AROUND THE UP NORTH COMBINE
Alan & David Wright’s Outstanding Team Performance
By Good Corn
The following is the Convoyers report for the weekend 27th to 29th May. On Wednesday 25th May the forecaster advised that the weather for the weekend and the whole of next week was very questionable. He advised if possible to try to obtain a liberation from Burbure (1) on the Friday morning. Come Thursday 26th May Chief Convoyer Steve Profitt was very ill, so Peter Maw the assistant Convoyer, was going to be in charge of the Burbure Convoy. At 03.20am on Friday 27th May the Up North Combine transporters boarded the Ferry at Dover and arrived at Burbure 06.10am. The birds were watered immediately, the conditions at the race point was showing low lying mist. The conditions at the race point was showing very little improvement at 09.00am and the visibility was down to only 2 miles, the forecaster advised to wait as long as possible due to the good conditions in England, but he also advised that thunder and lightning would affect the South East Corner later in the day. There was no improvement at 10.00am so come 10.30am Peter decided to hold the convoy of 11,352 birds over. The waters were constantly monitored and refreshed and the birds were fed at 2.30pm.
At 06.00am on Saturday 28th May the conditions at the race point were very poor and there was no improvement at 07.30am. There was a slight improvement at the race point at 09.00am with the sun trying to break through and by 10.00am Peter was hopeful that a liberation would take place as the sun started to burn the low cloud off, but it was still thick in the distance. As it was still not good for a liberation at 11.00am Peter decided to holdover for the second day. Peter did speak to the forecaster who advised him that the weather conditions in France showed no sign of improving for the next few days. He also informed Peter that England looked reasonable with sunny intervals for the following day, but then the conditions on the North-side of England would deteriorate and he could not forecast when a liberation would be possible. With this knowledge Peter decided to move the birds back to Eastbourne which is the longest English race point available. The convoy remained at Burbure to feed the birds between 12.30 - 13.30 and the waters were topped up. The transporters left Burbure at 14.30 and arrived at Eastbourne at 9.00pm where Peter liaised with local Fire Brigade to obtain more fresh water. The convoy arrived on the Eastbourne site at 10.30pm where the birds were immediately watered. At 06.00am on Sunday 29th May 06.00am the conditions at the race point was showing signs of sun trying to break through and good visibility, but the conditions on route were very poor. The forecaster advised Peter to wait as long as possible, as the weather would improve as the day progressed and by 09.00am the conditions at the race point was good, with some places on route starting to show signs of improvement. Peter spoke to the forecaster again who informed him that there would still be places on the line of flight that would still have low cloud, but would clear. With the conditions at the race point now perfect, Peter decided to liberate at 9.30am in a fresh North North-East wind. All birds clearing excellently, with only a few hens that were sitting on eggs remaining in the baskets.
Starting with Skinningrove where Darren Sayers timed a yearling Soontjen bred by Dave Jones & Kirsty Carkett of Brotton through their 2nd UNC Silver Medal winning “Mark” to win an outstanding 1st Club, 1st East Cleveland Federation out of a 64 members entry of 702 birds and 218th UNC with a chart-topping vel of 1160. The loft of the late Gordon (Shang) Peirson MBE & Sons Sack & Jimmy with the help of loft helpers Trevor & Bobby McConnell are in 2nd spot with the blue card being awarded to a yearling blue hen achieving a vel of 1137 to chalk up a useful 7th Fed. The hen is bred out of one of two pairs purchased from a Soderlund & Maddison sale at the Blackpool Show; the pair has bred birds to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd Fed etc from the distance of 50 to 440 miles. Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson timed a yearling doing 1135 to pocket 3rd Club, 8th Fed. While Tich Richards & Alice Marsay are in 4th spot with Tich and his Granddaughter Alice yellow card lifter being a 2y grizzle gift bird bred by Steve & Sheila Trattles of Loftus making 1121 to collect 14th Fed. Steve Winspear & Son Ty claim their second prize card of the season after timing a 2y knocking out a vel of 1119 to claim a well-earned 15th Fed.
