NIPA Sections A B E & H - 1st Kilbeggan YB
Duffy loft Toasts Success from Kilbeggan writes Adie –
Home to the oldest Whiskey Distillery in Southern Ireland (1757) County Westmeath,
Kilbeggan was the location for the first of the NIPA Area Libs with regards to the
Y/Bird racing programme. To be fair it’s been a great build up with some unusual
exceptional weather to the fore over the last couple of weeks, perhaps a shade to
warm, but an excellent opportunity for an education up the road for the youngsters.
Section H where firstly away at 11.00am in a South Easterly wind and 30 minutes
later the rest that were designated for that release point exited the Transporters having
been well watered prior to liberation.
NIPA Race/Date
1st Kilbeggan YB Sat 19th July 2025 – Liberated at 11.30am in a Southerly wind.
Topping the NIPA Open was the Paul Duffy loft from Armagh with a smashing card, claiming for the first 4 in the Club, Section and Open with 168 competing lofts entering 5,477 pigeons. 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th P Duffy, Armagh 1589, 1588, 1587, 1587; 5 th , 6 th, 7 th D & C & P McArdle, Loughgall 1577, 1576, 1576; 8 th Davy Calvin, Bondhill Social 1575; 9 th R D Calvin, Annaghmore 1573.7; 10 th , 11 th , 12 th J & E Calvin, Annaghmore 1573, 1572, 1571; 13 th R D Calvin 1571; 14 th & 15 th Davy Calvin 1569, 1567; 16 th Stevie Eglington, Bondhill Social 1566; 17 th Davy Calvin 1566; 18 th G Stevenson & Son, Armagh 1565; 19 th & 20 th Davy Calvin 1564, 1564.
Great Card in Armagh HPS for Paul Duffy with his 1st Kilbeggan open winner Fantastic result for Paul taking the first four. All Paul’s birds come from the super stock lofts of Campbell and Curran. Great flying Paul
On the Section H liberation of 672 pigeons sent by 32 competing lofts from
Kilbeggan it was a superb flyer for the Omagh loft of McCord &Turpie lifting the Red Card recording a Velocity of 1575. Having been a scribe, previously for several years, and heavily involved with pigeons I’ve now been some time away from the fold so to speak. My father ‘Homer’ with age and sadly everyday things that take a trajectory down that road with it, has decided to take a step back. It’s probably not something I ever thought I would be back at, but with everything at hand ref rooms stored to the brim with some 60 years off racing history at the family home, a scribe’s paradise if such a thing exists, simply something I couldn’t ignore. Moving forward to keep the Column going, BTW probably won’t be another 60. If you can all send your info directly to me email is
With tech now at a different level since the last time I did reports, this should with all your help, be hopefully easier especially with the quality of mobile phones/photo quality. Please send through any photos with a caption for the column and more importantly the websites we forward the column to (mighty NIPA publicity), no beating social media and the ever-increasing access to same. Simply I would like a member from every Club that Homer covered to send me some info and a picture each week. The details are above to contact me.
NIPA Section A Result 1st Kilbeggan – 24 members sent 654 birds. 1 st A O’Hare, Loughgall 1548; 2 nd H & J Devlin, Coalisland & District 1477; 3 rd B & D Coyle, Coleraine Premier 1475; 4 th J Hanson, Coleraine Premier 1465; 5 th A O’Hare 1462; 6 th J Hanson 1448; 7 th P Klimkowski & Son, Coleraine Premier 1447; 8 th G & G Larmour, Coalisland & District 1439, 9 th Russell McAlary, Coleraine Premier 1435; 10 th R McIlhatton, Coleraine Premier 1429.
NIPA Sect A Clubs
Coalisland & District – 8/190 1 st H & J Devlin 1477, 2 nd G & G Larmour 1439, 3 rd R McIlhatton 1429, 4 th G & G Larmour 1415, 5 th & 6 th D Carolan 1407, 1400.
Coleraine Premier HPS – 10/335 1 st B & D Coyle 1475, 2 nd & 3 rd J Hanson 1465, 1448, 4 th P Klimkowski & Son 1447, 5 th Russell McAlary 1435, 6 th B & D Coyle 1416.
Bobby Coyle opens up his young bird season with a victory in Coleraine Prem and best in Coleraine Triangle. The best of Jackie Steele (Rasharkin) bloodlines paired with bird from Geoff Dickey.
