AROUND THE UP NORTH COMBINE
with Keith Simpson
The Up North Combine basketed the birds for Rivenhall (1) on Friday 5th May but while in transit to Rivenhall all the vehicles were diverted because of major road works, a lorry had also overturned in the road works. Come 2.30am the majority of the convoy were still in the Peterborough area so due to tachograph laws and the fact they were approaching more diversions the Chief Convoyer decided to move the fleet to the Huntingdon Race Course. The Convoyer was in constant contact with the Secretary and the drivers, with the last vehicle arriving on site at 3.45am. All the birds were watered immediately with lights. At 7.15am on Saturday 6th May the conditions at the substitute race point were very poor with low cloud and poor visibility, and there was no improvement at 10.00am. There was still no improvement in the weather conditions at the race point or on route at 12 noon, with the conditions forecasted not to clear, the Chief Convoyer decided to hold the birds over. The crew commenced feeding the birds at 2.30pm with the waters constantly monitored and refreshed.
The forecast for Sunday was again questionable with very poor conditions down South, but a possibility of breaks appearing in the Lincoln and Leicester area. The home end would always remain in full high cloud with good visibility, as the forecast was not guaranteed it was decided that the Convoy should move closer to home, for three reasons. A, longer time in the day to liberate. B,
weather forecast for Monday was poor and C, if the need arose to return the birds home it could be accomplished in daylight hours. After obtaining permission to access the Oakham site and the Convoyer having discussions with the UNC Officers at 6.30pm, the birds were moved back to Oakham where they arrived at 7.30pm and the waters were immediately topped up and refreshed.
After early morning cloud cover at the race point on Sunday 7th May, come 10.00am the conditions were showing slight improvement with breaks of blue skies appearing to the West and East, and also breaking on the line of flight. The home end was full cloud cover with good visibility with a cold Northerly to North-West wind. At 10.15am the sun was out at the race point and after the Convoyer checked the line of flight again with conditions acceptable, he commenced to liberate Group 1 at 10.30am and the strings of Group 2 were cut at 10.50am. But at 11.05am they lost the full sun and then liberated Group 3 in full sun at 11.15am, all birds cleared exceptionally well into a cold Northerly wind.
Now for some race info, starting at Skinningrove where the loft of Malc & Stuart White recorded their second win of the season from a ten members entry of 288 birds. With the winner being a 3y chequer Jurgen De Meyer cock bred by A Watt & Son of Grimsby for the Loftus West Road Championship Club Breeder/Buyer achieving a chart-topping vel of 1270 which was more than enough to win 1st East Cleveland Federation from a 75 members convoy of 1,463 birds.
Both the 2011 bred parents of the pole position Federation winner are direct Jurgen De Meyer, with the Sire breeding a hen in his first nest to win 1st Club 308 birds, 8th East Section Basingstoke from an entry of 2,161 birds. 2nd Club 259 birds when beaten by a loftmate, 2nd East Section Basingstoke out of 1,327 birds. 2nd Club 204 birds, 7th East Section Buckingham when there were 1,238 birds competing and 2nd Club 277 birds, 15th East Section Basingstoke from a convoy of 1,092 birds. While the Dam of Malc & Stuart's chart-topper is a direct Daughter of De Meyer's “Orleans” hen. Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson are in 2nd spot with the blue card being awarded to a yearling making 1253 to net a notable 3rd Fed. The Granddad & Granddaughter partnership of Tich Richards & Alice Marsay timed a couple of their entries to lift a useful 3rd and 4th Club, 9th and 17th Fed on 1239.2 and 1225.6, with the duo's green card scorer being the previous potter of 4th Club, 18th Fed Bubwith when beaten by a loftmate that netted 2nd Club, 4th Fed. B & K Simpson timed a yearling chequer pied Louis Cooreman hen doing 1255 for 18th Fed; with the hen being 4th Club, 9th Fed the previous race out of Huntingdon (1). Mike Prokopowicz & Son Lee, the 1st Club, 1st Fed Huntingdon (1) winners notch up 19th Fed with a yearling on 1255.
Stuart White of White Bros, holding their 3y chequer Jurgen De Meyer cock bred by A Watt & Son of Grimsby, winner of 1st Club, 1st East Cleveland Federation Oakham (2).
Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners of Brotton H/S have flown a notable Pigeon in the past, with their birds often performing as a team. So it was no surprise when they timed three of their squad to win a very impressive 1st and 3rd Club, 2nd, 5th and 20th Fed; with their red card winning yearling recording a top vel of 1262 and their green card potting 5y achieving 1242. Reg & Ray's third timer was a yearling making 1224; the duo had another seven birds in the top 50 of the Fed. The up and coming loft of Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson, Tubby “Graham” Purver and silent partners Ian “Evo” Everington and young Franky, the 1st Club, 8th Fed Oakham (1) winners, are pulling out all the stops to hit the heights this season clocked three yearlings in the space of 2 minutes to chalk up a cracking 2nd, 4th and 5th Club, 4th, 8th and 10th Fed with vels of 1252, 1239.3 and 1238.7. The crew also had another three of their yearling team in the top 40 of the Fed. Mick Smithies the previous weeks 1st Club, 2nd Fed Huntingdon (1) winner timed a 4y making 1233 to claim 6th Club, 13th Fed.
