BHW - 11/12/15

[willie reynolds]

Ballyclare & District Prize Night in Doagh -

The Ballyclare & District presentation was as has been the case for a number of years was held in a joint function with Doagh & District in McConnells. Weather conditions were not good with a lot of snow on the ground, despite that the Function Lounge was packed to capacity. Chairman Arnold Thompson had all details to hand and welcomed the members and friends along with all those attending for Doagh & District. The awards this year were presented by former Secretary Alan Rodney. Leading lofts were as follows: Glen McNeilly, G & R Lawrie, Victor Thompson, Arnold Thompson, C & L Woodside, Davy McClelland, Wilbert & Alan Moore, Mr & Mrs Hayes, Lexi Houston, and Hugh Weir. Glen McNeilly has recently returned to the sport after a spell in France, did not take long to get back on top. On a less happy note two top lofts are giving up the birds, C & L Woodside for health reasons and Mr & Mrs Hayes who I believe intend to move to Broughshane to be close to family. Both lofts over many years have won their fair share up to including 2015.

Leslie Woodside of C & L Woodside Ballyclare has received heart-breaking news – his health problems are more advanced than first thought and the 2 x Reduction Sales have now become a Complete Clearance Sale. The complete team of stock birds, all the top racers and young birds will be sold in 4 Sales, the final Sale Part (4) will be held in Glenavy in Co Antrim on Saturday 12th December at 2.30pm. Auctioneer Ronnie Johnston said “This is the most important sale of true distance birds that have a tremendous record from France – just like his mentor Smyth Bros of Ballymena. One would need to go back 20 years when I sold the pigeons of Gilmour & Beattie containing the bloodlines of the ace flyers Henry Beattie and Bob Harkness” for something similar. Leslie as you would expect is devastated but his health is paramount. C & L Woodside won the INFC National Champion award in 2003, runner-up in 2002 and 2013, and they have a string of top results at the distance including 1st Open INFC Sennen Cove YB National in 2007 with Skilgan Choice”. Add to that 2nd Open INFC Friendship Nat, 4th, 9th & 9th in Kings Cup, 3 x Merit Awards, Friendship Triple Award, Hall of Fame etc. They are one of Ireland’s great National Lofts! With the help of good friend Maurice Alexander the Sale Lists for the final sale are ready Tel Leslie (028) 93 322371 or Ronnie (028) 90 483625.

Top prize-winner in 2015 was as I had mentioned Glen McNeilly, he won 9 x 1sts and 9 cups which included the following. McKeown Cup Roscrea OB & YB, J Robinson Cup Most Points, McCrea Shield for Inland YB Nat, Sharples Cup for Longest YB Race, Cameron Cup Best Ave all Tullamore Races, Dodds Cup OB Inland Nat, J Hill Cup OB Inland Ave, Comrades Social Club Cup Best Ave Talbenny & Rosscarbery YB Nationals, Vint Cup YB Ave. In the NIPA Rosscarbery YB Nat G McNeilly won 11th, 96th, 203rd and 241st Open.

George & Richard Lawrie won 3 x 1sts and 2 cups. Lexi Houston Cup r/u in the Inland Averages, and Ballyclare Comrades Supporters Cup for Best Average Fermoy OB & YB. Victor Thompson had a very good year and made the prizes most weeks, in all weather conditions over the whole season. In Rosscarbery YB Nat the loft finished 68th and 130th Open NIPA. Chairman Arnold Thompson is another loft able to score over the entire season, he won 2 x 1sts and 7 cups which included the following. Blundell Cup for CCA, J Blair Cup 1st Penzance, R McConnell Cup Best Ave Bude & Penzance, Greer Cup 1st Sennen Cove Classic, Torrence Boyd Cup Best Ave Selected Races, Horner Cup Lowest Winning Velocity, Montgomery Trophy Ave in OB Talbenny. With the NIPA Arnold won 11th Open from Penzance. C & L Woodside won 2 cups, McCalmont Shield Best Ave St Malo OB & Talbenny YB Nationald and Baird Cup Best Ave Bude, Penzance & St Malo. Davy McClelland dad of Billy won 2 x 1sts and 1 cup the J Mairs Trophy for the best local bird in the Kings Cup, Davy was 14th Open INFC St Allouestre. Mr & Mrs Hayes collected 1 x 1st and 2 cups which included his fathers own trophy presented over 20 years ago the R Hayes Cup was for best bird in the Yearling Nat, also 1st Penzance YB National. Lexie Houston had 1 x 1st and one cup, the Bamford Shield awarded for Bude when he timed his good Ash hen. Hugh Weir had 1 x 1st and one cup the highly prized OB Derby Cup for St Malo timing the only bird into Ballyclare on the day.