Cookstown Social – 4/72 1 st G & S Smith 1424, 2 nd Paul Harkness 1410, 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th , 6 th G & S Smith 1367, 1367, 1362, 1361.
G & S Smith takes pole position in Cookstown followed closely on a pea soup kinda day by our newest member Paul Harkness.
Windsor Social – 3/81 1 st M Simpson 1395.8, 2 nd R & J Parke 1395.4, 3 rd M Simpson 1394, 4 th , 5 th , 6 th R & J Parke 1368, 1368, 1368.
Mervyn Simpson winning the first young bird race 2025 from Kilbeggan in the Windsor Social.
NIPA Section B Result 1 st Kilbeggan - 38 lofts sent 1,043 pigeons. 1 st D Hamilton, Crumlin & District 1510; 2 nd G Gibson, Cullybackey 1508; 3 rd J & J Greer, Cullybackey 1494; 4 th Danny Dixon, Ballymoney HPS 1491; 5 th & 6 th Sefton Thompson, Crumlin & District 1490, 1490; 7 th S & J Bones, Muckamore 1482; 8 th , 9 th , 10 th Sefton Thompson 1473, 1473, 1473.
Danny Dixon of Dunloy 3rd Combine & 4th Section Kilbeggan.
NIPA Sect B Clubs
Ahoghill Flying Club – 2/81 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th , 6 th J Smyth & Son 1432, 1425, 1424, 1411, 1411, 1406.
Jimmy Smyth 1st Ahoghill from Kilbeggan
Ballymoney HPS – 6/221 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th , 6 th Danny Dixon 1491, 1436, 1436, 1426, 1426, 1426.
Broughshane & District HPS – 3/35 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th M Neilly 1390, 1348, 1347, 1346, 5 th & 6 th J Getty 1331, 1261.
Marc Neilly best in Broughshane from Kilbeggan
Ballymena & District HPS – 3/52 1 st Blair & Rankin 1452, 2 nd K & K Kernohan & Sons 1424, 3 rd Blair & Rankin 1421, 4 th & 5 th T Johnston & Son 1417, 1409, 6 th K & K Kernohan & Sons 1405.
Bertie Blair 1st in Ballymena & Dist. and 4th Combine from Kilbeggan
Cullybackey HPS – 6/205 1 st Gary Gibson 1508, 2 nd J & J Greer 1494, 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th , 6 th Alan Darragh 1434, 1433, 1433, 1432. Great pigeon into the Ballymena area, Gary Gibson timed his Dark Cheq cock at 13.40 flying 112 miles. His latest winner was from a co-breeding arrangement coming down from good friends Trevor Whyte and Shane Johnston on the latter from the Sire a 1 st Open NIPA Winner paired to Shane’s 5 th Open NIPA and already Dam to 2 x 1 st Mid Antrim Combines. Well Done to all above.
Gary Gibson wins 1st Cullybackey HPS and timed the best bird into Mid Antrim.
Jamie (l) & Jimmy Greer of Cullybackey 2nd Combine & 3rd Section B from Kilbeggan.
Crumlin & District – 4/103 1 st D Hamilton 1510, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th , 6 th Sefton Thompson 1490, 1490, 1473, 1473, 1473.
Muckamore HPS – 4/146 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th Knocker & Bill 1528, 1518, 1489, 1489, 5 th & 6 th S & J Bones 1482, 1454.
Winning connections for the opening young bird race into Muckamore. The Knocker & Bill team finish 1st & 2nd in the NIPA East Antrim Sect C.
Randalstown HPS – 4/86 1 st N Percy & Son 1388, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th John Millar 1366, 1366, 1365, 5 th & 6 th Stewart Bros 1323, 1323.
Noel Percy & Son winners in Randalstown from Kilbeggan.
Rasharkin & District HPS – 4/61 1 st & 2 nd F Barkley 1408, 1408, 3 rd Harold Cubitt 1390, 4 th W McFetridge 1358, 5 th Mr & Miss W & J McClean 1353, 6 th Harold Cubittt 1350.
Freddie Barkley took the top two in Rasharkin from Kilbeggan.
NIPA Section E Result 1 st Kilbeggan 37 lofts sent 1,731 pigeons. 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd & 4 th P Duffy, Armagh 1589, 1588, 1587, 1587; 5 th , 6 th & 7 th D & C & P McArdle, Loughgall 1577, 1576, 1576, 8 th Davy Calvin, Bondhill Social 1575; 9 th R D Calvin, Annaghmore 1573.7 10 th J & E Calvin, Annaghmore 1573.
