The venue for the annual dinner and prize distribution was once again the Michelin Athletic Club at the Woodside Road between Ballymena and Broughshane. Another good attendance was reported with around 70 members and friends made welcome by the Secretary Harry Smyth. The four course meal was first class as usual and Harry thanked the Chef Charlie and his staff for an excellent service and he also thanked the MAC for the use of the clubroom. He thanked the many sponsors for their support during the past season including Tom & Betty Service, George Connolly, Allister Purvis and also Hilltop Feeds for presenting cups to the club. The Secretary then highlighted some performances by members and their birds during the season, and congratulated all the prize-winners on their season’s achievements. George Connolly secured Highest Prize-winner taking over from the many times winners J & N Simpson. They were followed by A Purvis a new starter getting up near the top, H Smyth & Son, D Houston & Son, Mrs M Smyth, G & A Eagleson, R Wylie, J Getty and T & E Service.
Good prizes were won at all levels of competition including A Purvis winning 1st Mid Antrim Combine from Tullamore in the Young Birds and Davy Houston won a Bronze Diploma racing with the NIPA. Awarded for pigeons twice in the OB Nat France result D Houston & Son won 2009: 8th Sect B & 32nd Open NIPA St Malo, 2010: 35th Sect B & 196th Open NIPA St Malo.
As is always the tradition of the club that a members wife or family member present the awards each season, the secretary invited Andrea Neilly the daughter of John Getty to carry out the presentations. After a vote of thanks by the Treasurer Davy Houston Harry Smyth then presented Andrea with a lovely bouquet of flowers in appreciation for a job well done. The club raffle each year is always very successful and this year was no exception. Davy thanked all those who donated prizes, or helped in any way to make the night another great success. He then thanked the Secretary Harry Smyth and his wife Joan for having the cups and trophies looking so well. Also their dedicated work over the year doing Club Secretary and Ring Secretary and setting up another very successful dinner and prize night. It was then a night of chat and fun, not forgetting the dancing into the wee small hours music supplied by McQuade Entertainment. A good night was had by all, thanks to Harry for the info and photos.
Old Bird Races: Tullamore (T Bamber Memorial Cup) – G Connolly 19th Comb, vel 1704; Tullamore (W Taylor Memorial Cup) – A Purvis 4th Comb, vel 1581; Roscrea (McCabe Cup) – H Smyth & Son 13th Comb, vel 1666; Clonmel (McAllister Shield) – G Connolly 13th Comb, vel 1490; Clonmel (Broughshane Trophy) – H Smyth & Son 2nd Comb, vel 1214; Fermoy (Festival Cup) – H Smyth & Son 4th Comb, vel 1528; Rosscarbery Derby (Lyttles Cup) – A Purvis 10th Comb, vel 1391; Clonmel (Village Cup) – H Smyth & Son 6th Comb, vel 1519; 1st Talbenny (B.U.S.C Cup) – Mrs M Smyth 5th Comb, vel 1150; 2nd Talbenny (Club Shield) – J & N Simpson 12th Comb, vel 1444; Fermoy comeback (Tuff Cup) – G Connolly 8th Comb, vel 1472; Bude (Halfway House Cup) – H Smyth & Son 17th Comb, vel 1032; Penzance (McCreadie Cup) – G Connolly 2nd Comb, vel 999; St Malo Derby (French Challenge Cup & Rhead Cup) – D Houston & Son 12th Comb, vel 839.
Young Bird Races: Tullamore (Slemish Tavern Cup) – R Wylie 15th Comb, vel 1593; Tullamore (Olympic Cup) – A Purvis 5th Comb, vel 1556; Roscrea (Fir Park Cup) – J & N Simpson 16th Comb, vel 1458; Roscrea (Civic Cup) – J & N Simpson 25th Comb, vel 1161; Clonmel (Fleming Cup) – A Purvis 26th Comb, vel 1159; Fermoy (Hazlett Cup) – A Purvis 3rd Comb, vel 1815; Talbenny Derby (Smyth Cup) – G Connolly 24th Comb, vel 1016; Tullamore comeback (Clarke Cup) – A Purvis 1st Comb & 6th Sect B, vel 1552; Fermoy (Davidson Shield) – G Connolly 20th Comb, vel 1580; Rosscarbery Derby (R Fleck Memorial Shield) – G Connolly 5th Comb, vel 1456.
