Essex Central Federation - Darlington 20th May 2023

Darlington 20^th May 2023

Six weeks into the season everybody and with the annual bad race behind us, federation President Mr Paul Stacey very kindly injects some prize winning incentives to the faithful for today’s event and with that exciting generous donation we relocate that little bit further North into County Durham for the first time. However, with the Aycliffe liberation site deemed not suitable on this occasion Lee, Nicola and the slightly depleted contingent of 780 federation pigeons hitch up and pull on to nearby alternative Darlington. A Town with rich engineering heritage and famous for its bridges that span rivers across the world including the majestic River Amazon and the historical River Nile. Lee reports fog first thing on site and the birds remain on the lorry until beautiful blue skies appear mid-morning. With all concerned happy to go, the birds were released at 09:45 with no wind at the racepoint but turning Northeast en-route.

They say money makes money so, of course, even in Essex it has to be Rayleigh club for our first stop. Where we find the federation winner today, Mr Mark Pittman. Marks victor receiving, not just top honours at Rayleigh but the star prize of £100 on offer for the open race winner. The powerful mealy cock clocking at 1 minute and 11 seconds past 2 conquering all and the 222 mile journey to Wickford at 1531. I got a lovely response from Mark when I enquired about his yearling winner, and I let the emotion speak for itself. My Federation winner is a late bred Alex Docx Cock, he raced once as a young bird and had homed consistently from all the old bird races this season, improving every week. Since buying the parents 3 years ago, they have produced 8 club winners and 3 federation winners. I have always had racing pigeons in my life and raced with my father in the 60’s and 70’s and subsequently with my late wife. However, the last 10 years we enjoyed keeping the pigeons and only raced occasionally. Pigeons have over time become my hobby and not my life as they were in the early years, family first always!!! My most memorable races are of course my two combine wins and the numerous 2nd positions in the mighty Essex and Kent Combine and amalgamation races and todays win is very special as I start a new chapter in life. My biggest influences are many, however I will say Cyril Boosey of Basildon and the late Jimmy Concorde Richards. I’d like to finish by thanking my lifelong pigeon pals Alan Clements of Laindon and Jimmy Foster of J&F Foster fame formerly of Dagenham for their weekly pigeon chats. Thankyou Mark, that’s why I enjoy putting these articles together and the best of luck in all that you do. Silver medal at Fed winning Rayleigh goes to Mr and Mrs Oddy. Club president and Grantham opener fed winning Steve takes the runner up spot and a twenty pound prize with a 2 y chequer cock, 20^th fed, racing the 225 miles home to Battlesbridge at 1508.

Second stop on our countywide tour is Hutton club where victor John Matthews scoops the winner takes all fed Nomination. The club winning and federation runner up pigeon a veteran 5y blue hen covered 219 miles in 4 hours 12 minutes for 1528. It would be a good days work for John also coming up trumps in the lucrative weekly meat raffle held at neighbouring club Laindon today . Richard Sees comes in for second club with his 4y blue cock, racing 215 miles, the first of his 10 arrivals registering 1496 after four hours and thirteen minutes in the air.

A close run thing between clubs today, where mere seconds decide the outcome. Strong coastal collective Burnham on Crouch will be our next destination to once again witness a demolition job by high flying and top performing duo Mr and Mrs john Moss. The multiple fed winning pair took the rubber from their first arrival a yearling chequer pied cock and struck at 14:04:48 to read 1525 and 3^rd federation on the scoresheet. Runner up at Burnham and 4^th fed goes to a 2y chequer pied cock, 8^th fed at Retford earlier in the campaign, stamped just ten seconds later on the same yard. Mr and Mr Moss continue an excellent Saturdays racing racking up another Burnham clean sweep with the third of their chequer pied cocks timed a mere six seconds after the runner up. The 2 year old not half a yard behind his loftmates, 6^th fed with 1524. Mr and Mrs Moss post a fourth pigeon in the top ten, a yearling red pied cock completing his 225mile journey at 1521. Great flying by the partnership also Clubmate Dave Freeman having a good race today posting 7^th fed with his blue pied hen giving up her band to the Wickham Bishops Maestro at 13:52, meaning 1524.3, the same yard as the two spots above, beaten by the hundredths. Dave would have a fruitful afternoon with the 4 year old picking up twenty pounds of the kings money for her trouble and with a 3y loftmate 15^th fed, and a younger yearling blue of the same sex 16^th  with the identical velocity Dave adds a second score to the days takings.

Hadleigh club next and champion for this week is Steve Duffell. The first of the fanciers 35 pigeons, a yearling blue pied cock landed on the boards at five past two completing his 225 miles at 1524 for 5^th fed, 6 seconds or 1 yard ahead of his female counterpart, the chequer pied also a yearling claims second club, 8^th fed. Clubmate Antony O’Mahoney alike Burnhams Mr freeman earlier, had a profitable Darlington, the opening Grantham club victor records a yearling chequer hen after 4 hours 22 minutes on the wing to pick up 3^rd club, and a twenty pound prize for 9^th fed arriving together with an older 2y blue pied hen, 11^th fed, another spot prize winning position. Two seconds later in the clock, 1521 and 2 hundredths the difference. A good days work for Mr O’Mahoney and fellow Hadleigh members R&S Thomas 13^th with 1518 and 19^thon 1510. D Croome comes up trumps with a prize winning fourteenth, his yearling blue cock 1517 and rounding off a satisfying club performance  our federation secretary Gaynor with husband John register a 3 y blue hen at 18^th with a not far off 1510. Many thanks to John for the content and Gaynor for the service.

