ESSEX & KENT AMALGAMATION
E. J. SAINS
RIPON
The second of the Essex & Kent Amalgamation’s races took place from Ripon on May 12th 2012. Three thousand four hundred and ninety three birds were liberated at 7.45pm with blue skies both at the race point and predicted all along the route home. The wind was given as a light North West and for the second week in succession the birds arrived home making above a mile a minute.
Ron & Paul Thomas, winners of 1st & 6th Essex Central Federation, 1st & 11th open Essex & Kent Amalgamation Ripon 3493 birds
Ron & Paul Thomas fly as a father and son partnership into a loft situated at Paul’s house in South Benfleet, Essex. They fly in the Rayleigh R.P.S. It’s no secret that the Rayleigh club is one of the hardest clubs to win in the Essex Central Federation with twenty-five participating members, many of them considered to be some of the most outstanding flyers within the Essex Central Federation. So you know when I say they hold their own within the club, that’s no mean feat on its own. In 2010 the partnership had 1st 4th 8th and 9th combine and in 2011 were 6th amalgamation in the same race, Ripon, as they won this year.
Ron & Paul Thomas
The Pigeon (origin)
The pigeon that won the amalgamation is a two year old dark chequer Lefebre Dhaenens x Staf Van Reet hen which came from the late Brian Baxter, bred from two B.I.C.C. winners paired together. The partnership is usually known for their Louis Cooreman pigeons which have flown out of this world for them. Paul said to me that since getting the Cooremans in 2005 from Bob Fenech, they have in a very short time put the partners on the map. Nevertheless the partnership is constantly looking for good pigeons and has recently purchased some of the Michel Van Lint family from Dean Pallet.
Method
Ron & Paul feel that their method of flying their birds is unique to them, because it suits the birds that they fly. It is a system where the young birds are flown on roundabout, then as old birds they are just moved along to the next section and continue to race on more or less the same system. This gives you an advantage, particularly at the beginning of the season, because the yearlings already know what’s expected of them and are trying straight away.
Mr Barry Hall, winner of 2nd Essex Central Federation 2nd Essex & Kent Amalgamation Ripon velocity 1911ypm
Barry is another top flyer in the Rayleigh club and is always hard to beat particularly in the big events. His performances at federation, amalgamation and combine level are phenomenal. Just to mention some 2011 performances, Barry won the old bird Essex Central Federation averages plus the Essex & Kent Combine averages.
Barry Hall
The Pigeon (origin)
Barry’s winning pigeon a two year old Louis Cooremans widowhood cock which has already proved himself a very good pigeon winning twice in the Rayleigh club as a yearling. This in itself is a big achievement as there are not many pigeons that win twice in the same year in the Rayleigh club. Then of course second amalgamation Ripon. Barry said for a while he thought he had won the amal. ‘This would have really put the icing the cake for this bird. Still I am not disappointed with 2nd amal and he certainly has proved what a good pigeon he is. These Cooremans pigeons have been doing very well for me. I have a few very good ones. This one is bred down from an Irish section winner that I bought in an entire clearance sale at Blackpool and also down from a chequer pied cock that was bred from Ian Wallis’ super breeding Belgian Cooremans hen via Andrew Jiggins. These two Cooremans pigeons were the grandparents to the amalgamation cock, when paired to direct Bob Fenech pigeons.
Mr Steve Smith, winner of 1st South of the Thames Federation 5th open Essex & Kent Amalgamation
Steve has kept birds from a young age and this year for the first time he decided to race widowhood. With the help of his good friend, the pie man of Chesterfield who has been guiding him each week in the art of widowhood, his hard work has paid off enabling him to top the federation and be placed very high in the amal.
Steve Smith
The Pigeon (origin)
Steve’s bird, a blue Janssen cock, was also bred by his friend the pie man of Chesterfield, from a good cock that has himself won 5x1st.
Mr Albert Barker, 2nd South of the Thames Federation 6th open Essex & Kent Amalgamation
Albert won 1st South of the Thames Federation, 9th open Essex & Kent Amalgamation last week 5.5.2012. Again this week, Albert has shown true form with another brilliant performance taking 2nd South of the Thames Federation 6th open Essex & Kent Amalgamation. Albert Barker needs no introduction as he is very well known for his outstanding performances, topping the Essex Combine on no less than five occasions.
The Pigeon (origin)
Albert’s bird was bred from Cyril Boosey stock. It was raced on the hide and seek system.
Albert Barker
Clarke Bros, winners of 1st Havering North Road Federation 13th open Essex & Kent Amalgamation
Bill & Mick Clarke are exceptional flyers as their past performances have shown. Again this year, their lofts are in top form, already landing three 1st Federations on the trot.
The Pigeon (origin)
Their pigeon, a three year old blue Louis Cooremans widowhood cock, is a pigeon that seems to like a big day race, as his past and present performances have shown. In 2010 Blue 16 won 1st federation 9th open Essex & Kent Amal 3853 birds. In 2011 he came again to win 1st Federation 10th open Essex & Kent Amal 2831 birds. Once again in 2012 Blue 16 has shown his amazing ability with 1st federation 13th open Essex & Kent Amalgamation. What a pigeon!
Clarke Bros
When talking to Bill he told me that Louis Cooremans specializes in sprint racing in Belgium and wins against thousands of birds from a distance of 170km or around 105 miles. Here in England they are hard to beat in sprint-to-middle distance. But certain ones go up the road as last year they won the Combine from Thurso with a Louis Cooremans flying over 15hrs on the wing.
Provisional result
200 members sent 3493 birds. (Not got birdage from one club yet so will go up).
1 R & P THOMAS E.C. 1917
2 B HALL E.C. 1911
3 S FOLEY COE 1900
4 T BUCKFIELD EC 1899
5 S SMITH SOT 1898
6 A BARKER & SON SOT 1892
7 M/M S ODDY EC 1886
8 S AGER SOT 1878
9 T BUCKFIELD EC 1877
10 G DURRELL COE 1876
11 R & P THOMAS EC 1875
12 M BACON SOT 1871.7
13 CLARKE BROS HNR 1871.3
14 J & A ASHENDEN EC 1871.0
15 T BUCKFIELD EC 1870
16 W NORTON & SON HNR 1869
17 S VIALLS & SON COE 1867.9
18 P WOOD EC 1867.3
19 M/M G RICHMOND EC 1866
20 R COLE EC 1865
