AROUND THE UP NORTH COMBINE
By Good Corn
1st Up North Combine Winning Richards & Marsay
With the weather been forecasted to be poor for Saturday 10th September, the Up North Combine weather committee voted to put back basketing 24 hours, which has happened more often than not this season due to the very poor Saturday weather we have suffered right the way through the racing season. The East Cleveland Federations 53 member’s convoy of 1,161 birds were liberated from Rivenhall at 8.00am in a light variable wind. The Skinningrove loft of Stafford & Wilson were the winners of 1st Club, 1st Fed on 1603. The inform Mike Prokopowicz & Son Lee timed no fewer than three of their team to lift a notable 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club, 7th, 9th and 13th Fed with vels of 1579, 1575 and 1562. While Sayers Bros took 4th Club, 10th Fed on 1570; and Steven Bedingfield netted 16th Fed on 1557.
Andy Crooks recorded this fourth young bird win out of seven races at Staithes after clocking no less than five of his inform youngsters to lift a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club. With the red card winner being a homebred baby achieving a top vel of 1598 to score a notable 2nd Fed; 23 seconds later came a Belgium rung youngster bred by Francois Leys doing 1595 for a useful 3rd Fed. The green card was awarded to a Johan Donker bred by Billy Walsh of Ireland making 1561 to pocket 14th Fed; while the yellow was taken by another Francois Leys bred youngster and Andy’s fifth timer was another Johan Donker bred by Billy Walsh of Ireland to end an enjoyable days racing. Deano Ward nipped one in to notch up 5th Club.
The inform Brotton Six Bird Club partnership of Mr & Mrs Bob & Barbara Moore returned to their winning ways to win a very impressive 1st Club, 4th Fed with a pole position vel of 1593. Bob & Barbara who are recording their fourth young bird win of the campaign; winner is a chequer hen out of their Syndicate Pigeons. Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson & Tubby Purver are in 2nd spot with their blue card potter being a blue hen bred by Billy Ward. 3rd Club went to Ricky Cush with a chequer Van Reet hen; while the loft of Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne clocked a chequer Veenstra cock to pocket 4th Club.
Martin Hogarth hits the winners’ enclose in fine style at Marske & New Marske after filling three chambers to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd and 4th Club. Leading the way for Martin, the Club Secretary was the chequer cock of Brown & Hunt x Craig Wedgewood bloodlines that chalked up 3rd Club Peterborough the previous week. The blue card was scored by a chequer hen of Martin’s own breed that was 3rd Club out of Oakham; she is the Daughter of a hen that won 1st Club, 15th Fed Oakham (3) this season when there were 1,010 birds competing. The yellow card was awarded to a blue cock of Martin’s own strain, the young cock is carding for the third time after lifting 3rd Club Worksop (2) and netting 4th Club out of Peterborough, to round off an enjoyable days racing. The late Jack “The Lad” Brown & Tony Hunt had a couple of babies on the clock to pocket 3rd and 5th Club with the green going to a 15 day sitting inform blue Dirk Seppers cock who is scoring for the third consecutive race after taking 2nd Club Oakham and 2nd Club Peterborough. Second on the clock for Tony was a blue Van Loon x De Klak Janssen cock who was sent chasing his hen.
Bowden Bros, Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell timed three birds to win 1st, 2nd and 4th Club at Skelton Green, with the red and blue card winners knocking out vels of 1577 and 1556 to chalk up 8th and 18th Fed. Derek & Mark Winspear of Winspear & Sons also had three birds on the clock to lift 3rd, 5th and 6th Club. Dave “The Rooster” Storr tops the Brotton H/S charts with the red card winner recording a top vel of 1570 for 11th Fed. Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson & Tubby Purver chalks up their second blue card of the day after lifting 2nd Club in the Brotton H/S; while Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son enjoyed a good clocking day after timing three of their squad to take a notable 3rd, 4th and 5th Club. David Coates and loft helper Popeye wins 1st Club at Boosbeck with a winning vel of 1558 which was enough to pocket 15th Fed.
