Essex Central Federation Grantham 2 - 20-04-24

Grantham 2   20^th April 2024

Week 2 already and with Retford a no go we head back to Grantham for our second outing of the season. 31 members sent this week and with the all clear given at 09:15 and a strong North wind on the cards it would be a fast race for the 685 birds on board.

Into my second year of writing for the fed now and week on week without fail I receive a Sunday report from Chelmsford City’s John Payne with an account of the capitals weekend racing and it is of great pleasure to me to announce the winner of Saturday’s Grantham, starting where he left off in 2023, the great Clubman and peer, Allen (Mr and Mrs) Hills. Highly respected at the City, Big Al is consistently in the clubs report, and I know from previous correspondence how well thought of he is by all at our fed winning club and beyond. The fast race expected certainly come to fruition with Allen’s first pigeon rattling home to the capital eating up the 98 miles in a rapid 83 minutes and 32 seconds. The lovely yearling chequer hen, another product of Allens super team carrying the original bloodlines of Syndicate lofts took the red card and won the fed racing at an eye watering 2085 ypm, faster than the legal motorway limit calculating 1.18 miles per minute or 70.8 mph.

Before I disclose a little of our victors racing career, I’ll let faithful city reporter and Mr consistent John Payne tell you how the lads and lasses out in the wild west got on this week. Once again, the City members enjoyed an excellent race writes John, with birds arriving in rapid succession and 100% returns. As well as winning the club, Mr and Mrs Hills take the runner up spot and 3^rd fed with a 2y blue pied cock registering 2070 ypm, this pigeon again originating from Syndicate lofts. The Partnership of Tony and Ken Brewster continue their excellent start to the season taking 3^rd spot and 17^th fed with a blue cock from their ultra reliable and successful Corremans bloodlines. The club give their sincere thanks to all those behind the scenes with everything perfectly arranged from pick up to the marvellous end result and long may it continue thank you John. I then caught up with our federation champion for this week for a little insight into his illustrious pigeon past. I first became interested in pigeons at the age of 10 when my cousin, Peter Hills was racing at Burnham club in the days when Reg Barker was the secretary. I started my own racing journey back in 1977 when I moved the family to Great Baddow and joined the Chelmsford City Club where I had the privilege of competing with great people like the late Chris Steele, Don Brown and Harry Hart. About the same time I met Tony Hitchings and another great character who you know, our spokesperson John Payne. I have enjoyed many races in the past but one of my favourite memories is winning the strong  Essex Central Fed 3 times in succession, something you have to be  proud of and I also bred a winner of one of the famous Pitsea Maturity sale races. I would like to take the opportunity to give a special mention to a great friend of mine Fred Harnett who has gifted me pigeons for many years to which I owe a lot of this success. At this moment in time I have 20, pairs of racers of which I compete on the roundabout system and absolutely no stock pigeons. I had a great race today and must give some recognition to clubmate Tony Brewster who was 17^th federation, a great achievement. Very well done Allen and thank you wife Nora for the information.

National winning fancier Charlie Simmons makes a great return to the North from Grantham, the Agen champion only sending 4 and winning top honours at Laindon club. Runner up in the fed is a 3y chequer cock completing 106 miles in one and a half hours leading 230 club entries on 2082. A second new member Russell Jaques picks up silver at Laindon and 4^th fed, Russell, one of the Top fanciers from the amalgamated Hutton club timed in a 3y blue bar cock at 10:39:02. The handsome Frans Zwol x Bossy Boy pigeon averaging 2066. Pat Newell continues his super start with another spot on the club podium. His yearling blue cock takes fifth fed and bronze a few yards behind on 2063. John Matthew’s comes in on the same yard for 6^th fed with a 2y blue cock. D Wilton and Son fill the next two spots with two hens completing their one hundred and eleven mile journey at 2061. The 2y blue and her yearling chequer loftmate 7^th and 8^th respectively. Robs third pigeon on the scoresheet timed just 14 seconds or 9 yards later is another 2y chequer hen, 2052 and 11^th fed. A productive day for Laindon today as Club Deputy Marcin Grzedowicz adds his name to the roster with 15^th fed for his yearling Belgian blue cock flying 107 miles at 2050 trapping a mere 3 seconds ahead of an NEHU rung chequer cock of the same age, the second yearling a yard behind 16^th with 2049. John Matthews has a second pigeon in the result, his 3y blue cock 19^th with 2045, and rounding off a good day for the club in general is top prize winner Mick Smith’s 3y chequer hen, snapping up 20^th for the underage drinker averaging 2037.

Mr and Mrs Moss are there again at Burnham club. The husband and wife partnership head the coastal outfit entries and take 9^th fed with their 2y chequer pied cock completing 110 miles at 2080. Silver end duo John Upson and David Phillips take second club and get in the fed with a yearling blue hen 2031 with Wickham Bishops Maestro Dave Freeman rounding things off at the traditionalists timing in his 2y mealy pied hen flying 99 miles averaging 2029.

Representing Maldon to the best of their abilities we have the Wallis family next, with four arrivals together for the Heybridge ace loft this Saturday beginning with their club winning blue bar yearling collecting the Scraley Road red card and 10^th fed flying 102 miles home at 2053 followed up three seconds later by the consistent 2y mealy cock claiming second club and 12^th fed, just a solitary yard inferior on 2052 with their third and fourth pigeons dropping in together 2 seconds later. Both blue bar yearling cocks registering an identical 2051.74 for 13^th and 14^th fed.

Leeds legend Mick Waterhouse tops the Stambridge contingent from Grantham with the first of his 21 arrivals landing on the boards at ten to eleven. The 2y blue hen earning 18^th fed racing home at a blistering 2046 in this fast encounter. Club Secretary and one of the most consistent fanciers in the county Malcolm Scouler takes second and third this week with his 2y chequer ‘007 rattling home to Hockley at 2008, a mere second or point three of a yard ahead of his famous 3y Leo Hermans chequer cock loftmate 2007. Stambridge club are using Rayleigh club facilities at present and will continue to do so throughout the season with a view to joining forces. Malcolm thanks Rayleigh for their assistance and hospitality thus far and long may it continue.

C L Elmes.