Celebration time for Ahoghill Flying Club at prize night

Chairman Tom Young welcomed those present and was assisted in the presentation by brother Albert the hard working Secretary who had the paperwork complete.

Young McManus & Sons were Highest prize-winner collecting a fantastic 17 x 1sts, 14 x 2nds and 11 x 3rds plus numerous other positions in the Top 6.

They were followed by Jimmy Smyth & Son, A & N Young, Charlie Young, Mr & Mrs Robinson, Balmer T Young & Son, J Orr & Son, Davy Lowry, David Stevenson, John Balmer and Chris Moore.

Young McManus & Sons won most cups and trophies including – Points Cup, 6th O/B Race, Best Ave first two Y/B Races, Brooke Supply Cup, OB Average, 6th Y/B Race, YB Average, Y/B Skibbereen, Bude Cup, 5th O/B Race, Yearling Cock Nat, Yearling Hen Nat, 9th O/B Race, 1st O/B Race, 3rd O/B Race, 8th Y/B Race, Old Bird Inland Ave, Combined Ave, 7th Y/B Race, 5th Y/B Race, 7th O/B Race, 3rd Y/B Race, 2nd O/B Race, Love Trophy, Cross Channel Average.

J Smyth & Son won – St Malo O/B Nat Cup, Best Ave Talbenny & Rosscarbery Y/B Nat, Talbenny Y/B National. C Moore won - Kings Cup St Allouestre, Show Trophy. D Lowry won – 4th Y/B Race, A & N Young won – 8th O/B Race, C Young won – 4th O/B Race.

Some of the major highlights in the old birds were at the distance, J Smyth & Son had the best bird in Portland after the birds were returned from France and Chris Moore who is setting himself up for distance racing had the best local bird in the Kings Cup.

Paddy McManus had a good 1st, 2nd & 3rd Sect B in the NIPA Comeback Roscrea flown in May and then took 1st Combine & Sect in the Yearling Hens National from Rosscarbery.

TULLAMORE

Meanwhile, due to poor conditions across Ireland early on Saturday the liberation for the new season was delayed until 2pm, birds were released in Tullamore, County Offaly in a Westerly wind.

The Kells club filled the top two places in the Mid Antrim Combine where just over 1,88 birds were competing.

Jeff Surgenor timed the winner at 16.17hrs flying 126 miles for velocity 1617, Scott & Clements on 1610, were runner-up.

Mid Antrim Combine Tullamore 89/1862 – Surgenor Bros Kells 1617, Scott & Clements Kells 1610, M/M Sempey Ballymena 1605, Scott & Clements 1591, Mrs M Smyth Broughshane 1586, A Darragh Cullybackey 1585, Purvis & Connolly Broughshane 1585, Purvis & Connolly 1585, M/M Sempey 1575, M/M Sempey 1574, J Rock Harryville 1563, B Swann & Son Kells 1563, Surgenor Bros 1561, D Craig Ballymena 1557, D Craic 1552, A Darragh 1546, S Bell Kells 1544, B Swann & Son 1542, Steele & McNeill Rasharkin 1541, J & N Simpson Broughshane 1541, H Cubitt Rasharkin 1540, J Rock 1539, S Bell 1538, W & W Gilbert Randalstown 1538.