The Ballyclare & District presentation was as has been the case for a number of years was held in a joint function with Doagh & District in McConnells. Weather conditions were not good with a lot of snow on the ground, despite that the Function Lounge was packed to capacity. Chairman Arnold Thompson had all details to hand and welcomed the members and friends along with all those attending for Doagh & District. The awards this year were presented by former Secretary Alan Rodney. Leading lofts were as follows: Glen McNeilly, G & R Lawrie, Victor Thompson, Arnold Thompson, C & L Woodside, Davy McClelland, Wilbert & Alan Moore, Mr & Mrs Hayes, Lexi Houston, and Hugh Weir. Glen McNeilly has recently returned to the sport after a spell in France, did not take long to get back on top. On a less happy note two top lofts are giving up the birds, C & L Woodside for health reasons and Mr & Mrs Hayes who I believe intend to move to Broughshane to be close to family. Both lofts over many years have won their fair share up to including 2015.
Leslie Woodside of C & L Woodside Ballyclare has received heart-breaking news – his health problems are more advanced than first thought and the 2 x Reduction Sales have now become a Complete Clearance Sale. The complete team of stock birds, all the top racers and young birds will be sold in 4 Sales, the final Sale Part (4) will be held in Glenavy in Co Antrim on Saturday 12th December at 2.30pm. Auctioneer Ronnie Johnston said “This is the most important sale of true distance birds that have a tremendous record from France – just like his mentor Smyth Bros of Ballymena. One would need to go back 20 years when I sold the pigeons of Gilmour & Beattie containing the bloodlines of the ace flyers Henry Beattie and Bob Harkness” for something similar. Leslie as you would expect is devastated but his health is paramount. C & L Woodside won the INFC National Champion award in 2003, runner-up in 2002 and 2013, and they have a string of top results at the distance including 1st Open INFC Sennen Cove YB National in 2007 with Skilgan Choice”. Add to that 2nd Open INFC Friendship Nat, 4th, 9th & 9th in Kings Cup, 3 x Merit Awards, Friendship Triple Award, Hall of Fame etc. They are one of Ireland’s great National Lofts! With the help of good friend Maurice Alexander the Sale Lists for the final sale are ready Tel Leslie (028) 93 322371 or Ronnie (028) 90 483625.
Top prize-winner in 2015 was as I had mentioned Glen McNeilly, he won 9 x 1sts and 9 cups which included the following. McKeown Cup Roscrea OB & YB, J Robinson Cup Most Points, McCrea Shield for Inland YB Nat, Sharples Cup for Longest YB Race, Cameron Cup Best Ave all Tullamore Races, Dodds Cup OB Inland Nat, J Hill Cup OB Inland Ave, Comrades Social Club Cup Best Ave Talbenny & Rosscarbery YB Nationals, Vint Cup YB Ave. In the NIPA Rosscarbery YB Nat G McNeilly won 11th, 96th, 203rd and 241st Open.
George & Richard Lawrie won 3 x 1sts and 2 cups. Lexi Houston Cup r/u in the Inland Averages, and Ballyclare Comrades Supporters Cup for Best Average Fermoy OB & YB. Victor Thompson had a very good year and made the prizes most weeks, in all weather conditions over the whole season. In Rosscarbery YB Nat the loft finished 68th and 130th Open NIPA. Chairman Arnold Thompson is another loft able to score over the entire season, he won 2 x 1sts and 7 cups which included the following. Blundell Cup for CCA, J Blair Cup 1st Penzance, R McConnell Cup Best Ave Bude & Penzance, Greer Cup 1st Sennen Cove Classic, Torrence Boyd Cup Best Ave Selected Races, Horner Cup Lowest Winning Velocity, Montgomery Trophy Ave in OB Talbenny. With the NIPA Arnold won 11th Open from Penzance. C & L Woodside won 2 cups, McCalmont Shield Best Ave St Malo OB & Talbenny YB Nationald and Baird Cup Best Ave Bude, Penzance & St Malo. Davy McClelland dad of Billy won 2 x 1sts and 1 cup the J Mairs Trophy for the best local bird in the Kings Cup, Davy was 14th Open INFC St Allouestre. Mr & Mrs Hayes collected 1 x 1st and 2 cups which included his fathers own trophy presented over 20 years ago the R Hayes Cup was for best bird in the Yearling Nat, also 1st Penzance YB National. Lexie Houston had 1 x 1st and one cup, the Bamford Shield awarded for Bude when he timed his good Ash hen. Hugh Weir had 1 x 1st and one cup the highly prized OB Derby Cup for St Malo timing the only bird into Ballyclare on the day.
