At the Larne Dinner held in the clubrooms on Friday 5th December, the cups and trophies were presented first. Chairman Alister McNaghten welcomed a full house of members and friends to the well decorated clubrooms for the annual Christmas Dinner Dance. He said the intention was to commence proceedings with the prize distribution before we settle down for the meal , a carvery this time once again provided by Marti McToal and his team.
The Chairman said that the 2014 flying season had its challenges but as always the members braved the weather, NIPA race decisions and young bird losses to complete the racing season in style. Members also supported a number of events including the Club Shows, the big Monster Show held the week previous, a Pigeon Moot and the Spring Fayre & Charity Auction.
Some 40 members of the club sent 11,504 birds racing for a total of £860 in prize money, over £3,000 in pools plus a further £3,800 in Sale Birds and Show Specials etc.
It was indeed a very busy season and the Chairman took the opportunity to thank all those members who played their part each week of the year. He had particular praise for Paul Harvey the Racing Secretary for 2014 who did a fabulous job which took up a lot of his time which he gave of freely and without question. He also thanked Stephanie O’Neill the Financial Secretary and Vice Chairman Joe McLaughlin in making all the arrangements for the big night.
Alister then invited President Owen Donnely and his wife Nancy to present the first awards of the evening to be followed by Vice Chair Joe McLaughlin and wife Pauline to present the remaining prizes. Highest Prize-winners were L & S O’Neill & Sons who collected Magill Trophy, R Anderson Mem Cup, Old Bird Knock-Out, Combined Inland Average, and Holden Memorial Cup.
A S McNaghten had a fantastic season as well racing especially well with the young birds, he won McLaughlin Cup, Dempsey Cup, Town Hall Cup, Young Bird Average, OB Ave, Comb Ave, and Robert Mills Mem Cup.
Crawford & Robinson won the £1,000 Sale Bird and Ferguson Mem Cup, McCluggage Cup, D Donnelly Mem Cup, Ferguson Mem Cup, Civic Week Cup, Highways Trophy, McLaughlin Mem Cup, and Longmore Cup.
David & Paul Harvey won AVG Trophy and Gibson Shield. G K & I Moxham won Joe Goodall Mem Cup, Royal Tara School of Dancing, Bobby Rainey Mem Cup, B McWilliams Mem Cup, and Young Bird Knock-Out. A McCormick won Fishermans Shield. Mark McCormick won Surgenor Cup. Robert Glass won the Talbenny Sale Bird and Bamber Shield. Tam Mullan & Son had the big early bird in the Old Bird Nat from St Malo, just over 100 birds home they finished 5th Sect C & 13th Open NIPA plus £500. They won the Old Bird Derby Cup and Isa Robinson Trophy. A big congratulation as well to Sammy Birnd who won the Silver Diploma for a bird three times in the OB Nat prizes. From St Malo 2012 10th Sect C & 55th Open NIPA on Vel 1224, Portland 2013 9th Sect C & 35th Open NIPA on Vel 1057 and then 2014 from St Malo 11th Sect C & 51st Open NIPA on Vel 559.
Willie McWhirter won the Show Trophy as usual and J & D McWhirter had pools and prizes. INFC Race winners included Skibbereen Old Bird Beggs & Hall, Penzance Yearling G K & I Moxham a former Nat winner and Penzance YB Nat Robert Glass who has won 2 x 1st Nationals.
The official race winners were as follows. Old Birds: Tullamore – Crawford & Robinson, 1st Roscrea - Beggs & Hall, 2nd Roscrea – Rea & Magill, Clonmel – G K & I Moxham, Mallow – R Mills & Son, Rosscarbery – C Campbell & Son, Talbenny – Crawford & Robinson, Bude – Crawford & Robinson, Thuro – L & S O’Neill & Sons, Penzance – R Mills & Son, St Malo – T Mullen & Sons. Young Birds: Mullingar – S & W Gray, 1st Tullamore – A S McNaghten, 2nd Tullamore – R Mills & Son, Roscrea – A S McNaghten, Clonmel – A S McNaghten, 1st Fermoy – D & P Harvey, Talbenny Nat – Baxter & Holden, 2nd Fermoy – Beggs & Hall, Rosscarbery Nat – Crawford & Robinson.
Dancing continued into the small hours, music supplied by Country Star Philip English from Kildare.
Officials and prize-winners at the Annual Dinner held in Larne.
The seasons Top Prizewinners L & S O'Neill & Sons collect awards from Owen & Nancy Donnelly.
Larne Chairman Alister McNaghten collects awards.
Crawford & Robinson won 8 cups and £1,000 Sale Bird.
Paul Harvey collects awards for D & P Harvey.
Joe & Pauline McLaughlin present awards to G K & I Moxham.
Arti McCormick won the Fishermans Shield.
Mark McCormick (r) won the Surgenor Cup.
Former Nat winner Robert Glass (r) won Talbenny Sale Bird.
Larne Chairman A McNaghten presents Show Shield to Willie McWhirter.
J & D McWhirter won pools and prizes.
Tam Mullen (r) won the Old Bird Nat from St Malo (France).
The officials present a bouquet of flowers to Stephanie O'Neill.
The top lofts of 2014 in Larne O'Neill Family and Alister McNaghten.
Mid Antrim Show Season - Results
Results from the local shows in Mid Antrim, remember Open Show Dates, this Saturday is Cullybackey, Boxing Day Kells & Dist and finally New Year’s Day Ballymena & District.
