Pigeons update: Northerly winds ensure testing race from Penzance

At Cullybackey Centre before weekend Champions League Final from Penzance, the winner Jackie Steele (r) with Jeff Surgenor Kells getting some compensation with 1st MAC Roscrea.

In the penultimate week of the old bird season prior to the long distance events from France the NIPA birds were raced from Penzance with a comeback event arranged from Roscrea.

Despite the fantastic weather conditions on the longest day of the year the Northerly wind was always going to be a big feature. Birds were liberated in Penzance at 7.30am in a NN East wind and the Roscrea convoy at 9.00am in a Lt Northerly wind.

The Roscrea birds were home first taking over 3 hours for the approx. 140 miles, Penzance was a lot more difficult. Early birds here made good time but it turned out another hard race with a lot of lofts failing to time any arrivals. From Penzance John Connolly had a big early bird up into Ballymoney to take first Sect B while John Millar of Randalstown took first in the Mid Antrim Combine. Steele & McNeill of Rasharkin who have had a very good year with a small team win the Champions League for Rasharkin for the second time.