Essex Central Federation - Wetherby 13th May 2023

Wetherby  13^th May 2023

Hello and welcome to the 5^th edition of our federations progress, naturally we head that little further North this week to Wetherby, the racecourse itself, home of the Charlie Hall Chase, ironically won in 2022 by British gold cup hope, the Paul Nichols trained Bravemansgame. Situated on the border of West and North Yorkshire. Convenience is the key to this location with close proximity to all transport links and a popular hospitable hub when visiting this part of the world. Lee and wife Nicola awoke to a fairly dismal morning at the liberation site with poor weather and visibility the length and breadth of the country. With the immediate forecast none to positive it would be another delayed start for our athletes of the sky and the earliest chance of a liberation came at 11:45, when Lee released the 991 entrants into a light north tail wind.

As the predicted arrival time came and went, it would become obvious that this would be a difficult days racing and the anxious fancy continued waiting for an appearance of their first pigeon. That said, birds did eventually begin to drift into the county and the first to appear on the scoresheet today would be a yearling in the care of Stambridge patron Mr Mick Waterhouse. Mick, also the club victor in our previous Retford event timed the Malcolm Scouler bred blue cock just before twenty past three, with the tenacious yearling completing an attritional 182 miles in 3 hours 34 minutes and forty eight seconds or in the fanciers language, an impressive fed winning 1498 ypm. Mick has been in our great sport for the past 30 years, mostly flying with Stambridge but did have a shot on the south for one season. Hailing from West Yorkshire, Leeds to be precise, coincidentally, where the racepoint itself happens to fall into the administrative district, little bit of romanticism for you there as the veteran fed winner has early memories of assisting his grandfather with the pigeons as a child when the loft was sited in a yard at the end of their cobbled street. His Grandfather would also keep and show canaries, an interest I know in which many of our readers participate, however, not many people can be at the standard required to finish second in show, especially if that show is at Crystal Palace and the year is 1908 when every home had a songbird of one type or other with canaries being most populous. Bought up on British finches, canaries and other native songbirds myself I understand the significance of this prize and the enormity of the contest itself. I hold the greatest respect for that achievement Mr Walton and have enjoyed writing about thrice fed winning Grandson Mick. With age playing a key role with his hobby and making those daily tasks that bit more labouring, has reduced his team to 25 to 30 pigeons flying roundabout and ceased keeping any stock birds. Clubmates Malcolm and John very kindly continue to breed some youngsters for Mick for which he states he is most grateful and has also had success with some pigeons purchased from another clubmate Mick Smith. It would be a fine team performance for Mr Waterhouse. His second arrival, a 3y blue hen was 15^th fed with 1306 and a third arrival to the fed toppers residence, a yearling grizzle hen gets her number on the result sheet, sneaking in at 20^th with 1303. Wishing you all the best Mick and I sincerely hope the keeping of your pigeons proves no more difficult in the near future, Great pigeons. 2^nd club and a repeat from last week we have club secretary Malcolm Scouler with a premier lofts Heremans ceusters. The 2y blue hen 3^rd club in our Grantham opener, today picking up the club silver and 4^th fed on 1455. Mr Scouler appears yet again on the club podium from Wetherby, collecting bronze with the super consistent Kittel mealy cock ’30. 1^st club 11^th fed from Grantham, 2^nd club, 7^th fed from Retford and a hard fought 3^rd club, 6^th fed in a tough Wetherby this afternoon. This super yearling landed on the boards with Malcolm at twenty to four  completing his 182 miles at 1362 the Hockley master would enter a third pigeon in the mix, a red chequer hen, four years of age, 7^th fed with 1355. Exceptional flying gentlemen and Stambridge club as a whole.

Down to my newly found Laindon friends now, all has been forgiven with regards to their club title. one hopes, and today we see their strongest performance since switching North to fly alongside us. Maybe something to do with the club trainers on offer from Cambridge with generous secretary Steve Smith taking the birds on a midweek outing in the beautiful sunshine.  The following fancier took a clean sweep from Retford in our prior event not to mention the meat raffle first prize and today he collects top honours within our largest send for the second successive week. Congratulations Mick Smith and the first of his 18 entries, a yearling blue Heremans ceusters cock with Gary cox blood whom, without a hint of west in the wind took club honours and second federation conquering the 182 miles in 3 hours, 35 minutes for 1490. Super performance Mick. Retford winner Alan Scarborough comes in at second on this occasion. His distance bred Russ Skinner of Lincoln yearling proving he is up for the task, and a future prospect up, the road maybe? The blue chequer cock earns a bronze medal and 9^th fed completing todays 179 mile task at 1332. It would be a close run thing between the minor placings at Laindon with Gary watts only a yard behind in third. His blue pied hen bred from the Late great Alex McKenzie crossed with an Albert Babbington van den Bosche took her chequered flag after 4 minutes short of four hours on the wing at 1331. Ben Kipling wins 6 giant T bone stakes in the raffle that go some way to sustaining his considerable appetite. A final word of condolence for the clubs missing pigeons, I hope this is some consolation and thanks as always to reliable secretary and all round top man Steve Smith.

