Local MLA Ulster Unionist Robin Swann was the special guest at the Pigeon Moot for the Kells & District HPS held recently at Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim. As usual the Kells members arrive early to present the prizes for the racing season done and dusted before the arrival of guests and fanciers attending the Pigeon Moot. The official and members wish to thank all those who supported the annual event, MC Syd Collins Vice President of the Irish Nat FC, Robin Swann MLA, and panel members Cyril & Hilary Beattie from Tandragee and top Vet from Belgium Wim Boddaert. Also thanks to the Dunsilly Hotel for all their help and attention to detail with the Buffett. I hear the discussion was good craic over the evening and finally a small sale of birds to assist the charity. Birds were very kindly donated by Cyril/Hilary Beattie, Paddy McManus & Son, A & N Lewis, Blair & Rankin, Danny Dixon, D & R Turkington, Alan Hall, Jimmy Rock, A Barkley & Son, Brian Swann & Son, Gibson & Dickey, Scott & Clements, Diamond Bros, Thompson Bros, J & N Simpson, Mr & Mrs D Suitters, Diamond & Bond, plus a contribution to charity from Broughshane & District HPS. Charity is Barbour Children's Ward Royal Victoria Hospital, specialist children's ward, amount raised was £910 and cheque presentation was made by Kells & District officials Secretary Alan Shanks and Treasurer Mervyn Gregg to Robin Swann. Thanks also to all who attended the event.
In the racing season Kells members done well, total pay-out including Show Specials was just short of £1,230. Leading lofts were Surgenor Bros, Scott & Clements, Brian Swann & Son, George McDowell, McFarlane & Agnew, A Barkley & Son, T & M Morrow, Harry Boyd, Henry Turkington and T Shanks & Son. Surgenor Bros won 8 x 1sts, Scott & Clements 6 x 1sts, B Swann & Son 6 x 1sts, G McDowell 5 x 1sts and 2 wins each for T & M Morrow, McFarlane & Agnew and A Barkley & Son. Jeff Surgenor is still the loft to beat each week over the season he lifted 3 x MAC Diplomas, with one each for Scott & Clements, George McDowell and B Swann & Son who also won 1st NIPA Sect B from Roscrea. McFarlane & Agnew had the only bird home in the hard race from Penzance, just a fortnight earlier Surgenor Bros had the only bird home from Thuro. Alan Barkley & Son timed the only bird home from St Malo Old Bird Nat, late on the third day and this one wins the NIPA Silver Diploma.
NIPA Silver Diploma Winner 2014 – Alan Barkley & Son Kells, with GB07K-13739. 2012: St. Malo 72nd Open & 11th Sect B - Vel 1177, 2013: Portland 143rd Open & 14th Sect B - Vel 448, 2014: St. Malo 100th Open & 12th Sect B - Vel 293.
