“The Original” Around The Up North Combine
“Mitch” East Cleveland Federation Old Bird of the Year
By Good Corn
I will start off with the info I never reported on last time from the final old bird inland race from Oakham (4), my info man Andrew Wynn was working in Wales at the time and I had just sent the report in. Starting at Skelton Green where Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and helper Trevor Mitchell winning all six Club positions with top spot being won by the outstanding “Mitch” a 2y Van Loon x “Harry” Syndicate Lofts bloodlines cock. The blue went to a yearling Van Van Loon hen while the green was potted by a 1028 bred widowhood cock who was followed by the yellow card scoring 3y Kavanagh Busschaert cock. The lads fifth timer was a yearling widowhood cock and he was followed by a yearling blue pied Belgium rung hen who is carding for the second time this season.
“Mitch” winner of the East Cleveland Federation Old Bird Of The Year.
The much inform Brotton 6 Bird Club loft of W & S Ward timed no fewer than four of their six entries to win a cracking 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th Club to claim the Lion's share of the points, with top spot being won by a 2018 bred Leo Heremans cock. While the blue card was awarded to a Barnard & Burke bred yearling good sprint hen and the yellow was awarded to a previous winning Leo Heremans hen, while Bill and grandson Shaun's fourth timer was their 2y “Lez”. Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore are in 3rd spot with the duo's green card scorer being purchased from a Sunderland breeder/buyer. Vic Garbutt, the late Brian “Rusty” Stone & Brian “Mac” McCormick are still hanging on in there to take 5th Club and 2pts, with Vic & Mac's timer being a yearling chequer cock.
The Up North Combine were scheduled to basket for Burbure the fifth channel race the final old bird race of the 2019 racing season on Thursday 18th July for a race on Saturday 20th July, but with there been a very poor weather forecast for the Saturday it was decided to postpone basketing for 24 hours. So, on Sunday 21st July Chief Convoyer Peter Maw liberated the convoy of 8,025 birds at 06.30hrs flying into a fresh west wind.
Starting at the East Cleveland Federation where 43 Federation members entered 578 birds which was a drop of under 200 birds from Ypres in 2018. Pride and place went to the inform Skelton Green loft of Bowden Bros Mick & Boss who gets a lot of help around the loft from former Guisborough, North Yorks Federation member Trevor Mitchell who timed three birds to win a brilliant 1st, 3rd, 6th Club, 1st, 13th Fed, 1st Section 6, 2nd and 150th UNC with vels of 1439, 1390. With Mick, Boss & Trevor who won 1st UNC Ypres in 2018 with “Brexit” from a convoy of 8,775 birds, UNC Silver Medal winner being their star-studded 2y Van Loon x “Harry” Syndicate Lofts bloodlines cock “Mitch”. The outstanding cock who wins the East Cleveland Federation Old Bird Of The Year with an incredible 109pts wins the £1, £2, £5 Fed Noms pocketing £147.00 and 1st JPS Nom banking another £370.00, the cock who has helped Mick, Boss & Trevor win the East Cleveland Federation Old Bird Combined Average also won 1st Loftus Championship Club and the £100 Nom. “Mitch” first chalk of the season was achieved at Newark Show Ground when he netted 2nd Club, 5th Fed when beaten by a loftmate who won 1st Club, 3rd Federation. And followed that up by winning 1st Club, 3rd Fed Folkestone National (1) and then netted 3rd Club, 16th Fed, 201st UNC Ypres when he was beaten by two loftmate winning 1st, 2nd Club, 7th, 10th Fed, 82nd, 110th Combine. Onto Chelmsford (2) where the very impressive cock chalked up 3rd Club, 5th Fed behind a couple of his loftmate that won 1st, 2nd Club, 3rd, 4th Federation. “Mitch” was in the frame again out of Newark Cattle Mart (2) netting 2nd Club, 4th Fed beaten by a loftmates who won 1st Club, 1st Federation. “Mitch” returned to the winners' enclosure out of Oakham (4) to win 1st Club, 4th Federation, and now 1st Club, 1st Fed, 2nd UNC to round off a once in a lifetime season. The lads were Runners/Up East Cleveland Federation Channel Average on 52pts and winners of the East Cleveland Federation Old Bird Combined Average with a total of 218pts.
