Dorset Fed Show Special with Chris Williams
Hello everyone, and welcome to this edition of Racing Pigeons The Hardy Way. as I write these notes it’s only a few weeks till Christmas, so I do hope you’re all full of festive cheer. There is nothing like a Christmas in “Hardy Country” with the clear cold air, winter is definitely here! In the pigeon world the Christmas season starts with the shows and celebrations began for the Dorset fed members on Sunday the 8th of December with the annual Dorset Federation show held at Hamworthy Liberal Club in Poole. This year’s judges were Bobby Ballard, who needs no introduction to fed members having raced very successfully in the Dorset Fed for many years before retiring from the sport , next we have Danny Marr who used to race in Hertfordshire, now living in Poole and Mr Ray Burdett who raced in Essex and now retired and is living in Bournemouth. The show was exclusively open to members of the Dorset Fed. In order to be eligible to participate within the show the pigeons on display in each of the six classes must have flown during the course of the 2019 racing season. The first class to be contested was that of young cocks, which like all the shows classes was through the wires , 1st place was awarded to the loft of Carpenter and Bastable from the East Howe SRFC with a blue Van Den Bosch cross which had two races in 2019 . 2nd prize went to the famed loft of Cottrell, Richmond & son from Rossmore FC with 3rd going to J. Halstead of Gillingham FC. Congratulations to you all.
Next it was the turn of the young hens and once again the loft of Carpenter and Bastable emerged victorious this time with a Jos Van Limpt “De Klak” cross the partnership also took 2nd place coincidently all three of the partnerships winners are related looking like peas in a proverbial pod , 3rd place in this category was awarded to Dorset’s leading lady Mrs. Jenny Mills from the St Leonard’s and St Ives RPC ,well done to you all .
Next came the turn of the old cock birds , the name of A Stephens of Poole is often found on or near the top of the result sheet at National and Classic level , well now Tony can now add winning this class in the Dorset show to the long and illustrious list of achievements within the sport. The winning bird is a a Pencil Blue from Tony’s distance family. He is a grandson of Tony’s 1st BBC Barcelona winner in 2014 Blue Roy and the Dam is a Dutch hen that the late and much respected Scott Storey purchased from Epsom for Tony. The cock was earmarked for Tarbes this year but after a couple of preparation races damaged his wing so couldn’t go to the race, the brother of this cock was 51st Open from Tarbes. 2nd place was awarded to Carpenter and Bastable of the East Howe FC, in 3rdplace is S. Shear from the Branksome & Upper Parkstone SRFC, well done Tony and to all the other prize winners in this class.
Now we move on to the old hen’s class where once again another De Klak cross belonging to the partnership of Carpenter and Bastable of the East Howe FC taking 1st place, 2nd place went to Jimmy Fisher of Upton SRFC, in 3rd is S. Shear Branksome and Upper Parkstone SRFC. Well done to all the winners in this class.
The highlight of any show is always to see who is crowned with the coveted title of best in show, this year the honor was bestowed upon the young cock bird exhibited by Colin Carpenter, (Carpenter and Bastable) from the East Howe FC. Colin rounded of an excellent show as winner of best opposite sex, well done Colin.
Other cards were awarded to the following fanciers S. Travers, L. Hopkins, M/M Ravenhill.
Thank you to everyone who entered birds and good luck to you all in the show race which is scheduled to be flown from Messac on 6th June2020.
That’s all the Dorset fed news for 2019 and I wish you all the best for a happy and healthy 2020!
