Roy Clements best in Harryville HPS -

[willie reynolds]

My first club racing when we lived on the Moat Road was Harryville HPS, joining to race in 1971 the club was around 15 years old. Initially it included lofts based in Harryville at the south end of the City of the 7 Towers Ballymena. Must have been over 30 members in those days and the new club I believe was formed by the late Davy Campbell, his partnership of Campbell & Francey dominated for many years. In its hey-day they had big weekly shows and then joined the Open Show scene on numerous occasions over 500 birds penned on New Year’s Day. Other members became household names over the years winning up to 1st Derby and 1st National, Fancier of the Year and the club were first time winners of the Mid Antrim Combine Champions League (R H Clements). They always had a Dinner and Presentation of prizes, on occasions jointly with neighbours in Ballymena & District. Big sporting time that, unfortunately the sport in big decline. I have included a dinner photo from 1998.

Old Hand Roy Clements as usual has supplied me with the list of club winners in the 2019 season, R H Clements was the clear winner of Highest Prize-winner at 387 Points winning 7 x 1sts. The Top 10 winners were: R H Clements, Allen McBride, Jimmy Rock, J Millar & Son, K & K Kernohan, Lexi Mullan, M & D & C Magill, Johnston & Richards, T Johnston & Son, W & D Rodgers and Wray & McFadden. The top three were as the season previous and are the lofts to beat at the present time.

Overall race winners were – R H Clements 7 x 1sts, A McBride 5 x 1sts, J Millar & Son 4 x 1sts, K & K Kernohan 3 x 1sts, L Mullan 3 x 1sts, J Rock 2x 1sts, T Johnston & Son 1 x 1sts.

Old Bird race winners: 13/04 Mullingar L Mullan, 20/04 Tullamore J Millar & Son, 28/04 Roscrea L Mullan, 04/05 Gowran Park J Millar & Son, 11/05 Fermoy J Millar & Son, 18/05 Corrin L Mullan, 25/05 Fermoy A McBride, 25/05 Barleycove Inl Nat A McBride, 02/06 Gowran Park R H Clements, 07/06 Fermoy 5 Bird Championship R H Clements, 07/07 Fermoy R H Clements, 09/06 Talbenny A McBride, 15/06 Bude R H Clements, 15/06 Castletown Ylr Nat R H Clements, 22/06 Penz & OB Classic R H Clements, 22/05 Fermoy J Millar & Son.

Young Bird race winners: 20/07 Mullingar T Johnston & Son, 27/07 Tullamore J Rock, 02/08 Tullamore J Rock, 11/08 Gowran Park A McBride, 17/08 Fermoy A McBride, 25/08 Fermoy K & K Kernohan, 31/08 Roscrea R H Clements, 02/09 Talbenny Nat R H Clements, 07/09 Corrin 5 Bird Championship K & K Kernohan, 07/09 Corrin K & K Kernohan, 14/09 Skibbereen Nat K & K Kernohan. R H Clements won 1st, 2nd and 3rd MAC in the comeback race from Roscrea, same weekend as Talbenny YB National.

Cups & Trophies won:

R H Clements won – Highest Prize-winner, Best Ave first 3 cross channel races, Old Bird CC Average, Combined Inland Average, Best Ave Bude & Penzance, Best Ave YB Talbenny & Skibbereen Nats, Best Ave Penzance OB & Talbenny YB Nat, Best Ave Comeback Races.

Allen McBride won – Best Ave OB Talbenny & Bude, Best Ave first 3 young bird races, Best Ave 1st & 2nd YB Races. J Millar & Son won – Old Bird Inland Average. K & K Kernohan won – Best Individual Bird, Lowest Winning Velocity, Most Points Young Birds races, Young Bird Average. Lexi Mullan won – Best Ave 1st OB Race & 1st YB Race. Wesley Jackson won – National Points.


Club officials and prize-winners who attended the Harryville HPS annual presentation dinner in the Country House Hotel in 1998 (now Ross Park Hotel). Included are club chairman Robert Service, secretary Jack Millar
and treasurer George Price.


Roy Clements was Harryville Highest Prize-winner with 7 x 1sts, also 1st MAC Roscrea.


Allen McBride had 5 x 1sts including Barleycove OB inl National.


J Millar & Son had a super season in old birds with 4 x 1sts.


K & K Kernohan excelled in the young birds winning Corrin 5 Bird and Skibbereen National.


The ever consistent Lexi Mullan won 3 x 1sts in the first 6 old bird races.


Jimmy Rock won both the Area Liberations from Tullamore in Co Offaly.


Trevor Johnston & Son had the big early bird in the opening young bird race from Mullingar.


Ballymena & Harryville joint dinner 1986.