Now for “Mitch” 2018 performances where he claimed 2nd Club, 6th Fed Oakham (3) when beaten by a loftmate who touched down at the same time to win 1st Club, 5th Federation. A week later when the birds were at the Maidstone National “Mitch” pocketed 2nd Club, 8th Fed when he was beaten by his loftmate who won 1st Club, 3rd Federation. The cocks fourth chalk of the 2018 racing season was achieved at Ypres where he notched up 3rd Club, 6th Fed, 35th UNC when beaten by his loftmate who won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section, 1st Combine. Back to the Burbure race where the green card was awarded to a 2y chequer Bakker x Kavanagh Busschaert cock and he was followed by a 2017 bred chequer Brian Long De Klak lines widowhood cock to end a brilliant 2019 old bird season.
The loft of Bill Chapman, sons Steve & Colin and the late Tommy Swinburne timed no less than three of their squad to chalk up a notable 2nd, 3rd, 5th Club with the blue card being awarded to a 2y chequer I & D Maddison Van Loon cock achieving 1398.4 which was enough to net 8th Fed, 92nd UNC. Bill, Colin & Steve the 1st Club, 14th Fed Huntingdon (1) winners' yellow card potter was a 2y Wildemeersch hen who scored 11th Fed, 110th UNC Ypres last season when beaten by a loftmate that chalked up 2nd Club, 3rd Fed, 17th Combine. Bill, Steve & Colin's third timer was 2018 bred Wildemeersch hen who is the sister to the lad’s yellow card scorer.
The Skinningrove H/S partnership of Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee enjoyed a cracking race after timing no fewer than three of their yearling entries to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 4th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 6th Fed, 27th, 32nd, 55th UNC with vels of 1417, 1414, 1406. The red card winner was one of Mike & Lee's fancy birds that chalked up 2nd £2 Fed Nom netting £29.40, while the blue card potter is the previous scorer of 18th Fed Chelmsford (1). Third on the clock for Mike & Lee was their 1st Club, 1st Fed Huntingdon winner when there were 1,220 birds competing. This was Mike & Lee's second channel win of the season after winning 1st Club, 5th Fed, 98th UNC Roye from a convoy of 6,476 birds. Sayers Bros Dave, the late Kenny & Brian had four birds on the clock to notch up 3rd Club, 4th, 12th, 15th, 19th Fed, 48th, 141st, 173rd, 246th UNC on 1408, 1391, 1387, 1376.
The Brotton H/S loft of Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners achieved their seventh win of the season after timing a trio of birds to win a belting 1st, 4th, 5th Club, 5th, 10th, 16th Fed with vels of 1407, 1395, 1387.3. With top spot being won by a well-fancied 2y taking 3rd £2 Fed Nom pocketing £19.60, 52nd UNC and 6th North of England Championship Club netting another £27.37. Reg & Ray's yellow card scorer was a 3y that went onto lift 110th UNC; while the duo's third timer was a yearling who potted 176th Combine. It was no surprise Reg & Ray's winner was one of their fancied birds for they are normally a dab-hand at picking their pool Pigeons. The lads picking was a bit out from the Folkestone (1) National but their first bird in the clock from Ypres saw them net 2nd Club, 11th Fed, 3rd £2 Fed Nom claiming £24.40 and 124th UNC. Onto the Folkestone (2) National where 1st Club, 5th Fed, 1st £1, 2nd £2, 1st £5 Fed Noms were won banking £147.40, 3rd NECC nailing another £99.75 and 33rd UNC; while their second timer scored 2nd Club, 7th Fed, 5th NECC picking up £37.31 and 45th Combine. Their first timer out of Reims took 5th Club, 9th Fed, 3rd £2 Fed Nom lifting £16.00 and 169th Combine. Reg & Ray's first win of the season was chalked up from the first old bird race Bubwith when they timed three birds to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th Club, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 14th, 15th, 18th Fed out of 1,281 birds. Win number two was achieved at Oakham (2) when 1st Club, 3rd Fed was won when there were 1,632 birds competing and a week later when the birds were at Chelmsford (1) 1st, 3rd, 5th Club, 4th, 8th, 20th Fed was won. Everything in the garden was rosy the following race out of the Folkestone (1) National when a couple of birds were timed to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd Club, 1st, 4th Fed from a convoy of 1,041 birds. Reg & Ray returned to their winning ways at Huntingdon (1) where they won 1st and 4th Club with their red card winner going onto lift 12th Fed from 940 birds. Then came their 1st, 2nd Club, 5th, 7th Fed, 33rd, 45th UNC Folkestone (2) National winning performance from a convoy of 11,493 birds.
