BHW - 08/01/16

[willie reynolds]

Ballymena & District Open Show – For the third season on the trot the local clubrooms at Fountain Place were packed out for the Annual Open Show on New Year’s Day, just under 220 birds were penned for the judges who had travelled up from Lurgan Social. The team was led by Kevin Henderson, a top racer who can also show a top bird, over the years he has won numerous awards across Ireland. The rest of the team can race and show a bit as well, Dennis Lyness and Eamon Wright & Son who had a powerful racing record in Moira HPS. Space in the clubroom is a big problem that’s why entry is limited to Mid Antrim Sect B lofts, we prefer to have the show at home. Show Secretary Willy Gilbert and wife Nicola have everything set up to perfection a credit to the club they are, good workers are invaluable.

Club Chairman Tom McAlonan thanked the judges and all those others who had brought birds and supplied prizes, and he also thanked the Show Secretary. The major winners were almost the same as the year previous, W & N Gilbert for the local club had 1st Old Bird Handled and lifted Best in Show, Alan Barkley & Son from Kells & District had 1st Young Bird Handled lifting Best Opposite Sex and the Special for Best Young Bird and won two other classes, Russell Bros from Cullybackey won both Eye-sign classes and had Most Points in Show. The Show Shield was won by W & N Gilbert and Brian Herbison from Cullybackey won the Visitors Trophy. The main prizes and specials were sponsored once again by Frazer Animal Feeds (Banbridge) my thanks to Neil and the team in Banbridge.

Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st, VHC & Commended A Barkley & Son, 2nd, 4th & Reserve W & N Gilbert, 3rd D & G McMullan, HC G & A Eagleson. Old Bird Handled – 1st, HC & Commended W & N Gilbert, 2nd A Barkley & Son, 3rd, Reserve & VHC Russell Bros, 4th D & G McMullan. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Reserve & Commended Russell Bros, VHC B Herbison, HC D & G McMullan. Young Bird T/W – 1st, & Reserve A Barkley & Son, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd, 4th & HC Russell Bros, VHC D & G McMullan, Commended G & A Eagleson. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 3rd, 4th & Reserve Russell Bros, 2nd & VHC A Barkley & Son, HC B Herbison, Commended McAlonan Bros.

The Annual Dinner & Presentation of prizes will be held in the Tullyglass House Hotel on Saturday 9th January at 7.00pm. After a very successful racing season a big crowd is expected, if you wish to order tickets contact Willy Gilbert Tel: 07761 323459 or Nicola Gilbert Tel: 07724 507621. The AGM for Ballymena & District will take place in the local clubrooms at Fountain Place on Monday 8th February at 8.00pm. Resolutions for the agenda must be with the Secretary Willie Reynolds by Saturday 30th January, and any resignations prior to the AGM.

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The judges at Ballymena Show, K Henderson, D Lyness and E Wright & Son.

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Class winners at Ballymena & Dist HPS Open Show.

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Best in Show at Ballymena, W & N Gilbert (l) with Dennis Lyness.

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Eamon Wright and daughter with Alan Barkley (r) of Kells & Dist Best Opposite Sex.

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Most Points in Ballymena Show for the second year Len Russell (l) with Kevin Henderson.

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Willy & Nicola Gilbert winners of the Show Shield in Ballymena & District.

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Ballymena Chairman Tom McAlonan (l) presents Visitors Show Shield to Brian Herbison.

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Eamon Wright Senior (l) presents prize to Alan Barkley 1st Young Bird T/W.

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Ballymena & District Open Show winners from (l) L Russell, W Gilbert and A Barkley.

Kells Open Show – The annual Boxing Day Show took place as usual on 26th December 2015, some 220 birds were penned for the 3 in 1 event covering Old Bird and Young Birds over 6 classes. The judges travelled from Mid Ulster the NIPA Old Bird Classic winner Joe Brown from Blackwatertown and friends including Joe Vage, Darren Thompson and Gerald Adair. For the second year D & R Turkington from Doagh & District won Old Bird Handled and Best in Show, also collecting the Red Card in Young Bird Handled. Alwyn Neill from Lurgan had 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Old Bird Through Wires and Best Opposite Sex. Visiting lofts dominated with Ken Wilkinson & Son from New Antrim 1st in Old Bird Eye-sign, Fred Simpson from Doagh & District 1st Young Bird Through Wires, and Russell Bros from Cullybackey 1st in Young Bird Eye-sign. The Club Show Cup was presented to Alan Barkley & Son.

