From the chair by Chris Williams - 14-06-21

From the chair by Chris Williams

Saturday the 5^th of June and 8 members of St Leonards & St Ives RPC send 172 birds to Chesterfield   with the Dorset federation being liberated at 08:45 am in a west north west wind, the stage was set for what turned out to be a real test of both pigeon and fancier alike as the sun blazed overhead the club members busied themselves at their respective lofts with the pre-race rituals that are as old as the sport itself, no matter where you are in the pigeon world be it Belgium or Bournemouth you will encounter the universal scene of fanciers scanning the skies looking at their clocks, replenishing the all-important drinker, waiting watching and praying for the sight of an early bird.  Meanwhile a yearling chequer hen was winging her way back to her Westmoores home and the loft of Dorset’s Leading lady Mrs Jenny Mills on a club winning velocity of 1351.14  for her valiant effort this hen was also awarded  7^th Dorset federation.

With 64 members sending 1040 birds, here is the Lady herself with the story of her latest winner of the 2021 old bird season: My first bird, was having its first race this year, restricted birdage numbers have made it difficult to get birds into a race and some have had first races further than I would normally have chosen! This yearling chequer Padfield gave 100% effort, did not circle, hit the landing board and rolled over and fell through the trap! For a split second I thought it was injured, but after a drink it recovered very quickly. Then a long wait, half an hour that seemed an awful lot longer before the others started to arrive, with 4 missing (17/21) at the end of a tough day.

Stuart Laws takes 2^nd 4^th 5^th club with a yearling blue hen doing 1342.28 also scoring 8^th fed. Stuarts next bird is 4yro check cock on 1286.58, followed by a 5yr blue hen on the going 1271.37, the only info I have to hand on these birds is that they are of Frans Van Wildemeersch lines via that great  character of the sport and top pigeon man Shane Langton.

The whirl wind Jim White takes 3^rd club 10^th federation for this week with a yearling blue hen on  1336.28.  Jim sent me the following about his hen: Hi Chris, The pigeon that came for me is an August 2020 bred bird, no racing  in the year of its birth, nor training, but has been trained  this year and has been to every race point always in good time, she is of Vandenabeele, lines being G G of Eisenhower, G G G Shadow, just hope she’s as  good as them.  Again acquired from my good friend Rod Berry thanks Jim in 6^th place this week is another Christchurch loft this time it is the turn of our  club and federation chairman Mike Blake who clocked  a yearling  blue pied hen on a velocity of 1259.43 unfortunately at the time of writing I have no further details.