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Details: Published: 01 January 2020; Hits: 741

THAMES VALLEY FEDERATION

Jo Cuthbert

Breeder/Buyer - 6th April

Sunday the 6th of April saw Thames Valley members head to Mill End Sports and Social Club for the first breeder/buyer young bird sale of 2014. There was a good turn out with 42 birds in the pens, and birds were given not only by those racing in the fed but by other fanciers wanting a chance of the prize money.

Our trusty chairman Roy Barnes was auctioneer again and did a cracking job with every lot making at least 30 quid and some reaching over 60. He even managed to sell the young bird he had put in himself, telling us all it may only have one eye and a broken wing where he had trodden on it that morning, but it would be fine because the wing would heal by the time of the breeder buyer race from Ripon and he would make sure it was on the side of the lorry where its good eye could see! Someone has picked up a real bargain there. After the first twenty lots there was a break so we could all top up our glasses or fill up on the yummy bacon rolls on sale. The second half of the sale continued well, even if I did get outbid on a grizzle young bird by my own club member Robin Mennell’s girlfriend Sandra, I did get lucky and make the highest bid for Terry Haley’s little cheq. May the best girl win Sandra.

A mention has to go to fed secretary Carol Byfield as yet again she was so organised with all paperwork being on pens ready so that no one was left hanging around at the end of the sale. Thanks to those that set up all the pens and tidied away at the end, it is you guys that keep things running smoothly. The 42 lots raised a total of £1600, 20% of this will go to the fed’s transport fund and the rest will be split into four prizes and will be raced for on the 6th of September from Ripon.

Don’t forget though, if you were not able to get to this first sale the second breeder buyer is on the 27th of April, again at Mill End and penning is from 11am with the sale starting at 12.30. At this second sale you have the chance to win a raffle bird. Buy your tickets at a fiver a strip through your club and if you are lucky enough to win a bird, you have the option to enter it into the race at a charge of fifteen pounds. I know there are a lot of sales on at the moment, but I don’t think many offer a chance of winning a bird for a fiver. If you aren’t able to make the sales this is a great and easy way to support our federation. There will also be other raffle prizes up for grabs. Lets see if we can make 2014 our most successful breeder/buyer year to date, as the saying goes, you have to be in it to win it!

I have been very lucky in that the lovely Keith Mott has helped me out by sending me lots of old articles about past North Road fanciers and I am looking forward to reading through them. Like I said before, it is the people and characters in this sport that make it so special. Talking of special people, I was really pleased to hear from Janina that Alan had been feeling much better and had even been able to make a trip to their local shop but was sad to hear from Terry Haley today that he had spoken to Janina who had told him that Alan was poorly in hospital again. We all wish him a speedy recovery and send our love and best wishes Janina!

News from my end at Houghton Regis is that we have gained another member in young Aaron Coomber who has been racing with his Dad in the Borehamwood club but has decided to give his Dad some more competition by having a go on his own with us for young birds. Should be interesting in the Coomber family on a Saturday night! I now have 22 young birds and they are starting to whip around all over the place, this is my least favourite time of the whole year and the time I fret the most. I like young birds when they are batching and coming in the trap, not when I am herding them in and looking down the street to see if I can see them on the rooves!

With racing just round the corner can I please ask that someone from each club contact me with details of winning birds etc each weekend? Much more interesting to have information about a fancier or bird than just to read a list of velocities. I am happy to be contacted either by phone or email on 01582 477860 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.