Farming Life - Wednesday 04/12/13

[willie reynolds]

INFC Charity Show Update – Irish National Flying Club will be holding their 36th Annual Show there will be racing , show racers and fancy birds all in attendance. Show at Lisburn Leisure Centre Complex on Sat 14th Dec 2013, contact John Edgar Tel: (028) 20732765. Extending entries deadline for INFC Show in Lisburn till Thursday 5th Dec - 13 Racing Classes: old cock flown channel, old hen flown channel, young cock flown 150 miles, young hen flown 150 miles. Show Racer Classes: old cock, old hen, young cock, young hen. Variety Classes.

Markethill HPS – Watch out for Saturday 7th December when the club will have a Xmas Show for Any Age Cock or Hen TTW and Special for Best Young Bird TTW. Good prizes for all cards and following the show a sale with all the proceeds raised going to the Building Fund to be used towards a new club room. The event will take place in the Laurelvale HPS Clubrooms with penning from 7.00pm sharp. The judging is at 7.45pm and the sale of approx. 10 lots will commence at 9.00pm sharp. So far top class pigeons have been presented by some of the best fanciers in the country including Ron Williamson (Bondhill), John Greenaway (Bondhill), Capper Bros (Bondhill), Paddy Lue & Son (Downpatrick), J Douglas & Son (Lurgan Soc), John & Viv Abernethy (Ballynahinch), A Humphries & Son and P McCall (Markethill), Jim Braniff (Fortfield), D Thompson (Tandragee) and others to follow. Frazer Animan Feeds Feeds are kindly donating prizes. All proceeds in aid of club room building fund as stated earlier. Any Enquiries contact: 07708 331552 or 07716 585335.

Mid Antrim Clubs – Show Results Update

Ballymena & District HPS: Last Monday evening the classes were Old Pairs and Fancy, judges travelled down from the North Coast, Ballymoney Secretary Derek McMullan and John Edgar Secretary of the NI Show Racers Society. Old Pairs (80 Birds) – 1st, 2nd & VHC MDC Magill, 3rd & 4th W & N Gilbert, Reserve & HC B Herbison, Commended G & A Eagleson. Fancy (39 Birds) – 1st McAlonan Bros, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd B Herbison, 4th, Reserve & Commended G & A Eagleson, VHC MDC Magill, HC M/M M Sempey. The Red Card winners were the same lofts as the week previous, Tom McAlonan won the Fancy class with a nice Blue Pied hen from his distance family while MDC Magill won the Old Pairs with a Blue Pair in fact nest-mates top Soontjens which looked the part. MDC took the Best in Show and are making a big charge for the Show Shield. Derek McMullan won the raffle. On Monday evening the judges travelled in from Rasharkin & Dist, Secretary Jackie Steele and another top racer Danny Dixon. Over 100 birds were penned in the two classes, Mr & Mrs Sempey had the Red Card in Young Pairs plus Best in Show and G & A Eagleson cleaned up in the Late Bred class taking the top five places. Danny Dixon won the raffle. Results: Young Pairs (88 Birds) – 1st & Commended M/M M Sempey, 2nd, 3rd, Reserve & HC MDC Magill, 4th G & A Eagleson, VHC W & N Gilbert. Late Breds (22 Birds) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & Reserve G & A Eagleson, VHC & Commended MDC Magill, HC McAlonan Bros. Classes next week Monday 9th December are Eye-sign Old Bird & Young Bird.

Ballymena & District will host the Annual Mid Antrim Open Show to be held in their own clubrooms at Fountain Place in Ballymena on New Year’s day Wednesday 1st January. Penning is from 12 Noon until 2.00pm a 3 in 1 for Old Bird and Young Bird. All birds from the local NIPA Sect B area, will be made welcome, an Open Show for Mid Antrim birds. All the usual Specials including Best in Show, Best Opposite Sex, Most Points and Best YB. All club members should supply prizes and any help would be appreciated. The Annual Dinner & Presentation of prizes will be held in the Tullyglass House Hotel on Saturday 11th January. After a very successful racing season a big crowd is expected, if you wish to order tickets contact Martin Graham Tel: (028) 2563 7929 or Mobile: 07835 099155. Homer will be taking bird photos in the Ballymena & Dist Clubrooms on Wednesday 11th December from 7.00pm, deposit required for each bird. Tel: 07538 238364.

