ESSEX & KENT AMALGAMATION
E. J. SAINS
Scotch Corner - 22nd September 2012
The last race of the 2012 season for the Essex & Kent events was probably flown in the most perfect conditions for a race this year. As I drove to the north of Newark following the M1 north from Essex to be present at a family wedding, the sky was blue with white fluffy cumulous clouds just hanging still in the sky. There was a light northerly wind which hardly moved the clouds and unbelievable visibility right to the horizon for mile after mile. My journey north took place while the race was being determined. The birds were liberated at 9-15 am into a light north-west wind, with the birds making 1600+ypm, approximately four hrs flying time, finishing in a north to north-east wind.
Mr & Mrs Allan Hills. First open Essex & Kent Combine Scotch Corner. First Essex Central Federation. Velocity 1663 ypm 1350 birds.
Allan Hills with 1st open Essex & Kent Combine Scotch Corner.
Allan has topped the Essex Central Federation for the last three weeks. This is by no means a mean feat as the Essex Central has many innovative top flyers that work extremely hard towards winning this large federation. To finish the season in style winning the combine is for Alan a very satisfying achievement because although he has topped the federation on many occasions this is the first time he and his wife have managed to win the combine.
While reminiscing with Allan about what a hard season this had been, he pointed out that the Essex Central Federation had avoided many of the disastrous races that many other federations had experienced. He also mentioned that he had flown with the Chelmsford City club for some thirty years and felt that he had to mention all of the hard work that had been put in by the behind the scenes workers to achieve the smooth running and excellence that is to be found in such clubs as the City club. He particularly mentioned Mr John Payne, club federation and combine president, Mr Tony Hitchings clock setter and Mr Mike Creighton treasurer (incidentally Mike also wins 14th open in the Essex & Kent combine Scotch Corner).
Pigeon & Origin
Allan races to an eighteen foot three section loft and has for many years flown a team of Busschaerts. The bloodlines originate from the lofts of the late Stuart Elvin, an Essex Central flyer that had many good Busschaert lines and was an excellent pigeon man. The combine winner, a dark chequer hen ,was from these lines. This young hen had been placed 3rd federation the week previous, when Allan had taken the first three in the federation from Market Rasen.
The two previous weeks’ federation winners (8th of September Ripon & the 15th of September Market Rasen) were both gifted to Allan by Freddy Harnett. Allan had nothing but praise for Fred as a pigeon fancier who leaves no stone unturned in achieving excellence in his pigeons.
Mr Ashley & Ron Tubey. 2nd 5th & 7th open Essex & Kent Combine. 1st 4th & 6th County of Essex Federation 1660.7 1657 1652 ypm.
Ron Tubey with 5th open Essex & Kent Combine Scotch Corner and Ashley Tubey with 2nd open Essex & Kent Combine Scotch Corner.
For the second time in the last two Essex & Kent events A & R Tubey have been placed 2nd open. The first time it seems very frustrating to take second place, but when you do it for the second time it shows your birds are in form and hard to beat, particularly when you have another two in the first seven to back you up.
Pigeon Origin
All three of Ashley & Ron’s pigeons were bred from their Heremans Ceusters family that originate from the Premier Lofts. The first two birds, both blue chequer hens, are nest mates, the third pigeon being a blue chequer cock. Ron told me that they were particularly pleased with the Hereman Ceusters pigeons as they had shown such great promise right from the word go.
Ron & Ashley use the darkness system to prepare their young birds. Once they are weaned they are left together to mate.
Ashley and Ron's flight showing the Heremans Ceusters stock birds that have produced several outstanding young birds in their first year.
Mr & Mrs Steven Fenech. 3rd 4th 6th 15th & 16th open Essex & Kent Combine. 2nd 3rd 5th 14th & 15th County of Essex Federation 1600 1658 1653 1633 1632 ypm.
