Homers Odyssey - Mid Antrim AGM Update, NIPA & McGugan Cup history
Mid Antrim Combine – AGM Update
The Mid Antrim Combine reported a very constructive AGM held on Wednesday 18th March in the Ballymena & District HPS Clubrooms. All the top officials were returned to office including President Danny Dixon from Dunloy, Chairman Robin Service, Secretary Willie Reynolds, Race Secretary and Press Officer Mervyn Eagleson, and William McManus from Ahoghill was added as Assistant Secretary. It is hoped to adopt the original 2 Bid Club which was the fore runner to putting out a Mid Antrim result weekly. It was very well supported at the time.
Probably the favourite races for Mid Antrim area lofts over the years, the INFC Young Bird Grand National has been won many times including now three seasons on the trot.
J M K McGugan Perpetual Cup – YB Channel Grand National
1948 Milford Haven N Rea Crumlin 838
1949 Skibbereen Burrell & Son Lurgan 1223
1950 Milford Haven Burrell & Son Lurgan 444
1951 Milford Haven G Nixon Belfast 737
1952 Milford Haven R Best Lurgan 831
1953 Milford Haven S & G Boyd Randalstown 454
1954 Milford Haven W Mallon Lisburn 965
1955 Milford Haven J Gillespie Randalstown 827
1956 Milford Haven D McNeilly Ballyclare 969
1957 Milford Haven R Mason & Son Bangor 1099
1958 Milford Haven D Suitters Doagh 1106
1959 Milford Haven E G Leckey Cullybackey 1172
1960 Milford Haven Devine & Devine Ballymoney 542
1961 Milford Haven T Molloy Donacloney 1096
1962 Milford Haven Dowie & McCallum Lurgan 1269
1963 Bude Gray & Lowry Ballymena 1006
1964 Milford Haven Smyth Bros Ballymena 1284
1965 Bude E Herron & Son Holywood 879
1966 Cork J & W Machie Belfast 1798
1967 Penzance Campbell & Francey Harryville 1069
1968 Penzance McBride Bros/McBride Ligoniel 1279
1969 Penzance Loughlin Bros & Whiteside Antrim 822
1970 Penzance Gilmour & Beattie Newtownbreda 914
1971 Penzance R Harkness Crumlin 938
1972 Penzance W V Troughton Portadown 890
1973 Penzance S Herbison & Son Cullybackey 1192
1974 Penzance No Competition
1975 Penzance McAuley Bros Carnlough 1031
1976 Penzance J Mulgrew & Son Dromore 792
1977 Penzance A P & J McConville Lisburn 1090
1978 Penzance J W & T Harper Ballymena 989
1979 Penzance W V Troughton Portadown 968
1980 Penzance W McIlroy Ballymena 1126
1981 Penzance Bell Bros Randalstown 1294
1982 Penzance S Smyth Ballymena 1138
1983 Skibbereen G Herron & Son Kells 1377
1984 Perth B Fletcher & Son Laurelvale 312
1985 Skibbereen Mallon Bros Hills & Maze 1551
1986 Skibbereen A & R Glass Larne 1261
1987 Penzance J Burrows Merville 1647
1988 Penzance Mr & Mrs Magill Randalstown 1201
1989 Talbenny B Swann & Son Kells 1513
1990 Penzance R Duddy Ballyclare 534
1991 Penzance J Patterson & Son Muckamore 1059
1992 Penzance Kelly Bros Malahide 1339
1993 Penzance S Darcy Greenhills 1173
1994 Penzance J Lennox Rasharkin 1322
1995 Penzance V Kelly & Son Kish Inv 1309
1996 Penzance E Campbell Balbriggan 810
1997 Penzance J Eagleson & Sons Harryville
1998 Penzance Walker & Watson Killyleagh
1999 Penzance R H Clements Harryville
2000 Talbenny T Sinnamon Son & McManus Donacloney
2001 Skibbereen J & M Magee Lisburn & Dist. 1354
2002 Penzance S Corrigan Loughgall
2003 Penzance T Wilson Gilford
2004 Wadebridge G Buckley & Son Annaghmore
2005 Wadebridge G Calvin & Son Annaghmore
2006 Sennen Cove G Buckley & Son Annaghmore 1006
2007 Sennen Cove C & L Woodside Ballyclare 844
2008 Sennen Cove R Cassells Edgarstown 1134
2009 Penzance Donnelly Bros Newry City 1023
2010 Penzance D Dixon Ballymoney 1311
2011 Penzance S Millar Randalstown 1417
2012 Penzance Cullen & Burke Arklow Utd 1548
2013 Penzance H Cordner Annaghmore 1648
2014 Penzance B McCarthy Cork Fed 1318
2015 Penzance L Magee & Son Lisburn & Dist. 975
2016 Penzance M Robinson Bondhill Soc 1631
2017 Penzance Jeff Greenaway Dromore 1055
2018 Penzance Telford Bros/S & J Milligan Downpatrick 1249
2019 Penzance K Henderson & Son Lurgan Soc 1389
2020 No Race (Covid 19)
2021 Bude D & B Lyness Lurgan Social 969
D & B Lyness from Lurgan Social were the winners from Bude in 2021 on vel 969, no racing in 2020 due to Covid 19. Denis (r) with special guest Sam Briggs,
2022 Penzance Larkin Bros Blackwatertown 1238
Winners from Penzance were Larkin Bros of Blackwatertown. Homer presented the awards.
