Farming Life - Wednesday 22/12/10

[willie reynolds]

Ballymena District Open Show – New Years Day

An Open Show will be held on New Years Day in Harryville HPS Clubrooms, Antrim Road, classes are Old Cock, Old Hen, Young Cock, Young Hen handled and OB & YB Eye-sign where birds can be duplicated. Entry fee is £1.00 per bird and penning from Noon until 1.30pm.Specials for BIS, BOS and Most Points. Any member donating prizes or arranging sponsorship should contact either Billy Smyth or Willie Reynolds. Due to pressure on space the Open Show is for lofts in Mid Antrim & NIPA Section B only. Ballymena & Dist always had the New Years Day date and maybe it can become an annual event again. Joe & Neal Adams of Hilltop Feeds will be the special guests at the annual dinner and prize presentation to be held in the Adair Arms Hotel, Ballymena on Friday 14th January at 7.00pm. Those intending to attend and not already booked should contact Martin Graham. Tel: (028) 25637929. Hilltop Feeds have a special mix Youngster Supreme at £12.35 a bag, well worth a look. Tel: (028) 25648425 or Mobile: 07599 706717.

Carrick & District HPS Open Show – New Years Day

The annual Open Show in Carrick & Dist to be held on New Years Day will be the usual six classes Old Cock, Old Hen, Young Cock, Young Hen handled and OB & YB Eye-sign. Entry fee is £1.00 per bird and penning from 1.00pm until 2.30pm. Specials for BIS, BOS and prizes for all cards. Any member donating prizes or arranging sponsorship should contact Robert Reid. The annual Breeder & Buyer Sale will be held during the judging, around 3.15pm, contact Robert Reid regarding birds and bids. It’s a 60% and 40% split and the overall winner can lift £500.


Boxing Day Show in Belfast

Kingswood HPS situated in East Belfast, Albertbridge Road are hosting their OPEN to all big Boxing Day show, Sunday 26th Dec 2010 penning is 12 Noon to 2.00pm, six classes Old Cocks, Old Hens, Young Cocks, Young Hens - All handled, Old Bird Eye-sign and Young Bird Eye-sign cost shall be £1 per bird, Among other prizes Best Opposite Sex prize £25, Best In Show prize £50.

There shall also be a small number of 2011 top young birds for sale - monies from this shall go towards a racing special to be competed for from the INFC Young bird Skibbereen.

Same as last year all monies collected from sale shall be paid out in total - £1,000 paid in 2010. Lofts who enter show that day shall be entitled to free Kingswood race entry, entry’s to race shall be pro rata i.e. the more you enter in show the more free entry’s to race !! Also anyone donating or buying a young bird that day shall also be welcome to free entry to the Kingswood race.

Anyone wishing further information or directions phone Ronnie Tel: 07925 420309.

Boxing Day Open Shows – Monday 27th December

Mid Antrim will host the annual Open Show staged each year by Kells & District, usual arrangements 3 in 1 for old birds and young birds with cards for all classes and Specials for BIS & BOS. Entry is £1 per bird and penning until 2.00pm. Horseshoe HPS will be the venue in East Antrim penning from 1.00pm until 3.00pm. The usual six classes OC & OH, YC & YH handled and the Eye-sign for Old Bird & Young Bird. Prizes for all cards and BIS & BOS. Horseshoe prize giving will be at 3.00pm, followed by the Young Bird Sale at 4.00pm.

INFC Presentation –

Friday 7th January is the confirmed date for the INFC presentation of various Merit Awards in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim. Tickets can be ordered with Patron Ronnie Johnston or Secretary Trevor Topping. The special guest will be Chris Gordon from England, an ace racer who has previously won the Kings Cup. The new Merit Awards are for pigeons placed twice in the Kings Cup or Friendship Nat (France). Around 30 were won in the 2010 season and those intending to attend the presentation should contact Trevor Topping re tickets. Tickets are £10 each and this includes a hot supper. This event could become very regular, the dinner presentation is now so large and it’s just not possible to present everything on the one evening. President Syd Collins is also helping with arrangements, the Kells & Dist Moot was held in Dunsilly Hotel earlier and it’s a super venue for this type of event.

Trip to Dutch National Show

John Hollinger from Millisle is arranging his now annual trip to England & Belgium next year from Friday 4th March 2011. Foxwood Lofts at York will have a visit on the Friday, then Saturday it’s the Dutch National Show plus Karel & Daniel Boeckx the best Sprint/Middle Distance lofts in Belgium. Sunday 6th is the visit to the famous Lier Market plus the equally as famous Natural Breeding Station, both Lier and the Breeding Station are a Must See, I have been there. Monday on the way back a visit to the top loft of Neebro Stud in Richmond, winners reported from the visit last year and Foxwood Lofts have had many winners reported in Ireland. Cost is £240 and very limited seats are available. Contact John Hollinger Tel: (028) 91 863536, Mobile 07784 409893.

Golden Ring Race 2011

Springvale Social Golden Ring Result - 1st S Rodney & Son 1487 plus £750, 2nd A Gault 1467 plus £150, 3rd G & L Simpson 1435 plus £100. Many thanks to all involved with the Gold Ring Race, all those who supported the event from Rosscarbery and many congratulations to the various winners. We are all looking forward to the 2011 Golden Ring, and rings will be available from the start of the year. Just 100 rings will be sold at £20 each and £1,000 paid out in tree cuts with £750 to the winner. Contact Campbell McGrugan, Tel: (028) 93 340981.The latest results from the local shows. Victor Montgomery won all four classes of the most recent show. Young Hens T/W – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & VHC V Montgomery, Reserve I Horner, HC A C McGrugan, Commended J Scott. Young Hens Handled – 1st, 3rd, 4th, Reserve, VHC, HC & Commended V Montgomery, 2nd J Scott. Old Hens T/W – 1st, VHC & HC V Montgomery, 2nd I Horner, 3rd, 4th & Reserve J Scott, Commended A C McGrugan. Old Hens Handled – 1st, 2nd, HC & Commended V Montgomery, 3rd, Reserve & VHC J Scott, 4th I Horner. Mated Pairs Through Wires – 1st & HC V Montgomery, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & Reserve J Scott, Commended R Davidson & Sons. Mated Pairs Handled – 1st, 3rd, Reserve & VHC V Montgomery, 2nd & Commended R Davidson & Sons, 4th I Horner, HC J Scott. Judge S Lorimer (Doagh).

Local Show Results –

The final show for Ballymena & Dist was held on Monday 20th December, another terrible night with ice and snow. The judges travelled the short distance from Cullybackey to place the cards in Eye-sign and its many thanks to Len Russell and Gary Gibson. The local club done well with Jack Balmer taking the Red Card in the Old Birds plus the BIS Special and Billy Smyth lifting the top award in the Young Birds. Len Russell won the raffle and the overall winner of the Show Shield was J & B Balmer. It has been decided to use the Harryville HPS Clubrooms for the Open Show many thanks to the local club for the offer and please pass the word around on this change of venue. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st & 2nd J & B Balmer, 3rd W & N Gilbert, 4th, Reserve & VHC Blair & Rankin, HC & Commended W & J Smyth. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st W & J Smyth, 2nd & Commended W & N Gilbert, 3rd, 4th, Reserve & HC J & B Balmer, VHC Blair & Rankin. Many thanks as well to those who braved the elements to attend the Indoor Car Boot Sale at Broughshane Community and John Cameron for looking after the raffle as usual.