“The Original” Around The Up North Combine
1st Federation for Louis Cooreman Hen
By Good Corn
The Up North Combine 2019 racing season got under-way on Saturday 6th April from Bubwith, the weather forecast was a bit iffy all week with North-East and Easterly cold winds being thrown at us with a couple of mornings bringing frost. I think everyone knew we were not going to get an early liberation on the Saturday with some believing we might not get a race that day, but the weather looked better come Friday evening. Saturday never brought the best of mornings so it was no surprise when there was 9am and 10am updates. The weather conditions at both the race point and on-route were improving as the morning worn on, so much so Group 1 were liberated at 10.40am in a variable light North wind and Group 2 were up and on their way home at 11.00, followed by Group 4 at 11.20. Group 5 hit the blue skies at 11.40 while the final liberation Group 6 flaps were down at 12.00. Come dinner time it was starting to feel a bit colder at the home-end with still patches of fog along the coast spreading a little inland and there was the feel of light drizzle in the air. Other area's including the Border were suffering some very poor weather which I believe resulted in poor returns, the following morning brought think fog around the North-East.
Starting at Skinningrove H/S where the loft of B & K Simpson timed four birds to win 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club from a eight members entry of 193 birds. Brian & Keith's red card winner was “Leader Of The Pack” a 2y blue pied Louis Cooreman hen recording a chart-topping vel of 1420 which was enough to win 1st East Cleveland Federation from a 52 members entry of 1,281 birds.
B & K Simpson of Skinningrove “Leader Of The Pack”, the winner of 1st Club, 1st
East Cleveland Federation Bubwith from a convoy of 1,281 birds.
The Sire of the pole position Federation winning hen is the home-bred “The Poorly One” winner of 11th Fed Selby, 1st Club, 2nd Fed Huntingdon, 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section, 4th Up North Combine and 5th North Of England Homing Union Folkestone Classic from a convoy of 33,777 birds. “The Poorly One” is the sire of winners and prize-winners including 4th Up North Combine Young Bird Maidstone National from a convoy of 10,841 birds. The Dam of Brian & Keith's winner was purchased from a Facebook charity sale bred by Jimmy Hamilton & Sons of “Hamilton Lofts”, Ireland. The Sire of the hen is a blue w/f cock who is a son of “Celtic Lad”, the blue w/f cock “Son Of Celtic Lad” was bred for stock where he bred Jimmy a winner in his first year breeding. His Sire “Celtic Lad” was the winner of 4 x 1st plus 1st Fed 1,519 birds and 1st Fed 1,841 birds, back to back Fed wins. Winning 1st Open IHUNF old bird Barleycove National and Champion Old Bird of the Federation as a yearling. “Celtic Lad” who is the Sire and G/Sire of winners including Bob Fenech's 1st Section, 17th Open BICC Guernsey winner was badly injured from a hawk attack from a race and was put to stock. The G/Dam of Brian & Keith's Federation winner is “Jenny” is full of the old Louis Cooreman bloodlines including “Peuter”, “Poof”, “Oswald”, “Ann” and “Lesbi” in her pedigree.
The blue card was awarded to a 2017 bred blue cock racking up a vel of 1403 to go onto score a useful 5th Fed; with the cock being the previous scorer of 4th Club, 9th Fed Bubwith in 2018 when beaten by three loftmates that won 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 2nd, 7th and 8th Fed when there was 1,474 birds competing. And then the following race the cock netted 6th Club, 17th Fed Newark (1) when beaten by three loftmates that scored 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 3rd, 5th and 6th Fed from a convoy of 2,332 birds. The Sire of the blue card potter was a on-loan Kev Parsons Hofkens cock, while the blue cocks Dam is a Leo Van Rijn hen bred out of direct Brian & Karen Hawes stock. The pair have bred a number of birds to win and score including a 1st Club, 2nd Fed winner. Third on the clock was a 2y chequer Louis Cooreman hen bred by Bob Fenech who is the previous potter of 4th Club, 12th Fed old bird Maidstone National in 2018. And she was followed by a 2017 bred Dirk Van Den Bulck hen also bred by Bob Fenech of Norfolk fame.
Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson timed a 2y doing 1398.7 to notch up 3rd Club, 8th Fed; while Tich Richards & Alice Marsay pocketed 4th Club, 17th Fed with a yearling making 1390.
David Coates of Boosbeck timed a early bird to win an outstanding 1st Club, 2nd Fed with a top vel of 1414, with the chart-topping 2y being bred by David Parker for the Loftus Championship Club Breeder/Buyer. The winner is no stranger in the clock for it won 1st Club, 30th Fed Newark (1) and 1st Club, 10th Fed Oakham (1) last season.
The Brotton H/S loft of Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners who were the Clubs highest prize-winners in 2018, got off to a great start after timing no less than six of their squad to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club from a eleven members entry of 313 birds, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 14th, 15th and 18th Fed. With the red card being won by a 4y racking up a vel of 1408.7, and one second later came the blue card scoring yearling doing 1408.3. Another 25 seconds later in the yellow card position came a 1y making 1399 to pocket a useful 7th Fed; Reg & Ray's next couple of timers that were both yearlings touched down together to achieve vels of 1392.7 and they were followed by 2y on 1389 to round off a brilliant loft performance. Mick Smithies stopped the clean sheet by clocking a yearling doing 1401 to chalk up a notable 3rd Club, 6th Fed.
Moving onto Skelton Green H/S where Alan Wright enjoyed a winning start to the new season after timing no fewer than five unraced yearling cocks to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th Club from a four members entry of 153 birds. Alan's red card winner racked up a vel of 1398.2 which was enough to score a notable 9th Fed, with the blue card potter who was clocked four seconds after the winner doing 1396.8 to chalk up a useful 10th Fed. The green card potter who was timed five second after the blue card scorer achieved a vel of 1395.0 to net 13th Fed, this is Alan's first season flying on his own after a number of fantastic years flying as Alan & David Wright. Des Williams and loft helper Roger Wall stopped the dry-rub by taking 4th Club, 28th Fed on 1375, with the duo's yellow card potter being a yearling Frans Van Wildemeersch.
W & S Ward got off to a winning start at the Brotton 6 Bird Club after Bill and grandson Shaun timed a couple of their team to win 1st and 2nd Club out of a eight members muster of 46 birds. With top spot being won by a 2y Leo Heremans of Homer & Williams bloodlines recording a leading vel of 1395.1 to go onto lift a useful 12th Fed. While Bill & Shaun who were the Clubs old bird inland average winners in 2018, blue card potter being a John Barnard Special. Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson & Tubby “Graham” Peirson and loft helpers Ian “Evo” Everington & Frankie Rolands, the Clubs top prize winners in 2018 timed no less than three birds to lift 3rd, 5th and 6th Club. With the green card going to a blue w/f hen of Evo's bloodlines and she was followed by a home-bred blue pied hen, while third on the clock was a blue hen of Derek Porter lines. Mr & Mrs Bob & Bab's Moore are in 4th place with Bob & Bab's yellow card lifter being a dark chequer hen bred by Leach Bros for the Loftus Championship Club Breeder/Buyer.
Nest stop is Marske & New Marske H/S where first blood went to Jimmy Reed who filled a couple of cells to win 1st and 3rd Club from an entry of 125 birds. Leading the way was a 2016 bred chequer roundabout cock bred off a son of Clubmate Tony Hunt's “SED Cock” who is responsible for numerous winners and prize winners. The green card was awarded to a 2y Graham Jones of Guisborough fame Van Loon chequer roundabout hen. The partnership of Longstaff, Moore & Mackay are in 2nd spot with the blue card being netted by a yearling pied widowhood cock bred by Anth Moore of Guisborough fame. Tony Hunt clocked a yearling blue widowhood cock to take 4th Club, with the yellow card claimer being of Koopman bloodlines off the “Gladiator Cock”. Like all Clubs Marske & New Marske numbers in membership have fallen over the years with very few younger fanciers replacing the members who have passed away, moved location or simply left the sport due to them been too old to carry on racing. But the remaining members of the Club still enjoy their racing despite only racing against a handful of members, where years ago the Club would have around 18-20 flying members. Jimmy Reed & Tony Hunt are the longest serving Club members with them seeing many, many changes over the great number of years they have flown Pigeons. But the two things that have not changed in the Club is, the friendliness towards each other and the use of race rubbers.
