Despite the weather conditions fanciers from across Ireland flocked to Dublin for the Annual Charity Show held at the Irish Kennel Club close to Dublin Airport on Saturday 8th November. I arrived in the afternoon before the prize presentation and soon met up with President Eugene Fitzgerald and Show Secretary Mick O’Driscoll. The place was busy a top sale upstairs always a major attraction and all trade stands many with birds reporting good business. Following the presentation of the show awards we have in the main area the charity sale, auctioneer as usual Kevin Doyle. Charity Cheques presented at the show included 2,000 Euro to St Michael’s House, 1,000 Euro to Laura Lin and 1,000 Euro to Peita House. Very well done to all concerned, pigeon fanciers are always to the fore where charity is concerned across the Island of Ireland. Lofts from up North again dominated the show classes, 7 x 1sts for T & K Mawhinney (Donaghcloney), 4 x 1sts for Rouke & Christie (Armoy), 2 x 1sts for W & N Gilbert (Ballymena) and 1 x 1st for J Douglas & Son (Lurgan). The Mawhinney loft took the cup for Most Points but missed the other two big ones with Best in Show and Best Opposite Sex going to Rouke & Christy, their first time to lift these awards. Winners were: Class 1 Old Cock Flown Channel – D Emerson, Class 2 Old Hen Flown Channel – T & K Mawhinney, Class 3 Old Cock Flown – W & N Gilbert, Class 4 Old Hen Flown – T & K Mawhinney, Class 5 Young Cock Flown – T & K Mawhinney, Class 6 Young Hens Flown – T & K Mawhinney, Class 7 AA Hen/Cock Eye-sign – C Maples, Class 8 Old Cock T/W – T & K Mawhinney, Class 9 Old Hen T/W – P McArdle, Class 10 Young Hen T/W – W & N Gilbert, Class 11 Young Cock T/W – T & K Mawhinney, Class 12 Matched Pairs – J Douglas & Son, Class 13 Colour Class – T & K Mawhinney, Class 14 Show Racer Young Hen – Rouke & Christie, Class 15 Show Racer Young Cock – Rouke & Christie, Class 16 Late Bred Hen or Cock – P McArdle, Class 17 Show Racer OC Unflown – Rouke & Christie, Class 18 Show Racer OH Unflown – Rouke & Christie. The judges were – Lee Fribbins, Tom Boland, Gerry Marley, Terry Craggs, Jack Cockcroft, Sonny Galloway, Harry Moore, Jim Fitzpatrick, Alan Spedding, Keith & Matt Arkness, and Mark Johnston. Gifts were presented to fanciers who have assisted at the show over the last number of years, namely Sonny Galloway and Terry Craggs. The main sponsor of the show was Sean Hunt and family owners of The Corn Store, they even purchased new pens. Others behind the scenes who gave valuable service included Gerry Daly, J Byrne, M O’Connor and Ben O’Hannigan.
The winning birds and trophies BIS & BOS at Dublin Show with Show Secretary Mick O'Driscoll.
President Eugene Fitzgerald (l) presents the Best in Show at Dublin.
The Best Opposite Sex presentation.
The happy team from North Antrim Rouke & Christie.
Top Points winner yet again Timmy Mawhinney.
Main sponsors the Hunt Family from Corn Store with Show Secretary Mick O'Driscoll.
W & N Gilbert from Ballymena won two classes.
Kevin Douglas from Lurgan Social winner of Matched Pairs.
C Maples was winner of Class 7 Any Age Hen/Cock Eyesign.
P McArdle was winner of Classes 9 & 16.
Special presentation was made to Terry Craggs at Dublin Show.
Long time helper and supporter Sonny Galloway.
Charity cheque presentation to St Michaels House.
Peita House collected a cheque for 1,000 Euros.
Henry McLaughlin from Coalisland, Blue Devil Lofts.
Visitors from Kells & Dist from (l) Harry Boyd, Brian Swann, Jeff Surgenor and club secretary Mervyn Gregg.
Willy & Nicola Gilbert from Drumtara Lofts.
From Larne Noel Percy and Brian McCammon.
Dublin fancier Dave Ward with North Coast Classic.
Mid Antrim Show Scene – A busy season continues, Ballymena & Dist continue each Monday evening and the members in the last week judged at a number of the local events including Ahoghill, Kells, Cullybackey and Ballymoney. The big Open Show Dates are Cullybackey HPS Saturday 20th December, Kells & District Boxing Day Friday 26th December and finally Ballymena & District New Year’s Day Thursday 1st January.
