ACROSS THE MIDDLE
by Gordon Braban & John Wilkie
Clermont & Peterborough June 2012
This weekend was the NEHU Queen's Cup race when the 4 organisations were liberated together at Clermont, which is around 420 to the middle. The birds went away on the Wednesday as to try and get a Friday liberation but the weather was not that good in France so the decision was to hold over and try again on Saturday. This weekend the combine held 2 races, 1 from Clermont and the other from Peterborough which was a come-back race for the 1 that we missed earlier in the season. Word came around that Steve Proffitt and the other chief convoyers from the other organiations decided to liberate at 08-00 into a west wind, so as the morning went on we basketed the inland birds and then it was just time to settle down and wait for word coming back that the channel birds were on their way. As the afternoon went on it was the same old story. Just before the birds were due back, the sky would open and this week it was no different. Believe me, you had to be here to see it. It was like an east/west split as the birds were being timed in. It was as clear and sunny on the coast, and on the west side of the A19 the rain was bouncing 18 inches off the ground. It was raining that hard, you could not hide anywhere to keep dry without missing the birds, but that's another story. So let's get down to the results that I have been given up to now. 6048 birds were liberated and I think this is 1 of the lowest numbers that have been at the second channel race, at least in my time in the sport.
Section 2 Gateshead fed 302 birds.
Bensham h s 69 birds. B Atkinson & Sarginson timed in 2 birds to take 1st and 4th club 1st & 9th fed 1st & 12th section and 28th & 171st UNC. First was a 2 year old check cock that took 10hrs 9 mins and 10 secs to cover the 422 miles and doing 1221-64 then they timed another 2 year old cock in to be doing 1143-38 some 42 mins behhind his first bird. The Gray bros {Bob & Mick} timed 2 x 2 year old hens. The first was a check wh hen that took 10 hours 26 mins and 6 sec to take 2nd club 3rd fed 3rd sec & 71st combine then a check hen 30 mins later to be 5th club 10th fed 13th sec & 207th combine. Kenny & Ged Hooker were 3rd club 4th fed 4th sec & 79th combine with a 2 year old check cock that was doing 1182-48. Quinn, son, Smith & Noble were 6th club 19th fed timing in a check hen.
Mount Pleasent h s 39 birds. David Hulme & Craig Larvin were 1st, 3rd & 5th club 2nd, 15th & 25th fed with 2 hens & a cock bird. First was a 2 year old check cock that was doing 1193-01 that took 64th combine then a yearling blue hen doing 1105-21 and then a 3 year old blue hen the following morning. Ray Howourth jnr took 2nd & 4th club 11th & 21st fed with 2 x 2year old birds.
Wrekenton h s 64 birds. Bowman, Scott & Kelly {B,S,K} were the winners with the same blue cock that won Lillers 2 weeks ago; this cock took 10hrs 30mins 2 secs to cover the 420 miles and was doing 1174-79 and it ended up 5th section and 90th combine. Elliott & Watson were 2nd & 6th club 6th & 14th fed 6th sec & 97th combine. The first bird was a 2 year old blue cock, then a 2 year old mealy cock. T Gray & son timed 2 check hens in to take 3rd & 4th club 8th & 12th fed. The first bird was 136th combine. Laskey & Robinson took 5th club 13th fed with a yearling blue hen.
Scott, son & Harty were the winners at the Springwell club with a 3 year old check wh cock that scored last year and was flying against 21 birds.
Highfield h s 43 birds. W Mullen was 1st & 3rd club 22nd & 26th fed, 1 on the Saturday and 1 on the Sunday, and E McBryde was 2nd club and 23rd fed.
Chester le Street fed 68 birds. Potts & Walker got their 2nd fed win of the season this week when they timed a 3 year old check hen that took 10hrs 30mins 49 secs and was doing 1167-54. This hen also wins the 4bird club. They also took 4th club the next day with a 3 year old check cock that also takes 4th 4bird club. Morris & son timed 2 birds in within 8 mins to take 2nd & 3rd club 2nd & 4th fed the 2nd bird takes 3rd in the 4bird club. The first bird was doing 1125-37 then 1108-99.
Marquis of Granby. Brian Caley was 1st & 3rd club 3rd & 10th fed with 2 hens and the first hen was 22nd 4bird club. M&J Walker were 2nd club 7th fed with a 4 year old check hen.
J Gordon took 1st & 2nd in the Perkinsville club and were 5th & 6th fed early on the second day and Ronnie Ellison was 3rd club 8th fed with a yearlng check hen.
Newcastle West Fed 209 birds.