Following on we have Chelmsford city and the seemingly unstoppable partnership of Mr and Mrs Payne. John starts his report with a positive news that all members had a good race with equally good returns and the club would like to pass on their thanks to all responsible. Encouraging words John and it is Mr and Mrs Payne who take the red card yet again in the county town outfit, with the super consistent Corremans x Harry lines originating from today’s Nomination winning fed runner up John Matthews of Hutton club. The four year old blue chequer, one of ten sent by John today, still turning it on, completing the 214 miles home in four hours and eight minutes and taking the club red card and 12^th fed with 1519. Runner up this week on 1499, trapping at two and a half minutes to two would be Alan ‘Big Al’ Hills, racing in partnership as Mr and Mrs Hills. This beautiful blue chequer yearling hen has been earmarked for a great future, gifted to Alan by local ace stud man Fred Harnett of Stock and a pigeon that experienced John advises to keep an eye out for. Taking bronze from Darlington would be club victor John Payne appearing again with a super strong Mealy cock who is a full brother to their fed winning mealy hen, sadly retired at a young age due to the dreaded hawk attack. Both parents Staf van Reet with bloodlines of a real local legend ‘Red Danial‘ bred and raced by Mr and Mrs Keith Turner of Fingringhoe and gifted by the equally accomplished and respected Burnham ace Dave freeman. Keep up the good work John.

Stambridge next and another club secretary who retains his position on the top perch for the time being, Malcolm Scouler. Collecting his fourth red card of the current campaign Malcolm timed in a yearling hen from his consistent Leo Hermans detachment. The club winning chequer covering 225 miles in four hours, 20 minutes and 53 seconds earning 17^th fed with 1514. A second Malcolm Scouler Leo Hermans would take club silver, the 2y chequer cock 3^rd club, 9^th Fed from Retford at the end of last month, just out of fed frame but second club on this occasion ten yards behind his loftmate on 1504. C & C Lamb round up the fed average champions result with a yearling blue pied cock, their first arrival of 15 landing on the board at twelve minutes past 2 registering 1500 ypm.

Across to Hospitable Laindon now and a very popular winner today in Anvi Januzi, a great lad states the author and  Secretary, Stephen Smith. Family man Anvi received one of his half a dozen entries at 6 minutes past 2 to head the largest send of 234 pigeons, with a Derricotte Janssen originating from contributor Steve crossed with an Albert Babbington or Bobbingdon as Avni calls it blue pied, hen completing 233 miles and recording 1507. Steve’s right hand man and successor Marcin Grzedowicz (worth at least one hundred scrabble points) and an asset to the club, Steve adds, takes second and third in the social organisation. Marcin timing in a yearling hen, racing on his own system just shy of eight minutes past 2. The chequer club runner up racing her 224 miles averaging 1499 and bronze medal goes to a second hen of the same lofts, the older loftmate, a 2y chequer pied, trapping not a minute later, 3rd club with 1495. cheers Steve keep it coming.

Back to the North of our sphere and our final club in the result, Maldon. This week headed by the Heybridge Elvis himself, club chairman John Horrocks. John leads the way with his 3y Hereman Ceusters, Red card winner today, 3 times a fed pigeon prior and one of only four sent, completes his 217 miles at a club nomination winning 1471. Runner up is Colchester Distance man Norman Holliday having his best short club result since his 2 y Wallis brothers Corremans chequer last won at Peterborough. The reliable grandson of Steve’s monstrous big 40 and the legendary Belgian hen first again to Normans loft on 1458. Derek Parsons and Son Derek continue their mission with the bullets 3^rd with a 2y blue bar cock on 1448, the identical time for their second arrival a 2y chequer hen taking what must be joint third.

A little come back to Retford next week, welcome amongst you I am sure, but all in all, a great race today compliments of our President Mr Stacey, and he thanks all those involved in a good day at the office. All the best.

C L Elmes

The winning run continues for Mr and Mrs Payne.            Super day for Hadleigh’s Steve Duffell 2 in                        Club Chairman John Horrocks 1st club Maldon
1st club Chelmsford city                                                        the top ten and 1st club Hadleigh 

Family man Anvi Januzi, Daughter Lauren and Son                        Laindon deputy Marcin Grzedowicz and Farmer Frankie White 
Eddie 1st club Laindon 234b

John Matthews and Anvi Januzi winning both Hutton,                 Hutton’s John Matthews and Russell Jaques                 1st Essex Central federation Darlington 780 
Laindon and the fed nom.                                                                chew the cud with Bill Coplin                                             pigeons

Not a pretty sight for lee with a no go from Aycliffe