Farming Life - Wednesday 23/11/11

[willie reynolds]

Mid Antrim Show Scene -

Most of the local clubs are now well through the Show Season, arrangements are in hand for a number of, end of the year Open Shows, Harryville HPS on Saturday 3rd December, Cullybackey HPS Open Show will be held on Saturday 17th December. It will be a 3 in 1 Show and penning will be 10.00am until 1.00pm. Kells & Dist have the usual Boxing Day Monday 26th December and Ballymena & Dist will again host their New Year Day Show on Monday 2nd January 2012. The weekly show that was delayed at Ahoghill due to the untimely death of young Steven Lowry will be held on Tuesday 22nd November, classes are Old Cock & Old Hen T/W.

Cullybackey HPS: Young Cocks Handled - 1st) J & B Balmer, 2nd) J & J Greer, 3rd) B Herbinson, 4th) J & B Balmer, RES) J & B Balmer, VHC) N & S Anderson, HC) B Herbinson, C) N & S Anderson. Young Hens Handled - 1st) J & B Balmer, 2nd) Russell Bros, 3rd) W & N Gilbert, 4th) J & J Greer, RES) J & J Greer, VHC) J & J Greer, HC) E Davidson, C) Russell Bros. Judges - Jimmy Robinson & Harold Cubitt (Rasharkin). Next week Old Cocks & Late Breds handled.

Ballymena & District: Yet another full house at the classes for Old Birds Handled, J & B Balmer won 1st Old Hen & Special in the Old Hens and Brian Herbinson from Cullybackey had 1st in the Old Cocks class. Many thanks to the judges who travelled in from Cullybackey Secretary Edrick Davidson and N Anderson & Son. Harry Richmond won the raffle and next Monday the classes are Old Pairs and Young Pairs. Old Cocks Handled (57 Birds) – 1st & Reserve B Herbinson, 2nd McAlonan Bros, 3rd W & N Gilbert, 4th G & A Eagleson, VHC M/M M Sempey, HC Blair & Rankin, Commended D & R Turkington. Old Hens Handled (53 Birds) – 1st & Special J & B Balmer, 2nd R & P Alexander, 3rd G & A Eagleson, 4th J & B Balmer, Reserve & VHC W & N Gilbert, HC B Herbinson, Commended M/M M Sempey. Judges – E Davidson & N Anderson & Son (Cullybackey).

Broughshane & District: Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, VHC & HC C Kennedy, 2nd & 3rd J Getty, 4th A Purvis, Reserve D Houston & Son, Commended H Smyth & Son. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st C Kennedy, 2nd & Reserve J & N Simpson, 3rd J Getty, 4th & HC H Smyth & Son, VHC & Commended A Purvis. Young Bird Mated Pairs – 1st & VHC J & N Simpson, 2nd C Kennedy, 3rd H Smyth & Son, 4th T & E Service, Reserve D Houston & Son, HC & Commended A Purvis. Judges Alan Barkley & Maurice Agnew (Kells & Dist). Raffle winner A Purvis.

Kells & District: Young Hens T/W (125 Birds) – 1st & 4th H Boyd, 2nd T Shanks & son, 3rd B Swann & Son, Reserve A Barkley & Son, VHC & Commended Scott & Clements, HC Surgenor Bros. Judges – Keith Kernohan & Trevor Johnston (Harryville). Next Week Old Cocks T/W.

Harryville HPS: Old Hens T/W – 1st, 3rd & Commended B Ramsey, 2nd & HC R H Clements, 3rd Blair & Rankin, Reserve R Service & Son, VHC G Price. Judge David Stevenson (Ahoghill). Young Hens T/W – 1st & 4th B Ramsey, 2nd & Commended R Service & Son, 3rd & Reserve R H Clements, VHC Blair & Rankin, HC A McBride. Judge Chris Moore (New Antrim). Old Cock Handled – 1st, 2nd & Commended G Price, 3rd, 4th & HC R Service & Son, Reserve & VHC B Ramsey. Judge George Connolly (Broughshane). Young Cocks Handled – 1st, 2nd & 3rd B Ramsey, 4th & Reserve A McBride, VHC J & B Balmer, HC G Price, Commended R H Clements. Judge Alistair Purvis (Broughshane). Thursday Old Hen & YH Handled.

Randalstown HPS: Old Cocks T/W – 1st & 3rd H Boyd, 2nd C Shaw, 4th W & N Gilbert, Reserve, VHC, HC & Commended Houston Bros. Old Hens T/W – 1st & 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd, Reserve & Commended C Shaw, 4th H Boyd, VHC Houston Bros, HC Smylie Bros. Judges M/M M Sempey & Tom McAlonan (Ballymena & Dist). Next week YC & YH Handled.

Ahoghill Flying Club: Young Cock Handled – 1st J Balmer, 2nd, 4th, VHC & HC M/M Robinson, 3rd J Orr & Son, Reserve J & B Balmer, Commended C Moore. Young Hens Handled – 1st, 2nd & 3rd W Livingstone, 4th J & B Balmer, Reserve C Moore, VHC Balmer Young & Sons, HC J Orr & Son, Commended Young McManus & sons. Judges – E Davidson and N Anderson & Son (Cullybackey).

Ballymoney HPS: Old Cocks T/W – 1st Curry & Gilmore, 2nd J Connolly, 3rd B & I Stewart, 4th, HC & Commended D Gage, Reserve & VHC D Dixon. Old Hens T/W – 1st & VHC Curry & Gilmore, 2nd, Reserve & Commended D Gage, 3rd, 4th & HC D Dixon. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, HC & Commended D & G McMullan, 3rd L Neill, 4th & HC D Dixon, Reserve J Connolly. Judges S Walker, G McLaughlin & P O’Connor (Coleraine). Next week YC & YH Handled and Old Pied T/W. Penning is from 7.30pm until 8.30pm.

Lurgan Social – Thanks to Martin Douglas for the latest result on Monday night. AACH – 1st, 2nd, 3rd & HC Kevin Henderson, 4th Brown & Shaw, Reserve D & B Lyness, VHC T & K Mawhinney. Best Young Bird D & B Lyness. Thanks to the judges M/M Flood (Belfast). Next Week – AA Cock or Hen with Special for Best YB and Best Pied.

Next Monday Adie will return to Newtownbreda HPS Clubrooms with a superb draft of pigeons for Vernon Thom of Cookstown regarded as “Mr National” and why not !!! What a record Vernon has spanning some 50 years hardly a years passes without Vernon Thom’s name appearing in a National result, this made possible of course with his old crafted family of Kenyon and Cattrysse pigeons through Les Davenport. Sadly due to advanced age Vernon is finding the work load of the pigeons very demanding and has reluctantly decided to part with 40 + superb specimens that I must admit are rich and tasty to the eye containing all the old bloodlines that have kept Vernon at the top of National racing for what seems a complete life time. Once again a super sale to be had here. The Sales List is available to read on Ireland’s Leading website www.pigeonnetwork.com