Looking at the racing season with the Irish Nat FC, the Ballyclare members are ever present at the Muckamore Centre. In the Yearling Nat Sennen Cove the club had 21 birds in the Open Result. In the Kings Cup Grand Nat from Saint Allouestre the club had 6 prizes, while in the faster Quimper Friendship Nat the birds in the prizes reached one dozen. Penzance YB Grand Nat was a bit different and just 3 birds in the prizes, it was a similar number in the final Skibbereen YB Nat, all 3 birds were flown by Victor Thompson.

In the Yearling Nat Glen McNeilly had 5 early arrivals, they finished 20th, 32nd, 104th, 106th and 114th. G & R Lawrie finished 10th and 307th in the Yearling Nat and then in the Penzance YB Nat finished 70th Open. Victor Thompson had one yearling bird away in the Kings Cup and timed his single entry for 21st Open, the 3 birds in Skibbereen finished 21st, 202nd and 255th. Arnold Thompson had a number of places, firstly in Skibbereen 252nd and followed that up in the Yearling Sennen Cove with 122nd, 221st, 305th, 309th and 390th. Kings Cup places were 28th, 40th and 96th followed in the Quimper Friendship with 12th, 35th and 58th. Moving to young birds and in Penzance the loft was 84th. The loft wins a Merit Award with a bird placed twice in the Kings Cup in 2013 he was 103rd and then in 2015 the hen was 96th Open.

C & L Woodside in their final year started in the Yearling Nat with 125th, 268th and 393rd and followed that up in Quimper with 7 birds in the prizes to finish 33rd, 39th, 60th, 65th, 81st, 83rd and 86th. Davy McClelland will remember the Kings Cup, the loft finished 14th Open and collected the Robinson Cup at the INFC Dinner. Mr & Mrs Colin Hayes also in their final racing season had 3rd in the Yearling Nat plus 123rd and 144th. In the Kings Cup they were 159th followed in the Quimper Friendship with 105th. Finally in the Penzance YB Nat the loft took 67th. Secretary Robin Duddy is another with a long record of success. The loft was 12th Open in the Yearling Nat and followed that up in Quimper with 85th Open. He also wins a Merit Award for a bird twice in the Friendship Nat prizes, in 2013 his hen was 15th Open and then this year in 2015 finished 85th.

Those who will collect awards at the INFC were Davy McClelland as mentioned Robinson Cup for 14th Open Kings Cup, Mr & Mrs Hayes won James McGrugan Memorial Cup 1st North Sect in the Yearling Nat Sennen Cove and finally the Charles Ingle Memorial Trophy for G & R Lawrie finishing 10th Open in the Yearling National.

Another fantastic night in East Antrim despite the terrible weather and many thanks to the officers and members in Doagh & Dist for the invite to cover the dinner for both clubs. It’s a while since I was last there, not a lot has changed the local lofts are winning as much as ever, a high competition area.

Blackpool Show will take place at the Winter Gardens on Saturday and Sunday 16th and 17th January 2016, Robin Duddy from Ballyclare is taking a bus as usual, seats are available. Bus leaves Dervock on Thursday 14th January around 9.00pm collecting through to Ballyclare and Belfast. A first class hotel is booked on Albert Road with entertainment each night. Cost is around £220 and package includes Bus, Hotel, 4 x Breakfast, 3 x Evening Meals, and Show Tickets. Bus returns on Monday 18th January on 3.00pm sailing. Further details contact Robin Duddy, Tel: (028) 93 340603.


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The officials and top winners of Ballyclare & Dist at dinner in McConnells of Doagh.

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Alan Rodney former Secretary (l) presents award to Top Prize-winner Glen McNeilly.

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G & R Lawrie had top season winning 3 x 1sts.

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Victor Thompson made the result most weeks.

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Chairman Arnold Thompson scores through the programme.

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Billy McClelland collects the J Mairs Trophy for his dad Davy.

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Wilbert & Alan Moore steady racers in Ballyclare.

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Colin Hayes won the R Hayes Cup in his final year, 3rd Open Yearling Nat.

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Old Hand Lexie Houston won the Bamford Shield for 1st Bude.

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Hugh Weir had the only bird on the day from St Malo (France).

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From (l) Chairman Arnold Thompson, Glen McNeilly and Secretary Robin Duddy.

Sandy McKendry, Cullybackey –
Sandy has decided to call it a day, the farm is up for sale and he will be moving house. The former National winner has a string of results at the distance going back many years. Has just around 40 birds which will be sold in the Cullybackey HPS Clubrooms at Fenaghy Road on Wednesday 9th December at 8.00pm. NOTE change of date.

The Annual Open Show for Cullybackey is Saturday 19th December, 3 in 1 for OB & YB with penning from 10.00am until 1.00pm. The prize presentation will be at 5.00pm.

