Farming Life - Wednesday 01/01/14

[willie reynolds]

Cullybackey Open Show - Around 300 birds were penned for the Cullybackey Open Show, the judges travelled from the City of Derry and the City of Lisburn. From the Maiden City RPC we had Mickey Concannon, Martin Healy and Frankie Ramsey while the visitors from Lisburn & District were INFC Secretary Trevor Topping & Son Robert and good friend Jackie Waring. Victor Montgomery from the Ballyclare area won two Young Bird Classes, and had Best in Show and Most Points. For the local club Brian Herbison won two Old Bird Classes collecting Best Opposite Sex. J & J Greer had a home victory in the YB Eye-sign while W & N Gilbert from Ballymena won Old Bird T/W and the extra Fancy Class. Neill Anderson thanked the judges for a job well done and also thanked all those who had supported the annual event, bringing both birds and prizes. Other sponsors included Brian Herbison Concrete and Pigeon Supplies, H. Beattie and sons pigeon feed, Bridge Service Station Cullybackey , Frazers Animal Feeds and C & D McDowell Accounting Penny bridge. Thanks as well to those who set the club up for the show and all those who assisted during the day.

Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st W & N Gilbert, 2nd & Commended A Darragh, 3rd B Herbison, 4th Gibson & Dickey, Reserve T & K Mawhinney, VHC V Montgomery, HC A Neill. Old Bird Handled – 1st B Herbison, 2nd & HC A Darragh, 3rd & Commended V Montgomery, 4th Russell Bros, Reserve N & S Anderson, VHC McAlonaBros. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st B Herbison, 2nd McAlonan Bros, 3rd Brown & Shaw, 4th S McKendry, Reserve A Darragh, VHC & HC F Simpson, Commended W & N Gilbert. Young Birds T/W – 1st & VHC V Montgomery, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd Reid Bros & McCloy, 4th & Reserve D & R Turkington, HC T & K Mawhinney, Commended A Neill. Young Bird Handled – 1st, 2nd & VHC V Montgomery, 3rd, 4th & Commended A Neill, Reserve Russell Bros, HC Reid Bros & McCloy. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st J & J Greer, 2nd M/M M Sempey, 3rd, 4th, HC & Commended A Darragh, Reserve Reid Bros & McCloy, VHC A Neill. Fancy – 1st W & N Gilbert, 2nd B Herbison, 3rd, VHC & HC N & S Anderson, 4th Russell Bros, Reserve J & J Greer, Commended Reid Bros & McCloy. Judges – Trevor Topping, Jackie Waring and Robert Topping (Lisburn & District). The Eye-sign classes were judged by Mickey Concannon, Martin Healy and Frankie Ramsey (Maiden City). Found Dead at Fenaghy Road on day of show Blue Pied NL2013-1803986. Best in Show and Most Points won by Victor Montgomery and Best Opposite Sex by Brian Herbison. Club Members Points won by Russell Bros.

Ken Wilkinson is Best in Show at Doagh - Doagh Open Show – The pre-Christmas Open Show 3 in 1 for Old Birds is took place in the Doagh Orange Hall on Saturday 21st December. Top National judges were in attendance, and tea, sandwiches etc. kept the punters happy. All proceeds to the Doagh Cultural Society for the Building Fund. The team of Judges included Kemp & McBride, Joe Brown and Geoffrey Douglas. Ken Wilkinson from Antrim collected the Best in Show while C & L Woodside from Ballyclare who won two classes had Best Opposite Sex. Results: Old Bird Handled – 1st, 3rd, HC & Commended C & L Woodside, 2nd D & R Turkington, 4th Blair & Rankin, Reserve K Wilkinson, VHC K & F Hagans. Judged by J Brown & R Kemp. Old Bird T/W – 1st & VHC C & L Woodside, 2nd & Reserve G & R Lawrie, 3rd D & R Turkington, 4th K & F Hagans, HC Blair & Rankin, Commended Russell Bros. Judged by G Douglas. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 3rd, 4th, Reserve, VHC & HC Russell Bros, 2nd K Wilkinson, Commended F Simpson. Judged by R McBride.

Kells & District on Boxing Day was the venue for the annual show in Mid Antrim, with good weather conditions the entry exceeded 280 birds. Judges travelled down from the Larne area and included D & P Harvey, Stephen Gray, Crawford & Robinson, Jim Agnew and Bertie Robinson. Visitors cleaned up the top awards with the top Show/Racing loft of T & K Mawhinney from Donaghcloney collecting the Best in Show while Fred Simpson from Doagh & District penned the Best Opposite Sex. T & K Mawhinney had the Red Card in Old Bird T/W and YB Handled, Fred Simpson had 1st in OB Handled and the OB Eye-sign, Alwyn Neill from Lurgan had 1st in the YB Eye-sign and Alan Barkley & Son for the home club took the Red Card in the Young Bird T/W. The Show Cup was won by A Barkley & Son. Chairman of Kells & Dist Brian Swann thanked all for their support, those who helped at the club, brought birds and prizes and he also thanked the judges. Other sponsors included F Connon, B Herbison, and Sizzlers Chip Shop. I was unable to attend and thanks to Robert Turkington who covered the photos.

Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st & 3rd T & K Mawhinney, 2nd & HC V Montgomery, 4th T Shanks & Son, Reserve P Swindell, VHC A Barkley & Son, Commended W & N Gilbert. Judge Paul Harvey. Old Bird Handled – 1st F Simpson, 2nd, Reserve & Commended T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & VHC V Montgomery, 4th W & N Gilbert, HC A Neill. Judge Stephen Gray. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st F Simpson, 2nd K Wilkinson, 3rd & HC Russell Bros, 4th T & K Mawhinney, Reserve V Montgomery, VHC A Neill, Commended D & R Turkington. Judge David Harvey. Young Bird T/W – 1st, Reserve & HC A Barkley & Son, 2nd A Neill, 3rd V Montgomery, 4th T & K Mawhinney, VHC & Commended D & R Turkington. Judge Crawford & Robinson. Young Bird Handled – 1st, 4th, VHC & Commended T & K Mawhinney, 2nd A Neill, 3rd A Barkley & Son, Reserve V Montgomery, HC D & R Turkington. Judge Paul Harvey. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st A Neill, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd & Reserve T & K Mawhinney, 4th & VHC D & R Turkington, HC V Montgomery, Commended K Wilkinson. Judge Bertie Robinson. The AGM for Kells & District will take place in the local clubrooms on Thursday 20th February. Resolutions for the agenda should be with Secretary Mervyn Gregg by 6th February.

Horseshoe on Boxing Day – The annual Open Show in Larne on Boxing Day attracted an entry of 177 birds for the judges who had travelled from the Portadown area. Included the high flying, Willie Neill and loft-man Paul Larkin, Jonathan Buckley from Annaghmore and long distance ace flyer John Greenaway. The home loft of K & F Hagans took Best in Show while O O’Neill & Son from Glenarm & District had Best Opposite Sex. Results: Old Cocks Handled – 1st & 3rd K & F Hagans, 2nd Rea & Magill, 4th P R Wilson, VHC & Commended N J Arthurs, HC W McWhirter. Old Hens Handled – 1st & 3rd O O’Neill & Sons, 2nd, 4th & Commended P R Wilson, VHC C & L Woodside, HC G Mills. Young Cocks Handled – 1st N J Arthurs, 2nd O O’Neill & Sons, 3rd P R Wilson, 4th K & D Hagans, VHC & Commended S McGarel & Sons, HC S Burns. Young Hens Handled – 1st W McWrirter, 2nd & Commended O O’Neill & Sons, 3rd S McGarel & Sons, 4th K & F Hagans, VHC P R Wilson, HC C & L Woodside. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st R Hamilton, 2nd & VHC S Burns, 3rd Hamilton & Clements, 4th K & F Hagans, HC P R Wilson, Commended Rea & Magill. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st R Hamilton, 2nd W McWhirter, 3rd Rea & Magill, 4th & VHC K & F Hagans, HC & Commended S McGarel & Sons. Congratulations to the Red Card Winners, R Hamilton had 1st in both Eye-sign classes, K & F Hagans had 1st in the Old Cock Handled, Owen O’Neill & Son had 1st in the Old Hen Handled, N J Arthurs from Ballycarry had 1st in the Young Cock Handled, and Willie McWhirter from Larne & District had 1st in the Young Hens Handled.
The Horseshoe Club would like to thank everyone who supported the show and donated prizes to make the day a great success. A special thank-you to all the judges, for doing a fantastic job.

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.

Blackpool Bus: Owen Donnelly from Larne & District has some seats still available on the Bus for the Blackpool Show in January, always a very enjoyable trip. Contact Owen for the arrangements, Tel Mobile: 07816 910993 or at the shop Tel: (028) 28260425.

Ballymena & District: The local club 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. Remember the Open Show is being held in Ballymena & Dist Clubrooms.

INFC Merit Awards Presentation - The Merit Awards Presentation will take place on Friday 3rd January in the Dunsilly Hotel Antrim with a 6.30pm start. Tickets for the evening are £10 which includes supper. Guests for the night are John Tyerman from Bracklesham Bay, Ian Crammond from Fontwell and Derek Partridge of Manchester. Derek is a former Manchester City footballer and has spent over 30 years at the club in various guises. He has offered a signed City jersey and other Man City memorabilia for the raffle on the night. The panel for the moot is John Tyerman, Derek Partridge and W & L McCaw of Dervock Gold Medal winners with the INFC. This has become another very popular night with the INFC, worth a visit.

Photo Captions

At Cullybackey Victor Montgomery (r) BIS with Brian Herbison BOS.

Best in Show at Kells Timmy Mawhinney.

Fred Simpson from Doagh & Dist had BOS at Kells & District.

Kerry Hagans and Pat O'Neill the BIS & BOS winners at Horseshoe HPS.