Ballymena Area Show Season 2017 -

[willie reynolds]

Lurgan Social Christmas Show - Old birds JTW. 1st M Rice, 2nd K Henderson, 3rd R Higginson, 4th K Douglas, Res M Rice, VHC K Douglas, HC R Higginson, C K Douglas. Specials awarded to R Higginson, K Douglas, J P Nelson & D B Lyness. Young birds JTW. 1st R Higginson, 2nd P Toman, 3rd R Higginson, 4th M Rice, Res A McConville, VHC S Anderson, HC Douglas, C K Henderson. Specials awarded to A McConville & K Henderson.This was the final show of 2017, and what a great season. The final show was judged by two stalwarts of the pigeon fancy namely Mr Brian Keegan and Andy Milliken and many thanks to them. Thanks also to the sponsors Frazer Feeds who supplied many prizes. The members of Lurgan Social would like to wish all fanciers a Very Merry Christmas and a happy and successful 2018.

The Open Show for Ballymena & District will be Monday 1st January and that’s the day the draw will be made for the Fireside Quiz. Quiz Sheets are available from any member or contact Mrs N Gilbert Tel 07724 507621. The Open Show is only available for lofts in the NIPA Sect B due to space problems. Penning in the local clubrooms at Fountain Place will be from 11.00am, any prizes from the members would be appreciated, bird’s on show will qualify to compete for Specials in Penzance. If you require more Show Info contact Willy Gilbert Tel: 07761 323459.

The details for the annual dinner and awards for Ballymena & District HPS have been confirmed for Saturday 13th January 2018 and are as follows. Adults are £20.00 and Children £10.00. To secure your tickets a £10.00 deposit (non-refundable) per adult is required. No deposit for children needed. Anyone wishing to book please contact Nicola Tel: Tel 07724 507621, or pm the Facebook page. MAC fanciers are also invited to attend and pick up their awards, details of which will be published shortly.

MAC Diploma winners are J Eagleson & Sons (6), Young McManus & Sons (5), D Dixon (4), Gibson & O’Neill (3), F & G & J Dickey (3), J & M Milliken (3), W & J Smyth (2), McFall & McManus (2), W J McLean, Hugh Boyd, M Graham, T & M Morrow, N Bradley and G & A Eagleson. Diploma will also be presented for the new Individual loft Knock-out, Gary Gibson won the Old Bird at Penzance and Danny Dixon the Young Bird at Rosscarbery. Every loft in the MAC was included in the Knock-Out competition, it was quite a success.

Diplomas have been ordered and cup list will be available soon. The leading lofts in each race were as follows.

Secretary of Mid Antrim Combine Willie Reynolds must have all claims for the various awards immediately. Old Bird Inland Average, Cross Channel Average, Old Bird Ave, B Eagleson Memorial Cup best average Talbenny (1) & (2), Bude and Penzance, Old Bird of the Year, Young Bird Ave, New North Cup best average Bude & Talbenny YB, Combine Average, and Young Bird of the Year. Over the season we had the usual high level of competition and thanks to James Harris who sorted the results weekly and looked after the Champions League for member clubs and the new Knock-Out Competition which involved the total membership.

Old Birds: Mullingar Gibson & O’Neill Associate 1667, Gowran Park McFall & McManus Ballymena 1284, Gowran Park (2) W J McLean Rasharkin 2097, Corrin J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1168, Rosscarbery Nat F & J & G Dickey Randalstown 2046, Fermoy Comeback Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 2037, Talbenny (1) W & J Smyth Ballymena 1429, Skibbereen Nat Gibson & O’Neill Associate 1546, Fermoy 5 Bird Championship J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1290, Talbenny (2) Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1330, Rosscarbery Ylr Cock Nat F & J & G Dickey Randalstown 1860, Rosscarbery Ylr Hen Nat Gibson & O’Neill Associate 1787, Bude H Boyd Randalstown 1600, Sennen Cove Ylr Nat W & J Smyth Ballymena 1316, Corrin (2) Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1691, Fermoy J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1715, Penzance D Dixon Rasharkin 1443, St Malo Nat M Graham Ballymena 441 (only bird), St Allouestre Grand Nat G & A Eagleson Ballymena 851.

Young Birds: Mullingar (1) J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1478, Mullingar (2) J & M Milliken Rasharkin 1267, Tullamore McFall & McManus Ballymena 1819, Roscrea J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1551, Gowran Park D Dixon Rasharkin 1293, Fermoy (1) T & M Morrow Associate 1571, Talbenny Nat J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1327, Roscrea (2) F J & G Dickey Randalstown 1560, Fermoy D Dixon 1921, Fermoy 5 Bird Championship N Bradley Rasharkin 1874, Penzance Grand Nat J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1024 (only bird), Skibbereen Nat J Eagleson & Sons Ballymena 1064, Rosscarbery Nat Young McManus & Sons Ahoghill 1234.