Ballymena & District HPS: NIPA Committee man Ken Wilkinson from Antrim was the latest judge he had the task of placing cards in the annual eye-sign show. Visitor Len Russell from Cullybackey the pre-show favourite did not disappoint taking most cards, winner of both classes and Best in Show. The final classes are Monday 15th December Red, Mealy & Grizzle with the final night Monday 22nd for all the Card Winners. The Annual Open Show will be held in the Clubrooms at Fountain Place on New Year’s Day Thursday 1st January open to Sect B Clubs only due to lack of space. Penning will be 11.00am until 1.00pm, any queries contact Willy Gilbert. Old Bird Eye-sign (62 Birds) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Reserve, VHC, HC & Commended Russell Bros, 4th W & N Gilbert. Young Bird Eye-sign (42 Birds) – 1st, 2nd, 4th, Russell Bros, 3rd W & N Gilbert, Reserve, VHC, HC & Commended B Herbison. Raffle won by Ken Wilkinson.
Kells & District HPS: Mated Pairs – 1st & 2nd Surgenor Bros, 3rd, 4th & Reserve A Barkley & Son, VHC & Commended B Swann & Son, HC Scott & Clements. Judges B Blair & C McManus (Ballymena) and L Mullen (Harryville). Eye-sign – 1st & Commended Gregg Bros, 2nd, 3rd, Reserve, VHC & HC A Barkley & Son, 4th T Shanks & Son. Fancy – 1st, 3rd & Reserve A Barkley & Son, 2nd, VHC & HC Surgenor Bros, 4th Scott & Clements, Commended T Shanks & Son. Judges W & W Gilbert (Randalstown). Alan Barkley & Son won the Show Cup. Annual Open Show on Boxing Day, Friday 26th December penning 11.00am until 2.00pm.
Ahoghill Flying Club: Old Pairs – 1st, 4th & HC Blair & Rankin, 2nd T McFall, 3rd C Moore, Reserve & VHC M/M Robinson, Commended R Lowry. Judge Harry McCloy (Cullybackey). Late Breds – 1st R Lowry, 2nd, 4th, Reserve & VHC C Moore, 3rd W Livingstone, HC & Commended M/M Robinson. Judge Sammy Steele (Cullybackey). Friday – Old Bird & Young Bird Eye-sign.
Cullybackey HPS: Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st Russell Bros, 2nd & HC B Herbison, 3rd A Darragh, 4th & VHC Cochrane Bros, Reserve N & S Anderson, Commended J & J Greer. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st Gibson & Dickey, 2nd & 4th A Darragh, 3rd, Reserve & VHC N & S Anderson, HC Russell Bros, Commended Cochrane Bros. Judges Alan Shanks & Henry Turkington (Kells). Russell Bros won Best in Show. The Annual Open Show is this Saturday 20th December, 3 in 1 with penning from 10.00am until 1.00pm. The prize presentation will be at 5.00pm.
Ballymoney HPS: The show series continues each Friday evening, judges at the most recent classes for Young Birds Handled and Old Pieds Through wires attended from the Coleraine Premier HPS. Silver Diploma winner Paul O’Connor with Steven Walker and Alister McKernan. Danny Dixon had the winner in Young Hens also Best in Show, Brown & Stewart won Young Cock and Club Secretary Derek McMullan was 1st & 2nd in the Old Pieds Through Wires. Young Cocks Handled 1st Brown & Stewart, 2nd, VHC & Commended D & G McMullan, 3rd D Dixon, 4th L Neill, Reserve & HC D Gage. Young Hens Handled – 1st & Special D Dixon, 2nd & HC Edgar & Wiggins, 3rd & Reserve D Dixon, 4th D Gage, VHC Brown & Stewart, Commended D & G McMullan. Old Pieds T/W – 1st, 2nd & Commended D & G McMullan, 3rd & 4th Edgar & Wiggins, Reserve J Connolly, VHC D Dixon, HC L Neill. Friday – Old Cock & Old Hen Handled and Young Pieds T/W. Result Raffle – 1st C Thompson, 2nd C Gilmour, 3rd J Gage, 4th E Laverty, 5th H McMullan.
Lurgan Social – Latest result for Any Age Cock or Hen. 1st K Henderson, 2nd & 4th K Douglas, 3rd, Reserve & Commended S Shaw, VHC D & B Lyness, HC A Mallon. Best Young Bird A Houston. Many thanks to J P Nelson for doing the honours. Next week CHRISTMAS Show old birds through wires and young birds through wires. With special for best opp sex in each class. Prizes for all birds carded.
Coalisland & District HPS: Young Pairs Handled – 1st, 2nd & HC B Morgan, 3rd K Murphy, 4th & VHC K Carolan, Reserve J Devlin, Commended K Shannon. Judge Joe McCormick.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
http://www.pigeonnetwork.com
Willy Gilbert (l) presents the 1st Eyesign prize to Mervyn Gregg.
At Ballymena & District judge Ken Wilkinson (r) with Eyesign class winner Len Russell.
Rebecca Lowry won Late Bred at Ahoghill, judge Sammy Steele (l).
Bertie Blair from Ballymena (r) won Pairs at Ahoghill with judge Harry McCloy.
Len Russell (l) won OB Eyesign at Cullybackey with judge Alan Shanks.