ACROSS THE MIDDLE
by Gordon Braban & John Wilkie
MAIDSTONE & FONTENAY - JULY 2012
In my last report I mentioned about the losses that we were having. Well, this week's races were from Fontenay and Maidstone. We should have been at Eastbourne for the yearling derby, but the weather was that rubbish down at Eastbourne they moved te birds to Maidstone so we could get a race. I said in the last report that you will always get birds through and doing good velocities and these 2 races on the same day were no differant. In my eyes it has to be the worst weekend's racing that we have had in a long time, especially from Fontenay which is 460+ to the middle. A lot of the big team lofts that like these sort of races and would have had some great birds away that have been kept for this race or would have been set up for the distance, My loft was no differant. I had 17 birds away. All of them had been to the Lillers and Clermont races earlier in the year and the natural birds had been paired up especially for that weekend sitting up to 16 or 17 days with some of them sitting 6 pigeon eggs and a hen's egg. You couldn't have got them prepared any better, at least that was what I had thought, but the elements on the day put all the preperation I had done and threw it down the pan. Out of the 17 that I had sent I have only got 7 back, 4 in race time and 3 later in the week, but as I have been saying, there is always strenth in numbers and if it wasn't for the other birds that i had away {the widowhood cocks} I would have only got 1 on the day. There were only 143 birds recorded on the day in the combine out of 3,741 , of which i had the last bird recorded flying 16hrs 1 min and she timed herself in while I was away with the clock. Some birds just want to get back home to the loft, but there are alway hazards or things that can prevent that. At least the combine sheet was filled this race within the 3 days {just } and a lot of white envelopes have been dropping through the letter boxes letting people know that there good birds have gone astray in other parts of the country and some have been told that their birds are still over there in France and Belguim. Well there is not a lot we can do about that and sometimes it's not the pigeons' fault that they can't make it home on the day and they would not have all been bad pigeons. The winners will always do good times and you will always get birds home no matter what the elements thrown at them, and this race was no differant.
Right I will get down to the results before I forget myself and say what I really want to say about this week's race. The cheif convoyer, Mr Steve Proffit, liberated 3,741 birds at Fontenay at 05-35 in a south-east wind and 7,125 birds were liberated at Maidstone at 10-55, also in a south east wind.
Section 2 Gateshead fed Newcastle West fed and Chester le Street fed/ 355 birds.
Gateshead fed 218 birds.
Springwell h s 9 birds. Mr&Mrs Atkinson, son & Doritt were the winners when they timed a 4 year old check hen in flying 9hrs 43mins & 6 secs to cover the 468 miles and record a vel of 1415-31. This check hen has got a good number of club and fed turns up to now so it was no surprise to see that she was pooled up in the fed and Tyne & Wear Championship Club and ended up 6th UP NORTH COMBINE. Well done. R Moulding was 2nd club 6th fed 9th section and 200th combine with a 2 year old check wh hen that was doing 587-86 on the 2nd day.
Wrekenton h s 56 birds. Tommy Gray and son Dean took the top 2 spots in the club. Their first pigeon was a 2 year old GB check hen that was timed in at 28mins past 3 in the afternoon taking 9hrs 53mins and 17secs to record a vel of 1389-50 to win the club and take 2nd fed, section and 11th combine. Their next pigeon was a 2 year old blue cock some 4hrs 6mins later to record a vel of 982-05 and take 2nd club 4th fed 6th section and 116th combine. Elliott & Lyonstook 3rd club 7th fed 11th section 219th combine with a 2 year old blue wh cock. Laskey & Robinson were 4th club 9th fed 13th sec with a 3 year old check cock doing 343-33.
Dunston h s 58 birds. The Godfather John Jobey clocked on at 37mins past 6 {THANKS TO THE ETS SYSTEM} taking 13hrs 2mins 12secs to make it home to Dunston. This yearling blue cock takes 1st club 3rd fed 5th section and 82nd combine doing 1056-37. The next bird was a 2 year old check cock on the 3rd day and was 8th fed 12th section.
Alan Wilson was the winner down at the Bensham club with a 2 year old check wh hen that was clocked on at 28mins past 8 at night and she ended up 5th fed 7th section 133rd combine doing 927-30. There were only 9 fed birds timed in within the 3 days {well done to them that came home}.
Newcastle West fed.
Mr&Mrs Anderson were the winners at the Coxlodge club with a 3 year old bird that took 10hrs 40mins 27secs to travel the 474 miles doing a vel of 1303-95 and finish up 3rd sec 19th combine. A&M Wharton & Porter won the British Legion club on the day with a 3 year old that was 81st combine and Grant Robson took the top spot at the Hazelrigg club to be 3rd fed 8th section and 136th combine on 915-50. J Davison won the Westerhope club with a 2 year old that ended up 210th combine. There were only 4 birds clocked in race time on what should have been a simple day as the velocities have shown.
There were no birds timed in from Chester le Street fed within race time that made the section sheet.
Section 3 Houghton fed 170 birds.
