Farming Life - Wednesday 02/02/11
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:43 pm
The Ahoghill Flying Club returned once again to the Ballymena United Social Club at Warden Street for their annual dinner and presentation of prizes for the last season. Chairman Tom Young welcomed a good turn-out of the members and friends and welcomed the guests that included local scribe Homer. Cowan Balmer and wife Molly again brought a big crowd and were thanked for the massive amount of fund raising during the year. Special mention for Wilma Alexander and mother in law Angela Alexander who are involved every year at all events. Brooke Supplies again hosted a very good 2 Bird Club competition. The officials at the Social Club were thanked for all their assistance, nothing is too much trouble, the dinner set up in the main hall and the prizes presented in the Members Lounge. Ann’s Kitchen supplied another luxury five course meal, plenty to go round.
Secretary Albert Young had all the prizes set out and Ahoghill had an outstanding season in 2010, he Young McManus & Sons team do take some beating, winning 14 x 1sts and collecting most cups and trophies. Its 16 seasons on the trot as top prize-winner and a record that will take some beating, young John Balmer has moved up the list to be runner-up. The leading lofts were Young McManus & Sons, John Balmer, Jimmy Smyth & Son, A & N Young, Mr & Mrs Robinson, Charlie Young, D Lowry & Sons, T & G Cotter, J Orr & Son, and T & G Balmer. The club paid out over £500. The Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club list was Young McManus & Sons 79 Points, A & N Young 58 Points, D Lowry & Sons 53 Points, John Balmer 49 Points, Charlie Young 45 Points and J Smyth & Son 44 Points.
Young McManus & Sons dominated in the early old bird season winning six races in Ireland and then in the first big race the Rosscarbery OB Inland Nat had the best bird in the Cullybackey Centre finishing 3rd Combine & Section plus 12th Open NIPA and £160. John Balmer had 1st & 2nd Club in the Talbenny (1) race from South Wales two birds together with the winner doing velocity 1123, at Talbenny the next week Mr & Mrs Robinson took 1st Club, 1st Combine 108/1144, 1st Sect 163/1724 and 118th Open NIPA 1010/12,331 birds. A & N Young won a hard race from Bude just ahead of brother Charlie and the birds finished 21st & 60th Open NIPA 849/8313, winning velocity was 1060. Penzance was harder still and the winner Young McManus & Sons doing velocity 978 finished 8th Comb, 9th Sect and 69th Open NIPA 882/7913 followed by John Balmer. From St Malo in France Jimmy Smyth & Son had the top bird finishing 162nd Open NIPA on velocity 722, the loft also had a second bird and M/M Robinson made the frame as well. On the same weekend A & N Young won the Yearling Cock Nat from Rosscarbery and in the Yearling Hens Young McManus & Sons had a top card with three early bird to finish 7th, 11th & 15th Open NIPA plus £150.
Different lofts recorded winners in the early part of the young bird season, M/M Robinson 1st Tullamore, D Lowry & Sons 1st Tullamore (2), Charlie Young 1st Roscrea, J Smyth & Sons 1st Roscrea (2), T & G Cotter 1st Fermoy (1). The best result was from Clonmel and after winning both old bird races from this point Young McManus & Sons doing velocity 1199 scored 1st Club, 1st Combine 114/2921, and 2nd Sect 170/4265. Paddy had the best bird again from Talbenny in the YB Nat finishing 109th Open NIPA, and then in early September John Balmer had 1st & 2nd Fermoy and M/M Robinson won the Rosscarbery YB Inland National.
Racing with the Irish Nat FC Jimmy Orr & Son scored in the opening race from Skibbereen, two birds finished 16th and 20th Combine. Charlie Young was best in the Yearling Nat Sennen Cove, doing velocity 821 he finished 10th Comb, 81st North Sect & 124th Open INFC collecting £180, M/M Robinson were next best. For the second season on the trot Charlie Young won the Kings Cup race from Vannes, this bird was bred by Ian Gill and was purchased at a local sale. Mr & Mrs Robinson had the early arrival in the Penzance YB Nat finishing 7th Comb, 24th North Sect & 25th Open INFC in the Old Hen Nat flown on the same day Jimmy Orr had the best two birds, the winner was 4th Comb and 22nd Open INFC. Another fantastic season for Ahoghill Flying Club, best wishes to the members in the new season and thanks again for the invite to the dinner and prize night.
