Essex Central Federation - 11-04-24

Laindon Pre-Season Special

Morning all. Back to it this week but things have never stopped down at Laindon with Steve Smith and his club busy throughout the off season and with that I thought I would get to know the club a little better and document their efforts before racing begins Saturday. Formed in 1960 the club has 38 members for what is expected to be an ultra-competitive 2024 season. New members Vasil Balanuca, Charlie Simmons, Mark Cooper, Robbie and Andrew Wilton (D Wilton and Son) together with the incorporated Hutton Lads, add even more weight to this Mighty outfit, The Laindon Racing Pigeon Club.

Looking for a suitable Transporter for their forthcoming midweek racing and some improvements required at the club house to pay for, the club began with an auction with an assortment of pigeons coming from top lofts from throughout the country and over the water in Ireland. Bernie McDermott got busy with sourcing some desirable stock from the fancy to auction off and after a very successful outcome the club would like to thank Lenny Jenkins, David Coward -Talbot, the Ace Micky Harvey, Eddie and wife Sara at Central lofts, Simon Shearsby from Dandelion lofts, Duncan Goodchild, Kevin Foster, Deputy Marcin Grzedowicz, Jonny Chipperfield, John Purton, John Gladwin and John Cowlin formerly Formula one lofts, Dave and Gary Heywood, Micky Pawsey from Dagenham, Tidbury and Garrett, Anton Astore, Brighton’s Lee and Ian Sullivan, D Wilton and Son, Mark Bulled, Damian Szpak and Waterford global supplier Derek Walsh for their generous donations of the best quality pigeons that would grace any loft. With such a line up of contributors the target for the trailer and repairs was readily met and the club took possession of a brand new Geraldy in January. Well done Bernie.

November and the club host the first of their popular post season Sunday show series. Beginning with old cocks through the wires and a substantial entry of 56 birds in class going under the expert eye of Hadleigh’s John and Gaynor Ashenden who together selected a handsome blue pied owned and raced by Brian Robinson who collects a nice winning card, £28 in prize money and to round off a lovely Sunday Afternoon for Brian, the £35 on offer in the nom. Runner up was Russ O’cuneff picking up £19 with the Thurso supremo Alan Scarborough third and a tenner better off. Barleylands social club welcomes the club for the second of the contests a week later on the first Sunday in December. This time the turn of old hens, under the scrutiny of Judge Andy Cousins who chose a lovely chequer pied well kept at the lofts of owner Selwyn Abraham and bred by good friend, family man Anvi Januzi. Selwyn bags £35 and the first prize winning card. second and third would be claimed by Russ O’cuneff who takes home £17 winnings. Week 3 is Young Cocks and another outstanding meat raffle prize on offer as always to visitors including judges Lenny Jenkins and Andrew Foster who cast their knowledgeable eyes over an entry of 59 pigeons. Top of the pile in this class, Mark Cooper with his stunning  Dark Chequer White flight earning £30 prize money together with the £25 nom, cant be bad, well done, Mark. Second and £20 goes to 4 of 8 on the day from a very tough Thurso, Alan Scarborough and Third but certainly not least Stocks finest Studman Fred Harnett. Moving on to the following Sunday we have the best of the young hens on show, judging on this occasion was the responsibility of Top fancier Patrick Mahoney ably assisted by Channel racing  enthusiast Charlie Simmons. The coveted pair singled out an immaculate light chequer in the care of owner Neal Martin and he takes home the £25 first prize and doubles up with the winner takes all nomination. Runner up is last Sundays young cocks winning fancier Mark Cooper who adds £15 to the Kitty. Ten pounds and third in show  goes to the old cocks Judges, John and Gaynor Ashenden. A fantastic 82 pigeons were presented to the fancy in the fifth event, an any age entry for both sexes. First up 50 male specimens for a superstar line up of judges to peruse. The difficult task falls to a collaboration of sprint kings SIS Wallis, Basildon’s National Winning  Pat Mahoney, the pigeon legend that is Lenny Jenkins, RPRA award winning John and Gaynor Ashenden with another South Road champion, Andy Cousins back again with his respected opinion. The All-stars settled on a pigeon from a loft obviously full of good looking pigeons kept by Neal Martin who once again leads the way, taking home a further £55 to put towards the upcoming sales. Laindon’s Deputy Marcin Grzedowicz takes runner up. Gas Fitter Marcin doesn’t really need it but would appreciate the £32  towards the corn with 4 places in the money. Mark Cooper appears again for a third time taking bronze in class today. Another £10 goes to Mark. 37 hens on show next and Leigh on Sea fancier Ray Cole flying with Hadleigh club comes out on top with the fairer Sex. His attractive blue pied hen in receipt of first prize of £20 and wins the £25 nom. Neal Martin, victorious in the young hens and any age cocks, settles for silver in the any age females category, fifteen pounds for runner up, and completing the podium is Laindon Fancier Russ O’cuneff who happy with the addition of fourth is £17 better off. A great show writes Steve and a good bit of PR with Barleylands Landlady, the ever welcoming Anne taking home the superb Turkey Raffle prize.

