Lancashire Social Circle
The Lancashire Social Circles second OB race was held in conjunction with the National Flying Club Fougeres race. Members of the Circle had the opportunity to race mark their pigeons at one of two marking stations, one at Midge Hall, Leyland, at Globe Mill provided by one of the Circle members Alan Bamford. Or they could use the one provided by another of the Circle members, Roger Sutton at his Farm, at Congleton. I went along to Congleton to collect the race entry forms from the members along with those sent down from Leyland. The marking took a little longer than many had hoped with the vast number of fanciers getting their paperwork vetted. I noticed the Vet going round the queue of fanciers looking into the baskets and crates, I asked him what he was doing and his reply was I am looking for dead pigeons. I explained to him fanciers would not be paying to enter dead pigeons, or pigeons that were not in perfect health, sending them to a 350 mile race from France. This seemed to go over his head as he continued to inspect the baskets and crates and the pigeons in them, even though he had no idea of what he was looking for.
The Circle race itself was a little down on numbers as we still have a couple of members who are not happy flying the channel races for a number of reasons. But we still managed to attract 23 members who entered 45 birds that were liberated at 09 45 into a north west wind. The result turned out to be an almost repeat of our first race from Weymouth two weeks earlier, when John Winstanley had two over the pad in a matter of minutes. John took the top spot with the first of two hens raced on the roundabout system, the first of these was a 4y old cheq. Flying just shy of 367 miles with a velocity of 1370 to his garden loft at Orrell. The second a 3y old blue hen that wins him the Best Two Bird Average, velocity 1335 winning the Second Thoughts Trophy presented to the Circle by Gary Inkley in memory of his very close friend an past Honorary Member of the Circle Peter Titmuss. The trophy is named after his great national hen of the same name, and with only five members recording their second entry a difficult trophy to win. John also wins the W E Evans Trophy as the winner of the race and the Mary Hammond Rose Bowl for the Best Average from the first and second OB races, a Frank H Parsonage Award and the J O Shone Award.
John Winstanley Winner of the Second OB Race from Fougeres and Winner of the Best Two Bird Average
Roger Sutton one of our shortest flyers, but can never be ruled out of the result being a top national flyer, timed a 3y old blue cock on 1328 carrying his nomination for the Brian Dickinson Trophy. This trophy is one of the hardest trophies to win in the Circle when the member has to time a nominated bird in from every race from the two entered with the highest velocity being the winner. Following this second race there is only 10 members in the running for the trophy, proving just how difficult this can be.
Roger Sutton Second LSC Fougeres
Alan Bamford took the third prize with a 2y old blue hen on 1256 flying 376 miles doing well over 42 mph. Alan has put up some top results these last few seasons in all the races be it old bird, young bird, channel or inland race points and has never missed coming to the prize table on our presentation night collecting trophies and diplomas. A great supporter of the Circle who can be relied upon to bring a string of guests to our twice yearly Gatherings.
Alan Bamford Third Fougeres LSC and top place in the National Result.
Henry Krasowski from Norden Rochdale a new member for this season who has been coming along with fellow members Bobby Brandon and John Dearden for a number of years before becoming a member. Henry was another guest who before becoming a member threw himself into all the Circle activities, who was a regular for many years at the race marking along with supporting the whole weekends the Circle puts on. Should any member in his area need a job doing, Henry seems to be the man for the job. In 2022 he took on the task of completing a bicycle ride of 1,800 miles for Cancer Research in 11 days (Norden to Lands End to John O'Groats and back to Norden) and raised the staggering sum of £6,000. Back to the result Henry timed a 3y old blue hen on 1206 his second over the pad in this National race, with his first not being entered in the LSC race.
Henry Krasowski Fourth LSC Fougeres Race.
Jim Kenny timed the first of his two entries a 4y old blue cheq hen that took fifth on 1198, Jim was runner-up Two Bird Average in this race with a velocity of 1001. He only races a small team of pigeons on the roundabout system that gives him a far bigger team to race as all the pigeons can go to the local club races from where he can pick his candidates for the Nationals something that he enjoys far more than the sprint races. Speaking with Jim at the start of the season he was telling me he had paired up a lot sooner than he normally would and this had resulted in a few infertile eggs that he put down to the cold weather, a practice I understand he will not be repeating. All these members mentioned above all figured in the National result in the race showing the calibre of the membership the Lancashire Social Circle have in its ranks.
Jim Kenny following his 5th place in the First race takes 5th in the Second OB race.
Ray Bullen picks up the final place in sixth with a 2y old dark cheq cock that is again entered in the nom. This proved to be another good race for Circle members with 22 of the 45 pigeons on the result sheet. But no yearling made the result proving a bit of race experience is needed when it comes to a testing race in a north west wind. The next race is a again with the National from Nort-Sur-Erdre.
Ray Bullen Sixth LSC Fougeres picking up the final Diploma
Brian Dearn Tel.01254 772515.
