BHW - 18/12/15

[willie reynolds]

Ballymoney HPS Dinner & Prize Distribution
Ballymoney HPS held their 2015 dinner and prize presentation at the Hedges Hotel and Restaurant on Saturday 28th November. The club would like to thank the very efficient and courteous Hedges staff for an excellent meal and also Colleen Connolly for presenting the prizes on the night.

Ballymoney HPS had a very good year with members winning 8 x 1st Sections and one 1st Open position in the N.I.P.A.

D Devenney 1st Section B Talbenny, J. Hutchinson & Son 1st Section B Roscrea, D&G McMullan 1st Section B Roscrea Comeback, A&M Boyle 1st Section B 2nd Roscrea Comeback, D Dixon 1st Section B 2nd Fermoy Young Bird, D Dixon 1st Section B Fermoy 5 Bird for Young Bird, Curry & Gilmore 1st Section A Yearling Cock National, J McDowell & Sons 1st Open 1st Section B Talbenny Young Bird National

Within the club the top prize winner was Danny Dixon winning six old bird races and six young bird races, the old bird and young bird averages, channel averages and best averages in all national races. John Connolly won three old bird races and one young bird race. J Hutchinson & Son won three races. J McDowell & Sons won two races including 1st Open Talbenny Young Bird National. D&H Stuart - 2 races, L Neill - 2 races, D&G McMullan - 2 races, A&M Boyle - 2 races, D Devenney, Curry & Gilmore, A Gage, J Walker, R McIntyre all won one race each.

There was a total prize pay-out of over £1,000 divided amongst the membes.

Image
Ballymoney HPS members and officials at their Annual Dinner & Prize Distribution in Hedges Hotel.

Image
Colleen Connolly presents Danny Dixon with cup for Highest Prize-winner.

Image
Jeremy and John McDowell won 1st Open NIPA in the Talbenny YB National.

Image
Jim Curry with cup for Yearling Cock National.

Image
Lynn Neill collects the cup for 1st Corrin OB Race.

Image
John Connolly collects cup for Rosscarbery Yearling Hen Nat from wife Colleen.

Image
Darwin Stuart collects cup for Skibbereen YB National.

Image
Ballymoney Secretary Derek McMullan with gramd-daughter Daisy collecting cup for Fermoy 5 Bird Championship.

The Annual Open Show for Cullybackey is this 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. Specials for Best in Show, Best Opposite Sex and Most Points. The final show of the season was last week-end, both Eye-sign classes were won by B Herbison, judged by Eddie Gilliland from Carrickfergus. Looks like Brian is King of Eye-sign in Cullybackey.

INFC Merit Awards – The presentation for 2015 season will take place in the Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim on Friday 8th January at 8.00pm, hot buffet chicken and beef will be served, pay at the door £10. A few rooms have been booked at corporate rate for those intending to stay over, contact Sid Collins for full details. Tel 07760 238832 or e-mail sidcollins@hotmail.co.uk
Guests this year for the panel will include Rodger Lowe and Eamon Kelly who won 2015 Blue Riband Grand National from Tarbes having won it previously racing in partnership with the late Frank Lloyd, the last year the event was flown from Pau. Eamon is also the National Flying Club Race Controller, both he and Rodger Lowe will have a mountain of information.
To assist with a table plan, those intending to attend as a group should contact Sid.

Complete Clearance Sale coming up for Mr & Mrs Hayes, Ballyclare & District due to moving house. A brilliant team of cross channel birds included in the sale will be 3rd Open INFC Yearling Nat and 2nd Open YB Grand Nat plus ten or twelve other top pigeons flown France. Colin has one of the best records across Ireland in the Blue Riband YB Grand Nat Penzance – his team are outstanding. Sale Date is Saturday 9th January 2016 in Glenavy Protestant Hall watch for more details in the Fancy Press, only 40 odd birds in total. Auctioneer is Ronnie Johnston Tel: (028) 90 483625.

Clearance Sale on behalf of J C Reid, Ballycarry & District to be held in the Chimney Corner Football Club, Randalstown Road in Antrim on Thursday 17th December at 8.00pm, birds on view from 7.00pm. The entire old bird race team, stock birds, plus a few select late breds. Only retaining the 2015 young bird team (that was raced) to race out next season. Commissions Tel: 07737 275820. Sale will be on-line first at www.pigeoncraic.com

