One of the top events each season in the East Antrim area is the joint presentation for Doagh & District and Ballyclare & Dist, two major clubs that race in Section C of the NIPA. It’s a few year’s since I last attended the event in McConnells of Doagh, a good night guaranteed.
Doagh Chairman Billy McClelland welcomed another big turn-out, including special friends from Scotland, wife and daughters of the late Alan Bridges. Other visitors present included Alan Kelly from Omagh, Mr & Mrs Douglas from Lurgan, Chris Moore from Ahoghill and Bertie Blair from Ballymena.
The Doagh & Dist total pay-out exceeded £1,600 and leading lofts were M/M B McNeilly, A & N Lewis, J & R Scott, J Wilson & Sons, B & M Gilmore, M/M D Suitters, Fred Simpson, Sam Clarke, Wesley Cowan and D & R Turkington. Mr & Mrs McNeill dominated the racing season with 13 x 1sts, 2 x 1sts for B & M Gilmore and one win each for A & N Lewis, J & R Scott, J Wilson & Sons, F Simpson, S Clarke and J McGrugan & Sons.
At the recent NIPA Ladies Night the J McGrugan & Son team picked up the J Campbell Memorial Cup for winning 1st Sect C in the St Malo OB National finishing 9th Open NIPA. Flying with the Irish Nat FC Anthony & Normam Lewis won the Robin Duddy Trophy Best Ave Sennen Cove Yearling & Penzance YB Nat (3 Bird Nom) on velocity 926.
Other top results included – M/M McNeilly 1st Sect C & 5th Open Sennen Cove and 1st & 2nd Sect C in Fermoy young birds. John Wilson & Sons had 1st, 2nd & 4th Sect C and 3rd, 4th & 6th Open in the NIPA Rosscarbery OB National. A & N Lewis had 2nd Sect C and 24th Open Sennen Cove, 9th Open Penzance YB Nat, 14th Open Quimper Friendship Nat, 31st Open Yearling Nat and 17th Open Skibbereen YB Nat. B & M Gilmore had the best bird in the Kings Cup from Saint Allouestre finishing 113th Open INFC. Robert Scott had 3rd Sect C & 5th Open Rosscarbery Nat and finnaly Fred Simpson won from Bude finishing 5th Sect C.
Cups and trophies were presented as follows, Mr & Mrs McNeilly had a big collection. J Kincaid Mem Shield for Talbenny (2), Suitters Trophy for Lowest Winning Vel Cross Channel, W Brown Cup for YB Ave, Thomas Wilson Mem Cup for Best Ave 3 x OB and First 3 x YB races, J Wilson Cup for Best Ave 4 x Wexford or equivalent races, Montgomery & Todd Rose Bowl for OB Inl Ave, Sam Robinson Cup for All YB Races exc Nat’s, Ashe Trophy for Talbenny YB Nat, C & D Smyth Irish Champion for Best Ave all Irish Races OB & YB, J Montgomery Cup for Best Ave Talbenny (1) & (2), R Staveley Mem Shield for YB Knock-Out, Thomas Lorimer Mem Cup for Best Ave Tullamore (1), Clonmel (1) & Talbenny (1) OB races, Martha Christie Mem Shield for winner 1st YB Race, Colin Agnew Cup for Rosscarbery YB Nat, N Logan Mem Shield for Best Ave Rosscarbery Nat OB & YB, S Lorimer Mem Shield for Best Ave Last 3 x YB Races, Norman Rea Mem Cup for Best Ave 2 YB Nats.
A & N Lewis won – Kane Cup for Best Ave all Nationals, Crone Shield for Sennen Cove/Penzance, W Hutchinson Mem Cup for Best Ave Talbenny (1) & (2), Bude & Penzance, J McGrugan Mem Cup for Last 5 x OB Races exc OB Nat, McGrugan & Luke Cup for Best Ave Bude & Penzance, McAdam Mem Trophy for Best Ave 3 x Longest OB Races, Catherwood Cup for CCA, J McGrugan Cup for Best Ave Penzance OB & Talbenny YB, McConnell Rose Bowl for Old Bird Ave, B McCammon Cup for Combined Ave and McCalmont Shield for Best Ave OB & YB Nationals.
J McGrugan & Son won – Mairs Trophy for Old Bird National and D B Mairs Trophy for Ace Pigeon Over 200 miles. D & R Turkington won – J Gardiner Cup for Most Points in Club Shows. B & M Gilmore won – McManus Glass Trophy for 1st Bird in Kings Cup, M/M D Suitters Jnr won – Benny Craig Cup for OB Knock-Out, Fred Simpson won – Bell Trophy for Bude OB, J Wilson & Sons won – A W Drennan Trophy for Rosscarbery OB Nat, J & R Scott won – Pattison Shield for Lowest Winning Velocity in YB Races, J & L McClean won – Novice Cup.
Officials and top winners at Doagh & Dist presentation in McConnells of Doagh.
Doagh Secretary John Wilson with son and grand-son.
Robyn and Lee present the new Bridges Cup to Chairman Billy McClelland.
Top prize-winners Mr & Mrs Brian McNeilly.
A & N Lewis had another top season in Doagh.
M/M McNeilly had 17 cups including YB Ave and OB Inl Ave.
A & N Lewis won 11 cups including OB Ave, CCA and Combined Average.
Robert Scott with Pattinson Shield.
John Wilson & Son won Rosscarbery OB National.
B & M Gilmore had best bird in Kings Cup.
Mr & Mrs Suitters won the Old Bird Knock-Out.
Fred Simpson had 1st Club Bude.
Riley Hunter collects award for Sam Clarke.
Wesley Cowan collects prize from Lee.
Show Cup was won by D & R Turkington.
Mrs J McGrugan won Mairs Trophy for OB National.
Chairman Billy McClelland collects award from Lee.
Robert Wilson collects prize from Lee.
J & L McClean win Novice Cup, Riley Hunter collects.
Doagh Officials present award to Bridges Family.
J McGrugan & Son collect the Merit Award at INFC.
Montage of top winners for A & N Lewis.
1st Open NIPA Roscrea 777/21,391 for A & N Lewis.