The Kells & Dist HPS returned for the second time to Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim for the annual prize giving and moot, most of the members were in attendance and were made welcome by Chairman Brian Swann. He thanked all the members for their help and support during the past season and all those involved with the arrangements for the prize night including Alan Shanks. Top prize-winner was yet again Jeff Surgenor who had 9 x 1sts and 13 trophies. Jeff is the man to beat and has been at the top for the last number of years bar one when Scott & Clements were successful and that goes back to when Davy McDowell & Son were at the top. This loft could race and good to see that Davy is still keeping his hand in with brother in law Jeff there on the race days giving a hand. The club won Mid Antrim Combine in five races, Scott & Clements in the Old Bird Tullamore (2), Surgenor Bros had 3 x 1sts at Fermoy in old birds and Tullamore and Fermoy with the young birds, and George McDowell won the Young Bird Fermoy and 5 Bird duplicate race and came close in a few other races.
Jeff Surgenor and George McDowell each topped the NIPA Sect B and others with top racing success included B Swann & Son and Surgenor Bros who both timed in the St Malo OB Nat from France, Surgenor Bros had the winner in the YB Nat from Talbenny in South Wales and George McDowell had a super result in the Rosscarbery YB Nat with 1st, 2nd and 3rd, he has scored great results in the young birds with stock from Gerald Delaney, the best of the Willy Jacobs. Racing with the Irish Nat FC B Swann & Son were the best in the Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove, Henry Turkington was best in the YB Grand Nat from Penzance and Billy McClure timed in the Grand Nat Blue Riband Kings Cup from Plaudren at 510 miles. INFC Patron Ronnie Johnston was on hand to present the Mid Antrim Combine awards and congratulated the club members on another successful season and was pleased to see a Pigeon Moot arranged for the local area. Ronnie had a lot of details and history and he mentioned the great result for Billy McClure who racing a small team won the Hall of Fame Diploma for the second year running, a feat Ronnie said was only achieved on one other occasion and over 100 have been won. The club made a special presentation to Billy, a Pencil Sketch of his Hall of Fame winner in a large frame.
The Ring Secretary Mrs Marie Herron presented the cups and prize money, the leading lofts were Surgenor Bros, George McDowell, Scott & Clements, B Swann & Son, Harry Boyd, McFarlane & Agnew, T Shanks & Son, H Turkington and Bill McClure. The pay-out was just short of £1,200 and a prize draw was made during a break with the Moot.
INFC President Sid Collins acted as Chairman of a very successful Moot/Quiz that could have been better attended a missed opportunity to hear the views and history of the loft of some of the big stars of the sport. Main guest was John Preece a member of the famous Preece Bros & Sons from Cwmtillery in Wales who have won a record number of Nationals racing into that country including the Blue Riband from Lerwick. The older generation will well remember the time we raced from Thurso and Lerwick, they are talking about it yet. Syd had done a little bit of research and invited all the guests to cover a bit of their history and what birds gave them a start and where they came from. The entertainment was first class, included on the panel David Black who this season won the INFC National Championship for the first time having already won almost everything else including the Kings Cup and then from the same part of the World at Dromore in County Down, Mr Oroory Hill Stud himself Gerald Delaney. The evening was well appreciated, the food was at the highest standard, and well done again to Kells & Dist and Alan Shanks who made most of the arrangements for the night.
