Around The Up North Combine
Ali McLeod Tops In Teesside Feds Tight Finish
By Good Corn
I was invited to present the prizes at the Teesside Federations 2016 presentation evening, which was held at the Western Social Club, Middlesbrough. I took my wife Carole, grandsons Hayden & Tyler along with me; I knew all four of us were in for a great night, as I had enjoyed myself at the previous year’s payout night where I also presented the prizes. We had not arrived at the Club long before the room started to fill up with Federation members and their families and a number of Tees Valley Federation members. With the night moving on Federation secretary Stephen Wheatley took to the floor to welcome everyone to the Fed’s payout night. Stephen then thanked everyone who had helped him throughout the 2016 season which included Derek Gibson, Ian Brown, Stephen’s wife Janice and their daughter in-law Jeanann who is Stephen’s free serving PA. Stephen then gave a run down on the top performances throughout the season, which included some 1st Section 5 and top ten Up North Combine performances, the lad gave a good account of the season despite not being too well. After the presentation of the silverware and breeder/buyer prize money which was a joint venture between the Teesside Federation and the Tees Valley Federation in 2016. And what great support this event got from fanciers of different areas, all the very hard work put into this event paid very big dividends. Well done to all involved. A total of a whacking £10,100.00 was raised to race for from six of the nine young bird races, starting at Worksop (1) and finishing off at the Peterborough National with three prizes being paid out each race. The Worksop (1), Worksop (2), Oakham, Peterborough and Rivenhall races were paid out as follows; 1st £400.00 Breeder and £400.00 Buyer; 2nd £250.00 Breeder and £250.00 Buyer; 3rd £150.00 Breeder and £150.00 Buyer. The remaining pot of £2,100.00 that was flown from the Peterborough National was paid out as follows; 1st £600.00 Breeder and £600.00 Buyer; 2nd £300.00 Breeder and £300.00 Buyer; 3rd £150.00 breeder and £150.00 Buyer. After the big cash payout the Disco, fantastic buffet and prize raffle came next. First up to the buffet was Mark Pearce of Stockton fame, that’s the fastest I have seen Mark move. The Disco came out to finish the night off with some top music and a number of the very large crowd taking to the dance floor. All in all it was another fantastic evening, well done to all involved.
Good Corn presenting silverware to Ali McLeod winner of the YB Average, Combined Average r/u OB Inland Average, Channel Average, OB Combined Average, with TJ.
Ali McLeod of Billingham T U was the Teesside Federations top prize winner for the second successful season, Ali was r/u Old Bird Inland Average on 70pts, r/u Channel Average with 13pts, r/u Old Bird Combined average with 83pts, winner of the Young Bird Average on 56pts and winner of the Combined Average with a total of 139pts. Ali started his Average winning season timing three birds from old bird Bubwith to chalk up 3rd. 5th and 6th Club with his green card scorer lifting a nice 3rd Fed, 1st Fed Nom and 7th Section 5. While Ali’s second couple of timers that were clocked two seconds apart went on to pocket 10th and 11th Fed. Mac had his birds on song the following week at Newark (1) where he timed no fewer than five of his team in the space of twenty-four seconds to win an outstanding 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th Club, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th Fed out of 860 birds. His pole position Federation winner that netted 3rd Club, 3rdFed, 1st Fed Nom and 7th Section the previous week out of Bubwith went on to win 1st Fed Nom for the second race running and also chalked up a very nice 8th Section from a convoy of 5,682 birds. The winning pigeon was a 2y blue cock who won the Teesside Federation Bird Of The Year in 2015, certainly a top performing cock who can to relied on. A week later with the birds at Oakham (1) five birds were on the clock to claim 5th and 6th Club, 6th, 7th, 9th, 12th and 20th Fed; with Ali’s first timer also potting 14th Section. Inland race number four was from Peterborough (1) which saw Ali in the frame for the fourth race running after taking 2nd and 4th Club, 2nd and 4th Fed, 2nd and 13th Section; four later birds were timed in the space of twenty-two seconds to notch up 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Fed. Moving on to the Rivenhall (1) race that saw Ali clock no less than ten of his squad to take 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th Fed; with the green card potter picking up 17th Section. This disaster race ruined a great number of fancier’s season after thousands and thousands of birds never made it home including Club, Federation and Section winners; and many of them that did make it home later died in the loft with many, many more being very ill. The Rivenhall (1) race had a big knock on affect the following week from the Eastbourne (1) National where numbers were down in their thousands on the previous year’s race, and a host of fanciers not sending to the Classic race. Ali was affected as much as the rest of the fanciers even thou he enjoyed a fantastic result from the Eastbourne (1) National race where the lad timed seven of his entries to win a top drawer 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th and 20th Fed out of an entry of 204 birds. Mac’s red and blue card winners that were clocked one second apart won 1st and 2nd Fed Pools pocketing £80.00, 3rd and 4th Section out of 1,333 birds, 41st and 42nd Up North Combine from a convoy of 7,474 birds (down 11,000 birds on 2015). Ali’s other three timers that were 3rd, 4th and 5th Club also chalked up 104th, 130th and 146th Combine to round off an awesome team performance.
Mac was out of the frame from Oakham (2) but returned to the points from Eastbourne that replaced the Burbure race, when three birds were clocked to lift 2nd, 4th and 5th Club, 4th, 12th and 14th Fed; with the blue card scorer going on to win 1st Fed Nom and claim 16th Section and 98th UNC. The forever trying Ali got back to his winning ways at Rivenhall (2) when four of his squad were on the clock to win a cracking 1st, 4th and 6th Club, 1st, 5th, 9th and 13th Fed when there were 375 birds away, with Mac’s chart-topping Federation winner going on to score a neat 3rd Section when there were 2,820 birds competing. Ali achieved his second inland win off the belt at Peterborough (2) where he timed seven of his entries to win a joyful 1st and 2nd Club, 1st, 2nd, 9th, 11th, 13th, 15th and 19th Fed. Ali was still plugging away at the second French channel race Roye where he had three birds in the frame to lift a useful 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 14th, 17th and 19th Fed. Next stop is Newark (2) where Ali had a couple of birds in the frame to pocket 2nd and 3rd Club, 2nd and 4th Fed, 3rd and 11th Section; two later birds were clocked to claim 8th and 14th Fed. Ali had a single bird in the points out of the Eastbourne (2) National to lift 4th Club, but he also had four more birds on the clock to notch up 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th Fed. The lad was in the frame again out of Oakham (3) when four birds were clocked to pocket 3rd Club, 3rd, 8th, 10th and 11th Fed; with the green card potter going on to pick up 16th Section. Ali ended his 2016 old bird racing season in the winners’ enclosure when he timed five of his channel team from Burbure to win a top notch 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 1st, 4th, 6th, 19th and 20th Fed out of an entry of 230 birds, with his Federation winner going on to win 1st Section 5 when there were 1,695 birds away and a brilliant 6th Up North Combine from a convoy of 9,331 birds. Ali’s blue card scorer netted 227th Combine while his well-fancied yellow card potter won 1st Fed Nom. Ali was winning from this race point for the second season running after winning a earth-shattering 1st Up North Combine Burbure (1) in 2015 with his 2y blue Gaby Vandenabeele hen “Gaby Lou” from a convoy of 10,617 birds. This was Ali’s second 1st UNC Gold Medal winning performance for he won 1st UNC Old Bird Folkestone National in 1991 with “Little Grinni” a 2 year old chequer Wildemeersch cock from a convoy of 22,375 birds when flying in the partnership of Ali McLeod & Keith Perkins.
