Kells and District HPS Open Show was held Tuesday 27th December, the reserve date over many years had been Boxing Day but still good to see the event return. What a fantastic turnout and a great day was had with a massive 263 birds penned.
A massive thank you must go to Frazer Feeds for their continuous support to the club and for setting up the prizes for all 6 classes. Everything was greatly appreciated. Another huge thank you must go to Home Farm Bird Supplies and Natural Ballymena for sponsoring the club with vouchers. Big thank you to Change for Life Gym in Kells for also sponsoring the show and thanks as well to club members that generously donated for the show and for their support at the event. Thank you must go to the judges who came up to judge the show for us from Belfast. The judges from the East Down Combine clubs Dundonald HPS and Belmont had a great day out in Kells, thanks for all the hospitality, much appreciated.
The results are as follows, a clean sweep for visiting lofts: Best in Show – R & S Swann (Ballymena & District), Best Opposite Sex – Fred Simpson (Doagh & District), Most Points – R & S Swann (Natural Ballymena Voucher), Runner up Most Points – Alwyn Neill (Home Farm voucher), Best Young Bird – R & S Swann (Home Farm Voucher).
Old Birds Through wires Judge - J.Auld: 1- W.Gilbert, 2- A.Neill, 3- D & R Turkington, 4- D & R Turkington, Res - W.Gilbert, V.H.C - W.Gilbert, H.C – D & R Turkington, C – D & R Turkington. Old Birds Handled - Judge - J.Galbraith: 1- A.Neill, 2- D.Swann, 3- A.Neill, 4- D & R Turkington, Res – D &R Turkington, V.H.C - V. Montgomery, H.C - V. Montgomery, C – D & R Turkington. Old Bird Eyesign - Judge - A.Shanks: 1- F.Simpson, 2- J & J Greer, 3-A.Barkley&Son, 4- W.Gilbert, Res - V.Montgomery, V.H.C - A.Neill, H.C A.Barkley&Son, C – J & J Greer. Young Birds Through Wires - Judge - R. Conlane & G. McCartney: 1- R & S Swann, 2- A.Neill, 3- R & S Swann, 4- R & S Swann, Res- K.Wright , V.H.C - S.McIlveen, H.C – R & S Swann, C - M.Neilly. Young Birds Handled - Judges - R.Conlane & G.McCartney: 1- R & S Swann, 2- R & S Swann, 3- D & R Turkington, 4- A. Barkley&Son, Res- R & S Swann, V.H.C – R & S Swann, H.C - K.Wright, C - A.Neill. Young Bird Eyesign - Judges - R.Conlane & G.McCartney: 1- A.Neill, 2- W.Gilbert, 3- J & J Greer, 4-A.Neill, Res - R&S Swann, V.H.C – R & S Swann, H.C – J & J Greer, C - A.Barkley&Son
A big well done to R & S Swann (Ballymena & District) for taking BIS, BYB and Most Points. Huge well done to everyone who carded. The cups for weekly shows were also presented to A. Barkley & Son for winning Most Points overall and taking the Kells Club trophy and J & J Greer (Cullybackey) winning the Visitors Trophy for most points in the show series. We would also like to thank non-members who donated towards prizes for the Open Show and a very big thank you has to go to Harryville and Cullybackey Clubs for lending the show pens. Thank you again to everyone who supported the club. Thank you to everyone who came every week to support the club and to everyone who travelled to the open show and made it such a success. Thank you to everyone who helped out throughout the shows, everyone's support has been greatly appreciated. Roll on the racing. Laura Surgenor PO.
Judges at Kells - A. Shanks, J. Auld, J. Galbraith, R. Conlane and G. McCartney.
Alan Barkley & Son partnership weekly shows winners at Kells & District HPS.
Alan Barkley & Son (l) presenting club shows visitors J & J Greer for Most Points.
Alan Shanks (l) presenting A. Neil from Lurgan for runner up Most Points.
Darren Swann (r) collects Best in Show at Kells for R & S Swann of Ballymena.
Fred Simpson from Doagh & District (l) Best Opposite Sex Winner at Kells.
Willie Gilbert (r) from Ballymena the Red Card winner in Old Birds Through wires.