Ian “Evo” Everington goes into overdrive at Skelton Green after clocking no fewer than three of his entries to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd and 4th Club. With pole position being won by a well-fancied 3y chequer Rietvink x De Rauw Sablon cock of Galaxy Lofts bloodlines achieving a top vel of 1153 which was enough to score an impressive 3rd Fed and 1st £1 Fed Nom, 2nd £2 Fed Nom and 1st £5 Fed Nom to pocket £149.00. The red card winning cock also won 1st Loftus Championship Club netting £50.00, 1st Sponsorship lifting £90.00 and 1st £100.00 Nom. The cock also won 1st Show to bank another £50.00 to round off a money winning performance. The cock has proved his worth for he took 4th Club, 18th Fed and 159th UNC out of the Eastbourne (1) National and prior to that he won 1st Club, 14th Fed young bird Worksop and then claimed 6th Club Eastbourne National in 2014. In 2015 he potted 130th UNC Lillers when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 2nd Section and 2nd UNC out of a convoy of 14,062 birds. The cock then netted 3rd Club, 14th Fed Reims when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 1st Fed and 60th UNC from a convoy of 3,887 birds. The impressive cock rounded off his 2015 season in outstanding style when he won a breath-taking 1st Club, 1st Fed and 1st Section banking £122.71 in prize money and 5th UNC Burbure when there were 10,617 birds competing. The blue card was awarded to a 3yo blue Koopman x Van Loon x Rietvink cock achieving 1138 to pocket a notable 6th Fed. The cock who is the previous scorer of a 2nd Club and a 6th Club Eastbourne (1) National lifts 2nd LCC Show lifting £30.00. Evo who won the Fed Channel Average in 2015 third timer was a 2y blue Rietvink x De Rauw Sablon cock making 1123 to pot a useful 12th Fed. The cock also takes 3rd LCC Show pocketing £20.00 to see Evo win all three show prizes and end the day with some well earned cash. Evo is one of the sports hard working fanciers who more than deserves his success and the winning will not stop here. The loft of Bill Chapman, Sons Colin & Steve and the late Tommy Swinburne are in 3rd spot with their well-fancied green card potter being a 3y chequer Wildemeersch hen doing 1133 to net 9th Fed, 3rd Loftus Championship Club lifting £20.00 and 3rd Sponsorship to pocket another £36.00. Alan & David Wright timed a 3y blue flipey Herman/Busschaert cock and a 4y chequer Busschaert hen doing 1116 and 1103 to notch up 17th and 21st Fed.
Next stop is Marske & New Marske where we see Jimmy Reed hitting the winners’ enclosure with the red card winner being a 3y blue pied hen of Brown & Hunt stock sitting 10 days. The winning hen is the previous winner of 1st Club Eastbourne in 2014 and she also took 3rd Club out of Rivenhall (1) this season. Geoff Bavin filled a couple of cells to lift 2nd and 3rd Club with the blue card being netted by a chequer pied roundabout hen from Rutland Lofts, the hen is chalking for the second race running after potting 2nd Club Oakham (2). Second on the clock was a dark Schoorisse roundabout hen who was 5th Club the previous week out of Oakham (2).
Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne record their second win on the trot at the Brotton Six Bird Club with the well out in front red card winner being a inform 2y chequer Heremans Ceusters/ Marcellis hen who is the previous scorer of 3rd Club Peterborough (1), 3rd Club Rivenhall (1) and 3rd Club Eastbourne (1) National this season. The loft of the Right Honourable Vic Garbutt, the late Brian “Rusty” Stone & Brian “Mac” McCormick are in 2nd position with the lads blue card potter being a 2y blue flipey cock. Andrew & Gavin Doe, Dillon “John” Swales and the late Sandy Sanderson timed a 3y bred by Jimmy Bamling of Coxhoe fame for the Loftus Championship Club Breeder/Buyer to take 3rd Club. The cock is the previous winner of 1st Club, 8th Fed and 16th UNC Lillers from a convoy of 14,062 birds and 2nd Club Roye last season. Ricky Cush comes into the frame to pot 4th Club with Ricky’s yellow card lifter being a 4y blue flipey hen bred by former Clubmate Ces Rawson who now flies with Loftus. Ces has not been in the best of health of late, so I wish him better health in the coming weeks.
The inform Brotton H/S partnership of Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners win 1st Club, 2nd Fed and 1st £2 Fed Nom pocketing £60.00 with a yearling achieving a vel of 1160.3. Two weeks earlier Reg & Ray won an earth-shattering 1st Club, 1st Fed, 2nd Section, 1st North of England Championship Club winning £181.95, the J Rollo Memorial Trophy and Replica and 2nd UNC winning a Combine Silver Medal. Mick Smithies chalks up 2nd Club, 4th Fed with a 3y on 1148 and Dave “Rooster” Storr in his first season back in the sport lifts 3rd Club, 10th Fed 3rd £2 Fed Nom banking £24.00 Fed with a 1y doing 1133 .David & James Waters timed a yearling making 1124 to claim 4th Club. 11th Fed and they were followed by Doe, Swales & Sanderson who took 16th Fed with a 2y on 1118.
