The Hardy Way with Chris Williams
Afternoon all pull up a chair as we pay another Visit to Dorset fanciers in this week’s edition of racing pigeons the Hardy way and see how the third week of racing has been, yes I know hard to believe isn’t it but Saturday the 20th of June saw 1048 birds at Turro for the Dorset federations third old bird race of 2020. Conveyor Tony Hopkins cut the strings at 7:45am in a no wind situation. Let’s take a look at the “Hardy Country top ten” from Truro. What is it they say you can’t keep a good man down and that is definitely the case with this week’s winner who is a fancier whose name is always in the mix in some of the most prestigious races that this country has to offer and a man for whom I and many others both in and outside of the county have the utmost respect for.
Ladies and gentleman, setting the standard this week is the legendry Dorset fancier the one and only “Shaftsbury Ace” Mr Bryan Woods of the Gillingham RPC who takes 1st &2nd Dorset Federation with a blue yearling Cock bird attaining the winning velocity of 1594.812 this was followed by a blue yearling hen doing 1547.551, here is what Bryan had to say about the race and his winning birds” I was indoors and missed the bird’s arrival, like most of the Dorset fanciers I had thought they would take longer as there was no wind. The birds are late bred Vandenabeele, still carrying nest flights. The dam came from Mike Ward when he retired from racing and they are of John Halstead, M&D Evans lines. The second bird was from the first nest, and the first bird from the second nest. Bryan only has a small team of 25 racers and is being plagued by a Peregrine, he has had 12 taken from around the loft and has others that have no tails and missing secondaries, and it is causing havoc when he lets his young birds out. Taking 3rd fed this week is the Branksome & Upper Parkstone South Road Flying Club Loft of S Travers who timed a blue yearling cock bird that was doing a velocity of 1528,651. In 4th place is J Halstead from the Gillingham RPC with a yearling blue cock bird on a velocity of 1528.459. 5th federation is awarded to D Whitfield member of Crossways Flying Club, with a three-year-old blue cock bird doing 1527.583. 6th fed is awarded to the Upton workingmen’s FC loft of J Clapcott after timing a blue yearling Cock on 1526.431. In 7th &9th place is Jimmy Fisher of St Leonard’s and St Ives RPC with a yearling blue hen doing 1520.616 and a checker yearling cock on 1517.068. G Owers of the Upton workingmen’s FC takes 8th position with a yearling hen doing a velocity of 1518.568. Completing the top ten positions is from Crossways Flying Club, Mr & Mrs L Cowley with a yearling blue cock on a velocity of 1515.374.
Well done to all who made this week’s “Hardy Country top ten “
Let’s take a look now at the local clubs that have been in touch this week to see how their racing went on. Starting with East Howe South Road Flying Club where 6 members sent 108 birds. In 1st place is the loft of T. Elkins, Son & Johnson with a three-year-old check cock on the going 1507.785. In 2nd place is T Wareham with a blue two-year-old Cock doing 1498.600 Taking 3rd is the partnership of Carpenter & Bastable who timed a Blue yearling cock on a velocity of 1490.641. The loft of R & V McConnell are 4th timing a yearling BK Cock doing 1489.346. Well done to all.
Only one other club has been in touch with a result this week, so it’s over to St Leonard’s and St Ives RPC. club secretary Jenny Mills sent the following info: Hi Chris, here’s our race report from St Ives.
We basketed 146 Birds following the Covid rules, can’t wait until we can all meet up properly without time slots etc. and enjoy the camaraderie we had last season and it was great to welcome Richard Batty back after a spell in hospital. Jimmy Fisher had first and second this week, 7th and 9th Fed, they are half brother and sister from his best Leo Herman stock cock, responsible for many winners in all weather and race conditions. Third and 14th Fed was myself with a mealy pied Van Reet hen, she has scored on the Club and Fed sheet before. I bought her from David Young of Ryton before he retired from the sport and is one of several very good birds, I had from him. We all had a good race and good returns.
That’s all the news from Hardy Country for this week until. next time “keep calm and clock em quick”