Moving onto the nine race young bird programme where things didn’t go to plan as Ali had very important family matters on his mind, Ali was most grateful to Clubmate and former partner Keith Perkins for his help in looking after his birds the week leading up to the first young bird race and he was also grateful to Ste Wheatley of the Beechwood & Easterside and Paul “Skunky” Longstaff of Haverton Hill for timing the birds in out of Pontefract (1) where 9th Fed was taken. Ali was back to his best a week later at Pontefract (2) when the lad returned to his winning ways in great style after timing four of his young bird team to win a cracking 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 13th and 14th Fed when there were 1,187 birds competing, Mac timed a later fancy bird to win 1st Fed Nom. Four more birds were on the clock out of Worksop (1) the following week to claim 5th Club, 5th, 7th, 13th and 17th Fed. Ali was out of the Club and Fed points at Worksop (2) but he was back on track the following race from Oakham when he bounced back to win a top notch 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 1st, 4th, 11th, 12th and 18th Fed from 845 birds, with the pole position Federation winning youngster going onto chalk up a nice 7th Section from a convoy of 3,378 birds. With the big smile still on his face Ali’s young bird squad put in another belting team performance a week later at Peterborough when no less than seven birds were timed to win a top drawer 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 1st, 5th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 18th and 19th Fed out of 552 birds, with the blue and yellow card potters winning 1st and 2nd £5 Ring to bank £100.00 in prize money. Mac’s Federation topper went onto score 11th Section and his blue card scorer netted 18th Section when there were 2,981 birds.
Gallery:
Good Corn presenting silverware to Ali McLeod winner of the YB Average, Combined Average r/u OB Inland Average, Channel Average, OB Combined Average, with TJ. - Gary Clark of Clarke & Son the winners of the OB Inland Average, OB Combined Average and r/u Combined Average, receiving silverware from Good Corn. - Good Corn presenting the Channel Average to Paul. TJ & Brandon Longstaff of Appleton & Longstaff, the Eastbourne (1) & Reims 1st Fed winners.
Paul Gatley of Gatley, Harrod & Son receiving the Roye Trophy from Good Corn. - Keith Gregory & Jeff Huggett the 1st Fed YB Worksop (2), 3rd Buyer Worksop (1) & 3rd Breeder Peterborough winners. - Stephen Burton of Jack Burton & Son the winners of 1st Fed and only bird in race time Bourges with Good Corn.
Good Corn with Colin Atkinson of Atkinson & Woodward the winners of 1st Club and 2nd Club, 4th and 8th Fed, 1st Fed Nom Roye. - Stephen Wheatley (snr), Good Corn and Stephen Wheatley (jnr) of Mr & Mrs Wheatley the winners of 1st Federation Eastbourne (1) National and Reims. - Good Corn with Dale Harrod of Gatley, Harrod & Son the winners of 1st Breeder & Buyer Worksop (1) and 2nd Breeder & Buyer Peterborough National & 2 x 1st Fed Noms.
Good Corn with Keith Hodge of Hodge & Potter the scorers of 1 x 2nd, 2 x 4th, 2 x 5th and 1 x 6th Feds. - Good Corn with Lewis McCabe of Letcher & McCabe the YB Pontefract (1) & (2) Federation winners. - Good Corn with Derek Wellburn of Wellburn & Sons the winner of 1st Breeder/1st Buyer Peterborough, 1st Fed Noms Rivenhall (2) and Reims.
Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins the scorers of 4th Fed OB Newark, 6th Fed OB Peterborough (2) and 5th Fed YB Oakham. -Connor Wheatley of Cole, Wheatley & Grandson the scorers of 2nd Buyer Oakham, receiving the YB Peterborough National Trophy from Good Corn. - Good Corn with Tommy Barron of Barron Bros the winners of 2nd Buyer Worksop (1), 2nd Buyer Rivenhall, 1st Fed Nom and 3rd Buyer Worksop (2).
Ali McLeod & Shaun Smith receiving their 1st Breeder/1st Buyer Oakham, 2nd Breeder/2nd Buyer Peterborough and 1st Breeder/1st Buyer Peterborough National from John Thompson. - John Thompson presenting 1st Breeder/ 1st Buyer Rivenhall to Alan Armstrong. - Tony Holyfield & Johnny Evans 3rd Breeder Peterborough National.
Wayne & Lee Starkey receiving 3rd Breeder Worksop (1) prize money from John. - John presenting 1st Breeder Worksop (2) and 3rd Buyer Peterborough National prize money to Mark & Roni Pearce & Yogsa of Heightley, Son, Pearce & Partners
John and Wayne Pogson - John Thompson and Gary Rowbotham
John Thompson presenting special awards to the young guns Kenzley Reid & Leon Kime. - Hayden, Carole, Tyler & Good Corn, photo by Brian Atkinson
Ali was still in the driving seat at Rivenhall where he recorded his third consecutive Federation winning performance after timing four birds to win a notable 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 1st, 4th, 13th and 14th Fed from an entry of 462 birds, with the winner going onto pocket a useful 7th Section when there were 2,617 birds away. Ali’s outstanding young bird run continued at the Peterborough National in place of the Maidstone race, when Mac clocked no less than nine babies to win a brilliant 1st,2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 18th and 19th Fed from 354 birds, with his sixth timer taking 2nd £5 Ring and £60.00. With the final race of the 2016 racing season to go it was nip and tuck between Ali and Tommy Clark & Son Gary on who was going to take the Teesside Federation Combine Average Crown. The two lofts had fought tooth and nail throughout the season with so many top performances being achieved along the way. Ali has being up against it a number of times over the years, but he knows only too well that it never over “until the fat lady sings” and the inform Ali was singing along with her after timing no fewer than twelve birds to win an outstanding 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club. 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Fed out of 313 birds. With Ali’s winner going onto pocket 19th Section from an entry of 1,705 birds to earn the forever trying Ali third highest points winner in Section 5 for the 2016 season with a total of 293pts to round off a fantastic season. I have said before that I know as well as anyone else that the Teesside Federation is not as big both members and birdage wise since they were reduced to four Clubs in 2015 but what they currently lack in the number of lofts and birds still speaks volumes at Section and Up North Combine level and I’m sure their top performances will continue at the very highest level.
