The AGM for the local club was held in their own clubrooms on a wet winter evening, I had been invited to come along and get a couple of photos during the prize presentation which was held prior to the meeting. Simon Millar is a very efficient Secretary of the club and an ace racer, his loft is the one to beat each week. In 2010 he had a fantastic result winning 1st Mid Antrim Combine in the Old Bird Derby with the NIPA, last year he achieved a result even better by winning the Blue Riband Young Bird National from Penzance. Randalstown have a great racing history, the late Arthur Simpson won the Kings Cup and Hall of Fame Diploma with Champion Shean from Nantes in 1974 doing velocity 711 the Blue Riband of old bird racing and elevated last season to the Grand National. The YB event is a Grand National races now as well, previous club winners include. S & G Boyd from Milford Haven in 1953 doing velocity 454, Jack Gillespie from Milford Haven in 1955 doing velocity 827. The race point changed to Penzance in 1967 and bar the odd year has been from there right up to date, still a very hard race for young birds some 320 miles into the local area. Bell Bros won 1st Open in 1981 recording velocity 1294, Mr & Mrs Magill won 1st Open in 1988 a golden period for this loft, flying 321 miles they recorded velocity 1201. It was over 20 years before the next big winner which was Simon Millar winning 1st Open INFC with a Cheq Pied hen "Loose Wire" - 382 members sent 1879 birds and the loft recorded velocity 1417.
As I said earlier his was the loft to beat all year and he lifted the Tommy & Angela Cotter Cup for Highest Prize-winner. The loft had 15 x 1sts and as well as winning the YB Nat Penzance lifted the Champions League for Randalstown in the big Mid Antrim Combine competition. S Millar won – Top Prize-winner, Inland Ave, Best Old Bird, Best Young Bird, Most Points OB, Most Points YB, McCausland Trophy, Gerard Lynch Trophy, N Davis Trophy, M/M Magill Shield, Castledawson Cup, W & J Bell Cup, John Kyle Cup, McComb Trophy, Joseph Boyd Cup, R J Magill Shield, Patrick Marrion Cup, Bell & McDowell Cup, and the Perretual Shield.
The ever consistent Stewart Bros were next best winning 6 x 1sts including 1st MAC in the INFC Yearling Nat, St Malo, Penzance and the Penzance OB Classic. Stewart Bros won – OB Average, Cross Channel Average, Combined Average, YB Average, Clanmore Cup, G Kissick Trophy, Bell, Klye & Simpson Cup, BOCM Trophy, A Simpson Shield, Old Bleach Cup, H Gribben Cup, James McKeown Cup and R Adair Shield.
W & W Gilbert won – Mr & Mrs Davy Bell Cup for best bird in the Kings Cup. Houston Bros won – Best Ave YB Races (1) & (2), S J Millar Cup for Bude. Sam Murphy broke his Novice Status winning the opening young bird race of the year. D Logan & Son won the Sandra Simpson Trophy, David has passed away but good to see Stuart continuing to race in the loft name. Some fantastic competition over recent seasons and the members look forward to 2012, what next?