Leather Bros, Albert & Tony of Lingdale timed a well-fancied 3y knocking out a vel of 1141 which was enough to win a very impressive 1st Club, 5th Fed, 2nd Loftus Championship Club pocketing £30.00 and 2nd Sponsorship banking another £54.00. The late George Skidmore & Grandsons timed a yearling to chalk up 2nd Club.
Gary Clark of Tommy Clark & Son, Billingham T U the winners of 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 3rd Section and 32nd UNC Eastbourne (2). With Paul Longstaff of Appleton & Longstaff, Haverton Hill the winners of 1st Club, 15th Fed Rivenhall (2).
Next stop is the Teesside Federation where the loft of Tommy Clark & Son Gary of Billingham T U continued their outstanding season by clocking two birds to win 1st and 3rd Club. With top spot being won by a yearling achieving a chart-topping vel of 1195 to score an impressive 2nd Fed, 4th Section and 32nd UNC. The duo’s green card potter was a 2y making 1143 for 11th Fed. Ali McLeod timed a trio of birds to chalk up 2nd, 4th and 5th Club with the blue card going to a well-fancied yearling blue Gaby Vandenabeele hen doing 1175.8 to pocket 4th Fed, 1st Fed Nom, 2nd £5 Fed pools banking £35.00, 16th Section and 98th UNC. The young hen scored 2nd Club, 3rd Fed, 4th Section and 42nd UNC from the Eastbourne (1) National when beaten by 1 second by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 3rd Section and 41st UNC from a convoy of 7,474 birds. The Dam of the hen is a full Sister to the Sire of Ali’s 1st UNC Burbure Gold Medal winning “Gaby Lou”, being a Granddaughter to Mac’s number 1 hen. Second on the clock was a 2015 bred blue hen achieving 1139 for 12th Fed with the little hens Sire being a Grandson of the famous “Harry” of Jan Hooymans. Next was a yearling hen making 1134 to notch up 14th Fed with the hen being Ali’s 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 3rd Section and 41st UNC Eastbourne (1) National winner. The hen is bred down from Ali’s old “McClaren Cock”, a Grandson of Gaby Vandenabeele’s old “Wittenbuik”.
The Middlesbrough H/S partnership of Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley recorded their sixth win of the season from a six members entry of 87 birds. With Stephen & Jeanann’s red card winner being a well-fancied yearling blue hen recording a top vel of 1175.4 to chalk up 1st 3 Bird Club, 1st 2 Bird Championship Club, 5th Fed, 3rd £5 Fed pools, 17th Section and 101st UNC. The late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek enjoyed a good clocking day after timing no fewer than four of their squad to lift a notable 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 9th, 13th, 18th and 19th Fed with vels of 1150, 1134, 1121 and 1117. Les & Derek timed a couple of later fancied birds with their first one netting 2nd 3 Bird Club and 2nd 2 Bird Championship Club while their second one netted 3rd 3 Bird Club.
J Appleton of Haverton Hill wins an outstanding 1st Club, 1st Teesside Fed, 1st £5 Fed pools winning £55.00, 2nd Section and 10th UNC with a recorded vel of 1203. Clubmates Appleton & Longstaff timed four birds to pot 3rd, 8th, 10th and 17th Fed on 1185, 1157, 1149 and 1122 with their first timer going onto claim a nice 12th Section and 61st UNC. The partnership of Gatley, Harrod & Son became the second Haverton Hill loft to time four of their entries to lift 6th, 7th, 15th and 20th Fed on 1162, 1161, 1126 and 1114. McCarthy, Son & Proffit of the Beechwood & Easterside timed a 3y chequer hen recording a vel of 1123 to win 1st Club and 16th Fed.
