Big turnout at Cullybackey as busy show season continues

The Annual Cullybackey HPS Open Show was held in the Fenaghy Road clubrooms recently, where some 280 birds were penned in the six classes.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jan 2015, 07:45 BST
Gibson & Dickey won Cullybackey Show Shield with Secretary Edrick Davidson.Gibson & Dickey won Cullybackey Show Shield with Secretary Edrick Davidson.
Gibson & Dickey won Cullybackey Show Shield with Secretary Edrick Davidson.

The judges travelled down from Belfast and Ballyclare. From the city we had Leo Bingham and Desie McClurkin from Ligoniel with Eddie McAluly from Shankill & Dist while the Ballyclare visitors were Davy Strain assisted by Hugh Weir.

Visitors collected the major awards with Victor Montgomery from Kingsmoss BIS and the Donaghcloney partnership of T & K Mawhinney lifting BOS and Most Points.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Victor Montgomery had 1st OB Eye-sign and 1st Y/B Through Wires, T & K Mawhinney had 1st O/B Through Wires and 1st OB Handled, Alwyn Neill from Donaghcloney had 1st YB Eye-sign and for the local club Russell Bros lifted the Red Card in YB Handled. Gibson & Dickey won the Club Show Shield and the Visitors Trophy was won by young Thomas McFall from Ballymena & Dist.

The main sponsors were the Bridge Garage and Brian Herbison, the Show Secretary Neil Anderson thanked all those who supported the show and supplied prizes, and those who helped at the club including the judges and Robert Turkington.

Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st, 2nd & 4th T & K Mawhinney, 3rd, Reserve & VHC A Neill, HC & Commended W & N Gilbert. Old Bird Handled – 1st, 2nd, 3rd & VHC T & K Mawhinney, 4th & Commended V Montgomery, Reserve A Neill, HC Russell Bros. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st & 4th V Montgomery, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd D & R Turkington, Reserve G & R Lawrie, VHC Russell Bros, HC & Commended T & K Mawhinney. Young Bird T/W – 1st, 2nd & VHC V Montgomery, 3rd D & R Turkington, 4th A Darragh, Reserve K Wilkinson & Son, HC W & N Gilbert, Commended Russell Bros. Young Bird Handled – 1st Russell Bros, 2nd & Reserve D & R Turkington, 3rd, HC & Commended V Montgomery, 4th T & K Mawhinney, VHC J & J Greer. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st & 2nd A Neill, 3rd Gibson & Dickey, 4th & Reserve N & S Anderson, VHC Russell Bros, HC V Montgomery, Commended D & R Turkington.

KELLS HPS

Kells Open Show – Kells was the venue on Boxing Day for the Annual Open Show attracting fanciers from across Mid & East Antrim with 240 birds penned for the 6 classes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Judges were Rob and George Mills from Larne & District and Mickey McConville from Crumlin & Dist. D & R Turkington from Doagh & Dist won Old Bird Handled also Best in Show and D & G McMullan from Ballymoney had 1st in Old Bird T/W and took Best Opposite Sex.

The prizes were well spread out with individual winners of the six classes, Russell Bros from Cullybackey had 1st & 2nd in OB Eye-sign, K Wilkinson & Son from New Antrim had 1st Young Bird T/W, Edgar & Wiggins from Ballymoney had 1st YB Handled and finally for the home club A Barkley & Son had 1st in YB Eye-sign.

The Club Show Cup was presented to Alan Barkley & Son.

The former Chairman of Kells & Dist Brian Swann thanked all present for their support, those who helped at the club, brought birds and prizes, and he also thanked the judges. Other sponsors included Francis Connon, Brian Herbison, Frazer Feeds and Sizzlers Chip Shop.

BALLYMENA & DISTRICT HPS

The show series finished on Monday 22nd December with a good entry of 80 birds penned for the Card Winners Class, judges from Muckamore were Bobby Bethel and Tom Fleming. W & N Gilbert the loft to beat all year took 1st, 3rd and 4th and also the Special for Best Young Bird.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Raffle was won by Thomas McFall and many thanks to all those who supported the show season, not forgetting the judges and W & N Gilbert who filled in as Show Secretary.

Ballymena & District will host the Annual Mid Antrim Open Show to be held in their own clubrooms at Fountain Place in Ballymena on New Year’s Day Thursday 1st January.

Penning is from 12 Noon until 2.00pm a 3 in 1 for Old Bird and Young Bird.

AHOGHILL FLYING CLUB

The show season was complete on Friday 19th December with the annual classes of Eye-sign for old birds and young birds, the judges from Cullybackey were Paul Cochrane and Brian Herbison. Blair & Rankin from Ballymena & Dist took 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the Old Birds while A & N Young had the Red Card in Young Birds. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd & 3rd Blair & Rankin, 4th R Lowry, Reserve W Livingstone, VHC T McFall, HC & Commended C Moore. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st & Reserve A & N Young, 2nd, 4th & HC W Livingstone, 3rd & VHC Mr & Mrs Robinson, Commended T & G Balmer.