The annual dinner and prize presentation for the Ballymena based Harryville HPS was held in the local Adair Arms Hotel in early January. Harryville was my first club away back in 1971 and I must have kept up membership for near 30 years, although could have raced more. Those early season were dominated by the racing achievemts of Campbell & Francey, although on the odd occasion were pipped for Highest Prize-winner. Some water under the bridge since those days but Harryville remain a top racing club in Mid Antrim and competing at the highest level in the NIPA Section B.
For a few seasons now the position of Highest Prize-winner is decided on points, in 2017 racing it turned out a dead heat with R H Clements and Jimmy Rock scoring 453 Points each over the complete season. Both have been at the top before and both lofts have won major races, Jimmy Rock had the result of the year by winning 1st Open NIPA in Penzance and also 1st Open in the Penzance OB Classic. He timed his good Cheq w/f hen “Elizabeth” to win 1st Club, 1st Sect B & 1st Open NIPA Penzance 591/6,235 – Vel 1449 and 1st Club, 1st Sect B & 1st Open NIPA Penzance OB Classic 415/2,803 – Vel 1449 – Miles 329. Jimmy Rock also won the Irish Region Meritorious Award for Sect B, Individual Bird Performance Talbenny (2) & Penzance. Just a few short years ago Jimmy won the NIPA Talbenny YB National racing to lofts at Albert Place in the town centre. Always consistent Roy Clements won 1st Sect B in the Roscrea young birds and a fortnight later in the Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, 3rd Sect B & 6th Open NIPA.
The trophies and diplomas were presented by Mrs Jill Price, Bertie Blair from Ballymena & Dist presented the Show Specials. The leading lofts were R H Clements and J Rock joint Highest Prize-winners followed by A McBride, L Mullan, M D C Magill, R Service & Son, D Craig, G Price, J Ramsey, Wray & McFadden and W & D Rodgers.
Race winners Old Birds: Mullingar –A McBride, Tullamore – R Service & Son, Gowran Park – R H Clements, Gowran Park (2) – J Rock, Corrin – L Mullan, Rosscarbery – J Rock, Fermoy – J Rock, Talbenny (1) – J Rock, Talbenny (2) – J Rock, Fermoy – R H Clements, Bude – R H Clements, Rosscarbery Ylr Cock Nat – M D C Magill, Rosscarbery Ylr Hen Nat – J Rock, Corrin (2) – R H Clements, Penzance & Classic – J Rock, Fermoy – M D C Magill.
Race winners Young Birds: Mullingar – R H Clements, Mullingar (2) – R H Clements, Tullamore – R H Clements, Roscrea – L Mullan, Gowran Park – J Rock, Fermoy – A McBride, Roscrea (2) – R H Clements, Talbenny Nat – A McBride, Fermoy & 5 Bird – R H Clements, Rosscarbery Nat – J Rock.
Roy Clements and Jimmy Rock won 9 x 1sts each, 3 x 1sts for Allen McBride, 2 x 1sts each for Lexie Mullan and M D C Magill and 1 x 1st for R Service & Son.
Trophy winners 2017 –
Jimmy Rock won – Joint Highest Prize-winner, Old Bird Inland Ave, Best Ave first 4 cross channel races, Best Ave Bude & Penzance, Best Individual Bird, OB Cross Channel Ave, Lowest Winning Velocity, Best Ave YB Nat Talbenny & Rosscarbery, Best Ave Penzance OB & Talbenny YB, Best Ave Comeback Races, Old Bird Average.
Roy Clements won - Joint Highest Prize-winner, Best Ave Talbenny & Bude, Most Points all Derby Races, Young Bird Ave, Best Ave Fermoy 1 & 2 Races, Combined OB & YB Average.
Allen McBride won – Combined Inland Average, Lexi Mullan won – Best Ave First OB & First YB Races, M D C Magill won – National Points.
Thanks to Donna Service for the photos. We look forward to another big season of competition for Harryville HPS in the 2018 racing season.
Joint Highest Prize-winner Roy Clements (l) with Bertie Blair.
At the NIPA Ladies Night Jimmy Rock collected the McCrory Cup and J H O’Neill Cup for Penzance.
Allen McBride (l) won 3 x 1sts including Talbenny YB National.
Robin Service (l) won the old bird race from Tullamore.
“Elizabeth” winner of Penzance for Jimmy Rock.