ACROSS THE MIDDLE
by Gordon Braban & John Wilkie
Well here it is the UP NORTH COMBINE young bird national. On most occasions this is one of the biggest liberations in the country. Normally there are nearly 20,000+ birds at the liberation site, but this year and a couple of years previous the birdage has dropped - why? On the week leading up to the national, the weather was spot on and the forecast for the Saturday was supposed to be perfect with a light north-west wind, so a hardish working day was on the cards. Mr Steve Profit and his team of convoyers got the birds ready and cut the strings for an 8-00am liberation and 14,153 birds were let loose at Maidstone to make their way north. Some birds did clear well and some hung about for a short while before deciding to travel the 230+miles to the bottom end of the combine.
The ETA was around just over the 5 hours to the East Cleveland lads and about 5 hours 40 to the middle. The timing was a little bit out, but not far wrong, so the wind must have been a bit stronger than expected. In this race there are a lot of different gambles - breeder/buyers, gold rings, championships and other ways, so all is at stake to pick the right young bird for the job in hand. As the day went on and the time got nearer to the 5 hour mark, it was just sit tight and wait for the phone to ring… around the ten past one time my phone rang. It was Mr Sayers from Skinningrove telling me that the birds had started to drop in down the front end of the combine at about 8 mins past the hour. We in the middle get around 30+ miles over fly, so we had to be in about a quarter to 2 to beat them. Well the race was on and it was get ready and just sit tight for the birds to arrive home. The home phone and the mobile never stopped ringing with people asking me if I had heard anything, and then the word came round that they were in at section 4 at quarter to 2. Well that was the excitement all over and done with. I had nowt by 5 to the hour and there were only a few in my own fed before the hour.
That's it for a bit of chit-chat let's get down to the 3 sections that I write about starting with section 2 where there were 1,102 birds away. Starting with the Gateshead fed where there were 709 birds competing. The Bensham club had the best returns out of the top 30 positions on the sheet with 18 young birds making home in good time and only 38 yards splitting 1st to 30th. M. Bainbridge was the overall club, fed and section winner with a blue cock called The Beast, ring number 666. This cock took 5hrs 54mins 3secs to fly the 268 miles and was doing a vel of 1332-59 to end up 16th combine. This was his 2nd fed win with the young birds, and another 2 birds dropped 4 mins later to take 8th& 9th club, 10th & 11th fed and 90th & 105th combine. Quinn, son, Smith & Noble had a great day when they clocked 10 birds in within 10 mins. Their first pigeon was a blue cock that was doing 1328-10 and this cock was 2nd club & fed, 3rd sec 34th combine then about 50 secs later 2 birds dropped together, a check white hen and a blue cock. The hen was his £10 Z ringer and she was 3rd club, 4th fed, 7th sec and 50th combine plus she will win over £1,300 from the Z ring race. The blue cock went over the pad 2 secs later to be 4th club, 5th fed, 8th sec and 51st combine. Their other birds were 8th, 9th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, 28th & 29th fed. The fourth bird was a check cock that was also a £10 Z ringer and it takes 4th place and wins £ 475. He was 77th combine. These lads had 8 birds in the top 200 of the combine. M. Johnson clocked a NEC bred blue cock to be 5th club, 6th fed, 9th sec and 52nd combine doing 1324-52.
Dunston h s. Morpeth & Scott had the winner with a check cock that was doing 1325-69 to be 3rd fed, 6th sec and 47th combine. Their next pigeon was just under 5 mins later to be 6th club, 20th fed and 160th combine. The 3 Gs Gordon, Gray & Gray took the next 4 spots in the club with 2 cocks and 2 hens. These 4 birds were clocked in within 80 secs to be 12th, 13th, 14th & 16th fed and 114th, 115th, 126th & 145th combine. Billy Mullen was the winner at the Highfield club with a check hen which takes 7th fed and 62nd combine doing 1322-84.
Wrekenton h s. This week’s winner was the Itallion Stallion Manny Manafi who timed 2 birds in under a minute to take 1st & 2nd club 24th & 26th fed. A good performance put up by this fed that competes over in the west, on a north-west wind
Chester Le Street fed 102 birds.
