Ahoghill Flying Club - Awards 2011
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:32 pm
Ahoghill Flying Club Dinner & Awards
As has been the form for the past number of years the Ahoghill FC celebrated the 2011 race season with the Annual Dinner & Prize Presentation held once again in the Ballymena United Social Club at Warden Street on Saturday 11th February. With the local football team having won an Irish Cup match earlier in the day there was plenty of activity at the venue. Secretary Albert Young was an early arrival and had everything set up to perfection in the main hall.
Chairman Tom Young welcomed a good turn-out of the members and friends and welcomed the guests that included once again local scribe Homer and Rosie.
Following the dinner Tom said the members had another very successful season, he thanked Ann’s Kitchen for providing a very nice dinner, and the Social Club Committee for the use of the hall. He also thanked the members for the assistance through the race season and all those who helped out with the shows and supplied the prizes and those who supplied eatables including Mrs Stevenson. In the race season the club thanked Brooke Supplies, who again sponsored the 2 Bird Club competition. Winners here for the first time were Jimmy Smyth & Son followed by Mr & Mrs Robinson, A & N Young, Young McManus & Sons, Jimmy Orr & Son and John Balmer assisted as ever by his dad Cowan who had flu during the week and put in a big effort to attend the prize night. Yet again they brought a big party to the dinner and his daughter Wilma Alexander who carried out the presentation of awards was thanked for the fund raising events over the year, greatly appreciated. The Chairman drew attention to the loss of a member during the season, young Steven Lowry passed away at a tragic young age and the members observed a moment’s silence in his memory.
As far as the weekly racing was concerned it was much as usual with Young McManus & Sons mostly to the fore winning something like 9 x 1sts and Top Prize-winner for a record 17th season on the trot. That takes some doing and Homer mentioned this in his round up of the local results. The leading lofts were Paddy McManus, followed by J Smyth & Son, A & N Young, Mr & Mrs Robinson, D Lowry & Sons, J Orr & Son, D Stevenson and Charlie Young.
A total of 3 Mid Antrim Combine Diplomas were won in the early part of the Old Bird programme, Young McManus & Sons won 1st Combine from Roscrea and Rosscarbery Inland Nat and on the same day A & N Young had 1st Combine from Roscrea. Albert was telling me he was lucky to have the ETS set up, delayed getting back home from a trip into town some birds including the winner were already in the loft on his return. Paddy McManus was 3rd Comb & Sect in the race from Talbenny doing velocity 1039, D Lowry & Sons won Bude and A & N Young finished 2nd Comb & Sect in both Penzance and the duplicate OB Classic finishing 9th Open on velocity 1262 collecting £350. Mr & Mrs Robinson won the St Malo OB National, recording velocity 937 they finished 194th Open NIPA. I have a bit more detail on the earlier results. From Roscrea in April Paddy McManus doing velocity 1527 had 1st Comb & Sect and 88th Open NIPA with 30,000 birds competing. Three weeks later they had the early bird in the Rosscarbery Nat finishing 1st Comb, 2nd Sect & 283rd Open NIPA. In the comeback Roscrea on the same day A & N Young had 1st Comb & 2nd Section.
Racing with the Irish Nat FC Jimmy Smyth & Son were best in the Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove to finish 6th Comb, 96th North Sect & 153rd Open INFC. The loft had a second arrival and others in the result included D Lowry & Sons and Mr & Mrs Robinson. Moving to the Grand Nat Kings Cup flown again from Plaudren/Vannes the best bird was timed again by Charlie Young to finish 4th Comb, 62nd North Sect & 68th Open INFC. Charlie had a second bird in the clock, M/M Robinson were placed and J Smyth & Son had two in race time. Penzance YB Grand Nat was won locally but it was the usual hard race, best birds were timed by Young McManus & Sons doing velocity 686 finished 109th North Sect & 143rd Open INFC, J Smyth & Son doing velocity 515 finished 141st North Sect & 188th Open INFC.
Sponsors included Mrs Angela Alexander (Finvoy), Maine Butcher Ricky Balmer (Cullybackey), Hairdressers Miss Linda Fry (Greenvale St, Ballymena), Billy Bamber (Belfast), Brooke Supplies Ahoghill, Wilma Alexander and any others over the year. Another fantastic season for Ahoghill Flying Club, best wishes to the members in the new season and thanks again for the invite to the dinner and prize night.