Kells & District HPS: The husband and wife team of W & N Gilbert from Ballee placed the cards at the recent show for the local club, almost 120 birds were penned in the class of Young Hens judged Through the Wires. Jeff Surgenor had a good night with five cards including the Red Card for 1st. Result: Young Hens T/W (118 Birds) – 1st, 3rd, 4th, HC & Commended Surgenor Bros, 2nd A Barkley & Son, Reserve & VHC T Shanks & Son. Wednesday – Mated Pairs. The annual Open Show will take place as usual, Boxing Day which is Thursday 26th December.

Cullybackey HPS: Judges for the old birds handled on Saturday evening were Billy Smyth and George Eagleson from Ballymena & Dist, for the second week on the trot Russell Bros take the Best in Show. J & J Greer had the Red Card in the Late Breds. Results: Old Cocks Handled – 1st, 2nd, 3rd & VHC Russell Bros, 4th Gibson & Dickey, Reserve J & J Greer, HC Blair & Rankin, Commended N & S Anderson. Late Breds – 1st, 3rd, Reserve & HC J & J Greer, 2nd, 4th, VHC & Commended N & S Anderson. Martin & Liam O’Neill from Larne & District placed the cards in the young bird classes judged in the hand, Russell Bros won 9 cards, two Red Cards and Best in Show. Results: Young Cocks Handled (40 Birds) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and VHC Russell Bros, Reserve, HC & Commended Gibson & Dickey. Young Hens Handled (36 Birds) – 1st, 2nd, 4th & VHC Russell Bros, 3rg & Commended Gibson & Dickey, Reserve N & S Anderson, HC J & J Greer. The annual Open Show will take place on Saturday 21st December more on this later.

Rasharkin & District: The second show for the local club was for the Young Birds, judged Through Wires, Handled and Eye-sign by the judges who had travelled down from the Coleraine Premier. NIPA Committee member Jimmy Hanson, Secretary Leslie Madden and Russell McAlary had the task of placing the cards. Best in Show was A C & T Tweed, with Best Opposite Sex won by Jackie Steele, both lofts shared the Show Points Cup after a tie over the two shows. The W & J McLean team has the Special for Best Young Bird T/W. Many thanks to Herbison Feeds, for sponsorship of the Best in Show award. Results: Young Bird T/W – 1st & HC P McDonald, 2nd J & D Surgenor, 3rd Steele & McNeill, 4th, Reserve, VHC & Commended H Cubitt. Judge Russell McAlary. Young Bird Handled – 1st W & J McLean 2nd & 3rd P McDonald, 4th & VHC T Kaczynski, Reserve H Cubitt, HC J & M Milliken, Commended A C & T Tweed. Judge Jimmy Hanson. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st W & J McLean, 2nd & Reserve P McDonald, 3rd & VHS Steele & McNeill, 4th T Kacz ynski, HC W McFetridge, Commended A C & T Tweed.

Ballymoney HPS: The local pigeon racing club have set dates for the show series, the Usual 3 in 1 Events to be held in the local clubrooms with penning from 7.30pm until 8.30pm. On Friday 6th December the classes are for Young Birds while one week later Friday 13th December it’s the Old Birds.

INFC Merit Awards Presentation in Antrim -

Merit Award presentation evening will be held on Friday 3rd January 2014 in the Dunsilly Hotel Antrim. Buffet served from 6.45pm, presentation to commence at 7.45pm.
Special guests for the evening are Mr & Mrs John Tyerman President B.I.C.C, Mr Ian Crammond Fontwell and Mr Derek Partridge Manchester. The panel will also include the Ace Long Distance racers from Ballymoney, William and Leonard McCaw.
Tickets £10.00 are available from Ronnie Johnston, Sid Collins or Trevor Topping
Presentations, Panel, small Auction of pigeon’s , and Manchester City Football Club items.

