Kells and District held they're open show returning this year on the usual date of Boxing Day. Tuesday 26th December 2023. Our open show was 3 in 1 old and young. What a great turn out of fanciers and pigeons and a great show was held. 15 fanciers showed with a great amount of 276 pigeons penned. Thank you to every single person that turned up to support the show and making it such a success this year.
A massive shout out goes to Frazer Feeds for supporting the show another year with supplying prizes for card winners in every class. Your support is greatly appreciated as always. Thank you also must go to everyone who supplied raffle prizes for the show to support the club and supported in anyway, your support doesn't go a miss. We would like to give a big thank you this year to Award Board Rosettes - Ballymena, for supplying us top class rosettes for the show. Contact No. 07927441700 - website - www.awardboardrosettes.com (or ie).
This year our judges, we are pleased and honoured to say that we managed to get some of the top men taking top NIPA honour's regularly to come along and judge for us. A prestigious quartet of Davy Calvin, Philip Calvin, Stevie Eglinton and Bob Buckley from the Portadown area. The men were keen to get judging and they done a brilliant job. Judging 276 pigeons was a task and they done it very well and efficiently. Many thanks to the judges it was greatly appreciated for taking time out of your holidays to come and judge such a big show for us in Kells.
The results are as follows -
Young birds: Judged by Stevie Eglinton and Philip Calvin
Young bird Through Wires - 1. T. Mawhinney, 2. W&W Gilbert, 3. W&W Gilbert, 4. R&S Swann, Res. W&W Gilbert, V.H.C. F.Simpson, H.C. K&K Kernohan, C. W&W Gilbert.
Young Birds Handled - 1. R&S Swann, 2. T. Mawhinney, 3. K&K Kernohan, 4. F. Simpson, Res. M. Neilly, V.H.C. W&W Gilbert, H.C. R&S Swann, C. F. Simpson.
Young Bird Eyesign - 1. M. Neilly, 2. A. Neill, 3. A. Barkley&Son, 4. R&S Swann, Res. A. Barkley&Son, V.H.C. R&S Swann, H.C. J&J Greer, C. Gregg Bros.
Old Birds: Judged by - Davy Calvin and Bob Buckley
Old bird Through Wires - 1. H. Turkington, 2. J. Getty, 3. D&R Turkington, 4. M. Neilly, Res. J&J Greer , V.H.C. A. Neill, H.C. T. Mawhinney, C. T. Mawhinney.
Old Bird Handled - 1. A. Barkley&Son, 2. D&R Turkington, 3. T. Mawhinney, 4. A. Neill, Res. R&S Swann, V.H.C. R&S Swann, H.C. R&S Swann, C. F. Simpson.
Old Bird Eyesign - 1. A. Barkley&Son , 2. Gregg bros, 3. A. Neill, 4. V. Montgomery, Res. Gregg bros, V.H.C. J&J Greer, H.C. A. Neill, C. T. Mawhinney.
Best in Show - A.Barkley&Son (Kells & District). Best Opposite Sex - H. Turkington (Kells & District). Best Young Bird – T Mawhinney (Dromore HPS). Most points in Show A.Barkley&Son. Well done to everyone who carded and took home prizes. A very big well done to two of our own club members for taking top awards in the show. A. Barkley&Son and H. Turkington.
The final awards presented was for our club show winners. Our club shows this year were very successful. The shows were very well supported every week by fanciers. We would like to thank everyone who came week in week out to support the club shows. The support is greatly appreciated.
The club insiders cup with the most points throughout the show series was presented to A.Barkley&Son. Our outsiders cup for the weekly club shows was presented to W&W Gilbert. Winning most overall points throughout the club show series.
Thank you to everyone once again. Thank you to everyone who supported weekly club shows and to all the judges every week. Thank you to everyone who supported our Boxing Day Open Show. We had another great year of showing and hopefully will be back in 2024 for another year of showing.
On behalf of Kells & District we would like to wish ever one a Happy New Year and good luck for 2024 racing season. Laura Surgenor PO.
Judges from the Portadown area included Davy Calvin,
Philip Calvin, Stevie Eglinton and Bob Buckley.
A Barkley & Son from Kells won Best in Show on Boxing Day.
Henry Turkington from Kells (r) had Best Opposite Sex at the Open Show.
W & W Gilbert from Randalstown won the Visitors Cup at Kells & District.
R & S Swann won the Young Bird Handled at Kells Open Show.
Marc Neilly from Broughshane (r) won the Young Bird Eyesign.
Class winners at the Kells Open Show on Boxing Day