Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st, 2nd & 4th T & K Mawhinney, 3rd, Reserve & VHC A Neill, HC & Commended W & N Gilbert. Old Bird Handled – 1st, 2nd, 3rd & VHC T & K Mawhinney, 4th & Commended V Montgomery, Reserve A Neill, HC Russell Bros. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st & 4th V Montgomery, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd D & R Turkington, Reserve G & R Lawrie, VHC Russell Bros, HC & Commended T & K Mawhinney. Young Bird T/W – 1st, 2nd & VHC V Montgomery, 3rd D & R Turkington, 4th A Darragh, Reserve K Wilkinson & Son, HC W & N Gilbert, Commended Russell Bros. Young Bird Handled – 1st Russell Bros, 2nd & Reserve D & R Turkington, 3rd, HC & Commended V Montgomery, 4th T & K Mawhinney, VHC J & J Greer. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st & 2nd A Neill, 3rd Gibson & Dickey, 4th & Reserve N & S Anderson, VHC Russell Bros, HC V Montgomery, Commended D & R Turkington.
Kells Open Show – Kells was the venue on Boxing Day for the Annual Open Show attracting fanciers from across Mid & East Antrim with 240 birds penned for the 6 classes. Judges were Rob and George Mills from Larne & District and Mickey McConville from Crumlin & Dist. D & R Turkington from Doagh & Dist won Old Bird Handled also Best in Show and D & G McMullan from Ballymoney had 1st in Old Bird T/W and took Best Opposite Sex. The prizes were well spread out with individual winners of the six classes, Russell Bros from Cullybackey had 1st & 2nd in OB Eye-sign, K Wilkinson & Son from New Antrim had 1st Young Bird T/W, Edgar & Wiggins from Ballymoney had 1st YB Handled and finally for the home club A Barkley & Son had 1st in YB Eye-sign. The Club Show Cup was presented to Alan Barkley & Son.
The former Chairman of Kells & Dist Brian Swann thanked all present for their support, those who helped at the club, brought birds and prizes, and he also thanked the judges. Other sponsors included Francis Connon, Brian Herbison, Frazer Feeds and Sizzlers Chip Shop. I was unable to attend and thanks to the local lads who covered the photos.
Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st D & G McMullan, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd & 4th F Simpson, Reserve V Montgomery, VHC Percy & Murphy, HC D & R Turkington, Commended Surgenor Bros. Old Bird Handled – 1st & HC D & R Turkington, 2nd A Barkley & Son, 3rd W & N Gilbert, 4th K Wilkinson & Son, Reserve F Simpson, VHC T & K Mawhinney, Commended Surgenor Bros. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd & HC Russell Bros, 3rd K Wilkinson & Son, 4th Reserve & VHC F Simpson, Commended D & R Turkington. Young Bird T/W – 1st K Wilkinson & Son, 2nd, 3rd & 4th V Montgomery, Reserve Mr & Mrs Suitters, VHC T & K Mawhinney, HC W & N Gilbert, Commended Gregg Bros. Young Bird Handled – 1st Edgar & Wiggins, 2nd & 3rd A Barkley & Son, 4th B Swann & Son, Reserve J McGrugan & Son, VHC Russell Bros, HC A Neill, Commended F Simpson. Young Bird Eye-sign - 1st A Barkley & Son, 2nd A Neill, 3rd, HC & Commended D & R Turkington, 4th D & G McMullan, Reserve W & N Gilbert, VHC V Montgomery.
Ballymena & District: The show series finished on Monday 22nd December with a good entry of 80 birds penned for the Card Winners Class, judges from Muckamore were Bobby Bethel and Tom Fleming. W & N Gilbert the loft to beat all year took 1st, 3rd and 4th and also the Special for Best Young Bird. Raffle was won by Thomas McFall and many thanks to all those who supported the show season, not forgetting the judges and W & N Gilbert who filled in as Show Secretary. Result: Card Winners (80 Birds) – 1st, 3rd & 4th W & N Gilbert, 2nd B Herbison, Reserve MDC Magill, VHC, HC & Commended Russell Bros. The show awards will be presented at the Open Show.
