The Ahoghill Flying Club returned once again to the Ballymena United Social Club at Warden Street for their annual dinner and presentation of prizes for the last season. More of the local clubs are waiting till the new year to hold the award nights, previously it was a big rush up to Christmas to fit them all in. Ballymena & District was held just before Blackpool and Harryville have planned their event for late February. The members and friends were soon seated in the main hall and Chairman Tom Young welcomed a good turn-out with most members present and introduced the guests who included the local scribe Homer and Rosie. He has a special word of welcome to Cowan Balmer and wife Molly to the event, they again brought a big party. Cowan had missed the dinner for a few years but after a big welcome back he should return again very soon. Cowan and Molly are top fund-raisers for the club and the members were pleased to welcome Angela Alexander from Finvoy Post Office, every year they run the famous Name the Doll and added this year we had the Fireside Quiz. Also Roberta & John from Galgorm Post Office and Linda Fry the Hair Stylist from Greenvale Street in Ballymena, others who are very good supporters of the local club. Another top sponsor are Brooke Supplies from Ahoghill who present prizes every year and are involved with the 2 Bird Club where Champion in 2009 was the Young McManus & Sons team.
The officials at the Social Club were thanked for all their assistance, nothing is too much trouble, the dinner set up in the main hall and the prizes presented in the Members Lounge. Anns Kitchen supplied another luxury five course meal, plenty to go round.
Secretary Albert Young had all the prizes set out and Ahoghill had an outstanding season in 2009, it might be one of the best ever. The Young McManus & Sons team do take some beating, its 15 seasons on the trot as top prize-winner and Paddy was glad to welcome good friend Bertie Blair to the prize night. All told the club won the local Mid Antrim Combine (nine clubs) seven times in total, and for Paddy his total of four puts the performances of 2009 among the best of the last 15 years. The loft also came very close in the Premier Old Bird Nat from St Malo in France, an early arrival was timed to finish 1st Club, 2nd Combine & Sect and 4th Open in the NIPA.
The Diplomas were presented by Angela Alexander and all but one came in the old bird racing. Young McManus & Sons won from Clonmel (2), Fermoy (1), Bude and then Tullamore (2) in young birds. Charlie Young had 1st Combine from Roscrea 126/3,235 on velocity 1822 and Young McManus & Sons were 3rd. A & N Young had 1st Combine from Tullamore (3) 93/2,027 on velocity 1937 and Jimmy Smyth & Son took 1st Combine in the Rosscarbery OB Inland Nat 95/610 on velocity 1892. Most of the races during 2009 were very fast up around a mile a minute each week, one big exception was Penzance which was flown for the first time in a number of years. David Lowry & Sons won 1st Combine in the duplicate Penzance OB Classic doing velocity 977 for the approx 330 miles. He also won the Average all races England & Wales. I should have mentioned the three 1st Combines for Young McManus & Sons resulted in 3 x 1st Sect B and with a little bit more luck it could have been a lot more.
The prize money and race diplomas were presented by Cowan Balmer and the wife of the club Chairman Margaret Young. Congratulations to son David who has just recently got engaged to Ruth Chestnut. The leading lofts to the table were: Young McManus & Sons, A & N Young, D Lowry & Sons, Charlie Young, Balmer Young & Sons, Jimmy Smyth, John Balmer who finished 2nd Combine from Bude, Tom & Glen Cotter and Jimmy Orr & Son.