British Legion h s. Decca Lamb notched up another fed win this week when he timed in a yearling dark hen that took 10hrs 47mins 15secs to cover the 426 miles and was doing 1161-06. He also timed another 2 hens in 24+mins later to take 4th & 5th club and fed. The first hen was 125th combine. A&M Wharton & Porter were 2nd & 3rd club and fed. The first hen was a 3 year old checker that was 150th combine then 16 mins later a yearlng check hen.
Westerhope h s. John Cook & son were the winners with a 2 year old check hen doing 1102-16 then R Copeland was 2nd & 3rd club 7th & 8th fed with 2 yearlings only 1 min apart. Brown, bros & Cooper timed 2 birds in with only 1 sec between them to take 4th & 5th club.
G. Robson was the winner at the Hazelrigg club the next day with a 2 year old check cock and Mr & Mrs T Robson were 2nd club 17th fed with a check hen. Mr & Mrs Anderson took the red card at the Coxlodge club.
Section 3 Houghton fed 263 birds {HURAY FOR HOLLYWOOD}
Washington Celtic h s. Braban & son timed 7 birds in with in 1hr & 13 mins to take 1st, 2nd, 5th club, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 13th & 18th fed. The first bird was a yearling blue wh hen that was a gift bird bred by Hollywood Lofts Kev Parsons. This hen is bred through Lucca which is a Verheyen cock inbred to Jonge Schalie crossed with the Hollywood Keegan Hen which is his top breeding Hofken hen and is a full sister to the Hookers hen that was 2nd last week; this hen finished up 66th combine doing 1192-19. The next 2 birds were Busschaert hens. Craggs, son & g/son were 3rd club 4th fed with a 3 year old blue hen that was doing 1132-90. Scott bros took 4th club 5th fed with a 2 year old blue cock that took 10hrs 50mins 50secs and doing 1128-90. Thompson & Laidler took 6th club 7th fed with a blue hen and Barry Mason was 7th club 9th fed with a 2 year old blue wh cock.
Dubmire h s. Hughie & Colin Jackson were the winners this week timing a 3 year old check cock doing 1159-06.
Gardeners h s. Braban & son took the top spots in the club. First was a Busscheart x Soontjen and a Busscheart cock that were doing 1098 -50, 1083-34. Norman Todd was the winner at the North Biddick with a 2 year old blue cock, and Stevie Wilson took 1st & 2nd at Penshaw and was 19th &24 th fed
Mid Tyne Federation
This week saw two races on the cards, firstly the second Channel race of the season from Clermont, secondly a race from Peterborough to replace the lost Huntingdon from earlier in the season. Just goes to show what a season this has been. Once again things did not go to plan. The scheduled Friday liberation from Clermont did not happen due to bad weather. Saturday however did see 221 Mid Tyne pigeons entered from 27 lofts, along with the rest of the U.N.C. liberated at 8-00am into a Westerly wind. Unfortunately as in past weeks a poor race for most was to follow.
Boldon Colliery HS had an entry of 156 birds from 15 lofts and it was from these that the winner came. Following up from his 1st club 3rd fed 29th U.N.C. from Lillers is Ken Young, with a velocity of 1201ypm. What is more to the point though is that this weeks winner is that very same pigeon, so with 2x1st club 3rd then 1st fed, plus this week should be another very Combine position a very worthy winner. Ken did not stop there, with some lofts not getting a bird home, get had another three on the fed sheet at 3rd 16th & 17th these doing 1112, 984.5 & 984.4ypm. Second Boldon 2nd fed were Miller Bros & Kyle on 1128ypm, this pigeon another previous winner as last season it was 1st club 1st fed 8th U.N.C. Lillers 2. These lads were also 6th club 9th fed on 1085ypm, both of these pigeons being bred by Martin Ali, Ali Bros. Other Boldon pigeons on the fed sheet were to Billy Gates & Sons for 4th 8th club 7th 13th fed 1086.6 & 1027ypm, Kevin McFarlane 5th 14th club 8th 19th fed, Graham, Gilchrist & Brennan 7th club 11th fed, Blackburn & Son 9th & 10th club 14th 15th fed. With Ray Surtees at 15th 18th club, 18th 20th fed.
Jarrow Alexandra HS had K & T Seales in at 1st & 2nd club 4th 5th fed these two recording 1110 & 1103ypm. Scott & Son 3rd club 6th fed 1093ypm and Surtees & Blackburn at 4th club 12th fed 1043ypm. D. (Harry) Hall was the victor at Heworth HS this one for 10th fed on 1072ypm.