Golly Peirson of Mr & Mrs Peirson & Purver of Brotton H/S, winners of the East Cleveland Federation Channel Average.
The loft of Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson, Tubby “Graham” Purver, Evo “Ian” Everington & Frankie Roland who enjoyed a dream channel season after churning out some memorable loft performances. This week the gang timed no less than five of their inform channel team to score a cracking 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th Club, 7th, 9th, 17th, 18th, 20th Fed, 91st, 107th, 181st, 187th UNC with vel of 1398.5, 1396, 1386, 1385, 1373. Golly, Linda, Tubby, Evo & Frankie's blue card potter was a 2y chequer Heremans Ceusters cock bred by Trevor Tyler of Great Ayton fame, the cock is carding for the second channel race running after netting 2nd Club, 2nd Fed, 46th UNC Reims when beaten by his loftmate who won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 18th UNC from a convoy of 3,124 birds. The green card was awarded to a home-bred yearling blue hen who is the daughter of Golly & Linda's “Fut Cock” the winner of 5 x 1st Clubs etc when paired to a Morland & Elliott of New Brancepeth 2nd West Durham Amal Maidstone National winner. Third on the clock came a 2016 bred blue Van Loon cock bred by Evo who scored 3rd Club, 6th Fed, 125th UNC Roye when beaten by two loftmate that won 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 4th Fed, 2nd and 96th UNC winning a Combine Silver Medal from a convoy of 6,476 birds. The cock then chalked up 2nd Club, 7th Fed Huntingdon beaten by a loftmate who won 1st Club, 4th Fed; and he followed that up by lifting 3rd Club, 3rd Fed, 1st £1, £2, £5 Fed Noms banking £116.00 and 48th UNC Reims when beaten by two loftmates who won 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 2nd Fed, 18th and 46th UNC. Golly, Linda, Tubby, Evo & Frankie's fourth timer was a 2y blue Derek Porter x Evo cock with the cock’s sire being a grandson of Porter & Stevens Famous “Village Lad” the winner of 2 x 1st Up North Combines. While the dam of the blue cock who won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 18th UNC Reims out of 3,124 birds is a sister to Evo's 1st Up North Combine Folkestone National winner “Evo's Lad. Next came a 2y chequer Rietvink Van Loon Porous Herbots cock of Galaxy Lofts bloodlines bred by Evo, the cock won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 48th UNC Ypres this season from a convoy of 12,043 birds, and also netted 6th Club, 15th Fed, 91st UNC Folkestone (2) National when beaten by two loftmates. The chequer cocks’ sire was a top-drawer racer for Evo winning 1st Club, 1st Fed Burbure, 1st Club, 3rd Fed Lillers, 1st Club, 14th Fed Peterborough, 4th Club Reims and 2nd Roy “Chubby” Brown Show Race.
Golly, Linda, Tubby, Evo & Frankie's awesome loft performances from the distance of 300 - 540 won them the East Cleveland Federation Channel Average with 89pts, they never wasted any time in showing the rest what a fantastic channel team they have put together after they timed three of their Ypres entries to win a top-notch 1st, 3rd and 6th Club, 1st and 18th Fed, 48th and 231st UNC from a distance of 301 miles. A brilliant loft performance was put up from the second channel race Roye from 370 miles when the first nine Club positions were won with their first four birds going onto win a top-drawer 1st, 4th, 6th and 12th Fed, 2nd, 96th, 125th and 222nd UNC. With their Federation chart-topper winning a Combine Silver Medal and going on to win 2nd NEHU Queens Cup from a convoy of 8,321 birds. Onto the third of five channel races which was the longest race Bourges flying 540 miles where 1st Club, 6th Fed, 88th UNC was won when there were 1,275 birds competing. There were no day arrivals in the Federation and only seven Federation birds recorded in race time. Golly, Linda, Tubby, Evo & Frankie's channel squad proved themselves again out of Reims from a distance of 426 miles where their birds worked wonders again after winning an outstanding 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 11th Fed, 18th, 46th, 48th, 63rd and 194th Combine. All in all a first class channel season which I have to say was very well-deserved, the partnership set their stall out for the water races and got everything right winning 4 x 1st Clubs and 3 x 1st Federations out of the five races with their lowest position on their first timer being 7th Federation and not forgetting their 2nd UNC Silver Medal and 2nd NEHU Open winning performance from Roye. The partnership was also Runners/Up East Cleveland Federation Old Bird Combined Average with a total of 208pts.
