Around The Up North Combine
Reg & Ray’s Average Winning Season
By Good Corn
Brotton Homing Society and the Brotton 6 Bird Club jointly held their 2015 prize presentation evening at the Spar Hotel, Saltburn on Saturday 8th January 2016. Once again it was good to see both Clubs getting together for their payout night, the double event has being a great success since they agreed to have both doo’s at the same venue and long may it continue. I believe I have only missed one Brotton H/S presentation evening since I was first invited with my Brother Brian to present the prizes back in 1995 and I have enjoyed some great nights in that time, sadly we have lost a number of Club members in that time but they are often talked about whenever we talk Pigeons and they will still be talked about in years to come. Sadly the Club lost another member in 2015 after the passing of Brian “Rusty” Stone, who was in the Garbutt, Stone & McCormick partnership. I first came across Rusty over 40 years ago when the Stone family raced Whippets and very successful at that. I used to enjoy watching the Whippet racing on the Carling How track, with a number of the Whippets going on to win many honours including Championships throughout the Country. Rusty later turned to Pigeon racing, as did a lot of the Whippet racing lads in the area. Rusty was a very easy lad to get on with and that was one of the reasons he was very popular in our area, he also held official positions at the Brotton Workingmens Club, Rusty is greatly missed.
The very hard working Brotton H/S Secretary, Terry Callan took to the floor to welcome everyone to the payout night, and then gave a run down on the 2015 racing season where a lot of praise was given to the members performances. Club Chairman Bill Heslop then took to the mic to say a few words before asking me to present the silverware to the very worthy winners. After the presentation it was the Brotton 6 Bird Clubs turn to present their silverware, the very had working Barbara Moore gave a run down on the Clubs thrills and spills in 2015, and then asked former member Ces Rawson who now flies with Loftus to present the prizes. Barbara’s husband Bob was unable to attend through illness, I would like to wish Bob well and hope he is on the mend. The meal followed and the rest of the night was spent with the Brotton H/S supper night breeder/buyer sale, the raffle and the Scooby Doo Mobile Disco & Karaoke. A few of the crowd took to the floor to sing their favourite songs; once again it was a very enjoyable night with everyone having a good time. I would like to thank the members for inviting Hayden, Tyler and myself along, thanks also go out for the gifts for my two Grandsons, wife Carole and my Sister Shirley who were unable to attend through illness.
Top prize winning Reg Wilson of Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partner with their array of 2015 trophies
Top prize-winners for the second year running was the loft of Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partner, with Reg & Ray being the winners of the 200 Mile Trophy, Brian Wattis Memorial Trophy, £1 Trophy, Old Bird & Young Bird Derby’s, Bird Of The Year, Champion Flyer, Classic Average, Old Bird Inland Average, Channel Average, Old Bird Combined Average R/U Young Bird Average and the Combined Average and many, many other trophies. Reg & Ray’s outstanding season saw them winning 8 x 1st, 13 x 2nd, 8 x 3rd, 10 x 4th, 10 x 5th, 12 x 6th Clubs and a grand total of 207pts. The Clubs highest prize-winners have been a force for a great number of years, with them winning numerous races and averages in that time with different breeds of Pigeons. The 2015 racing season saw Reg & Ray in the points from the off after timing three birds at old bird Selby (Bubwith) to chalk up 2nd and 5th Club, 21st, 26th and 36th Fed. The duo had another three birds on the clock out of Worksop to notch up 5th, 6th and 7th Club, 32nd, 37th and 38th Fed. A week later when the birds were at Oakham (1) four birds were timed to pocket 4th and 6th Club, 10th, 21st, 26th and 30th Fed. Reg & Ray recorded their first win of the 2015 racing season at Peterborough (1) after timing three of their entries to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd and 5th Club, with the red and blue card winners that were timed 2 seconds apart going on to score a tidy 12th and 13th Fed from a convoy of 1,973 birds. The following week when the birds were at Rivenhall (1) a single bird was timed to net 3rd Club, 28th Fed. The two lads enjoyed a good clocking day from the Eastbourne (1) National when no fewer than five birds were timed to chalk up a notable 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 15th, 16th, 26th and 40th Fed. Reg & Ray’s consistent run continued at Peterborough (2) where a couple of their team were on the clock to lift 2nd and 6th Club, with their blue card potter going on to claim a useful 8th Fed. On to the channel where the boys timed another two birds at Lillers to pot 2nd and 5th Club with the blue card scorer taking 36th Fed. Next stop is Rivenhall (2) where three of Reg & Ray’s squad were timed to take a notable 3rd, 5th and 6th Club, 11th, 21st and 35th Fed; the partnership was in the points for the tenth consecutive race at Oakham (2) when a single bird was timed to collect 2nd Club, 15th Fed.