Geoff Bavin zooms into the winners' enclosure to record his first win of the season at Marske & New Marske with Geoff's well out in front pole position winner being a yearling blue white flight roundabout cock of Rutland Lofts stock bred down from John Whittaker of Bramley Lofts stock. With a top vel of 1241 the winning cock went onto score a well-deserved and impressive 6th Fed, with him being the longest flying Pigeon in the Fed from this race. The late Jack “The Lad” Brown & Tony Hunt enjoyed a cracking clocking day after Tony filled no fewer than three chambers to chalk up a notable 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, with all three timers being yearling widowhood cocks. The blue card was awarded to a blue Tournier/Bouchet and both the green and yellow cards were netted by blue same way bred Janssen/Van Gompel's. Martin Hogarth was next with a 2y roundabout hen of Martin's own breeding.
Alan & David Wright returned to their winning ways at Skelton Green in great style after timing no fewer than four of their entries to win a cracking 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club. With the red card being won by a 2y achieving 1240 to net 7th Fed and the green card was potted by a yearling doing 1234 for 12th Fed. While Alan & David's yellow card scorer was a 2y knocking up a vel of 1231 to claim 14th Fed. Bowden Bros, Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell are in 2nd spot with the blue card going to a 2y doing 1235 for 11th Fed.
Next stop is the Brotton Six Bird Club where the loft of W & S Ward comes out on top with Bill and Grandson Shaun's red card winner being a yearling knocking up a vel of 1228 which was enough to score a notable 16th Fed. Vic Garbutt, the late Brian “Rusty” Stone & Brian “Mac” McCormick timed a couple of 2y in the space of 37 seconds to chalk up a very nice 2nd and 3rd Club. While Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne clocked a 3y to pocket 4th Club.
The late George Skidmore & Grandsons Michael & Liam Jackson enjoyed a great days racing at Lingdale after the Brothers timed three of their squad to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club.
The Billingham T U partnership of Tommy Clark & Son Gary continue their outstanding form by timing four birds to win a fantastic 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, 1st, 2nd, 5th and 11th Teesside Federation from an entry of 823 birds. With pole position being won by their inform 2y chequer hen who recorded a chart-topping vel of 1284 which was enough to chalk up 5th Section 5 from a convoy of 6,215 birds. The well out in front hen is certainly no stranger on the clock this season for she is the previous winner of 1st Club, 1st Fed Bubwith, 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 15th Section Oakham (1) and 4th Club, 9th Fed, 12th Section Huntingdon (1). The blue card was awarded to a 2015 bred chequer hen knocking out a vel of 1264 to go onto score 17th Section; while Tommy & Gary's third timer was a yearling chequer hen doing 1246.8 to round off a brilliant days racing. Ali McLeod timed no less than eight of his team to lift 3rd and 5th Club, 3rd, 6th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 20th Fed. With the green card being awarded to a yearling blue pied hen achieving 1262 to go onto lift 19th Section, the Sire of the hen is from Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins 2010 1st Up North Combine old bird Folkestone (2) Gold Medal winning “Ollie” from a convoy of 17,366 birds. While the Dam of the hen is from Ali's number one Koen Minderhoud stock hen who has already bred Club and Federation winners. Second on the clock doing 1259.26 was a 2016 bred blue Gaby Vandenabeele x Koen Minderhoud cock who is the same way bred as Mac's 2016 breeder/buyer winner. Next came a 1y blue cock knocking out a vel of 1229 and he was followed by a 3y blue cock making1246. One second later came a 3y chequer cock on 1245.9, with the cock being the previous potter of 15th Fed Bubwith when beaten by three loftmates. A yearling blue cock was timed two seconds later on 1245.6 and four seconds after that came another 2016 bred blue cock on 1245.5 and ten seconds after that came a 1y blue hen doing 1244, with her being the previous potter of 18th Fed Worksop.
Steve Wilson clocked a 2y chequer hen doing 1259.21 to claim 7th Fed; while Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins timed their well-fancied yearling blue hen on 1258 to pocket 8th Fed and win the £5 Fed Nom. The hen is the previous scorer of 4th Club, 8th Fed, 16th Section Worksop.
Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley returned to their winning ways at Middlesbrough H/S after timing a yearling blue cock recording a top vel of 1261 to win an enjoyable 1st Club, 4th Fed. The late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek were in 2nd spot with the Brothers green card potting 1y chequer pied cock achieving 1244.13 for 20th Fed. Moving onto Haverton Hill where the inform loft of Lewis & McCabe record their fourth consecutive win from five races, with the duo's red card winner being a 2y chequer cock knocking out a vel of 1254 to go onto chalk up 9th Fed. Barron Bros, Tommy & Robbie the 1st Club Bubwith winners are in 2nd position with a yearling blue pied cock doing 1246.6 for 12th Fed. The partnership of Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff had a couple of yearling blue cocks touch down together to lift 3rd and 4th Club, 17th and 18th Fed on 1244.6.
Good Corn
