W & N Gilbert for the local club had 1st Old Bird Handled and lifted Best in Show, Alan Barkley & Son from Kells & District had 1st Young Bird Handled lifting Best Opposite Sex and the Special for Best Young Bird, Brian Herbison from Cullybackey had 1st Old Bird T/W and also from Cullybackey Len Russell won three classes including both Eye-sign Classes and with 17 Cards had Most Points in Show. The main prizes and specials were sponsored by Frazer Animal Feeds (Banbridge) and trophies were kindly supplied by Len Russell and W & N Gilbert. The winning Dark Cheq hen for W & N Gilbert has been the Champion all year winning 6 x 1sts and now going to Blackpool Show.
Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st B Herbison, 2nd & 4th W & N Gilbert, 3rd & Commended A Barkley & Son, Reserve Russell Bros, VHC McAlonan Bros, HC Percy Son & Murphy. Old Bird Handled – 1st, HC & Commended W & N Gilbert, 2nd, 3rd & VHC A Barkley & Son, 4th Blair & Rankin, Reserve G & A Eagleson. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, VHC & HC Russell Bros, Reserve & Commended W & N Gilbert. Young Bird T/W – 1st, 3rd & Reserve Russell Bros, 2nd, 4th & HC W & N Gilbert, VHC A Barkley & Son, Commended N & S Anderson. Young Bird Handled – 1st A Barkley & Son, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & VHC Russell Bros, Reserve B Herbison, HC M/M M Sempey, Commended N & S Anderson. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 3rd & 4th Russell Bros, 2nd W & N Gilbert, Reserve & Commended B Herbison, VHC A Barkley & Son, HC D & G McMullan.
Chairman Tom McAlonan at the presentation thanked all involved, those who brought birds and prizes, the judges, and all who assisted including M/M Sempey, Billy Smyth, MDC Magill and W & N Gilbert. He also thanked members and friends for donations and specials, and all the sponsors who included Frazer’s Animal Feeds, Brian Herbison Feeds, Connon Feeds and many others.
The Annual Dinner & Presentation of prizes will be held in the Tullyglass House Hotel on Saturday 10th January at 7.00pm. 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.
The AGM for Ballymena & District will take place in the local clubrooms at Fountain Place on Monday 9th February at 8.00pm. Resolutions for the agenda must be with the Secretary Willie Reynolds by Saturay 31st January, and any resignations prior to the AGM. Ballymoney HPS: Members should return cups and trophies to the clubrooms as soon as possible, presentation of awards is 24th January.
January Sales -
Auction Sale of 2014 birds bred directly from stock obtained from Louis Thijs, Hulshout, Belgium to be held in the Newtownbreda HPS Clubrooms on Monday 12th January at 7.30pm. Birds sold on behalf of Frank Sheader – Auctioneer Ronnie Johnston has Sale Catalogues. Tel: (028) 90 483625 to place Commission bids.
(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.
Judges from Larne & Dist, D & P Harvey, S Gray and Crawford & Robinson.
W & N Gilbert with BIS and judges Crawford & Robinson.
Judges D & P Harvey and Stephen Gray with the winner of BOS and Best YB.
Nicola Gilbert presents 1st Old Bird T/W to Brian Herbison from Cullybackey.
Willy & Nicola Gilbert winners 1st Old Bird Handled.
Len Russell had 6 cards in OB Eyesign, including 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
A happy Len Russell and W & N Gilbert 1st & 2nd in Young Bird T/W.
Nicola Gilbert presents 1st YB Handled to Alan Barkley of Kells.
Len Russell from Cullybackey done the Eye-sign double.
Chairman Tom McAlonan presents the BIS award to W & N Gilbert.
Alan Barkley (l) collects the BOS award from Tom McAlonan.
Alan Barkley won the specials for Best Young Bird and BOS.
Len Russell won Most Points with Ballymena officials T McAlonan and W Gilbert Show Secretary.
The major winners at Ballymena Show W & N Gilbert and Alan Barkley with Tom McAlonan.