Farming Life - Wednesday 09/11/11

[willie reynolds]

Kells & District Presentation & Moot

The Kells & Dist HPS returned for the second time to Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim for the annual prize giving and moot, most of the members were in attendance and were made welcome by Chairman Brian Swann. He thanked all the members for their help and support during the past season and all those involved with the arrangements for the prize night including Alan Shanks. Top prize-winner was yet again Jeff Surgenor who had 9 x 1sts and 13 trophies. Jeff is the man to beat and has been at the top for the last number of years bar one when Scott & Clements were successful and that goes back to when Davy McDowell & Son were at the top. This loft could race and good to see that Davy is still keeping his hand in with brother in law Jeff there on the race days giving a hand. The club won Mid Antrim Combine in five races, Scott & Clements in the Old Bird Tullamore (2), Surgenor Bros had 3 x 1sts at Fermoy in old birds and Tullamore and Fermoy with the young birds, and George McDowell won the Young Bird Fermoy and 5 Bird duplicate race and came close in a few other races.

Jeff Surgenor and George McDowell each topped the NIPA Sect B and others with top racing success included B Swann & Son and Surgenor Bros who both timed in the St Malo OB Nat from France, Surgenor Bros had the winner in the YB Nat from Talbenny in South Wales and George McDowell had a super result in the Rosscarbery YB Nat with 1st, 2nd and 3rd, he has scored great results in the young birds with stock from Gerald Delaney, the best of the Willy Jacobs. Racing with the Irish Nat FC B Swann & Son were the best in the Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove, Henry Turkington was best in the YB Grand Nat from Penzance and Billy McClure timed in the Grand Nat Blue Riband Kings Cup from Plaudren at 510 miles. INFC Patron Ronnie Johnston was on hand to present the Mid Antrim Combine awards and congratulated the club members on another successful season and was pleased to see a Pigeon Moot arranged for the local area. Ronnie had a lot of details and history and he mentioned the great result for Billy McClure who racing a small team won the Hall of Fame Diploma for the second year running, a feat Ronnie said was only achieved on one other occasion and over 100 have been won. The club made a special presentation to Billy, a Pencil Sketch of his Hall of Fame winner in a large frame.

The Ring Secretary Mrs Marie Herron presented the cups and prize money, the leading lofts were Surgenor Bros, George McDowell, Scott & Clements, B Swann & Son, Harry Boyd, McFarlane & Agnew, T Shanks & Son, H Turkington and Bill McClure. The pay-out was just short of �1,200 and a prize draw was made during a break with the Moot.

INFC President Sid Collins acted as Chairman of a very successful Moot/Quiz that could have been better attended a missed opportunity to hear the views and history of the loft of some of the big stars of the sport. Main guest was John Preece a member of the famous Preece Bros & Sons from Cwmtillery in Wales who have won a record number of Nationals racing into that country including the Blue Riband from Lerwick. The older generation will well remember the time we raced from Thurso and Lerwick, they are talking about it yet. Syd had done a little bit of research and invited all the guests to cover a bit of their history and what birds gave them a start and where they came from. The entertainment was first class, included on the panel David Black who this season won the INFC National Championship for the first time having already won almost everything else including the Kings Cup and then from the same part of the World at Dromore in County Down, Mr Oroory Hill Stud himself Gerald Delaney. The evening was well appreciated, the food was at the highest standard, and well done again to Kells & Dist and Alan Shanks who made most of the arrangements for the night.

NI Clubs Show Scene -

More clubs join the weekly show scene the latest from Ballymoney HPS Secretary Derek McMullan is that the first show will take place on Friday 11th November with classes for Young Cock and Young Hen T/W and the Old Bird Eye-sign. The Annual dinner and prize presentation will be held in the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine on Saturday 19th November.

