Essex Central Federation Granthan (3) - 24-06-23

Grantham (3) 24/6/2023

Week 12 and our 3^rd visit to where it all began, Grantham in Lincolnshire. Conveyers Lee and Nicola Fuller report a beautiful morning with glorious sunshine and we begin with a few positive words from the man himself. I’d just like to say that after having 11 old bird races it’s great to see everyone on a Friday night in good cheer from all clubs as well as the congratulations to winners from all. Doing the job, I do I see some other federations around the country struggling and it makes me feel that we are very lucky, and it would only be fair to thank everyone involved in the smooth running of our clubs and Fed, onwards and upwards the Essex Central. Nice to know you all have a happy conveying team. Thanks Lee. A hot day ahead was forecast and with that in mind, race controller Steve Ward, adviser Dave Freeman and liberator Lee decided the best course of action would be an early release. With this in mind the flaps went up at 05:45 and 886 federation pigeons  began their journey home into a west southwest wind, clearing the site in good order. Sterling work all.

First up Burnham and the Retford fed winning partnership of Mr and Mrs Moss who collect the federation top spot for the second time this season with their 2y chequer pied cock, 6^th fed from Darlington in May and today picking up the red card after a 2 and a quarter hour, 110 mile journey home to Burnham. John racing his own established strain of successful pigeons clocked the fed victor not a minute past eight o’clock equating to the fed winning velocity of 1436. Runner up at Burnham and stepping up onto the fed podium for the first time we have the second arrival for Mr and Mrs Moss, the yearling blue cock not half a minute behind his older loftmate picking up bronze in the fed 5 yards behind on 1431. We have seen John’s third arrival a second yearling in the fed results before, 10^th fed from Wetherby only last week the chequer pied cock earns himself 9^th fed for the Burnham aces covering his 110 miles at 1422. Another super performance for Mr and Mrs Moss and fellow Burnham member, race controller Steve Ward who peppers this week’s scoresheet with no less than 5 ring numbers. Arriving as a group together, the first of the fanciers 32 strong battalion of Peter Veenstra, Hereman Ceusters crosses dropped through the trap at 3 minutes to 8, the yearling widowhood blue hen racing the 107 miles back to Steve at 1428 to receive 5^th fed. Following up and only seven seconds or 1 yard behind on 1427 the second of Steve’s yearling blue hens, treble 9, 11^th fed from Retford in May takes a close up 6^th.  Retford club winner and twice in the fed results so far  for the race controllers next recorded pigeon. Putting his name on the scoresheet for the third time this campaign, the yearling blue cock trapped 17 seconds after his female loftmate to register 1424 and 7^th fed. Mr ward certainly has some exciting yearlings and the fourth to arrive, and enter the multiple fed winners lofts on the same minute as her 3 comrades is another one of the fanciers consistent blue hens 39, This hen making her maiden appearance in the fed collecting 8^th fed with 1423. Not to be finished there Steve and Daughter timed a fifth pigeon from Grantham, 5^th fed from Retford at the beginning of May, another yearling blue widowhood hen, treble zero making her second appearance in the papers, 1417 and 11^th fed on this occasion. Wickham Bishops maestro Dave Freeman can never be ruled out and the race advisor puts 3 on the board this week. First up a  blue pied hen completing her 99 miles at 1396. 7^th fed at Darlington last month the 4y leads Dave’s  40 strong contingent for the second time and earns herself 14^th fed today. The next two pigeons of the respected and knowledgeable pigeon man arrived not a minute apart with a 2 y mealy cock 16^th with 1387 and a game blue hen still showing enthusiasm at 6 years old, 1387 and 19^th. Fantastic Club result for our close knit coastal collective. super flying Burnham.

