Ballymena & District HPS 2020 =

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willie reynolds
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Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:44 pm

Ballymena & District HPS 2020 =

Post by willie reynolds »

PO Mervyn Eagleson has penned a season report on the fortunes of Ballymena & District regarded by many in the town as the Big Club, I suppose that was an apt title when the membership not only in Ballymena & District but across the entire Borough of Ballymena was many times larger and when we enjoyed competition with massive numbers. Things are all changed and we will have to just get used to competition with smaller numbers, it can still be good sport although the restrictions in the past season through the Covid 19 has put many lofts off. I would think the new season in 2021 will be similar, before that local clubs should take the opportunity to review the season in 2020 and we will give some coverage to the top winners. Make contact through the usual channels. This week we will cover old birds in Ballymena and follow up with the young bird season next week.

Ballymena & District 2020 - End of Season Awards

With the season now over it time for the awards to be handed out. This year due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic there will be no award night and the cups and trophies can be collected in due course by each member. Only 19 NIPA races in total this year and the breakdown of winners is as follows and many thanks to PO Mervyn Eagleson..

Highest Prize-winners Johnston Eagleson & Sons won 6 x 1st and 2 x 1st Mid Antrim Combine and 2 x 1st Section B, Robert Service & Son 6 x 1st and 1 x 1st MA Combine, Blair & Rankin 4 x 1st and 1 x 1st MA Combine, William & Joe Smyth 2 x 1st club, Martin Graham 1 x 1st club
The Highest Prizewinner list calculated on a points system is J Eagleson & Sons, Blair & Rankin, R Service & Son, W & J Smyth, M Graham, George Bell and D Mitchell

Cup and Trophy winners
Eagleson & Sons - Harper Cup (Highest prizewinner), Old Bird Average, OB Inland Average, Skibbereen OB Inland National, Slemish Cup Talbenny (1), Old Bird Derby St Malo, Fermoy 5bird YB, Roger King Memorial cup for 6th YB race, Bill Carney Rose Bowl Old Bird Of The Year GB17R18619 23 points & GB19B16212 23 points (shared with R Service & Son GB19V81825 23 points) Blair & Rankin - Combined Average, Vintage & Ruddle Cups NIPA Talbenny YB National, Victory Cup YB Average, YB Inland Average, Young Bird of the year GB20B21324 35 points R Service & Son - Yearling National Skibbereen, Bill Carney Rose Bowl Old Bird Of The Year GB19V81825 23 points (Shared with J Eagleson & Sons GB17R18619 23 points & GB19B16212 23 points) Martin Graham - Cross Channel Average, Bude. W & J Smyth - 2nd YB Area Liberation

Race reports for the season - Old Birds
Tullamore 07/06/20
Ballymena & District 8/255 – J Eagleson & Sons 1418, 1418, 1417, 1414, W & J Smyth 1398, Blair & Rankin 1398, R Service & Son 1398, J Eagleson & Sons 1396, 1396, Blair & Rankin 1392. Johnston Eagleson & Sons got off to a great start to the season having the top four positions in the Ballymena & Dist club. They timed their winning 3 year old blue chequer pied hen at 14.21pm for the 126 mile fly to the Cullybackey Road lofts. The hen has had many prizes including being beat by a loft-mate for 1st last season. She is a Lambrecht from Jackie Steele of Rasharkin and contains the best of his bloodlines. The sire is one of his best stock cocks and is sire of Bertie Blair’s Mullingar NIPA open winner. He is also sire to Jackies own "Isla" winner of 3 x 1st Section B 2018. The dam is a sister to his super pigeon Champion "02".

Gowran Park 13/06/20
Ballymena & District 11/401 – R Service & Son 1250, J Eagleson & Sons 1247, 1234, W & J Smyth 1231, J Eagleson & Sons 1230, 1230, R Service & Son 1224, 1224, W & J Smyth 1222, J Eagleson & Sons 1222. Robert Service and son Robin win the second race timing at 16.11pm for the 157 miles fly to their Drumtara lofts. This yearling blue cock was sitting on eggs as was unraced as a youngster. Sire is from Dave Stone of Derbyshire and dam is from their good Soontjen cock which has bred a 5 x 1st winner and a 2 x 1st winner. Hard workers and well deserved.