Ballymena & District: Albert and his brother Tom Young travelled in from Ahoghill to judge the recent classes penned for the local club, Young Pairs and Old Bird Fancy. This year’s show season is the longest on record 17 Classes over 9 weeks up to Christmas, then the Annual Open Show on New Year’s Day. New Show Secretary Willy Gilbert is having a good introduction to the job, he wins a class most weeks and last week won both classes with the Best in Show Special in Young Pairs that had earlier been picked out by several members. Young Pairs (60 Birds) – 1st & HC W & N Gilbert, 2nd G & A EAgleson, 3rd & VHC McAlonan Bros, 4th Blair & Rankin, Reserve Russell Bros, Commended B Herbison. Old Bird Fancy (38 Birds) – 1st & HC W & N Gilbert, 2nd McAlonan Bros, 3rd & 4th Russell Bros, Reserve Blair & Rankin, VHC McFall & McManus, HC W & N Gilbert, Commended B Herbison. Bertie Blair won the Raffle for the second week. Monday 15th December Red, Mealy & Grizzle. The Annual dinner and prize presentation will be in the Tullyglass Hotel on Saturday 10th January 2015.
Ahoghill Flying Club: Robert Alexander from Ballymena & Dist placed the cards in the recent show, classes for Young Pairs and Fancy. R Lowry was 1st in Young Pair and 2nd Fancy while T & G Balmer had 1st Fancy and 2nd in Young Pairs, not much between these lofts. Young Pairs – 1st & Reserve R Lowry, 2nd & VHC T & G Balmer, 3rd C Moore, 4th A & N Young, HC & Commended M/M Robinson. Fancy – 1st & 3rd T & G Balmer, 2nd & VHC R Lowry, 4th & Reserve T McFall, HC C Moore, Commended Balmer Young & Sons. Friday – Old Pairs & Late Breds.
Cullybackey HPS: Judges travelled in from Ballymena & Dist, George Eagleson and neighbour George Connolly placed the cards for Old Hens Handled and Fancy. For the local club J & J Greer had the Red Card in both classes and Best in Show. Old Hens Handled – 1st & 3rd J & J Greer, 2nd & 4th Gibson & Dickey, Reserve & Commended A Darragh, VHC Russell Bros, HC N & S Anderson. Fancy – 1st & Reserve J & J Greer, 2nd & 3rd N & S Anderson, 4th & VHC T McFall, HC A Darragh, Commended Russell Bros. Saturday – Old Bird & Young Bird Eye-sign. The Annual Open Show Saturday 20th December 3 in 1 Show. Penning 10am - 1pm Doors reopen at 5.00pm followed by prize giving.
Ballymoney HPS: Ballymena & Dist Chairman Tom McAlonan and Martin Sempey travelled dow to Ballymoney to place the cards in the recent show classes, it was a good night for Secretary Derek McMullan with the Red Card in all three classes and the BIS Special in YB Eye-sign. Old Cock T/W – 1st & 2nd D & G McMullan, 3rd, Reserve & Commended D Dixon, 4th & VHC D Gage, HC L Neill. Old Hen T/W – 1st D & G McMullan, 2nd Brown & Stewart, 3rd J Connolly, 4th & Reserve D Gage, VHC Edgar & Wiggins, HC L Neill, Commended D Dixon. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st & Special D & G McMullan, 2nd & Reserve D & G McMullan, 3rd, 4th & Commended Brown & Stewart, VHC & HC D Dixon. Brown & Stewart won Raffle. Friday – Young Hen & Young Cock Handled and Old Pairs T/W. Raffle tickets need returned immediately.
The final show in the Eastway HPS autumn series was Young Hens T/W and handled. Young Hens T/W. 1 and Res. D & J Campbell and Bigger, 2. M & T Griffith, 3. Whiteside Bros, 4 G McKenna, VHC R Irvine, HC D McElhone, R Francey. Young Hens Handled. 1. G McKenna, 2 and 3. D & J Campbell & Bigger, 4 Whiteside Bros, Res D McElhone. VHC R Irvine. HC and C. R Francey.
Lurgan Social Any Age C/H – 1st & VHC E Wright, 2nd, 4th, Reserve & Commended K Douglas, 3rd & HC A Mallon. Best Young Bird won by Kevin Douglas. Thanks to judges. R Bothwell and D Mc Bride. Next week’s show. Any age cock/hen - Special for BYB.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
W & N Gilbert won both classes at Ballymena & Dist with the judges from Ahoghill Albert & Tom Young.
At Cullybackey it was J & J Greer who won both classes with judges from Ballymena, George Eagleson and George Connolly.
Charlie McManus (l) was judge at Kells & Dist, 1st & 2nd Pairs was Jeff Surgenor.
Kells winner of Young Cocks Davy Scott with judges from Cullybackey, Sammy Steele (l) and Harry McCloy (r).
Eastway photo shows Gary McKenna and Reilly with the Young hen handled winner. Davy Campbell with the T/W winner. Judge Robert Johnston presenting the Show Shield to Mr Billy Whiteside, overall Best Showman in Eastway 2014.