The Peterborough race, scheduled for Sunday, did get away as hoped. These being liberated at 7-10am in a light westerly wind. Only two of the fed's four clubs sent to this one, disappointing to say the least. The send being just 188 birds from 18 lofts. Boldon had 113 of these sent from 11 lofts. In top spot, and what a performance did he put up is Ray Surtees being 1st 11th 12th 13th 15th 16th club his winner doing 1491ypm. More importantly for Ray this is his first inland race win in what is a very hard club to win, he has however won in the past from over the pond. McKenna Bros took 2nd club 3rd fed, 1473ypm, also being 6th 7th club 7th 8th fed, their first timer once again being their good hen “The Duchess” Graham, Gilchrist & Brennan next at 3rd 4th & 14th club 4th 5th 16th fed. Walker & Greenlay 5th 10th club 6th 12th fed. Other Boldon pigeons to Hilton Bros 9th club 11th fed. Frank Moss 17th club 19th fed and Blackburn & Son at 18th club 20th fed. At Heworth HS Owens & Barnes finally got off the mark to be 1st club 2nd fed on 1490ypm, these lads don’t normally take this long to get their first win of the season. Second club 9th fed went to W & L Curry on 1439ypm.
Section 4. Both sides of the wear {SS fed, NEC fed, SP fed & Sun Dist dist}
Sun Dist Fed
R&A Evans, Dixon & Gibbon. As loft performances go this is probably one of the best performences that has been put up by any 1 loft in the UP NORTH COMBINE that I can ever remember. This loft timed 4 birds in within 15 mins from 420+ mile to take 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th club fed & section. These 4 birds will probably win the channel ave for this loft now. This loft over the past 4 years have flown very well in the combine, winning the combine channel ave for the past 3 years. They timed 4 yearlings. The first bird was doing 1256-47 taking 9hrs 44mins & 56secs to take 5th UNC for the 417+ mile, the next bird was 15 mins later and was doing 1246-56 then the 3rd bird was doing 1246-35, and the 4th bird was doing 1231-11 to take 23rd combine. A great loft performance put up by these lads. The top 2 birds win them the Danish Cup of Friendship for the best 2 bird performance. K. Smillie & son took 5th club 98th combine with a 2 year old doing 1170-57.
Cornhill hs. The Woodroffes were 1st and 2nd club 7th & 6th fed. These 2 yearlings dropped within 2 seconds to record vels of 1167-30 & 1167-24 and take 105th & 106th combine.
Sunderland Prem Fed 467 birds.
Plains Farm h s. C Wright timed a yearling in to take 1st club, 1st fed and 15th UNC flying for 9hrs 51mins 17secs, and winning the fed noms doing 1235-65. Dawson & Frost were 2nd club 3rd fed and 25th combine and also pick up 3rd fed noms. Armstrong & Shergold take 3rd & 4th club 6th & 11th fed 43rd & 134 th combine.
Oddfellows h s 112 birds. T Armmstrong & son took the red card at the oddies this week with a 2 year old that ended up 2nd fed and 17th combine. Greenhow bros, Walton & Dove took 2nd club 5th fed and 38th.
Westside 6bird h s 51 birds was won Gary Dunn who timed a 2 yea old which takes 4th fed, 35th UNC and 2nd in the ford 2 bird club.
Sportsmans & Comrades 120 birds. With his second win in 2 weeks top honours go to Fred McCluskey who got 2 yearlings with only 4 secs in between them to take 7th & 8th fed 55th & 56th combine. H Potts & sons were were 3rd club 10th fed. Mr & Mrs J Bell kept up their run of luck at the channel in the club this week by taking 1st, 2nd & 3rd club and 9th, 17th & 20th fed. The first 2 birds were 65th & 199th combine.
Castletown h s was won by Summers, bros & Rose who were 14th fed doing 1146-76.
North East Counties fed 224 birds.
Wearside h s 64 birds. Dixon & sons took 1st & 2nd club and 1st & 3rd fed this week with 2 x 2year old blue cocks. The first blue cock took 9hrs 42mins 34secs to cover the 410 miles. The next blue cock took 10hrs 28mins 39secs doing 1239-95 and 1149-03 and were 12th & 152nd combine. Tipling, bros & son took 3rd club 7th fed with a yearling check pied hen.
Dawdon h s 60 birds. Wilkinson & son was the winner with a 2 year old blue cock. L Whitehead was 2nd club 4th fed.
Seaham h s 49 birds. Richardson, son & Young bros got 2 birds within 39secs to take 1st & 2nd club 6th & 7th fed wiith 39 secs inbetween them. Ruddock son & Rudduck took 2nd club 14th fed doing 14th fed with a young check cock.
Murton hs 51 birds. J J Wod took the top 3 positions in the club and 8th, 10th & 16th fed. First bird was doing 1095-17, next was a 2 year old on 1080-41.
Well that's just about it for the Clermont race. Next week the birds will be going away to Peterborough again, so next time I will give you a double report. THAT'S ALL FOLKS, GORDON.