NIPA Sect E Clubs
Annaghmore – 5/218 1 st R D Calvin 1573, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th J & E Calvin 1573, 1572, 1571,5 th R D Calvin 1571, 6 th P Boyd 1543.
Armagh HPS – 7/259 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , P Duffy 1589.68, 1588, 1587, 1587, 5 th GStevenson & Son 1565, 6 th E & M Curran 1561.
Bondhill Social – 3/368 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd Davy Calvin 1575, 1569, 1567, 4 th Stevie Eglington 1566.5, 5 th & 6 th Davy Calvin 1566.2, 1564.
Edgarstown – 3/131 1 st & 2 nd Tommy McClean 1513, 1512, 3 rd S & E Buckley 1510, 4 th Richard McCracken 1497, 5 th & 6 th Tommy McClean 1491, 1490.
Former Nat Champion Tommy McClean taking the win in the first YB race of the season in Edgartown HPS in Portadown.
Gilford & District – 1/20 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd G O’Dowd 1473, 1411, 1400.
Loughgall – 4/199 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd D & C & P McArdle 1577, 1576, 1576, 4 th A O’Hare 1548, 5 th D & C & P McArdle 1544, 6 th Sam Corrigan 1526.
Lurgan Social – 10/376 1 st C J B Ferris 1545, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th Sean Curran 1541, 1540, 1539, 5 th Ted Furphy 1539, 6 th Sean Curran 1539.
Monaghan HPS 5/177 1 st Richard Mulligan 1547, 2 nd Keith Allister 1526, 3 rd Richard Mulligan 1444, 4 th , 5 th & 6 th S O’Brien 1401, 1400, 1395.
NIPA Sect H Clubs
NIPA Open Result 32/672 Lib 11.00am South East Wind - 1 st McCord & Turpie 1575, 2 nd J & G Ramsey 1509, 3 rd M & M Rabbett 1385, 4 th N McGavigan 1380, 5 th , 6 th , 7 th Sean Malone 1379, 1378, 1378, 8 th Andy Mitchell 1377, 9 th Sean Malone 1377, 10 th & 11 th N McGaw 1374, 1371, 12 th , 13 th , 14 th Robin McIlmoyle 1354, 1354, 1352. 15 th , 16 th , 17 th , 18 th A Boyd 1348, 1348, 1347,1347, 19 th D Simpson 1345, 20 th M & M Rabbett 1345.
Amelia Earhart – 1 st M & M Rabbett 1385, 2 nd Andy Mitchell 1377, 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th M & M Rabbett 1345, 1326, 1315, 6 th Andy Mitchell 1316.
Derry & District – 1 st J & G Ramsey 1509, 2 nd D Simpson 1345, 3 rd , 4 th & 5 th P Hegarty 1321, 1321, 1321.
Foyle RPS – 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd & 4 th Sean Malone 1379, 1378, 1378, 1377.
Limavady – 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd Robin McIlmoyle 1354, 1354, 1352, 4 th , 5 th , 6 th A Boyd 1348, 1348, 1347.
Omagh & District – McCord & Turpie 1575.
Strabane & District Inv RPC – 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd N McGavigan 1380, 1374, 1371, 4 th & 5 th F Patterson 1324, 1324.
Feds & Combines – 1st Area Liberation
City of Derry Federation 1st Kilbeggan – J & G Ramsey Derry & Dist. 1509, M & M Rabbett Amelia Earhart 1385, Sean Malone Foyle 1379, 1378, 1378, Andy Mitchell Amelia Earhart 1377, Sean Malone 1377, Paul Maxwell Jnr Foyle 1363,1363, 1362.
Foyle Valley Combine 1st Kilbeggan - J & G Ramsey Derry & Dist. 1509, M & M Rabbett Amelia Earhart 1385, N McGavigan Strabane 1380, Sean Malone Foyle 1379, 1378, 1378, Andy Mitchell Amelia Earhart 1377, Sean Malone 1377, N McGavigan Strabane 1374, 1371, D Simpson Derry & Dist. 1345, M & M Rabbett 1345, 1326, F Patterson Strabane 1324, 1324.