Birtley h s. Morris & son put up a cracking performance by taking the top 7 positions in the club and were 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th & 9th fed. Their first pigeon was a black hen that was 6th fed from Peterborough 2 weeks ago. This week she wins the club by over 2 mins doing a vel of 1331-53 to end up 17th combine. The next pigeon was a pied Z ring hen that was 66th combine and 3rd in the Z ring race winning him over £600. The next birds were about 5 mins later, a pied hen and a check cock that have all been clocked before this year.
Brian Caley took 1st & 2nd at the Marquis of Granby club. His first pigeon was a blue cock that was doing 1262-37 then 4 mins later another blue cock that was doing 1245-68 to get Brian 5th and 10th fed. B. Nixon took the red card at the Perkinsville club with a blue hen and was 7th fed.
Newcastle West fed 362 birds.
British Legion h s. A&M Wharton & Porter were 1st & 2nd club and 1st & 14th fed with over 11 mins between their 2 birds. The first bird was a blue cock that topped the fed from Wetherby 2. This cock took 6hrs & 54secs to cover the 272 miles and was doing 1327-14 and took 39th combine. The other bird was a check pied cock that was doing 1290-84. Decca Lamb was 3rd club 17th fed with a blue hen that has a 1st club, 2nd fed from Pontefract.
The Westerhope club took the other 17 positions on the fed sheet with Graham, son & Brown coming out on top. They had 5 birds in the top 20. Their first bird was a check Wansbeck hen that was 11th fed from Pontefract. She was doing 1326-22 and took 44th combine. Their next bird was a check cock 2 mins later to be 3rd fed, 63rd combine doing 1322-80 then a blue cock dropped 5 mins later to be 5th fed. The other 2 birds were 11th and 20th fed. Davy Little, son & Ray Southgate clocked 6 birds in within 6 mins to be 3rd, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th & 15th club 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 12th & 18th fed. Their first pigeon was a check white hen that was 154th combine, next was a check hen that was 18th fed last week from Rivenhall then came a check cock 9 secs later to be 8th fed. The next 2 birds were over 15 secs later. Brown Bros & Cooper took 5th club 6th fed and 177th combine with a blue hen and then timed another blue hen in 40 secs later to be 8th club, 9th fed. John Cook & son had 2 on the fed sheet to be 13th & 15th fed with 2 cocks and D Todd had the other Westerhope pigeon that made the fed sheet. He was 19th fed doing 1278-01 with a red cock.
Section 3, Houghton Fed.
Washington Celtic hs 246 birds. Thompson & Laidler - you wait a few years for a win and 2 come along in as many weeks. This time they did not just win the club but the fed and section as well. These lads clocked a blue cock in that took 5hrs 48mins 30secs to travel the 263 miles and record a vel of 1329-06 to finish up 28th combine then they clocked a dark cock that was 8 mins later to be 7th club 9th fed and 13th section. The next 5 positions in the club went to Dyson & Nichols in the space of 5 mins as they took 2nd fed 87th combine with a blue hen 3rd fed 103rd combine timing in a check cock then a check white hen in that was 4th fed 128th combine and then a check hen in that was 6th fed 188th combine. Braban & son were 8th & 10th club 10th & 14th fed 14th & 21st section. First pigeon was a check Z ring hen bred from his good blue white hen that has won from Andrezel and has other good combine positions crossed with a son from Jo, his Clermont combine winner. She wins the section 3 Z ring. His next pigeon was a red Busschaert hen from a John Crowder red cock and an Albert Breckenn check hen; this pair has bred a couple of winners now.
Shiney Row hs. Billy Laidler and Ian Simpson took the top 4 positions again this week in the club. Their first pigeon was 5th fed 7th section and 157th combine doing 1306-85, the next bird was 4 mins later and was 13th fed 20th section and the other 2 birds went over the pads together to be 39th & 40th section.
Dubmire hs. Hughie & Colin Jackson had the first 4 that made the fed sheet. Their first bird was 7th fed 10th section and 191st combine doing 1303-17 then 5 mins later a NEC cock dropped to be 18th fed 27th section and the other 2 birds were 36th& 38th section.