Water on the baskets at the East Cleveland Federation Burbure race marking.
David “ Ralf” Coates and his little helper Craig Clapton recorded their third channel win of the season at Boosbeck after timing three of their water team to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club, with the red card being won by a well out in front 2y Hardy Kruger roundabout hen achieving a top vel of 1391.7 which was enough to score a very nice 11th Fed and 135th UNC. This is the hens second win from over the pond this season after winning an impressive 1st Club, 3rd Fed, 64th UNC from the first channel race Ypres from a convoy of 12,043 birds. The blue card was awarded to a yearling roundabout hen that was a gift bird for David's former Pigeon partner the notorious Popeye Garland from his good friends Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod & son Dale of Haverton Hill fame. David & Craig's green card potter was a 3y Aelbrecht / Vandenheed roundabout hen who is no stranger in the clock after winning a brilliant 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 2nd Section and 8th UNC Eastbourne National last year when there were 18,545 birds competing. The hen netted 2nd Club, 4th Fed, 75th = UNC Ypres this season behind her loftmate and then won 1st Club, 9th Fed North of England Homing Union Brighton 2-Bird Centenary Race. David has flown a notable channel bird over the years with some of his winners going onto win 1st Federation and score some very good Combine positions. David & Craig racked up 43 Federation points from over the water this time around to see them being third highest point winners in the Federation Channel Average, which was very well-deserved.
Next stop is the Brotton 6 Bird Club where we see the loft of W & S Ward time three of their entries to win a top-notch 1st, 4th, 6th Club with Bill and grandson Shaun's well out in front red card winner being a 2018 bred Leo Heremans hen racking up a top vel of 1388 to chalk up 14th Fed and 164th UNC. The yellow card was awarded to a yearling hen who was the last hen bred out of the duo's Mark Caudwell x Deano Bullock Staff Van Reet pair, and she was followed by a previous winning Leo Heremans hen to round off a very impressive old bird season. Me old mate Vic Garbutt, the late Brian “Rusty” Stone & Brian “Mac” McCormick who has not been in the best of health are enjoying a notable late run after timing a couple of their team to to lift 2nd and 6th Club with both of Vic & Mac's timers being yearling chequer cocks of their own family. Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore returns to the frame in 3rd spot with Bob & Bab's yellow card scorer being a 1y blue hen of Brian Clennan Syndicate Lofts stock.
Moving onto the Teesside Federation where we see the Billingham T U H/S loft of Ali “Mac” McLeod record his seventh Fed win, eighth Fed wins if you include his North of England Homing Union Brighton Centenary Race Federation winning performance, time no fewer than six of his team to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Club, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 14th, 18th Fed, 39th, 40th, 85th UNC with vels of 1412.3, 1412.2, 1399.4, 1371, 1363, 1354. Ali had already won the Old Bird Inland Federation Average with 103pts, which was 50pts more than the next loft. This week’s top loft performance wins Ali the Federation Channel Average with 26pts which also wins the lad the Old Bird Federation Combined Average with a total of 129pts which was 70pts more than the next loft. Ali was fifth highest points winner in the Section 5 Old Bird Inland Average, fourth highest points winner in the Section Channel Average and fifth highest points winner in the Section Old Bird Combine Average, throw in the lads 1st UNC Roye and 1st NEHU Queens Cup win you can safely say “The lads done good” this season.
Leading the way from Burbure was a 2018 bred blue cock who won a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section 5 out of Chelmsford (2) when there were 3,272 birds competing. The sire of the double winner is bred down from Ali's outstanding Vandenabeele racing cock “82” who is responsible for numerous winners and prize winners and Ali's 3rd UNC Bronze Medal winning hen. The dam of Ali's Federation winner is direct from “Top Star”, with Ali only taking four out of this pair with two of them going to Moore Bros of Stockton fame where one of them topped the Federation. That’s typical of Terry Moore, if he fell in a bucket of horse manure, he would come up smelling of roses. The blue card was awarded to a yearling blue cock who took 3rd Club, 19th Fed out of Newark when beaten by a couple of loftmates that won 1st and 2nd Club, 3rd and 15th Federation. The green card was chalked up by a 1y blue hen while the yellow was potted by a 2y chequer Vandenabeele hen who won 1st Club, 1st Federation Chelmsford (1) in 2018 has chalked a few times this season after taking 11th Fed Chelmsford (2) when she was beaten by five loftmates, she then claimed 3rd Club, 8th Fed, 97th UNC Roye beaten by two loftmates that won 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 6th Fed, 1st and 70th UNC and 1st NEHU Queens Cup. The hen then went onto lift 2nd Club, 13th Fed Huntingdon (1) when beaten by her loftmate who won 1st Club, 1st Federation, the hen who is out of Ali's 3rd UNC winner also netted 2nd Club, 4th Fed Oakham (4) where she was beaten by a loftmate winning 1st Club, 2nd Federation.