The partnership of Tommy Clark & Son Gary showed a lot of promise in 2016 with the two lads winning the Old Bird Inland Average with 105pts; they also scored 5pts from the channel to win the Old Bird Combined Average on 110pts and potted 23pts with the young birds to give them a total of 133pts to earn them r/u Combined Average. Tommy & Gary’s breath-taking old bird inland performances also saw them win the Section 5 Old Bird Inland Average with birdage up to 6,000 birds which is a fantastic achievement, the lads were also r/u Section 5 Combined Average with a grand total of 338pts which again is a brilliant achievement. Tommy & Gary’s season got off to a fantastic start after timing no fewer than seven of their Bubwith entries on the open day of the season to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, 1st, 2nd, 9th, 13th and 14th Fed out of 702 birds. The red and blue card winners that were timed eleven seconds apart went on to score a top notch 2nd and 4th Section 5 from a convoy of 4,570 birds. The following week when the birds were at Newark (1) in place of the Worksop race, three of their squad were timed to chalk up a notable 2nd Club, 2nd, 8th and 14th Fed with the blue card potter going onto net a useful 9th Section. Tommy & Gary who are previous 1st Up North Combine Gold Medal winners, recorded their second win in three races from Oakham (1) after clocking five birds to win a fantastic 1st, 3rd and 4th Club, 1st, 4th, 5th, 11th and 16th Fed when there were 869 birds away, with the duo’s first three timers going on to lift a cracking 2nd, 12th and 13th Section when there were 6,328 birds competing. The inform Tommy & Gary won their second win on the trot out of Peterborough (1) when no less than eight of their team were timed to win a top drawer 1st, 3rd and 5th Club, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Fed from an entry of 846 birds. Their chart-topping Federation winner went on to win an awesome 1st Section, while their second timer potted 10th Section from a convoy of 5,811 birds. Tommy & Gary’s old bird team were flying out of their skins, so much so they recorded their third consecutive win at Rivenhall (1) when a couple of birds were on the clock to win a well-earned 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 5th Fed from 753 birds, 6th and 15th Section when there were 5,456 birds away. Tommy & Gary were in the frame for the sixth race off the belt from the Eastbourne (1) National after clocking four birds to lift 6th Club, 10th, 14th, 15th and 17th Fed with their first timer going onto pocket 182nd UNC.
This was followed up by another outstanding team performance a week later when the birds were at Oakham (2) when five birds were on the clock to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th Fed when there were 567 birds competing, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 18th and 19th Section from a convoy of 3,701 birds. The duo timed three later birds in the space of 11 seconds to pocket 14th, 15th and 16th Fed to round off an awesome team performance. The first channel race of the season was Burbure (1) but after a one day holdover and the very poor weather the forecaster was given for the next few days the Up North Combine convoy of 11,352 birds were brought back from France to English soil and liberated from the longest inland race point, Eastbourne. Tommy & Gary continued their outstanding winning form to clock a couple of their entries to win 1st and 3rd Club, 2nd and 11th Fed; with the two lads red card winner going on to score a cracking 4th Section and 32nd UNC. The following week when the birds were at Rivenhall (2) the inform Tommy & Gary timed six birds to chalk up a very nice 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th Fed. With the boys blue and green card scorers that were timed two seconds apart going on to claim 13th and 14th Section. Tommy & Gary had scored in all nine races to date before they potted 3rd Club, 3rd Fed out of Peterborough (2), they timed another five of their entries to notch up 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th and 17th Fed. The father and son partnership returned to the winners’ enclosure in fantastic style at Newark (2) when they had seven birds on the clock to win a cracking 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th and 20th Fed when there were 439 birds away, 1st, 14th and 17th Section when there were 2,514 birds competing. Tommy & Gary racked up their eighth old bird win of 2016 at the Eastbourne (2) National after timing a trio of birds to win 1st and 3rd Club, 4th, 6th and 16th Fed from 365 birds; with their chart-topper going on to pot 14th Section out of an entry of 2,440 birds. The almost unstoppable duo recorded their ninth win of the season out of Oakham (3) the final old bird inland race of the year, after timing no fewer than nine of their inform team to win a top notch 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 20th Fed out of 334 birds, 9th and 10th Section from an entry of 2,302 birds; with their yellow card potter winning 1st Fed Nom. The curtain came down on Tommy & Gary’s top class old bird season, when they had a couple of birds on the clock from Burbure to lift 5th and 6th Club, 13th and 18th Fed to round of an old bird season to remember. Tommy & Gary’s 2016 old bird inland team performances at Club, Federation and Section level were absolutely breathtaking, with their birds churning out fantastic performances right the way through the old bird program.
After enjoying their memorable old bird season, Tommy & Gary kick-started the young birds by timing no less than four babies in the space of three seconds from Pontefract (1) to lift a notable 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Club, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Fed. Two more youngsters were clocked three seconds apart out of Pontefract (2) to pot a nice 3rd and 4th Club, 5th and 7th Fed. Moving onto young bird race number three where the duo hit winning form in outstanding style after timing five of their squad at Worksop (1) to win a top notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 8th Fed when there were 897 birds competing, with the pole position winning baby going onto score a awesome 3rd Section from a convoy of 4,441 birds. Worksop (2) saw a couple of birds on the clock to bring 6th Club, 12th and 15th Fed and that was followed up by claiming 4th Club, 8th Fed Oakham. And then 6th Club, 17th Fed was notched up from Peterborough before netting 3rd Club, 14th Fed at Rivenhall, another single bird was on the clock out of the Peterborough National to lift 5th Club, 10th Fed. Tommy & Gary’s fantastic season came to a close at Pontefract (3) when two of their team were on the clock to lift 2nd Club, 2nd and 11th Fed.
