The Kells & District HPS returned for the fourth time to Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim for the annual prize giving and Social Night , most of the members were in attendance and were made welcome by Chairman Brian Swann. He thanked all the members for their help and support during the past season and all those involved with the arrangements for the prize night including Alan Shanks. He also thanked Thompson Millar and Sizzlers for the sponsorship of the 2 Bird Club.
Top prize-winner was George McDowell former Secretary of the club and now Secretary with the Mid Antrim Combine. The McDowell loft is back at the top first time since the Eighties a period when the loft was at its height and won numerous positions through to France and had the NI Fancier of the Year award. All seems such a long time ago, George now racing with a modern family that includes the very best from Oroory Hill Stud of M/M G Delaney has had great success over recent seasons topping Sect B and the Mid Antrim Combine. The leading lofts were George McDowell, B Swann & Son, Surgenor Bros, Harry Boyd, T & M Morrow, Mrs Smyth, Henry Turkington and A Barkley & Son.
The club won Mid Antrim Combine in a massive eight races, 5 x 1sts for Surgenor Bros, 2 x 1sts for Scott & Clements and 1 x 1st for George McDowell. In old birds Surgenor Bros had 1st & 2nd MAC Roscrea 98/2375, Scott & Clements 1st MAC Clonmel 106/2742, George McDowell 1st MAC Fermoy 103/2551, Scott & Clements 1st MAC Rosscarbery 75/888, and Surgenor Bros 1st MAC Penzance 91/912. In the young bird season Surgenor Bros 1st MAC Tullamore 97/2339, Surgenor Bros 1st MAC Roscrea 105/2520, and Surgenor Bros 1st MAC Talbenny Nat 69/412.
Alan Barkley & Son won a Bronze Diploma in the NIPA for Portland and the new J Scott Memorial Cup for Best Ave in the NIPA Nat Races and 5 Bird Races from Fermoy & Mallow was won by George McDowell. Kells & District HPS won the Club Shield in Mid Antrim Combine for Most Points in the Old Bird Season.
There was a display of Memorabilia, including many photos from the past. There was a lot of my own work over many years, and more before that, what a very interesting display of newspaper cuttings, photos and scrap books. The club would like to thank all those involved with the Social Night including those who presented birds for Auction. A massive £1,220 was raised under the hammer by Wesley Sawyers, with £1,000 going to Macmillan Nurse Care in the Community. Robert Turkington was thanked for his help with the English birds from John Halstead, A & E Shephard, M/M Wooliss and John Puddlepatt and then locally birds were donated from Arnold Thompson (Ballyclare), Robin Duddy (Ballyclare), A & N Lewis (Doagh), J & A Wilson & Sons (Doagh), J Smyth & Son (Ahoghill), Crawford & Robinson (Larne), Martin Graham (Ballymena), Wesley Sawyers (Banbridge) , Blair & Rankin (Ballymena), Young McManus & Sons (Ahoghill), Allen McBride (Harryville), Surgenor Bros (Kells), Oroory Hill Stud, and from Ian Gill two grand-children from Champion “Dolly”.
Syd Collins was a superb MC for the proceedings, Ryan Barr explained the business behind his Belfast based Pigeon Diagnostics re improving health and performance and had Free Test Kits for all attending, Gary Elkin spoke about his Anisan Procucts with lots of questions and a top highlight of the night was the interview Syd Collins conducted with Davy Campbell of Eastway, the high flying NIPA Sect C Fancier of the Year racing as D & J Campbell & Bigger.
Many thanks to the Kells & Dist for the invite and thanks as well to Mrs Marie Herron who presented the cups and trophies, and Davy Campbell who presented the Mid Antrim Combine Diplomas.
Thanks Column -
The members and officials of Kells & Dist HPS wish to thank all those who attended and those who supported the recent Social Night held in the Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim. Some £1,220 was raised in the auction of gift birds sold by Wesley Swayers, £1,000 of that going to Macmillan Nurse Care in the Community. Thanks to Wesley, MC for the evening Syd Collins, Ryan Barr and Gary Elkin, Davy Campbell from Eastway, Marie Herron for presenting the awards, and Alan Shanks who made all arrangements for the successful evening. Robert Turkington is thanked for his help with the English birds from John Halstead, A & E Shephard, M/M Wooliss and John Puddlepatt and then locally birds were donated from Arnold Thompson (Ballyclare), Robin Duddy (Ballyclare), A & N Lewis (Doagh), J & A Wilson & Sons (Doagh), J Smyth & Son (Ahoghill), Crawford & Robinson (Larne), Martin Graham (Ballymena), Wesley Sawyers (Banbridge) , Blair & Rankin (Ballymena), Young McManus & Sons (Ahoghill), Allen McBride (Harryville), Surgenor Bros (Kells), Oroory Hill Stud, and from Ian Gill two grand-children from Champion “Dolly”. All in all another great night in Mid Antrim. Mervyn Gregg, Secretary Kells & District HPS.
Prize-winners and officials.
Mrs Herron presents Top-prizewinner award to George McDowell.
George McDowell (l) and Alan Barkley.
Brian Swann.
Jeff Surgenor.
Marcus Morrow.
Henry Turkington.
Alan Barkley.
Mervyn Gregg.
Alan Shanks.
Davy Campbell (r) presents MAC Diplomas to Jeff Surgenor.
MAC Diplomas for T & M Morrow.
MAC Secretary George McDowell with Davy Campbell.