Darragh continues domination of INFC record books

THE longest race prior to France was flown last weekend with the NIPA birds released in Penzance at 9.30am in a Lt NE wind, liberation having been delayed due to fog and mist.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jun 2010, 14:36 BST

Winners still made very good time and locally the best bird was timed by W & J Smyth of Ballymena & Dist at 18.44hrs recording velocity 1045 for the 329 miles. They had the only bird before the hour and only around 30 arrivals were recorded at Cullybackey Centre.

Next best was Reid Bros & McCloy from Cullybackey racing to The Rock, followed by George Connolly 1st in Broughshane and Billy Ramsey 1st in Harryville HPS.

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The Champions League was won by Martin Graham for Ballymena & District, he defeated Scott & Clements of Kells in the final flown from Penzance. Both had qualified the week previous when the semi-final matches at Bude were M Graham v A McBride and Scott & Clements v W & J Smyth. Another fantastic competition and thanks again to James Harris for the admin.

Mid Antrim Combine Penzance 91/653 – D Dixon Rasharkin 1062, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1045, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1010, G Connolly Broughshane 999, D Dixon 994, B Ramsey Harryville 994, G Connolly 980, Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 978, A McBride Harryville 970, H Turkington Kells 959, J Balmer Ahoghill 958, Houston Bros Randalstown 957, A Purvis Broughshane 954, B Herbinson Cullybackey 953, D Dixon 952, W & J Smyth 952, J McNeill Randalstown 952, McAlonan Bros Ballymena 950, D Dixon 952, J Devlin Ballymena 942, A Darragh Cullybackey 940, A Barkley & Son Kells 936, H Boyd Randalstown 932, W & J Smyth 931, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 927, G Connolly 926, J Millar Randalstown 925, Richmond Bros Ballymena 925, C Young Ahoghill 923, S Steele Cullybackey 919.

Ballymena & Dist 11/68 – W & J Smyth 1045, 952, McAlonan Bros 950, J Devlin 942, W & J Smyth 931, Richmond Bros 925, McAlonan Bros 910, W & J Smyth 906, M Graham 861, 854.

Cullybackey 10/61 – Reid Bros & McCloy 1010, B Herbinson 953, A Darragh 940, S Steele 919, J & J Greer 894, S Steele 857, Reid Bros & McCloy 818, A Darragh 774.

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Broughshane 9/62 – G Connolly 999, 980, A Purvis 954, J & N Simpson 906, H Smyth & Son 810, 621.

Harryville HPS 12/113 – B Ramsey 994, A McBride 970, J Rock 870, J Millar & Son 840, R H Clements 804, J Rock 745, Wray & McFadden 744.

Ahoghill Flying Club 14/109 – Young McManus & Sons 978, J Balmer 958, C Young 923, J Balmer 907, 883, A & N Young 842, J Balmer 820, C Young 808. Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club – Young McManus & Sons 978, J Balmer 958.

Kells & Dist 10/81 – H Turkington 959, A Barkley & Son 936, H Boyd 865, Surgenor Bros 848.

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Randalstown HPS 10/80 – Houston Bros 957, J McNeill 952, H Boyd 932, J Millar 925, J McNeill 917, T McMillan 892, Stewart Bros 891, Houston Bros 885.

New Antrim Amalgamated 6/20 – T Picken & Son 637, McFall & McManus 589, M/M F Clarke 571, McFall & McManus 480.

Cullybackey Centre Penzance Classic – W & J Smyth Ballymena 1045, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1010, G Connolly Broughshane 999, B Ramsey Harryville 994, G Connolly 980, A McBride Harryville 970, H Turkington 959, A Purvis Broughshane 954, B Herbinson Cullybackey 953, W & J Smyth 952, J Devlin Ballymena 942, A Darragh Cullybackey 940, H Boyd Kells 931, W & J Smyth 931, G Connolly 926, S Steele Cullybackey 919, W & J Smyth 906, J & N Simpson 906, J & J Greer Cullybackey 894, M Graham 861, S Steele 857, M Graham 854, H Boyd 819, Reid Bros & McCloy 818, H Smyth & Son Broughshane 810, R H Clements Harryville 804, McGowan & Maternaghan Ballymena 777, A Darragh 774.

The INFC Yearling Nat was flown from Sennen Cove on Friday 11th June, 844 members sent 4,337 birds competing for 36,685 in pools and prizes in one of the top events of the old bird season.

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Against the odds and what was regarded as a hard day for the far flying lofts Alan Darragh from Cullybackey has set new records with the Irish Nat FC, he had 5 x 1sts up to the present time, that itself was the overall record. Now he has hit the famous six, and he celebrated in style with 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open, a feat never previously achieved in the history of the INFC.

Alan Darragh scored a best ever result in Mid Antrim winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd and a result that will be talked about for years. Willie Gilbert and his dad had a bird each into Randalstown, but 1st Club was won by Hugh Boyd. Billy Ramsey was 1st Club Harryville and 1st MAC in this race last season.

Other winners included Brian O'Rawe 1st Ballymena ahead of three birds for Richmond Bros who have previously topped the MAC in this race, George Connolly who is having a good season 1st Club Broughshane and Charlie Young 1st Club Ahoghill ahead of the previous weeks MAC winners Mr & Mrs Robinson. Congratulations to Brian O'Rawe who has a new addition to the family, a top result in the same week.

Mid Antrim Combine Sennen Cove Ylr Nat – A Darragh Cullybackey 958, A Darragh 958, A Darragh 937, W & N Gilbert Randalstown 868, D Dixon Rasharkin 859, W Ramsey Harryville 850, Russell Bros Cullybackey 847, B O'Rawe Ballymena 833, G Connolly Broughshane 822, C Young Ahoghill 821, D Dixon 819, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 812, L Mullan Harryville 802, M/M Robinson Ahoghill 801, G Connolly 798, A Darragh 796, L Davidson Cullybackey 795, A Purvis Broughshane 786, W Ramsey 776, H Boyd Randalstown 775, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 774, A Purvis 774, Richmond Bros Ballymena 773, H Smyth & Son Broughshane 765, Richmond Bros 749, D Mairs Rasharkin 748, A Darragh 739, Stewart Bros Randalstown 694, Wray & McFadden Harryville 689.