The Laindon lads kicked off early again this year with the opening breeder buyer sale on the last Sunday in February. The first of 4 located as always at the home of the Hammers, Barleylands social club. With an early afternoon start an impressive 41 pigeons were penned and sold by auctioneer Bernie McDermott to a healthy sized audience of eager local fanciers keen to get a slice of the Bank Holiday prize money. Mother’s Day would be the date for the second opportunity to introduce new blood or enhance our entries in the Darlington Showpiece and fanciers from Far and wide begin to emerge with Steves generous offer of no radius as long as you fly a minimum distance of 195 miles from the Durham Racepoint (4242) proving ever popular with the fraternity. 31 well-bred and lovely pigeons were added to the roster today by a notable list of our local and national winning lofts.

Not a fortnight later, we have the long awaited Laindon presentation night, evermore scarce compared to the old days when we all had an annual knees up, but they keep the fire burning down the south of the county with an excellent night of entertainment courtesy of The Foreverly Brothers starring   The former  Rockin’ Berries Frontman and No.1 with Jive Bunny, Terry Webster and son Terry performing hits from the past 70 years and Compèring with good tribute acts to funnymen, Norman Wisdom, George Formby and more recently Billy Connolly. It was Terry’s fourth appearance on presentation night for the club and even at the ripe old age of 82 still proves ever popular. I was Lucky enough to be invited to Bowers and Pitsea football club and my other half Kenny present the trophies, Cards and amazing prize money on offer to the federations largest senders.

