Prize time for Ballymena HPS fanciers

Chairman of the club Tom McAlonan welcomed everyone and noted the attendance was getting better every year, this year the members were joined by friends from Rasharkin & Dist, Cullybackey HPS, Harryville HPS and Robert Taylor and daughter Laura from Belfast.

With additional members for the new season racing was as usual highly competitive, top prizes were won in numerous races and at the end the leading lofts showed some change from seasons past.

Winning the Harper Cup and collecting Highest Prize-winner for the first time were Elke & Martin Sempey who race in Ballykeel, this loft has been on the up over the last number of seasons and now join the list of greats that have achieved the premier award including the late Tommy Harper who had presented the cup to the
club.

They were just ahead of W & J Smyth who are very hard to beat and followed by two lofts that had also moved up the list, husband and wife team of George & Ann Eagleson who had a best season since re-joining from Broughshane and also won the Show Shield, and then Dennis Craig who has recently started to race on his own to a small loft in Brooke Park and has won 1st Mid Antrim Combine in the last two seasons. These four lofts will represent the Ballymena & District HPS in the seasons MAC Champions League.

The club paid out £777 which included £100 in the Show Special Nom flown from Penzance and shares won by MDC Magill and Brian Herbison from Cullybackey. For the show men there will be another competition in 2014.

The leading lofts to the table were – Mr & Mrs M Sempey, W & J Smyth, G & A Eagleson, Dennis Craig, Blair & Rankin, McFall & McManus, MDC Magill, J McNaghten & Son, MaAlonan Bros, Martin Graham, Geoff Gilmour and George Connolly. Laura Taylor presented the prize cards and prize-money.

Race winners over the season were as follows: Old Birds – Tullamore 17/244 Blair & Rankin 1999, Roscrea 20/391 G & A Eagleson 1272, Clonmel 20/426 M/M Sempey 1698, Fermoy 19/359 M/M Sempey 1467, Roscrea W & J Smyth 1276, Rosscarbery Nat 14/84 W & J Smyth 1187, Clonmel 18/312 G Gilmour 1755, Talbenny (1) 17/192 McFall & McManus 1230, Rosscarbery Ylr Hen Nat 10/25 McAlonan Bros 1210, Rosscarbery Ylr Cock Nat 11/36 G Connolly 1287, Talbenny (2) 15/124 G & A Eagleson 1316, Fermoy 5 Bird 9/31 M/M Sempey 1915, Rosscarbery 10/111 Blair & Rankin 1597, Penzance 18/160 W & J Smyth 1279, Penzance Classic 11/55 W & J Smyth 1279, Portland Nat 8/17 W & J Smyth 522. Young Birds – Navan 12/257 M/M Sempey 1463, Mullingar 17/350 McAlonan Bros 1474, Tullamore 20/389 McFall & McManus 1903, Roscrea 16/330 M/M Sempey 1667, Clonmel 17/327 W & J Smyth 1532, Fermoy 18/307 D Craig 1486, Talbenny Nat 13/63 Blair & Rankin 1141, Tullamore 14/192 D Craig 1513, Mallow 5 Bird 8/35 W & J Smyth 1133, Mallow 12/88 W & J Smyth 1133, Rosscarbery Nat 7/43 M/M Sempey 1270.

Chairman of Cullybackey HPS Harry McCloy presented the cups and trophies, Reid Bros & McCloy had one of the results of the year winning 1st, 2nd & 3rd Mid Antrim Combine in the Old Bird National from Portland. Ballymena & Dist had just two birds timed by W & J Smyth and George Connolly.

Top prize-winners Mr & Mrs Sempey won the following – Mallow 5 Bird, OB Inland Ave, YB Nat Cup 1022, YB Inland Ave, Best Individual YB, Combined Inl Ave and Harper Cup for Highest Prize-winner. Next best W & J Smyth collected – OB Inland Derby, Penzance, Barr Cup NIPA Old Bird Nat (France), McDowell Challenge Cup OB Derby, McCrory Cup OB Ave, Maternaghan Cup Best Ave OB & CC Nat, Hughes Cup Cross Channel Ave.

Members were thanked for their help and support over the season including Martin Graham who looks after the dinner and prize night, we had another successful show season and the Open Show on New Year’s Day was held in our own clubrooms. A lot of lofts are mated up and are looking forward to racing, it will be harder again in 2014 with some new lofts joining.

The AGM for Ballymena & District will take place in the local clubrooms at Fountain Place on Monday 10th February at 8.00pm. Resolutions for the agenda must be with the Secretary Willie Reynolds by Friday 31st January, and any resignations prior to the AGM.