Ahoghill Flying Club: The show season was complete on Friday 19th December with the annual classes of Eye-sign for old birds and young birds, the judges from Cullybackey were Paul Cochrane and Brian Herbison. Blair & Rankin from Ballymena & Dist took 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the Old Birds while A & N Young had the Red Card in Young Birds. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd & 3rd Blair & Rankin, 4th R Lowry, Reserve W Livingstone, VHC T McFall, HC & Commended C Moore. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st & Reserve A & N Young, 2nd, 4th & HC W Livingstone, 3rd & VHC Mr & Mrs Robinson, Commended T & G Balmer.
Ballymoney HPS: Old Cocks Handled – 1st & Reserve L Neill, 2nd & 4th D Gage, 3rd, VHC, HC & Commended D & G McMullan. Old Hens Handled – 1st & Special L Neill, 2nd D & G McMullan, 3rd & Reserve L Neill, 4th Edgar & Wiggins, VHC, HC & Commended D Gage. Young Pieds T/W – 1st, 3rd & Commended D Gage, 2nd D & G McMullan, 4th, Reserve, VHC & HC Brown & Stewart. Judges – Harold Cubitt & Jimmy Robinson (Rasharkin & District). Show Cup Top Points won by D & G McMullan, runner-up Danny Dixon.
Ballymena & District will host the Annual Mid Antrim Show to be held in their own clubrooms at Fountain Place in Ballymena on New Year’s Day Thursday 1st January. Penning is from 12 Noon until 2.00pm a 3 in 1 for Old Bird and Young Bird. All birds from the local NIPA Sect B area, will be made welcome, a Show for Mid Antrim birds. All the usual Specials including Best in Show, Best Opposite Sex, Most Points and Best YB. All club members should supply prizes and any help would be appreciated, major awards are sponsored once again by Frazer Animal Feeds Banbridge. For info on the Show please contact Willy Gilbert Tel: 07761 323459. The Annual Dinner & Presentation of prizes will be held in the Tullyglass House Hotel on Saturday 10th January. After a very successful racing season a big crowd is expected, if you wish to order tickets contact Martin Graham Tel: (028) 2563 7929 or Mobile: 07835 099155. Remember the Annual Show is in the Ballymena & District Clubrooms at Fountain Place, results and photos later.
(Crescent Lofts) – Ballymena
Please note the above will have a Pen Sale in the Harryville HPS Clubrooms on Saturday 10th January doors open at 11.00am. It will be a Busschaert Sale of mature 2014 young birds the very best of Studtopper, Adam, Dixie Dean, Eagleson & Boxford lines. Many winners reported including cross channel, recently Paul O’Connor of the Coleraine Premier winning a Bronze Diploma with “Portland Lil” and MDC Magill of Ballymena & District winning the RPRA (Irish Region) Meritorious Award for NIPA Sect B with “Jackie Boy”. Birds all one price, bargain at £25.
For Sale – Long distance stock for W & J Smyth, Ballymena. Gaby Vandenabeele from Bob Short. Top bloodlines M & D Evans Myrtle Lofts. Blue Cheq (c) GB11R-26912 and Blue (h) GB11T-02835. Suitable as a pair. Top stock from Garry Inkley GB09J38556 (h) and GB09J-38557 (c). Sire Bred & Raced by Herman Brankman, dam bred and raced by Eddie Newcombe. Cheq GB05X-39906 (c) sire and dam bred by Adrie van der Rhee. Brief details, full pedigrees available. Tel Billy Smyth (028) 2564 3004.
Willy Gilbert won Card winners at Ballymena, with judges Bobby Bethel and Tom Fleming.
Young Thomas McFall won the Visitor Show Shield at Cullybackey collects award from President Brian Herbison.
Albert Young won YB Eye-sign at Ahoghill with judge B Herbison.
Bertie Blair had 1st, 2nd & 3rd in OB Eye-sign at Ahoghill with judge P Cochrane.
Judges at Cullybackey Open Show from (l) Leo Bingham, Eddie McAuley, Desie McClurkin, Davy Strain and Hugh Weir.
Best in Show Victor Montgomery with judges Davy and Hugh.
Alwyn collects BOS and Most Points on behalf of T & K Mawhinney.
Gibson & Dickey won Cullybackey Show Shield with Secretary Edrick Davidson.