Dave “The Rooster” Storr of Brotton H/S winning 1st and 2nd Club, 39th and 44th UNC Peterborough Young Bird National
The Teesside Federations entry of 462 birds were up and away at 8.30am, with them doing faster times than the East Cleveland Federation who were liberated 30 minutes earlier. Starting at the top where the inform Billingham T U loft of Ali McLeod the Feds top loft in 2015, timing no fewer than four of his inform squad to win a very impressive 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 1st, 4th, 13th and 14th Fed. With the well out in front pole position winner being a pure Vandenabeele blue hen recording a chart-topping vel of 1637 which was enough to go onto score a useful 7th Section 5 from a convoy of 2,167 birds. The red card winning hens Dam was a very good racing hen for Ali, with her also been a winner on the road and now breeding winners. The blue card was awarded to a pure blue Vandenabeele hen achieving a vel of 1606; she is a full Sister to Ali’s 2015 1st Up North Combine Burbure Gold Medal winning “Gaby Lou” from a convoy of 10,617. Mac’s third timer was a blue cock doing 1559.6; one second later came a blue pied hen knocking out a vel of 1559.5. Tommy Clark & Son Gary pockets 3rd Club, 11th Fed on 1561.7, with the inform green card scoring mealy pied hen been in the clock for the fourth consecutive race after taking 15th Fed out of Worksop (2), 4th Club, 8th Fed Oakham and 6th Club, 17th Fed Peterborough. Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins had a couple of youngsters on the clock to lift 4th Club, 12th and 19th Fed with the yellow going to a blue cock doing 1561.1; while the duo’s second timer was a chequer pied cock making 1549.2. Jeff Hugget & Keith Gregory the Worksop (2) Fed winning duo clocked a blue cock knocking up a vel of 1551 to claim 16th Fed.
Moving onto Haverton Hill where the loft of Gatley, Harrod & Son recorded their second young bird win after clocking three babies to win a top-notch 1st and 3rd Club, 2nd, 7th and 18th Fed. With the lads red card winning blue cock achieving a chart-topping vel of 1615 to score an impressive 2nd Fed, 1st £5 Ring banking £60.00 and 14th Section. The green card was netted by a chequer cock doing 1579 and he was followed by a chequer hen knocking up a vel of 1559.8. The partnership of Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff also timed three of their team to lift 2nd, 5th and 6th Club with the blue card going to a chequer cock doing 1587 to claim a nice 5th Fed and he was followed by a blue cock making 1558 for 15th Fed. Andrew & Paul’s third timer was a blue cock on 1549.9 to notch up 17th Fed. Barron Bros, Tommy & Robert are in the frame for the seventh consecutive race after clocking a blue hen doing 1177.3 to pot 4th Club, 8th Fed.
Next stop is Middlesbrough H/S where the loft of the late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek enjoyed a cracking race with them having no less than three birds in the clock to win an eye opening 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club. With Les & Derek’s the red card winner being a blue cock recording a top vel of 1583 to score a handy 6th Fed. The blue card went to a second blue cock on 1571 to chalk up 10th Fed; with the young cock being the previous scorer of 4th Club, 18th Fed Worksop (2) when beaten by two loftmates that won a brilliant 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 7th Fed. Third on the clock in the green card position was a chequer cock knocking out a vel of 1549.0 to claim 20th Fed; Les & Derek also take 2nd £5 Ring banking £40.00 to round off a very good days racing.
The late Wyn Cole, Steve Wheatley & Grandson Connor returned to the winners’ enclosure at the Beechwood & Easterside with their winning youngster being a chequer cock doing 1609 to lift a very nice 3rd Fed. The partnership of Talbot, Son & Wardell timed their well-fancied grizzle cock to pocket a well-earned and notable 2nd Club, 9th Fed and 1st Fed Nom on 1577.2. This is a new loft to me but one thing I have found out; is that they know have to pick their pool bird.
