Around The Up North Combine
Children’s Unit, Sunderland General Hospital Young Bird Sale
By Good Corn
If you can cast your minds back to the Redcar Central presentation evening report, there was a number of fanciers from other Clubs that fly in the same North Yorkshire Federation as the Redcar members. And as I took some photos of some of the other Clubs fanciers, I said I would give them a mention in a later report, well that later report is here now. The members in question were Keith Homer, Alan Brooks, Doug Dobson, Jackie Savage, Alan Armstrong, Barry Watson, Mark Walton, Paul Withers and former fancier Andy Ward.
Mark Walton, Adam Burniston, Paul Withers & Keith Homer.
Starting with the very highly successful partnership of K & K Homer & D & P Williams who are members of both the Grangetown Clubs, with the lads flying in Grangetown H/S and the St Mary’s. The partnership of Keith “Squeaker” & Kenny Homer, Davy Williams and his son Paul are renowned for flying a top class pigeon, with the lads winning numerous 1st Clubs and averages while flying in both Clubs over the years. If their fellow Clubmates have a bird on the clock before them, then there is a very good chance of them winning the Club and doing well in the Fed. The partnership have dominated Grangetown H/S, St Mary’s and the Fed for a great number of years, with them flying an excellent Pigeon with the old birds inland, over the channel and the young birds. There all round top performance from all distances and on all types of days have made them a force to be reckoned with; their winning records are second to none. The partnership recorded a fantastic 19 x 1st Clubs in Grangetown H/S in the 2015 racing season; I’m missing three St Mary’s results from Lillers, young bird Peterborough and Rivenhall, so from the rest of the races an outstanding 18 x 1st Clubs were won. I’m not going to give all the following fanciers all their Club positions but I will give their Club wins and other top positions and performances throughout the racing season.
Squeaker, Kenny, Davy & Paul zoomed in to the winners’ enclosure in both Clubs from old bird Selby “Bubwith” on the opening day of the 2015 racing season, with them timing three birds in the Grangetown to win a most impressive 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 1st, 3rd and 5th North Yorkshire Fed from a convoy of 1,422 birds. A couple of birds were on the clock in the St Mary’s to win an impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 6th Fed to round off a fantastic days racing. The lads won both Clubs again a week later out of Worksop when their Grangetown winner netted 8th Fed and their St Mary’s red card winner that was timed 4 seconds after its loftmate pocketed 9th Fed when there were 2,415 birds competing. Squeaker, Kenny, Davy & Paul achieved their third double win off the belt at Oakham (1) when two of their Grangetown entries were timed in the space of 3 seconds to win a top-notch 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 3rd Fed. While their St Mary’s chart-topper that was clocked 2 seconds after the Grangetown winner went on to score an awesome 2nd Fed from a convoy of 2,377 birds. The inform Squeaker, Kenny, Davy & Paul recorded their fourth consecutive double header out of Peterborough (1) when they won a brilliant 1st Club and 1st Fed in the St Mary’s. The lads who were taking both of their Clubs and the Fed by storm also had two of their Grangetown squad on the clock to win an outstanding 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 3rd Fed out of an entry of 2,029 birds. The partnership who are the previous winners of 1st Up North Combine Lillers (1) in 2008 with the Gold Medal winning “Flo” from a convoy of 17,066 birds, won 1st Club, 8th Fed Rivenhall (1) in the St Mary’s when there were 1,753 birds away. Moving on to the Eastbourne (1) National where the Grangetown charts were topped with the red card winner going on to chalk up 12th Fed out of 1,382 birds. Back to back Grangetown wins were achieved from Peterborough (2) when a cracking 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 2nd, 4th and 5th Fed was won, a St Mary’s entry was also timed to claim 2nd Club, 6th Fed out of 1,649 birds to polish off another one of their awesome loft performances.
Doug Dobson & Alan Armstrong.
