Farming Life - Wednesday 10/11/10

[willie reynolds]

The popular Dublin Show was held at the Irish Kennel Club Exhibition Centre close to the Dublin Airport on Saturday 6th November, the show birds were penned the night previous and a big entry was expected as usual from Northern Ireland. Yet again come Saturday a large number of the Northern birds took pride of place among the top winners. Of the 18 individual classes for all birds both flown and un-flown, they collected 13 x Red Cards and better still the top partnership of Timmy & Kiera Mawhinney from Donacloney won Best in Show, Best Opposite Sex and Most Points in Show. It was the first time all three major cups had been collected at the same time. T & K Mawhinney have a fantastic record, already winning BIS six times and Most Points on nine separate occasions.

Class Winners: Class 1 - Old Cock Flown Channel won by T & K Mawhinney (Donacloney). Class 2 – Old Hen Flown Channel won by W & N Gilbert (Ballymena). Class 3 - Old Cock Flown won by T & K Mawhinney. Class 4 – Old Hen Flown won by Brown & Shaw (Dromore). Class 5 – Young Cock Flown won by T & K Mawhinney. Class 6 – Young Hen Flown won by T & K Mawhinney. Class 7 – Any Age Hen/Cock Eye-sign won by P Stack. Class 8 – Old Cock Through Wires won by W Keville. Class 9 – Old Hen Through Wires won by J Browne. Class 10 – Young Hen Through Wires won by R Moore & Son (Bangor). Class 11 – Young Cock Through Wires won by Chris Shaw (Dromore). Class 12 – Matched Pairs won by T & K Mawhinney. Class 13 – Colour Class won by Rouke & Christie (Ballymoney). Class 14 – Any Age Cock Un-flown won by Rouke & Christie. Class 15 – Any Age Hen Un-flown won by W & N Gilbert. Class 16 – Late Bred Cock/Hen won by J Browne. Class 17 – Young Cock Un-flown won by R Farrelly. Class 18 – Young Hen Un-flown won by J Edgar (Portrush).

The show season in Mid Antrim is now in full swing, most clubs have started and we have a local event each night from Monday through until Saturday.

Ballymena & District HPS – Opening classes were for Young Cock and Young Hen judged through the wires by R Alexander & Son from Harryville. W & N Gilbert had the Red Card in Young Cocks and Ballymena Chairman Joe Devlin had the winner of Young Hens and the BIS Special. Young Cocks T/W (39 birds) – 1st & Reserve W & N Gilbert, 2nd Blair & Rankin, 3rd, VHC & HC J & B Balmer, 4th J Devlin, Commended W & J Smyth. Young Hens T/W (30 birds) – 1st & Special J Devlin, 2nd, 4th & Commended J & B Balmer, 3rd & HC W & J Smyth, Reserve & VHC W & N Gilbert. Judges R Alexander & Son (Harryville). Raffle won by Paul Alexander. The club had another good entry the second week with classes for Old Cock and Hen judged through the wires by the Broughshane pair Willie Owens and Cecil Quaite. W & N Gilbert lifted the Red Card in Old Cock and also won the BIS, for the local club Jack Balmer was successful in the Old Hens. Both birds won before. Judges W Owens & C Quaite (Broughshane). Raffle won by Joe Devlin. Coming up 15th Nov YC & YH Handled, 22nd Nov OC & OH Handled.

Broughshane & District – Winners the first week were T & E Service in the Old Cock T/W, and J McNaghten & Son in the Young Cock T/W. The annual prize night will be held in the Michelin Athletic Club on Saturday 20th November. Old Cocks T/W – 1st T & E Service, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Reserve & VHC W & N Gilbert, HC & Commended J Getty. Judge Harry McCloy (Cullybackey). Young Cocks T/W – 1st, 2nd & 4th J McNaghten & Son, 3rd & VHC J & N Simpson, Reserve & HC W & N Gilbert, Commended C Kennedy. Judge Sammy Steele (Cullybackey). Coming up 9th Nov Old Hen & Young Hen T/W, 16th Nov Old Bird & Young Bird Eyesign and YB Mated Pairs.