Coleraine Triangle 1st Kilbeggan – B & D Coyle 1475, Jimmy Hanson 1465 1448, P Klimkowski & Son 1447, R McAlary 1439, B & D Coyle 1416, 1410, 1410, A McDonnell 1403, Mervyn Simpson Windsor Son 1395, R & J Parke Windsor Soc 1395, Mervyn Simpson 1394, Jimmy Hanson 1386, R McAlary 1384, Diamond Bros & G McLaughlin 1383, L Hanson 1371, 1371, R & J Parke 1368, 1368, 1368.
Mid Antrim Combine – 1st Kilbeggan 19th July 2025
The young bird season started on Saturday 19th July with an excellent race from Kilbeggan in County Westmeath. Birds were released at 11.30am in south easterly winds.
Cullybackey loft's took the top two positions in the Mid Antrim Combine with G Gibson 1st on 1508 and Jimmy & Jamie Greer runner up on 1494. Big Jamie Greer timed a blue hen, the sire being his double combine winner 'Double top' winner of 2 x 1st clubs, 2 x 1st Combine and 2 x 3rd Section B in 2024 and 2nd club 2022. Breeding is Sticker Doncker x Van Herck. The dam is Vermeerbergen - Wilms x Staff Van Reet and is a winner of 1st club Fermoy Yearling National 2023 and is a daughter of 'Ballykeel Boy' sire and grandsire of 3 x 1sts and was gifted to Jamie by good friend Keith Kernohan. Danny Dixon was next best on 1491 with a youngster from his meritorious award winner 'New Heartbreaker' when he was paired to a hen from the 'Aviary Cock' x his good Jos Cools hen.
Best in Ballymena & District was Bertie Blair who was winning for the fourth time this season on 1452. Bertie's winner was from a Soontjen x Grondelaer cock he acquired from Paddy & William McManus of Ahoghill when paired to a Soontjen hen from Davy Hutchinson. Jimmy Smyth & Son were best in Ahoghill on 1432, Freddie Barkley had the top two in Rasharkin on 1408, Marc Neilly best in Broughshane on 1390, his winner a dark cheq pied hen is bred from a cock purchased at N. Ferguson & Son bereavement sale and the Vandenbrande dam was bought at Beggs & Hall bereavement sale. Noel Percy & Son were best in Randalstown on 1388 with an imported young bird.
Mid Antrim Combine Kilbeggan 23/581- G Gibson Cullybackey 1508, J & J Greer Cullybackey 1494, D Dixon Rasharkin 1491, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1452, D Dixon Rasharkin 1436, D Dixon Rasharkin 1436, A Darragh Cullybackey 1434, A Darragh Cullybackey 1433, A Darragh Cullybackey 1433, A Darragh Cullybackey 1432, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1432, D Dixon Rasharkin 1426, D Dixon Rasharkin 1426, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1425, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1424, K & K Kernohan & Sons Ballymena 1424, Blair & Rankin Ballymena 1421, A Darragh Cullybackey 1420, A Darragh Cullybackey 1420, A Darragh Cullybackey 1420, A Darragh Cullybackey 1419, T Johnston & Son Ballymena 1417, D Dixon Rasharkin 1416, D Dixon Rasharkin 1415, D Dixon Rasharkin 1415, D Dixon Rasharkin 1414, A Darragh Cullybackey 1413, A Darragh Cullybackey 1412, J, Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1411, J Smyth & Son Ahoghill 1411. Mervyn Eagleson MAC Press Officer.
RPRA (Irish Region) Awards 2025
Secretary Noel Higginson has released the list of the seasons winners through the various NIPA Sections, and also Southern Ireland. Individual bird performance calculated over two cross channel races, 2nd Dale and a fortnight later Penzance.
Section A -Danny Carolan Coalisland & District Vel 1368, Section B – S & N Maginty Muckamore Vel 1448, Section C – J & D Braniff Glen Vel 1411, Section D – Gerard Monaghan Colin Vel 1446, Section E - David Calvin Bondhill Social Vel 1489, Section F – Burgess & Brennan Bangor RPC Vel 1368, Section G – Cormac O’Hare Ballyholland Vel 1478, Section H – David Booth Mourne & District Vel 1264, South Section – Byrne & Bradley Saint Pauls RPC Vel 1293.Overall winner for 2025 David Calvin of Bondhill Social Vel 1489.420. Homer PO.
Adie McCormick
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