The annual Social Evening for the Kells & District HPS was Thursday 29th October in the Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim, the roads were quite busy with the Fireworks Display at the nearby Junction One complex. Kells members attend early to present the awards for the racing season, the awards this time were presented by recently married Mrs Chantelle Jamieson who had worked at Herbison Feeds in Ballymena. Chairman Jeff Surgenor welcomed the members and guests and firstly thanked all those who had assisted in the successful running of the club in the past season. His remarks included the hard working officials Secretary Mervyn Gregg, Treasurer Alan Shanks and Show Secretary Alan Barkley. He thanked the local Chip Shop Sizzlers who have sponsored the 2 Bird Club for several years and also those who supply sponsorship and prizes for the Annual Show which will take place as usual on Boxing Day. Surgenor Bros were once again the loft to beat emerging as Highest Prize-winner ahead of new arrivals from Harryville Jack Millar & Son, followed by Scott & Clements, B Swann & Son, Tully Lofts, Henry Turkington, George McDowell, Stephen Bell, T & M Morrow, and Gregg Bros completing the Top 10. For the second year Surgenor Bros won 8 x 1sts, J Millar & Son and Scott & Clements had 4 x 1sts each, Tully Lofts 3 x 1sts in Young Birds, B Swann & Son , G McDowell, H Turkington and T & M Morrow 2 x 1sts each, and finally T Shanks & Son and S Bell 1 x 1st each.
MAC Secretary George McDowell presented the Mid Antrim Diplomas, four in total. Ace racers Surgenor Bros were winning for the third time from the new point of Corrin, getting up near a mile a minute they had 1st & 2nd MAC 106/2558, 1st & 2nd Sect B 150/3821 and 18th & 30th Open NIPA with 26,400 birds competing, the winner recorded velocity 1727ypm. Brian Swann & Son had two wins in old birds and both lifting 1st MAC, Rosscarbery followed Talbenny and B Swann & Son on velocity 1351 had 1st MAC 79/1341, 2nd Sect B and 281st Open NIPA with 11,234 birds competing. A fortnight later B Swann & Son timed the best bird in the Fermoy 5 Bird Championship, recording velocity 1555 they finish 1st MAC, 1st Sect B 72/311 and 75th Open NIPA with 1883 birds competing. The new members J Millar & Son had the best bird in the Rosscarbery Yearling Hens National, 1st MAC, 1st Sect B and 49th Open NIPA 1558 birds competing.
In the major races of the old bird season Scott & Clements were best in the Rosscarbery Inland Nat and then timed at 5.15pm on the day in the St Malo OB Nat from France to win 1st Club on velocity 1342 for 3rd Combine, B Swann & Son had the only other bird. J Millar & Son won the Sennen Cove Classic which was flown a bit earlier in the programme and they have a good record here, they also won 1st Club Bude and T & M Morrow had 1st Club Penzance. In the INFC Scott & Clements were best in OB Skibbereen and T Shanks & Son were best in the Kings Cup with B Swann & Son the runner-up. In the young birds Tully Lofts had a great start winning 1st Club in three of the opening 5 races, Henry Turkington had 1st Club in the Talbenny YB Nat and Surgenor Bros finished well winning both the Fermoy 5 Bird Championship and the Rosscarbery Inl National.
Kells Officials and prize winners in 2015.
Special guest Chantelle Jamieson presents Highest Prize-winner to Jeff Surgenor.
Derek Millar won Sennen Cove and Bude.
Brian Swann won Rosscarbery Inl Nat and Fermoy 5 Bird.
Henry Turkington won 1st Club in Talbenny YB Nat.
George McDowell won the young bird Fermoy.
Harry Boyd collects his prize from Chantelle.
Show Secretary Alan Barkley collects prizes.
Alan Shanks had the best bird in the Kings Cup.
Secretary Mervyn Gregg collects prizes from Chantelle.
Treasurer Alan Shanks presents small gift to Chantelle Jamieson.
MAC Secretary George McDowell presents winning Diplomas to B Swann & Son.
Derek Millar (l) collects MAC Diploma for winning Yearling Hens Nat.
Surgenor Bros won 1st MAC from Corrin, Jeff collects.
The Mid Antrim Combine winners from (l) Jeff Surgenor, Brian Swann and J Millar & Son.
Highest Prize-winner Jeff Surgenor with officials M Gregg and A Shanks.
Visitors at Charity Moot, from (l) A Darragh, B McCartney and M Alexander.
Special guests Chantelle and her son Calvin.
Syd Collins (r) presents print to Alan Barkley after winning Silver Diploma.
Sefton Thompson (l) won both OB & YB of the Year with Gerald Delaney bloodlines.
Kells & Dist Panel Guests, from (l) Syd Collins, Harry McCloy and Gerald Delaney.