2023 Penzance Martin Graham Ballymena & Dist. 1452
Martin Graham(r) from Ballymena & District won the McGugan Cup for Penzance YB Grand National in 2023, with good friend Sammy Steele.
2024 Penzance D Dixon Ballymoney 1515
Danny Dixon from Dunloy was the YB Nat winner in 2024 and runner-up in 2025.
2025 Rosudgeon J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1256.
Jimmy Smyth from Ahoghill holding his YB Grand National winner from Rosudeon, the McGugan Cup winner in 2025.
* Nipa Race Programmes for 2026 season -
18/04/26 Kilbeggan
25/04/26 Benamore (there will be £100 to the winner of this race sponsored by F Russell )
2/05/26 Cloughmartin
9/05/26 Fermoy
16/05/26 Grenagh
23/05/26 Bantry Inland OB Nat
23/05/26 Cloughmartin
30/05/26 1st Dale ( if possible we will organise a comeback on this date as well )
6/06/26 2nd Dale
6/06/26 Fermoy & 5 Bird
13/06/26 Bude (we have received £100 sponsorship C & H Beattie for the best 2 bird average )
13/06/26 Dunmanway Y`Ling Nat ( this race will be flown the same as Penzance classic where you can send as many birds any age as you like but can only nominate 20 yearlings )
20/06/26 Penzance & Classic
20/06/26 Cloughmartin
26/06/26 St Malo/Plougastel/ St Pol
anyone wishing to sponsor any of these races it will be greatly appreciated
Young Birds
18/07/26 Kilbeggan ( Sect F & H to confirm their liberation points )
25/07/26 Kilbeggan ( Sect F & H to confirm their liberation points )
01/08/26 Benamore
08/08/26 Cloughmartin
15/08/26 Fermoy
22/08/26 Dunmanway & 5 bird
29/08/26 Dale Y B Nat
29/08/26 Benamore
5/09/26 Grenagh
12/09/26 Bantry YB Nat
There will be £100 for best average Dunmanway YB & Dale YB Nat sponsored by J Vage
The NIPA have made an emergency rule that whilst transporting crates from clubs to centres & pick up points only 3 members are required to accompany these.
* Nipa Transporter Collection times for 2026 -
All competing clubs will have to pay the driver £5 in cash at collection each week this is to cover the transhipping of crates and reducing the total number of transporters being sent to the race point
The times printed below may be subject to change after the 1st two weeks
Coleraine 5/5.30 pm
Ballymoney 6.30 pm
Ahoghill 7.15 pm
Ballee Roundabout 7.45 pm
Muckamore 8.15 pm
Glenavy 9 pm
Glenarm 5 pm
Larne 5.30 pm
Carrick 6.15 pm
Doagh 7 pm
Ligoniel 7.45 pm
Trinity 8.15 pm
Colin 8.45 pm
Derriaghy 9 pm
Coalisland 6 pm
Loughgall 6.30 pm
Edgarstown 7 pm
Lurgan 7.30 pm
Hills & Maze 8.pm
Lisburn 8.30 pm
Corrigs 6 pm
Downpatrick 6.30 pm
Killyleagh 7 pm
Crossgar 7.30 pm
Harmony 8.15 pm
Dromara 8.45 pm
Ards 5.45 pm
Cloughey 6.30 pm
Millisle 7 pm
Bangor 7.30 pm
Comber 8 pm
Limavady 5 pm
Derry 6 pm
Strabane 6.45 pm
Omagh 7.30 pm
Armagh 8.30 pm
Monaghan 9 pm
Dromore , Banbridge & Newry will be collected asap when transport is available.
* Stop Press – The Irish Nat Flying Club have call ed a special General Meeting to be held at the Lisburn Leisure CentreBT28 1LP on Saturday 28th March at 2.00pm. The purpose of this important meeting is to secure racing for 2026 season. All officer positions of the INFC are deemed vacant and these will be sought to be filled at this meeting. Let’s keep the 80 year old history going forward do make an effort to attend.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
Email:
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