Reg & Ray returned to the winners’ enclosure at Peterborough (3) after timing no less than five of their entries to win a cracking 1st, 4th and 5th Club, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 17th and 18th Fed when there were 1,224 birds competing. The inform Reg & Ray made it two wins off the belt at Oakham (3) after having three of their team on the clock to win a joyful 1st, 2nd and 6th Club, 4th, 16th and 29th Fed from an entry of 1,221 birds. A hat-trick of wins was achieved at the Eastbourne (2) National when four birds were in the frame to win a notable 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club with the pole position winner that topped the Club charts by 4 minutes going on to score 7th Fed; while the other three timers netted 19th, 20th and 40th Fed when there were 945 birds competing. Reg & Rays birds were pushing all the right button with a long list of top loft performance, and they didn’t disappoint when putting in another good performance at Oakham (4) when three birds were timed to lift 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club, 6th, 7th and 23rd Fed; with the blue and green card scorers touching down together. Back over the channel where Reg & Ray knocked up their first French win of the season at water race four after clocking a couple of their team at Reims to win a well-deserved 1st and 2nd Club, 3rd and 16th Fed out of an entry of 215 birds, with the well-fancied red card winner taking 3rd £2 Fed Nom claiming £20.20 and also chalking up 116th Up North Combine from a convoy of 3,877 birds from a distance of 426 miles. Once again this turned out to be a tough channel race with the lads winner being 53 minutes in front of their blue card scorer who in turn was 13 minutes in front of the bird that took 3rd Club. It took just short of an hour to fill the first 20 on the Fed sheet, with many birds missing on nightfall. Oakham (5) brought the duo 2nd and 4th Club, 19th and 35th Fed; Reg & Ray’s outstanding old bird run saw them score in all fourteen inland races which is a fantastic achievement by anyone’s standards. On to the final race of the old bird season where three birds were on the clock at the French race point Burbure to pocket a very nice 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 22nd and 38th Fed to round off an awesome campaign.
Moving on to the nine young bird race programme where the two lads hit winning form out of Selby (2) when two babies were timed 3 seconds apart to win a notable 1st and 2nd Club, 37th and 38th Fed when there were 2,521 birds competing. Another couple of youngsters were on the clock a week later from Worksop (1) to claim 5th Club, 15th and 23rd Fed; and that was followed up by netting 4th Club, 23rd Fed at Worksop (2). Reg & Ray achieved their second young bird winning performance in great style at Oakham after no fewer than four of their entries were in the clock to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 1st, 2nd, 32nd and 35th Fed from a convoy of 1,334 birds. Reg & Ray were enjoying a good run when they were in the points for the fifth consecutive young bird race when they timed two birds from the Peterborough race to pocket a useful 3rd and 4th Club. Young bird win number three was recorded from the Maidstone National when two of their squad was timed to win 1st and 4th Club with the pole position winner who topped the Club charts by 2 minutes going on to score an impressive 4th Fed when there were 1,226 birds competing. No one can fault Reg & Ray’s 2015 Average winning season for their birds had delivered the goods week in week out with a number of top team performances, to see them top of the tree by an incredible 70pts, that takes some achieving.
Mick Smithies, R/U Old Bird Inland Average, Channel Average & the Combined Average
For the second year on the trot Mick Smithies was the Clubs second highest prize-winner, with Mick being the winner of the L Riddiough Memorial Trophy, Peterborough (2) Cup, Bass Trophy, Tadcaster Cup, Hadfield (3) Trophy, the T Shaw Memorial Trophy, Chapman Cup, Moody Cup, L Playforth Trophy, Best Channel Bird, R/U Old Bird Inland Average, R/U Channel Average and R/U Combined Average. Mick was also the winner of 8 x 1st, 5 x 2nd, 6 x 3rd, 7 x 4th, 7 x 5th, 5 x 6th Clubs and 137pts. Mick’s season got off to a point scorning start when he timed two birds out of old bird Selby to pocket 3rd Club, 22nd and 34th Fed. A couple of birds were on the clock for the second week running at Worksop to win a top-notch 1st and 2nd Club, 13th and 16th Fed from a convoy of 2,311 birds. Mick who was the Clubs top prize winner in both 2012 and 2013 achieved his second straight win at the new race point Oakham (1) when no fewer than six of his entries were timed to win a belting 1st and 5th Club, 3rd, 16th, 32nd, 33rd, 36th and 37th Fed when there were 2,082 birds competing. A single bird was on the clock at Peterborough (1) to pot 4th Club with the yellow card scorer going on to net 27th Fed. Mick recorded his third win from five starts out of Rivenhall (1) when three of his squad were timed to win an impressive 1st, 2nd and 6th Club, 9th and 17th Fed when there was 1,655 birds away. After being out of the frame at the Eastbourne (1) National Mick got back to his winning ways in great style from Peterborough (2) when no fewer than four birds were clocked to win an awesome 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 5th, 25th, 34th and 40th Fed when there were 1,795 birds competing, and then 4th Club was taken at Lillers. The following week the birds were back on English soil and back in the winners’ enclosure when three birds were on the clock at Rivenhall (2) to win a cool 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, with the red and blue card winners that were timed 20 seconds apart going on to score a cracking 4th and 5th Fed while the yellow card potter claimed 19th Fed out of an entry of 1,334 birds. Another three birds were on the clock from Oakham (2) to notch up 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 25th, 31st and 37th Fed; and this was followed up by collecting 4th Club out of Roye.
