Harryville Prize Night at Grafters Café –
Harryville HPS members and friends returned to the Grafters Café at Pennybridge in Ballymena for the annual dinner and presentation of prizes. The previous season awards had been held at a function in the same venue which has been used for the last three years. The 2013 season prize distribution was held on Friday 29th November, this year I was unable to attend due to having the INFC function on the same night in Belfast. Chairman Robert Service welcomed a good turn-out of members, friends and guests from other local clubs.
Following another fantastic meal Robert firstly thanked the staff and Fabien Martin for the excellent service, he said the speeches would be kept short. He congratulated the winners over the racing season and thanked all those for help and support, it takes a bit of effort to run a club and he praised all those involved.
For the last few years the club have operated the prize list on a Points basis, the leading lofts in 2013 were: Jimmy Rock, J Millar & Son, R H Clements, Allen McBride, Joe Ramsey, Lexie Mullan, Trevor Johnston & Son, K & K Kernohan, Billy Ramsey and George Price. Jimmy Rock had an outstanding season in 2012 and with 315 Points this time takes the Highest Prize-winner for the first time. Not one loft is dominating at the present time, RH Clements was tops in 2012 and the year before that it was Allen McBride.
Over the NIPA race season R H Clements had 5 x 1sts, 1 x 2nds & 2 x 3rds; J Millar & Son 4 x 1st, 5 x 2nds & 5 x 3rds; L Mullan 4 x 1sts, 3 x 2nds & 3 x 3rds; T Johnston & Son 3 x 1sts, 2 x 2nds & 1 x 3rds; J Rock 3 x 1sts, 5 x 2nds & 3 x 3rds; J Ramsey 1 x 1st, 4 x 2nds & 4 x 3rds; A McBride 2 x 1sts, 2 x 2nds & 4 x 3rds; K & K Kernohan 2 x 1sts; B Ramsey 1 x 1sts, 1 x 2nds; G Price 2 x 3rds; Wray & McFadden 1 x 2nds. Roy Clements won the most races over the season.
Old Bird race winners: Tullamore (1) – A McBride vel 1937, Roscrea – J Millar & Son vel 1297, Clonmel – L Mullan vel 1700, Fermoy (1) – J Rock vel 1455, Rosscarbery Inl Nat – K & K Kernohan vel 1172, Roscrea Comeback – R H Clements vel 1258, Clonmel (2) – R H Clements vel 1781, Talbenny (1) – J Millar & Son vel 1168, Rosscarbery Yearling Hens Nat – R H Clements vel 1243, Rosscarbery Yearling Cocks Nat – A McBride vel 1210, Talbenny (2) – J Rock vel 1295, Fermoy (2) – L Mullan vel 1897, Rosscarbery – J Millar & Son vel 1602, Penzance – J Millar & Son vel 1263, Penzance Classic – J Millar & Son vel 1263, Portland Nat – B Ramsey vel 623, Skibbereen Nat – G Connolly vel 1453, Sennen Cove Ylr Nat – J Millar & Son vel 1124, St Allouestre – B Ramsey vel 778.
Young Bird race winners: Navan – L Mullan vel 1431, Mullingar – T Johnston & Son vel 1452, Tullamore (1) – R H Clements vel 1859, Roscrea – L Mullan vel 1658, Clonmel – K & K Kernohan vel 1532, Fermoy – R H Clements vel 1452, Talbenny Nat – T Johnston & Son vel 1165, Tullamore (2) – J Rock vel 1488, Mallow – T Johnston & Son vel 1145, Rosscarbery Nat – J Ramsey vel 1255, Penzance Nat – T Johnston & Son vel 1179.
In the young bird race from Clonmel Keith & Ken Kernohan had a super result, the club winner recording velocity 1532 took 1st Mid Antrim Combine 92/2,300, best in Ballykeel Inv that day! Lexie Mullan always gets his share and the result from the opening race from Navan will take some beating , the Top 12 places in the club and I would not be sure if ever that was done before. Trevor Johnston & Son I think were the most improved loft winning four times and that included the Talbenny Nat with the NIPA and Penzance Nat with the INFC. Joe Ramsey had been getting close and won the Rosscarbery Nat. In the old bird racing one of the seasons big results was achieved by Jack Millar & son best bird in the Yearling Nat, 1st MAC, 7th North Sect & 12th Open INFC Sennen Cove flying 329 miles and winning close to £900. Billy Ramsey was best again in the long distance events, only bird in Portland after the birds had to be returned from St Malo in France due to the weather. Doing velocity 623 Billy finished 10th Sect B & 105th Open NIPA. The next week he timed two in the Kings Cup which was flown from St Allouestre some 510 miles, on velocities 778 and 689 he finished 5th & 7th MAC, 112th & 163rd North Sect and 134th & 190th Open INFC . Davy Jackson & Son took the last prize, finishing 250th Open recording velocity 561.
Cups & Trophies were won as follows, presented by Mrs A McBride:
Jimmy Rock won – Combined Inl Ave, Combined Points, Best Ind Bird, Most Points all Derbies, Best Ave Fermoy (1) & (2), Combined Ave, Best Ave Tramore (1) & (2), Fermoy O/B, Talbenny (2), Fermoy Y/B, Old Bird K/Out, and Highest Prize-winner.
J Millar & Son won – Old Bird Inland Ave, Best Ave First 4 x Channel Races, Best Ave Talbenny (1) & (2), Best Ave Bude & Penzance, Old Bird Cross Channel Ave, Old Bird Ave, Roscrea, Talbenny (1), Bude, Penzance, Penzance Classic, Sennen Cove Ylr and Young Bird K/Out.
R H Clements won – Best Ave Penzance O/B & Talbenny Y/B, Best Ave 1st O/B & 1st Y/B races, Roscrea (1) & (2) Y/B, Rosscarbery Ylr Hens Nat and Fermoy.
Joe Ramsey won – Best Ave all Derbies, Best Ave OB Derby & Y/B (1) & (2), Young Bird Ave, Best Ave Talbenny & Rosscarbery YB Nats, Rosscarbery YB Nat and Young Bird League.
T Johnston & Son won – National Points Ave, Best Ave Penzance YB & 2 x YB Derbies, Best Ave Talbenny & Rosscarbery YB, Best Ave OB & YB Derbies, Best Ave 1st Three Y/R races, Most Points Derbies & Nationals.
Billy Ramsey won – Lowest Winning Velocity, Most Points France Nationals, St Malo and Kings Cup St Allouestre.
Allen McBride won – Best Ave Comeback Races, Tullamore and Rosscarbery Ylr Cocks Nat.
Lexie Mullan won – Clonmel O/B, Roscrea Y/B and Clonmel Y/B.
The Harryville officials and prize winners in the 2013 season.
George Price presents the MAC Diploma for 1st Sennen Cove Ylr Nat to Derek Millar.
George Price presents Boquet of Flowers to Mrs A McBride who presented awards.
Billy Ramsey won both St Malo and Portland and the France Average.
Trevor Johnston & Son won 4 x 1sts in YB's including Talbenny & Penzance Nationals.
Lexie Mullan had a top result in Navan, Top 12 places in Harryville.
Mr & Mrs A McBride had Best Ave all Comeback Races.
Roy Clements won the most races in the NIPA.
Highest Prize-winner for the first time Jimmy Rock.
Joe Ramsey had 1st Club in the Rosscarbery YB National.
J Millar & Son had a dozen cups inc OB Ave, Cross Channel Ave and OB Inland Ave.