Ballymena & District Clubrooms was the venue for the annual show of New Year’s Day open only to NIPA Sect B lofts due to shortage of space, arrangements were as usual in the capable hands of Willy & Nicola Gilbert. The judges travelled from Lisburn in County Antrim including INFC Financial Secretary Trevor Topping, David & Robert Topping ace racers in the East Down Combine and long distance ace flyer Jackie Waring. Chairman Robert Service congratulated all the winners and thanked the judges plus the many sponsors including Neil Frazer and others who wished to remain anonymous. Class winners were W & N Gilbert 1st in both YB Through the Wires and OB Through the Wires. R Service & Son had 1st in the YB Handled, J & J Greer from Cullybackey had 1st in the OB Handled, Brian Herbison from Cullybackey was 1st & 2nd in the OB Eye-sign and finally D & G McMullan from Ballymoney won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Reserve & VHC in the YB Eye-sign. Best in Show was won by J & J Greer, Best Opposite Sex and Best Young Bird was won by R Service and son with Most Points in Show going to W & N Gilbert. In the weekly shows W & N Gilbert won the Club Shield and Visitors Trophy was won by Brian Herbison. Old Bird T/W winner was the famous bird penned by W & N Gilbert, “The Prince” won his 21st Red Card and will be heading to the Blackpool Show, the Club Shield and Most Points in Open Show were won for 6th year in a row! Well done to all the winners.
Results: Old Bird T/W (109 birds) – 1st & 4th W & N Gilbert, 2nd, 3rd, VHC & Commended B Herbison, Reserve & HC J & J Greer. Judges D & R Topping. Old Birds Handled – 1st & 3rd J & J Greer, 2nd, 4th & VHC W & N Gilbert, Reserve, HC & Commended B Herbison. Judges J Waring and T Topping. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st & 2nd B Herbison, 3rd, Reserve, VHC & HC W & N Gilbert, 4th D & G McMullan, Commended D Swann. Judges J Waring and T Topping. Young Birds T/W (76 birds) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Reserve & Commended W & N Gilbert, 4th & HC B Herbison, VHC J & J Greer. Judges J Waring and T Topping. Young Birds Handled – 1st & Commended R Service & Son, 2nd & VHC D & G McMullan, 3rd & 4th W & N Gilbert, Reserve J & J Greer, HC D Swann. Judges D & R Topping. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Reserve, & VHC D & G McMullan, HC B Herbison, Commended R Service & Son. Judges D & R Topping.
Best in Show Jamie Greer (r) with Trevor Topping.
Best Opposite Sex Robert Service & Son (l) with Robert Topping, also Best YB.
Most Points in Show Willy Gilbert (l) with Robert Topping.
Brian Herbison 1st & 2nd in the OB Eye-sign (r) with judge Trevor Topping.
Ballymena President Billy Smyth (r) presents Show Shield to W & N Gilbert.
Brian Herbison from Cullybackey wins the Visitors Trophy in Ballymena & District.
The class winners and prizes at Ballymena Open Show on New Year’s Day.