Corrin 20/06/20
Corrin in Co Cork was the venue for the third race of the season. Birds were liberated on Saturday 20th June at 07.35am and a fast race was expected. Best local bird was clocked by last year’s Talbenny YB National winner Bertie Blair of Ballymena & Dist. His winning 2 year old blue chequer Van Den Bulck widowhood cock was timed at 10.42am for the 207 mile fly to the Chichester Park lofts. This gift bird from good friend Lexie Mullan of Harryville HPS wins 1st Combine, 2nd Section B and 18th Open NIPA 24,284 birds. Well done Bertie, always good for a 1st Combine winner. Ballymena & District HPS 10/364 – Blair & Rankin 1946, J Eagleson & Sons 1934, Blair & Rankin 1909, 1908, R Service & Son 1888, W & J Smyth 1856, 1855, J Eagleson & Sons 1850, George Bell 1837, J Eagleson & Sons 1834.

Corrin (2) 2/07/20
Ballymena & District 10/291 – W & J Smyth 1374, R Service & Son 1373, Blair & Rankin 1369, J Eagleson & Sons 1347, 1347, R Service & Son 1342, J Eagleson & Sons 1341, 1338, R Service & Son 1333, 1332. William & Joe Smyth have the winner this week and also the best bird in the town and runner up spot in the Combine. The winning blue yearling cock timed at 14.56pm for the 208 mile fly is Coopman x Jackie Traynor of Co. Durham. Club Chairman Robert Service and son Robin who is Treasurer are runners up just decimals points behind. Four races flown and four different winners, big competition.

Skibbereen OB Inland National 6/07/20
The first classic race of the season was the Inland National from Skibbereen. Birds were liberated on Monday 6th July at 10.00am in a light north-west wind. Best bird in the area and winning the Mid Antrim Combine was Johnston Eagleson & Sons of Ballymena & Dist. The winning 2 year old dark chequer hen was timed at 15.27pm for the 260 mile fly to the lofts on the Cullybackey Road. This very tame hen flying on Roundabout wins the Ballymena club and the town by a clear 20 minutes also winning 1st Section B, and 137th Open National 4,236 birds. Breeding is Lambrechts. The sire being "Dixie" a top stock cock acquired from Danny Dixon of Rasharkin and the dam was purchased from across the water. Another top result from the Eagleson Lofts who topped the Section in the same race in 2016.Ballymena & District HPS 7/63 – J Eagleson & Sons 1399, W & J Smyth 1314, 1309, J Eagleson & Sons 1308, Blair & Rankin 1308, J Eagleson & Sons 1295, 1293, M Graham 1291, R Service & Son 1280, Blair & Rankin 1257

Talbenny 11/07/20
The first channel race of the season was from Talbenny in South Wales. The birds were liberated on Saturday morning 6th July at 9.00am in a light north wind variable en-route. Best bird in the area and winning the Mid Antrim Combine for the second race on the trot was Johnston Eagleson & Sons of Ballymena & Dist. The winning 2 year old blue hen was timed at 13.47pm for the 220 mile fly to the lofts on the Cullybackey Road. This hen as a young bird was 2nd club from the Talbenny YB National and last season was the third bird home from Penzance. She was sitting on eggs and was one from a kit of youngsters from the top racing and breeding lofts of Paddy and William McManus of Ahoghill. She wins the Ballymena & Dist club and the town by a clear 9 minutes, and also 1st Section B and 20th Open NIPA 14,232 birds. Back to back inland and channel Combine and Section B wins from the Eagleson Loft. Ballymena & District HPS 10/204 – J Eagleson & Sons 1348, Blair & Rankin 1290, J Eagleson & Sons 1284, R Service & Son 1264, G Bell 1252, J Eagleson & Sons 1249, Blair & Rankin 1244, M Graham 1240, 1240, J Eagleson & Sons 1224.

Skibbereen NIPA Yearling National 15/07/20
Ballymena & District 5/41 – R Service & Son 1311, Blair & Rankin 1307, J Eagleson & Sons 1284, W & J Smyth 1269, Blair & Rankin 1233, R Service & Son 1219, 1205, 1188. Robert and Robin Service get their second win of the season and finish a good 4th MA Combine, 6th Section B and 191st Open 2980 birds. Their winning pencil blue yearling cock driving his hen to the nest was clocked at 16.17pm flying 259 miles to their lofts at Drumtara. This cock was unraced as a young bird and is direct from Dave Stone of Windmill Lofts in Derby. The Service lofts have a great record from the NIPA Yearling National having won 1st Section B and 7th Open in 2016 and again 1st Section B and 6th Open in 2018.