News from the Tees Valley Federation where we see the Hardwick partnership of Lister Bros, Craig & Gary & Walker win 1st Club, 1st Fed for the second week running from an entry of 787 birds. With Craig & Gary’s pole position winner recording a top vel of 1622.4 which was enough to chalk up 13th Section 5. The sire of the chart-topper is a blue P Steel of Gateshead cock out of a blue pied cock of Smith & Quinn’s 1st UNC winner when paired to Phil’s main stock hen that has bred a 2nd and 3rd Combine winner. The Dam is a Terry Knox blue hen that has all the best of the Tommy Smith lines; this pair bred 4th UNC Lillers for Phil. The Grand Dam a blue hen “2879” who was a brilliant racing hen was put to stock this year. Her Sire a blue cock “2002” winner of 5 x 1st is a main stock cock off “5433” winner of 7 x 1st, the foundation Soontjen cock of Graham Calvert’s best lines. Dam is full Sister to “Teledarby” sold for 26,000 Euros, Hesson & Son Holland purchased from David Coward Talbot.
The Up North Combine was at the young bird Maidstone National on Saturday 17th September but once again the Saturday weather was not good, in fact it was so poor the convoy of 11,967 birds were held over. Sunday 18th September was another day but there was no early liberation that every fancier was hoping for, it was a case of sitting and waiting for the weather to improve so we could get the race over with, which was most fanciers final race of the season despite there was still one race to go. On the whole the 2016 racing season has to go down as one of the worst weather wise, with so many races ending up being put back 24 hours with this resulting in more Sunday racing than we had Saturdays. Coping with the very poor weather was not easy but the losses the members have suffered this season is devastating, with a great number of fanciers suffering big, big losses. As the morning went on it was looking very doubtful for a liberation; Chief Convoyer Steve Proffit decided to move the birds closer to home in the hope of a race from Rivenhall. But things never went to plan as it was very unlikely to get a liberation from the substitute race point, so Steve took the convoy to Peterborough where the chances of getting a race was very favourable. With time moving on and the birds been moved back 100 miles it was not looking good for the longest flying youngsters, with the nights taking in the remaining hours of daylight was going to beat many of them. The call finally came through to say the birds were liberated at 13.50pm in a North North West wind, which resulted in the longest flyers struggling for returns come nightfall.
A young Alice Marsay of Richards & Marsay, the winners of 1st UNC Young Bird Peterborough National 11,967 birds, with her mother Lynne
The Skinningrove partnership of Tich Richards & Alice Marsay recorded their second win of the young bird season but none of their previous wins will ever be as important as this one. For Tich and his Granddaughter Alice’s winner recorded a top vel of 1436.8 to go onto win an earth-shattering 1st East Cleveland Federation from a 59 members entry of 1,043 birds, 1st Section 7 winning £133.86 in prize money and 1st Up North Combine winning the “Jocker Mills Trophy”, the “Young Bird Cup” and a Combine Gold Medal, which is any outstanding achievement by anyone’s standards. The inform Mike Prokopowicz & Son Lee timed a couple of birds to lift 2nd and 5th Club with the blue card being awarded to a blue hen from “21” bred by Homer & Williams of Grangetown fame x Son of “2591” the 2012 Fed Bird Of The Year. The hen who is the previous winner of 1st Club, 15th Fed Worksop (2) achieved a vel of 1436.3 to win a fantastic 2nd Fed, 2nd Section and 2nd UNC winning a Combine Silver Medal. Mike & Lee’s well-fancied second timer knocked up a vel of 1425 to lift 8th Fed, 1st £1, 1st £2 and 1st £5 Fed Nom banking £167.00 and 9th UNC. B & K Simpson timed a dark Louis Cooreman cock doing 1428 to score 3rd Club, 5th Fed, 5th Section and 6th UNC. Stafford & Wilson netted 4th and 6th Club, 6th and 10th Fed, 7th and 11th UNC on 1427 and 1418. Five more youngsters were clocked to notch up joint 57th, 78th, 88th and 94th Combine. Sayers Bros takes 14th and 16th Fed, 22nd, 32nd, 72nd and 159th UNC; with their first timer taking 3rd £2 Fed Nom and £22.40. The late Gordon “Shang” Peirson MBE & Sons Sack & Jim and loft helpers Trevor & Bobby McConnell timed a well-fancied 14 day sitting blue Soontjen cock bred by D & G Wright of Blyth Boro for the Loftus West Road Championship Club Breeder/Buyer doing 1401.5 to claim 46th UNC. The cock also wins 2nd Loftus West Road Championship Club potting £30.00, 2nd Sponsorship netting £54.00, 1st Show pocketing £50.00 and 6th Breeder/Buyer winning £300.00 for themselves and £300.00 for D & G Wright, who themselves won a very impressive 1st Club, 1st Northumberland Premier Federation, 4th Section 1 and 40th UNC. Sack & Jim’s Clubmate Steven Bedingfield took 161st UNC on 1365 with a youngsters bred by M Curry that takes 18th Loftus West Road Championship Breeder/Buyer, earning £125.00 for both lofts.