A very good clocking day was enjoyed at Peterborough (3) when Mick timed no less than four of his entries to chalk up a notable 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 4th, 5th, 14th and 23rd Fed. A solo bird was on the clock at Oakham (3) to net 5th Club, 24th Fed and then two birds were timed from the Eastbourne (2) National to chalk up 2nd and 5th Club, 14th and 21st Fed. Mick was scoring for the ninth race running at Oakham (4) when he recorded his sixth win of the old bird campaign after timing no fewer than five birds to win a notable 1st, 4th and 6th Club, 5th, 19th, 27th, 29th and 32nd Fed when there was 1,009 birds away. Mick won his second inland race on the trot at Oakham (5) to record his seventh old bird win, after clocking four of his team to win an awesome 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th Club with the four timers going on to score 11th, 20th, 37th and 38th Fed out of an entry of 1,111 birds. The forever trying Mick rounded off the old bird season with a win from the new French race point Burbure which replaced Lillers (2), with Mick’s red card winner that was 4 minutes in front of the second bird in the Club going on to lift a nice 10th Fed out of 788 birds and 135th Up North Combine from a convoy of 10,617 birds. Mick had enjoyed a fantastic old bird season with him scoring in all but one of the fourteen inland races, the lad also scored points in three of the five races I know of, no Club birds were recorded in race time from Bourges, a race point I’m sure Mick normally doesn’t compete in and I’m unsure if Mick sent to the Reims race. But all in all the lad had flown an outstanding Pigeon again in 2015, something he has achieved the past few season when he has being either the Clubs top or second highest prize-winner. Next stop is the young birds where Mick enjoyed timing three birds inside 3 seconds at Selby (1) to chalk up a useful 3rd, 5th and 6th Club, 15th, 17th and 18th Fed; a fourth baby was timed to notch up 38th Fed. I have stated in some of my previous pay-out night reports that Mick is a non-driver so in his working days his birds had very little training and his time at the loft before and after work was very limited. Mick’s racing performances have really improved since his retirement a handful of years ago due to him being able to spend more time with his birds. I’m sure Mick’s Brother Norman who does drive will help out when needed; Norman himself is a former fancier.
Mr & Mrs Bob & Barbara Moore were the winners of the Vaux Tankard, Selby (1) Cup, the Frank Reilly Memorial Trophy, Bubwith (3) Young Bird Trophy, Retford (1) Cup, Bortner Young Bird Cup and the Young Bird Average. The duo won 4 x 1st, 5 x 2nd, 5 x 3rd, 3 x 4th, 3 x 5th Clubs and 84pts, with their first points being netted at old bird Peterborough (1) when 3rd Club, 20th Fed was chalked up. Bob & Barbara were in the frame for the second race running out of Rivenhall (1) to pocket 4th Club with their yellow card potter going on to claim 30th Fed; and then 5th Club was taken at Burbure. Bob & Barbara’s very impressive young bird campaign kicked off with a top-notch winning performance after timing no fewer than five of their entries at Selby (1) to win an awesome 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, 13th, 14th, 16th, 20th and 35th Fed from a convoy of 2,171 birds, with the first 3 birds being timed in the space of 3 seconds. Young bird win number two from three races was achieved at Worksop (1) where another five babies were clocked to win a very impressive 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 10th, 11th, 12th, 21st and 33rd Fed when there were 2,202 birds competing, with the first 3 youngsters being timed inside 6 seconds of each other to round off another brilliant young bird performance. A couple of birds were clocked 1 second apart at Worksop (2) to chalk up a useful 2nd and 3rd Club, 14th and 16th Fed; and this was followed up by taking 4th Club, 28th Fed out of Oakham and then 5th Club was netted from Peterborough. Bob & Barbara returned to the winners enclosure at Rivenhall when their pole position winner went on to score 38th Fed from an entry of 1,373 birds; and a week later when the birds were at the Maidstone National two birds were timed to pocket a nice 2nd and 3rd Club, 13th and 29th Fed. The inform Bob & Barbara who are well known for flying an impressive young bird got back to their winning ways from Selby (3), the final race of the 2015 racing season after timing three birds to win an eye-opening 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club with the red card winner going on to chalk up 18th Fed out of an entry of 841 birds to round off another young bird average winning season.
