Cullybackey HPS returned to the local Restaurant Toast on the village Main Street for the annual dinner and presentation of awards held last Friday 26th October, the first night of winter with cold north wind and rain. Member’s friends and guests were welcomed by the Chairman Neil Anderson.
Guests included the regular sponsors Derek & Geraldine McDowell, Brian Hayes from the Bridge Garage who covered the Single Bird Nomination for the last number of years with other sponsorship, and local scribe Homer and Rosie invited as usual.
Another very consistent season for local lofts, Alan Darragh top man again lifting the Russell Family Cup for Highest Prize-winner, well over 30 now and top loft in the local village at three different addresses over the years. Probably the top highlight was in the INFC Yearling National a race he has won twice previously taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd Open in a fantastic result in all Ireland competition. This season the race was won by Ballymena fancier Martin Graham and Alan Darragh had three very early birds again 3rd, 4th and 6th best in the Cullybackey Station and collecting the Sam Buckley Memorial Cup for the Best 2 Bird Average in the INFC.
Jamie Greer and granda James had the major result from Penzance timing the best bird locally winning the Len Russell Memorial Cup presented for the first time, the Harryville HPS sponsored Centre Diploma and then were confirmed as winners of Sect B Meritorious Award for individual bird performance in the cross channel races from Talbenny and Penzance.
Both Alan Darragh and James Greer are former Kings Cup winners and although the club missed out in 2018 Alan Darragh had the two best club birds in the Friendship Nat from Lamballe. Must also mention N & S Anderson timed the only bird in the YB National Talbenny, and C & R McIntyre won both the Nominations for OB & YB sponsored by Bridge Garage.
The leading lofts were – Alan Darragh, Gary Gibson (1st & 2nd last season as well), C & R McIntyre, McAlonan Bros, Reid Bros & McCloy, and Mr & Mrs Martin Sempey.
Local members competed in the newly formed Seven Towers Championship for Ballymena based lofts looked after by young Jamie Greer, Alan Darragh was 4th in the Champion Loft, while Gary Gibson finished 5th in the Ace Young Bird. Seven Towers just started in the Young Birds, maybe next year they will all compete again in the MAC as well. I should have mentioned Alan Darragh won the OB Channel Sect B Fancier of the Year in the NIPA. Race winners over the year were as follows.
Old Birds: Tullamore – Alan Darragh vel 1841, Gowran Park (1) – Alan Darragh vel 1366, Fermoy – Alan Darragh vel 1839, Gowran Park (2) – Gary Gibson vel 1700, Rosscarbery Nat – Alan Darragh vel 1944, Corrin – Alan Darragh vel 1938, Fermoy (2) – McAlonan Bros vel 1167, Talbenny (1) – Alan Darragh vel 1524, Fermoy 5B – Alan Darragh vel 1391, Talbenny (2) – Alan Darragh vel 1251, Dunmanway – Des Robinson vel 1674, Yearling Cock Nat – Gary Gibson vel 1391, Yearling Hen Nat – McAlonan Bros vel 1546, Penzance – J & J Greer vel 1222, Penzance Championship – J & J Greer vel 1222, Fermoy – Alan Darragh vel 1534, St Malo – Alan Darragh vel 492, McAlonan Bros vel 465. Very hard OB Nat race from St Malo, only four arrivals in the Cullybackey Centre and two of those timed in Cullybackey.
Young Birds: Mullingar (1) Area Lib – Alan Darragh vel 1181, Mullingar (2) Area Lib – Mr & Mrs Sempey vel 1310, Tullamore – Alan Darragh vel 1460 (500 birds), Gowran Park – Alan Darragh vel 1751 (500 birds), Fermoy (1) – Alan Darragh vel 1386 (450 birds), Fermoy (2) – Gary Gibson vel 1459, Talbenny Nat – N & S Anderson vel 927, Roscrea – Gary Gibson vel 1656, Dumnanway – Alan Darragh vel 1773, Dunmanway 5B – Alan Darragh vel 1723, Rosscarbery Nat – C & R McIntyre vel 1038.
Irish Nat FC: Skibbereen OB – Sammy Steele vel 1147, Sennen Cove Yearling – Alan Darragh vel 1373, Friendship Lamballe – Alan Darragh vel 637 and 480.
Alan Darragh as usual collected most of the Silver up for grabs in 2018 which as I have already mentioned included the famous Russell Family Cup for Highest Prize-winner which had been presented to the club by Len Russell’s late mother. He also won OB Derby St Malo Cup, J Blaney Memorial (Penzance & St Malo), James Anderson (St Malo & Rosscarbery YB Nat), W Allen (Most Points OB), Spence Cup (OB Inl Ave), A G McCullough Cup (Rosscarbery OB Nat), G Irwin (YB Knock-Out), J Rock Cup (OB Knock-Out), Reid Bros Cup (Kings Cup & Penzance YB), Armstrong Cup (YB Average), Sandy Reid Memorial (Penzance 2B Ave), O’Kane Cup (OB Ave), G McCloy Cup (2nd Talbenny), Coronation Cup (Cross Channel Ave OB), Anderson Club Shield (Most Points YB), Patton Plane Sales (1st Talbenny), J Wheatcroft Selson (5B Fermoy OB), Harkness Cup (Ave Ross OB & Fermoy 5B Old Bird), S Herbison Memorial (5B Fermoy YB), and Darragh Cup (Best Ave all Derbies).
J & J Greer won – Len Russell Memorial Cup (Penzance), T Livingstone Cup (Penzance Classic), Norman Blaney Memorial Cup (2nd Talbenny, Bude & Penzance), Chris & Robin McIntyre won – Herbison Perpetual (Rosscarbery YB Nat), Robinson & Livingstone (YB National), H Jackson Cup – (Talbenny & Rosscarbery).
N & S Anderson won – J Blaney Memorial (Talbenny YB Nat), McAlonan Bros won – G Glenholmes Memorial (Bude & Penzance), M/M Sempey won - Straham Cup (2nd Area Lib).
Another good crowd and great night at Cullybackey HPS, competition as good as ever and I look forward to many more distance levels of success. Good luck to all lofts in the new season and many thanks once again for the invite.
Club officials and winners at the Cullybackey HPS presentation in Toast.
Most cups again to Alan Darragh including Russell Family for Highest Prize-winner.
J & J Greer win the Len Russell Memorial Cup and Cullybackey Centre Diploma.
Neil and Steven Anderson had the only bird in the Talbenny National.
Gary Gibson top prize-winner runner-up for the second year (r) collects awards from Brian Hayes.
Tom McAlonan and Mr & Mrs Sempey with trophies won in Cullybackey.
Brian Hayes presents the Bridge Garage Nomination to C & R McIntyre.
Cash winners Sammy Steele (l) and Iain McNaghten.
Charlie McDowell collects prizes from Daughter in Law Geraldine.
Geraldine McDowell presents awards to Hugh Kirkpatrick.
Cullybackey officials President Sammy Steele, Chairman Neil Anderson and Secretary Edrick Davidson with Highest Prize-winner Alan Darragh.
Mr & Mrs Sempey collect the Stracam Perpetual Cup from Mrs McDowell.
Cullybackey HPS – The local club dinner and prize presentation for the season will be held this Friday 26th October in Toast Cullybackey, full report will follow. The show season will start on Saturday 27th October with young cocks and hens through wires.
Some changed times from 2001, but Alan Darragh was still tops.