Next stop is Rivenhall (2) where the lads achieved another winning both Clubs performance with their St Mary’s winner taking a very nice 3rd Fed and their Grangetown chart-topper that won 1st Club, 12th Fed out of the Eastbourne (1) National netting a useful 8th Fed when there were 1,238 birds competing. The winning continued at Oakham (2) when Squeaker, Kenny, Davy & Paul won a top-notch 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 2nd, 5th and 8th Fed in Grangetown H/S when there were 1,071 birds competing. The boys also had a couple of their St Mary’s entries on the clock which were timed 3 seconds apart to win an awesome 1st and 2nd Club, 3rd and 4th Fed, with the winner touching down at the same time as their Grangetown winner. The lads chalked up their ninth Grangetown win of the season out of the channel race Roye, with their well out in front pole position winner going on to pocket a well-earned 5th Fed out of an entry of 470 birds. The partnership got back to their St Mary’s winning ways at Peterborough (3) when their table-topper who won an outstanding 1st Club, 1st Fed from Peterborough (1), went on to pocket a nice 7th Fed this time around out of an entry of 1,190 birds. The same Pigeon was sent in the Grangetown Club the following week when the birds were at Oakham (3) and not only did it achieve its third 1st of the season it recorded its second Fed win of 2015 when there were 1,147 birds competing. The lads had another couple of their Grangetown entries in the clock to chalk up a remarkable 2nd and 3rd Club, 2nd and 5th Fed. I hope you didn’t think it ended there because it didn’t for the class act partnership had two of their St Mary’s squad zap together to win a very pleasing 1st and 2nd Club, 3rd and 4th Fed and end the day on another high note. Whenever you see a North Yorkshire Federation result there is a very good chance the name of Homer & Williams will feature somewhere, and if you look at the 2015 Eastbourne (2) National result you will see the lads sitting on top of the pile winning a top class 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section winning £125.33 in prize money and 39th Up North Combine from a convoy of 12,647 birds in the St Mary’s. The pole position winner won 1st Club, 2nd Fed in the Grangetown from Peterborough (1) when beaten by its St Mary’s loftmate that won 1st Club, 1st Fed. Back to the Eastbourne (2) National where the boys achieved their second win of the day after winning 1st Club, 7th Fed in Grangetown H/S, it also claimed = 165th Combine with its St Mary’s loftmate to round off another top class performance.
Alan Brooks, Andy Ward, Bob McGillicuddy & Squeakers Brother.
Squeaker, Kenny, Davy & Paul’s winning performance last longer than a Duracell Battery, for the lads recorded their third consecutive double-header when they timed three birds in the space of 20 seconds at Oakham (4) to win 1st Club, 8th Fed in the St Mary’s and they also won 1st and 2nd Club, 9th and 10th Fed in the Grangetown when there were 787 birds away. With their chart-topper being the previous winner of a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Fed in Grangetown H/S from Oakham (1). No wins in either Club out of Reims but that must have been the calm before the storm, because the following week when the birds were back on English soil at Oakham (5) no fewer than seven of their entries were on the clock to win a top class 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th and 12th Fed in the Grangetown out of 721 birds with the red and blue card winners touching down together. Squeaker, Kenny, Davy & Paul also had a couple of their St Mary’s entries in their seven timers to win 1st and 2nd Club, 4th and 6th Fed to end a fantastic days racing. The lads winner is some Pigeon for it is the same bird that won an outstanding 1st Club, 1st Fed Peterborough (1), 1st Club, 7th Fed Peterborough (3) and 1st Club, 1st Fed Oakham (3). Well Squeaker, Kenny, Davy & Paul started the old bird season winning the Grangetown Club and they ended their earth-shattering old bird season in top spot, with them winning 1st Club, 6th Fed and 117th UNC Burbure from a convoy of 10,617 birds. As we can all see the top class performances keep on coming, and we can all also see the high birdage they are competing against each week.
Moving on to the young birds where they topped the St Mary’s charts out of Worksop (1) when their red card winning baby went on to score a useful 8th Fed from a convoy of 2,348 birds. The boys also won 1st Club, 32nd Fed in the St Mary’s. Their youngsters hit the heights a week later at Newark (1) when they timed no less than six birds in the space of 16 seconds to win a earth-shattering 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 3rd Fed in the Grangetown, while their four St Mary timers won 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Fed when there were 2,339 birds competing. Squeaker, Kenny, Davy & Paul won both Clubs for the third young bird race running from Newark (2) where they won 1st Club, 4th Fed in the St Mary’s out of an entry of 2,244 birds; while their Grangetown chart-topping baby went on to score 12th Fed. The inform loft and loft of the season recorded their fourth straight St Mary’s win out of Oakham when two of their team were timed within 9 seconds of each other to win 1st and 2nd Club, 14th and 15th Fed when there were 1,580 birds away. The baby that won 1st Club, 32nd Fed in Grangetown H/S from Worksop won the Club for the second time out of Peterborough when the winner went on to net 30th Fed when there were 1,616 birds competing. Squeaker, Kenny, Davy & Paul chalked up their second Grangetown win on the trot from Rivenhall where the winner went on to claim 9th Fed out of 1,381 birds. The Maidstone National saw the lads win 1st Club, 5th Fed in the St Mary’s when there were 1,138 birds competing; and that was followed by winning the Club for the second race running out of Selby (2) when 6th Fed was taken out of 979 birds to end a first class racing season.