Moving onto Section 5 where the top loft of Thompson & Sons of Wingate of the Shotton & Trimdon Fed provided the loft performance of the day after timing no fewer than seven of their entries to win an outstanding 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 15th Section out of 1,932 birds winning £146.81 in prize money for topping the Section. The lads seven timers went onto score an awesome 8th, 36th, 42nd, 43rd, 48th, 53rd and 97th UNC with vels of 1204, 1194, 1192.24, 1192.20, 1190, 1187 and 1176. B Storey & Son achieved a vel of 1194 to lift a notable 5th Section, 35th UNC and Glyn Holden pockets a nice 9th Section and 46th UNC on 1191. Fellow Fed members Nuttall Bros had a couple of their team on the clock to chalk up a tidy 13th and 14th Section, 62nd and 86th UNC with vels of 1185 and 1178. Dennis Blakey also had two birds in the clock to notch up 18th and 20th Section, 107th and 162nd UNC. The partnership of Long, Brown & Son clocked a bird in between Dennis’s two birds to claim 19th Section, 138th Combine on 1170. The loft of L Whittaker of Croft is the solo Hetton Fed member in the Section’s top 20 after achieving a top vel of 1196 which was enough to score a well-deserved 3rd Section, 28th UNC.
The birds were at Rivenhall (2) on Sunday 5th June when the East Cleveland Federations 54 members convoy of 891 birds were up and away at 11am flying into a light North North-East wind. The Skelton Green loft of Alan & David Wright hit winning form in outstanding style after timing no fewer than nine of their squad to win a earth-shattering 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 14th and 15th Fed. With pole position being won by a yearling blue Busschaert hen recording a chart-topping vel of 1347 and she was followed by the blue card scoring 2y blue Busschaert cock who achieved a vel of 1329. The green card was awarded to a 2015 bred chequer Herman/Busschaert cock doing 1325 and 5 seconds later in the yellow card position came a 2y blue John Weldon x homebred Busschaert cock knocking out a vel of 1324.7. Alan & David’s next couple of timers were 2y who were timed 1 second apart to claim vels of 1324.1 and 1324.0 and the duo’s next three birds on the clock were yearlings doing 1321, 1318 and 1314 to round off a fantastic team performance by anyone’s standards. The partnership of Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor “Wine Gum” Mitchell stopped the dry rub by clocking a yearling blue P Veenstra hen doing 1324.4 to go onto chalk up 7th Fed. Mick, Boss & Trevor timed a second bird, a 2y making 1303 for 19th Fed.
Onto Skinningrove H/S where the loft of Tich Richards & Alice Marsay recorded their second win of the season after timing three of their team to win 1st, 3rd and 5th Club from a 11 members entry of 205 birds. Leading the way for Tich and his Granddaughter Alice was a yearling blue hen achieving a chart-topping vel of 1327 which was enough to score a very nice 4th Fed. In 2012 the Dam of the red card winner won 1st Club, 1st Fed and 9th UNC Maidstone National and the Sister to that won 2nd Club, 5th Fed Huntingdon, 1st Club, 2nd Fed Eastbourne, 2nd Club, 3rd Fed Melton Mowbray and 1st Club Melton Mowbray (2) as a yearling in 2014. The green card was netted by a 1y that is chalking for the second time this season after potting 3rd Club, 14th Fed Oakham (2) and third on the clock was a 3y that is the previous winner of 1st Club, 9th Fed Eastbourne (2) National in 2015. Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson timed a couple of yearlings to notch up 2nd and 4th Club.
Jimmy Reed records his second win off the belt at Marske & New Marske after filling a couple of chambers to win a very nice 1st and 5th Club. With Jimmy’s well out in front chart-topper being a yearling dark chequer Vandenabeele cock sitting around 12 days recording a top vel of 1320 which was enough to chalk up a well-deserved and notable 13th Fed. In cell two was a 10 day sitting Homer & Williams chequer hen. Club Secretary Martin Hogarth is in 2nd spot with the blue card being awarded to a 4y blue who is the previous winner of 4 x 1st Clubs from Oakham to Maidstone, the fancied hen also wins 1st Club Nom. Geoff Bavin the 1st Club, 31st Fed Oakham (1) winner is in 3rd position with the green card going to a scoring for the first time blue Schoorisse roundabout cock. Its welcome into the frame for Paul Longstaff who nets 4th Club with a blue hen bred for him by Geoff Bavin from stock of the late and much lamented John Clayton.
The inform Brotton Six Bird Club partnership of Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne achieved a hat-trick of wins after timing three of their entries to win a top-notch 1st, 3rd and 4th Club. With Frank, Brenda & Wayne’s winner being a 1y chequer Heremans Ceusters cock. The green card was netted by a 2y blue Heremans Ceusters cock who won 1st Club, 20th Fed Selby in Brotton H/S on the opening day of the new season when there were 1,983 birds competing, the cock has also scored other positions. Third on the clock in the yellow card position was a previous scoring 2015 bred blue Veenstra hen to round off a very notable team performance. The forever trying the Right Honourable Vic Garbutt, the late Brian “Rusty” Stone & Brain “Mac” McCormick chalk up another 2nd Club with the blue card being awarded to a yearling chequer Schellens hen bred by Dave Dockery of Darlington fame.
