The Mid Antrim Show of the Year was held once again at Ballymena & District HPS Clubrooms on New Year’s Day, good weather ensured another full house for the local show enthusiasts.
As usual it was a 3 in 1 Show with classes for Old Birds and Young Birds, judges Through Wires, Handled and Eye-sign, some 220 birds. The judges travelled from the County Down Bernard Smyth the Secretary of Kircubbin and Gary Hawthorne and from County Londonderry John Edgar of the NI Show Racers Society who turned up at short notice to judge Eye-sign.
Best in Show won by Brian Herbison, Cullybackey, Best Opposite Sex won by Alan Barkley & Son, Kells, Best Young Bird penned by Brian Herbison. Most Points by 1 point in it Alan Barkley. Our weekly show trophies went to - Club members trophy W & N Gilbert for the 5th season on the trot and Visitors trophy to Brian Herbison. Thank you to all who attended weekly, members and visitors.
Well done too everyone who took part and won prizes. It was a great class of pigeons, and thanks to the judges. . Chairperson Nicola Gilbert congratulated all the winners and thanked the sponsors including Frazer Feeds in Banbridge and all those who supplied prizes and supported the show. Now to some rest and look forward to the racing season. Diary Dates for Ballymena & District members – NIPA Agenda mandate Monday 4th February, Ballymena AGM Monday 18th February, Fees etc. Monday 25th February, all at 8.00pm. Resolutions for the AGM in writing before 31st January 2019.
Results: Old Bird Through Wires judged by Bernard Smyth – 1st R & S Swann, 2nd & 3rd D & G McMullan, 4th & Reserve A Barkley & Son, VHC B Herbison, HC & Commedded W & N Gilbert. Old birds Handled judged by Bernard Smyth – 1st A Barkley & Son, 2nd & HC D Swann, 3rd R & S Swann, 4th & Reserve B Herbison, VHC & Commended W & N Gilbert. Old Bird Eye-sign judged by John Edgar – 1st, 2nd & HC A Barkley & Son, 3rd, 4th, VHC & Commended W & N Gilbert, Reserve D Swann. Young Bird T/W judged by Bernard Smyth – 1st B Herbison, 2nd & HC D & G McMullan, 3rd & 4th A Barkley & Son, Reserve & Commended W & N Gilbert, VHC R & S Swann. Young Bird Handled judged by Bernard Smyth – 1st & 3rd R & S Swann, 2nd & Reserve B Herbison, 4th R Service & Son, VHC D & G McMullan, HC D Swann, Commended W & N Gilbert. Young Bird Eye-sign judged by John Edgar – 1st & 4th B Herbison, 2nd & Commended D Swann, 3rd R Service & Son, Reserve & VHC R & S Swann, HC D & G McMullan.
Show Secretary William Gilbert with class winners from (l) Alan Barkley, Darren Swann and Brian Herbison
at Ballymena annual New Year’s Day Show.
Thank you to the judges Bernard, Gary and a special thanks to John who stepped in
at the 11th hour yesterday morning.
The judges with Best in Show, BOS, Most Points and Best Young Bird.
R & S Swann won the Old Bird T/W and YB Handled with judge Bernard Smyth.
Alan Barkley won 1st & 2nd in the OB Eye-sign with judge John Edgar.
The Young Bird Eye-sign was won by Brian Herbison (l) with judge John Edgar.
Club set up and ready to go on New Year’s Day.
Show season winners Willy Gilbert (l) Club Shield and Brian Herbison Visitors Trophy.