Looking at the racing season with the Irish Nat FC, the Ballyclare members are ever present at the Muckamore Centre. In the Yearling Nat Sennen Cove the club had 21 birds in the Open Result. In the Kings Cup Grand Nat from Saint Allouestre the club had 6 prizes, while in the faster Quimper Friendship Nat the birds in the prizes reached one dozen. Penzance YB Grand Nat was a bit different and just 3 birds in the prizes, it was a similar number in the final Skibbereen YB Nat, all 3 birds were flown by Victor Thompson.
In the Yearling Nat Glen McNeilly had 5 early arrivals, they finished 20th, 32nd, 104th, 106th and 114th. G & R Lawrie finished 10th and 307th in the Yearling Nat and then in the Penzance YB Nat finished 70th Open. Victor Thompson had one yearling bird away in the Kings Cup and timed his single entry for 21st Open, the 3 birds in Skibbereen finished 21st, 202nd and 255th. Arnold Thompson had a number of places, firstly in Skibbereen 252nd and followed that up in the Yearling Sennen Cove with 122nd, 221st, 305th, 309th and 390th. Kings Cup places were 28th, 40th and 96th followed in the Quimper Friendship with 12th, 35th and 58th. Moving to young birds and in Penzance the loft was 84th. The loft wins a Merit Award with a bird placed twice in the Kings Cup in 2013 he was 103rd and then in 2015 the hen was 96th Open.
C & L Woodside in their final year started in the Yearling Nat with 125th, 268th and 393rd and followed that up in Quimper with 7 birds in the prizes to finish 33rd, 39th, 60th, 65th, 81st, 83rd and 86th. Davy McClelland will remember the Kings Cup, the loft finished 14th Open and collected the Robinson Cup at the INFC Dinner. Mr & Mrs Colin Hayes also in their final racing season had 3rd in the Yearling Nat plus 123rd and 144th. In the Kings Cup they were 159th followed in the Quimper Friendship with 105th. Finally in the Penzance YB Nat the loft took 67th. Secretary Robin Duddy is another with a long record of success. The loft was 12th Open in the Yearling Nat and followed that up in Quimper with 85th Open. He also wins a Merit Award for a bird twice in the Friendship Nat prizes, in 2013 his hen was 15th Open and then this year in 2015 finished 85th.
Those who will collect awards at the INFC were Davy McClelland as mentioned Robinson Cup for 14th Open Kings Cup, Mr & Mrs Hayes won James McGrugan Memorial Cup 1st North Sect in the Yearling Nat Sennen Cove and finally the Charles Ingle Memorial Trophy for G & R Lawrie finishing 10th Open in the Yearling National.
Another fantastic night in East Antrim despite the terrible weather and many thanks to the officers and members in Doagh & Dist for the invite to cover the dinner for both clubs. It’s a while since I was last there, not a lot has changed the local lofts are winning as much as ever, a high competition area.
Blackpool Show will take place at the Winter Gardens on Saturday and Sunday 16th and 17th January 2016, Robin Duddy from Ballyclare is taking a bus as usual, seats are available. Bus leaves Dervock on Thursday 14th January around 9.00pm collecting through to Ballyclare and Belfast. A first class hotel is booked on Albert Road with entertainment each night. Cost is around £220 and package includes Bus, Hotel, 4 x Breakfast, 3 x Evening Meals, and Show Tickets. Bus returns on Monday 18th January on 3.00pm sailing. Further details contact Robin Duddy, Tel: (028) 93 340603.
The officials and top winners of Ballyclare & Dist at dinner in McConnells of Doagh.
Alan Rodney former Secretary (l) presents award to Top Prize-winner Glen McNeilly.
G & R Lawrie had top season winning 3 x 1sts.
Victor Thompson made the result most weeks.
Chairman Arnold Thompson scores through the programme.
Billy McClelland collects the J Mairs Trophy for his dad Davy.
Wilbert & Alan Moore steady racers in Ballyclare.
Colin Hayes won the R Hayes Cup in his final year, 3rd Open Yearling Nat.
Old Hand Lexie Houston won the Bamford Shield for 1st Bude.
Hugh Weir had the only bird on the day from St Malo (France).
From (l) Chairman Arnold Thompson, Glen McNeilly and Secretary Robin Duddy.