Essex Central Federation - Grantham (5) 16-07-2023

Grantham (5)  16th July 2023

The middle of July heralds the 16^th and final exclusive old bird contest from one of our most regular Lincolnshire destinations. Sad news prior to the race with the passing of former federation president George Jiggins, for whom we offer the family and friends our sincere condolences and appreciation for the great work carried out by George on behalf of our fed. RIP George. We are at Grantham for the end of the current campaign for the older generation. The weather for our finale would be a little miserable at first light but with improvement throughout the course of the morning the remaining 571 pigeons were released into a strong west wind at 09:30. Good work all.

Back to back wins from Grantham in the central fed for this Saturdays victors, the current Maldon Champions Steve, Ian and Sam Wallis who after a clean sweep in the fed a week ago, fill the podium for a second successive contest from the same racepoint. With 4 of their 11 entries arriving together at the Heybridge lofts the quartet were to time in consecutively just one second apart with the first to go through the traps being a yearling mealy cock completing his fed winning 102 mile journey home in 1 hour 46 minutes and four seconds travelling at an average velocity of a speedy 1696.7. Following up to collect silver in both club and fed and as already stated, a mere one second behind the champion is last Saturdays fed bronze winner the 2y blue bar pied son of Ian’s 4 time fed winner 91. The ultra consistent Corremans making his third consecutive July appearance in the fed, all being in the top ten after 7^th at Wetherby at the beginning of the month, improves on last week’s bronze to take the runner up position on the same yard but point 51. In third spot, again registering just that second later and another on the same yard for the Wood Road masters is an STS lofts Kings Lynn bred 2y chequer cock, 16^th fed from Retford and second club that day, only bronze in the Scraley road  result today but on the fed podium for the first time with 1696.2. In fourth place at the loft, in the club and fed is our penultimate Grantham fed winning STS lofts Leo Heremans 3y chequer cock. The multiple fed card holder and runner up prior to last Saturdays victory making his impressive fourth appearance on the sheet this season alone, 4 seconds behind our leader and a yard behind on 1695. Everyone knows how much the lads invest in the sport, with both time, money and commitment and so after what I would deem a quiet start to the season and some hard to accept losses, it pleases me to see my clubmates take back to back Grantham’s to end their old bird campaign. Great flying comrades and the same must be said for 5^th position, claimed by fellow Maldon Fanciers Derek and Derek Parsons. Their pigeon a 2y homebred blue hen, first of their 21 entries to trap, flew her 90 miles home to Bocking at 1673 landing on the boards for the bullets just shy of five past ten. We stay with the earlier Retford fed toppers for their second arrival, landing not more than half a minute later. The 2y chequer pied hen, another originating from their successful breeding programme collects 7^th fed recording 1662 and another card for the pedigrees. The dangerous duo have had a fantastic season and round off a productive schedule with a further two spots on the sheet. An enthusiastic 4 y blue hen collects 15^th with 1625 whilst a younger 3y chequer loftmate also from the fairer sex picks up 16^th finishing at 1624. Lexden legend the Generous Alan Moore receives 17^th fed. The widowhood king who took the first three in our second renewal from today’s racepoint timed in  a yearling red chequer cock, I’m guessing (an educated guess) from his Pitbull family in at 18 minutes past 11, homing 98 miles to Colchester at 1606. Richard Radley from Braintree puts his name in the result for the third time this season, his 3 y blue pied cock ’02 wrapping up the Maldon contingent 19^th with 1605.

