THAMES VALLEY FEDERATION
Jo Cuthbert
Newark - 19th April 2014
At last the first race from Newark was upon us and I could barely contain my excitement, I love that feeling of expectation and anticipation. Over at Houghton Regis five of us were ready and had sent 86 of the 753 birds in the federation and they were liberated at 8.30am on a chilly morning in a light North East Wind. I am not sure about the other clubs but our returns were good, I myself getting every one of my ten yearlings home by midday. That though was my only achievement as I failed to keep up with the big boys this week and it was Bill Smullen who took the first three positions with velocities of 1552, 1550 and 1549. Bill’s winning three year old bird was bred by club Chairman ‘Geordie’ Carl Ellwood and is a Blue Cock Van Loon crossed with one of Carl’s Uncle Bob Gravesson’s birds. This bird has had other wins for Bill and also won him the £25 pools. Bill’s second bird was one of his trusty Staf Van Reets. Pete Briars yearling pied cock followed after Bill, this being one of his old strain, which he tells me are called ‘Heinz 57’. ‘The Boss’ of the club, Carl Ellwood took the next three positions and my fellow member Robin Mennell and I did our bit by holding everyone else up! Thanks to Carl for sorting my lap top issues and also for installing the drinks fridge in our cabin, was a very popular new addition to the club!
Houghton Regis winner Bill Smullen with the breeder of his bird Carl Ellwood
I must thank Watford’s Terry Haley for lending us some sealing pliers, when Terry rang me he said that he was happy to loan them but wanted them back. I had a proper giggle when he sent them up on the transporter for me and they were covered with labels saying ‘on loan from/property of Terry Haley’. Do not fear Terry, your prized pliers are safe with me! Thanks also to Paul Treanor over at Leagrave South Road who gifted me three young birds. Good to see North and South can be friends - you will still never turn me Paul!
Over at Borehamwood, it was Pip Gomes who took the first two positions, as I write this, Pip looks like he has added another federation win to his belt so well done Pip! When I spoke to Pip he explained he didn’t expect the birds to be over his way this week in that wind, well, they obviously know where they are going and what they are doing! He tells me his winner, doing a velocity of 1585.71 is a two year old cock bred for him by Peter Fenech and that the second bird, only decimals behind on 1585.44 was one of a batch of Wim Moens young birds he purchased from the auctioneer Mark Evans a few years back that have continued to do well for him. Pip said he didn’t send any of his yearlings this week and had decided to keep them safely tucked up away from the cold wind. Pip is off to Spain after the next race to find some sunshine for him-self. Next two positions went to Pete and Aaron Coomber doing 1574 and 1572. Their 3rd fed white Grizzle widowhood cock named ‘Brain’ came in first and is bred off a white hen that club winner Pip bred for Aaron, paired to one of their own Staf Van Reets. Their second bird took first club, first fed as a young bird but came back injured from the last race. They nursed him back to health and started training him last year and he went into another fanciers loft in Watford, the father and son partnership collected him and kept faith with him and he has already started to reward them this year ,taking 5th fed. Johnny Randall took the next two positions with both his birds doing 1570. Looking at the provisional fed result, Johnny had ten birds in the first 30 of the fed!
Pete and Aaron Coomber of Borehamwood. Dad Pete holding the birds which were 3rd and 5th fed.
Information from the lovely Dr Kumara at Stonebridge tells me that George Gallagher takes first and second club, fourth fed with velocities of 1574 and 1556. His winning bird is a three year old Soontjen cock and has won three times previously. George’s second bird is a Van Lint and has scored minor positions before. Third club were Hurley Bros again with a Soontjen bird which was bred by P Shepherd. The partnership of Danielle and Manwaring came next with their yearling Van Reet hen which was second young bird combine in 2013.
Apologies to the next clubs as I don’t yet know everyone’s first names - I will get there. Some clubs didn’t contact me so I have only names and velocities or I don’t have information about their winning birds.
Great to see Mill End racing again and their winner was P Parsons with a velocity of 1420.
Apsley Clubs Richard Johnson emailed to tell me he and his Dad took first and second club doing 1534 and 1531. Their winning bird is a yearling widowhood Janseen cock that only had two young bird races. The bird has good pedigree though being bred from Bill’s blue pied multiple winner. The yearling cock in second is also related to this bird. Next placed R Wood is racing his first year on widowhood and his bird was bred by fellow club member Gary Witherall. J Painter got in the frame with a six year old hen having its first race! All those years of wasted talent?!?!
Feltham Club saw A Camis take the first five, his top velocity being 1526.
Watford club saw Steve Reddings take first and second with velocities of 1528 and 1523 and also £26 pools, Peter Hoare took the next two on 1521and 1519, followed by our very own fed chairman Roy Barnes on 1514. Due to some editing in one of the mags last week, it made it appear that Roy had actually put an injured young bird in the breeder/buyer sale. Obviously he had not and it was just Roy giving us some of his humour at the auction.
Thanks to those that helped me with information this week. I really do appreciate it and well done to all those who won. To those who didn’t win, as a friend said to me, ‘seasons are not built on one sprint, bigger fish to fry!’
Fourth fed Stonebridge member George Gallagher pictured with Joe Hagan
By the time this is published we will probably have had our second breeder/buyer sale so I will soon be able to update you with how much money we are racing for. I had a little visitor to my loft last week, a streeter baby, still squeaking and it kept squeezing its way into my aviary. I kid you not, I caught that bird twice and drove it up the road and it found its way back. In the end I had to take it ten miles and the little fella didn’t make it back that time. Best of luck to everyone in next week’s Newark race!
As always, call or email on 01582 477860 or
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