Kells & District Open Show 2011 -

[willie reynolds]

The big Boxing Day Show in Mid Antrim was hosted by Kells & Dist just outside Ballymena, this event has been going for as long as I can remember. Weather conditions were much improved from one year ago and birds were penned from a wide area. Just short of 300 birds were available for the team of judges from the Ulster Fed in Belfast including Jim Braniff (Fortfield), Jim Lennon (Grosvenor), J Jackson and G Braniff. Victor Montgomery from Springvale in the Ballyclare area won three classes and with that Best in Show and Best Opposite Sex. Others with Red Cards included T & K Mawhinney (Donaghcloney) 1st Old Bird T/W, W & N Gilbert (Randalstown) 1st Old Bird Eye-sign and Ken Wilkinson (Antrim) 1st Young Bird Eye-sign. Club Chairman Brian Swann thanked all who supported the Annual Show, all those who supplied prizes, those who set the clubrooms up including Show Secty Alan Barkley, and Francis Connon for sponsorship. He congratulated all the top winners and hoped to see them all return next time.

Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st & VHC T & K Mawhinney, 2nd J & B Balmer, 3rd G & R Lawrie, 4th D & R Turkington, Reserve V Montgomery, HC T Shanks & Son, Commended A Barkley & Son. Old Bird Handled – 1st & VHC V Montgomery, 2nd T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & Reserve A Neill, 4th F Simpson, HC & Commended K Wilkinson. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st W & N Gilbert, 2nd & 4th F Simpson, 3rd V Montgomery, Reserve T & K Mawhinney, VHC, HC & Commended A Neill. Young Bird T/W – 1st, Reserve & HC V Montgomery, 2nd T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & Commended A Neill, 4th F Simpson, VHC J & B Balmer. Young Bird Handled – 1st, 2nd & HC V Montgomery, 3rd A Neill, 4th A Barkley & Son, Reserve D & R Turkington, VHC K Wilkinson, Commended T & K Mawhinney. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st K Wilkinson, 2nd & 4th V Montgomery, 3rd T & K Mawhinney, Reserve & Commended J & B Balmer, VHC D & R Turkington, HC W & N Gilbert.


Victor Montgomery from Springvale won the Best in Show at Kells & Dist Open Show.


Jim Braniff (r) presents the Kells & Dist Show Cup to Alan Barkley.


Jim Lennon (r) presents the YB Eye-sign award to Ken Wilkinson.


W & N Gilbert from Randalstown won the Old Bird Eye-sign.


Timmy Mawhinney (l) who travelled up from Co Down had 1st Old Bird T/W.


Jim Braniff (r) presents the BIS & BOS awards to Victor Montgomery at Kells Open Show.