The Secretary of Kells & Dist Mervyn Gregg thanked all present for their support, those who helped at the club, brought birds and prizes, and he also thanked the judges. Other sponsors included Frazer Animal Feeds, Francis Connon, Brian Herbison, Hanna Family, Buffs Social Club and Sizzlers Chip Shop in the racing season. Thanks also to Show Secretary Alan Barkley who sets up the event every year without fail. I was unable to attend and thanks to Alan Shanks who covered the photos.

Old Bird T/W – 1st, 2nd & 3rd A Neill, 4thy D & R Turkington, Reserve & VHC A Barkley & Son, HC V Montgomery, Commended W & N Gilbert. Old Bird Handled – 1st & HC D & R Turkington, 2nd & Reserve Russell Bros, 3rd T Shanks & Son, 4th W & N Gilbert, VHC & Commended A Neill. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st & VHC K Wilkinson & Son, 2nd & 3rd Russell Bros, 4th A Neill, Reserve D & C Jackson, HC W & N Gilbert, Commended F Simpson. Young Bird T/W – 1st & HC F Simpson, 2nd V Montgomery, 3rd K Wilkinson & Son, 4th & VHC A Neill, Reserve & Commended Russell Bros. Young Bird Handled – 1st D & R Turkington, 2nd Russell Bros, 3rd & 4th A Barkley & Son, Reserve V Montgomery, VHC W & N Gilbert, HC & Commended F Simpson. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 3rd & HC Russell Bros, 2nd, 4th & Commended D & R Turkington, Reserve F Simpson, VHC A Neill.

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Best in Show Robert Turkington (l) with Joe Brown.

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Alwyn Neill (l) winner of BOS with Darren Thompson.

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Gerald Adair (r) with Fred Simpson 1st YB Through Wires.

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Joey Vage (r) with Len Russell 1st YB Eye-sign.

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Ken Wilkinson (l) winner of OB Eye-sign with J Vage.

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Joe Brown (l) presents Kells Show Cup to Alan Barkley.

The Annual Dinner & Presentation of prizes for Ballymena & District will be held in the Tullyglass House Hotel on Saturday 10th January at 7.00pm. After a very successful racing season a big crowd is expected, if you wish to order tickets contact Martin Graham Tel: (028) 2563 7929 or Mobile: 07835 099155.

The AGM for Ballymena & District will take place in the local clubrooms at Fountain Place on Monday 9th February at 8.00pm. Resolutions for the agenda must be with the Secretary Willie Reynolds by Saturay 31st January, and any resignations prior to the AGM.
Ballymoney HPS: Members should return cups and trophies to the clubrooms as soon as possible, presentation of awards is 24th January.

Lurgan Social – Results of the very successful Christmas Show.
Old birds jtw - 1st K Henderson, 2nd K Henderson, 3rd T Furphy, 4th K Douglas, Res M Rice, Vhc M Rice, Hc K Douglas, C K Douglas.
Young birds jtw - , 1st K Henderson, 2nd M Rice, 3rd M Rice, 4th T Furphy, ResT Furphy, Vhc M Rice, Hc D B Lyness, C K Henderson.
Thanks to the judges Tommy McClean and Paul Swindel. Also thanks to all the fanciers who supported our very successful series of shows.

MARKETHILL HPS GOLD RING RACE 2016 - Annual Gold Ring Race will take place from Talbenny in South Wales. Hampering through your own Local Centre and to be liberated with the NIPA. £10 per Ring - Rings are now available from any member of Markethill HPS and also your local corn store. On completion of the race, Velocity’s to be with A Humphries within 4 days signed by your Club Secretary. This event last year paid out over **£1,000** and we hope to surpass this. Phone: 07716 585335 for any other info.
Novara Stud – (R Strain & Son, Ballyclare) at Chimney Corner with select draft of their long distance continental families. Thursday 7th January at 8.00pm, followed by a select draft of top winning bloodlines for Kinallen View Lofts (B & G Cochrane & Herman McAvoy) on Saturday 9th January. Lots will be on-line for pre bidding at www.pigeoncraic.com/auctions. Commissions Tel: 07737 275820.

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.

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. There are still a few places available on the Larne Bus, contact Owen Donnelly Tel: 07816 910993.

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 -
Judges Paul Swindell and Tommy McClean and fanciers at Lurgan Social Christmas Show.

Dando & Bennett from Beechpark Social collect Hall of Fame Diploma from Shelly Frazer at INFC.

Just one Hall of Fame Diploma winner in 2015 for Dando & Bennett.