Celtic h s. Dyson & Nichols timed 2 birds in within 2 mins from this race, both 2 year old check hens, taking 10hrs 43 & 45mins and doing 1276-80 and 1272-61 to take 1st & 2nd club fed 2nd & 3rd section and 22nd & 23rd combine. Thompson & Laidler timed a 2 year old blue hen in on 11hrs 14min 31secs doing 1215-06 to take 3rd club, fed, 6th section and 42nd combine. Geordie Smith clocked a 2 year old check cock in doing 1085-58 to take 4th club 6th fed 73rd combine, Craggs, son & g/son were 5th & 6th club with a 3 year old blue hen that was 9th fed 113th combine and a yearling check wh hen that was 11th fed 131st combine. Braban & son were 7th club 12th fed 143rd combine with a 2 year old blue hen that he got from B,S,K from Wrekenton; she was the last day bird in the combine to be clocked in.
Dubmire h s. Hughie & Colin Jackson had the only 2 birds in the club within race time. Their first bird was a 2 year old NEC blue cock that took 12hrs 3mins and was doing 1123-23 to take 4th fed 60th combine and the 2nd bird was a 3 year old check cock that was 17th fed.
Gardeners h s. Braban & son took the top 3 positions in the club with 3 yearling widowhood cocks. The first cock was a blue wh Staf van Reet x Huybrects which won Clermont and was doing 1090-53 to take 5th fed 70th combine. The next cock was a red Busschaert that was 2nd club 12th fed from Clermont. This cock was 8th fed 103rd combine and the 3rd cock was 14th fed 173rd combine the following morning.
Penshaw h s was won by Stevie Wilson, son & dtr who timed a 4 year old blue hen in to take 7th fed 87th combine. Mr & Mrs J Savage took the next 3 turns early the next morning when they timed 3 x 3 year olds, 1 cock and 2 hens in within 2 hours and all 3 made the combine sheet being 162nd, 184th & 188th.
Mr&Mrs Tucker Wells were the winners at the Shiney Row club with a 3 year old check cock that was 10th fed 130th combine.
There were only 17 birds out of 170 back within race time and not many more making it home after that. Not goo.
Mid Tyne Federation.
Once again this week we had a double header, Fontenay and Eastbourne / Maidstone Yearling Derby. I’m sure most fanciers wish neither race had taken place as all are showing losses. Let’s start with the Young Bird Derby, where 29 federation lofts entered a total of 228 birds. Liberation was due to be from Eastbourne but bad weather caused the convoy to be moved back to Maidstone. Top honours went to Heworth H.S. where W & L Curry took 1st club 1st fed with a velocity of 1532.9ypm. I’m sure Bill would like me to thank Sid Rushton for all of his help he has given him following his operation earlier in the year. Second club and fed to Birks, Frail & Birks their pigeon recording 1513ypm. Third fed went to Billy Gates & Sons, although the partnership shows Billy’s sons they don’t have much involvement but Billy is helped out a bit by Keith Moreland. Billy was in at 3rd fed plus of course 1st Boldon Colliery H.S. this one doing 1505ypm. This pigeon was actually 2nd club 2nd fed out of last weeks Folkestone Nat when it was 29th Open U.N.C. The next eleven positions all went to Boldon lofts as follows. At 2nd 5th 7th 8th 10th 12th club 4th 7th 9th 10th 12th 14th fed to Walker & Greenlay the first of these doing 1502ypm and the last one on 1441ypm. Mckenna Bros next at 3rd club 5th fed, 1497ypm, Graham, Gilchrist & Brennan came in for 4th 9th 11th club 6th 11th 13th fed 1496, 1443 and 1427ypmBilly Miller was at 6th club 8th fed 1463ypm. Jarrow Alexandra saw J & P Fenwick at 1st & 2nd club 15th 19th fed on 1423 and 1400ypm. I’m sure the lads from Hebburn East End wont mind to much if I say that they are the minnows as far as the fed is concerned so it is great when one of them get onto the fed sheet. Well this week they have in the shape of Ian Nelson in for 1st club 17th fed doing 1417ypm, so a BIG well done to you Ian.
As mentioned earlier we were also at Fontenay a distance of 468 to 470 miles. Seventeen lofts entered 65 birds but only 6 made it home in race time. Four to Jarrow Alexandra H.S. and one each for Boldon and Heworth. Scott & Son were 1st Jarrow 1st fed with a velocity of 1440ypm. This pigeon will be well up when the U.N.C. Open result is published.
K & T Seales had the other three Jarrow birds for 2nd 3rd 4th club 3rd 4th 5th fed 1264ypm 1075ypm and one timed on the second day for 746ypm. Boldon Colliery was won by Ken Young for 1st club 2nd fed on 1269ypm. This is some pigeon, a 2010 bred blue cock, as this year it has been 1st club 3rd fed 29th UNC Lillers 1st club 1st fed 57th UNC Clermont and now this result will I’m sure be well up once again in the UNC open. Getting a double up at Heworth H.S. is Billy Curry for 1st club 6th fed this one timed on the second day 643ypm. As mentioned, this is all that made it home in a three-day race.