Steve Wilson was the scorer of 10pts with all of Steve‘s points being netted from the old bird inland races. Steve’s first old bird points of 2016 were achieved at the third race, Oakham (1) when he timed his well-fancied blue cock to score a very nice 2nd Club, 3rd Fed, 1st Fed Nom and 10th Section. The blue cock was in the frame for the second race running out of Peterborough (1) when he chalked up 6th Club, 6th Fed and 1st Fed Nom. Steve was in the points for the third consecutive race at Rivenhall (1) when he had a couple of his team on the clock to claim 5th Club, 8th and 13th Fed. And two more of Steve’s squad were on the sheet out of Oakham (2) to notch up 6th Club, 12th and 17th Fed with his blue cock being his first timer. The lad was out of the Club points at Rivenhall (2) but still notched up 19th and 20th Fed. A week later when the birds were at Peterborough (2) Steve clocked two birds to lift 4th and 6th Club, 4th and 8th Fed with his yellow card potter being his trusted blue cock who went on to win 1st Fed Nom again. Moving on to Newark (2) where Steve had no fewer than three of his entries on the clock in the space of 33 seconds to pocket 9th, 12th and 13th Fed, no prizes for guessing what was Steve’s first timer, yes it was his blue cock who won 1st Fed Nom yet again. Moving onto the Eastbourne (2) National where Steve timed his well-fancied 3y blue hen to score a notable 2nd Club, 5th Fed and 18th Section, with the blue card potting hen going onto win 1st Fed Nom. Steve’s old bird season came to a close when he notched up 7th Fed out of Burbure, to round off a very notable and improved old bird season. After flying a canny old bird Steve enjoyed a winning start with the young birds when he won a top notch 1st Club, 7th Fed Pontefract (1) from an entry of 893 birds with a well-fancied chequer hen that also won 1st Fed Nom and 1st £5 Ring banking £60.00 in prize money. Looking back through Steve’s performances I have found that he has the knack of picking his pool birds, which can help to ease the cost of racing.
The partnership of Jeff Huggett & Keith Gregory were the scorers of 9pts with them being achieved with the young birds. Jeff & Keith were out of the Club points at old bird Newark (1) but still managed to time two of their entries in the space of six seconds to notch up 15th and 16th Fed. The duo were back in the frame at the Eastbourne (2) National when a single bird was timed to pocket 6th Club, 12th Fed. A week later Jeff & Keith hit winning form from the very testing fourth French channel race Reims when they had a couple of their team on the clock to win a notable and well-earned 1st and 2nd Club, 9th and 12th Fed from an entry of 75 birds. On to the young birds where Jeff & Keith took 16th Fed from Pontefract (1), with their timer going on to win 2nd £5 Ring and £40.00 prize money. The duo had no fewer than four birds on the clock at Worksop (2) to net 4th Club, 4th, 9th, 10th and 12th Fed; with the lads second timer being the same bird that took 2nd £5 Ring out of Pontefract (1), only this time it won 1st £5 Ring to pocket £60.00. The boys also notched up 16th Fed from Rivenhall.
The former 1st Up North Combine winning loft of Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins chalked up 4pts from the old bird inland races and 2pts with the young birds which gave them a total of 6pts. Brian & Keith were just out of the points at old bird Bubwith but still had a single bird on the clock to pot 12th Fed. The following week when the birds were at Newark (1) they claimed a very nice 4th Club, 4th Fed and 12th Section. And a week later at Oakham (1) the two lads timed a couple of birds one second apart to lift 13th and 14th Fed; and then they took 13th and 19th Fed from the Eastbourne (1) National. Brian & Keith were back in the Club points at Peterborough (2) when they pocketed 5th Club, 6th Fed and followed that up by claiming 15th Fed out of Newark (2) before timing another single bird at the Eastbourne (2) National to lift 5th Club, 11th Fed. Brian & Keith’s final old birds points of 2016 were netted at the fifth channel race Burbure when 4th Club, 7th Fed was taken. Brian & Keith netted twice in the Club with the young birds with their first chalk being achieved at Oakham when a notable 3rd Club, 5th Fed, 2nd £5 Ring and £40.00 was taken. The duo had a couple of youngsters on the clock from Rivenhall to lift 4th Club, 12th and 19th Fed.
The loft of Colin Atkinson & Alby Woodward potted 3pts from the channel and 2pts with the young birds for a tally of 5pts. Colin & Alby were the winners of 1st and 2nd Club out of the second French channel race Roye, with their pole position yearling chequer cock going onto score a notable 4th Fed out of 132 birds and 2nd £5 Fed pools pocketing £35.00. The blue card scoring 1y blue cock chalked up a very nice 8th Fed and 1st Fed Nom to round off a top performance. The loft was in the points from the first young bird race Pontefract (1) when they took a nice 3rd Club, 10th Fed and followed that up by potting 15th Fed out of Worksop (1). A week later when the birds were at Worksop (2) a couple of babies were on the clock to chalk up a cracking 2nd and 3rd Club, 5th and 8th Fed. The green card scorer was on the clock again out of Peterborough to claim 20th Fed. Butto Bell & Weedall had three of their young bird team on the clock at Pontefract (1) to lift a useful 2nd Club, 8th, 19th and 20th Fed, and followed that up a week later from Pontefract (2) to pick up 15th Fed. Butto was back in the frame out of Worksop (2) where he chalked up a nice 5th Club, 11th Fed, 1st £5 Ring pocketing £60.00 in prize money and 15th Section. Gordon Brydon notched up 16th Fed out of Rivenhall (2).
The Haverton Hill partnership of Andrew Appleton & Paul “Skunky” Longstaff enjoyed another great season where once again they excelled over the water where they won the Federation Channel Average, just like they did in 2015. Andrew & Paul scored 6pts from the old bird inland races and scored 29pts in their Channel Average winning campaign and they also notched up 24pts with the young birds to give them a season tally of 59pts which earned them third highest Fed points in 2016. I don’t have the Club results but I will give a run down on all Haverton Hill positions that made the top 20 on the Federation result. Starting with the old bird Newark (1) race where the two lads had no fewer than three of their entries on the clock to pocket a notable 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 11th, 12th and 18th Fed. A week later when the birds were at Oakham (1) a single bird was timed to chalk up a nice 2nd Club, 8th Fed. This was quickly followed up the following week by timing three of their squad to win an awesome 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 7th, 10th and 12th Fed when there were 846 birds competing. Andrew & Paul recorded their second win in three races at Rivenhall (1) when three more birds were in the clock to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 1st, 9th and 11th Fed from an entry of 204 birds. With the duo’s Federation topper going onto win an outstanding 1st Section when there were 1,333 birds competing and 6th UNC from a convoy of 7,474 birds, and there blue card potter went onto score 178th Combine to round off a very good days racing. Onto the Eastbourne/Burbure race where four of their channel team were clocked to pocket a nice 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 3rd, 8th, 10th and 17th Section, with the blue card lifter going onto net 12th Section and 61st UNC. The boys achieved their third inland win of the season out of Rivenhall (2) where their chart-topper went onto claim 15th Fed out of an entry of 375 birds. And this was quickly followed up a week later by winning 1st Club, 18th Fed Peterborough (2).