16 individual members came to the rostrum beginning with Sellwyn Abrahams, picking up £20 in prize money and a card for his yearling blue cock’s well-earned third club, 14^th fed from Berwick. Farmer Frankie White steps up next with 2 cards including third club Retford back in April for his yearling blue pied cock pocketing £50. Darlington Winner and family man Anvi Januzi takes a red card and £50 for his Albert Babbington Derricotte Janssen. Mickey Harvey is £70 richer with one second and 2 third clubs, his chequer cock youngster a gallant 19^th fed in a hard fought Wetherby. Berwick Champions Mark and Jordan Lewis receive 2 third place cards and £90 to go with their trophy winning Fenech Corremans 2y red hen. Auctioneer and scribe Bernie McDermott is on the other side of the mic tonight with a very well-bred youngbird winner from Grantham. The  product of a breeding programme with good friend Pete McFarlane this lovely blue hen contributes half of the £100 seasons takings. The same reward for Steve Wright next for his first three youngsters from Retford in August led by his mealy hen an impressive 50 yards in front. Rambo Jason Reeve is equally happy with his successful season on his developing system. His 3y Heremans ceusters chequer coming out on top in the second race from Grantham, with the friendly fancier also 3^rd that day to go with his runner up in the opener, £100 for Rambo. Distance legend Pat Newell takes a silver from Berwick, over 300 miles and comes into his own at Perth, first and second club, 4^th and 5^th fed with his Braspenning cock flying for nearly ten hours from the Tayside racepoint.  David Coward – Talbot, a name synonymous with success in my early years in the sport and only racing youngbirds this season, the maestro still won both tough races in the Federation Wetherby Ace pigeon, collecting the substantial nomination in the process. Club 2i/c Marcin Grzedowicz has had a great season to reward his hard work for the club beginning with a bronze in the season opener from Grantham, second club the week after from the same racepoint. Our Highly skilled Gas Fitter second and third club, Darlington in May, 11^th fed from Perth before an equally fine run with the youngsters including a nice win from Retford adds a tidy £170 to his sales buying power. Eddy Butcher and wife Sara get a nice round £200 for their winners in the first and last youngbird races. The Central Lofts proprietors cleaned up in both races. Eleven in the fed from Huntingdon and 2^nd to 6^th and a 7^th in the finale from Retford. Chris Whiteside’s Sayers brothers yearling chequer cock was responsible for 2 of his 3 club wins and £200 prize money. Victorious from both Retford and Wetherby this fantastic pigeon made the fed for a third time in the last outing to Grantham. Another treble winner follows on with Gary Watts laden with cards and prize money for taking top honours in the season opener from Grantham, again in June with his Alex Mackenzie Van Den Bosche beating 229 rivals from Retford before doubling up from Grantham, winning in August with one of his own progressive grizzle prodigy. With a second and a third to add to the tally Gary goes home with £220. Alan Scarborough’s versatility is prevalent, striking early on from Retford in April with a yearling Sootjen cock, twice in the fed from Perth and his  tough 4 Thurso pigeons from only 7 fed arrivals put him right up there in second in the club championship. 7 cards, The Scottish averages and £240 for Alan which brings us to the club champion for 2023 and someone I enjoyed writing about earlier in the year after his magnificent, fed victory from Wetherby in July. That day belonged to a lovely blue yearling hen with origins from Secretary Steve via Dave Atkin. Mick racing since 1958 keeps going from strength to strength winning an impressive five red cards this term, kicking off with all three Hereman Ceusters on the podium in the second Retford in May, The Gary cox blood appears in front again at our first Wetherby before our famous under age drinker tastes double success from Grantham and Wetherby with the youngsters. It was my pleasure to hand over 18 cards, a lovely trophy and the princely sum of £590 to the veteran East London fancier .

 Steve told me there are other good members that keep the club running . Darius Dumitrascu, who when not up the club concentrates on Long distance South road racing , winning none other than 3^rd open BICC Barcelona last term but a great lad and BBQ chef adds Steve who finishes by telling me that he hopes to see more of  Steve Maughan racing this year and the lads from Hutton,  now Laindon members continue to enjoy their racing  . I thank Steve and all the members for their excellent hospitality as my family and I felt most welcome. Great stuff, well done all.

Sober again now but before we embark on another 5 months of agony and ecstasy, Laindon have 2 more breeder buyer sales to get through and the third event would be one of the very best around. With premier birds sent over from the best of Northern Ireland, kindly organised by Russell Mcalary  to go with some of the mainland’s finest we were all set for the amazing 84 entries on offer. The decision to host the event on Good Friday with evening penning from 6 was a masterstroke and the club was packed. Treble figure bids were commonplace amongst the eager crowd and the prize money generated has already exceeded last year’s impressive £6100 on offer. A fourth sale was held Sunday before our racing begins, with fanciers taking advantage of a final chance to get involved. Another well attended auction accumulated an additional 63 entries in this exciting contest totalling an applaudable 220 pigeons racing for £8000. And we don’t stop there, an equally lucrative gold ring race with a prize pot of £2600 after 346 rings were snapped up by  71 hopeful competitors, all this together with an open race that attracted over 300 entries the previous year it promises to be another spectacular bank holiday special. Open to any North Road fancier flying 195 miles or more from Darlington and libbed separate to the breeder buyer and Gold ring contests these pigeons will cost £2.50 per bird with substantial expected prize money subject to entries. Marking for all 3 races is 18:00 – 20:00 Hrs, Sunday 25^th August at Chase Bungalow, Church Road , Ramsden Heath nr Wickford Essex CM11 1PJ. Finally, good luck to everyone this coming weekend and I wish the club and our new fed secretary all the best for 2024. Lets get the wagon full .

C L Elmes.