The South Bank loft of Alan Brooks & Son enjoyed a cracking season winning an outstanding 11 x 1st Clubs, with win number one coming at old bird Peterborough (1) when the red card winner netted 13th Fed. Back to back wins were recorded at Rivenhall (1) when a nice 1st Club, 5th Fed was won, and then two weeks later when the birds were at Peterborough (2) Alan won 1st Club, 10th Fed. The same Pigeon won for the second race running when a notable 1st Club, 12th Fed and 56th UNC was won from Lillers from a convoy of 14,062 birds; Alan won his third consecutive race at Rivenhall (2) when his chart-topper went on to net a useful 6th Fed. That was a very impressive purple patch with Alan winning 5 x 1st Clubs from the previous six races, which including some top-notch Fed positions and his 56th Combine. Alan got his breath back before winning a cheerful 1st and 2nd Club, 7th and 8th Fed at Oakham (3), the following week when the birds were at the Eastbourne (2) National Alan timed his very well-fancied Peterborough (2) and Lillers winner to win an very impressive 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 1st A-B-C-D Fed pools to pocket £139.88 and 73rd UNC. Alan returned to his winning ways at Oakham (5) when a couple of his squad were on the clock to win a very nice 1st and 2nd Club, with his red card winner taking 8th Fed and his blue card potter that was timed 22 seconds later netting 9th Fed. The lad won 1st Club, 9th Fed out of young bird Newark (1) and quickly followed that up by winning 1st Club, 9th Fed for the second race running from Newark (2). Alan recorded his eleventh win of a first class 2015 season in fantastic style by winning a most impressive 1st Club, 1st Fed at Selby (2); the final race of the season. Alan has flown Pigeons for a great number of years with him flying a very notable Pigeon in that time, his 2015 winning performances proves he has not lost his winning touch.
“The Golden Girls” Tracy, Cath & Jackie.
The Guisborough loft of Katie & Mark Walton were the winners of 9 x 1st Clubs, with Mark hitting the winners’ enclosure from day one when he won 1st Club, 8th Fed old bird Selby. Two weeks later with the birds at Oakham (1) 1st Club, 6th Fed was won and win number three was achieved in fantastic style when a most impressive 1st Club, 1st Fed was won out of Rivenhall (1). And then Mark won 1st Club, 15th Fed out of the Eastbourne (1) National, and two weeks later when the birds were at Lillers a top-notch 1st Club, 2nd Fed and 4th UNC was won. Mark’s day got even better for he won the Roy “Chubby” Brown Lillers Show Race, I don’t know if it was with his Club winner or not. Mark chalked up his sixth old bird win out of Oakham (2) when the chart-topper went on to net a nice 6th Fed; the red card winner won pole position again from Oakham (3) when 11th Fed was potted. Mark knocked up his eighth win of the old bird campaign at Oakham (5) when his winner claimed 28th Fed. Mark’s solo young bird win of 2015 was achieved out of Selby (2) where the red card winning youngster went on to pocket 9th Fed. Mark was in partnership with his father Jim flying as J & M Walton before leaving the sport and restarting in the current partnership name with his daughter Katie. The J & M Walton enjoyed some fantastic winning seasons together, winning many, many races, Club and Fed averages. Jim & Mark also won 1st UNC old bird Folkestone (1) National in 1988 from a convoy of 23,653 birds. Jim & Mark achieved their second 1st UNC win in 1995 when they won the Gold Medal from Beauvais when there were 12,299 birds competing.
