Harryville HPS fanciers reflect on superb year

At the recent AGM for the club Keith Kernohan the local NIPA Committee member took over as Secretary assisted by Trevor Johnston with Treasurer Allen McBride assisted by Geordie Price. Chairman Robert Service welcomed the members, friends and guests to the function, which was held for the first time at Grafters Cafe, Pennybridge.

Before the presentation Robert Service thanked Grafters for a super meal and congratulated the season’s winners.

Honorary Member Maurice Alexander and his wife Margaret presented the awards, in the Mid Antrim Combine Allen McBride had 1st Combine from Fermoy 1st, 2nd & 3rd with over 3,000 birds competing and also 1st Combine in the Rosscarbery Yearling Cock Nat a race where he also won the NIPA Sect B Diploma. Competition as usual was keen in the young birds and Lexie Mullan had the early bird in Fermoy (1) and took 1st Combine with over 2,000 birds competing.

The Harryville HPS won the MAC Shield for Young Birds, Allen McBride the OB Inland Average with good help from his star racers, Young Spartacus and Blue Star a gift bird bred by Pat O’Neill of Glenarm. Jimmy Rock won the Old Bird Average finishing with 2nd MAC in the St Malo OB National from France.

For the last few years the club have operated the prize list on a points basis, the leading lofts were Allen McBride, Roy Clements, Lexie Mullan, Jimmy Rock, Jack Millar & Son, K & K Kernohan, George Price and Joe Ramsey. Over the NIPA race season R H Clements had 8 x 1sts, 7 x 2nds & 8 x 3rds; A McBride 7 x 1sts, 7 x 2nds & 7 x 3rds; J Rock 5 x 1sts, 2 x 2nds & 3 x 3rds; L Mullan 3 x 1sts, 2 x 2nds & 2 x 3rds; J Millar & Son 1 x 1st, 2 x 2nds & 2 x 3rds,; J Ramsey 1 x 1st & 2 x 3rds; G Price 1 x 1st; K & K Kernohan 2 x 2nds & 2 x 3rds.

Old Bird race winners: Tullamore – J Rock, Tullamore – A McBride, Roscrea – A McBride, Clonmel – A McBride, Clonmel – A McBride, Rosscarbery Inl Nat – R H Clements, Talbenny – L Mullan, Fermoy – J Rock, Bude – G Price, Penzance – R H Clements, Penzance Classic – R H Clements, Yearling Nat – B Ramsey.

Young Bird race winners: Tullamore – A McBride, Tullamore – K & K Kernohan, Roscrea – K & K Kernohan, Roscrea – A McBride, Clonmel – R H Clements, Fermoy – J Rock, Talbenny Nat – R Alexander & Son, Tullamore – J Rock, Fermoy – J Rock, Rosscarbery Nat – L Mullan, Clonmel – J Ramsey, Penzance Nat W Jackson.

Cup & Trophy winners:

Allen McBride won – Highest Prize-winner, Combined Points, OB Inl Ave, Best Individual Bird, Best Ave Comeback Races.

R H Clements won – Combined Inland Ave, Best Ave First 4 Channel Races, Best Ave Bude & Penzance, Best Ave YB Penzance, Talbenny & Rosscarbery YB Nats, YB Average, Best Ave Talbenny & Rosscarbery YB Nats, Best Ave Penzance O/B & Talbenny YB races, Best Ave First 3 races, Best Ave 1st O/B & 1st Y/B races.

Jimmy Rock won – Best Ave Talbenny (1) & (2), Cross Channel Ave O/B, Best Ave all Derby Races, Best Ave O/B & Y/B Derby Races, Best Ave St Malo & 2 x YB Derbies, Most Points all Derby Races, Best Ave Fermoy (1) & (2), Old Bird Ave, Combined Ave, Best Ave Tramore (1) & (2).

Billy Ramsey won – National Points Average, Most Points Derby & Nat Races. Lexie Mullan won – Lowest Winning Velocity.

Looking at the race season with the Irish Nat FC Billy Ramsey won his favourite race the Sennen Cove Yearling Nat, in the last three seasons he has been placed in the Mid Antrim Combine, 1st, 6th and this season 2nd recording velocity 1155 for the 337 miles finishing 15th North Sect & 31st Open INFC plus £585 adding to good money in the two years previous.

Lexie Mullan had a couple of early birds and one for J Millar & Son. The Grand Nat Kings Cup race was again flown from Plaudren/Vannes Billy Ramsey was best again at 518 miles to the Ballymoney Road. Doing velocity 831 he finished 150th North Sect & 179th Open INFC, the long distance loft of R McCallum & Son were placed again with a single entry doing velocity 768.

Former YB National winner from Skibbereen Wesley Jackson had the best bird in the YB Penzance Grand Nat recording velocity 922 for the 327 miles and finishing 58th North Sect & 75th Open INFC.

Around the NIPA top races Roy Clements had 1st & 2nd in the Rosscarbery Inl Nat the winner 7 minutes clear doing velocity 1471, he also won the Yearling Hens Nat from the same point finishing 62nd Open NIPA. Allen McBride won the Yearling Cocks Nat and topped both Combine & Section B finishing 52nd Open NIPA. George Price won Bude ahead of three birds for R H Clements and then the next week Roy Clements had the best bird from Penzance. In the main race he was placed 3rd Combine, 3rd Sect & 18th Open NIPA on velocity 1243.

Jimmy Rock had three day birds in the OB Nat from St Malo, his winner doing velocity 1556 won the club by almost ah hour from Billy Ramsey. Jimmy finished 2nd Comb, 2nd Sect & 29th Open NIPA, another great result from the distance. Lexie Mullan won the YB Talbenny doing velocity 1417 finishing 62nd Open NIPA and finally from Rosscarbery in a NW wind Roy Clements had 1st, 2nd & 3rd. The winner doing velocity 1113 finished 17th in MAC.

For more photos from the dinner, see this week’s Ballymena Times - on sale now.