Last weekend fanciers from across Ireland travelled to the Kings Hall in Belfast for the annual INFC Charity Show, a dry day no doubt helped the attendance. Judges travelled from Scotland and England and I also spoke to a Welsh National winner who was also in attendance. Entry in the show itself saw an increase over the previous season top awards were won by Brown & Shaw from Dromore who returned another Best in Show to add to Dublin earlier and Balbriggan the week previous. This Champion Cheq w/f will be going back to Blackpool where last season it won the Top Racer award. W & W Gilbert from Randalstown returned with an outstanding result to win two classes, and take BOS, Best Young Bird and Most Points in Show. Specials were judged by Herbie Phillips from Lagan Valley and Tommy Watson from Tamworth in the Midlands.
Old Bird Eye-sign (140 Birds) 1st, 2nd, 3rd & HC W & W Gilbert (Randalstown), Reserve & VHC E Wright & Son (Lurgan Soc), Commended K Henderson (Lurgan Soc). Judge Paul Hitches Tamworth Midlands. Young Bird Eye-sign (87 Birds) 1st & HC J Ross (Glenavy), 2nd & Commended T & K Mawhinney (Donacloney), 3rd Russell Bros (Cullybackey), Reserve & VHS E Wright & Son. Judge Keith Walters Nuneaton. Old Cocks Handled (68 Birds) 1st Brown & Shaw (Dromore), 2nd Christopher Shaw (Dromore WE), 3rd R Telford (West Belfast), Reserve E Wright & Son, VHC & Commended K Henderson, HC W & W Gilbert. Judge John Morgan Lockerbie. Old Hens Handled (72 Birds) 1st & 3rd J Galbraith & Son (Kingswood), 2nd E Wright & Son, Reserve G Benson (Lisburn), VHC T & K Mawhinney, HC A Taylor & Son (Shankill), Commended W & W Gilbert. Judge Michael Currie Moffat Scotland. Young Cock Handled (43 Birds) 1st & 2nd W & W Gilbert, 3rd T & K Mawhinney, Reserve R Telford, VHC E Wright & Son, HC & Commended K Henderson & Son. Judge Roy Clarke Tamworth Midlands. Young Hens Handled (44 Birds) 1st R Telford, 2nd R Moore & Son (Bangor), 3rd, VHC & HC T & K Mawhinney, Reserve K Henderson & Son, Commended Russell Bros. Judge Kenny Thompson Lockerbie.
Ballymoney HPS The Show Points Cup has been won by Gamble Holmes with Danny Dixon the runner-up, both lofts can race a bit as well and will be looking forward to the new season. The Xmas Raffle is this Friday 11th December. Friday OC & OH and YC & YH Handled. Old Cock Handled 1st D Gage, 2nd C Henry, 3rd, 4th & HC G Holmes, Reserve & VHC D Dixon, Commended L Neill. Old Hens Handled 1st & Special G Holmes, 2nd & Reserve D Dixon, 3rd S Laverty, 4th J Connolly, VHC & HC W & L McCaw, Commended C Henry. Young Pieds 1st B & I Stewart, 2nd, 4th & Commended J Connolly, 3rd D & G McMullan, Reserve, VHC & HC B & I Stewart. Judges Harold Cubitt, Jimmy Robinson & Drew Surgenor (Rasharkin & District). Xmas Open Show Danny Dixon won the Old Bird Classes and Best in Show and Best Opposite Sex, with new imports?? The judges from the Coleraine & Co Derry RPS included Willie Murdock, Terence McCrudden, John McCandless and Kenny Darragh. Old Cocks 1st & BIS D Dixon, 2nd G Holmes, 3rd & VHC D Dixon, 4th D & G McMullan, Reserve D Gage, HC C Henry, Commended J Connolly. Old Hens 1st & BOS D Dixon, 2nd J Connolly, 3rd B & I Stewart, 4th & Reserve D Gage, VHC G Holmes, HC D & G McMullan, Commended W & L McCaw. Young Cock 1st J Connolly, 2nd & Reserve L Neill, 3rd D & G McMullan, 4th & VHC D Dixon, HC G Holmer, Commended B & I Stewart. Young Hens 1st & 4th D Dixon, 2nd W & L McCaw, 3rd B & I Stewart, Reserve L Neill, VHC D Gage, HC S Laverty, Commended G Holmes.
