GWENT GREATER DISTANCE CLUB & OTHER REPORTS FROM WALES
Reports by Gareth Watkins
TYLORSTOWN & DISTRICT HS, MAERDY HS & RHONDDA 600 MILE SOCIAL CIRCLE JOINT PRESENTATION EVENING 2011
I recently had the pleasure of attending the presentation evening for two of the most competitive racing pigeon clubs in Wales. When you consider the number of National and Combine winners that have been members along with those that still compete in these two clubs it is truly staggering. In 2011 alone the Maerdy H S could boast two more National winners in Davies & Evans from Maidstone with the Welsh SRNFC. The “two Bryns” assisted by silent partner Gareth King, also topped the Welsh Combine in this race against a field of thousands of pigeons. Then you have Morris & Pugh who won the Welsh SRNFC race from Carentan Old Birds and also topped the section in the South Road National from Eastbourne with young birds. They are also previous winners of 1st National Brussels and double Combine winners from Lillers and Brussels on the south east route.
The Tylorstown H S has been in existence for 70 years now and past members have included Ned Rees, Davies, Moulds & Williams, Taffy Bowen, Tony Jones, Dan Watkins, Spiller, Iles and Billen to name just a few of the National winners that have competed in this very strong club over the years. The present crop of fanciers are also well used to taking top honours in Fed, Combine and National races with the partnerships of Steve Moulds & Son and Gwyn Humphreys, son and Faulkner regularly topping the Federation and appearing well up on National and Combine results.
That’s a little of the background of these two fine clubs so now I’ll get back to the presentation itself. After a lovely three course meal the presentations got underway with Rhondda Valley Fed Chairman Chris Jones and wife Judith doing the honours for the Tylorstown club. During 2011 the members flew for a total of £2340 and the prize list in reverse order read:- J.Jones £2.64;D.Jones £6.00; Gareth Hughes & son £31.49;Ronnie Slatter 19 points & £105.28; Alan Lewis 30 points & £104.84; Edwards, Hicks & Richards 60 points & £349.16 .The partners also had the only bird in race time from Pont – a – Mousson.
Next came the runners up to the top prize winners the partnership of Steve Moulds & Son who won 10 x 1sts plus numerous seconds ,thirds etc totalling 160 points plus a massive £921.36 in pools and prize money. The partnership also featured regularly on the results of the Rhondda Valley Fed during the season.
Finally we come to the top fanciers in the club for 2011 the phenomenally successful partnership of Gwyn Humphreys, Son & Faulkner who won a total of £799.64 plus 227 points with 10 x 1sts plus 15 x 2nds etc. and three times 1st Federation with young birds. Well done Gwyn and partners it must have come as a great relief after your mid season false alarm health wise.
Edwards, Hicks & Richards of Tylorstown HS.
Steve Moulds & son, R/U highest prizewinner in Tylorstown HS and Highest Money winner in Rhondda 2 Bird Club.
Gwyn Humphreys - Tylorstown HS Highest prizewinner.
The presentation of the Upper Rhondda Fach 2 bird club came next and the winners here in ascending order of monies won were:- Edwards,Hicks & Richards with £4.40;Thomas Bros & Radcliffe £8.00; Ken Abbott £17.20; Ron Slatter £17.50; Gareth Hughes & Son £28; Morris & Pugh £199.10 plus 1sts from Lillers Old Birds and Pont-A-Mousson with the only bird in race time ;Davies & Evans £209.10 plus 1st Monk’s Lake and 1st Folkestone; R/U Top money winner s were G L’Homme & son with £280.00 and firsts from Folkestone2 Old Birds and Reims, these wins with the same pigeon – well done Robert.
Robert L'Homme - R/U Highest money winner in Rhondda 2 Bird Club.
Finally we come to the highest money winners in the 2011 season – none other than Steve Moulds & son with 2 x 1sts and 2 x 2nds plus £485.70. Not a bad haul from the two clubs making a total of more than £1,300 in club racing alone during the season.
It was then my turn to present the prizes for the Maerdy H.S. and the winners here in reverse order of points won were:-M & M Holland; G.L’Homme & Son £79; Jones Bros 1st Reims etc plus £34; Foster Bros & Son 1 x 1st plus minor positions £102; Edgar Rogers & Ian James double National winners 3 x 1sts plus £138; Thomas Bros & Radcliffe 2 x 1sts , 7 x 2nds £204. R/U highest prize winners was the partnership of Morris &Pugh with 5 x 1sts etc, Young Bird Average and £456.
Top of the pops in 2011 was the partnership of Bryn Davies and Bryn Evans ably assisted by Gareth King, who won 12 x 1sts and many minor prizes plus the Old Bird Average, Overseas Average and Combined Averages and a total of £278. Yet another terrific season’s racing by the partners.
Robert Pugh of the Morris & Pugh Partnership, Maerdy HS.
Bryn Davies, Bryn Evans and Gareth King - Highest prizewinners in Maerdy HS.
Final presentation of the evening was for the Rhondda Valley 600 mile Social Circle. The trophies awarded to the winners in this prestigious club must rank alongside any in the UK as the two major trophies for first and second prize are valued at thousands of pounds. These are awarded annually for the first birds clocked in the longest race flown into the Rhondda Valley each season. In 2011 this was the Tarbes race at more than 600 miles to the heart of the Rhondda.
The winner this year was yours truly, competing in the partnership of D. Watkins, Son & Cockcroft with a bird that won 3rd sect 7th Open National Tarbes at 602 miles. This is the fifth time that I have won this trophy- more than any other competitor in the near 50 year history of the social circle. The other wins came in 1978 when we finished 1st & 2nd with our birds taking 2nd & 6th National Lerwick. In 1980 we won it again with our bird that won 8th National Lerwick, followed by wins in 1997 finishing at 9th National Pau and 1999 finishing 6th National Pau when more than 1,000 birds were flying close on 600 miles with the Welsh SRNFC. I must admit that of all the trophies that I have been lucky enough to win over the years, the Rhondda Valley 600 mile Social Circle Trophies are the ones that I am most proud of winning. I’m coming over all emotional now!
Taking the magnificent trophy for second in the Social Circle was the Ferndale partnership of Foster Brothers and Son with their bird clocked on the day in near darkness in the Bergerac race. Silver & Mabey won the Rose Bowl for third and Donald Chaffe the other Rose bowl for fourth.
Gareth Watkins - 1st Rhondda Valley 600 mile Social Circle.
Foster Bros & Son - 2nd Rhondda Valley 600 mile Social Circle.
That concluded the presentations and the rest of the night was taken up listening to a terrific young female vocalist, the daughter of local fancier Gareth Downes. Yet another good night spent in good company. My thanks go to the members of the Maerdy H S for inviting me along to share their night with them. Good luck to you all as well as the members of Tylorstown HS for the 2012 season.