With the birds being back over the pond at Roye, Andrew & Paul were up and at them again after timing no fewer than five of their squad to score a notable 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Club, 6th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 18th Fed. Andrew & Paul did what they like doing most out of the fourth French channel race Reims, hitting the winners’ enclosure in fantastic style after clocking no less than seven, “yes seven birds” to win a top drawer 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Club, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th Fed out of 75 birds, 9th and 12th Section from an entry of 663 birds, with the duo’s first three timers going onto claim 66th, 99th and 235th UNC from a convoy of 3,794 birds. I have to say when it comes to the distance races; these boys are going to be amongst them somewhere in the result. And true to form Andrew & Paul’s channel team showed what they are capable of achieving from Burbure, the fifth and final water race of the 2016 racing season, when they timed four birds to win an awesome 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 17th Fed from 230 birds, with the red and blue card winners going onto pot 8th and 9th Section out of 1,695 birds, 65th and 78th UNC from a convoy of 9,695 birds.
Andrew & Paul’s young bird season started off with them notching up 9th Fed out of Pontefract (1) and then took 2nd Club, 14th Fed Worksop (1) two weeks later, before taking 4th Club, 9th Fed from Oakham. The two lads had gone five young birds races without a win but there was no cause for alarm for they hit winning form big style from race number six, Peterborough, when they timed no fewer than five babies to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 13th Fed out of 552 birds, with the red, blue and yellow card potters going onto score 5th, 6th and 19th Section when there were 2,981 birds competing. The duo had three of their squad in the frame a week later at Rivenhall to pocket a useful 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 5th, 15th and 17th Fed. Andrew & Paul achieved their second young bird win of the season at the Peterborough National when they had five of their team in the frame to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 16th and 20th Fed from 354 birds, with their chart-topping youngster going onto chalk up 10th Section when there were 1,795 birds away. Andrew & Paul recorded their third young bird win in four races out of Pontefract (3) when four of their inform young bird team were clocked to win a cracking 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 3rd, 5th, 12th and 13th Fed out of an entry of 313 birds, with their well-fancied red card winner winning 1st Fed Nom to round off another top team performance.
The loft of Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod & Son Dale potted 6pts from the old bird inland races, 7pts from the channel and 16pts with the young birds to give them a total of 29pts.
Paul, Graham & Dale got off to a cracking start by hitting the winners’ enclosure from day one when a couple of birds were timed out of old bird Bubwith to win a top-notch 1st and 2nd Club, 6th and 7th Fed when there were 702 birds competing. The lads achieved their second red card winning performance off the belt from Newark (1) when their chart-topper went onto score 9th Fed. Paul, Graham & Dale continued their winning form out of Oakham (1) when they recorded their third consecutive win after timing two of their inform team to win 1st and 3rd Club, 2nd and 17th Fed from 869 birds, with their red card winner going onto chalk up a notable 3rd Section from a convoy of 6,328 birds. Moving onto the Eastbourne/Burbure race where the three lads had four of their birds on the clock to pocket 2nd and 3rd Club, 6th, 7th, 15th and 20th Fed; with their blue and green card potter going onto claim 201st and 229th UNC. The forever trying boys returned to their winning ways it great style from Roye when they timed a couple of their team to win a brilliant 1st and 3rd Club, 1st and 10th Fed out of 139 birds, with their Federation winner going onto net 11th Section when there were 882 birds away and 87th UNC from a convoy of 5,142 birds. Win number five of the season was achieved at the Eastbourne (2) National when three birds were timed to win a cracking 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 8th, 10th and 20th Fed out of an entry of 365 birds. Paul, Graham & Dale recorded their sixth win of the season out of the final old bird inland race, Oakham (3) where their red card winner went onto score 14th Fed out of an entry of 314 birds.
Next stop in the young birds where the boys first chalk came out of Pontefract (2) when four babies were timed to pocket a useful 2nd and 3rd Club, 4th, 6th, 16th and 17th Fed, 4th, 6th, 17th and 18th Section. A week later when the birds were at Worksop (1) a trio of birds were timed in the space of a quick-fire three seconds to lift a nice 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 18th, 19th and 20th Fed. The lads knocked out their first young bird win of the season out of Worksop (2) the following week when no less than four babies were in the frame to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 3rd, 4th, 13th and 20th Fed when there were 880 birds competing, the red and blue card potters went onto chalk up 9th and 15th Section from a convoy of 4,498 birds. A couple of birds were timed one second apart from Oakham to claim 6th and 7th Fed, with their well-fancied second timer winning 1st Fed Nom. After being out of the frame from Peterborough the lads returned to their winning ways at Rivenhall after timing three youngsters to win a well-deserved 1st and 3rd Club, 2nd, 7th and 18th Fed; with the well-fancied pole position winner claiming 1st £5 Ring pocketing £60.00 in prize money and going onto lift 14th Section when there were 2,617 birds competing. Paul, Graham & Dale had another three birds in the clock at the Peterborough National to score 4th and 5th Club, 11th, 12th and 17th Fed; with their well-fancied second timer winning 1st Fed Nom and 1st £5 Ring banking £60.00.
Brian Letcher & Lewis McCabe pocketed 4pts from the old bird inland races and 18pts with the young birds for a tally of 22pts. Brian & Lewis netted 4th Club, 19th Fed out of old bird Oakham (1) and then won a very nice 1st and 2nd Club, 10th and 19th Fed from Oakham (2), before pocketing 2nd Club, 20th Fed at Peterborough (2). Brian & Lewis returned to the winners’ enclosure at Newark (2) where their red card winner went onto chalk up a cracking 3rd Fed out of 439 birds and 7th Section out of an entry of 2,514 birds. Brian & Lewis enjoyed a dream start to the nine race young bird campaign after they timed three of their young bird squad in the space of two seconds to win a top drawer 1st, 2nd and 6th Club, 1st, 2nd and 6th Fed at Pontefract (1) from an entry of 893 birds. Brian & Lewis recorded their second win off the bounce at Pontefract (2) when four babies were timed to win a cracking 1st and 4th Club, 1st, 9th, 19th and 20th Fed from 1,187 birds, with their fourth timer taking 2nd £5 Ring and £40.00, while their red and yellow card scorers went onto win a fantastic 1st and 9th Section from a convoy of 4,974 birds. It proved, “when the winds in the North West, the Teesside Fed does best”, for the members took the first fifteen in the Section and scored eighteen of the twenty Section positions out of the Pontefract (2) race, which was a fantastic achievement. The inform Brian & Lewis achieved their third consecutive young bird win at Worksop (1) when their chart-topping baby went onto score 11th Fed out of 897 birds and claimed 2nd £5 Ring and £40.00 for the second race running. A week later when the birds were at Worksop (2) 4th Club, 17th Fed was netted, the following week another single bird was on the clock to lift 3rd Club, 7th Fed.