Mid Antrim Show Season Results –

Ballymena & District HPS – The latest shows for the local club were held on Monday 7th December the OB and YB Eye-sign classes were judged by the Cullybackey fanciers Paul Cochrane and Steven Anderson. W & N Gilbert penned the Old Bird winner lifting the BIS Special and George Bell won the Red Card in the Young Birds with a Hardy Kruger special, both winners were Blue Pieds. The raffle was won by President Billy Smyth. Old Bird Eye-sign (45 Birds) – 1st & Reserve W & N Gilbert, 2nd B Herbison, 3rd T McFall, 4th J W Reynolds, VHC G Bell, HC Russell Bros, Commended G & A Eagleson. Young Bird Eye-sign (38 Birds) – 1st, 3rd & Commended G Bell, 2nd & HC G & A Eagleson, 4th J W Reynolds, Reserve & VHC W & N Gilbert. Coming up last show Monday 14th December Card Winners Through the Wires. The annual Open Show for Mid Antrim Sect B lofts is as usual New Year’s Day in the clubrooms at Fountain Place. Ballymena HPS annual dinner and prize presentation is on Saturday 9th January 2016 in Tullyglass House Hotel. All cups and trophies should be returned to the clubrooms. If you would like to attend contact Willy Gilbert on 07761 323459 or speak to Nicola.

Broughshane & District – Old Cock and Young Cocks judged in the hand were the most recent classes, Bertie Blair from Ballymena & Dist had the Red Card in Old Cocks while D Houston & Son were 1st in Young Cocks. Judges from Kells & District were Alan Barkley and Maurice Agnew - Raffle won by Tommy Cole. Old Cocks Handled – 1st, Reserve & Commended Blair & Rankin, 2nd & HC J Simpson, 3rd & VHC D Houston & Son, 4th J Getty. Young Cocks Handled – 1st, 2nd & Commended D Houston & Son, 3rd & 4th MDC Magill, Reserve M Neilly, VHC C Kennedy, HC J Getty.

Kells & District – Tom and Albert Young from Ahoghill judged the latest class of Young Hens T/W. The Red Card winners were top racers Surgenor Bros, next week is Mated Pairs. Young Hens T/W (114 Birds) – 1st & 3rd Surgenor Bros, 2nd & HC T Shanks & Son, 4th & Reserve B Swann & Son, VHC & Commended A Barkley & Son. The annual Open Show will take place as usual on Boxing Day, Saturday 26th December.


Ballymoney HPS – Last Friday the D & G McMullan team won two classes, but Lynn Neill had the Special BIS for winning Young Hens Handled. Xmas Raffle Tickets should be returned immediately. This week classes are Old Cock & Old Hen Handled plus Young Pieds T/W. Young Cocks Handled – 1st, 2nd & 4th D & G McMullan, 3rd D Dixon, Reserve L Neill, VHC & HC Brown & Stewart, Commended S McCook. Young Hens Handled – 1st & Special L Neill, 2nd & 4th D & G McMullan, 3rd, Reserve & VHC S McCook, HC J Edgar, Commended D Dixon. Old Pieds T/W – 1st & 4th D & G McMullan, 2nd, 3rd & Commended J Edgar, Reserve & HC D Gage, VHC L Neill. Judges from Cushendall were A McNaughton and G McCafferty.

Lurgan Social AA Cock or Hen Result – 1st K Henderson, 2nd, 4th & Reserve T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & Commended M Rice, VHC A Neill, HC E Wright. Best Young Bird won by M Rice. Thanks to judge Gregory McEvoy. Next week’s show. Any age cock or hen with Special for Best young bird.
Congratulations to John Edgar at INFC show winning Supreme Champion, Best In Show, Reserve Best In Show, Best Show Racer, Reserve Show Racer, Best Young Bird two 8th two 7th two 6th one 5th two 4th two 3rd one 2nd and three 1st class winners.

MARKETHILL HPS XMAS SHOW
Markethill HPS will be having their Annual Xmas Show in Laurelvale Club Rooms on Saturday 12th December 2015 penning 7.00pm judging 8.00pm, there will be prizes for every pigeon carded on the night + Raffle. Classes are usual Thw, Best young bird thw + Handling Class. Everyone welcome, all proceeds to club fund.

Killyleagh Centre Sect F Shows – Old Birds Handled will be on Monday 14th December at 8.00pm and one week later Young Birds Handled on Monday 21st December at 8.00pm. The Christmas Show this year will be Sunday 27th December Open 1.00pm until 2.00pm. Classes are Old Bird Handled, Young Bird Handled, and Eye-sign. £1 per entry and open to NIPA Sect F and East Down Combine members only.

HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
See Ballymena Hps on Facebook.

Photo Captions
John Edgar card and trophy collection at INFC Show in Lisburn.
Mr & Mrs Sempey judged Cullybackey, with winners B Herbison and L Russell.
Bertie Blair won Fancy Class in Ahoghill with judge Elke Sempey.
Rebeka collects award for T & G Balmer at Ahoghill from Mrs Sempey.
Ballymena Eye-sign winners W & N Gilbert and George Bell with judges S Anderson and P Cochrane.