Ali's fifth timer was his reliable yearling blue Koen Minderhoud hen who is out of a cock who was bred out of Ali's original Koen Minderhoud Pigeons while the dam is a direct daughter of Ali's number one Gaby Vandenabeele cock cock from T Fowler when paired onto the mother of Mac's top racing and breeding cocks “82” and “29”. The hen has already made a name for herself through her outstanding performances after winning 1st Club, 2nd Fed young bird Oakham, this season she claimed 10th Fed Bubwith beaten by six loftmates and then winning 1st Club, 2nd Fed out of Newark Show Ground. Win number two of the season was achieved at Oakham (2) where she won 1st Club, 1st Fed and followed that up by taking 4th Club, 7th Fed Chelmsford (1) beaten by two loftmates netting 2nd and 3rd Club, 5th and 7th Fed. Onto the North of England Homing Union Brighton Centenary Race where she won 1st Club, 1st Fed. 1St £5 Fed Nom and 39th Open. The hen was back in the frame out of Huntingdon (1) pocketing 3rd Club, 16th Fed when beaten by two loftmates that won 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 13th Federation. She was there again from the Folkestone (2) National winning 1st Club, 4th Fed, 1st Fed Nom.
Sixth on the clock came another one of Mac's very good Pigeons, a 3y blue cock who is a son of Ali's old cock paired onto a grandson of Ad Schaerlaeckens famous “Sissi”. The cock is certainly not shy of the clock for he won a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Federation three times in 2018 winning from Huntingdon, Chelmsford (2) and Oakham (3) in the space of four races. He also netted 3rd Club, 5th Fed Oakham (5) beaten by his loftmate who won 1st Club, 2nd Fed; the blue cock then notched up 5th Club, 11th Fed, 228th UNC Ypres when beaten by three loftmates winning 1st, 2nd, 4th Club, 1st, 2nd, 10th Fed, 10th, 12th, 161st UNC out of 8,775 birds. The cocks outstanding performances throughout the 2018 racing season won him the Teesside Federation Bird Of The Year, following in the footsteps of a number of other top Pigeons bred and raced by Ali that have won the same title.
I got some very sad news from Ali telling me his very good friend and former Clubmate George Stirling had passed away at the age of 86 years old. I only ever met George once after Ali had won 1st UNC Burbure with “Gaby Lou” in 2015 from a convoy of 10,617 birds. George had called around at Ali's loft to congratulate him and handle “Gaby Lou”, the look on George's face who was not too well at the time, said it all. I took a photo of Ali and George who was holding “Gabby Lou”, I'm sure it was equally fitting for Ali as it was for George to be photographed together on a fantastic achievement. Rest In Peace George, it was a great pleasure to meet you. Condolences to George's family and friends at this very sad time.
The partnership of Stuart “Lewie” Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe comes out on top at Haverton Hill to record win number five of the old bird season. With the red card winner who topped the Club charts by four minutes being a yearling blue Ali McLeod Vandenabeele hen achieving a top vel of 1386 which was enough to chalk up 6th Fed and 178th UNC. The blue hen is scoring for the second time this season after netting 2nd Club, 9th Fed Chelmsford (1). The loft of Andrew “Jappa” Appleton & Paul Longstaff timed no fewer than four of their channel team to lift 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th Club, 10th, 11th, 13th, 16th Federation. With the blue card going to a yearling blue cock doing 1370.8 who wins the 25p Club pools pocketing £13.64. Six seconds later in the green card position came a 2017 bred blue hen on 1370.5, the hen won 1st Club, 7th Fed out of the first water race Ypres and also won 1st Club, 6th Fed, 85th UNC Ypres in 2018 from a convoy of 8,775 birds. The trust-worthy hen has won other races and scored many other positions with some of them positions when being beaten by loftmates. Jappa & Paul who were joint winners of the Club Old Bird Inland Average with Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod & son Dale with a total of 47pts next couple of timers were both yearling hens doing 1363.3 and 1358. Jappa & Paul were also the winners of the Club Channel Average with 27pts. The partnership of Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod & son Dale are in 4th spot with the lad’s yellow card potter being a yearling blue cock doing 1369 for 12th Federation. Paul, Graham & Dale who are runners/up Club Channel Average on 14pts timed a well-fancied second bird to win the Club 50p and £1 pools banking £56.00.
