DEESIDE & NORTH WALES
with Paul Jacobs
SENSATIONAL NEWS FOR NORTH WALES MEMBERS
Ask yourself the question, do I want to win £1,000? If you do, read on. At the recent A.G.M of the North Wales Championship Club a proposition was passed which will allow ALL members in North Wales who live in the radius of the Deeside and North Wales federation to compete for a first prize of £1,000! The race in question is the first channel race of the 2007 season in the Deeside and North Wales federation’s race programme which is generally around the 300 mile mark (the race point and dates are yet to be confirmed). And guess what? You can win this prize for the paltry sum of a £10 nomination! Where else can you win £1,000 for just £10? The North Wales Championship Club is a two bird club so you can enter the two birds for £20 giving you two bites at the cherry. If you are interested in this race and the chance for a big pay day you will need to apply to join the North Wales Championship Club where our subscriptions are £20. If you want to apply, send your applications to myself, Paul Jacobs, 20, Lon Dderwen, Connah’s Quay, Deeside, Flintshire. CH5 4WG. If you miss this, believe me, you will regret it.
Doesn’t it go quick after you have been waiting so long, Blackpool that is? Another year comes and goes with plenty of stories and sore heads! Our trip began on the Friday where we stopped off at our local, the Hare and Hounds where Mark, our barman kindly opened the bar for us, at ten in the morning! I think this set the scene for the weekend! We were picked up about 10.20am so it was time to drink up and board the coach, as soon as we were on the coach it was Aussie whites all round! The coach journey is one of my favourite parts of the Blackpool trip and it gets the weekend off to a nice start. A couple of cans and Aussie whites later we arrived in Blackpool. We usually stop off at the Charnock Richard service station for refreshments and toilet break but we travelled straight through this year which meant we arrived a lot earlier this year, which was much better. Our hotel that we stay in is called the “Beechfields Hotel” on Hornby Road and this year it was under the management of Jackie West, a lovely young woman who was a keen as mustard and couldn’t do enough for you. After we unpacked, we headed downstairs and awaited the Wrexham crowd who mostly proceeded to stumble off the coach! It was nice to meet the old faces again and have a crack with them and it was really nice to see Ronnie Bradshaw looking so well after his recent illness, must be the mints Ron!
We had a quick drink in the hotel and then me and the missus headed out for a couple of pints of Guinness in Scruffy Murphy’s and back for a couple in the Stanley Road Working Mens Club. We got back for our tea and then we headed out for the three part sale of G. & S. Verkerk, Steve Carroll and Pieter Veenstra at the Savoy Hotel where I wanted to see how much the son of “Kannibaal” went for, unfortunately we arrived a little bit too late as the bird was already sold but the latter birds were still making some good prices. After a couple more pints with the missus and starting to feel a little woozy it was decided that we should take a walk along the front to clear our heads and then head to another pub! As we found out there must have been a hurricane blowing this night as the winds must have been touching 90 mph! I could have sworn I seen a salmon fly past! We braved it for so long then realised we were getting thirsty so we headed into O’ Briens, another Irish bar and topped up again, no wonder it takes so long to detox after this weekend! After a couple more sherbets it was back to the hotel and a few more scoops with the Geordie clan of Don and Paul Wilkinson. It was nice to see these lads again; I’m sure one of Don’s eyebrows had come down for a drink! Only joking mate! Anyway, getting a bit bleary eyed we decided to head up the hill to nod land about 3ish. Up bright and early next morning with a raging hangover it was up for breakfast, so to get over the hangover I had to have a double double breakfast! Well, I was hungry! After having our fill, me and my dad headed to the show and with our two day passes, we made our way in. I don’t know if it was me but I thought that there were less people here this year unless we got there early as it was very easy to get around. I didn’t really need anything this year but had a good nose anyway.