Club Averages 2010: O/B Inland Ave (S McFarland Cup) – Winner G Connolly vel 1457.9, r/u H Smyth & Son vel 1457.3; O/C Cross Channel Ave (Mazda Cup) – Winner G Connolly vel 1089, r/u J & N Simpson vel 1051; Y/B Ave (Montgomery Cup) – Winner J & N Simpson vel 1358; O/B Combine Ave (W Ramsey Cup) – Winner G Connolly vel 1260, r/u J & N Simpson vel 1232; Best Ave O/B & Y/B Derbies (R Dickey Memorial Cup) – Winner D Houston & Son; Best Ave all Derbies (Thatch Trophy) – Winner D Houston & Son; Old Bird Points (Countryman Trophy) – Winner G Connolly 84 Points; Lowest Winning Vel (Johnston Cup) – Winner G Connolly vel 999; Breeder/Buyer Race – Winner J & N Simpson; Highest Prize-winner (J Robinson Memorial Cup) – Winner G Connolly.
Club Nomination Races 2010: Penzance O/B (T Ramsey Memorial Cup) – H Smyth & Son; Best Yearling Bude (Broughshane Club Trophy) – H Smyth & Son; 1st Channel Race O/B (Jubilee Cup) – G Connolly; Tullamore Y/B’s (Youth Fellowship) – R Wylie; Roscrea Y/B’s (Harper Cup) – Gilchrist Bros; Clonmel Y?B’s (Dickson Cup) – G Connolly; Roscrea T/B’s Golden Ring (Clydes Kitchen Cup) – J & N Simpson; Club Bird of the Year (W Workman Memorial Plinth) H Smyth & Son. Their 2yo Blue cock won the following in old birds. 1st Club & 13th Combine Roscrea, 1st Club & 2nd Combine Clonmel, 2nd Club & 12th Combine Tullamore, 2nd Club & 5th Combine Fermoy, 4th Club Fermoy comeback.
Irish National & Classic Races 2010: Ylr Nat Sennen Cove (W Quaite Memorial Cup) – G Connolly; OB Inl Nat Skibbereen North (Braid Cup) – G Connolly; YB Nat Penzance (Youngs Cup) – J & N Simpson; YB Inl Nat Skibbereen North (Club Trophy) – A Purvis; 5 Bird Classic O/B Fermoy (GPO Trophy) – G Connolly; O/B Nat Kings Cup (J Graham Memorial Cup & T & A Service Cup) – J & N Simpson; OB Classic Penzance (Connolly Memorial Cup) – G Connolly; Ylr Hen Nat Rosscarbery (Hilltop Feeds Cup) – A Purvis; Ylr Cock Derby Rosscarbery (Purvis Cup) – A Purvis; Old Hen Nat Penzance – J & N Simpson; 5 Bird Classic Y/B Fermoy (D Millar Memorial Cup) – G Connolly.
Members and prize winners of the Broughshane club,
attending the presentation at Michelin Athletic Club.
Harry Smyth (Secretary), Allister Purvis (1st Combine winner),
George Connolly (Top Prizewinner) and Johnny Simpson (Runner-up).
Andrea Neilly presents George Connolly Top Prizewinner
in Broughshane with his awards.
Allister Purvis was Tullamore Y/B Comeback Combine winner.
D Houston & Son won NIPA Bronze Diploma St Malo Nat.
Blue Cheq Cock was 2009 - 8th Sect & 32nd Open NIPA,
2010 - 35th Sect & 196th Open NIPA.
J & N Simpson finish Runner-up highest Prizewinner,
were overall winner many times.
Robert Wylie was Tullamore Y/B Winner.
John Getty receiving his prizes from daughter Andrea.
Broughshane Secretary Harry Smyth presents flowers
to special guest Andrea Neilly.