The Up North Combine nine race young bird programme was due to start on Saturday 27th July but on the Friday morning the weather committee looked at the very poor weather forecasted for the following day they decided to postpone basketing the birds for 24 hours. The following morning it was decided that the very poor weather was still with us on the Sunday so it was another 24 hour postponement on basketing the youngsters, on the Sunday there was another look at the weather which was showing full cloud cover until mid-afternoon so the race was cancelled. A great number of fanciers were sure we would not get a race that weekend as there was a lot of rain about on both Saturday and Sunday which was impossible for a liberation. A race on the Monday was also going to be a struggle with limited time for a race due to there being four different liberations in the Combine from Sandhutton, Wetherby, Pontefract and Bubwith. I honestly believe there should only be two liberation sites one form Sandhutton for the top end of the Combine and the second liberation from Bubwith for the rest of the Combine. The Combines four liberation sites on the same day is always going to be a problem, more so when the weather is not at its best. A lot of fanciers don't agree with the split up of the Combine four liberations from the first young bird race and the three liberations from Wetherby, Pontefract and Bubwith for the second young bird race but it is passed every year by the members.
The East Cleveland Federation was at Bubwith (1) on Saturday 3rd August but due to the early morning low cloud and coastal fog/mist forecasted there was never going to be an early liberation, so it was no surprise when the first call of a 8am update came through. Come 8.00 there was no change in the weather, so it was decided on a 9.00 update, the weather was starting to improve by that time, so the next update was going to be 10.00. At 9.45 the 47 members convoy of 1,354 birds were liberated from Bubwith (1) at 09.45hrs in a light variable wind. We were looking at the youngsters covering the 52 miles on around the hour mark, we were also expecting to see some of the babies from the Sandhutton 9.45 liberation which we have always done over the years but that did not happen this year.
The Skinningrove H/S partnership of Tich Richards & Alice Marsay got off to a dream start after timing a couple of their entries in the space of 10 seconds to win a brilliant 1st and 3rd Club, 1st and 3rd Federation with vels of 1596 and 1591. With pole position being won by a blue Van Meerkerk cock bred by the brother & sister partnership of Steve & Sheila Trattles of Loftus fame from out of their stock birds. The green card was awarded to a blue cock out of “3790” and “4099” which again was bred through Steve & Sheila Trattles, “3790” won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 10th UNC young bird Maidstone National for Tich and granddaughter Alice in 2012 from a convoy of 14,153 birds. “3790” and “4099” are the parents of Tich & Alice's very consistent racer “Fut 90” who scored numerous times and winning the East Cleveland Federation Bird Of The Year in 2014. Mr & Mrs I & E Purver are in 2nd spot with Ian & Liz's blue card scoring baby knocking out a vel of 1592 to chalk up an outstanding 2nd Federation. Darren Sayer and loft helper young Alfie Sayers come into the frame in 4th position with Darren & Alfie's yellow card potter doing 1588 to lift a cracking 4th Federation.
The late Gordon “Shang” Peirson MBE & sons Sack & Jim along with loft helpers Trevor McConnell and his son Bobby potted 5th Club, 8th Fed on 1581.8, with the lad’s timer being a red Dirk Van Den Bulck x Louis Cooreman bred by Brian & Keith Simpson. The sire was bred for stock by Gary Hodkinson while the dam was purchased at the late Louis Cooreman sale at Blackpool this year. The youngster was gifted to Bobby's young son Bobby “Bobster” after loaning the lads a goat for a few weeks, Brian named the youngster “Goat” Greatest Of All Time lol. Sack, Jim, Trevor, Bobby and Co make the race more interesting by running a garden nom each week, this week it was a double kitty for it was not won from the previous race. Bobster picked “Goat” as his nom so won the £50 prize pot, I had to laugh when the lad came into the headquarters saying he had won the nom with “Goat”, the smile on his face said it all. Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee notched up 9th Fed on 1581.6 while Stafford & Wilson claimed 10th Fed on 1580. B & K Simpson took 14th Fed on 1575 with a chequer pied Louis Cooreman natural hen the daughter of “The Poorly One” winner of 1st Club, 2nd Fed Huntingdon, 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section, 4th Up North Combine, 5th North Of England Homing Union Folkestone Classic from a convoy of 33,777 birds. “The Poorly One” who was put to stock after a very bad Hawk attack is the sire of Club & Federation winners including 4th UNC young bird Maidstone National out of 10,841 birds. The dam of the lad’s timer is a direct Louis Cooreman.
Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson & Tubby “Graham” Purver tops the Brotton 6 Bird Club charts with their well out in front winning baby being a chequer hen through Moorland & Elliott x Soderlund & Maddison “Dino” lines racking up a winning vel of 1586,8 to go onto score a cracking 5th Federation. Golly, Linda & Tubby's were competing in their first race without the help of Evo “Ian” Everington & Frankie Roland who have moved onto pastures new to race their own team of young birds with Dormanstown, North Yorks Federation, I wish Evo & Frankie all the very best in their new Club. I have known Evo for a great number of years when he flew as a young lad with his late father Frank flying in Loftus H/S. After leaving Loftus Evo raced his birds at Marske & New Marske and later while still living in Redcar flew at Skelton Green H/S where he won 1st UNC old bird Folkestone (1) National in 2012 with “Evo's Lad” from a convoy of 15,855 birds. Evo also won 2nd UNC Lillers in 2015 when there were 14,062 birds competing, Evo likes his channel racing and I along with many others regarded him as the best channel flyer in the East Cleveland Federation. The lad puts a lot of hard work into his birds and has reaped the rewards over the years, many a morning he was on the North Yorkshire Moors training his birds and often waiting for it to get light enough to liberate his birds before driving back to Skelton to feed up before going to work. After leaving Skelton Green H/S Evo went onto help Golly, Linda & Linda at Brotton with the lad being a very big help at the loft, his Pigeon knowledge and his family of top birds have played a big part in the lofts performances and success over the past three years. Evo has proved to be a good Pigeon man by winning wherever he has flown Pigeons and won at the very highest level.
The loft of Andrew & Gavin Doe, Dillon “John” Swales and the late Sandy Sanderson chalk up 2nd Club and wins the Dave Drinkhall Nom while W & S Ward pocket 3rd Club, with Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore netting 4th Club. Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson & Tubby Purver timed a second bird to notch up 5th Club, it's welcome into the frame for the new to the sport Newton & Family competing in their first race takes 6th Club and 1pt. Like all new starters in the sport, I with the partnership all the best for the rest of the season.
The partnership of Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson & Tubby Purver's day got even better in Brotton H/S after timing a trio of birds to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club, 5th, 6th, 12th Fed with vels of 1586.4, 1584.4, 1578. With pole position being won by a blue cock through Evo's chequer cock who won 1st Club, 2nd Fed Ypres when paired to their blue hen who netted 3rd Burbure, 1st Club, 4th Fed Reims. The blue card scorer that was timed two seconds after the winner was a blue flipey cock through Ian Stafford's “Harry” lines, while the green card was awarded to a blue cock through Don Gudgeon of South Shields fame to round off a first-class loft performance. The loft of Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore claimed 4th Club with the yellow card potting baby achieving a vel of 1561 to net 18th Federation. While Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners who enjoyed an outstanding old bird inland season pocket 5th Spot, and the loft of Frank & Brenda Reilly & son Wayne notch up 6th Club and 1pt.
Moving onto Marske & New Marske where we see Tony Hunt claim first blood after filling a couple of chambers to win 1st and 3rd Club, with the red card being won by a light chequer hen achieving a top vel of 1568 which was enough to score a well-deserved 16th Federation. The well out in front winning hen is out of a cock bred from Tony's Van Gompel family when paired to a daughter to the lads “SED Cock” who is responsible for numerous winners and prize winners for Tony and for other fanciers. Tony's winning chequer hen was a good pigeon on the day and really deserved more than her 16th Federation considering her loft position and the distance she had to fly, and the minimum over-fly she receives out of Bubwith. The green card was awarded to a young blue Van Osch hen who was paired to another hen who were sitting 4-day old eggs. Geoff Bavin is in 2nd Spot with Geoff's blue card potter being a mealy hen bred from a red cord when paired to a Schoorisse hen of Geoff's old family that have being a good honest family over the years. Jimmy Reed who enjoyed a brilliant old bird season lifts 4th position with the yellow card potter being a pencil blue Geoff Kirkland x Vandenabeele cock.