Frank, Brenda & Wayne Reilly and Girlfriend, winning 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd, 1 x 4th, 3 x 5th Clubs and 32pts
The loft of Frank Reilly & Son Wayne and Franks loft helping Wife Brenda were the winners of the Grantham Young Bird Trophy, winning 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd, 1 x 4th, 3 x 5th Clubs and 32pts. A single bird was on the clock at old bird Oakham (1) to chalk up 3rd Club, 7th Fed; and then 3rd Club, 23rd Fed was taken out of Roye and 30th Fed was notched up from Oakham (3), and that was followed up by pocketing 5th Club, 39th Fed young bird Worksop (2). Frank, Wayne & Brenda zoomed in to the winners’ enclosure at Peterborough when their red card winning youngster that topped the Club charts by 2 minutes went on to score a nice 12th Fed when there were 1,701 birds competing.
Shaun & Bill Ward, the winners of 3 x 1st, 1 x 3rd, 2 x 6th and 24pts
The partnership of W & S Ward will have being well pleased with their seasons work were the winners of the Selby Old Bird Trophy, Metcalf Cup, Bortner Cup, the Les Rees Plate, Melton Mowbray Trophy, Brotton Corn Store Cup and the A Marshall Memorial Trophy. Bill and his Grandson Shaun won 3 x 1st, 1 x 3rd, 2 x 6th Clubs and 24pts; with the duo starting the season in the winners’ enclosure after timing two birds at old bird Selby to win a welcoming 1st and 6th Club, 18th and 38th Fed from a convoy of 1,303 birds. Lifelong member of the sport Bill & Shaun achieved their second win of the season at the Eastbourne (1) National when their pole position winner that topped the Club charts by 2 minutes went on to score a nice 9th Fed from a convoy of 1,332 birds. Bill & Shaun recorded their third old bird win out of Oakham (2) where their red card winner went on to chalk up a useful 10th Fed when there were 1,335 birds competing. The duo were out of the Club points at Peterborough (3) but still managed to pick up 16th Fed; and then 3rd Club, 17th Fed was potted at Oakham (3) before notching up 38th Fed out of Oakham (4). I’m sure Bill & Shaun will continue to improve their performances, just as they have done the past couple of seasons.
Mr & Mrs Linda & Golly Peirson, the winners of 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 2 x 4th, 1 x 5th, 4 x 6th Clubs and 23pts
Mr & Mrs Golly (Graham) & Linda Peirson were the winners of the Retford (2) Young Bird Trophy and the Club Cup, with the duo winning 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 2 x 4th, 1 x 5th, 4 x 6th Clubs and 23pts. After taking 39th Fed out of old bird Oakham (1) Golly & Linda pocketed 6th Club from Peterborough (1) the following week. The duo then took 4th Club, 22nd Fed from Oakham (3) and claimed 6th Club, 19th Fed from young bird Worksop (1). Golly & Linda topped the Club charts a week later at Worksop (2) when their pole position winning youngster went on to score a useful 13th Fed from a convoy of 2,173 birds. A couple of their team were in the clock at Peterborough to lift 2nd and 6th Club with their blue card potting baby going on to collect 36th Fed. Golly & Linda will be flying at another loft location sometime through the 2016 racing season, I’m not sure if the duo are racing their old birds from the same loft as in 2015 and racing their young birds at their new allotment. Time plays a big part in arranging things and with Golly having to put in a lot of time working, he will take things as they come. But wherever they fly from I wish them well and hope they can reclaim their winning performances.
