For the third year on the trot Ballymena & District arranged a big event for the Mid Antrim fancy venue on New Year’s Day once again the Cullybackey HPS Clubrooms at Fenaghy Road, and many thanks to the club and the members for all their assistance. It was a 3 in 1 Show for Old Birds and Young Birds, each lot judged Through the Wires, Handled and then Eye-sign, and 244 birds were penned before 2.00pm. Judges had travelled down from the Kingswood HPS in Belfast and included, Colin Long, Kemp & McBride and Gareth White. They had a bit of a job on their hands firstly selecting the Class Winners, and then finally the Specials. Cullybackey lofts featured well with Russell Bros winning Young Bird T/W and both Eye-sign Classes and N & S Anderson taking the Red Card in YB Handled. Ballymena & District lofts won the other two, J & B Balmer have a very good record at this show and had 1st Old Bird T/W and W & J Smyth had 1st in the OB Handled. Russell Bros were to win Best in Show and had the Best Young Bird, W & J Smyth had Best Opposite Sex and the Most Points was easy counted, Russell Bros of Cullybackey had a pile of cards. Chairman of Ballymena & Dist Tom McAlonan thanked all involved, those who brought birds and prizes, the judges, and all who assisted including M/M Sempey, Robert Alexander and Jack Balmer. He also thanked Cullybackey HPS, and all the sponsors who included Frazer’s Animal Feeds, Beattie’s, and Brian Herbison.
Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st J & B Balmer, 2nd W & J Smyth, 3rd B Herbison, 4th N & S Anderson, Reserve & VHC W & N Gilbert, HC & Commended Russell Bros. Old Bird Handled – 1st W & J Smyth, 2nd Russell Bros, 3rd B Herbison, 4th & Reserve J & B Balmer, VHC & Commended N & S Anderson, HC A Barkley. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & HC Russell Bros, Reserve D & G McMullan, VHC W & N Gilbert, Commended B Herbison. Young Bird T/W – 1st & HC Russell Bros, 2nd & VHC N & S Anderson, 3rd J & B Balmer, 4th & Reserve W & N Gilbert, Commended D & G McMullan. Young Bird Handled – 1st N & S Anderson, 2nd Russell Bros, 3rd B Herbison, 4th A Barkley, Reserve J & B Balmer, VHC W & J Smyth, HC & Commended W & N Gilbert. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Reserve, VHC & HC Russell Bros, Commended B Herbison.
Best in Show – Russell Bros, Best Opposite Sex – W & J Smyth, Best Young Bird – Russell Bros, Most Points – Russell Bros.
The AGM for Ballymena & Dist will take place in the local clubrooms at Fountain Place on Monday 11th February at 8.00pm. Resolutions for the agenda must be with the Secretary Willie Reynolds by 31st January, and any resignations prior to the AGM.
Kells on Boxing Day was the venue for the annual show in Mid Antrim, with good weather conditions the entry exceeded 260 birds. Judges travelled down from the Ballymoney & Coleraine area and included D McMullan, A Tweed, and J Edgar. Victor Montgomery from Springvale Social won the Old Bird Handled and had Best in Show, J & C Balmer from Ballymena & Dist won three classes and had Best Opposite Sex. Alwyn Neill from Lurgan had 1st in the Old Bird Eye-sign and Fred Simpson from Doagh & Dist 1st in the YB Handled. The Show Cup was won by A Barkley & Son. Chairman of Kells & Dist Brian Swann thanked all for their support, those who helped at the club, brought birds and prizes and he also thanked the judges. Other sponsors included F Connon, B Herbison, Sizzlers Chip Shop and S McIlveen. I had intended to call in for the presentation, I was out for dinner, got delayed and missed out. Can’t remember the last time I missed Kells on Boxing Day.
Results: Old Bird Through Wires – 1st & 4th J & B Balmer, 2nd A Barkley & Son, 3rd & HC A Neill, Reserve F Simpson, VHC T & K Mawhinney, Commended D & R Turkington. Old Bird Handled – 1st & 4th V Montgomery, 2nd & VHC A Neill, 3rd T & K Mawhinney Reserve & HC G & R Lawrie, Commended W & N Gilbert. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st A Neill, 2nd & VHC T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & 4th F Simpson, Reserve V Montgomery, HC C Shaw, Commended W & N Gilbert. Young Bird T/W – 1st, 2nd & 4th J & B Balmer, 3rd D & R Turkington, Reserve, HC & Commended V Montgomery, VHC T & K Mawhinney. YB Handled – 1st & 3rd F Simpson, 2nd & Reserve V Montgomery, 4th J & B Balmer, VHC M Smyth, HC D & R Turkington, Commended A Neill. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st J & B Balmer, 2nd & 4th V Montgomery, 3rd W & N Gilbert, Reserve F Simpson, VHC R Wilson, HC K Wilkinson, Commended A Barkley & Son.
The AGM for Kells & District will take place in the local clubrooms on Thursday 14th February. Resolutions for the agenda should be with Secretary Mervyn Gregg by 31st January.
Some of the sponsored prizes at Ballymena Open Show.
Len Russell from Cullybackey won 3 Classes and BIS.
Billy Smyth President of Ballymena & Dist won Best Opposite Sex.
Judges at Ballymena Show from Kingswood in Belfast included, C Long, R Kemp, R McBride and G White.
J & B Balmer from Ballymena & Dist won the Old Bird T/W, with Bobby Kemp.
Neil & Steven Anderson from Cullybackey won the YB Handled Class.
Len Russell happy man after winning three classes at the Ballymena Open Show.
Raymond McBride presents awards to W & J Smyth, 1st OB Handled.
Colin Long with young Brandon Balmer 1st Special at Ballymena.
The major card winners at Ballymena Open Show.