Barron Brothers, Tommy & Robbie returned to the sport for the 2016 racing season, and I have to say the Brother’s let the rest of the member know they had returned, for Tommy & Robbie scored in eight of the nine young bird races with the lads scoring 16pts. Tommy & Robbie zoomed into the charts from day one when they timed a couple of their entries to lift a notable 3rd and 4th Club, 3rd and 4th Fed out of Pontefract (1). The two lads had two babies touch-down together out of Pontefract (2) to chalk up a nice 5th and 6th Club, 10th and 11th Fed, 10th and 11th Section, a third bird was on the clock to pot 18th Fed, 20th Section. The duo had a single youngster in the frame at Worksop (1) to net a useful 3rd Club, 16th Fed and followed that up by taking 5th Club, 19th Section Worksop (2), a later well-fancied bird was timed to win 1st Fed Nom. Tommy & Robbie were on top of the scaffold the following week when the birds were at Oakham when two birds were clocked to win a brilliant 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 3rd Fed out of an entry of 845 birds, with their well-fancied chart-topper that won 1st £5 Ring and £60.00 in prize money going onto claim 18th Section from a convoy of 3,378 birds. This was followed up by taking 5th Club, 9th Fed from Peterborough; the two lads were in the frame for the seventh young bird race on the trot at Rivenhall when another single baby was timed to chalk up 4th Club, 8th Fed. Tommy & Robbie were out of the young bird frame for the first time at the Peterborough National but returned to the points out of Pontefract (3) where a couple of birds were timed within one second of each other to score a nice 3rd and 4th Club, 9th and 10th Fed.
J Appleton netted 4pts with his old bird inland team and 6pts from the channel for a total of 10pts. The lad enjoyed two old bird wins with the first winning performance of 2016 being achieved at Rivenhall (2) when his chart-topper went onto score a fantastic 3rd Fed out of 753 birds and 9th Section when there were 5,456 birds away. The second old bird win of the season was from the Eastbourne/Burbure race when his well-fancied winner won an outstanding 1st Fed out of 303 birds, 1st £5 Fed Pools pocketing £55.00 prize money, 2nd Section and 10th Up North Combine from a convoy of 11,352 birds. Alan Plews & Grandson Joe Ford claimed 3pts with them being scored with the young birds. Alan who has flown a fantastic Pigeon when flying in the GYA Club, winning numerous races from all distances and averages, netted three times with the young birds. With the first chalk being achieved at Oakham when 5th Club, 10th Fed was taken, a couple of babies were on the clock from Peterborough a week later to net a useful 3rd and 6th Club, 4th and 10th Fed, with the green card potting youngster going onto claim 17th Section. Stewart & Barron picked up 2pts with the young birds. The partnership timed a couple of yearling blue cocks in the space of eighteen seconds at Newark (2) to chalk up a notable 2nd and 3rd Club, 16th and 17th Fed. Onto the young birds where the partnership netted a very nice 5th Club, 5th Fed out of Pontefract (1).
The Middlesbrough H/S partnership of Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley scored 21pts with their old bird inland squad and 8pts from the channel for a total of 29pts. Stephen & Jeanann enjoyed a cracking season with them getting off the mark at old bird Bubwith, where they netted 3rd Club, 18th Fed. A week later when the birds were at Newark (1) three birds were timed to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 10th, 13th and 17th Fed when there were 860 birds away. The happy duo made it two wins on the trot out of Oakham (1) when their red card winner went onto chalk up 10th Fed out of an entry of 869 birds. Win number three on the belt was achieved at Peterborough (1) when Stephen & Jeanann’s chart-topper scored 11th Fed out of 846 birds. The inform Stephen & Jeanann were proving a hard act to beat and they maintained their winning run from Rivenhall (1) in fantastic style when they timed a couple of their inland team to win a fantastic 1st and 4th Club, 1st and 20th Fed when there were 753 birds competing. With their well-fancied pole position Federation winner not only winning 1st Fed Nom but also winning 1st Section from a convoy of 5,456 birds. Stephen & Jeanann recorded their fifth straight win from the Eastbourne (1) National after the duo clocked a couple of their inform team to win an impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 4th and 8th Fed out of 204 birds, 102nd and 160th UNC from a convoy of 7,474 birds. Stephen & Jeanann’s chart-topper that also won 1st Fed Nom was the very same bird that won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Fed Nom and 1st Section the previous week from Rivenhall (1), proving the blue hen is no lollypop. The partnership were in the frame again at Oakham (2) when two of their squad were in the clock to pocket a useful 2nd and 5th Club, 9th and 18th Fed. Stephen & Jeanann were in the clock for the eighth consecutive race out of the Eastbourne/Burbure race where they won 1st Club, 5th Fed, 3rd £5 Fed Pools netting £20.00, 17th Section and 101st UNC from a convoy of 11,352 birds. Two weeks later with the birds at Peterborough (2) Stephen & Jeanann notched up their seventh win after timing a couple of birds in the space of seventeen seconds to win a notable 1st and 2nd Club, 5th and 7th Fed.
Two more birds were in the frame the following week at the second channel race Roye, to pot 2nd and 4th Club, 3rd and 16th Fed, with the blue card scorer going onto chalk up 199th Combine. Stephen & Jeanann’s incredible old bird season brought them another win out of Newark (2) when their red card winner went onto score 19th Fed when there were 439 birds away. The winning partnership enjoyed a cracking clocking day from the Eastbourne (2) National when no fewer than four of their entries were timed to win an awesome 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 1st, 5th, 19th and 20th Fed when there were 365 birds competing, with the duo’s first two timers going onto claim 2nd and 13th Section out of an entry of 2,440 birds. After nine Club, two Fed and one Section win and a number of top team performances, Stephen & Jeanann were not done yet for they knocked out another winning performance at Oakham (3) when a couple of their team were timed within five seconds of each other to win a very nice 1st and 2nd Club, 16th and 17th Fed when there was 314 birds away. Stephen & Jeanann recorded their eleventh win of the old bird campaign from Burbure, the final old bird race of the 2016 season, when no less than four of their channel team were timed to win a cracking 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Club, 5th, 11th, 14th and 15th Fed from 230 birds. Stephen & Jeanann hit the winning trail with the young birds when they won 1st Club, 18th Fed Pontefract (1) when there were 893 birds competing. The duo made it two young bird wins out of two from Pontefract (2) when 1st Club, 8th Fed was won out of an entry of 1,187 birds. And then 3rd Club, 9th Fed was taken out of Worksop (2) before winning 1st Club, 15th Fed Peterborough when there were 552 birds away.