Hadleigh club next, where C & R Rand lead proceedings with a 2y blue cock completing 186 miles in 3 hours 42 minutes and 52 seconds. The red card holder steps up to the final place on the federation podium collecting 1^st club, 3^rd fed on 1483.  Steve Duffell takes 2^nd club 12^th fed with the first of his arrivals, a yearling blue cock flying 4 hours to average 1330. Winners C & R rand take third at Hadleigh and appear again at 13^th fed with their gutsy 4 year old hen returning on 1324. Fed stalwarts John and Gaynor Ashenden take 14^th, Anthony O’Mahoney continues his fine season with 17^th and R & S Thomas up there again finish 18^th  fed. Apologies to Simon for the incorrect name of the partnership in the Retford article.

Back up the sheet to 5^th fed and our next club, Chelmsford City and Mr & Mrs John and Tina Payne continue their winning ways with a determined blue cock on 1447, both Sire and Dam Corremans x harry lines from their good mate John Matthews of Billericay (Hutton) fame. Also following up with 2^nd club, 11^th fed, and 3^rd club for another clean sweep and staying the course with their  gallant Vandenabeele’s both bred by Colin Mann of Hockley. John reports that city members like all had a poor gappy race today and plenty of empty perches come the night, alike fanciers all over the country I add on one of those heart-breaking bizarre days we encounter. Thanks for the information, John and what a team you have got sir.

Mr and Mrs Oddy are head of affairs over at Rayleigh. Club president Steve adds a Wetherby red card to his victories from both Grantham and Retford with a 2y blue hen touching down in Battlesbridge after 3 hours, 51 minutes and 56 seconds in the air. The Grantham fed topper takes 8^th fed with 1354. I and A Hayes finish runner up in the club and make a second appearance in the fed result this term with their yearling chequer cock flying its 182 miles at 1304 to make a respectable 19^th Fed.

Not a great day down at Burnham club I’m afraid, losing both last week’s Retford fed winner and runner up but credit to Dave Phillips for taking the time to send me some info. Mr and Mrs Moss won this time around as some sort of compensation with a yearling red chequer pied cock on 1296. Steve Ward, 2^nd with a 2y blue hen for the race controller in partnership with his daughter on 1279. Contributor Dave Phillips flying with John Upson takes 3^rd over in silver End with 1233. Hope you get them gents.   

Similar story at Maldon where club Champions Steve, Ian and Sam Wallis lost more than their fair share of winners but still had one in the locker to take todays red card. The blue bar cock adding todays club victory on 1282 to his CV. The consistent 2y was bred by STS lofts Kings Lynn and topped the federation last year from Darlington. Collecting the silver medal would be Combine king Ants Wright, who just like myself must dream of those heady days when we all got together. Ants pigeon, an established 5y from his all-conquering Combine family won the section in the 2021 NRCC Fraserburgh contest and put up a strong performance today, displaying her long distance genes clocking in at 1280. If that doesn’t tell a story our next fancier confirms it, picking up the bronze medal at the Scraley road club is long distance fanatic George Dura. His daughter of Princess, 3^rd today with a hard fought 1276. The blue bar yearling hen originating from the  top Eastern European blood of Ursu Florin and George’s Romanian Columbodrom grand prix syndicate partner Firescu Marius.  

Finally, Hutton club honours go to Russell Jaques with a 2y chequer cock covering his 172 mile journey in a minute and a half shy of four hours to record 1271. Runner up in the South Essex collective is Richard Sees, timing his 2y blue hen bang on four o’clock equating to 1181 and rounding off a difficult day for all is club winner Mr Jaques taking the last available spot on the podium with a 2y blue cock on 1167.

We have these challenging days but that’s pigeon racing and as difficult as it has been today, next week will see much improvement I’m sure and if you would like just a little bit of incentive, the federation and our president have introduced a Prize winning event from Aycliffe with spot prizes on offer and a winner takes all nomination. Best of luck and I hope you all get some back.  

C L  Elmes

Away they go Wetherby 11.45 13-05-2023                                    Mick Waterhouse 1st Essex Central Federation Wetherby.          1st Essex Central Federation Wetherby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           991 birds.

A coveted medal to say the least.                                           A well earned 2nd prize won by Mr Walton, Grandfather of todays fed winner Mick Waterhouse.

At least Steve Smith has all his.                                             Steve Smith reports a beautiful morning in Cambridge, 18 degrees and sunny.

An exceptional five timer for John and Tina Payne.