The way the articles are written is we start with the fed winning club and work our way down the sheet in club order so after Burnhams extensive paragraph we fly all the way back to the top of the leader board and runners up in the fed, current Maldon champions, federation chairman Steve, brother Ian and Son Sam registered with the RPRA as SIS Wallis. Whatever the entity the surname has always had its place in local racing circles. The team, past Fed, Combine and Amalgamation winners who also love a chance of taking a few quid in the open and futurity events and are ominously coming back to their best. In possession of the club red card and fed silver medal is a yearling dark chequer cock who romped home to his wood road paradise in 2 hours 5 minutes. Dropping in at ten minutes to eight on this beautiful morning the pigeon homed in from his 102 mile task averaging 1432. The Heybridge legends had their first two come together and the second of their arrivals trapping 16 seconds after the club winner collects runner up in the club and a close 4^th fed. The 3 y chequer cock 6^th fed from our second race at Grantham registers 1429. Three in the top ten and normal service has been resumed for the powerful outfit with their 3^rd arrival, a 2y blue cock making his second appearance in the fed, 16^th from Retford at the end of May and 10^th fed from Grantham with 1418.  That brings us to Colchester and Lexden’s widowhood king Alan Moore, Grantham fed winner from our second event from the racepoint, generous Alan took all 3 podium positions that day and puts himself back on the sheet with 2 entries today. Alan registers two 2y blue cocks flying 98 miles at 1408 and 1385 receiving cards for 12^th and 17^th fed in that order. Richard Radley, residing in Braintree but flying with Maldon makes his presence felt for the first time this season. Past fed champion Richard records a 2 y blue cock racing 89 miles at 1406 collecting 13^th.  Conveyer Lee Fuller racing alongside daughter Jodie and second driver Thomas complete the result today with the Silver End duo supporting the fed entering a substantial 57 pigeons. It would take their first bird a yearling blue cock just short of 2 hours to race his 94 miles home and get himself in the fed at 15^th with 1396. Just over a minute later our Conveyer and his family timed a second arrival, a yearling chequer cock, 19^th fed flying 2 hours to Silver End averaging 1383.

Stambridge follows up and that man again, Malcolm Scouler taking the first three yet again in the fed average champions club. Secretary Malcolm has had a great season with no less than 7 club wins and an astonishing 28 appearances in the fed. This week’s arrivals coming together and taking club honours are a 2y mealy cock flying 109 miles to Hockley at 1376 the Roland Janseen Leo Hermans cross trapped nine seconds ahead of his Pitbull x Leo Hermans yearling loftmate. The grizzle cock 12^th fed Grantham back in April, a close up 1374. Malcolm strikes again with his third of 32, a chequer hen 17^th fed from further at Darlington. The yearling collecting the bronze medal today on 1371.

Onto the capital Chelmsford and the City members enjoyed a very good race experiencing brilliant returns writes weekly contributor John Payne. The birds arrived in excellent condition during the course of a very hot morning. Full credit to those concerned he states and many thanks in particular to the Conveying team. Taking 1^st and 2^nd positions we have the greatest clubman that is Alan Hills (Mr and Mrs A Hills) with a fine pair of 2y Blue cocks, once again bred down from original syndicate lofts via the legend and I quote that is “Fred Harnett of Stock”. Still hanging in there in 3^rd place is author John and wife Tina Payne with a 2y homebred hen being of Vandenabeele origins from Colin Mann of Hockley x Frans Zwols from good mate John Matthews of Billericay. Thanks John and speaking of Mr Matthews, the man himself takes a clean sweep of the podium at Hutton club, not in the fed this week but with a south west wind that was not to be expected. However, congratulations on winning the club, great flying and thanks for the information, Russell Jaques.

 I’ll own up to the fact that I abandoned my post today as I was honoured to be at the wedding of a very close friend of mine, Hailing from 2 generations of British and European judo Champions Joe Johnson and his long term partner also with a good pedigree, the beautiful Sophie Price. I told the happy couple I would have to admit my treachery to the pigeons in the write up and wish them all the very best for the future. Up the road to Wetherby for Julys opener, stay safe and I’ll see you there.

C L Elmes