T & K Mawhinney are BIS at Larne -

Larne Monster Show was held in the local clubrooms at Glenarm Road on Saturday 30th November, over 400 birds were penned for the judges who had travelled from Belfast, Tandragee and Dromore. Classes were Old Cock, Old Hen, Young Cock, Young Hen and Eye-sign. Fresh from success in both Dublin & Carlow the T & K Mawhinney team travelled up from County Down to make it a Best in Show treble. The East Antrim team of D & R Turkington had Best Opposite Sex, this winner a young Blue hen was bred by Timmy Mawhinney and gifted to Robert. Results: Young Cock (65 Birds) – 1st, VHC & HC D & R Turkington, 2nd & 4th T & K Mawhinney, 3rd D & P Harvey, Commended Brown & Shaw. Judge Paddy O’Neill (Grosvenor). Young Hens (71 Birds) – 1st & 4th & D & R Turkington, 2nd & HC T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & Commended A Neill, VHC D & P Harvey. Judge Darren Thompson (Tandragee). Old Cocks (65 Birds) – 1st, 4th & VHC T & K Mawhinney, 2nd Brown & Shaw, 3rd C & L Woodside, HC J & D Surgenor, Commended C Shaw. Judge Joey Vage (Dromore). Old Hen (66 Birds) – 1st, 2nd & 4th C Shaw, 3rd & HC V Montgomery, VHC & Commended T & K Mawhinney. Judge Alan Craig (Tandragee). Old Bird Eye-sign (91 Birds) – 1st, 2nd, 4th & Commended Russell Bros, 3rd & VHC D & R Turkington, HC Blair & Rankin. Judge Jimmy O’Hara (Britannia). Young Bird Eye-sign (78 Birds) – 1st, 2nd & Commended D & R Turkington, 3rd, 4th, VHC & HC Russell Bros. The Red Card winners were D & R Turkington (Doagh & Dist) all three Young Bird Classes, T & K Mawhinney (Donaghcloney) Old Cocks, Christopher Shaw (Dromore) Old Hen and Russell Bros (Cullybackey) Old Bird Eye-sign. Larne & District President Owen Donnelly thanked all those involved with the show, congratulated all the winners and thanked the sponsors including Robert Kirkwood Gem Supplements & Corn Mixtures (Lisburn). I had a word with Robert and he is making steady progress from recent illness, and nice to have a quick chat with Ryan Barr of (Pigeon Diagnostics) who was busy all day.

Carrick & District Open Show – The Carrick & Dist Open Show will be held on New Year’s Day in their own clubrooms, that’s Wednesday 1st January 2014. Penning of birds is from 1pm – 2pm. Usual classes with prizes for all card winners, plus BIS & BOS awards. There will also be a Breeder/Buyer sale with the race to be flown from 2nd Fermoy. For those interested to participate and enter a youngster please contact Mr R Reid Tel: (028) 93 362051. All fanciers very welcome.

Doagh Open Show – An Open Show 3 in 1 for Old Birds is taking place in the Doagh Orange Hall on Saturday 21st December penning from 12.00pm until 2.00pm at £2 per pen. Top National judges are in attendance, tea, sandwiches etc. and all proceeds to the Doagh Cultural Society for the Building Fund. Lot of prizes for the winners, keep this date free.

Photo Captions

BIS at Ballymena & Dst with winner in Young Pairs M/M Sempey with judges J Steele and D Dixon

BS at Cullybackey Len Russell with judges B Smyth and G Eagleson.

Larne Monster Show winners Timmy Mawhinney (r) BIS and Robert Turkington BOS.

The judges at Larne & District included, J O'Hara, P O'Neill, D Thompson, A Craig and J Vage.

Joint winners of the Show Cup in Rasharkin & Dist, A C & T Tweed and J Steele.