The loft of the late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek netted 6pts from the old bird inland races, 11pts with their channel team and another 6pts with the young birds for a tally of 23pts. Les & Derek were the second Middlesbrough H/S loft that enjoyed a great season, with the lads in the Club points from the off, after timing a couple of birds out of old bird Bubwith to pocket a nice 2nd and 5th Club, 8th and 20th Fed. Les & Derek notched up 2nd Club, 15th Fed at Oakham (1) before netting 2nd Club, 15th Fed Rivenhall (1), and then taking 3rd Club, 16th Fed from the Eastbourne (1) National. The two Brothers knocked out their first win of the season a week later when the birds were at Oakham (2) when no fewer than four birds were on the clock to win an impressive 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 4th, 11th, 13th and 20th Fed from 567 birds, with the red card winner going onto score a useful 12th Section when there were 3,701 birds competing. The duo had another four birds in the frame the following week when they netted a nice 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 9th, 13th, 18th and 19th Fed from Eastbourne/Burbure. Things were starting to come together for Les & Derek for the boys had four birds in the frame for the third race running out of Rivenhall (2) to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 4th, 11th, 17th and 18th Fed when there were 375 birds competing. The two lads timed a well-fancied later bird to win 1st Fed Nom to round off a very good days racing. Moving onto Roye where Les & Derek clocked two of their channel entries to win a well-earned 1st and 3rd Club, 2nd and 5th Fed from 132 birds, with the well-fancied chart-topper going onto win 1st Fed Pools banking £65.00 in prize money, 19th Section from 882 birds and 182nd UNC from a convoy of 5,152 birds. Les & Derek chalked up their second channel win at Reims after they timed no fewer than four of their long distance team to win a notable 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 3rd, 11th, 15th and 16th Fed out of an entry of 75 birds. The Brothers red card winner went onto score 233rd UNC out of 3,794 birds, while their well-fancied blue card scorer won 1st Fed Nom to round off another cracking channel team performance. Les & Derek’s old bird season came to a close when they timed a single bird at Burbure to claim 3rd Club, 14th Fed.
Les & Derek netted 2nd Club, 12th Fed young bird Pontefract (2) before timing no fewer than three birds out of Worksop (2) to win a cracking 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, 2nd, 7th and 18th Fed from 880 birds, with the chart-topping youngster going onto score a notable 5th Section from a convoy of 4,498 birds. Win number two off the bounce was achieved at Oakham when 1st Club, 20th Fed was won out of 845 birds. Les & Derek enjoyed a good clocking day at Rivenhall after no less than three babies were timed to win an awesome 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 6th, 10th and 20th Fed when there were 462 birds competing. The Brothers knocked up another win the following week when the birds were at the Peterborough National when the red card winner went onto net 8th Fed from 354 birds.
The long distance loft of Jack Burton & Son Stephen pocketed 6pts from the channel; the lads were in the Club points at old bird Rivenhall (1) to pocket 3rd Club, 19th Fed. The highlight of Jack & Steve’s season came at their favourite race point Bourges which is a distance of 542 miles, when the two lads won a most impressive 1st Club, 1st Fed, 15th Up North Combine when there were 1,306 birds competing and 15th North Of England Homing Union from a convoy of 1,454 birds. Jack & Steve’s very game winner was the only bird recorded in the Fed in race time. Jack & Steve have become the Bourges Kings after a number of previous top performances from the UNC’s longest race, with them being previous winners of a UNC French Diploma Award. The qualification for this award is for any bird achieving a minimum of three positions in the first 250 of the Combine, at a distance of 440 miles or more, including at least one in that season. And before I go on I have to say that this awarded is limited to one race point which is Bourges for the East Cleveland, North Yorks, Teesside, Tees Valley and the Middlesbrough District Federations, as the second longest channel race is from under 440 miles to each of the five mentioned Federations. As I have just stated Jack & Steve are previous winners of a UNC French Diploma Award which was won by their outstanding Pigeon named “Acklam Gem”, the winner of 89th UNC in 2012 out of 1,725 birds, 140th UNC in 2013 from 1,640 birds and 1st Club, 1st Fed, 21st UNC 1,611 birds, 26th NEHU 2,314 birds in 2014. In that same year the lads also scored 2nd, Club, 2nd Fed, 40th UNC and 50th NEHU Bourges. Jack & Steve also won 1st Club, 2nd Fed and 67th UNC Bourges in 2015 with a different Pigeon from a convoy of 1,736 birds, when only two Fed birds were recorded in race time. D Hutchinson & Son claimed 2pts from the old bird inland races where they got off to a winning start after winning a cracking 1st Club, 5th Fed Bubwith on the opening day of the new 2016 racing season from an entry of 702 birds. The partnership was in the frame for the second race running out of Newark when another single bird was timed to chalk up 4th Club, 20th Fed. The partnership of Crook & Garbutt got on the sheet from old bird Bubwith when 4th Club, 19th Fed was taken.