Des Williams who gets help around the loft from his good mate Roger Wall come up trumps at Skelton Green after timing no fewer than three of their team in the space of 58 seconds to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club, 20th, 21st, 26th Fed on 1561, 1559, 1535.
The celebration flags were flying high at Billingham T U H/S after 78 years old Butto Bell of the Bell & Weedall partnership timed nine youngsters to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 16th, 17th, 20th Teesside Federation out of an entry of 289 birds with vels of 1633, 1629, 1628, 1627, 1626, 1647.7 (2) 1538. Butto was the only member to send to the Pontefract race in his Club but his youngsters cracking team performance never went unnoticed, the lad had six come together but they just flew around the loft for around three minutes before the first one hit the pad. That came from a couple of the lads Ali & Andy who were stood in the car park watching the birds, by the time the duo had walked to Butto's loft some of the babies were just starting to land and were timed within 47 seconds of each other. For the birds to lose that much time at the home end and still be in front of the rest of the pack is unreal, it's possible the birds could have been going round a bit longer than 3 minutes as Ali only has short legs, so it would have taken him longer to walk to Butto's loft lol. The nearby residents must have thought there was an air show display in the area when they saw Butto's birds diving in. I I'm over the moon for Butto for he is a true gentleman, all the best for the rest of the season Butto.
Ali McLeod of Billingham T U H/S the winner of the Teesside Federation Old Bird Inland Average, Channel Average and the Old Bird Combined Average, with the late George Stirling holding “Gaby Lou”.
Andrew “Jappa” Appleton & Paul Longstaff freshly back from yet another holiday in the sun got their young bird season off to a winning start at Haverton Hill after clocking four birds to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Club out of an entry of 106 birds. With the red and blue card scorers both being blue cocks that were timed two seconds apart to achieve vels of 1601, 1600 to go onto chalk up 7th and 8th Federation; while the green card potting blue pied hen racked up a vel of 1592 to lift 9th Fed and she was followed by a blue hen to round off a notable team performance. The loft of Dowson & Grandson is a new name to me so I would like to welcome them into the frame after netting 5th Club with a Sunderland Premier rung red hen. Well done lads I hope to see you in the frame more often throughout the young bird season. I believe the lads suffered bad returns from this race where the birds were liberated at 10.50am.
At last I have finally caught up with my reports, I have had a few bad days where I have felt tired all the time which has forced me to spend a number of hours resting up which has stopped me from doing the things I have to do. I was diagnosed with COPD in November of last year which I had my doubts about because I’m not a smoker but James Cook Hospital would not listen to me when I told them I kept Pigeons and that could be the cause of my breathing problems. They said the tests showed no signs of my lung damage been caused by the Pigeons and they did not want to see me again, by the end of December my breathing got a lot worse so I contacted the Doctors Surgery for an appointment to see a Doctor only to be told I could see a Nurse so I said no, they offered me to see a Doctor I had got nowhere with when I first became ill. So, I changed over to Staithes Surgery where I returned all the signing up forms, the staff could see I was not well so made me an emergency appointment to see Dr Croft that day. After some simply tests, I was told I had the lungs of a 85 year old, I said I kept Pigeons so I was booked in for some blood tests and I also got tested at the Blackpool Show weekend.
Both sets of test results came back saying I had Pigeon Fanciers Lung, I was referred back to James Cook but they dismissed I had Pigeon Fanciers Lung and said to see me in three months, when the appointment date came through I phoned up and cancelled it because I knew I was not getting the right treatment from them. So Dr Croft referred me to Newcastle where their test results showed I never had COPD and I had to stop using the two inhalers James Cook had prescribed for me because they were doing me no good at all, they said I did have Pigeon Fanciers Lung but the scaring had not got any worse from the first set of x-rays. I have been on steroids for a number of months now starting at a very high dosage of 50mg a day when I was at my worst which decreased day by day until I reached 10mg a day which has now been lowered to 9mg a day in the hope I can get down to a lower dose and still keep everything under control. I do have a air cap and wear a light mask when in the clubhouse, my brother Brian does all the cleaning out at the lofts and I only enter the lofts to let the birds out and get them back in for their exercise and change the water.
With that I will sign off until next time, any news to Good Corn 6 Boulby Drive Loftus Saltburn Cleveland TS13 4JN. Tel: 01287 643624 or Email