Cullybackey HPS continued with classes for the old birds judged through the wires by Johnny Simpson and Willie Owens (Broughshane) and Alan Barkley (Kells), they know a bit about racing and showing. Both the Red Cards were penned by the local loft of J & J Greer who with Brian Herbinson collected most cards. Old Cock T/W - 1st J & J Greer, 2nd B Herbinson, 3rd J & B Balmer, 4th B Herbinson, Reserve Russell Bros, VHC J & B Balmer, HC J & J Greer, Commended J & B Balmer. Old Hens T/W - 1st J & J Greer, 2nd J & J Greer, 3rd J & J Greer, 4th B Herbinson, Reserve N & S Anderson, VHC B Herbinson, HC J & B Balmer Commended B Herbinson. Judges - Willie Owens, Norman Simpson and Alan Barkley. Next week Young & Old Pairs Through the Wires.

Almost all the pens were filled for the second week at Ballymena & District the judges travelled in from Cullybackey and Sammy Steele and Wendal Scott done a very good job. The overall winner was in the Old Cocks class a bird penned by W & N Gilbert that had also won at the Dublin Show last weekend. First time visitors D & R Turkington from Ballyclare collected the Red Card in Old Hens. Old Cock T/W (58 Birds) – 1st, Reserve & HC W & N Gilbert, 2nd, 3rd & 4th J & B Balmer, VHC B Herbinson, Commended G & A Eagleson. Old Hens T/W (53 Birds) – 1st & 4th D & R Turkington, 2nd G & A Eagleson, 3rd, VHC & Commended B Herbinson, Reserve J & B Balmer, HC Blair & Rankin. Judges – S Steele and W Scott (Cullybackey). Raffle Elke Sempey. Monday – YC & YH Handled.

Broughshane & District made a start with classes for Old Cock and Young Cock T/W judged by the Rasharkin & Dist team of Jimmy Robinson and Harold Cubitt who also won the raffle. The Red Card winners were John Getty and T & E Service. Old Cocks T/W � 1st, HC & Commended J Getty, 2nd D Houston & Son, 3rd H Smyth & Son, 4th & Reserve T & E Service, VHC J & N Simpson. Young Cocks T/W � 1st & 4th T & E Service, 2nd A Purvis, 3rd & Reserve J Getty, VHC & Commended J & N Simpson, HC C Kennedy. Next week Tuesday 8th Nov Old Hen and Young Hen T/W.

Harryville HPS started with classes for Old and Young Cocks both won by the local member Billy Ramsey, George Price was looking after affairs and Mid Antrim Combine Secretary George McDowell placed the cards. Old Cock T/W (35 Birds) � 1st, 4th & VHC B Ramsey, 2nd, Reserve & Commended Blair & Rankin, 3rd G Price, VHC R H Clements. Young Cocks T/W (30 Birds) � 1st, 3rd & Commended B Ramsey, 2nd, 4th & VHC R H Clements, Reserve R Service, VHC G Price. Next week Old Hen and Young Hen T/W. The Harryville series will continue each Thursday with penning from 7.30pm until 8.00pm through to 15th December. The annual Open Show will be held in the Harryville Clubrooms first Saturday in December. Visitors to all the shows will be made most welcome.

Ahoghill Flying Club first night classes were judged by D Young & Partner from Muckamore. Charlie Young won the Young Cocks and A & N Young Young Hens, next week its Old Cock and Old Hen T/W. Young Cocks T/W (56 Birds) � 1st C Young, 2nd C Moore, 3rd A Neill, 4th & VHC D Lowry, Reserve J & B Balmer, HC W Livingstone, Commended A & N Young. Young Hens T/W (60 Birds) � 1st A & N Young, 2nd W Livingstone, 3rd J & B Balmer, 4th & HC M/M Robinson, Reserve D Lowry, VHC C Moore, Commended T & G Balmer.

Kenny Mallen from Banbridge has a Training Trailer for sale which holds 800-1,000 birds a collection run is available in the local area if purchased there. Kenny will explain any further details and additional info including costs etc, it was used extensively in the last year. Tel: 07737 521355.