Secretary Albert Young had all the prizes set out and Ahoghill had an outstanding season in 2010, he Young McManus & Sons team do take some beating, winning 14 x 1sts and collecting most cups and trophies. Its 16 seasons on the trot as top prize-winner and a record that will take some beating, young John Balmer has moved up the list to be runner-up. The leading lofts were Young McManus & Sons, John Balmer, Jimmy Smyth & Son, A & N Young, Mr & Mrs Robinson, Charlie Young, D Lowry & Sons, T & G Cotter, J Orr & Son, and T & G Balmer. The club paid out over £500. The Brooke Supplies 2 Bird Club list was Young McManus & Sons 79 Points, A & N Young 58 Points, D Lowry & Sons 53 Points, John Balmer 49 Points, Charlie Young 45 Points and J Smyth & Son 44 Points.
Young McManus & Sons dominated in the early old bird season winning six races in Ireland and then in the first big race the Rosscarbery OB Inland Nat had the best bird in the Cullybackey Centre finishing 3rd Combine & Section plus 12th Open NIPA and £160. John Balmer had 1st & 2nd Club in the Talbenny (1) race from South Wales two birds together with the winner doing velocity 1123, at Talbenny the next week Mr & Mrs Robinson took 1st Club, 1st Combine 108/1144, 1st Sect 163/1724 and 118th Open NIPA 1010/12,331 birds. A & N Young won a hard race from Bude just ahead of brother Charlie and the birds finished 21st & 60th Open NIPA 849/8313, winning velocity was 1060. Penzance was harder still and the winner Young McManus & Sons doing velocity 978 finished 8th Comb, 9th Sect and 69th Open NIPA 882/7913 followed by John Balmer. From St Malo in France Jimmy Smyth & Son had the top bird finishing 162nd Open NIPA on velocity 722, the loft also had a second bird and M/M Robinson made the frame as well. On the same weekend A & N Young won the Yearling Cock Nat from Rosscarbery and in the Yearling Hens Young McManus & Sons had a top card with three early bird to finish 7th, 11th & 15th Open NIPA plus £150.
Different lofts recorded winners in the early part of the young bird season, M/M Robinson 1st Tullamore, D Lowry & Sons 1st Tullamore (2), Charlie Young 1st Roscrea, J Smyth & Sons 1st Roscrea (2), T & G Cotter 1st Fermoy (1). The best result was from Clonmel and after winning both old bird races from this point Young McManus & Sons doing velocity 1199 scored 1st Club, 1st Combine 114/2921, and 2nd Sect 170/4265. Paddy had the best bird again from Talbenny in the YB Nat finishing 109th Open NIPA, and then in early September John Balmer had 1st & 2nd Fermoy and M/M Robinson won the Rosscarbery YB Inland National.
Racing with the Irish Nat FC Jimmy Orr & Son scored in the opening race from Skibbereen, two birds finished 16th and 20th Combine. Charlie Young was best in the Yearling Nat Sennen Cove, doing velocity 821 he finished 10th Comb, 81st North Sect & 124th Open INFC collecting £180, M/M Robinson were next best. For the second season on the trot Charlie Young won the Kings Cup race from Vannes, this bird was bred by Ian Gill and was purchased at a local sale. Mr & Mrs Robinson had the early arrival in the Penzance YB Nat finishing 7th Comb, 24th North Sect & 25th Open INFC in the Old Hen Nat flown on the same day Jimmy Orr had the best two birds, the winner was 4th Comb and 22nd Open INFC. Another fantastic season for Ahoghill Flying Club, best wishes to the members in the new season and thanks again for the invite to the dinner and prize night.