Ali McLeod returned to his winning ways at Billingham T U after timing four of his team to win a cracking 1st, 4th and 6th Club, 1st, 5th, 9th and 13th Fed. Topping the charts was a yearling blue Gaby Vandenabeele hen recording a pole position vel of 1367 to go onto score an impressive 3rd Section 5 from a convoy of 2,820 birds. The Sire of Mac’s winning hen is the Sire to his 1st UNC Burbure winner and the Dam is one of his old Vandenabeele stock hens who has bred numerous winners including one of his best racing cocks who won 2 x 1st Teesside Federation. The yellow card was awarded to a 1y blue cock bred out of Ali’s old Koen Minderhoud family, the cock who knocked out a vel of 1344 is bred down from Mac’s old cock “King James” who has been a goldmine at stock. Third on the clock was a 2015 bred blue hen making 1327, the good hen won 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 3rd Section and 41st UNC Eastbourne (1) National when she won all the Fed pools. The hen also won 1st Club, 1st Fed Pontefract (2) when there were 939 birds competing and 4th Club, 9th Fed Worksop (1) from a convoy of 1,318 birds as a young bird. Ali’s fourth timer was a yearling blue cock doing 1313. Tommy Clark & Son Gary timed no less than six of their squad to lift 2nd and 3rd Club, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th Fed with the blue card going to a 2y Scottish rung blue cock doing 1357.9 to chalk up 13th Section. The green card scoring 2y blue hen that was timed 2 seconds behind the blue card potter knocked out a vel of 1357.8 to net 14th Section. Tommy & Gary who are enjoying a fantastic season, third timer was a yearling blue hen doing 1331 and she was followed by a 2y blue pied hen making 1325. Next came a 2015 bred blue cock on 1315and their sixth and final timer was a 1y blue hen knocking up a vel of 1312 to round off a notable team performance. It was good to see Mr G Brydon clocking a yearling blue cock achieving a vel of 1307 to claim 16th Fed. Steve Wilson timed a couple of 3y blue cocks doing 1293 and 1286 to notch up 19th and 20th Fed.
Stephen Wheatley of Mr & Mrs Wheatley Middlesbrough H/S the winners of 1st Club, 5th Fed, 17th Section and 101st UNC Eastbourne (2).
Moving onto Middlesbrough H/S where the loft of the late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek took no prisoners after timing no fewer than four of their entries to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club from an eight members entry of 145 birds. Top spot was won by a fancied yearling blue pied hen recording a chart-topping vel of 1350 to win 1st 3 Bird Nom and a notable 4th Fed. The blue card was awarded to a yearling blue cock doing 1322 to pocket 11th Fed and the green card potting 1y chequer pied hen achieved a vel of 1307 to take 17th Fed and the yellow card was netted by a 2015 bred blue pied cock doing 1302 for 18th Fed. Les & Derek also timed a well-fancied bird to lift 2nd 3 Bird Club and win 1st 2 Bird Championship Club. The Brothers also clocked a fancied 2y chequer hen to win 1st Fed Nom to round off a great days racing. The loft of Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann clocked a well-fancied bird to chalk up 3rd 3 Bird Club and 2nd 2 Bird Championship Club.
The Beechwood & Easterside partnership of Keith Hodge & Denis Potter timed a yearling chequer hen and a blue pied hen in the space of 45 seconds to win a top-notch 1st and 2nd Club, 6th and 7th Fed with vels of 1335 and 1331. Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff topped the Haverton Hill charts with a yearling blue cock achieving a top vel of 1309 to pocket 15th Fed.
