Ballymena & Dist HPS were back at the local Adair Arms Hotel in early January for the annual dinner and prize presentation, another very good attendance of members and friends were made welcome by President Billy Smyth. George Eagleson said grace and dinner was served in a good manner by the very efficient staff.
The racing season was another good one for the Ballymena member’s, W & J Smyth ran away with the Top Prize-winner their major highlight being the Meritorious Award for Individual Bird performance over two cross channel races from Talbenny & Penzance. Special guest was Mary Devlin the sister of the late Joe Devlin who was a very popular Chairman over the last two years and who passed away recently. Joe was not only a top racer but a dedicated club-man who never failed to support any of the events held by the club, and done more than his fair share of any work. He will be missed big time in the months and seasons ahead, this type of member is very hard to replace.
Racing with the Mid Antrim Combine three race Diplomas were won, W & J Smyth took both Penzance and the Penzance OB Classic and Bertie Blair (Blair & Rankin) won the St Malo Friendship National from France. Both lofts have probably had a best ever season, W & J Smyth had 9 x 1sts, and Blair & Rankin 4 x 1sts. In Mid Antrim W & J Smyth won the Bird of the Year with their good racer the Blue Cheq 3 year old cock Ken-Aird Boy, the Meritorious Award winner. Recording velocity 1166 he was the Overall Winner in the Irish Region over all of the Mighty NIPA. It was a good double by lofts in Mid Antrim with Danny Dixon winning the cup in 2010. W & J Smyth also collected the B Eagleson Memorial Cup for the Best Ave in the first three cross channel races. Blair & Rankin collected the Cross Channel Ave in Mid Antrim, their season of success included 1st Combine in the Friendship Nat from St Malo with Lily and then in the Young Birds 2nd Comb, 2nd North Sect & 2nd Open INFC Penzance with Jean, just behind winner Simon Millar from Randalstown. This Blue Riband YB event has been won several times by Ballymena & Dist lofts and we nearly had the winner again. Looking through the race results for old birds W & J Smyth were 3rd Comb Pilmore Beach and 2nd Comb Talbenny (2), followed by 1st Combine in both Penzance races. McAlonan Bros who were ace racers when in Cullybackey HPS, getting success right through to France had 2nd Comb from Bude and then 3rd Comb in the NIPA St Malo OB Nat. Tommy’s Delight won the Bronze Diploma in the NIPA winning 4th & 5th Sect in the last two seasons and maybe adding to that in 2012. In the young birds Blair & Rankin had 2nd Comb from Tullamore and Joe Devlin was 2nd Comb from Tullamore as well. Martin Graham won 9 x 1sts and was runner-up for Top Prize-winner, races included Skibbereen OB with the INFC and Rosscarbery YB with the NIPA, Mr & Mrs Sempey won 2 x 1sts and that included the Talbenny YB Nat with Elke’s Delight, with a new loft and I hear new stock they will be looking to improve in the new season. A star loft in Ballykeel this one looking like many more, for extra success.
Mary Devlin was invited to present the awards and the leading lofts were: W & J Smyth, Martin Graham, Blair & Rankin, G & A Eagleson, Richmond Bros, Joe Devlin, Brian O’Rawe, McAlonan Bros, James Harris and Mr & Mrs Sempey. Total pay-out was £660 which included the Ring Nom Race. 1st George McDowell and 2nd Alan Darragh. The Mid Antrim Combine awards were presented by Brian Herbinson the President of Cullybackey HPS who supports the club every year.
Overall the club had a fantastic year, starting with the Squeaker Sale held in Derry City, we had big birdage in racing getting up to 300 in the young birds, the show season was the best for the last number of years and the Open Show held on New Years Day for the Mid Antrim area was better than the season previous. If we can hit that level of performance during the rest of 2012 we will be doing well, it all does not run without help and support and a very large number of the members assist in various ways making the job of officials that bit easier. Some lofts have already paired up and all the members are looking forward to top competition in a new season. One or two other highlights from last season, Brian O’Rawe won the Yearling Nat for the second year on the trot and Richmond Bros were best in the Kings Cup. They timed a Grizzle cock at 10.56pm from Plaudren/Vannes on the day flying 512 miles, timed near dark. The late Billy Erwin timed his Moonlight Mannequin many years ago around the same time to bring the Blue Riband of the sport the Kings Cup to Ballymena. An added bonus this year for Harry Richmond was breeding a Hall of Fame winner, a bird he bred for Sammy Steele moved house to Alan Darragh who raced the bird to win a Hall of Fame Diploma for the first time.
The cups and trophies were won as follows: W & J Smyth won – Yearling Hen Nat, Yearling Cock Nat, Talbenny OB, Carnvale Cup (Penzance), OB Inland Ave, Simon McCrory Cup, Ave Bude & Sennen Cove, Mooney Cup (Best Individual Bird), Comb Inl Ave, Orr Challenge Cup (Combined Average), Harper Cup (Highest Prize-winner).
Martin Graham won – Mallow 5 Bird, Rodger King memorial Cup, YB Inland National, YB Inland Average, Victory Cup (YB Average), Ave NIPA Young bird Nationals, Flamingo Cup (Talbenny & Rosscarbery), Law Family Memorial Cup (INFC Points Average).
Blair & Rankin won – R Law Memorial Cup (1st Yearling Penzance), OB Friendship Nat, Bill Carney Rose Bowl (Lowest Winning Vel), Best Individual YB, Penzance YB Nat, A S Hughes (Cross Channel Ave).
McAlonan Bros won – George Barr Challenge Cup (NIPA St Malo), McDowell Challenge (OB Derby), Skibbereen YB Nat, Best Ave St Malo & Talbenny.
Mr & Mrs Sempey won – Vintage Cup (YB Derby Talbenny), Ruddle Cup (YB Derby), YB Knock-Out.
B O’Rawe won – Carnvale Cup (Yearling National). G & A Eagleson won – McCrory Cup (Old Bird Ave), OB Inland Derby. Richmond Bros won – INFC Vannes Kings Cup, Kings Cup & Talbenny. G Bell won – Novice Shield.
Special guest Mary Devlin thanked the club for the invite and was pleased to meet many of the members, she said Joe would have been proud of the night had he been in attendance. President Billy Smyth presented a Bouquet of flowers on behalf of the members. A great night was reported by all in attendance.