The Beechwood & Easterside partnership of Keith Hodge & Denis Potter had a total of 16pts with 14pts being scored from the old bird inland races and their remaining 2pts being netted from the channel. Keith & Denis enjoyed an impressive old bird season, with the lads timing a couple of their team at old bird Bubwith to win a cracking 1st and 2nd Club, 4th and 16th Fed when there were 702 birds competing. Win number two on the trot was chalked up at Newark (1) when their red card winner went onto pot 9th Fed from 860 birds. The two very hard working lads made it three straight wins out of Oakham (1) when their chart-topper went onto net 18th Fed when there were 869 birds away. Keith & Dennis knocked up win number four off the belt at Peterborough (1), with the pole position winner taking a useful 9th Fed from an entry of 846 birds. The inform duo recorded their fifth consecutive win from Rivenhall (1) which saw their winner go onto score a well-deserved 5th Fed out of 753 birds and 11th Section when there were 5,456 birds competing. No win for the two lads from the Eastbourne (1) National but they bounced back to their winning ways the following race when a couple of their squad were on the clock at Oakham (2) to win a notable 1st and 2nd Club, 5th and 8th Fed out of 567 birds, with the duo’s winner going onto claim 13th Section from a convoy of 3,701 birds. Keith & Denis who have flown a good Pigeon for a number of years now, which has seen them win their fare share of the races, returned to their winning ways at Rivenhall (2) when two of their entries were in the frame to win a very nice 1st and 2nd Club, 6th and 7th Fed when there were 375 birds away. After taking 3rd and 4th Club, 11th and 20th Fed from Roye, Keith & Denis won 1st Club, 18th Fed Newark (2) out of 439 birds. Keith & Denis continued their very impressive winning run from the Eastbourne (2) National where the inform duo won a most impressive 1st Club, 2nd Fed from 365 birds and 9th Section when there were 2,440 birds competing. If Keith & Denis had not reached double figure wins at this stage, then they certainly did from the fourth channel race Reims, when the duo won a top-notch 1st Club, 5th Fed from an entry of 75 birds. The following week with the birds at Oakham (3) Keith & Denis clocked up another win when they had two of their inland team on the clock to win 1st and 2nd Club, 13th and 18th Fed when there was 314 birds away. The duo’s outstanding season came to an end when they took a useful 3rd Club, 12th Fed out of Burbure.
The partnership of the late Wyn Cole, Stephen Wheatley & Grandson Connor who only flew the young birds in 2016 were the scorers of 11pts. Stephen & Connor enjoyed a cracking race out of Oakham where they timed no fewer than five of their squad to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 6th, 13, 14th, 15th and 19th Fed. A week later when the birds were at Peterborough 2nd Club, 16th Fed was pocketed and that was followed up by winning 1st Club, 3rd Fed Rivenhall. Stephen & Connor were in the winners’ enclosure again from the Peterborough National where the duo won a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Fed out of 354 birds, 5th Section when there were 1,798 birds competing and 135th Up North Combine from a convoy of 11,967 birds. Stephen flew a very good Pigeon when in partnership with the late Wyn with them being previous 1st Up North Combine Gold Medal winners. Wyn & Stephen later took Stephen’s Grandson Connor under their wing, with the young lad being a great help to his Granddad in the everyday running of the loft. I’m sure Stephen & Connor will soon be back to their best.
Reid, Son & Jones headed by the up and coming Top Guns Kenzley Reid & Leon Kime chalked up a notable 11pts with the young birds, the lads timed their well fancied chequer pied hen from young bird Worksop (1) to win a cracking 1st Fed Nom. The boys then clocked a chequer cock out of Worksop (2) the following race to win a top-notch 1st Club, 6th Fed. Two weeks later when the birds were at Peterborough the partnership won a much deserved 1st Club, 14th Fed. There was a special award presented to Kenzley & Leon with the two youngsters proudly taking centre stage to receive their awards. It’s great when you see youngsters coming into the sport and more so when they win a race or two. I hope the boys continue their success in the very declining sport of ours. McCarthy, Son & Proffit were the winners of 1st Club, 18th Fed Eastbourne (1) National out of 204 birds and the lads also won 1st Club, 16th Fed Eastbourne/Burbure from 303 birds. A couple of birds were timed at Roye to win a cracking 1st and 2nd Club, 7th and 9th Fed when there were 139 birds competing, and this was followed up by netting a useful 2nd and 3rd Club, 7th and 13th Fed Reims. The partnership returned to the winners’ enclosure at Burbure when two of their channel team were clocked to win a top-notch 1st and 2nd Club, 8th and 10th Fed when there were 230 birds away. The loft of Lythe & Warwick timed a dark hen out of young bird Pontefract (1) to win a notable 1st Club, 15th Fed, and followed that up by clocking a blue hen at Worksop (2) to chalk up a very nice 2nd Club, 16th Fed. M Donnelly was the scorer of a useful 2nd Club, 7th Fed Eastbourne (2) National. The partnership of Talbot, Son & Wardell clocked their well-fancied grizzle cock out of young bird Rivenhall to score a very nice 2nd Club, 9th Fed and 1st Fed Nom.
Now for the Breeder/Buyer winners; where the prize money was presented by John Thompson the Secretary of the Tees Valley Federation. Worksop (1) 1st Breeder and 1st Buyer Gatley, Harrod & Son. 2nd Breeder Moore Brothers - 2nd Buyer Barron Bros. 3rd Breeder Starkey & Son - 3rd Buyer Huggett & Gregory. Worksop (2) 1st Breeder Heightley, Son Pearce & Partners - 1st Buyer Lythe & Warwick. 2nd Breeder Dixon & Sons - 2nd Buyer Rowbotham & Sons. 3rd Breeder Graham, Gilchrist & Brennan 3rd Buyer Barron Bros. Oakham 1st Breeder Shaun Smith 1st Buyer Ali McLeod. 2nd Breeder Booty & Berryman 2nd Buyer Cole, Wheatley & Grandson. 3rd Breeder Pogson & Richardson 3rd Buyer D & I Wallace. Peterborough 1st Breeder and 1st Buyer L Wellburn & Sons. 2nd Breeder Shaun Smith 2nd Buyer Ali McLeod. 3rd Breeder Hugget & Gregory 3rd Buyer Prest & Hugget. Rivenhall 1st Breeder and 1st Buyer Alan Armstrong. 2nd Breeder Graham, Gilchrist & Brennan 2nd Buyer Barron Bros. 3rd Breeder and 3rd Buyer Rowbotham & Sons. Peterborough Young Bird National 1st Breeder Shaun Smith 1st Buyer Ali McLeod. 2nd Breeder and 2nd Buyer Gatley, Harrod & Son. 3rd Breeder Holyfield & Evans 3rd Buyer Heightley, Pearce & Partners. Stephen would like to thank everybody who took part in this and all who helped to make it a success, including his Wife Janice and Daughter-In-Law Jeanann for the Pie & Peas.
That’s the Teesside Federations 2016 prize presentation done and dusted; once again I wish to thank the members for inviting me and the family along for the very enjoyable evening. Due to Carole’s very poor health, it was the first night she’d had out for almost two years and she really enjoyed it all. Hayden took most of the photos which is always a great help, it gives me chance to relax more after the presentation, instead of going around take photos. It also gives me a chance to have a chat to some of the members, thanks to Brian Atkinson for offering o take a photo of Carole, Hayden, Tyler & Me. I wish the Teesside Federation members a very successful 2017 racing season and hope to a few of you throughout the racing season. If any of the Club members are interested in gathering any race information throughout the season, it would be a great help in my weekly reports.
With that I will sign off until next time.
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Loftus Saltburn
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