The East Cleveland Federation Young Bird Average winning Andrew Crooks winner of 3rd and 4th UNC Peterborough National
Andy Crooks the winner of 2nd UNC Burbure this season recorded his fifth young bird win of the season at Staithes when the lad timed three birds to win a most impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 3rd and 4th Fed, 3rd, 4th and 103rd UNC with vels of 1433.7, 1433,1 and 1377.5. With all three of Andy’s timers being bred by his good Belgium friend Francois Leys; the red card winner that wins a Combine Bronze Medal is the previous potter of 8th Fed Worksop (2) when beaten by five loftmates that won an outstanding 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th Club, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th Fed when there were 1,835 birds competing. The blue card scorer is the previous potter of 2nd Club, 2nd Fed Worksop (1) out of 2,131 birds and 7th Fed Worksop (2) when beaten by four loftmates. While Andy’s third timer netted 2nd Club, 3rd Fed Rivenhall the previous race when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 2nd Fed. Deano Ward had four of his squad on the clock to chalk up 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 65th, 77th, 81st and 125th UNC with vels of 1396.6, 1386.2, 1383 and 1372. Chris Cooke timed a couple of his Belgium imports in the space of 15 seconds to pocket 100th and 132nd Combine on 1377.6 and 1370. The first timer for Chris was bred by Louis Keirsmakers and is the previous potter of 31st Fed Selby (1) and 5th Club, 34th Fed Peterborough (1).
The Skelton Green loft of Winspear & Sons headed by Derek and his Son Mark put their foot on the gas and revved up a top-notch 1st, 2nd and 4th Club. With the duo’s chart-topper recording a vel of 1410 to go onto score 15th Fed and 23rd UNC; while their green card potter was doing 1392 for 69th UNC and their third timer took 76th Combine on 1386. Ian “Evo” Everington timed a couple of birds to lift 3rd Club, 71st and 153rd UNC on 1390 and 1366. Karl Benson the winner of 1st Club, 21st Fed Worksop (2) had a single bird on the clock to notch up 5th Club, 97th UNC on 1378; while Des Williams and loft helper Roger Wall were next on 1375 to claim 112th Combine.
Dave “The Rooster” Storr recorded his second win on the bounce at Brotton H/S after timing a couple of birds 10 seconds apart to win a cracking 1st and 2nd Club, 20th and 22nd Fed, 39th and 44th UNC on 1402.9 and 1401.6. The partnership of Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson & Tubby Purver chalk up 3rd Club, 63rd UNC on 1396; while Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners pocket 4th and 6th Club, 122nd and 137th Combine on 1373.5 and 1369. Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne nipped one in between Reg & Ray’s two timers to take 124th UNC on 1373.0; while Mr & Mrs Bob & Barbara Moore netted 142nd Combine on 1367.
Mr & Mrs Bob & Barbara Moore are still knocking out the winners at the Brotton Six Bird Club with the inform duo timing two of their six entries to win 1st and 4th Club. With the red card winning blue hen bred by Dave Drinkhall of Guisborough fame achieving a top vel of 1398 to lift 54th UNC. The yellow card was chalked up by a chequer Heremans Ceusters hen. Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson & Tubby Purver had a couple of their squad on the clock to score a useful 2nd and 3rd Club with the blue card going to a chequer hen bred by Ian “Evo” Everington; while the green was netted by a blue flipey John Soderlund & John Maddison cock.