The show birds again were stunning and I always say that if we had the room I would get some to compete with. It was by the BHW stand that I noticed a familiar face walking towards us with a stagger! It was none other than “Liverpool Echoes” scribe, Paul Dalton with his mate “Chip Shop”. Apparently Paul had a too many shandies the night before and as we know he can’t take his ale! Paul was on his way to the scribes room so asked me and my dad to come with him and “Chip Shop”. We went in and had a couple of cans (just to be sociable of course!), I must say it was nice to put the faces to the names and it was really nice to meet the lovely Helen. After spending a good half hour there, me and my dad said our goodbyes (have you had your new introductions yet Dollar)? We went back into the show for another look around. I must say I was very disappointed this year as it must be the first time that we never met John “The Farm” there!
We headed out to the “Rose and Crown” about 12ish to meet the girls and have a beer but also the big game was on and I wanted to see Liverpool getting the hammer (as you might guess I’m an Everton supporter), unfortunately it didn’t turn out that way and Liverpool fluked a win against the Champions. After watching the game me and the missus headed back to our room as she wasn’t feeling well. We had a couple of hours kip and she felt a lot better so it was back out to the “Stanley” to meet Emrys, the “Red Cock” and Charlie. I’ve got to admit the atmosphere in this pub is great where everybody and anybody get up to have a go at the karaoke. Feeling much better after a couple of lagers it was on to “Yates Wine Bar” to sample a few “All ins”. Feeling a bit peckish it was on to a Chinese Restaurant. If you want a top class meal with excellent food and superb service, then head over to “Michael Wans”, it really was a beautiful meal. We went back to the hotel after having our fill to have a shower and get changed and headed downstairs for the fancy dress where believe me their were some sights to see! Unbeknown to a certain Mr. Bradshaw, a stripper was organised for him as it was his birthday and when she turned up Ronnie’s face was an absolute picture! After Ronnie calmed down (and the rest of the lads!), we had a raffle and sale of pigeons in aid of Hope House which raised a nice sum for the charity. When this was over we all settled down for a night with “Bobby’s Disco” where all the top sounds got our “Coppi” up to dance. I think his knees are alright now the way he was moving! While my missus wasn’t looking I sneaked up to bed, nothing to do with the beer you understand!
On the Sunday, I felt as right as rain so it was down for a hearty breakfast and then on to the show again where again I thought that there wasn’t such a big turnout. It was while I was looking around that I lost my dad. I spotted a familiar face in Les Green and asked how his sale went and also have you seen my dad! I believe the sale went very well which wasn’t surprising as there were some super racers on offer there. I hope it goes well back at your own lofts mate. Thinking on, I knew where my dad would be so I headed to the “Rose and Crown” and met him there and we had a few beers with a sorry looking “Coppi Cock” who apparently didn’t get to bed till five in the morning! He was there with his mate and sparring partner Pete Hollins and Malcolm (I’m sorry I missed your last name Mal). We had a good laugh there but all too soon it was time to head back to the hotel and our dinner. After our dinner where the “Coppi” was slumping lower and lower in his chair we left the hotel and headed back home. We had some excellent news on the way home; Everton beat Wigan, so our weekend finished on a high note. It was another great weekend and I’m looking forward to next year already.
NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY
Malcolm Jones from Llandudno phoned last week with some news of a night out which will interest all pigeon fanciers locally. The night out in question is “AN AUDIENCE WITH FRANK TASKER”. Basically Frank is coming down to Llandudno Junction for the evening and will talk about his lifetime in the sport and I assume will answer questions that you may wish ask him. This is a man who has won all before him in his many years in the sport and I’m sure this will be an evening to remember. The date is Friday, 2nd March with a 7.15pm – 7.30pm start and will take place at Llandudno Junction Labour Club. The proceeds of this cracking night will be going to the local Hope House Hospice and tickets are priced at £10.00 each. There will be a buffet halfway through and a sale of 10 to 15 top quality young birds with the likes of Geoff Kirkland, Jones and Thomas, Frank Tasker and Bateman Bros donating. If you require any more information, give Malcolm a ring on 01492 548533. I’m positive it will be a fantastic night out. Good luck Malcolm.
Don’t forget you can contact me Paul Jacobs at 20, Lon Dderwen, Connah’s Quay, Deeside, Flintshire. CH5 4WG and phone (01244) 819934 or e mail at
10/2/07