Section 4/ South Sheilds, Sunderland & dist, Sunderland Prem & North East Counties
I started the Bourges report from the section 4 area with Mr&Mrs Davison from the Raglan & West park club in South Sheilds not knowing that i would be doing the same this time. On this occasion the said loft had topped the UP NORTH COMBINE. I paid Mr George Davison a visit on the same day as he was getting the combine winners photo taken by Peter Bennett, so myself and Pam Grange sat alongside George and had a good bit of chat about the weekend races in genaral. The yearling blue cock is from the old strain of channel birds that George has had for many a year. The combine winner took 9hrs 19mins 43secs to fly the 468 mile and was doing a vel of 1473-99. With this performance and the 3rd combine from Bourges he wins the Billy Napper trophYfor the best 2 bird performance from the 2 longest races. Mr&Mrs Herbie Elliott & Ward had timed a yearling in just 5 mins later to take 2nd club, fed, section & combine. This yearling was doing 1465-58 for the 470 mile trip and they also timed another yearling in 1hr 40mins later that was doing 1243-03 to take 3rd club, fed 7th sec and 33rd combine. Robertson & Short timed 2 x 2 year olds in to take 4th & 6th club 4th & 7th fed 44th & 95th combine doing 1207-72 and 1029-07. Spour, son & Johnson were 5th club fed 55th combine with a yearling FUT pigeon taking 11hrs 55mins 52secs doing 1156-54. Tommy Lawrenson was the winner at the Central club with a yearling that took 12hrs 19mins 54secs doing 1114-94 to take 6th fed and 65th combine.
Sunderland & Dist fed.
High Southwick hs. R&A Evans,Dixon & Gibbon had a fantastic day timing 5 day birds. The first 3 of them were yearlings then a 2 year old and then a 3 year old. The first bird was 1st club, fed 3rd sec & 15th combine and his claims this partnership the F&I Watson memorial trophy for the best performance from the 3 longest races; it was doing 1351-47 and was bred by Mark Pearce from Tees Valley fed. The next yearling was 2nd club, fed 4th secand 20th combine doing 1297-46. Their 3rd yearling was 3rd club, fed and 34th combine. The next pigeon was a 2 year old that had flown Bourges on the day 2 weeks earliier when it was 57th combine. This week it was 91st then their 5th pigeon was a 3 year old that also flown Bourges and was 21st combine from Bourges; it was 137th this week. A great team performance lads.
T A Kibble was the winner at the Town End Farm club with a yearling that was 4th fed and 43rd combine. The Woodroffe bros won the Cornhill club with a yearling TR pigeon that was 6th fed 100th combine doing 1016-57.
North East Counties fed.
Murton h s Hudson & sons took the red card in club and fed with a 3 year old that took 10hrs 34mins 52secs for the 458 miles doing a vel of 1271-17. J Strong was 2nd club, fed 50th combine with a 2 year old that was doing 1173-82 and Richardson, son & Young bros were the winners at Seaham with a yearling on the 2nd day that was doing 644-08. I think there were only 3 birds in race time.
Sunderland Prem fed.
Oddfellows h s John {Joster} Foster timed 2 day birds in to take 1st & 4th club 1st & 6th fed and 27th and 114th combine. These were a yearling and a 2 year old. He also timed another bird on the 2nd day to take 6th club 16th fed and 185th combine. Wardle & sons took 2nd club, fed and 45th combine with a 3 year old that was doing 1199-55. C&R Greenhow timed 2 birds in to take 3rd and 6th club 5th & 10th fed. The first bird was a 3 year old that was 76th combine then a 2 year old that was 148th combine. Greenhow, bros, Walton & Dove took 5th club 8th fed and 144th combine with yearling.
Sportsmans & Comrades h s. McSween & Sexton timed a yearling in to be 3rd fed and 49th combine on 1176-08. P Haswell Was 2nd & 3rd club 11th & 13th fed and 149 & 157th combine with a 2year old and a 3 year old. Potts & sons were 4th club 15th fed and 174th combine was doing 652-49.
Castletown h s. Chipp & Kibble took the top honours in the club with a 2 year old that took 12hrs 38mins 24secs doing 1081-68 to be 75th combine. W Rush & ptn were 2nd & 3rd club 9th & 12th fed 145th & 156th combine on the 2nd morning with 2 x 2 year olds. Morse & son were 4th club 14th fed 158th combine. Mr&Mrs J Bell were the winners at the Deptford club. Their 2 year old bird was 7th fed and 134th combine.
Well that's just about it for this race. If you read it you might think what has he been going on about, it doesn't seem like a bad race to me. I would put it on par with Andrezel 4 years ago. There were not many back on the day but the returns on the following days were better. Is it not time that we look at changing the weeks that we go across the water or do we just have to put up with the losses that come each year, and it's hard to build yourself up a big team for the next year. If anybody has any ideas try and get your feelings across and be heard. We can't do any worse, but that's enough twisting for what has to be 1 of the worst channel races I can remember for losses. D drop me a line on 01911 4177745 or 07526267979. The next article will be the Maidstone yearling derby and Melton Mowbray when I get all the results in from the feds that I do then it will be the last race which will be from Lillers, so from me, Gordon, THAT'S ALL FOLKS.