The Marske & New Marske partnership of late Jack “The Lad” Brown & Tony Hunt record young bird win number two of the season after filling no fewer than three cells to win 1st, 3rd and 5th Club. With Tony’s pole position winner being a 4 day sitting blue Janssen Van Osch cock, while the green card was awarded to a blue De Klak Janssen cock who notched up 5th Club Rivenhall. Tony’s third timer was another blue De Klak Janssen cock to round off a notable performance. Geoff Bavin timed a couple of youngsters to lift 2nd and 4th Club with the blue card going to a chequer cock of John Whittaker bloodlines through the late John Clayton. Geoff’s yellow card potter was a mealy cock of Brown & Hunt bloodlines. Harris Bros & Son of Loftus timed a fancied youngster to chalk up 5th Club, 13th Fed, 2nd £2 Fed Nom pocketing £33.60 and 17th UNC with a vel of 1414. Trevor Maltby of Redcar was the winner of an outstanding 1st Club, 1st North Yorks Federation and 5th UNC with a vel of 1429.2
Moving onto the Teesside Federation where the Beechwood & Easterside loft of the late Wyn Cole, Steve Wheatley & Grandson Connor zoomed to the top of the charts in both Club and Federation from an entry of 354 birds. With Steve and Connor’s pole position winner being a blue Hartlepool rung hen recording a chart-topping vel of 1369 to go onto score a notable 5th Section 5 out of 1,798 birds and 135th UNC.
Next stop is Haverton Hill where we see the top partnership of Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff return to their winning ways after timing no less than five of their squad to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 16th and 20th Fed. With the red card winning chequer cock who achieved a leading vel of 1345 going onto score a nice 10th Section; and he was followed by a second chequer cock doing 1283.2. Eight seconds later came a blue cock making 1282 and fourth on the clock was a chequer cock doing 1261.0 and he was followed by a blue cock achieving 1237 to end a good days racing. The loft of Gatley, Harrod & Son timed three youngsters to lift 4th and 5th Club, 11th, 12th and 17th Fed; with the yellow card being awarded to a blue cock on 1263. Second on the clock was a well-fancied cock that was timed nine seconds after the yellow card potter to knock up a vel of 1263 which was enough to win 1st Fed Nom and 1st £5 Ring banking £90.00. No wonder the cock was the lad’s fancy bird as he took 20th Fed out of Worksop (1) and won 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 1st £5 Ring and 14th Section Rivenhall the previous race. The partnerships third timer was a blue cock notching up a vel of 1259.
The inform Ali McLeod of Billingham T U recorded his fourth win on the bounce and fifth young bird win of the season after timing no fewer than nine of his team to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 18th and 19th Fed. Leading the way by 41 seconds was a blue pure Vandenabeele cock achieving a top vel of 1305; the winning cocks Sire is a Son of Ali’s number one stock pair who are Grand Parents of all of Ali’s big winners including his 1st UNC Gold Medal winning “Gaby Lou”. This is the chart-topping cocks second chalk of the season after potting 6th Club, 12th Fed out of Oakham when beaten by three loftmates that won 1st, 2nd and 5th Club, 1st, 4th and 11th Fed. The blue card was awarded to a consistent blue pied cock on 1300; the cock who won the Fed Nom from Pontefract (2) is from a cock from Clubmates Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins 1st UNC Gold Medal winning “Ollie”. The green card was claimed by a pure Vandenabeele blue cock doing 1283.7; with the young cock been full Brother to one of Mac’s good racing hens who scored 41st UNC Eastbourne (1) National from a convoy of 7,474 birds. The yellow was netted by a blue cock breeder/buyer doing 1276 and he was followed by a blue cock and a chequer hen that touched down together to achieve vels of 1261.8; with the hen that took 4th Club, 8th Fed and 2nd £5 Ring from Peterborough (1) when beaten by three loftmates that won 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 1st, 5th (1st £5 Fed Ring) and 7th Fed, 11th and 18th Section, winning 2nd £5 Ring and £60.00. I’m not sure if both timers had just nudged out the next timer, a chequer cock by one second who made 1261.7 or Ali stopped the cock from hitting the pad because a money bird was in front of him. The cock is the previous scorer of 3rd Club, 7th Fed Peterborough (1) when beaten by two loftmates that won 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 5th Fed, 11th and 18th Section. Mac’s final two timers were both blue cocks doing 1252 and 1249. Tommy Clark & Son Gary stopped Ali from winning the first nine Club positions after timing a blue hen on 1274 to pocket 5th Club, 10th Fed.
