The annual Open Show for the Mid Antrim based Cullybackey HPS was held on Saturday 14th December, some 200 birds were penned for the high quality judges who had travelled from Lisburn, Crumlin and Portadown. All top racers in their own right and a sprinkle of distance. From Section B John Harkness and Mickey McConville represented Crumlin & District, Ian Donaghy now based in Lisburn is a former OB Derby winner and then we had from the Portadown area Roy Donaldson. W & N Gilbert from Ballymena & District won the Old Bird classes T/W and Eye-sign, John McConaghie from Ballymoney was 1st in the OB Handled, Gary Gibson for the local club had the Red Card in YB Eye-sign while Alwyn Neill from the Lurgan area won the YB Handled and T/W classes.
Old Bird Through Wires - 1st W & N Gilbert, 2nd C & R McIntyre, 3rd & Reserve B Herbison, 4th & VHC A Neill, HC A Darragh, Commended J & J Greer.
Old Bird Handled - 1st & HC J McConaghie, 2nd A Neill, 3rd, 4rh & VHC W & N Gilbert, Reserve K & K Kernohan, Commended C & R McIntyre.
Old Bird Eye-sign - 1st, 3rd & HC W & N Gilbert, 2nd A Neill, 4th, Reserve & Commended B Herbison, VHC J & J Greer.
Young Bird Through Wires - 1st, 3rd & 4th A Neill, 2nd & HC W & N Gilbert, Reserve J & J Greer, VHC B Herbison, Commended J Walker.
Young Bird Handled - 1st A Neill, 2nd & 4th J & J Greer, 3rd W & N Gilbert, Reserve & HC J Walker, VHC G Gibson, Commended C & R McIntyre.
Young Bird Eye-sign - 1st G Gibson, 2nd, 4th & Reserve B Herbison, 3rd A Neill, VHC A Darragh, HC C & R McIntyre, Commended J & J Greer.
Best in Show won by Alwyn Neill, Best Opposite Sex won by W & N Gilbert, Club Show Shields won by W & N Gilbert and for the Cullybackey HPS Neill & Steven Anderson.
Open Show birds - 120 Old Birds and 84 Young Birds. Chairman Neill Anderson thanked the many sponsors including Frazer Feeds, H Beattie & Son and the local Bridge Garage. He thanked all those who supported the show plus the judges, and also thanked the members who had helped in any way both at the Open Show and the previous two weekly events and those who supplied prizes. Many thanks to Elke for the photos, and Neill for the result.
Roy Donaldson (r) presents Best in Show at Cullybackey to Alwyn Neill.
Willy Gilbert (r) collects BOS at Cullybackey from Roy Donaldson.
Jamie Greer presents the Cullybackey Show Shield to Neill & Steven Anderson.
W & N Greer from Ballymena & District won the Visitor Trophy at Cullybackey HPS.
Gary Gibson (r) won the YB Eye-sign at Cullybackey Open Show.
Alwyn Neill (l) with the judge John Harkness from Crumlin.
John McConaghie (l) winner of Old Bird Handled with judge Mickey McConville.
Ian Donaghy from Lisburn (l) with Willy Gilbert 1st in both OB Through Wires and OB Eye-sign.
Cullybackey Open Show 1998, from (l) late Jack Balmer, late Len Russell, Alwyn Neill,
Alan Barkley and Jonathan Barkley.
Winners at Cullybackey Open Show 1998 with President Tom Kirkpatrick
(r) and on the (l) Chairman Tom McAlonan.