Alan Armstrong & Son of Grangetown were the winners of 3 x 1st Clubs in 2015, with all three of Alan’s wins being achieved with the young birds. Alan’s first win was chalked up at Oakham when his red card winner went on to lift 24th Fed; win number two was netted out of the Maidstone National where the chart-topper pocketed an impressive 3rd Fed and 145th UNC from a convoy of 14,919 birds. Alan recorded his second win on the trot and third win in nine races from Selby (2) with his pole position winner going on to net a notable 5th Fed. The St Mary’s partnership of Doug Dobson & Jackie Savage are the previous winners of 1st Up North Combine Eastbourne Yearling National in 2013 with “Jacqueline’s Pride” from a convoy of 7,312 birds. Former St Mary’s fancier Andy Ward later went in to partnership win Malcolm & Peter Nee at South Bank flying as Brownlee, Nee, Sons & Ward. These lads were a force winning 1st UNC Lillers (2) in 1995 from a convoy of 18,473 birds.
Thomas Winter, Bam-Bam & Mark.
The Joker of the pack Barry “Bam-Bam” Watson & Son Robert of the Rectory Lane (Guisborough) were the winners of 3 x 1st Clubs, with the duo potting their first win at old bird Oakham (4) when their winner went on to chalk up a cracking 5th Fed. Bam-Bam was double parading the famous “Red Jersey” for him and Robert also won 1st Club, 5th Fed and 112th Combine out of the very tough Reims race the same weekend as the Oakham (4) race. Bam-Bam & Robert’s third win of the 2015 season was achieved at the young bird Maidstone National when their red card winning baby went on to score 22nd Fed.
The Dormanstown partnership of P & P Withers & Picknett enjoyed a season of all seasons when they lived their dream in 2015; the partnership and loft helper Adam Burniston enjoyed a top class old bird season. The lads started their season in the winners’ enclosurewinning a very nice 1st Club, 9th Fed out of Selby; and their second win of the season was chalked up from Peterborough (1) when their chart-topper went on to pocket a useful 9th Fed. Win number two on the belt was achieved out of Rivenhall (1) when their pole position winner notched up 13th Fed; and that was followed up by winning 1st Club, 9th Fed at Peterborough (2). The lads recorded their fifth win of the season in the best way possible at Lillers when they won an earth-shattering 1st , 14th, 19th, 111th and 118th Up North Combine from a convoy of 14,062 birds. The lads were also the winners of 1st Section winning £116.60 in prize money and winners of the “Joe Hunter Memorial Trophy” for the Best 2-Bird Performance. The partnership racked their second channel win on the trot out of Roye when their red card winner went on to score a cracking 2nd Fed and 128th UNC from a convoy of 7,316 birds. Their winning channel season continued at Reims when they won a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section winning £123.06 in prize money and 6th UNC from a convoy of 3,877 birds. The name of the partnership has changed in 2016 to P & P Withers, with Adam still being there to help out.
Just a reminder of the Charity Young Bird Sale in aid of the Children’s Unit at the Sunderland General Hospital; that is going to be held at the Wearmouth Colliery Welfare Social Club, Thompson Road, Southwick, Sunderland Tyne and Wear SR5 2SD on Sunday 3rd April. The penning and viewing of the youngsters on offer for this very worthy cause will start at 11:30am 12:45pm; with the auction of the birds going underway the hammer at 1pm. Birds have been kindly donated so far by the following North-East fanciers which includes a number of Combine winning lofts. Euro Pigeons Jan De Wijs - A J Coils & Son - Woodroffe Brothers - Stobbs Bros & Morley - R & A Evans, Gibbon & Smith - Harry Chappell - Gribben, Heath & Emerson Ali McLeod - Matthew Cornforth & Partner - Henry Alderson - Weldon, Son & Beadle - Howourth, Johnson & Steele - Armstrong, Shergold, Johnson & Moon - Gordon Coulson - Ian Jamison - Gordon Braban & Son - D Middleton & Son - Blackett & Renwick - P & P Withers - Helm, Knox & Brown - Smith, Profitt & Devitt - Shield Brothers - Stafford & Wilson - Glen Fisk - D Wilkinson & Son - Samuels & Lovell - Glen Wilkinson - Mark Harris - H Potts & Sons - John Smith - Dave Powers - Wright, Draper & Wright - Thurlow & Strong - Jackie Traynor - Sayers Bros - J Powell & Son - Fred McCluskey - Mr & Mrs Stewart - Frankie Yannetta - Billy Mooney - Ian Young - K Watson & Son - R Carr & Grandson.
With time moving on 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;