The Middlesbrough H/S loft of the late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek recorded their second young bird win on the trot, with the red card winner being a chequer cock doing 1280 for 8th Fed. The cock is scoring for the second race running for he netted 3rd Club, 20th Fed out of Rivenhall when beaten by two loftmates that won 1st and 2nd Club, 6th and 10th Fed.
Trevor Maltby of Redcar, winning 1st Club, 1st North Yorks Federation, 5th Section and 5th UNC Young Bird Peterborough National.
There seems to have been a number of the Peterborough National birds reported on an oil rig around 130 miles off the coast of Aberdeen, with some of them being from the longest flying lofts. There were also reports of the lads getting birds dropping in after 8.00pm, with id been that dark a torch had to be used so the bird could see to walk into the loft. The same fanciers started to get birds dropping in again just after 5.30am the next morning, again landing in the dark. I always feel for these fanciers and their birds because they struggle from the late liberations, due to the fact they are flying some 80 miles further than the shortest flyers.
The final race of the season finally brought the Up North Combine a Saturday liberation, which was very rare throughout the 2016 racing season. The East Cleveland Federations 37 members entry of 797 birds were liberated from Selby (Bubwith) (3) at 9am flying into a fresh South wind, the wind got stronger as the morning went on with a very fast race on the cards. The Skelton Green loft of Bowden Bros, Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell were the quickest out of the blocks to win a top-notch 1st Club, 1st Fed with a top vel of 2286.0. Winspear & Sons timed three birds to lift 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club with Derek and his Son Mark’s blue and green card potters touching down together to take a useful 7th and 8th Fed on 2244.9.While Karl Benson netted 4th Club, 15th Fed on 2191.4.
Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners had a couple of youngsters touch down together to win an impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 3rd Fed at Brotton H/S with vels of 2264.1. The forever trying Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson & Tubby Purver are in 3rd spot with their green card potter doing 2194.7 to chalk up a nice 12th Fed. Mr & Mrs Bob & Barbara Moore claimed 4th Club; while Terry Callan notches up 5th Club.
Deano Ward had a couple of birds on the clock to win 1st and 5th Club at Staithes, with the red card winning youngster achieving a top vel of 2263.0 to go onto chalk up 4th Fed. Chris Cooke the previous winner of 1st Fed Worksop (1), Oakham and Peterborough (1), pockets 2nd Club, 16th Fed on 2189.7. With the blue card scoring mealy cock being the previous winner of 2 x 1st Clubs and 2 x 1st Feds; with his first win coming at the fifth race when he won 1st Club, 1st Fed Oakham from a convoy of 1,764 birds and a week later he won 1st Club, 1st Fed Peterborough (1) when there was 1, 241 birds. The Sire of the double Fed winner was purchased from the Lier Market, he was very lightly raced as a young bird after a early season injury in the wires but still managed to chalk up 3rd Club, 15th Fed Selby (3) out of an entry of 841 birds. The Dam of the outstanding mealy cock is from Armand Van Looy, she is the only one left from the 13 Chris purchased on his first visit to Belgium. Chris has retired the pair to the stock loft, where I hope they go onto breed more winners for the lad. The R & D Hood partnership returned to the frame after timing no less than three of their squad to chalk up 3rd, 4th and 6th Club. Andy Crooks was away on holiday so never sent to the final race, but his outstanding season won him the Federation Young Bird Average.
