Cullybackey Dinner at Adair Arms Hotel -
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:50 pm
Cullybackey HPS – Record season for Alan Darragh
The local Cullybackey HPS made a welcome return to the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena for the annual prize night and dinner last weekend. One of the last occasions at the same venue was some 35 years previous, I was a guest with my brother Michael joining Mr & Mrs Jack Irvine, Mr & Mrs Tommy Harper and Provincial himself the late James Martin scribe for the local newspaper and the BHW. The late John Blaney had just taken over as secretary from E G Leckey and the chairman was James Anderson. The premier award winners were Russell Bros who raced at Tullygrawley, followed by the ever consistent W Reid who won 1st Sect & 2nd Open from Okehampton and the previous seasons top winner T McAlonan who had 1st Club from Dinard (France). At that time the club had over 50 members and was the largest in Sect B of the NIPA. In appreciation of his long service and devotion to the fancy and his club the members took this opportunity to present Mrs Leckey with a Silver tea service and Ernie with a wallet for which EG in his own amicable way thanked the members. One of the clubs founder members Alfie Greenwood made the presentation.
Cullybackey are first away each year with their prize night, last season I missed the event due to having a sale in Dublin on the same night. Along with myself and Rosie the special guests were Brian Hayes and wife Diane from the local Bridge Garage, they sponsor two Nomination Races each year and on this occasion Alan Darragh won both Old Bird and Young Bird races. President Brian Herbinson welcomed the gathering including the guests and mentioned those on sick call including Harry McCloy senior who was recovering well after major surgery, Lorna Davidson who was just out of hospital and was present with husband Leonard and Rosie had a spell in hospital in recent weeks as well.
The racing season was one of the best ever for local Ace Flyer Alan Darragh who won a record number of races and topped the Mid Antrim Combine on five occasions. The Fermoy 5 Bird in Old Birds and then in the young bird season had top success from Roscrea and the Rosscarbery YB Nat with the final two Diplomas racing with the INFC the Skibbereen Old Bird Nat and Plaudren/Vannes Kings Cup where he won a Hall of Fame Diploma for the first time having won almost everything including the Blue Riband race as well with Independent Ranger. Previously I have indicated the bird was bred by clubmate Sammy Steele, and I got this connection wrong. Ballymena & Dist fancier Harry Richmond bred two birds for Sammy and one of those strayed into the Darragh loft and he left it with Alan to race. Funny how these thing come about, well done to all concerned.
Back to the old bird racing and as expected the Cullybackey members were up as usual for the longer races, Reid Bros & McCloy racing at the famous Rock timed an early arrival from Bude to win 1st Combine, 1st Sect & 5th Open NIPA while his dad just had the ETS System connected on time having the early arrival in the Premier OB Nat from St Malo to finish 1st Combine, 1st Sect & 10th Open NIPA, this one a Belgium rung pigeon was the last bird purchased by his late wife Rosie who really enjoyed the long distance races.
The leading lofts were: A Darragh, Russell Bros, Reid Bros & McCloy, J & J Greer, W Scott, H & R McCloy, D Robinson, S Steele, N & S Anderson and B Herbinson. Alan Darragh won the Russell Family Cup for Highest Prize-winner yet again, Russell Bros won the James Anderson Cup for Best Ave St Malo & Rosscarbery YB and Wendal Scott won the John Blaney Cup for Talbenny YB National, a race the loft has previously topped the NIPA in. Homer presented the Mid Antrim Combine awards Alan Darragh winning Young Bird Average and the Les Mairs Old Bird Fancier of the Year and Sammy McCloy collected the McIlhagga Memorial Cup for 1st Combine from St Malo won by H & R McCloy. Cullybackey HPS won the Club Shield for the Old Birds.
Please call back for Photo Feature -
The local Cullybackey HPS made a welcome return to the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena for the annual prize night and dinner last weekend. One of the last occasions at the same venue was some 35 years previous, I was a guest with my brother Michael joining Mr & Mrs Jack Irvine, Mr & Mrs Tommy Harper and Provincial himself the late James Martin scribe for the local newspaper and the BHW. The late John Blaney had just taken over as secretary from E G Leckey and the chairman was James Anderson. The premier award winners were Russell Bros who raced at Tullygrawley, followed by the ever consistent W Reid who won 1st Sect & 2nd Open from Okehampton and the previous seasons top winner T McAlonan who had 1st Club from Dinard (France). At that time the club had over 50 members and was the largest in Sect B of the NIPA. In appreciation of his long service and devotion to the fancy and his club the members took this opportunity to present Mrs Leckey with a Silver tea service and Ernie with a wallet for which EG in his own amicable way thanked the members. One of the clubs founder members Alfie Greenwood made the presentation.
Cullybackey are first away each year with their prize night, last season I missed the event due to having a sale in Dublin on the same night. Along with myself and Rosie the special guests were Brian Hayes and wife Diane from the local Bridge Garage, they sponsor two Nomination Races each year and on this occasion Alan Darragh won both Old Bird and Young Bird races. President Brian Herbinson welcomed the gathering including the guests and mentioned those on sick call including Harry McCloy senior who was recovering well after major surgery, Lorna Davidson who was just out of hospital and was present with husband Leonard and Rosie had a spell in hospital in recent weeks as well.
The racing season was one of the best ever for local Ace Flyer Alan Darragh who won a record number of races and topped the Mid Antrim Combine on five occasions. The Fermoy 5 Bird in Old Birds and then in the young bird season had top success from Roscrea and the Rosscarbery YB Nat with the final two Diplomas racing with the INFC the Skibbereen Old Bird Nat and Plaudren/Vannes Kings Cup where he won a Hall of Fame Diploma for the first time having won almost everything including the Blue Riband race as well with Independent Ranger. Previously I have indicated the bird was bred by clubmate Sammy Steele, and I got this connection wrong. Ballymena & Dist fancier Harry Richmond bred two birds for Sammy and one of those strayed into the Darragh loft and he left it with Alan to race. Funny how these thing come about, well done to all concerned.
Back to the old bird racing and as expected the Cullybackey members were up as usual for the longer races, Reid Bros & McCloy racing at the famous Rock timed an early arrival from Bude to win 1st Combine, 1st Sect & 5th Open NIPA while his dad just had the ETS System connected on time having the early arrival in the Premier OB Nat from St Malo to finish 1st Combine, 1st Sect & 10th Open NIPA, this one a Belgium rung pigeon was the last bird purchased by his late wife Rosie who really enjoyed the long distance races.
The leading lofts were: A Darragh, Russell Bros, Reid Bros & McCloy, J & J Greer, W Scott, H & R McCloy, D Robinson, S Steele, N & S Anderson and B Herbinson. Alan Darragh won the Russell Family Cup for Highest Prize-winner yet again, Russell Bros won the James Anderson Cup for Best Ave St Malo & Rosscarbery YB and Wendal Scott won the John Blaney Cup for Talbenny YB National, a race the loft has previously topped the NIPA in. Homer presented the Mid Antrim Combine awards Alan Darragh winning Young Bird Average and the Les Mairs Old Bird Fancier of the Year and Sammy McCloy collected the McIlhagga Memorial Cup for 1st Combine from St Malo won by H & R McCloy. Cullybackey HPS won the Club Shield for the Old Birds.
Please call back for Photo Feature -