Coleraine & Co Derry Old Cock Handled 1st, 2nd & Reserve T McCrudden, 3rd & 4th D Tosh, VHC D Platt, Commended W Murdock. Old Hen Handled 1st & 3rd T McCrudden, 2nd W Murdock, 4th, VHC & Commended D Tosh, Reserve K Darragh. D Tosh won the Nomination. Judges K Glass & W Horner from the Windsor Social presented £10 Nom for Talbenny YB National.
The annual Open Show for Cullybackey will take place on Saturday 19th December the usual 3 in 1 event with penning from 10.30am until 1.00pm. All class winners Bag of Mixture, Trophy & Rosette. The clubrooms will be open on the Friday evening from 7.30pm until 9.00pm for club members to deliver prizes for the show and raffle, all club members to supply prizes. Old Bird Eye-sign (61 Birds) 1st J & J Greer, 2nd & VHC Russell Bros, 3rd, Reserve & HC B Herbinson, Commended J & B Balmer. Young Bird Eye-sign (30 Birds) 1st & HC B Herbinson, 2nd & 4th J & B Balmer, 3rd, Reserve & Commended Russell Bros, VHC Reid Bros & McCloy. Judge Edmund Woodside (Ballyclare).
Ballymena & District Latest show night had three classes, B Herbinson 1st & Special in Card Winners, J & B Balmer 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the Old Pairs and Blair & Rankin almost all the cards in Late Breds. Jimmy Letters won the raffle and judges were Brian & John Elliott. Old Pairs 1st, 2nd, 3rd J & B Balmer, 4th & VHC B Herbinson, Reserve J Harris, HC Richmond Bros, Commended J Devlin. Card Winners 1st, Reserve & HC B Herbinson, 2nd Blair & Rankin, 3rd & 4th J & B Balmer, VHC & Commended J Letters. Late Breds 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Reserve, VHC & Commended Blair & Rankin, HC J & B Balmer.
Kells & District HPS - Will host the usual Mid Antrim Boxing Day Show in their own clubrooms, the usual 3 in 1 for old bird and young bird with prizes for all cards and Specials including BIS & BOS, Saturday 26th December. Penning is from 11.00am until 2.00pm, bird are £1. Eye-sign (61 Birds) 1st & Reserve Scott & Clements, 2nd Gregg Bros, 3rd & Commended H Fullerton & Son, 4th & VHC Surgenor Bros, HC B Swann & Son. Fancy (41 Birds) 1st Surgenor Bros, 2nd, 3rd & 4th H Boyd, Reserve & Commended A Barkley & Son, VHC Scott & Clements, HC H Fullerton & Son. Show Cup won by Surgenor Bros.
For Sale Nearly New (9 months old) T3S Clock Blue Face with Data Printer, Battery Pack, Kwik Start, Thimbles and Carry Case. Just £200, cost over £400 new. Tel: (028) 25637929, Mobile 07835 099155.
I was pleased to attend the final show night at Springvale Social the judges for the occasion had travelled across from Ahoghill including, Tom, David and Albert Young. It proved to be a very successful night for R Davidson & Sons who won three Red Cards but the big rush at the end was not good enough for the Show Shield for Most Points was won by Montgomery & Kirk with Jordan Scott the runner-up. The awards were presented by the top sponser George McComb for G M Landscapes and included the cheque for £1,000 presented to the Gold Ring Nomination winner in 2009 Andy Agnew from Ballyclare.