Neighbours Burnham club feature heavily again this week with Steve Ward and Daughter topping the strong close knit outfit and 6^th fed with a yearling blue pied cock diving in to the race controllers trap finishing his 107 miles averaging 1667, not half a minute ahead of runner up and 8^th fed for Steves second pigeon a yearling gay pied hen 1658, both pigeons finishing the season well and making their first appearance on the sheet. Mr and Mrs Moss complete the podium at Burnham and time the next four federation pigeons beginning with another new ring number to me, A 2y blue pied cock collecting bronze club and 9^th fed on 1652 followed a close 8 seconds by a younger chequer pied cock, the yearling 10^th fed and only 2 yards adrift at 1650. Next to go into the clock for multiple fed winners Mr and Mrs Moss would be a second yearling cock on 1648, this chequer 11 seconds later for 11^th fed. The final arrival of the fanciers leading quartet is a pigeon who I have seen before, previously making the frame at both Darlington and Wetherby, the versatile red pied cock timing on the same minute as his yearling loftmates before him recording 1642 and 12^th fed. Club winner Steve Ward picks up the next two on the sheet, homing in at 25 minutes past eleven, his third and fourth have both been super consistent as yearlings. The blue hen triple nine is the first rubber taken from the Burnham Aces clock, 11^th fed from Retford in June followed up a fortnight later with 6^th fed from Grantham, the Peter Veenstra based hen makes her third appearance 13^th with 1636. The identical time and velocity of a fourth prospect of the partnerships 30 strong team, making an impressive fourth appearance to round off a fantastic campaign, the yearling blue cock with similar origins to his loftmates twice in the fed at both Retford and Grantham. Fantastic result for the club today with John Upson and David Phillips collecting the final available spot. Their yearling red pied cock  20^th fed, 94 miles to Silver End  racing at 1600.

Chelmsford City have one in the mix today, an impressive 18^th fed considering the strong south west wind for the sleeping giant no more Alan (Mr and Mrs Hills). The top drawer club and pigeon man keeping the competition tight over at the capital where I hand over to  representative and contributor, leading fancier John Payne who writes City members enjoyed a fabulous race with the majority of birds arriving within minutes of each other. Just a few very late ones but most importantly all in good condition and 100 percent returns. Once again very well done and sincere thanks to all involved. Taking 1^st and 3^rd place we have Alan hills with two hens which a both fine examples of Syndicate loft origins via direct stock from the top man once again, Fred Harnett. Alan’s two hens were split by author John and Wife Tina, runner up this week with the one of their ultra reliable Vandenabeele cocks from the great Colin Mann of Hockley. A fine season for both club winners Mr and Mrs Hills and an equally satisfying finale for the notably consistent lofts of Mr and Mrs Payne. Cheers John, great to hear from you as always.

Fed average Champions Stambridge next and Secretary Malcolm Scouler collects another red card with his prolific Roland Janssen cock. The 2y mealy, in the fed from our second Grantham in April, followed up with 15^th fed Retford last month in June,  3^rd fed Wetherby at the start of the month is victorious again completing 109 miles at a club winning 1580. Malcolm would go on to collect silver with his second arrival, a 2y Leo Heremans chequer hen 10^th fed Retford in May, only 3 seconds behind today, 2^nd club with 1579. Collecting the third and final spot in the minor honours is May’s  Wetherby fed winning fancier Mick Waterhouse, his yearling blue Mick Smith hen takes bronze with 1570. Cheers Malcolm and good luck with the young birds.

Onwards to Laindon and the Wetherby champion Mick Smith. Veteran Mick celebrates his fourth club win at the south Essex organisation and collects another clean sweep at the club. The Hockley fancier, an export from the pigeon hotbed of Forest Gate and Leytonstone had three come together and times in a 2y  brother of his fed victor a fortnight ago landing, just after half past and 2 minutes past 2 hours on the wing the Steve Smith supplied Dave Atkin Spellbound x Maestro first through the trap on 1576. Right on his tail a yearling ceusters blue hen, 19^th fed from Retford back in May the Gary Cox Euro wind chequer 2^nd club on 1575. Mick rounds off our final old bird race of the season with his third bird, a yard behind on 1574, the blue cock, a second ceusters with this yearling being from Rod Sparkes again with Gary Cox Blood. Thanks Steve.

I’ll sign off the final article of the old bird campaign with a mention of a visitor to Maldon club back at the beginning of the season. Kris Mulley. Affable Kris who befriended the club and its members must be congratulated on his first and second section NRCC from Thurso today. Flying just short of 500 miles to his Essex and Suffolk border lofts the long distance enthusiast puts in an excellent performance both pigeons recording impressive national positions. Great flying Kris. That’s it for the older generation, time for the youngsters to shine, good luck for next week’s opener where the dream begins again. All the best.

C L Elmes.