Bude 19/07/20
Ballymena & District 7/91 – Martin Graham 1074, 1043, 1006, 985, 981, 969, 961, W & J Smyth 931, Martin Graham 931, Blair & Rankin 923. Twice National winner Martin Graham had a super card here taking the top seven positions in the club and also the best two birds in the town beating the next fancier by a quarter of an hour. His winning blue yearling cock was clocked at 15.39pm for the 289 miles fly to the lofts on the Old Cullybackey Road. The cock was bred by Danny Dixon of Rasharkin. The sire being the famous "Belgie Cock" who is sire of many winners and the dam was in fact purchased by Danny for £900 at a sale of Martins and she is a direct daughter of "The Big Hen" This pair also bred Danny his 7th Open Penzance YB National pigeon last year. Martin's winner flew Talbenny last week and was then paired up to his hen.

Fermoy Comeback 25/07/20
Ballymena & District HPS 9/70 – R Service & Son 1518, W & J Smyth 1514, J Eagleson & Sons 1500, R Service & Son 1481, Blair & Rankin 1478, J Eagleson & Sons 1468, R Service & Son 1465, W & J Smyth 1456, 1443, J Eagleson & Sons 1440. Robert Service and son Robin win their third race of the season and also have the best bird in the town and finish 2nd in the MA Combine. The partnership timed at 11.52am for the 200 mile fly to their Drumtara lofts. This yearling blue cock was driving his hen and was winning it's second race of the season having won Gowran Park. A good yearling cock this considering it was unraced as a youngster. Sire is from Dave Stone of Derbyshire and dam is from their good Soontjen cock which has bred a 5 x 1st winner and a 2 x 1st winner.

St Malo Old Bird Derby 30/07/20
Ballymena & District HPS 7/23 – J Eagleson & Sons 1362, Martin Graham 1307, J Eagleson & Sons 1235, Martin Graham 1208, Blair & Rankin 1160, R Service & Son 1134, J Eagleson & Sons 1076, G & A Eagleson 659, 537. Johnston Eagleson & Sons who are twice overall winners of this race have the winner in the club. The 2 year old blue w/f Lambrechts hen was sitting on eggs. The dam was "Channel Queen" 1st Combine Talbenny YB National and 1st Combine & 6th Open INFC Penzance YB National. "Channel Queen" was one from a kit of youngsters from Jackie Steele of Rasharkin in 2017.

Young Birds 2020

Mullingar Area Lib (1) 8/08/20
Ballymena & District HPS 7/238 – Blair & Rankin 1304, 1303, J Eagleson & Sons 1268, G Bell 1266, J Eagleson & Sons 1253, 1253, 1252, Blair & Rankin 1251, W & J Smyth 1248, R Service & Son 1243. Bertie Blair wins the first young bird race and has the best two birds in the town. He timed his blue hen at 10.47am for the 102 mile fly to the lofts. Sire is from McGimpsey Bros of Newtownards and the dam is from Gibb Lofts. This Lambrechts hen has now bred 4 x 1st winners. This was Bertie's second win of the season having topped the Combine from Corrin in June.

Mullingar Area Lib (2) 15/08/20
Ballymena & District HPS 9/252 – W & J Smyth 1267, R Service & Son 1240, W & J Smyth 1230, 1230, Blair & Rankin 1227, W & J Smyth 1220, Blair & Rankin 1211, R Service & Son 1189, 1181, 1181. William and Joe Smyth have the winner this week. After a bad trap their blue hen was eventually timed at 15.57pm for the 102 mile fly to the Carniny Road lofts. Sire is Jackie Traynor Co. Durham and the dam Koopman. This hen is closely related to many winners including the sire and grandsire which have both won Penzance

Roscrea 23/08/20
Ballymena & District HPS 8/270 – R Service & Son 1695, Blair & Rankin 1678, 1677, W & J Smyth 1660, Blair & Rankin 1654, W & J Smyth 1649, Blair & Rankin 1647, 1647, R Service & Son 1639, J Eagleson & Sons 1639. Robert Service and son Robin have their fourth win of the season with a natural blue cock timed at 13.15pm flying 145 miles to Drumtara. Sire is their good Soontjen x Frans Zwols cock that won 5 x 1st for them. Dam is Lambrechts from D Gould of Anglesey in Wales. The Service team who are great workers in the club are having a great season.

