Big turnout at Cullybackey Open Show

Victor Montgomery won two Young Bird Classes, and had Best in Show and Most Points.

For the local club, Brian Herbison won two Old Bird Classes, collecting Best Opposite Sex.

J & J Greer had a home victory in the YB Eye-sign, while W & N Gilbert from Ballymena won Old Bird T/W and the extra Fancy Class. Neill Anderson thanked the judges and all those who had supported the annual event, bringing both birds and prizes.

Other sponsors included Brian Herbison Concrete and Pigeon Supplies, H. Beattie and sons pigeon feed, Bridge Service Station Cullybackey, Frazers Animal Feeds and C & D McDowell Accounting Penny bridge.

Cullybackey Open Show – Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st W & N Gilbert, 2nd & Commended A Darragh, 3rd B Herbison, 4th Gibson & Dickey, Reserve T & K Mawhinney, VHC V Montgomery, HC A Neill. Old Bird Handled – 1st B Herbison, 2nd & HC A Darragh, 3rd & Commended V Montgomery, 4th Russell Bros, Reserve N & S Anderson, VHC McAlonaBros. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st B Herbison, 2nd McAlonan Bros, 3rd Brown & Shaw, 4th S McKendry, Reserve A Darragh, VHC & HC F Simpson, Commended W & N Gilbert. Young Birds T/W – 1st & VHC V Montgomery, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd Reid Bros & McCloy, 4th & Reserve D & R Turkington, HC T & K Mawhinney, Commended A Neill. Young Bird Handled – 1st, 2nd & VHC V Montgomery, 3rd, 4th & Commended A Neill, Reserve Russell Bros, HC Reid Bros & McCloy. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st J & J Greer, 2nd M/M M Sempey, 3rd, 4th, HC & Commended A Darragh, Reserve Reid Bros & McCloy, VHC A Neill. Fancy – 1st W & N Gilbert, 2nd B Herbison, 3rd, VHC & HC N & S Anderson, 4th Russell Bros, Reserve J & J Greer, Commended Reid Bros & McCloy.

The penultimate classes were Old Hens Handled and Fancy, Blair & Rankin took the Red Card in the Old Hens and Best in Show. Old Hens Handled – 1st & 4th Blair & Rankin, 2nd & Commended Russell Bros, 3rd J & J Greer, Reserve N & S Anderson, VHC & HC B Herbison. Fancy – 1st B Herbison, 2nd T McFall, 3rd Blair & Rankin, 4th Russell Bros, Reserve & Commended J & J Greer, VHC & HC N & S Anderson.

The final show in the Winter Series was for Eye-sign judged on this occasion by the Randalstown duo of Roy and Cathy Magill, former National winners and INFC National Champions. Two lofts shared the majority of the cards but it was J & J Greer who took the Red Card in the Old Birds and Best in Show. Old Birds – 1st J & J Greer, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, VHC & HC Russell Bros, Reserve & Commended D & R Turkington. Young Birds – 1st, 2nd, 3rd & VHC Russell Bros, 4th, Reserve, HC & Commended D & R Turkington.

KELLS & DISTRICT HPS

The delayed final show had classes for Eye-sign judged by the Doagh & Dist lofts of R Wilson & R Turkington. Alan Barkley & Son won both classes, and won the Show Cup.

Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, 4th & VHC A Barkley & Son, 3rd, Reserve & HC Gregg Bros, Commended T Shanks & Son. Fancy – 1st & HC A Barkley & Son, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & Commended J Getty, Reserve B Swann & Son, VHC Surgenor Bros.

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.

AHOGHILL FLYING CLUB

The final show was for OB & YB Eye-sign judged by the Harryville ace flyer Allen McBride, Blair & Rankin from Ballymena had the Red Card in the Old Birds while Chris Moore had 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the Young Birds.

Results: Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st & Reserve Blair & Rankin, 2nd W Livingstone, 3rd J Orr, 4th T & G Balmer, VHC R Lowry, HC T McFall, Commended C Moore. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd & 3rd C Moore, 4th & HC Mr & Mrs Robinson, Reserve W Livingstone, VHC & Commended T & G Balmer.

BALLYMENA & DISTRICT HPS

It was a ding dong battle all show season between two lofts for the Show Shield and was not decided until the final classes last Monday.

Entry again exceeded 100 birds judged by two ace racers visiting from Cullybackey, Sammy Steele who had such a good young bird season and young Harry McCloy who will never forget his result in the Premier OB National winning 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the Mid Antrim Combine from Portland.

But the top winners on this occasion were different. Willie Smyth with just one bird in the Colour Class took the Red Card and BIS for the second week, while Tom McAlonan took the Red Card in the Card Winners, he has had a good show season with at least 4 x 1sts.

G & A Eagleson done enough to lift the Show Shield and despite a last rush from Brian Herbison it was W & W Gilbert who won the Visitor Trophy. The MDC Magill partnership had a very successful season and were runner-up for the Show Shield, both top lofts never missed a night.

Results: Card Winners (66 Birds) – 1st McAlonan Bros, 2nd W & N Gilbert, 3rd, VHC & Commended B Herbison, 4th & Reserve G & A Eagleson, HC MDC Magill. Red, Mealy & Grizzle Class (44 Birds) – 1st W & J Smyth, 2nd & 4th MDC Magill, 3rd, Reserve & HC G & A Eagleson, VHC B Herbison, Commended McAlonan Bros.