Despite the ice and cold the local Cullybackey HPS attracted fanciers from a wide area and it turned out a class day for visiting lofts, from East Antrim Victor Montgomery and G & R Lawrie had the Red Card in YB Through Wires and YB Handled, Alwyn Neill from Donaghcloney in County Down won both OB Through Wires and OB Eye-sign and also Best Opposite Sex and from Ballymena & District J & B Balmer had the Red Card in Old Bird Handled and also Best in Show with just over 250 birds penned. For the local club Russell Bros were under very strong pressure in their favourite Eye-sign classes but did collect the Red Card in the Young Birds. Jack Balmer completed a very good day by having Most Points in Show. Judges travelled from Ballyclare and included National winner Robin Duddy, Victor Thompson, Nat Champion Leslie Woodside, and Arnold Thompson. Club Secretary Edrick Davidson thanked all those who helped out over the weekend, main sponsor the Bridge Garage, and those who supplied prizes and supported the raffle. He thanked the judges who had travelled from East Antrim and congratulated the top winners. In the local club Show Series which finished last week winning trophies were presented to J & J Greer Most Club Points and J & B Balmer (Ballymena & Dist) Top Visitor Points. The Ballymena & Dist Show will take place in the Cullybackey Clubrooms on Monday 2nd January. Watch press for further details.
Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st A Neill, 2nd J & B Balmer, 3rd W & N Gilbert, 4th K Wilkinson, Reserve & VHC V Montgomery, HC Russell Bros, Commended Reid Bros & McCloy. Old Bird Handled – 1st, 2nd & Reserve J & B Balmer, 3rd A Neill, 4th K Wilkinson, VHC V Montgomery, HC S McKendry, Commended D & R Turkington. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st A Neill, 2nd & Commended W & N Gilbert, 3rd D & R Turkington, 4th Russell Bros, Reserve J & B Balmer, VHC & HC K Wilkinson. Young Bird T/W – 1st V Montgomery, 2nd & VHC D & R Turkington, 3rd & HC J & B Balmer, 4th K Wilkinson, Reserve A Darragh, Commended T & K Mawhinney. Young Bird Handled – 1st, 3rd & Commended G & R Lawrie, 2nd & Reserve Reid Bros & McCloy, 4th K Wilkinson, VHC J & B Balmer, HC John Balmer. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st & VHC Russell Bros, 2nd V Montgomery, 3rd W & N Gilbert, 4th & HC D & R Turkington, Reserve J & B Balmer, Commended B Herbinson.