Harryville HPS – Winners in the first show of the season were Alen McBride in the Old Cock T/W and J & B Balmer in Young Cocks T/W. The judge was Chris Moore (New Antrim). Cups and trophies should be returned this week, the annual prize night will be in the Countrymans Inn on Friday 19th Nov, contact Robert Alexander for tickets. Old Cocks T/W (103 birds) – 1st & 2nd A McBride, 3rd J Millar & Son, 4th & Reserve R Alexander & Son, VHC M Magill, HC & Commended J & B Balmer. Young Cocks T/W (86 birds) – 1st J & B Balmer, 2nd R H Clements, 3rd & HC J & B Balmer, 4th J Millar & Son, Reserve K & K Kernohan & Sons, VHC Blair & Rankin, Commended Maternaghen & McGowan. Thursday – OH & YH Through Wires.

Ballymoney HPS – Show season will commence on Friday 19th November, classes are YC & YH Through Wires and Old Bird Eye-sign.

Lurgan Social – Latest show was held 8th Nov sponsored by Jolly’s Pet Store. 1st, 2nd & Commended T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & VHC Brown & Shaw, 4th J Douglas & Son, Reserve M Rice, HC E Wright & Son. Special Best Young Bird won by J Douglas & Son. Thanks to judges E Lynch & G McAvoy.

Lisburn & District first show night has been arranged for Tuesday 23rd November with classes for Any Age Cock or Hen T/W, penning from 7.00pm until 8.00pm. Members must show a minimum 6 birds per show to qualify for Show Specials in 2011.

Kells & Dist broke with tradition and arranged the presentation of awards in conjunction with their Moot & Quiz which was held at the plush Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim. Chairman Brian Swann welcomed the members and guests including the local scribe Homer. Jeff Surgenor had a season to remember winning 12 x 1sts at club level and 21 cups and trophies. The leading lofts were: Surgenor Bros, Scott & Clements, Harry Boyd, George McDowell, T & M Morrow, B Swann & Son, A Barkley & Son, McFarlane & Agnew, Henry Turkington and Bill McClure. In Mid Antrim Combine the Kells & Dist club won the Young Bird Points Ave Shield and Surgenor Bros the Young Bird Average Cup. Race winners included in the old birds Scott & Clements 1st Combine Clonmel (1) 125/2,834 doing vel 1532 and George McDowell 1st Combine Rosscarbery Yearling Hen Nat 33/101 doing vel 1622. At the start of the young bird season the local club won three on the trot, Surgenor Bros 1st Combine Tullamore (1) 76/1,725 doing vel 1701, Scott & Clements 1st Combine Tullamore (2) 108/3,007 doing vel 1570 and Surgenor Bros 1st Combine Roscrea 110/3,141 doing vel 1515. Surgenor Bros completed the season by winning for the third time at Fermoy 1st Combine 99/2,484 doing vel 1833. Guests at the Moot & Quiz included the INFC Patron Ronnie Johnston and he made a special presentation to long time fancier Bill McClure who won the Hall of Fame Diploma. INFC President Syd Collins chaired the panel that included Peter Martin from Ulster Federation, Roy Irwin from East Down Combine and former Kings Cup winners Anthony McDonnell (Coleraine) and Alan Darragh (Cullybackey). Fanciers travelled from far and wide and the club can be well pleased with this new event which they hope to have again, many thanks to Alan Shanks who made all the arrangements assisted by the hard working Secretary Mervyn Gregg.

NIPA Ladies Night in Templepatrick

The NIPA Ladies Night will be held at the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick on Friday 12th November, tickets at £30 should be ordered from Fred Russell. Tel: (028) 92693913 or Mobile: 07833 070371. Trophy winners should make every effort to attend, those needing tickets should contact Fred Russell immediately. The Champion Old Bird took a bit of time to sort out, a dead heat the first time it was put to a panel of three representing England, Wales and Ireland coming to the same conclusion that the overall winner be Ivan Parkes of Armagh. Full coverage of the Annual Ladies Night next week.