'The Original' Around The Up North Combine
Sportsman & Comrades H/S, £7k Breeder/Buyer Pay Out
By Good Corn
On Saturday 4th November the 'Gang Of Four', Shirley, Hayden, Tyler and myself travelled up to Silksworth in Sunderland for the 2017 joint presentation evening of the Sunderland Premier Federation and the Sportsman & Comrades H/S, that was held at the Silksworth Comrades Club in John Street. The Sportsman & Comrades H/S other competitors in the Federation are Castletown, Ford Two Bird Club, Oddfellows, Plains Farm and West Side 6 Bird Club who compete in Section 4 of the Up North Combine. Section 4 is a very competitive Section, flying against Sunderland & District Federation, South Shields Federation and the North East Counties Federation. The Federation members have more then held their own in the Up North Combine over the years with a number of fanciers being previous winners of 1st UNC and also winning many UNC Averages along the way against 20,000 plus birds.
George 'Geordie' Roberts of Horden fame had the honour of presenting the silverware, George known to many as 'Podgy' is part of the very highly successful partnership of Fred Basley & George Roberts who are members of Horden H/S and Horden East End H/S that are two of four Clubs that competes in the South East Durham Federation along with Blackhall H/S and Easington WC H.S that is part of Section 6 along with Hartlepool and Middlesbrough & District. Fred & George have proved to be one of the Up North Combines top partnerships for the lads are the previous winners of 1st Up North Combine Melun in 1981 from a convoy of 10,920 birds when flying in the Horden East End H/S; the duo topped the Combine for the second time in 2007 when they won 1st UNC Bourges out of 3,137 birds and 1st North Of England Homing Union Open from a convoy of 4,145 birds in the Horden East End H/S. Fred & George recorded a earth-shattering third Combine win in 2009 when they won 1st UNC Lillers (1) when there were 18,088 birds competing, when flying in Horden H/S. Fred & George have enjoyed so many outstanding racing seasons with them winning numerous races and averages, including the 2017 season where they won the Channel Average and fourth highest prize winners in Horden H/S. Fred & George really excelled in Horden East End this season where they were the Clubs top prizewinners, with them winning the Old Bird Inland Average, Channel Average and Old Bird Of The Year. Fred & George were also the winners of the South East Durham Federation Channel Average. Horden H/S and Horden East End H/S are two of four Clubs that competes in the South East Durham Federation along with Blackhall H/S and Easington W C H/S, where Fred & George were the winners of the Federation Channel Average. The Federation is part of Section 6 along with the Hartlepool Fed and Middlesbrough & District Fed; Fred & George flew a very notable Pigeon in the Hartlepool & South East Durham Section with them being 3rd Old Bird Inland Average, runners-up Channel Average, 3rd Old Bird Combined Average, 3rd Combined Inland Average and runners-up Combined Average.
The very hard working John Potts of the Sportsman & Comrades H/S took to the floor to get the night under-way, unfortunately their Secretary Steve Barnes was unable to attend due to a illness in the family (hope things are sorted for you Steve). John gave a run down on the evening before handing over to George Roberts who gave a speech on how the season went and then presented the prizes to the Sportsman & Comrades H/S worthy winners, George then presented the prize money to the winners of the Clubs Breeder/Buyer event, and followed that up by presenting the silverware and prize money to the Sunderland Premier Federation winners. The disco, buffet and raffle followed before the disco lady came on for her second spot of top music to get a number of the crowd onto the dance floor to round off a great night. I would like to thank John Potts for inviting us along and wish the members all the very best for 2018. Before I go onto the winners I have to say I don't have all the prize winners, but I don have the Fed and Section results from all but a couple of the results.
