The Adair Arms Hotel was the venue in Ballymena for the annual dinner and prize night for Cullybackey HPS, usually always the first away each year. Brian Herbison the President was again tied up with business and with James Greer recovering at home from surgery to his knee it was Neil Anderson who operated as MC for the evening. Special guest Brian Hayes from Bridge Garage was also tied up with the business and the presentations were carried out by a number of the ladies present. We are also thinking about Betty Darragh who is recovering at home after a period of time in hospital, looking forward to you getting back to the big night.
Alan Darragh said grace and the dinner kicked off on time, another fantastic meal served up by Adair Arms very busy again after refurb and the new extension giving great space. Neil Anderson thanked the hotel and staff and introduced the guests including local pigeon scribe “Homer” who first attended a Cullybackey Dinner in the Adair Arms way back long time ago. The main sponsors of each season are Darren & Brian Hayes of the Bridge Garage, last year both Old Bird & Young Bird race Nomination’s were won by Harry McCloy, and this year both prizes were won by Sammy Steele. For the last two seasons I was speaking about the record of Alan Darragh, 2013 was just as good as the two seasons previous, and maybe even better. He won well over 20 cups and trophies and that included the Russell Family Cup for Top Prize-winner. He won that trophy the first year he joined the club back in 1986 and every year since missing just two in a period of 18 seasons which is an outstanding record. He was beat one year by Hugh Surgenor who I hear may be coming back to the sport after a number of years out and the other Gary Gibson who came back last year in partnership with Geoff Dickey and with a new loft set up at Pottinger Street, big things expected.
Super year for the Cullybackey HPS in Mid Antrim Combine, most of the major awards won by two top lofts, Alan Darragh the man to beat each week and Reid Bros & McCloy who recorded their best ever result from the OB National winning 1st, 2nd & 3rd MAC in the Portland Nat after the birds were brought back from France due to the weather. The list for Alan Darragh included Fancier of the Year, Irish Nat FC Cup and the highly prized Champions League which he won for the first time and which was won last season by Reid Bros & McCloy.
The full list of cups and trophies for Cullybackey HPS lofts. Old Bird Inland Ave won by Alan Darragh, Cullybackey vel 1494, Cross Channel Average won by Reid Bros & McCloy, Cullybackey vel 1170, OB Average won by Reid Bros & McCloy vel 1316, McIlhagga Memorial Cup 1st MAC St Malo won by Reid Bros & McCloy Cullybackey vel 1083, YB Average won by Alan Darragh Cullybackey vel 1351, Combined Average O/B & Y/B won by Alan Darragh vel 1252, Les Mairs Cup O/B Fancier of the Year won by Alan Darragh (608 Points), Champions League won by Alan Darragh, INFC National Cup won by Alan Darragh vel 1014.
As I had mentioned Reid & McCloy won 1st MAC from Portland, Alan Darragh had 4 Diplomas in old birds at Talbenny (2) and the Fermoy 5 Bird. Then with the INFC races 1st from Quimper (France) and 1st from Skibbereen. The two main lofts were ever present in the INFC races, look at this. Skibbereen OB Darragh & McCloy 2nd & 4th Combine, Sennen Cove Ylr Nat Darragh & McCloy 2nd & 5th Combine, Kings Cup St Alloustre Darragh 3rd Combine, Quimper Friendship Darragh 1st & 2nd Combine, Penzance YB McCloy & Darragh 2nd & 6th Combine and finally Skibbereen YB Darragh 1st & 4th Combine.
The leading lofts to the table were: A Darragh, Reid Bros & McCloy, Sammy Steele, H & R McCloy, Russell Bros, J & J Greer, Des Robinson, Gibson & Dickey, Wendal Scott, Tom Picken. The payout was just short of £1,000, Sammy Steele won the Bridge Garage Nom and the Squeaker Sale had 1st Reid Bros & McCloy, 2nd N & S Anderson.
Old Birds were an almost clean sweep for Alan Darragh, 13 x 1sts to Penzance, H & R McCloy had 1st Roscrea Comeback and Reid Bros & McCloy before the big result from Portland has 1st in the Rosscarbery Yearling Hens Nat. Bit of a different story for young birds, Alan Darragh had 4 x 1sts including the last race from Rosscarbery Nat. Des Robinson had 1st Club in the opening race from Tullamore and Gibson & Dickey had 1st Club in the Mass Tullamore. Sammy Steele had 5 x 1sts on the trot winning from Clonmel, Fermoy, Talbenny Nat, Mallow and Mallow 5 Bird, he can race a bit too.
Many thanks once again to the members in Cullybackey for the invite to the annual prize night, it was a pleasure to attend and report on the seasons winners, and good craic again with the training.
Photo Captions
Officials and prize winners of Cullybackey HPS at the dinner in Adair Arms Hotel.
Top winners in the Mid Antrim Combine Alan Darragh (l) and Harry McCloy.