As has been the form for the past number of years the Ahoghill FC celebrated the 2011 race season with the Annual Dinner & Prize Presentation held once again in the Ballymena United Social Club at Warden Street on Saturday 11th February. With the local football team having won an Irish Cup match earlier in the day there was plenty of activity at the venue. Secretary Albert Young was an early arrival and had everything set up to perfection in the main hall.
Chairman Tom Young welcomed a good turn-out of the members and friends and welcomed the guests that included once again local scribe Homer and Rosie.
Following the dinner Tom said the members had another very successful season, he thanked Ann’s Kitchen for providing a very nice dinner, and the Social Club Committee for the use of the hall. He also thanked the members for the assistance through the race season and all those who helped out with the shows and supplied the prizes and those who supplied eatables including Mrs Stevenson. In the race season the club thanked Brooke Supplies, who again sponsored the 2 Bird Club competition. Winners here for the first time were Jimmy Smyth & Son followed by Mr & Mrs Robinson, A & N Young, Young McManus & Sons, Jimmy Orr & Son and John Balmer assisted as ever by his dad Cowan who had flu during the week and put in a big effort to attend the prize night. Yet again they brought a big party to the dinner and his daughter Wilma Alexander who carried out the presentation of awards was thanked for the fund raising events over the year, greatly appreciated. The Chairman drew attention to the loss of a member during the season, young Steven Lowry passed away at a tragic young age and the members observed a moment’s silence in his memory.
As far as the weekly racing was concerned it was much as usual with Young McManus & Sons mostly to the fore winning something like 9 x 1sts and Top Prize-winner for a record 17th season on the trot. That takes some doing and Homer mentioned this in his round up of the local results. The leading lofts were Paddy McManus, followed by J Smyth & Son, A & N Young, Mr & Mrs Robinson, D Lowry & Sons, J Orr & Son, D Stevenson and Charlie Young.
A total of 3 Mid Antrim Combine Diplomas were won in the early part of the Old Bird programme, Young McManus & Sons won 1st Combine from Roscrea and Rosscarbery Inland Nat and on the same day A & N Young had 1st Combine from Roscrea. Albert was telling me he was lucky to have the ETS set up, delayed getting back home from a trip into town some birds including the winner were already in the loft on his return. Paddy McManus was 3rd Comb & Sect in the race from Talbenny doing velocity 1039, D Lowry & Sons won Bude and A & N Young finished 2nd Comb & Sect in both Penzance and the duplicate OB Classic finishing 9th Open on velocity 1262 collecting £350. Mr & Mrs Robinson won the St Malo OB National, recording velocity 937 they finished 194th Open NIPA. I have a bit more detail on the earlier results. From Roscrea in April Paddy McManus doing velocity 1527 had 1st Comb & Sect and 88th Open NIPA with 30,000 birds competing. Three weeks later they had the early bird in the Rosscarbery Nat finishing 1st Comb, 2nd Sect & 283rd Open NIPA. In the comeback Roscrea on the same day A & N Young had 1st Comb & 2nd Section.
Racing with the Irish Nat FC Jimmy Smyth & Son were best in the Yearling Nat from Sennen Cove to finish 6th Comb, 96th North Sect & 153rd Open INFC. The loft had a second arrival and others in the result included D Lowry & Sons and Mr & Mrs Robinson. Moving to the Grand Nat Kings Cup flown again from Plaudren/Vannes the best bird was timed again by Charlie Young to finish 4th Comb, 62nd North Sect & 68th Open INFC. Charlie had a second bird in the clock, M/M Robinson were placed and J Smyth & Son had two in race time. Penzance YB Grand Nat was won locally but it was the usual hard race, best birds were timed by Young McManus & Sons doing velocity 686 finished 109th North Sect & 143rd Open INFC, J Smyth & Son doing velocity 515 finished 141st North Sect & 188th Open INFC.
Sponsors included Mrs Angela Alexander (Finvoy), Maine Butcher Ricky Balmer (Cullybackey), Hairdressers Miss Linda Fry (Greenvale St, Ballymena), Billy Bamber (Belfast), Brooke Supplies Ahoghill, Wilma Alexander and any others over the year. Another fantastic season for Ahoghill Flying Club, best wishes to the members in the new season and thanks again for the invite to the dinner and prize night.