North Biddick h s. The Clennel bros & Curry took the red card with a NWHU pigeon that was 11th fed 16th section.
Gardeners h s. Braban & son took the top 4 spots in the club. His first bird was a red hen that was bred from a mealy cock that he bought from the Marshalls and a grizzle hen he obtained from Brian Shepherd; the other 3 were all hens.
John Collinson was 1st & 2nd at the Penshaw club and I think Steve Wilson was 3rd & 4th. He had Hollywood Kev Parsons watching that day but he did not bring any luck - ha ha!
Section 4, South Sheilds, Sunderland Prem, Sunderland & Dist, & North East Counties Feds.
South Sheilds Fed.
Raglan & Westpark h s. Taylor & Ali clocked 11 birds out of there 98 sent within 8 mins. Their first bird was clocked in 5hrs 52mins 0 secs for 1st club 1st fed 1st sec and 2nd UNC doing 1338-7. Next bird was 24 secs and was 2nd club and fed, 3rd sec and 4th combine doing 1337-19. 39 secs later another bird dropped in to be 4th club, fed, 6th sec and 7th combine. It was doing 1334-67. Then they dropped another 6 bird in under 4 mins to be 30th, 33rd, 36th, 45th, 59th,& 61st combine. Their 9th bird was a £10 Z ringer and wins them 2nd place and £1,000 {cracking flying}. The Ali bros also had a good day timing 12 birds in 9 mins and there were only 25secs between his first 3 birds that took 3rd, 5th & 6th club, fed, 4th, 7th & 8th sec & 5th, 8th & 9th combine with vels of 1336 down to 1334s. Tthe other 9 birds all made the combine sheet. Another great loft performance by the Sheilds lads. The 2 Js Soderlund & Maddison also clocked a few birds in sharpish taking 7th & 8th club 7th & 9th fed & 11th & 20th combine. They clocked 2 nest mates in later on to be 3rd & 4th in the section 4 Z rings.
Smith bros & Boyle were the winners at the Whiteleas club with a vel of 1332-92 to be 8th fed, 10th sec and 13th combine. K Bond was 2nd club, 28th sec and 65th combine. Moore & Gleghorn took 3rd club, 42nd sec & 111th combine and Corrothers & Gallagher were 4th club. The Central club was won by the 2 Js Soderlund & Maddison doing 1329-25 to be 26th combine,
Sunderland Prem fed 1095 birds.
Castletown h s 114 birds. Geordie Chipp & Davy Kibble flew a cracking race by taking the top 3 spots in the club & fed. Their first pigeon was 3rd combine only a split second behind the 2nd placed bird that was doing 1338-54 and the other 2 birds were doing 1330-67 & 1322-88 and were 13th & 26th section & 23rd & 60th combine. These 3 birds win all the fed noms. Watson bros & son were 4th club 8th fed 106th combine with the same hen that has been coming over the last couple of weeks and wins them the Ford 2bird club and the £1 noms.
Oddfellows hs 298 birds. The Duffy bros took the red card this week with a vel of 1317-80 and got them 84th combine. W Cummins was 2nd club 6th fed & 98th combine doing 1315-35. C & R Greenhow took 3rd position & 12th fed and just making the top 200 in the combine. John ‘Joster’ Foster took 4th club 17th fed.
Plains Farm h s 208 birds. Thompson & Kell were 1st 4th & 6th club and 5th, 10th & 20th fed. Their first bird was doing 1315-80 and was 96th combine and their 2nd pigeon was doing 1307-81 and was 147th combine. Wormleighton & Swinney were 2nd, 3rd & 5th club 7th, 9th & 13th fed. Their first bird was 101st combine doing 1315-00 then 1308-14. This bird has been timed in a few times this year and takes 2nd place in the Ford 2bird club.
T Carr was the winner at the Westside 6bird club and this bird was 159th combine. Mr & Mrs John Bell were the winners at the Deptford club flying against 13 birds and Robinson, son, Johnson & Moon won the Sportsmans & Comrades, where Joe & Stephen Barnes were 2nd & 3rd club 18th & 19th fed.
Mid Tyne Federation. Maidstone.