Finishing off with Section 5 where K Bennison enjoyed a cracking race after timing a couple of his entries in the space of 40 seconds to win an outstanding 1st and 2nd Hetton Fed, 1st and 4th Section with vels of 1369.4 and 1366 from a convoy of 2,820 birds. L Whittaker comes into the frame to score a notable 3rd Fed, 6th Section on 1365.6 and the loft of Wandless & Son pockets a nice 4th Fed, 17th Section on 1351. The Tees Valley Fed crew netted six of the 20 Section positions with the top loft of Moore Bros of Stockton timing two birds to win an impressive 1st and 6th Fed, 2nd and 16th Section doing 1369.0 and 1354. Prest & Huggett potted 2nd Fed, 8th Section on 1362 with Mr & Mrs Cuthbert taking 3rd Fed, 9th Section on 1359.51. Very close behind was the loft of Russell & Donaldson doing 1359.50 for 4th Fed, 10th Section and they were followed by the T Edmunds who knocked up a vel of 1358 to claim 5th Fed, 11th Section. The Shotton & Trimdon Fed members had a good day in the Section with them taking six positions with the loft of P Price claiming two of them to score a notable 1st and 5th Fed, 5th and 18th Section with vels of 1365.9 and 1350.78. F Hood chalks up a tidy 2nd Fed, 7th Section on 1364 while the partnership of Nuttall Bros & Son pocket 3rd Fed, 12th Section on 1358. Heavyside & Wilkes timed a couple of their team to pocket 4th and 6th Fed, 15th and 19th Section with vel of 1356 and 1350.76 while the Long, Brown & Son partnership took 7th Fed, 20th Section on 1350.44.
I was saddened when I received a phone call from Simon Cole of Coventry informing me that his Father Bryan had passed away. We first met Bryan a number of years ago while he was holidaying in our area, he was told to pay Brian and me a visit at the loft. We took to Bryan from the word go as we found him a pleasant and honest man, who had raced Pigeons and help many official positions at Club and Federation level for a number of years. Bryan always called in to see us whenever he was holidaying in the area, it was always good to see him and his visits brought a good friendship between us. Over the years we gifted Bryan a number of birds, and we kept in touch over the phone. Bryan would always bring a bottle of very good Whisky up with him to donate to the raffle I often ran for the Multiple Sclerosis Centre in South Bank. Sadly Bryan’s wife Jean passed away and Bryan was at a loss after spending a great number of years with his lovably Wife. It must have been heartbreaking for Bryan as he and Jean had been through so much together. We had also become good friends with Bryan’s Son Simon who raced Pigeons on his own; Simon always called on us when he was in our area. We have been fortunate enough to have met and become great friends with Bryan & Simon. It was a great privilege to have become friends with the very caring Bryan and he is going to be greatly missed. Rest in Peace Bryan, you were one of the best. Condolences to Simon and his Family from the Simpson Family
The East Cleveland Federation Chairman Bill Heslop and John Wilkie the Mid Tyne Federation Secretary have given their time to auction the birds for the Loftus Championship Club Breeder/Buyer sales over the years. In the early days the two auctioneers gave up their time free of charge but for the past few years Bill & John have taken a payment of £100 each for their services where they have helped raise thousands of pounds for the fanciers to fly for from the UNC young bird Maidstone National. Each year they have received a payment the two lads have donated the sum of £200 to worthwhile charities, with their 2016 fee going to The Royal National Lifeboat Institution and The Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The Redcar Lifeboat Station was very grateful to Bill & John for their very kind £100 donation, the contribution will help to go towards their expenses. As we are all aware the funding comes from voluntary donations and legacies, the Lifeboat personnel have had a number of jobs lately and it is thanks to people like Bill & John who enable the Lifeboat Station to provide the best equipment available for the very brave crews when they put to sea on rescues.
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was equally grateful to Bill & John for their £100 donation. The YYA currently operate two helicopters with one based at Nostell Air Support Unit, near Wakefield and the other at RAF Topcliffe, near Thirsk. Both of which can be airborne in just two minutes, flying at speeds of up to 160mph. The YAA attend over 1,000 missions a year, an average of 3 incidents every single day. 90% of YAA patients are flown to one of the region’s four Major Trauma Centres; Leeds General Infirmary, Sheffield Northern General, Hull Royal Infirmary or James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough. 90% of all emergency missions result in a patient receiving expert clinical treatment from YAA aircrew paramedics or doctors. And 90% of Yorkshire’s population live within a maximum of 20 minutes flying time of the two YAA Air Support Units. As you are probably aware it costs the charity £12,000 every day to keep both the helicopters maintained and in the air. Every donation received will help to carry on flying and saving lives across the region seven days a week, 365 days a year and the YAA are extremely grateful for the support.
Right that’s me done for this week, thanks to the ones who have taken time to collect or send their own details of their birds onto me. Don’t be shy put plenty in. I hope to have caught up in my next report which includes the Peterborough (2), Roye, Newark (2) and Bourges report. Anyone failing to send their info on the Clubs I cover will be missed off the report altogether, I spend a lot of time putting a report together but from now on I will only be reporting on the info received.
With that I will close down until next time.
Any news to Good Corn 6 Boulby Drive Loftus Saltburn Cleveland TS13 4JN.
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