Springvale Social Results: Old Hens T/W 1st, 2nd & 3rd Montgomery & Kirk, 4th J Scott, Reserve A C McGrugan, VHC & HC R Davidson & Sons, Commended I Horner. Old Hens Handled 1st & VHC Montgomery & Kirk, 2nd Turkington Bros, 3rd & 4th J Scott, Reserve & Commended R Davidson & Sons, HC A C McGrugan. Young Hens T/W 1st, 2nd, 4th & HC Montgomery & Kirk, 3rd J Scott, Reserve Turkington Bros, VHC I Horner, Commended R Scott. Young Hens Handled 1st, Reserve & HC Montgomery & Kirk, 2nd & Commended A C McGrugan, 3rd J Scott, 4th Turkington Bros, VHC R Scott. Judges - M/M S Lorimer (Doagh). Mated Pairs T/W 1st, 4th & HC Montgomery & Kirk, 2nd & Reserve J Scott, 3rd R Scott, HC & Commended R Davidson & Sons. Mated Pairs Handled 1st, 2nd & HC Montgomery & Kirk, 3rd & VHC J Scott, 4th R Davidson & Sons, Reserve R Scott, Commended I Horner. Judges R McMeekin & C Lawrie (Kingsmoss). Yearling T/W 1st & 2nd J Scott, 3rd Montgomery & Kirk, 4th R Scott, Reserve, VHC, HC & Commended R Davidson & Sons. Yearling Handled 1st, 3rd & Reserve R Davidson & Sons, 2nd, HC & Commended Montgomery & Kirk, 4th Turkington Bros, VHC J Scott. Pieds T/W 1st & 2nd R Davidson & Sons, 3rd I Horner, 4th Turkington Bros, Reserve, VHC & HC J Scott, Commended R Scott. Pieds Handled 1st & Reserve R Davidson & Sons, 2nd & 3rd I Horner, 4th & HC R Scott, VHC & Commended Montgomery & Kirk.
Annaghmore HPS 11/12/09 1st & 2nd Kevin Douglas, 3rd & VHC R Telford, 4th K Douglas, Reserve G Calvin, HC W G Neill, Commended T & K Mawhinney. Special T & K Mawhinney. Many thanks to the judges E Stuart and A Fearon.
Millisle HPS John Hollinger is working hard on a new fund raiser for club funds, a raffle with top prize a weekend trip to Belgium to include loft visits and Lier Market, Nat Breeding Stud and more. Its the weekend of the Houten Spring Exchange 5-8th March 2010, only 100 Tickets being sold at £5 each. John might have a few spaces available on both this trip and Blackpool. Tel: 91 863536.
Drumnavaddy HPS The latest Big Show will be held at the local clubrooms behind the British Legion Hall in Banbridge. Thursday 10th December classes Through the Wires penning 7-8.00pm Special for Best YB in each class and prizes for all cards. One week later another Big Show this time Handled with penning from 6.30-7.30pm. Special for Best YB in each class, Best in Show etc. All fanciers will be made welcome, more details Tel: 07737 521355.
Blackpool Show The annual bus trip is being arranged at the present time, the usual two in East Antrim still have some seats available. Tel Robin Duddy (028) 93 340603 or Owen Donnelly for Larne & Dist (028) 93 260425.
Birds for Sale: John Lowry from Crumlin & Dist has a number of birds available at reasonable prices, the birds are listed on www.pigeonnetwork.com see Public Auction News. Further details Tel: 07710 447262. The officials and members of Crumlin & Dist send congratulations to Fleming Bros on winning a record number of 1sts in 2009 and also the NIPA Sect B Fancier of the Year in both 08 & 09 seasons. A young fancier in the Banbridge area had planned to start racing and had purchased some stock including Lindelaufs and Staf Van Reet from Louella. Racing is not now possible and he has a small number of birds for sale Tel: 07746 092104. Martin Graham from Ballymena & Dist has had a best ever racing season and he bred the winner of the Galway Plate for Adie McCormick a bird now named Cool Lass for those with a bad memory. Martin himself had a top class young bird season and in the old birds he scored through to France. He has some surplus stock available for sale, now is the time to make a purchase. Tel: (028) 25 637929. Peter McClarence of Crumlin has a number of unraced youngsters and needs to make space, bloodlines are Janssen, Hofken and Soontjen. Tel Peter (028) 94 453541. I hear Will Patterson of Dromore must get rid of the birds due to ill health, I hope to have more info soon. P & J Boal from Dromore have a few surplus hens for sale, the very top bloodlines mostly Van Herck Tel: 07989 596577.
Wesley Sawyers will auction the birds of Will Patterson & Son in the Banbridge British Legion Hall on Thursday 7th January 2010 at 8.00pm, birds on view from 7.00pm. Top stock including distance Busschaerts obtained from the late Tommy Beckett, Donnelly Bros Newry City, Kilpatrick from T & N Boyd Dunfries, Gordon Kirkpatrick Lisburn, Andrew Lockhart from Larnarkshire, plus some Delbar and Janssen. Worth a visit, some fantastic bloodlines here and a good opportunity to purchase stock prior to Blackpool.
HOMER.
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07939 684876
E-mail: reynoldshomer@aol.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk
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Homer's Odyssey - 18/12/09 - 18/12/2009