Top prize winners in the Sportsman & Comrades H/S in 2017 was the loft of Dunn Brothers Ray & Derek who were the winners of 6 x 1st Clubs, winning the Inland Old Bird Average and the Combined Average with a grand total of 137pts. Ray & Derek the previous winners of 2nd Up North Combine Ypres in 2014 from a convoy of 7,905 birds, kick started their season by timing a couple of birds at old bird Bubwith to chalk up 2nd and 3rd Club, 9th and 10th Fed, 46th and 48th Section. The Brothers hit the winners' enclosure the following week when the birds were at Worksop where their red card winner went onto score a notable 4th Fed out of 1,493 birds and 37th Section when there were a whacking 6,025 birds competing. The duo enjoyed a good clocking day at Huntingdon to lift a very nice 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 9th, 10th and 11th Fed, 38th, 39th and 41st Section. Onto Oakham (2) where a single bird was timed to pocket a cracking 2nd Club, 6th Fed and 29th Section; and then 3rd Club, 3rd Fed, 30th Section was notched up from Oakham (3). Ray & Derek who won 4 x 1st Feds with the old birds in 2016, returned to the winners' enclosure at the first French channel race Burbure (1) where their pole position winner went onto score an outstanding 2nd Fed, 4th Section and 17th UNC from a convoy of 13,268 birds. The inform Brothers netted a neat 2nd Club, 7th Fed, 32nd Section Rivenhall before claiming 165th UNC Roye. Ray & Derek got back to their winning ways at Peterborough when winning a fantastic 1st Club, 1st Fed out of 607 birds and 5th Section when there were 2,921 birds competing. The lads were in the points again when they potted a cracking 2nd Club, 2nd Fed and 11th Section out of Oakham (4). A brilliant team performance was put up out of the Rivenhall (sub Eastbourne) National after timing no less then four of their squad to win an awesome 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th Fed from 569 birds, 34th, 35th and 47th Section from an entry of 2,168 birds, 43rd, 53rd and 54th UNC from a convoy of 12,356 birds. Ray & Derek rounded off their fantastic old bird season by timing three birds at the fifth channel race Burbure (2) to win a earth-shattering 1st and 5th Club, 1st, 12th and 15th Fed out of an entry of 465 birds, 1st, 43rd and 49th Section winning £151.59 in prize money for 1st Section 4 when there were 1,929 birds competing and 1st Up North Combine winning the 'Fred Potts Memorial Trophy', the 'J. W. Towers Memorial Trophy' and a Combine Gold Medal from a convoy of 10, 689 birds. Onto the young birds were 4th Club, 7th Fed and Section was taken at Wetherby (1) and that was followed up by netting 3rd Club, 6th Fed and 18th Fed Wetherby (2) a week later.
George Roberts with highest prize winners Dunn Brothers Ray & Derek with 137pts.
Second highest prize winners was the loft of H Potts & Sons John & Graham the winners of 7 x 1st Clubs and winners of the Channel Average and a season total of 125pts. John & Graham hit the winners' enclosure at old bird Huntingdon when their red card winner went onto score a notable 3rd Fed out of 1,457 birds and 25th Section when there were 5,836 birds competing. A couple of their squad was on the clock from the Eastbourne National to chalk up a nice 2nd and 3rd Club, 12th and 13th Fed, 164th and 196th UNC. And then the following week when the birds were at Oakham (3) John & Graham won a top drawer 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 2nd Fed out of an entry of 728 birds, 5th and 8th Section when there were 3,177 birds away. A week later at Burbure (1) the lads took a very nice 2nd Club, 4th Fed and 30th UNC; and this was followed up by winning a cracking 1st Club Rivenhall with their pole position winner going onto score an impressive 3rd Fed from 606 birds and 8th Section out of an entry of 3,035 birds. The partnership that won the Up North Combine Channel Average in 2001 and 1st Up North Combine Chenoise in 2002 from a convoy of 6,202 birds when flying in the Silksworth Club, were in the driving seat at the second channel race Roye where they timed no fewer than four of their entries to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 5th, 11th and 16th Fed out of 485 birds, 6th, 18th and 28th Section from an entry of 1,441 birds, 6th, 42nd, 73rd and 170th UNC from a convoy of 7,146 birds. The inform John & Graham were top dogs again out of Oakham (4) after timing three birds to win a cracking 1st, 4th ans 5th Club, 1st, 7th and 8th Fed from 684 birds, 9th, 45th and 47th Section when there were 2,475 birds competing. The boys notched up 120th UNC Rivenhall National before chalking up 2nd Club, 10th Fed, 25th Section and 119th UNC Reims. Onto the young birds where the duo netted 4th Club, 7th Fed and 19th Section Worksop (1) and followed that up by taking 3rd Club, 10th Fed and 45th Section Melton Mowbray. A week later John & Graham won a notable 1st Club, 4th Fed when there were 1,163 birds away and 25th Section from a convoy of 4,472 birds. The two lads rounded off their impressive season by claiming a very nice 2nd Club, 3rd Fed and 11th Section Bubwith.
George with 2nd highest prize winners with 125pts Graham Potts of H Potts & Sons the Channel Average winners.
John Thompson & Eddie Kell did well for themselves winning 5 x 1st Clubs and 92pts, with the duo wasting no time in claiming their first scalp for the lads won a very impressive 1st Club, 4th Fed out of 1,240 birds and 34th Section from old bird Bubwith on the opening day of the 2017 racing season from a convoy of 5,207 birds. John & Eddie were in the points for the second race running out of Worksop where they netted a useful 2nd Club, 6th Fed, 44th Section. Onto Oakham (2) Where the duo had another single bird on the clock to pocket 5th Club, 11th Fed, 44th Section and they followed that up by timing a couple of birds out of Oakham (4) to pot 3rd and 6th Club, 6th and 11th Fed; with the green card potter going onto claim 39th Section. The duo was out of the points at the Rivenhall National but still notched up 109th UNC. John and steady Eddie achieved their second win of the season at the fourth channel race Reims after timing two of their nine entries in what turned out to be a very testing day, to win a well-deserved 1st and 5th Club, 6th and 19th Fed from 326 birds, 17th and 46th Section from an entry of 819 birds, 77th and 250th UNC from a convoy of 4,193 birds. Two more birds were on the clock from Burbure (2) to score a cracking 2nd and 3rd Club, 5th and 8th Fed, 17th and 24th Section, 72nd and 95th UNC. Moving onto the young birds where John & Eddie were out of the Club points at Wetherby (2) but still managed to time two babies to pocket 13th and 15th Fed, 28th and 30th Section. John & Eddie who topped the Fed four times in 2016 twice with the old birds and twice from the final two young bird races, hit the winners' enclosure from the third young bird race Worksop (1) when their pole position youngsters went onto score a very impressive 3rd Fed out of 1,763 birds and 6th Section from a convoy of 5,996 birds. John & Eddie recorded their second win off the belt out of Worksop (2) after timing two of their squad to win a top notch 1st and 2nd Club, 4th and 7th Fed out of 1,498 birds, 13th and 21st Section when there were 5,388 birds competing. The two lads good young bird form continued at Melton Mowbray when they netted a nice 2nd Club, 9th Fed and 43rd Section. John & Eddie rounded off their 2017 racing season where they started, it the winners' enclosure after winning a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Fed Bubwith out of 627 birds and 3rd Section when there were 1,973 birds competing to achieve their third young bird win and record their fifth win of the season.
John Thompson of Thompson & Eddie Kell winners of 5 x 1st Clubs and 92pts , with George.
Hindmarsh, Hammond & Webster were the winners of 4 x 1st Clubs and a total of 86pts with the lads also being the winners of the Young Bird Average. The partnership had two birds on the cock out of old bird Oakham (2) to pot a useful 3rd and 4th Club, 7th and 8th Fed, 31st and 32nd Section. The following week when the birds were at the Eastbourne National the lads won a top notch 1st Club, 7th Fed, 20th Section and 53rd UNC from a convoy of 18,257 birds. Another single bird was on the clock at Burbure (1) to net 4th Club, 15th Fed and 144th Combine, and a couple of their entries were on the clock at the Rivenhall National to claim 6th Club, 101st and 192nd UNC. Onto Burbure (2) where the boys timed two of their channel team to lift 3rd and 6th Club, 10th and 13th Fed, 30th and 44th Section, 120th and 187th Combine. Moving onto the partnerships young bird average winning season where they got off to a fantastic start after timing no fewer than three of their Wetherby (1) squad to win an impressive 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 7th, 8th and 10th Fed when there was 587 birds away, 7th, 8th and 10th Section out of an entry of 1,195 birds. The lads achieved their second young bird win on the trot at Wetherby (2) after timing another three babies to win an outstanding 1st and 3rd Club, 1st, 4th and 19th Fed from 1,564 birds, 1st, 4th ans 35th Section when there was 2,881 birds. I just have to say that the Section was split from the first two young bird races with Sunderland Premier Fed and Mid-Tyne Fed racing from Wetherby, and the other three Feds racing from Bubwith. Young bird race number four was from Worksop (2) where the partnership chalked up 3rd Club, 15th Fed, 25th Section. The lads returned to their winning ways a week later at Melton Mowbray to record their third young bird win in five starts to win a notable 1st Club, 3rd Fed out of 1,210 birds, and 25th Section out of an entry of 4,933 birds. The boys then chalked up 2nd Club, 5th Fed and 26th Section Peterborough.
Steve Hammond of the Young Bird Average winning Hindmarsh, Hammond & Webster, scorers of 86pts .
Jimmy Lynn was the winner of 2 x 1st Clubs and 30pts, Jimmy had no less than four birds on the clock out of young bird Wetherby (2) when a well-earned 8th, 9th, 10th and 14th Fed, 10th, 14th, 18th and 29th Section was taken. The following week when the birds were at Worksop (1) a single baby was timed to lift a cracking 2nd Club, 4th Fed, 7th Section. Onto Rivenhall where a top notch 1st Club, 9th Fed out of 913 birds and 48th Section was netted when there were 3,526 birds competing. Jimmy achieved his second young bird win on the trot from the Maidstone National when his pole position winner went onto score an impressive 9th Fed when their were 915 birds competing and 37th Section from a convoy of 2,391 birds.
George presenting to Jimmy Lynn the winner of 2 x 1st Clubs and 30pts.
The partnership of Thurlow, Strong and the late Fred McCluskey were the winners of 1 x 1st Club and 29pts, with their winner being achieved from old bird Oakham 2 (sub Rivenhall) when their chart-topper went onto score a very impressive 4th Fed from 1,317 birds and 6th Section from a convoy of 5,251 birds. Onto Burbure (1) where a very tidy 3rd Club, 11th Fed, 117th UNC was chalked up, the lads were in the frame for the second channel race running when a four of their Roye entries were timed to net 4th and 5th Club, 20th and 24th Fed, 34th and 44th Section, 102nd, 125th, 173rd and 191st UNC. The partnership returned to the frame from the Rivenhall National where they timed a single bird to claim 4th Club, 7th Fed, 43rd Section and 70th Combine. The lofts point scoring channel run continued at Reims when they netted 4th Club, 18th Fed, 45th Section and 247th UNC; the boys were in the water race points for the fourth time when they notched up 4th Club, 11th Fed, 41st Section and 174th Combine out of Burbure (2). Moving onto the young birds where 4th Club, 16th Fed, 33rd Section was taken from Worksop (2). When flying as Thurlow & Strong in 2016 the partnership won 1st Club, 1st Fed old bird Peterborough (1) out of 1,961 birds, and two weeks later they won a top drawer 1st Club, 1st Fed and 40th UNC Eastbourne (1) National from a convoy of 7,474 birds. The partnership are also members of the Sportsman Flying Club Toft Hill who are members of Section N of the National Flying Club; with the lads winning a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Section, 9th NFC Open with a chequer hen named 'Freda' against 955 birds from a distance of 403 miles. Les Thurlow & Fred McCluskey enjoyed much success in their time together with them being previous winners of 2nd Up North Combine Beauvais in 1984 with 'Winfields Girl' from a convoy of 11,015 birds. 'Winfields Girl' went onto win 1st Up North Combine Beauvais in 1985 from a convoy of 11,349 birds when flying as Thurlow, McCluskey & Son flying in the High Southwick Club. It was in the very same 1985 racing season that the partnership won the Up North Combine Channel Average, they won the title again in 1995 when flying in the Ryhope Progressive Club. In 2005 the Les Thurlow & Fred McCluskey partnership recorded their second Combine win when they won 1st Up North Combine Bourges with 'Blue Lady' from a convoy of 1,886 birds when flying in the Silksworth Club.
Les Thurlow of Thurlow, Strong & McCluskey winners of 1 x 1st Club and 29pts, receiving from George.
The loft of Fred Murphy was the scorer of 11pts, with Fred chalking up a notable 2nd Club, 3rd Fed and 40th Section old bird Peterborough.
Fred Murphy scorer of 11pts with George.
The partnership of Joe & Steven Barnes & Swinney netted 9pts with the lads chalking up an impressive 2nd Club, 2nd Fed, 2nd Section young bird Wetherby (2), the partnership went onto time another three youngsters to pocket 16th, 17th and 18th Fed, 31st, 33rd and 34th Section. Dave McSween & Jim Sexton chalked up 4pts with the lads taking 3rd Club, 16th Fed, 42nd Section and 229th UNC out of Reims from their entry of five birds. Dave & Jim are previous joint winners of the Up North Combine Channel Average in 2007 and outright winners in 2008. Dave & Jim love distance racing with them also being members of the Sportsman Flying Club where they were the winners of an outstanding 1st Club, 1st Section, 279th NFC Open Coutance Young Bird National in 2016 from an entry of 3,752 birds with a chequer pied hen from the distance of 402 miles. Dave & Jim flew a very good pigeon in 2017 with them being second highest prizewinners in the Sportsman Flying Club, with the duo chalking up a very nice 2nd Club, 3rd Section Fougeres from 451 miles. The lads then took a notable 2nd Club, 7th Section, 442nd NFC Open Messac from 487 miles, and then netted a well-earned 2nd Club, 6th Section Fougeres (sub Jarnac). Onto the old hens Coutance race where Dave & Jim had a couple of their entries on the clock to chalk up a cracking 3rd and 4th Club, 3rd and 4th Section, 41st and 43rd NFC Open. The duo timed no fewer than three of their young bird Coutance team to score a top notch 2nd, 4th and 5th Club, 2nd, 4th and 5th Section, with their blue card potter going onto lift 135th NFC Open from a convoy of 3,200 birds to round off a very enjoyable season.
George with Dave McSween of McSween & Sexton the scorers of 4pts.
Phil Haswell potted 2pts with 5th Club, 21st Fed and 248th UNC being potted at Burbure (1), Phil also took 241st UNC out of the Eastbourne (1) National.
Phil Haswell scorer of 2pts with George.
Now for the Sportsman & Comrades H/S European Gold Ring Breeder/Buyer result, which the Club has started again in 2017 after enjoying great success in their previous events where there was some fantastic prize money to be won. This year the event headed by the very hard working John Potts sold 118 rings which resulted in John's Brother Graham auctioning the young birds to raise a fantastic pay out of £7k, 50/50 Breeder Buyer which was flown from the UNC young bird Maidstone National. The Seaham, North East Counties Federation partnership of Tommy Willis & Brian Self played a blinder by purchasing back their youngster to win 1st Breeder and 1st Buyer to bank a total of £3,500. 2nd Buyer went to the Plains Farm, Sunderland Premier Federation partnership of Armstrong, Shergold, Johnson & Moon who netted £1,000; while the 2nd breeder prize money was pocketed by Brian & Keith Simpson of Skinningrove, East Cleveland Federation. The 3rd buyer prize money of £500 was won by the Plains Farm partnership of Kristain Dawson & Kyle Peacock, while the £500 breeder prize money was won by C & E Lee. Jimmy Nicholson of South Shields was not going to miss out so he won 4th breeder & buyer to claim the £500 prize money. John has had a lot of interest for the 2018 breeder/buyer, so he is expecting a £15k payout for next year. Rings will be available from January for sales throughout March, with the info published in December.
George presenting the £3,500 cheque to Tommy Willis & Brian Self winners of 1st Breeder & Buyer.
Armstrong, Shergold, Johnson & Moon receiving the £1,000 2nd buyer prize money from George.
George presenting the £1,000 2nd breeder prize money to Hayden & Tyler of B & K Simpson
George with Kristain Dawson & Kyle Peacock, the £500 breeder prize money winners.
With that I will sign off until next time, which will be the Haverton Hill presentation evening report. Any news to Good Corn 6 Boulby Drive Loftus Saltburn Cleveland TS13 4JN. Tel; 01287 643624 or Email;