Gowran Park 29/08/20
Ballymena & District HPS 9/238 – R Service & Son 1185, J Eagleson & Sons 1166, R Service & Son 1162, 1160, Blair & Rankin 1155, 1155, J Eagleson & Sons 1152, Blair & Rankin 1140, 1139, R Service & Son 1138. Another win for club Chairman and Treasurer Robert and Robin Service and their fifth in total for the season. They timed their blue cock at 12.53pm flying 157 miles to Drumtara. Sire is a full brother to their good 5 x 1st cock and he also bred their 1st Section B winner from the Yearling Hens National 2in 018. The dam is nestmate to the mother of last week's 1st club and 3rd MA Combine pigeon. Top flying from the Service lofts.

Fermoy 6/09/20
Ballymena & District HPS 7/150 – J Eagleson & Sons 1253, 1253, Blair & Rankin 1231, R Service & Son 1229, 1229, Blair & Rankin 1227, J Eagleson & Sons 1227, 1226, W & J Smyth 1225, Blair & Rankin 1208. Johnston Eagleson & Sons timed two birds together at 15.42pm to take 1st & 2nd club. The winning blue chequer cock was 2nd club last week behind the Service partnership. Breeding is Leo Hereman x Van den Bulk. The second blue pied hen is Van den Bulk off a granddaughter of the famous Kittle

NIPA Talbenny YB National 12/09/20
Ballymena & District HPS – Blair & Rankin 1297, W & J Smyth 1279, Blair & Rankin 1270, 1228, D Mitchell 1158, Blair & Rankin 1122, W & J Smyth 1097, G Bell 937, W & N Gilbert 904, 890. Bertie Blair who in the same race last season won 1st Open NIPA National with "Doreen's Choice" again had the best bird in both the club and town. He timed his black cock feeding an 8 day old youngster at 12.57pm for the 219 mile fly to Chichester Park to win 12th Section B and 115th Open 2616 birds. Sire is Van den Brande and dam is a daughter of Johnston Eagleson "Channel Queen" 1st Combine Talbenny National and 1st Combine, 6th Open INFC Penzance.YB Nat.

Tullamore Comeback 12/09/20
The NIPA held their comeback race from Tullamore. Birds were liberated on Saturday 12th September at 9.00am in a light south west wind. Best Bird in area was clocked was by the consistent Service partnership of Robert and son Robin to win 1st Mid Antrim Combine. Their blue hen was clocked at 10.51am flying 125 miles to Drumtara. This is the hens third prize of the season including 4th club & 18th Combine from Gowran park in a race they also won with the hens nest mate placed 8th Combine that day. The sire which has already bred 1st Section B Yearling Hens National in 2018 is a full brother to their good 5 x 1st cock. The dam is nestmate to the mother of their 1st club and 3rd Combine bird from Roscrea young birds. That's six club wins this season for the hard working club and Mid Antrim Combine Chairman Robert and Ballymena club Treasurer Robin. Ballymena & District HPS 6/84 – R Service & Son 1977, J Eagleson & Sons 1925, R Service & Son 1923, J Eagleson & Sons 1921, 1902, R Service & Son 1991, George Bell 1889, R Service & Son 1889, J Eagleson & Sons 1885, 1865

Fermoy 19/09/20
Ballymena & District HPS 6/66 – Blair & Rankin 1147, J Eagleson & Sons 1134, Blair & Rankin 1109, R Service & Son 1099, 1098, George Bell 10987, Blair & Rankin 1093, J Eagleson & Sons 1091, Blair & Rankin 1075, R Service & Son 1059. Bertie Blair wins for the fourth time this season with a blue hen flying to the perch. Dam is Hartog from good friend Geoff Surgenor of Kells and the sire Soontjen. The hen was timed at 14.38pm flying 201 miles to Chichester Park

Fermoy 5Bird 19/09/20
Fermoy 5 Bird 5/25 – J Eagleson & Sons 1134, Blair & Rankin 1109, R Service & Son 1099, George Bell 1097, Blair & Rankin 1093, J Eagleson & Sons 1091. Johnston Eagleson & Sons win the 5 Bird with a blue pied hen feeding a small youngster. This Van Den Bulk hen is off a granddaughter of the famous Kittle and was 1st Club from Fermoy a fortnight ago.


Photo Captions
Highest Prize-winners in Ballymena & Dist Johnston and Mervyn Eagleson collect awards at the NIPA Ladies Night a few years back.
Long time President in Ballymena & Dist Billy Smyth (l) with Vice Chairman Martin Graham.
Bertie Blair times another winner at the lofts in Chichester Park.
Robert Service & Son Robin won the Skibbereen Yearling National.
From a few years back, prize presentation for Ballymena & District.
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