THAMES VALLEY FEDERATION
Jo Cuthbert
Retford - May 3rd 2014
The weekend of the 3rd of May saw 47 Thames Valley members send 830 birds to Retford which to us shortest flyers at Houghton Regis is about 99 miles. The birds were liberated at 9am in a slight North East wind and winning fed honours this week is Borehamwood’s Peter Glenister. When I spoke to Peter he told me that he was surprised to get his birds in an East wind and it is normally in a west wind that he does well as he is the furthest over that way in the fed. He also explained how lucky he was as his first two birds mucked about a bit trapping but luckily he has separate traps for his widowhood cocks and roundabout hens and although it was the hen that hit the trap first, it was his yearling chec cock, in only its third race ever that clocked first to win both his club and the fed. This bird only had one race as a young bird and is a Leo van Rijn bred from birds Peter purchased from Brian and Karen Hawes. This cock birds velocity was 1547.00 and the hen followed on 1546.61. This hen is the same way bred as the winner and at two years old has had minor cards before. Peter said once his birds trapped he looked up in the sky to see a hawk hovering right over his loft! Peter tells me that his aim is to win the fed on a week Pip Gomes is sending and said that until he achieves that he won’t feel as though he has properly won a fed. I disagree Peter as I am sure will many others and think you should be congratulated on your racing and success this week! Next in Borehamwood was Derek Damalie with two yearling cocks doing the same velocity of 1533.35.
Derek Damalie of Borehamwood
Johnny Randall is obviously keeping busy during retirement training his birds as he was next on 1532 and took eight positions in the top 30 of the fed! He told me there isn’t much to say about his birds, except that he is trying the roundabout system this year and they seem to be coming well. John’s birds are mainly Van Reets but he has bought some Dennis Sapin young birds which he hopes will mix in well with his own next year. John said that the sprint races are his main interest and his birds definitely seem to be sprinting home for him at the moment.
Dr Kumara at Stonebridge emailed me the result to say that all the members wish to congratulate George Gallagher on his outstanding results so far this season, having won each of the three races to date. George’s winner this week takes 3rd fed and is doing a velocity of 1540.30. This is the three year old Staf Van Reet cocks third win and was closely followed by two more of George’s birds doing 1537 and 1498. Both are again Staf van Reets and the two year old pied in second has made the result sheet in every race so far this year. His red pied in third took 9 positions last year and is continuing to do the business in 2014. Taking fourth this week is Mr and Mrs Richard Llewellyn with a dark chec yearling cock bred by Clive Baldwin on 1497.
I am also beginning to recognise the name of Andy Camis who has also won again over at Feltham. His bird is also a Van Reet cock and won Thurso last year. I am guessing Retford is just a training toss for this bird! His velocity is 1483 and taking second this week is Peter Mercer with his yearling blue cock doing 1479. Andy took third with his two year old Van Lint cock that took 2nd club in a previous Newark and his next bird, a Van Lint cross Van Reet has now added a forth position to its previous 2nd and 3rd this year. It is apparent that some guys in the fed really have their birds on top form and well done to them!
Dave Craft rang to tell me he triumphed at Mill End this week with a dark pied Busschaert Cock bred by fed chairman Roy Barnes. Dave told me that his bird doing 1409 has also won before. Peter Parsons took second this week with a yearling cock having its first race, this bird is bred down from Gary Inkley and its velocity is 1378.
Over at Apsley Club E Johnsons two year old widowhood cock improved on its earlier 5th club from Newark to top the result this week doing 1478. He just pipped his loft mate who followed closely on 1477. This three year old cock won Wetherby and second from Pontefract last year and is bred from a Peter Cox cock paired with a Janseen hen. Peter Cox himself took third with a four year old Gondolier cross van Reet cock on 1476. Mr and Mrs P Johnson took 4th club with a three year old soontjen cross Hartog cock doing 1470. Looks like it was a closely run race at Apsley this week.
My own club, Houghton Regis saw ‘The Smullen’ back as top dog again with a velocity of 1497. When I asked Bill for info about his winner he smiled and said ‘you know that bird you put through last night and remarked how well it looked? It was that one’ I obviously have a good eye for the birds if nothing else! Bill bought this bird at last years fed breeder/buyer from Mickey Nunn. I haven’t seen Mickey in years, I got to know him when I lived down Surrey way and he is really good friends with my old pal John Keywood. I remember a couple of enjoyable and whisky filled weekends spent with them at the Kassel Show in Germany and at Blackpool in 2007. Bill also took club pools this week. In total Bill had 56 birds in three different races this week and told me on Saturday night he had 54 home. A good week for our Bill. Second club was Pete Briars with a two year old cock he had bought from Louella. Pete can’t remember the breed but said he has always raced well. I took third on a velocity on 1448 with a Staf van Reet yearling blue hen bred for me by none other than Mr Bill Smullen himself. I am revelling in the fact I beat Mr Ellwood this week, even though he may protest he had a bad trap as I rightly told him, it’s when it’s on the clock that counts!
Yours Truly with my sons, neither of whom have ever shown the remotest interest in being pigeon fanciers.
Yours Truly circa 1980ish
As I am writing this on Tuesday evening I have yet to hear from Watford so only names and velocities I am afraid. Again another name I am starting to see week on week is that of S Redding on a velocity of 1478 and nipping at his heels is our chairman himself Mr Barnes on velocities of 1474 and 1472. Last weeks fed winner Ken Clark is still on form taking fourth club.
I would so love to be able to put faces to these names. PLEASE Thames valley members, get a camera up your club and get snapping then send your pics to me so I have an archive for future use at
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