 from Kilbeggan.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
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www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
