For the last number of seasons the Ahoghill Flying Club have presented the awards for the racing season in the local clubrooms, on Friday 1st March Rosie and myself were invited out to present the awards. It was fish suppers all round well appreciated by all those in attendance, the AGM had been arranged for after the presentation.
Racing was again to the highest standard and leading the way, the man to beat each week Paddy McManus. This loft has dominated for as long as I can remember Highest Prize-winner for something over 25 seasons but this season under strong pressure from Mr & Mrs Robinson. Young McManus & Sons set the season up by winning the opening four races of the old bird season. All told the loft had 9 x 1sts, 12 x 2nds, 13 x 3rds, 14 x 4ths, 12 x 5ths and 10 x 6ths. M/M Robinson had 9 x 1sts, 7 x 2nds, 7 x 3rds, 5 x 4ths, 6 x 5ths and 1 x 6th.
NIPA Old Bird race winners: Tullamore 9/374 - Young McManus & Sons Top 6 vel 1857, 1st MAC; Gowran Park 11/378 – Young McManus & Sons Top 6 vel 1322; Fermoy 11/387 Young McManus & Sons vel 1857, 5th MAC; Gowran Park (2) 11/352 – Young McManus & Sons Top 4 vel 1674, 8th MAC; Corrin 8/163 – M/M Robinson 1st & 2nd vel 1934, 2nd MAC; Rosscarbery Nat 6/38 – M/M Robinson vel 1969, 4th MAC; Fermoy (2) 12/280 – M/M Robinson vel 1128, 9th MAC, plus Paddy and Jimmy Smyth 10th & 11th MAC; Talbenny (1) 9/142 M/M Robinson Top 3 vel 1485, 6th, 7th & 8th MAC; Fermoy 5 Bird 4/16 – M/M Robinson 1st & 2nd vel 1422, 5th MAC; Talbenny (2) the holdover – M/M Robinson vel 1255, 2nd MAC plus Balmer Young & Son and Paddy 3rd & 4th MAC; Dunmanway 9/163 – Balmer Young & Son vel 1704, 13th MAC; Dunmanway Ylr Cock Nat 4/12 – M/M Robinson vel 1499; Dunmanway Ylr Hen Nat 4/12 – M/M Robinson vel 1474; Penzance 8/95 – Balmer Young & Son vel 1255, 1st MAC and Queens Gold Cup for Irish Region Single Bird Nomination, plus Paddy & M/M Robinson 3rd & 5th MAC; Fermoy Comeback 8/96 – M/M Robinson vel 1532, 1st MAC.
NIPA Young Bird race winners: Mullingar (1) 6/137 – T & G Balmer vel 1103; Mullingar (2) 8/242 – Young McManus & Sons vel 1300; Tullamore Mass Lib 9/320 – Young McManus & Sons vel 1434, 11th MAC; Gowran Park 10/332 – J Smyth & Son vel 1708; Fermoy (1) 10/324 – Young McManus & Sons vel 1285; ,Fermoy (2) 9/240 – Young McManus & Sons Top 4 vel 1382; Talbenny Nat 7/40 – J Smyth & Son vel 929, 9th MAC plus M/M Robinson 10th MAC; Dunmanway 6/60 – Young McManus & Sons vel 1711, 7th MAC; Rosscarbery Nat 5/35 – M/M Robinson 1st & 2nd vel 1042, 10th MAC.
INFC: Sennen Cove Yearling Nat – Young McManus & Sons vel 1329, 3rd MAC; Lamballe Friendship Nat – Balmer Young & Son vel 624, 1st MAC.
The leading lofts for the year were – Young McManus & Sons, Mr & Mrs Robinson, Balmer T Young & Son, Jimmy Smyth & Son, T & G Balmer, Jimmy Orr & Son, William Livingstone and Adrian Shields. Secretary Chris Moore dominated in a successful show season hels as usual in the clubrooms on a Friday evening, young Thomas McFall from Ballymena & District won the Visitors Trophy.
Ahoghill Flying Club Talbenny 7/40 – J Smyth & Son 929, M/M Robinson 925, Young McManus & Sons 885, 806, T & G Balmer 645, Balmer T Young & Son 639, C Moore 622. Seven birds timed in Ahoghill, winner Jimmy Smyth timed his Blue w/f cock at 16.32hrs recording velocity 929 for the 220 miles. Mr & Mrs Robinson were a close runner-up.
Mid Antrim Combine Lamballe – Balmer T Young & Son Ahoghill Flying Club 624. Tom Young details - The sire is vanloon/brakele through Crawley and Green of Crompton Bassett. The dam is from the distance lofts of Iain Ross from Kirkintilloch who races with good success through to Reims with the SNRPC.
Many thanks to Ahoghill for the invite once again, and we can all now look forward to the race season and training starting in a few short weeks.
HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: homerbhw@gmail.com
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The officials and winners at the Ahoghill Flying Club presentation.
Highest Prize-winner Paddy McManus with Rosie McCormick.
Balmer, T Young & Son won the Friendship Nat from Lamballe in France.
The top three in the prize list, from (l) Lawrence Robinson, Paddy McManus and Tom Young.
Chairman Tom Young (r) congratulates Highest Prize-winner in Ahoghill, Young McManus & Sons.
Chairman Tom Young presents the Show Visitors Trophy to young Thomas McFall from Ballymena & District.
Jimmy Smyth won the hard Young Bird National from Talbenny in South Wales.