Five local clubs joined the competition for 2017 and membership was opened up to include Associate Members from those clubs that decided not to compete. The AGM will be in the middle of March 2018, we will see where we are after that.

The most recent Committee meeting on Tuesday 19th December did not finish until 11.00pm due to a lot of major work on the Rule Book. It did not help that the special meeting to be held one week earlier was cancelled due to the weather. Due to the detailed text which I don’t have it will not be possible for me at this stage to report on same, I can tell you there are many changes. There was in-put from meetings held by Sect B, Sect C, Sect D and Sect E and additions from the NIPA Committee. I will report on the proposed changes later and the next meeting due in the early days of January will finalise the Statement of Accounts. Plenty coming up, the AGM is marked down for Saturday 10th February 2018. Happy New Year to one and all, hope you all record many winners.

HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com

Photo Captions
Gerard Douglas at Lurgan Show.
The members and judges at Lurgan Soc Christmas Show.
The new Len Russell Memorial Cup presented at the INFC Show for the first time to the winner of his favourite Class Old Bird Eye-sign where he had won many cards over the years. The first winners were W & N Gilbert of Ballymena & District.

[willie reynolds]

The Open Show for Ballymena & District will be Monday 1st January and that’s the day the draw will be made for the Fireside Quiz. Quiz Sheets are available from any member or contact Mrs N Gilbert Tel 07724 507621. The Open Show is only available for lofts in the NIPA Sect B due to space problems. Penning in the local clubrooms at Fountain Place will be from 11.00am, any prizes from the members would be appreciated, bird’s on show will qualify to compete for Specials in Penzance. If you require more Show Info contact Willy Gilbert Tel: 07761 323459.

The details for the annual dinner and awards for Ballymena & District HPS have been confirmed for Saturday 13th January 2018 and are as follows. Adults are £20.00 and Children £10.00. To secure your tickets a £10.00 deposit (non-refundable) per adult is required. No deposit for children needed. Anyone wishing to book please contact Nicola Tel: Tel 07724 507621, or pm the Facebook page. MAC fanciers are also invited to attend and pick up their awards, details of which will be published shortly.

MAC Diploma winners are J Eagleson & Sons (6), Young McManus & Sons (5), D Dixon (4), Gibson & O’Neill (3), F & G & J Dickey (3), J & M Milliken (3), W & J Smyth (2), McFall & McManus (2), W J McLean, Hugh Boyd, M Graham, T & M Morrow, N Bradley and G & A Eagleson. Diploma will also be presented for the new Individual loft Knock-out, Gary Gibson won the Old Bird at Penzance and Danny Dixon the Young Bird at Rosscarbery. Every loft in the MAC was included in the Knock-Out competition, it was quite a success.

Blackpool Show will take place at the Winter Gardens on Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st January 2018, Robin Duddy from Ballyclare is taking a bus as usual, seats are available. Bus leaves Dervock on Thursday 19th 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. There are still a few places available on the Larne Bus, contact Owen Donnelly Tel: (028) 2826 0425 or Mobile 07816 910993.

Broughshane and Dist HPS - Show Series Result:
Old Hens Handled - 1st. J J. Greer, 2nd. J. J. Greer, 3rd. D. Houston, 4th. D. Houston, Res. J J. Greer, VHC. J. Getty, HC. M. Neilly, Com. J. Getty. Young Hens Handled - 1st. J. J. Greer, 2nd. M. Neilly, 3rd. D. Houston, 4th. D. Houston, Res. J. J. Greer, VHC. D. Houston, HC. D. Houston, Com. J. J. Greer.

Broughshane Club would like to thank all the judges who placed cards over the show series. The club members and visitors who showed their pigeons and our catering officer Jamie-Lee Christie for baking the lovely buns and cakes. Lastly John Getty and Marc Neilly who run the show series. Broughshane Club overall winner Marc Neilly pictured with judges George Price, Bertie Blair and George Bell, the Visitor Trophy was won by J & J Greer. The club would like to thank the judges for placing the cards. Wishing you all a Happy Christmas, and a successful breeding season in 2018.

Ahoghill Flying Club – Old Bird Eyesign – 1st B Herbison, 2nd & Reserve C Moore, 3rd W Livingstone, 4th & HC J Orr & Son, VHC & Commended T & G Balmer. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, Reserve & Commended C Moore, 3rd, 4th & HC W Livingstone, VHC T & G Balmer. The judge was Davy Jackson from Kells, and raffle was won by T & G Balmer. Many thanks to all that supported the show series.

Photos
Broughshane Club overall winner Marc Neilly pictured with judges George Price, Bertie Blair and George Bell.
Broughshane club winning visitor Jamie Greer of J J Greer Cullybackey pictured with judge Bertie Blair from Ballymena.
Davy Jackson (r) with OB Eyesign winner at Ahoghill Brian Herbison.
The Blue penned by B Herbison to win OB Eye at Ahoghill.
The young Blue Pied penned by C Moore to win YB Eye at Ahoghill.