Once again Steven has achieved phenomenal results in securing five of the first 20 open positions in the Essex and Kent Combine. This fancier’s name has been constantly highlighted in the Essex and Kent events because he and his brother this year have achieved what most of us strive to achieve. But only a few of us will ever achieve. For instance just last week in preparation for this event once again Steve’s team of pigeons took the first seven positions in the county of Essex Federation and, I might add, with a T3 clock. Steven tells me he has a Unikon E.T.S. clock but many of the clubs and feds in the London area have not yet taken up the challenge of setting them for a race. You’re definitely at a disadvantage using a T3 because after a few races, as Steve pointed out, the birds that have been constantly clocked often will not go in the stall trap and will even jump back out before you can get their rubber off.
Steve Fenech with the Bolt hen winner of 3rd open Essex & Kent combine Scotch Corner.
Steve said that although he had enjoyed every minute of racing the birds this year, he still felt relieved that the last race was over and done with. Mostly because while your birds are on fire you cannot stop working; it’s up at the crack of dawn every day, at least a couple of 40 milers a week. You cannot stop still in case the birds do.
Steven also feels he is motivated by his brother Bob because although they are brothers they still enjoy the banter which spurs them on, keeping them constantly in competition with each other. Even this week, although Steven has performed well in the Essex & Kent, Bob has also once again had another brilliant week winning 1st & 2nd London North Road Combine from Scotch Corner.
Bob’s moving house this year. Steven said he will be very sorry to see him go, but wishes him all the best in his new challenge.
Pigeon Origin
Steve’s first five birds were all of Denis Sapin origin although the first bird was not bred by him. This dark chequer hen is a granddaughter of Champion Bolt. When Steve timed her in he recognised it straight away as a Bolt pigeon as they tend to look alike. But when he checked the ring he did not recognise it. Well after checking his book Steve found that it was a bird bred by Vic Shaw of Harlow. Apparently Steve had bred a pair of birds for Vic last year and these were a son of Bolt and a sister to Bolt. Vic paired these together and let Steve have the first pair of young birds bred from them. The hen of this nest pair was the first bird winning Steve 3rd open Essex & Kent Combine Scotch Corner.
Mr Paul Reynolds. 1st Stour Valley Federation 8th open Essex & Kent Combine Scotch Corner velocity 1651 ypm.
Paul Reynolds' blue Vandenabeele hen winner of 1st S.V. Federation 8th open Essex & Kent Combine Scotch Corner.
In the last Essex & Kent young bird event from Wetherby Paul only just missed out being third in the federation with all three of the first three birds’ velocities very close together. But once again his birds have proved how good they are, having the first bird home in the far east of the combine.
Paul told me it had been very hard this year preparing his young birds for the Essex and Kent events as the federation he is flying in has been organising very short races because so many fanciers have had losses and many were late starting their birds. Although his family of birds are more suited to middle distance races, he had still managed to win four of the short ones. It still also left a problem of jumping them into the Essex & Kent events.
Pigeon Origin
Paul’s first bird, a little blue hen, is a granddaughter to his number one pair of Vandenabeeles. Her sire has won seven firsts flying both north and south. This little blue hen was sent sitting eleven day old eggs.
Essex & Kent Combine Scotch Corner provisional result
22.9.2012.
Liberated 09.15 hrs. North West wind.
Approx 1350 birds.
1 M/M A HILLS, EC 1663
2 A & R TUBEY, COE 1660.7
3 M/M S FENECH, COE 1660.0
4 M/M S FENECH, 1658
5 A & R TUBEY, 1657
6 M/M S FENECH, 1653
7 A & R TUBEY, 1652
8 P REYNOLDS, SV 1651
9 D BURNS, COE 1646
10 K PAPWROTH, EC 1645.28
11 J FENN, COE 1645.27
12 D BURNS, COE 1637
13 S AGER, SOT 1635.9
14 M CREIGHTON, EC 1635.0
15 M/M S FENECH, 1633
16 M/M S FENECH, 1632
17 T & T McCARTHY, SOT 1630
18 R & J MOSS, SOT 1629.8
19 S AGER, 1629.7
20 RADLEY & BEDDING, COE 1627