Surgenor Bros topped MAC in the opening old bird race from Tullamore and finished 2nd Sect B on velocity 1617, followed by Scott & Clements. George McDowell won from Roscrea and in the second race from this point Surgenor Bros were back on top, recording velocity 1250. They collect 1st MAC and finish 4th Sect B, followed again by Scott & Clements. From Clonmel the winner was T & M Morrow and this race was followed by Mallow, a fantastic card for Scott & Clements winning 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 1st MAC & 2nd Sect B. T & M Morrow were back on top in the Rosscarbery Inland Nat, on a fast day recording velocity 2073 the loft finished 2nd MAC & Sect B and 70th Open NIPA 632/5,669. Roscrea Comeback on the same day had B Swann & Son in pole position recording velocity 2025 to finish 1st MAC, 1st Sect B 122/2494 & 77th Open NIPA 677/15,107. Four 1st Combine wins in the opening 7 races was some start. Scott & Clements had the best two birds in the cross channel event from Talbenny well placed in Comb & Sect and finishing 43rd & 44th Open NIPA 797/10,852 and the winner from Dude was Surgenor Bros. On the same weekend the Yearling Nat was flown from Rosscarbery, George McDowell won Ylr Hen Nat and B Swann & Son had the best bird to win 1st Ylr Cock Nat and finish 74th Open NIPA 431/2171 on velocity 1585. At Clonmel the second time George McDowell was the winner doing 2012 finishing 67th Open NIPA 529/4389 and in the next week Fermoy 5 Bird the same loft took 1st & 2nd Club. It was same weekend as Truro, well done to Surgenor Bros who had the only bird, recording velocity 815 the loft finished 93rd Open NIPA 538/4,389. Mallow followed this race and best bird was timed by B Swann & Son, recording velocity 1148 to finish 4th Comb & 6th Sect B. Penzance had the same fate as Truro just one bird timed for McFarlane & Agnew on velocity 881. In Penzance the loft finished 142nd Open NIPA 535/4967 while in the duplicate OB Classic they finished 112th Open NIPA 397/2397. Roscrea Comeback on the same weekend had winners Surgenor Bros take 1st MAC, 3rd Sect B & 122nd Open NIPA 346/4113 followed by B Swann & Son. Final race was from St Malo in France, just one bird again this time to Alan Barkley & Son, what a good determined bird here time late on the final day to qualify for the NIPA Silver Diploma.
The young bird season commenced with Area Liberations, from Mullingar the winners were Surgenor Bros and from Tullamore the next week it was Scott & Clements. The Scott & Clements team were to win three on the trot, 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the Tullamore mass release followed by Roscrea. It was a close finish from Clonmel with B Swann & Son doing velocity 1560 finishing 2nd MAC & 4th Sect followed by Scott & Clements. The Swann loft were in top form and won two in a row with 1st, 2nd & 3rd Fermoy finishing 4th, 5th & 6th MAC and 8th, 11th & 16th Sect B. The Premier YB Nat from Talbenny in South Wales was next another winner For Surgenor Bros finishing 176th Open NIPA, other birds were timed by A Barkley & Son and McFarlane & Agnew. On the same day we had the Roscrea Comeback, Scott & Clements took 1st Club on velocity 1704 finishing 2dn Comb & 3rd Sect. George McDowell timed the early bird from Fermoy (2) a favourite race doing velocity 1180 he finished 1st MAC & 2nd Sect B 77/1234. In the duplicate 5 Bird Championship B Swann & Son had another top result 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club with the winner doing velocity 1131 finishing 3rd Comb, 8th Sect B & 95th Open NIPA 260/1210. Final race was the Rosscarbery YB inl Nat, Surgenor Bros took 1st & 2nd Club with the winner doing velocity 1301 finishing 11th Comb & 27th Sect B.
Finally a quick look at racing with the Irish Nat FC, George McDowell had the top four in the Skibbereen Old Bird and McFarlane & Agnew were best in the Yearling Nat Sennen Cove.
Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann collects cheque from Kells Officials Alan Shanks (l) Secretary and Mervyn Gregg (r) Treasurer.
Robin Swann MLA presents the awards at Kells & District HPS prize night in Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim.
Robin Swann MLA presents Top Prize-winner award to Jeff Surgenor at Kells & District.
Mid Antrim Combine winners from (l) Brian Swann, Robin Swann guest, Jeff Surgenor and George McDowell.
George McDowell (r) collects the Nan McFadden Memorial Cup at Kells.
Robin Swann presents his father Brian (B Swann & Son) with J Scott Mem Cup at Kells,
Alan Barkley won the NIPA Silver Diploma from St Malo.
George McDowell presents gift to Cyril Beattie at Kells Moot.
Top Belgium Vet Wim Boddaert answered questions at Kells Moot.
Top prize-winner Jeff Surgenor with Robin Swann and Kells officials.
Special guest Robin Swann with his dad Brian at the Kells Moot.