For this the young bird national a total of 469 birds were entered by 22 fed lofts. Boldon Colliery HS had 272 birds and it was from these that the top four in the fed came. Taking pole position being 1st club 1st fed are Graham, Gilchrist & Brennan. The winning pigeon, a blue hen completed the 266 mile journey in 5hr 57min 48sec to record 1310.16ypm. This is the first time this hen has scored a top position but was well fancied being pooled right up in the club. The loft were also 7th 10th 12th club 10th 13th 17th fed the last of these doing 1272ypm. Billy Gates & Sons were in at 2nd 3rd 8th club 2nd 3rd 11th fed these doing 1308, 1305 and 1284ypm. Billy always takes his holiday after the Y.B. National so with this years race put back a week he missed it, but as can be seen his loft has been well looked after by his very good friend Keith Morland. Kevin McFarlane kept up his good run to be 4th 6th 9th 13th club 4th 9th 12th 19th fed 1302, 1288, 1282 & 1268ypm. His first pigeon an FUT rung was actually 41st Open in last weeks Futurity race. Walker & Greenlay came in at 5th & 11th club 7th & 15th fed 1292 7 1275ypm. At Heworth HS it was Colin Birks, Birks Frail & Birks chalking up their fifth 1st club of the season this one at 5th fed on 1300.03ypm. W & L Curry were 2nd club 8th fed 1290.5ypm with Jimmy Bone 3rd club 18th fed 1271ypm. At Jarrow it was the two Glens, Scurfield & Son in pole to be 1st club 6th fed 1293.3ypm with another for 3rd club 16th fed on 1273.7ypm. K & T Seales claimed 2nd club 14th fed 1276.8ypm with Denis Walton at 4th club 20th fed 1266ypm.
Sunderland & Dist Fed.
High Southwick h s. R & A Evans, Dixon & Gibbon took the first 5 positions in the club and the first 3 in the fed that made the combine sheet. Their first pigeon was timed in at 13 mins to 2 and doing a vel of 1335-70. This bird finished up 5th section and 6th combine. The next 2 birds went over the pads 2 mins later with only 1 sec splitting them to be 42nd & 43rd combine, both birds doing 1326s. The fourth bird was 81st combine there 5th bird was their £10 Z ringer and takes 2nd section 4 Z ring and 5th overall. This pigeon was 149th combine doing 1307-73.
Davy Mills & son were the winners at the Town End Farm club with a vel of 134-15 to be 4th fed & 54th combine.
Cornhill h s. Gordon Coulson took 1st & 3rd club and 6th & 9th fed, 102nd & 163rd combine, Andy Shepherd was 2nd club 118th combine doing 1312-30, John Pye & son were 4th club 165th combine and the Woodruffe bros took 5th position in the club and 171st combine.
North East Couties Fed.
Colin Chapman & Sons took the top 2 positions in both the Seaham club and the NEC fed this week with 2 birds that were 50 secs apart and taking 58th & 72nd combine. Richardson, son & Young bros were 3rd club fed and 89th combine doing 1317-10, and Ruddock, son & Ruddock were 4th club fed and 124th combine doing 1311-54.
The Dawdon club was won by Lazenby & Reed with a vel of 1304-07 and they were 180th combine.
63 birds made the combine sheet from section 4.
Well that's just about it for this year's UP NORTH COMBINE young bird nat with over 14,000 birds away. The ACROSS THE MIDDLE lads put up a good performance by having 101 birds in the top 200 of the combine. Out of the 2,053 birds that were away in section 1, there were 41 that made the sheet, so that was only 58 from the other 3 sections.
Just before I go the result of this year's £Z ring race for he young bird nat is as follows: 1st Quinn, son, Smith & Noble 1325-24. 2nd Taylor & Ali 1322-87. 3rd Morris & son 1321-97. 4th Quinn, son, Smith & Noble 1318-88. 5th R & A Evans, Dixon & Gibbon 1307-73. 6th Soderlund & Maddison 1304-64. 7th Soderlund & Maddison1304-46. 8th Mr & Mrs J Bell 1303-17. 9th Corrothers & Gallagher 1303-05. 10th Ali bros 1302-86. THAT'S ALL FOLKS - GORDON.
