New year show proves popular

Once again the venue was the Cullybackey HPS Clubrooms at Fenaghy Road, and many thanks to the club and the members for all their assistance.

Judges had travelled down from the Kingswood HPS in Belfast and included, Colin Long, Kemp & McBride and Gareth White. They had a bit of a job on their hands firstly selecting the Class Winners, and then finally the Specials.

Cullybackey lofts featured well with Russell Bros winning Young Bird T/W and both Eye-sign Classes and N & S Anderson taking the Red Card in YB Handled. Ballymena & District lofts won the other two, J & B Balmer have a very good record at this show and had 1st Old Bird T/W and W & J Smyth had 1st in the OB Handled.

Russell Bros were to win Best in Show and had the Best Young Bird, W & J Smyth had Best Opposite Sex and the Most Points was easy counted, Russell Bros of Cullybackey had a pile of cards. Chairman of Ballymena & Dist Tom McAlonan thanked all involved, those who brought birds and prizes, the judges, and all who assisted including M/M Sempey, Robert Alexander and Jack Balmer. He also thanked Cullybackey HPS, and all the sponsors who included Frazer’s Animal Feeds, Beattie’s, and Brian Herbison.

Results: Old Bird T/W – 1st J & B Balmer, 2nd W & J Smyth, 3rd B Herbison, 4th N & S Anderson, Reserve & VHC W & N Gilbert, HC & Commended Russell Bros. Old Bird Handled – 1st W & J Smyth, 2nd Russell Bros, 3rd B Herbison, 4th & Reserve J & B Balmer, VHC & Commended N & S Anderson, HC A Barkley. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & HC Russell Bros, Reserve D & G McMullan, VHC W & N Gilbert, Commended B Herbison. Young Bird T/W – 1st & HC Russell Bros, 2nd & VHC N & S Anderson, 3rd J & B Balmer, 4th & Reserve W & N Gilbert, Commended D & G McMullan. Young Bird Handled – 1st N & S Anderson, 2nd Russell Bros, 3rd B Herbison, 4th A Barkley, Reserve J & B Balmer, VHC W & J Smyth, HC & Commended W & N Gilbert. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Reserve, VHC & HC Russell Bros, Commended B Herbison.

Best in Show – Russell Bros, Best Opposite Sex – W & J Smyth, Best Young Bird – Russell Bros, Most Points – Russell Bros.

* Kells on Boxing Day was the venue for the annual show in Mid Antrim, with good weather conditions the entry exceeded 260 birds. Judges travelled down from the Ballymoney & Coleraine area and included D McMullan, A Tweed, and J Edgar.

Victor Montgomery from Springvale Social won the Old Bird Handled and had Best in Show, J & C Balmer from Ballymena & Dist won three classes and had Best Opposite Sex. Alwyn Neill from Lurgan had 1st in the Old Bird Eye-sign and Fred Simpson from Doagh & Dist 1st in the YB Handled. The Show Cup was won by A Barkley & Son.

Chairman of Kells & Dist Brian Swann thanked all for their support, those who helped at the club, brought birds and prizes and he also thanked the judges. Other sponsors included F Connon, B Herbison, Sizzlers Chip Shop and S McIlveen.

Results: Old Bird Through Wires – 1st & 4th J & B Balmer, 2nd A Barkley & Son, 3rd & HC A Neill, Reserve F Simpson, VHC T & K Mawhinney, Commended D & R Turkington. Old Bird Handled – 1st & 4th V Montgomery, 2nd & VHC A Neill, 3rd T & K Mawhinney Reserve & HC G & R Lawrie, Commended W & N Gilbert. Old Bird Eye-sign – 1st A Neill, 2nd & VHC T & K Mawhinney, 3rd & 4th F Simpson, Reserve V Montgomery, HC C Shaw, Commended W & N Gilbert. Young Bird T/W – 1st, 2nd & 4th J & B Balmer, 3rd D & R Turkington, Reserve, HC & Commended V Montgomery, VHC T & K Mawhinney. YB Handled – 1st & 3rd F Simpson, 2nd & Reserve V Montgomery, 4th J & B Balmer, VHC M Smyth, HC D & R Turkington, Commended A Neill. Young Bird Eye-sign – 1st J & B Balmer, 2nd & 4th V Montgomery, 3rd W & N Gilbert, Reserve F Simpson, VHC R Wilson, HC K Wilkinson, Commended A Barkley & Son.