It’s James the first in Roscrea race

RACE four of the young bird season was flown as planned from Roscrea in Co Tipperary, birds released last Saturday at 10.45am in a Fresh SE wind.

Liberation had been delayed to give time for mist and fog to clear over the route.

Best bird locally was timed in the big Ballymena & Dist where over 400 birds were competing for the second week James Harris timed his Blue hen at 13.56hrs recording velocity 1371 for the 148 miles. He wins 1st Club, a different winner of each race to date and the club lift 1st Combine for the second time, over 2,500 birds competing here.

George Connolly is next best with 1st & 2nd in Broughshane (1369) followed by Mr & Mrs Sempey having a best ever season and J & N Simpson.

Other club winners well placed included Stewart Bros 1st Randalstown (1356), McFall & McManus 1st New Antrim Amal (1348), A McBride 1st Harryville (1345), G McDowell 1st Kells & Dist (1344) and Reid Bros & McCloy 1st Cullybackey (1340).

Mid Antrim Combine Roscrea 97/2,545 - J Harris Ballymena 1371, G Connolly Broughshane 1369, G Connolly 1369, M/M M Sempey Ballymena 1366, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1365, Milliken & Barkley Rasharkin 1365, D Dixon Rasharkin 1362, Stewart Bros Randalstown 1356, A Purvis Broughshane 1355, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1353, Houston Bros Randalstown 1353, McFall & McManus New Antrim 1348, McFall & McManus 1347, A McBride Harryville 1345, D Dixon 1344, G McDowell Kells 1344, Steele & McNeill 1343, Steele & McNeill 1342, D Craig Ballymena 1342, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1341, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1341, W & J Smyth Ballymena 1340, Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey 1340, M/M M Sempey 1340, Scott & Clements Kells 1340, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1340, H Cubitt 1340, G McDowell 1339, Steele & McNeill 1338, Steele & McNeill 1338.

Mid Antrim Combine Clubs Roscrea -

Ahoghill Flying Club 11/355 – J Smyth & Son 1341, 1314, D Stevenson 1310, J Smyth & Son 1308, 1304, Young McManus & Sons 1300, 1300, D Stevenson 1294.

Ballymena & Dist 18/404 – J Harris 1371, M/M M Sempey 1366, D Craig 1342, Blair & Rankin 1341, W & J Smyth 1340, M/M M Sempey 1340, D Craig 1334, Blair & Rankin 1333, M/M M Sempey 1330, Blair & Rankin 1328.