This year the Cullybackey HPS returned to the village for the prize presentation, held on last Friday in October at Toast on the Main Street. A very good turn-out of members and friends were made welcome by Chairman Neil Anderson and guests included sponsors Derek & Geraldine McDowell, Brian Hayes from the Bridge Garage who covered the Single Bird Nomination for the last number of years and local scribe Homer and Rosie. He was also glad to see Ring Secretary Hubert Logan who is recovering after a spell in hospital also present. He had a special word for all the hard work over the season by Secretary Edrick Davidson who had good help from Len Russell, he also thanked all those involved at the club during both the racing and show seasons, and all those who assisted at the Nat Centre for NIPA races.
For the meal well served by the dedicated staff those attending had a choice of Salmon, Chicken, Roast Beef or Gammon and another big selection for desert. Toast staff, were thanked for the meal, and those attending were impressed with the new restaurant.
Looking at the race season it was again Alan Darragh who emerged as Top prize-winner, every year bar two he has lifted the Russell Family Cup that going back to 1986. Alan won most cups and trophies and despite not sending for Sunday races won around 16 x 1sts. He also won the Bridge Garage Nomination in the olds birds, with W Scott winning the young birds. Total pay-out was around £560 and the leading lofts were Alan Darragh who won a record total, Reid Bros & McCloy, Russell Bros, J & J Greer, H & R McCloy, Gibson & Dickey, Wendell Scott, Des Robinson, Sammy Steele, N & S Anderson, D & H Kirkpatrick and Sandy McKendry.
Mid Antrim Combine was topped twice in young birds by Reid Bros & McCloy from Tullamore and Alan Darragh who was best in the Talbenny National. What a season the members had in the Irish Nat FC winning all but two races over the six race programme. Reid Bros & McCloy were best in the Skibbereen OB Nat and Sennen Cove Yearling Nat, Russell Bros were best in the fast Quimper Friendship Nat from France, and Alan Darragh finished the season with the best bird from Skibbereen. Cullybackey HPS won the Points Shield in Old Birds and other trophies won included – Alan Darragh won Cross Channel Ave vel 1244, Young Bird Ave vel 1585, Young Bird of the Year GB15C-04320 scored 56 Points and Leslie Mairs OB Fancier of the Year Cup collecting 1083 Points. Recovering from the break-in at the lofts the INFC Average Cup was won by Reid Bros & McCloy of Cullybackey vel 1117, super achievement.
Racing with the INFC it was Reid Bros & McCloy who had the best bird, they finished 1st & 5th MAC, Alan Darragh was 3rd, 4th and 6th. The Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove was a harder race in a Lt NE wind, Reid Bros & McCloy were best again 1st & 3rd MAC with the winner doing velocity 989 for 9th Open INFC. Alan Darragh was 4th and Cochrane Bros were 5th winning just short of £2,000. Moving on the Blue Riband Grand Nat Kings Cup was flown again from St Allouestre. Sammy Steele was best finishing 5th MAC, Reid Bros & McCloy were 6th & 8th and former winner Alan Darragh was 9th & 13th.
Russell Bros had the best bird in the fast race from Quimper, doing almost a mile a minute they take 1st MAC and 6th Open INFC followed by Reid Bros & McCloy 2nd MAC and 7th Open INFC. This loft had two further birds winning 5th & 8th MAC, T Picken & Son were 7th and Alan Darragh 6th, 9th, 10th & 11th. The Grand Nat YB from Penzance was the hardest of the year, W Scott on velocity 796 finished 4th MAC, S Steele was 6th, A Darragh 7th & 10th and Reid & McCloy 9th. Finally to Skibbereen Alan Darragh had the top three arrivals and finished 1st, 5th & 6th MAC, he made the INFC result in all Nat races.
To finish I will quickly cover the NIPA season. Reid & McCloy were winners from Tullamore in the opening race, Gibson & Dickey had the top two the next week from the same point. Alan Darragh then won seven on the trot including Roscrea, Corrin, Pilmore Beach, Rosscarbery Nat, Roscrea Comeback, Talbenny and Roscrea. In the OB Inland Nat he scored a super result with the top seven birds in the club and 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th MAC. The D & H Kirkpatrick team had 1st Club in the Sennen Cove Classic, finishing 5th MAC on velocity 1059. Russell Bros won the Rosscarbery Ylr Cock Nat and Alan Darragh won the Hens Nat. T Picken & Son had 1st Club Bude with Russell Bros a close runner-up and they won the Fermoy 5 Bird. Alan Darragh had the top three from Penzance with the winner doing velocity 1151, former Kings Cup winners J & J Greer were best in the St Malo OB Nat finishing 3rd MAC, all told the club had 9 arrivals. On the same weekend from a fast Roscrea Alan Darragh was 1st & 2nd on velocity 1909. In the young birds Reid Bros & McCloy won both Mullingar and then 1st MAC from Tullamore. Alan Darragh was best in Tullamore (2) and Roscrea (1) both very fast 1910 and 2016. Reid Bros & McCloy won Roscrea (2) and Gibson & Dickey had 1st Club Fermoy (1). In the YB Nat from Talbenny A Darragh was 1st MAC with H & R McCloy the runner-up, Gibson & Dickey won from Roscrea on the same day. Alan Darragh was best in Fermoy (2), H & R McCloy had 1st Club in Fermoy 5 Bird finishing 3rd MAC and then in the final YB Nat from Rosscarbery A Darragh had the top six birds, the winner finishing 2nd MAC on velocity 1777.
The officials and prize winners of Cullybackey an the annual dinner in Toast.
Brian Hayes of Bridge Garage presents the Ring Nom awards to W Scott and A Darragh.
Mid Antrim winners from (l) L Russell, H McCloy and A Darragh.
Nicola Anderson presents awards to Sammy Steele, best in Kings Cup.
J & J Greer were best in the St Malo Nat from France.
Tom Picken (r) had 1st Club from Bude.
Harry McCloy won the 5B Fermoy for young birds.
Russell Family Cup won yet again by Alan Darragh with club officials.
Nicola and Steven Anderson with prize cards.
Ina Davidson presents prize cards to Wendell Scott.
Harry and Jenifer McCloy with MAC Diplomas.
Cullybackey HPS win the Club Shield for Old Birds Points in MAC.
Geraldine McDowell presents Talbenny Nat Cup to A Darragh.
Reid Bros & McCloy won the Sennen Cove Yearling National.