Saltney Social Press
The Saltney Social Flying Club has had a great year of racing in the North East Wales & West Wirral Federation in 2017 with numerous fed topping birds in the club. We held our final Young Bird race of the year, by far the clubs most prestigious race of the year for all involved. Every year the club hold a breeder buyer sale that guarantees a first prize of £2000 to be split 50/50 and this year was no different.
We held a sale at the Saltney Tavern Social Club on Sunday 26th March 2017 selling 153 pigeons. We had a lot more interest this year allowing us to have birds entered from the likes of Red Star Lofts, Alan Atkinson (2016 NEWWWF highest Prize Winner), Steve Williams (2016 West Cheshire Fed Highest Prize Winner).
The Race was to be marked on the 14th September 2017 to be shipped off to Carentan. After the birds were marked they were sent with the Gloucester Federation for transport to Carentan. The birds we liberated on the 16th September 2017 at 08:45 in a North West Wind.
In the Breeder Buyer race 17 Members sent a total of 44 birds. With a prize money pot of £4000 in total for this race it was all to play for once the birds were up. On what was a very tough day, 7 birds fought through to make it home on the night.
Breeder Buyer Result:
Alongside the Breeder Buyer Race we hold an Open Race from the same race point, liberated with the BB race. Any birds that are entered in the BB can be double banked in the Open race. For every Bird the flyer has in the breeder buyer they have a total of two entries into the open race per bird.
The open race was as above held from Carentan and liberated at 08:45 in a North West wind. 19 members sent a total of 50 birds. As explained above this was a very tough day. There were 9 birds clocked on the night with 11 birds across the two races in total on the night.
Open Race Result:
Winners
BB Winner
Wesley Ellis formerly of the Partnership KLW Lofts had what was quite simply an astonishing day of racing of which will be tough to replicate by anyone in years to come. Quite simply the best performance this clubs Race has ever seen.
Wes had been having a great young bird season already, recently winning the Chester Two Bird Young Bird Race with the pigeon that scored second in the Breeder Buyer race. Other results include, 7 days prior to our race taking the first four in the West Cheshire & North Wirral Amalgamation after a batch of 14 pigeons dropped together, with the winner of the breeder buyer in that batch. He could have easily took the first 14 in that race but was seconded to four positions as an organisation rule. This was his chance to put the cherry on the cake to a great season.
Wesley sent a total of 6 pigeons across the two races, 2 in the Breeder Buyer and 4 in the Open Race. Astonishingly Wes timed in 5 out of 6 pigeons on the night with only a total of 11 home on the night, nearly half of the birds home were clocked by Wesley, Absolutely great flying.
Wes entered two pigeons into the Breeder Buyer race and timed in on the night in flying times of 07 hrs 27 mins 08 secs & 08 hrs 04 mins 13 secs with velocities of 1105.95 & 1021.25 ypm. Taking the first two in the Breeder Buyer & winning a total of £3,000. He also took 2nd, 3rd & 6th in the open race winning a total of £145 totalling £3145 over the two races. As he said “not a bad day at the office”.
The winning pigeon GB17R06543 was a Herman Ceuster through his Eijerkamp pigeons. This hen 7 days previous was in a batch of 14 that dropped together to win the West Cheshire & North Wirral Amalgamation allowing him to take the first four.
The Second pigeon GB17R06544 was also a Herman Ceuster through his Eijerkamp pigeons. Just 10 days previous to this race, this pigeon took first position winning the Chester & District Specialist 2 Bird Club.
The Herman Ceuster pigeons from Eijerkamp have won at club, federation and Amal Level for him. The two birds above are nest mates. The father of these two pigeons has also won at amalgamation level.
Wesley pictured holding 1st & 2nd Breeder Buyer
Blue hen which was 2nd Breeder Buyer Carentan & 1st Chester Two Bird 2017
OPEN Winner
Nigel Shaw of Crewe is no stranger to the podium position in our Open Race having won this race before. He sent two pigeons of which he rated highly. This was proven by the result he achieved. He took 1st position with a big blue hen which was flown to the perch in a time of 06 hrs 37 mins 30 secs with a velocity of 1158.93 ypm.
She was bred by one of Nigel’s good friends David Sara off his Herman Ceuster’s. Already this season she had won two firsts by quite a margin each time. This win took her to her third win of the season as a young bird. This has proven to be one to watch out for in the future. Mega flying by Nigel this year.
Nigel’s Open Winner 3 x 1st this year
As you can see from the information above this was a very tough race for the birds, as it always is sending young birds over the channel. But from the result these two lads have managed we can see why Herman Ceusters are a well sort after breed of pigeons. Quite simply an astonishing performance from the two lads mentioned above and we wish them all the success in years to come.
Just a quick reminder of the Saltney Socials First winter show on the 29th October, OC/YC through the wires. This will be held at the Saltney Tavern. We look forward to seeing you all there for a good old chin wag.
Alan Foster
Saltney Social Press Officer