Jimmy Reed of Marske & New Marske holding his red card winning chequer cock.
The late George Skidmore & grandsons Michael & Liam Jackson come out on top at Lingdale from a three members entry of 86 birds.
Moving onto Haverton Hill H/S where we see the partnership of Stuart Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe claiming top spot after timing a couple of birds to win 1st and 4th Club out of a four members entry of 96 birds. With the well out in front winning 2y blue Vandenabeele cock bred by Clubmates Jappa Appleton & Paul Longstaff through their Ali McLeod stock recording a pole position vel of 1468 which will be enough to win 1st Teesside Federation out of an entry of 516 birds. The red card winning cock is the same way bred as Jappa & Paul's good channel cock. Lewie, Amber & Coby's yellow card potter was another Vandenabeele bred by Jappa & Paul through their Ali McLeod stock achieving a vel of 1372. Last seasons top loft Jappa Appleton & Paul Longstaff the new Club and Federation Secretary also had two birds on the clock to lift 2nd and 5th Club with the blue card being awarded to a 2017 bred blue Geerinckx hen knocking out a vel of 1442 to go onto lift 8th Fed. The hen is off a cock called “Stitches”, while her Dam is through P & P Lofts. While Paul Gatley, Bob Harrod & son Dale pocket 3rd Club, 15th Fed with a yearling blue on 1389.
Tommy Clark & son Gary wins the red card with a yearling chequer hen at Billingham T U H/S out of a seven members entry of 229 birds with a leading vel of 1455 which was enough to chalk up 2nd Fed. Tommy & Gary timed four later birds doing 1408, 1387, 1386 and 1374 to notch up 11th, 16th, 17th and 20th Fed. Ali “Mac” McLeod the Club and Fed top prize-winner in 2018 had five yearlings come together to lift 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Fed with vels of 1451.9, 1450.5, 1450.2, 1449.1 and 1447.7. With the blue card being awarded to a blue pied hen and a blue hen took the green, and one second later in the yellow card position was a cock. Mac's fourth timer was a chequer cock and fifth on the clock came a blue cock. Mac timed a trio of later birds to pocket 9th, 10th and 12th Fed on 1431, 1429 and 1400.
Moving onto Middlesbrough H/S where the partnership of the late Wyn Cole, Stephen Wheatley & grandson Connor come out trumps winning 1st Club out of an entry of 191 birds, with Ste & Connor's red card winning yearling chequer hen achieving a chart-topping vel of 1397 for 13th Fed. The late Les Wellburn & sons Les & Derek timed a 2018 bred grizzle hen doing 1389 for 14th Fed. The loft of Keith Hodge & Dennis Potter are in 3rd spot with duo's green card scoring yearling chequer cock doing 1386 to claim 18th Fed. The partnership of Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley clocked a 4y blue hen making 1375 to lift 4th Club, 19th Fed; while Mrs Sign & Family won the Fed Nom on 1320.
News from Stockton West End where the loft of Bousfield & Sons flew a cracking race to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 9th, 16th, 19th and 20th Tees Valley Federation out of entry of 924 birds
That's the first race on the new season over, we will have to wait and see what the rest of the season brings.
Any news to Good Corn 6 Boulby Drive Loftus Saltburn Cleveland TS13 4JN. Tel: 01287 643624 or Email:
