“The Original Around The Up North Combine” - 25-09-20

“The Original Around The Up North Combine”

By Good Corn

Group 3 were at Oakham on Saturday 30^th August when the convoy of 6,211 birds were liberated at 09.40 flying into a fresh North-West wind which was going to be a very testing race for the youngsters. Starting at Brotton H/S where the inform loft of Frank & Brenda Reilly, son Wayne and helper Peter Marshall record a hat-trick of wins after timing a Dawson, Peacock & Dunn of Plains Farm, Sunderland Louis van Theelen achieving a vel of 1195 to win a top-drawer 1^st Club, 3^rd East Cleveland Federation from a 56 members entry of 1,249 birds and 18^th Group 3. A second bird was on the clock, this time a Heremans Ceusters x Kicker-Belt to pocket 5^th Club and 2pts. Mick Smithies is in the frame netting 2^nd Club, 15^th Fed on 1133; while Dave Storr timed a couple of birds to notch up 3^rd and 4^th Club with the green card potter doing 1127 for 18^th Fed; Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners claim 6^th Club and 1pt.

The Skinningrove H/S partnership of Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee rack up their second win on the bounce after timing three of their squad to win 1^st and 5^th Club out of a nine members entry of 185 birds. With top spot being won by a blue hen achieving 1188.5 for 4^th Fed, 26^th Group 3with her being the daughter out of a cock that was bred by Marc Darby of Wolverhampton. While the dam of the red card winner is a Anthony Thompson x a son of Mike & Lee's 2009 1^st Up North Combine young bird Maidstone National Gold Medal winning “Georgia”, who himself is the scorer of 2^nd Fed Oakham and other positions. The winning blue hen is scoring for the second time as she netted 3^rd Club Bubwith (2). Second on the clock came a 2 day-sitting blue hen bred by Andre Giedra of Mansfield making 1554 for 12^th Fed; while Mike & Lee's third timer was a blue pied hen bred from Anthony Thompson/ son of  “Georgia” on 1123 for 19^th Fed.

The late Gordon “Shang” Peirson MBE & sons Sack & Jim and helpers Trevor & Bobby McConnell had a couple of youngsters on the clock to chalk up 2^nd Club, 5^th and 13^th Fed on 1188.0 and 1142. With the blue card going to a chequer Dirk van den Bulck cock bred from Stuart Watson stock taking 27^th Group 3 and he was followed by a chequer Heremans Ceusters cock bred out of Anthony Thompson stock. Tich Richards & Alice Marsay the winners of both the Bubwith (1) and Bubwith (2) races pot 3^rd Club and 7^th Fed on 1161; while Sayers Bros Dave, the late Kenny Brian and his helping son Richard notch up 4^th Club, 11^th and 17^th Fed on 1155 and 1128. 

The weeks break seems to have kick-started David “Ralph” Coates and loft helper Craig Clapton of Boosbeck H/S young bird season after winning 1^st Club with a Rauw Sablon 2^nd with a Hardy Kruger x Van Dyke and 3^rd with a Huybrechts the previous week out of Worksop. And this week the two lads repeat last weeks performance by winning 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Club again with the three youngsters arriving together to be timed in 3 seconds. With the red card winner being bred from a pair of gift birds from Alan Wright of Skelton Green when he finished with the birds, with a top vel of 1121.6 the chart-topper went onto score 20^th Fed. The blue card was awarded to a Rauw Sablon doing 1121.5 for 21^st Fed; with the youngster being the same way bred as Ralph & Craig's Worksop 1^st Club winner. While the green was chalked up by a Hardy Kruger x Van Dyke on 1121.4 for 22^nd Fed to round off a good day for the lad's.

Ricky Cush wins 1^st Club at the Brotton 6 Bird Club with pole position being won by the blue Lambrecht’s cock who took 6^th Club the previous race. Frank & Brenda Reilly, son Wayne and loft helper Peter Marshall lift 2^nd Club with the blue card scorer being the Lambrecht x Veenstra who won 1^st Club, 11^th Fed, 11^th Group 3 in Brotton H/S the week before from Worksop. The loft of W & S Ward takes 3^rd and 5^th Club with Bill and grandson Shaun's green card potter being the Leo Heremans x Dirk van den Bulck that was 4^th Club the week before when beaten by it's nestmate that took 3^rd Club; and next came the Leo Heremans bred by Brian Ford & Son that notched up 5^th Club Worksop. Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson & Tubby Purver timed a blue flipey hen bred by Billy Calvert to lift 4^th Club. Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore claim 6^th Club and 1pt with a grizzle of Miller Bros & Kyle of Boldon fame. 

Ricky Cush of Brotton 6 Bird Club winner of 1^st Club Oakham. 

Moving onto the Teesside Federation starting at Billingham T U H/S where the loft of Tommy Clark & son Gary had no fewer than five of their entries on the clock to win a top-notch 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th Club out of 215 birds, 1^st, 3^rd, 9^th, 12^th and 16^th Fed  from 629 birds. With top spot being won by a well out in front chequer hen racking up a leading vel of 1224 to go onto lift 4^th Group 3 from a convoy of 6,211 birds; while the green card was netted by a grizzle hen doing 1192 to take 23^rd Group 3. Colin Atkinson clocked a chequer hen achieving 1196 to chalk up 2^nd Club, 2^nd Fed, 14^th Group 3. While Ali “Mac” McLeod timed a trio of birds to lift 4^th Club, 6^th, 13^th and 18^th Fed with the yellow going to a blue cock who claims 36^th Group 3. Steve Wilson takes 15^th Fed with a blue cock.

The loft of Stewart “Lewie” Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe returned to the winners' enclosure at Haverton Hill when their well out in front blue cock recorded a top vel of 1118 to win 1^st Club from 164 birds and 11^th Fed. Lewie, Amber & Coby timed a second bird to chalk up 2^nd £5 Club Ring pocketing £20. Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod & son Dale timed a blue pied hen on 1077 to pot 2^nd Club, 1^st 10p Club Pools netting £22.52 and 17^th Fed. Nathan Bonar & John Pledger timed a trio of youngsters to chalk up 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th Club with the green going to a dark pied cock notching up 20^th Fed. The duo's yellow card potter was a blue cock and their third timer a chequer cock who wins 1^st £5 Club Ring banking £40; Nathan & John timed a fourth youngster a well-fancied entry to win 1^st £1 Club Pool taking £22.50 and also winning the Fed Nom.  

The birds were at Huntingdon on Saturday 5^th September when the Group 3 muster of 3,808 birds were up and away at 08.40 liberated into a West-North-West wind. The first port of call is Skinningrove H/S where the inform loft of Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee record a hat-trick of wins from a 8 members entry of 192 birds. With the pole position winner being a 2-day sitting chequer cock bred by Alfie Hawthorne achieving a top vel of 1485 which was enough to win an outstanding 1^st East Cleveland Federation from a 33 members entry of 671 birds and 1^st Group 3. Tich Richards & Alice Marsay timed two birds 2 seconds apart to lift 4^th and 5^th Club, 8^th and 9^th Fed, 8^th and 9^th Group 3 on 1437 and 1436 with Tich and granddaughter Alice second timer being the chequer hen they purchased at the Loftus Championship Breeder/Buyer who won 1^st Club Bubwith (2). Sayers Bros Dave, the late Kenny, Brian and his helping son Richard pocket 12^th Fed on 1426; while the late Gordon “Shang” Peirson & sons Sack & Jim along with helpers Trevor McConnell & son Bobby clocked a Jason Bateman of Bristol chequer Dirk van der Bulck hen on 1411 for 16^th Fed.  

The partnership of W & S Ward went into overdrive timing no less than three of their Brotton 6 Bird Club entries to win a top notch 1^st, 2^nd and 5^th Club with the red card winner being the same Leo Heremans x Dirk van der Bulck who scored 4^th Club Worksop and 3^rd Club Oakham, with the winner racking up a leading vel of 1475 to go onto chalk up a notable 5^th Fed, 5^th Group 3. Eleven seconds later came Bill and grandson Shaun's blue card potting Leo Heremans bred by Brian Ford & Son that was 5^th Club at both Worksop and Oakham, this time the youngster achieved 1474 for a cracking 6^th Fed, 6^th Group 3. Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore timed a couple of dark Busschaert cocks to pot 3^rd and 6^th Club; while Frank & Brenda Reilly, son Wayne and helper Peter Marshall netted 4^th Club with the yellow card lifter being a blue flipey Heremans Ceusters x Louis Thijs cock bred by Paul Jacobs of Hull that is the previous winner of 1^st Club, 12^th Fed, 12^th Group 3 Worksop.

The Brotton H/S loft of Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners hit the winners' enclosure after timing a couple of their entries in the space of 14 seconds to win a belting 1^st and 2^nd Club on 1416, 1415; with the red card winner being a blue Van Limpt de Prut hen who went onto chalk up 14^th Fed and 17^th Group 3. While Reg & Ray's blue card potting blue hen bred by Alcock & McKenzie of Great Ayton, Middlesbrough & District Fed fame went onto pocket 15^th Fed and 18^th Group 3. The inform Frank & Brenda Reilly, son Wayne and Peter Marshall had three of their entries in the points by taking 3^rd, 5^th and 6^th Club with the green card scorer being a blue Louis van Teelan x Heremans Ceusters hen. The next two timers a blue Heremans Ceuster hen and a mealy Louis van Teelan hen touched down together. David Storr notched up 4^th Club.

David “Ralph” Coates and Craig Clapton recorded their third consecutive win at Boosbeck H/S after timing a couple of their squad to win 1^st and 2^nd Club with top spot being won by a Heremans Ceusters gift youngster bred by Stuart Mann & Sons of Whitby. Stuart's young son Charlie did himself proud through lock down by donating his favourite grizzle up for auction with all proceeds going to the NHS. Ralph & Craig's blue card scorer was a Huybrechts x David Parker with the dam being bred by David for the Loftus Championship Club where she has gone onto score many prizes for the two lads. Don Smith & Daughter who won the first two young bird races winning 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd Club Bubwith (1) and 1^st, 2^nd Club Bubwith (2) net 2^nd Club with a youngster bred by Eric “Tut” Thompson bred through birds obtained from Barry “Smiler” Kettlewell of Lingdale. 

Charlie Mann of Whitby with his favourite grizzle that raised money for the NHS.

The Billingham TU H/S loft of Tommy Clark & son Gary makes it two wins on the trot after timing six birds to win 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th Club from 84 birds, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 6^th, 13^th, 14^th Teesside Federation out of an entry of 233 birds. With the red card winning blue pied cock making 1355.7 and he was followed by the blue card scoring grizzle hen on 1355.6 who netted 3^rd Club, 3^rd Fed Oakham beaten by a loftmate that won 1^st Club 1^st Federation. Next came a chequer hen on 1338 and a blue hen on 1327. Colin Atkinson lifts 5^th Club, 7^th Fed winning the Fed Nom with a chequer hen on 1319 who is scoring for the second time after netting 2^nd Club, 2^nd Fed Oakham. Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins had a couple of blue hens on the clock to pocket 17^th and 18^th Fed on 1288 and 1287.  

Stewart “Lewie” Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe rack up their second win on the belt at Haverton Hill after timing a blue hen achieving a vel of 1335 to win 1^st Club out of 88 birds, with the red card winner who took 5^th Club, 12^th Fed Bubwith (1) wins 1^st £5 Club Ring pocketing £40 and 5^th Fed. The loft of Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod & son Dale timed a blue pied cock doing 1314.9 to lift 2^nd Club, 1^st 10p pool lifting £12,40 and 8^th Fed; and then clocked a blue cock on 1304 to take 4^th Club, 11^th Fed; a blue cock and a blue hen on 1290 and 1283 for 16^th and 20^th Fed. Andrew “Jappa” Appleton & Paul “Skunky” Longstaff and loft helper Alby Woodward chalk up 3^rd Club, 2^nd £5 Club Ring lifting £20 and 9^th Fed on 1314.3; and then timed a  second bird to notch up 15^th Fed and that was followed by a well-fancied youngster to win 1^st £1 Club pool netting £20.50. Nathan Bonar & John Pledger claimed 19^th Fed with a chequer cock on 1286.  

I received a email from Les Wellburn of Middlesbrough H/S, Teesside Federation about his Clubmate George Dobbs who races under the partnership name of Mr & Mrs Dobbs, with George being a small team flyer who seldom houses more than a dozen birds to race. On the weekend of 26^th August the Up North Combine staged three races with George sending 4 birds to Oakham a distance of 130 miles and ended up 10^th Club; he timed one of his 3 Roye entries to take 9^th Club flying 376 miles. George was in the clock for the third time out of the longest race Gien from a distance of 502 miles where he had one of his 3 entries home on the day to chalk up 2^nd Club, 5^th Teesside Federation and 68^th Up North Combine from a convoy of 1,039 birds; George then timed a second bird the next morning to lift 3^rd Club, 7^th Fed and 109^th Combine. What makes the performances so special is George has cancer and been having Chemotherapy over the weeks leading up to the 3 races with the treatment knocking George for six. Derek went on to say that too often the reports are only on the winners and the runners up are forgotten, so well done George from Les & Derek Wellburn. 

Any news to Good Corn, 6 Boulby Drive, Loftus, Saltburn Cleveland, TS13 4JN. Tel: 01287 643624 or Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.