Farming Life - Wednesday 29/12/10

[willie reynolds]

The snow had thankfully changed to sleet and rain and the usual good crowd made it to Kells & Dist for the annual Boxing Day Show held this year on Monday 27th December. The main road between Ballymena & Kells was closed due to flooding and fanciers from that direction including myself had to use an alternative route. Over 300 birds were penned for the judges who had travelled from Larne & Dist including Willie Ferguson, John McWhirter, Robert Glass, Willie McWhirter and Roy Fenton. T & K Mawhinney from Donacloney won 4 classes and penned the Best in Show following up their good success the day previous in Kingswood, Belfast. The partners are getting in to full gear now with the big Blackpool Show due in early January. Young Robert Turkington from Burnside won Best Opposite Sex. Russell Bros from Cullybackey had 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th in Old Bird Eye-sign and W & N Gilbert from Harryville had 1st Young Bird Eye-sign. Chairman Brian Swann thanked all those who supported the show included the judges who had travelled in bad weather, also the many sponsors of prizes for both the show and raffle including F Connon, Hill Top Feeds, James Greer and Keith Kernohan. He presented Alan Barkley with the club Show Cup following another top winter series. Results:

Old Bird T/W – 1st & Reserve T & K Mawhinney, 2nd, 3rd & Commended A Barkley & Son, 4th B Swann & Son, VHC D & R Turkington, HC J & R Lawrie. Judge W Ferguson. Old Bird Handled – 1st, 3rd & VHC T & K Mawhinney, 2nd D & R Turkington, 4th A Barkley & Son, Reserve V Montgomery, HC B Swann & Son, Commended W & N Gilbert. Judge W McWhirter. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Russell Bros, Reserve W & N Gilbert, VHC A Neill, HC & Commended T & K Mawhinney. Judge J McWhirter. Young Bird Through Wires – 1st, 2nd, Reserve & VHC T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & 4th A Barkley & Son, HC Gregg Bros, Commended Scott & Clements. Judge R Fenton. Young Bird Handled – 1st, 2nd, Reserve & VHC T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & 4th A Barkley & Son, HC Gregg Bros, Commended Scott & Clements. Judge R Glass. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st W & N Gilbert, 2nd, VHC & HC Russell Bros, 3rd & Reserve D & R Turkington, 4th F Simpson, Commended H Boyd. Judge R Glass.

Ballymena District Open Show – New Years Day

An Open Show will be held on New Years Day in Ballymena & Dist, 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, or leave prizes at the show itself. 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.

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.

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.