Darren Sayers timed a couple of birds at Skinningrove to win 1st and 2nd Club, 5th and 9th Fed on 2250.5 and 2229.5; while Sayers Bros pockets 3rd and 5th Club, 10th and 13th Fed on 2229.2 and 2193.6. Stafford & Wilson takes 4th Club, 11th Fed on 2214.9; while the UNC Gold Medal winning Tich Richards & Alice Marsay timed a couple of their team two seconds apart to chalk up 17th and 18th Fed with vels of 2184.7 and 2183.0. B & K Simpson clocked three birds in the space of five seconds to net 19th, 20th and 21st Fed on 2177, 2174 and 2172.
Now for the Brotton Six Bird Club where nothing much has change other than the velocity’s, for the inform loft of Mr & Mrs Bob & Barbara Moore recorded their sixth young bird win of the season out of nine races, which is a fantastic achievement flying six against six every week. The very hard to beat duo timed two of their entries in the space of two seconds to win a top-notch 1st and 2nd Club, 24th and 25th Fed on 2170 and 2168. With pole position being won by a chequer Heremans Ceusters hen and she was closely followed by a chequer cock bred by Dave Drinkhall & Jason Whyte of Guisborough for the Loftus West Road Championship Club Breeder/Buyer, the cock ended up 23rd in the Peterborough National breeder/buyer race earning both partnerships £100.00 each. W & S Ward are in 3rd spot with a blue hen; while Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne pockets 4th Club with a chequer pied Heremans Ceusters hen.
The Teesside Federations muster of 313 birds were up and away from Pontefract (3) at 08.10hrs in a South wind, and leading the way in both Club and Fed for the fourth time from the past five races is the inform Billingham T U loft of Ali McLeod. The lad had to pull out all the stops to keep hold of the Federation Young Bird Average and the Federation Combined Average he won in 2015, and the youngsters never let him down as Ali timed no fewer than twelve of his inform team 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. Pole position was won by a blue pure Vandenabeele hen recording a top vel of 2113 to go onto score 19th Section 5 from a convoy of 1,705 birds; the chart-topping hen is full Sister to Mac’s 1st UNC Burbure winner. The green card was awarded to a Vandenabeele blue pied cock that was clocked 11 seconds after the winner to achieve a vel of 2105; the cock is carding for the second race running for he netted 2nd Club, 4th Fed from the Peterborough National when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 3rd Fed. The yellow card was potted by a blue hen doing 2089 and two seconds later came a chequer cock gift bird bred by A Maul of Wales doing 2088. A blue pure Vandenabeele hen followed two seconds later to knock up a vel of 2087; the hen who also has a 13th Fed Worksop (1) and 19th Fed Peterborough (1) to her credit is the Daughter of a cock that won 2 x 1st Feds for Ali, where he now at stock. Ali was R/U Old Bird Fed Inland Average with 70pts, R/U Fed Channel Average on 13pts, winner of the Fed Young Bird Average on 56pts and winner of the Fed Combined Average with a total of 139pts. Tommy Clark & Son Gary timed a couple of birds to chalk up 2nd Club, 2nd and 11th Fed with the blue card going to a blue cock doing 2109; the cock is the previous winner of a most impressive 1st Club, 1st Fed, 3rd Section Worksop (1) from a convoy of 4,441 birds. Tommy & Gary’s second timer was a chequer cock making 2077; the cock took 8th Fed out of Worksop (1) when beaten by four loftmates that won a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th Fed when there were 897 birds competing. Tommy & Gary enjoyed a brilliant old bird season topping the Fed six times which helped them win the Old Bird Federation Inland Average on 105pts, add the 5pts from the channel and the 23pts with the young birds, that gives them a total of 133pts which earns them R/U Fed Combined Average.
Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff recorded their second win off the belt at Haverton Hill after timing no less than four of their team to win a cracking 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 3rd, 5th, 12th and 13th Fed. With top spot being won by a well-fancied blue cock who achieved a top vel of 2107 to win the Fed Nom; 15 seconds later in the blue card position was a chequer cock making 2097. Andrew & Paul’s other couple of timers, both chequer cocks were clocked one second apart to knock up vels of 2070.6 and 2070.0 to round off a very notable performance. Andrew & Paul flew a very consistent channel bird again this season with them totting up a total of 29pts which won them the Fed Channel Average. Barron Bros, Tommy & Robert who were out of the frame for the first time the previous race, returned in the result after clocking a chequer cock and a blue hen one second apart to lift 3rd and 4th Club, 9th and 10th Fed on 2078.9 and 2078.2. Tommy & Robert who have restarted racing with the young birds after a few years out of the sport have flown a notable young bird since their return, with them being in the first six in the Club from eight of the nine young bird races which is some achievement.
News from the Tees Valley Federation where the entry of 488 birds was liberated from Pontefract (3) at 8.10am in a South wind. The Thornaby partnership of Mr & Mrs Lynch & Son who won 1st Club, 13th Fed from the Peterborough National timed two of their team to win a very impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 9th Fed with vels of 2185.0 and 2128.8. The Family are R/U Young Bird Federation Average and 3rd highest points winners with a total of 93pts. The Hardwick loft of Lister Bros, Craig & Gary & Walker are R/U Combined Federation Average with a total of 101pts. The inform Portrack loft of Paul Heightley, Mark “Peo” Pearce, Daughter & O’Donnel enjoyed a fantastic race timing no fewer than six early birds to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Fed, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Section 5 with vels of 2182.2, 2151.5, 2150.7, 2147.1, 2145.0 and 2143.6. The red and yellow card winners were both Freddy Vandenheede, and the blue card was scored by a Van Loon. Both the third and fifth timers were bred by Nicky Lyth of Thornaby, with the latter bird being a Jan Aarden. The partnerships sixth timer is from a Daughter of Dennis Blakey’s 2012 1st UNC Clermont Gold Medal winning “Triple X” when paired to a Son of “Mosquito” from Eddy Nelson. To win the first six positions in the Club and have all six birds in the top seven of the Fed and top nine in the Section is something very special, but Paul, Mark and their partners outstanding performance never stopped there for they had another 15 birds on the clock to chalk up 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th 26th, 28th and 30th Fed. Their outstanding young bird performances throughout the nine race programme won them the Tees Valley Federation Young Bird Average with 99pts, and helped them win the Federation Combined Average with a total of 116pts, a fantastic achievement. Paul & Mark would like to thank all the lads in the Club for their full support.
Now for the rest of the Fed result which saw the Portrack loft of Ian McGlade & Partners time a couple of birds to lift 8th and 13th Fed; while Clubmates Rowbotham & Sons who won 1st Club, 1st Fed from the Peterborough National, netted 10th Fed. Bousfield & Son of the Stockton West End timed two of their entries to win a cracking 1st and 2nd Club, 11th and 27th Fed. Fred Lancaster tops the Hardwick charts with his red card winner going onto score 12th Fed; while W Coates chalks up 2nd Club, 29th Fed.
It was very sad to hear of the passing of Dean Gray of Gateshead; Dean was one of the nicest lads you could ever wish to meet. I first met Dean a few years ago when he was running a Cancer Charity Sale, sadly Dean had lost his Mother to Cancer and he wanted to help raise some much needed money for the organisation. Dean was running the sale with the help of Kev Parsons, with a number of other local fanciers helping Dean out. I mentioned the sale in my weekly reports and attended the sale which I have to say, was a first class sale with a large amount of money raised for the Charity. I was also invited to the presentation of the cheque evening which was held in Gateshead, which was again very well organised. We got one of Dean’s channel birds in this season; he was not in the best of health but said when he felt well enough he would call down for it. We built the bird back up and got it liberated closer to home to save Dean any trouble, I got a phone call to say the bird had made it home. Dean was a very popular lad who is going to be greatly missed. Rest In Peace Dean, it was a pleasure to have known you.
With That I will close down until next time, with my next report being a loft report of a very highly successful partnership.
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