Secretary Marcus Morrow has faithfully supplied details of the racing season for Broughshane & District reporting on the annual dinner and prize distribution which was held at Ballymena Golf Club on the Raceview Road.
The function was well attended by family and friends of the club members, the prizes being presented by Mrs. Maisie Houston. The members would like to thank Ballymena Golf Club for the use of their facilities and providing a lovely meal. A big thank you to all who brought ballot prizes, and to those who bought ballot tickets on the night. The club would like to also thank Jamie Greer of Cullybackey for supplying the race diplomas.
Top Prize Winners this year were as follows:
D Houston and Son won 7 Old Bird races including all the Channel races and retained the Bird of the Year trophy. Davy, helped by good friend Tommy Cole, won 10 trophies in all making him highest prize winner two years running.
Club Prize Winners: Marc Neilly won Roscrea OB, Mullingar YB and Tullamore YB. Alistair Purvis won Gowran Park (2) OB, Gowran Park (3) OB and Fermoy (3) OB. Bob Wylie won Roscrea YB, Corrin 5 Bird YB Championship, Skibbereen YB Nat and Novice Trophy.
The following trophy winners were unable to attend the presentation: Mrs Valerie Gage won Mullingar OB, and Tullamore OB. Gary Johnston won Gowran Park Young Bird. T & M Morrow won Fermoy OB and the Gold Ring Race. Tommy Cole was Club-man of the Year.
The second young bird race from Tullamore saw T & M Morrow (Marcus and his late father Tommy) of Broughshane & District win 1st in the Mid Antrim Combine and 31st Open NIPA 7,143 birds. Their Dark Chequer hen was timed at 11.41am for the 125 miles to their lofts just off the Doagh Road in Kells. Breeding is Van Den Brande x Vandenabelle from good friends Gary Gibson and Davy Scott. Marcus has had a lot of success with this line of birds. T & M Morrow have MAC success nearly every year and collect a winning Diploma, it was not mentioned in the season report but I am always keen to report on achievements than enhance our great sport. It was one of the top results of the year. Congratulations to all the Broughshane & Dist winners, keep going forward in 2020. I have included some photos of the presentation in 1998, some memories there.
Members of Broughshane and District HPS 2019
Highest prize-winner for the second year Davy
Houston collects awards from wife Maisie.
Marc Neilly won races from Roscrea, Mullingar
and Tullamore.
Former Secretary Alistair Purvis won in
the old birds from Gowran Park and Fermoy.
Bob Wylie scored in the later YB events from
Corrin 5 Bird and Skibb Nat collecting Novice Cup.
Secretary Marcus Morrow scored
1st Mid Antrim Combine in the YB Tullamore.
Prize-winners who attended the annual dinner and presentation in 1998, included are
Winston Taylor President, Harry Smyth Secretary and Davy Houston Treasurer.
Johnny and Norman Simpson were top prize-winners, Lorraine Graham presents cup.
Mid Antrim Combine winning diplomas presented to H Smyth & Son and the late Duncan Millar.