Andrew & Gavin Doe of the Doe, Swales & Sanderson partnership, winning 1 x 1st, 1 x 3rd, 2 x 4th. 2 x 5th Clubs and 20pts
The loft of Andrew & Gavin Doe, Dillon “John” Swales and the late Sandy Sanderson were the winners of the Eddie Ward Memorial Trophy and the L Miller Trophy, winning 1 x 1st, 1 x 3rd, 2 x 4th, 2 x 5th Clubs and 20pts. The lads kicked off their season by timing two birds at old bird Selby to score 4th Club, 23rd and 40th Fed; and followed that up a week later by timing another couple of their entries at Worksop to lift a notable 2nd and 4th Club, 29th and 31st Fed. Andrew, Gavin & Dillon hit the winners’ enclosure at the first channel race Lillers, when their winner that was an awesome 8 minutes in front of the second bird in the Club went on to score a top-notch 8th Fed from a entry of 910 birds and to go on even further to net a fantastic 16th Up North Combine from a convoy of 14,062 birds. The boys who will have being over the moon with their Lillers winning performance then potted 5th Club Roye before notching up 35th Fed out of Peterborough (2), and then claiming 5th Club, 25th Fed out of Reims. Andrew & Gavin are always on the lookout for improvement with them often attending sales in the hope of obtaining birds to get them closer to the top.
Terry Callan & Cath, the scorers of 1 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd, 1 x 4th, 1 x 6th Clubs and 17pts
Terry Callan was the scorer of 1 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd, 1 x 4th, 1 x 6th and 17pts, Terry’s first points were achieved at the second channel race Roye when a notable 2nd |Club, 21st Fed was chalked up. Terry was in the channel points for the second time from the Reims race when he clocked a couple of his entries to net 3rd Club, 22nd and 33rd Fed. The lad chalked up 4th Club, 14th Fed from young bird Worksop (1) and then took 3rd Club, 10th Fed at Oakham. Terry has held the post of Club Secretary for a great number of years after taking over from the previous Secretary Billy Rigg in 1977, I wonder if there is anyone out there that has more Secretarial years in than Terry.
Sacker Cole & Kevin Brown of K & M Brown & Cole with Malla Ward, the winners of 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd, 1 x 5th Clubs and 17pts
The partnership of Kevin & Merv Brown & Sacker “Bill” Cole were the winners of the A Hope Trophy, winning 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd, 1 x 5th Clubs and 17pts. Kevin, his father Merv and Sacker first chalked at old bird Oakham (1) when an impressive 2nd Club, 4th Fed was netted, the lads then took 5th Club, 32nd Fed out of Rivenhall (1) before claiming 3rd Club at Lillers. Kevin, Merv & Sacker recorded their solo win of the season at Roye when their red card winner who topped the Club charts by 6 minutes went on to score a well-deserved 13th Fed when there was 457 birds away. This was a top performance from the 2y winner as it turned out to be a tough race with the rest of the Feds Club winners being well clear of the rest of the birds from the 370 mile race.
The loft of Darren & James Waters were the scorers of 1 x 4th, 1 x 6th Clubs and 4pts with Darren and his father James netting their 4pts at Reims when they scored 4th and 6th Club, 24th and 31st Fed.
Vic Garbutt & Brian McCormick of Garbutt, Stone & McCormick, the winners of the Young Bird Knock-Out Trophy
The right honourable Vic Garbutt, the late Brian “Rusty” Stone & Brian McCormick were the winners of the Young Bird Knock-Out Trophy, 2 x 6th Clubs and 2pts. Vic & Mac first potted at old bird Oakham (2) when the first of their 6th Club was taken, and that was followed up by claiming 6th Club, 43rd Fed out of young bird Worksop (2).
Sue & Friend enjoying a good night at the Brotton H/S pay-out - Club chairman Bill Heslop & Wife Pam
The Karaoke singing Graham Wattis and Wife Linda
That’s the Brotton H/S 2015 presentation done and dusted, there was a few Club positions missing off the report as the birds positions were out of the Fed result. The Brotton 6 Bird Club presentation winners will be my next report, I wish the members of both Clubs a successful 2016 racing season.
Before I close, a Charity Young Bird Auction is going to be held at the Wearmouth Colliery Workingmens Club in Sunderland on Sunday 3rd April in aid of the Children’s Unit at the Sunderland General Hospital. Penning and viewing will start at 11.30-12.45 with the sale kicking off at 1pm, a number of youngsters have being donated by some top fanciers, if anyone would like to donate a young bird for the sale please phone Davy on 07714 724834.
With that I will close until next time. Any news to Good Corn 6 Boulby Drive Loftus Saltburn Cleveland TS13 4JN.
Tel; 01287 643624 or Email;