Ballymena & District HPS – For the final show night almost 70 birds were penned for the Card Winners class kindly judged by the ace show men from North Antrim Derek McMullan Secretary of Ballymoney and John Edgar Secretary of the NI Show Racer Society based in Coleraine. Brian Herbison from Cullybackey had the Red Card and also won the Visitors Trophy for Most Points. W & N Gilbert for the local club had 4 cards and had Best Young Bird Special with the bird placed 3rd, “The Princess” has 3 x 1sts same as the nest-mate “The Prince”. Willie & Nicola won the Show Shield Most Points by Club Member, raffle was won for the third time by young Thomas McFall. Card Winners (69 Birds) – 1st & Commended B Herbison, 2nd, 3rd, VHC & HC W & N Gilbert, 4th & Reserve W & J Smyth. Billy Smyth brought three birds and lifted two cards. 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 HPS – The final two classes for the local club were Young Hens and Old Hens Handled judged by Mr & Mrs Sempey and Tom McAlonan from Ballymena & District. The Red Card winner of both classes was Johnny Simpson, Bertie Blair won the raffle. Young Hens Handled – 1st, 3rd & 4th J Simpson, 2nd, HC & Commended D Houston & Son, Reserve C Kennedy, VHC M Neilly. Old Hens Handled – 1st, 3rd & VHC J Simpson, 2nd & Reserve D Houston & Son, 4th, HC & Commended Blair & Rankin. Show Series won by D Houston & Son. Broughshane HPS would like to thank John Getty and Marc Neilly for running the show series. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

Kells & District HPS – The Sect B Fancier of the Year Mickey McConville from Crumlin & District judged the latest class of 39 Mated Pairs, Alan Barkley & Son had five cards including the winner. Mated Pairs (78 Birds) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & Reserve A Barkley & Son, VHC T Shanks & Son, HC Surgenor Bros, Commended B Swann & Son. Wednesday – Eye-sign and Fancy.

Ahoghill Flying Club – Judges for the most recent classes were M/M Sempey and Tom McAlonan from Ballymena & District, winners were T & G Balmer in Young Pairs and Blair & Rankin in the Fancy. Young Pairs – 1st, 4th & VHC T & G Balmer, 2nd & Commended A & N Young, 3rd T McFall, Reserve Balmer Young & Sons, HC Mr & Mrs Robinson. Fancy – 1st Blair & Rankin, 2nd & Commended T & G Balmer, 3rd & VHC T McFall, 4th Rebecca, Reserve B Herbison, HC A & N Young. Classes last Friday evening Old Pairs and Late Breds were judged by the Cullybackey pair Jamie Greer and Steven Anderson. Red Card winners were T & G Balmer and Thomas McFall from Ballymena & District. Old Pairs – 1st, VHC & Commended T & G Balmer, 2nd C Moore, 3rd W Livingstone, 4th & Reserve B Herbison HC A & N Young. Late Breds – 1st T McFall, 2nd, Reserve & VHC W Livingstone, 3rd A & N Young, 4th T & G Balmer, HC Blair & Rankin, Commended B Herbison.

Ballymoney HPS – The final classes of the show season were judged by S & M Milliken from Rasharkin & Dist, S McCook won 1st in two classes but D & G McMullan had the BIS Special with the Red Card in Old Cock Handled and they also won Show Series Points Trophy. Old Cocks Handled – 1st & Reserve D & G McMullan, 2nd, 4th & HC D Dixon, 3rd & Commended L Neill, VHC S McCook. Old Hens Handled – 1st S McCook, 2nd D & G McMullan, 3rd & 4th C McCook, Reserve D Gage, VHC, HC & Commended L Neill. Young Pieds T/W – 1st & VHC S McCook, 2nd L Neill, 3rd Brown & Stewart, 4th D Dixon, Reserve D Gage, HC & Commended D & G McMullan.

Lurgan Social AA Cock or Hen – 1st, 3rd, 4th, & Reserve M Rice, 2nd K Henderson, VHC T Furphy, HC & Commended D & B Lyness. Best Young Bird won by D & B Lyness. Many thanks to judges Brian Carson and John Bennett. Next week’s show is our Christmas Show and all members are requested to bring prizes.

MARKETHILL HPS XMAS SHOW RESULT - Handling Class Result - 1st A Humphries & Son , 2nd A Humphries & Son. TTW Result - 1st Capper Bros, 2nd Hyde Bro, 3rd A Beattie, 4th P McCall, Reserve P McCall, HC K Black, C Capper Bros. Best YB - K Black £10. Well done to all the winners on the night. Many thanks to Frazers Animal feeds and to H Beattie & Son, and all who attended our show and made it a success. Last but not least many thanks to the two Judges Mr G Hanratty and Mr G O\'Dowd.

For Sale in East Antrim: Bricon Speedy lite Clock and 2 Field Pad, only two years old just £140. Tel: 07780 114457.

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 Attached

Another good season for Hanson & Harpur, winner of double 1st Open NIPA back to back. These birds won Inland and Cross Channel the loft also won overall young bird overall averages 7 year in a row, well done Jimmy.
At Cullybackey Flying Club, Brian Herbison (l) with Martin Sempey.
Final show at Ballymena, winners Brian Herbison and W & N Gilbert with judges Derek McMullan and John Edgar.
“The Prince” winner of 3 x 1sts for W & N Gilbert of Ballymena & District.
New racing loft for W & W Gilbert of Randalstown.
Ballymena fanciers at sale from (l) B Blair, C McManus, L Mullan, G Bell and W Gilbert.