THAMES VALLEY FEDERATION NEWS
Jo Cuthbert
Introduction
This is my first article as scribe for the Thames Valley North Road Federation and I have to start by saying that although I have never had the opportunity of meeting ‘Silver Hen’ Janina Jenkins or her husband Alan in person, over the last couple of years Janina and I have become good friends and it was with genuine sadness that her resignation as scribe for the federation was accepted at our recent meeting. Janina and Alan have tirelessly supported this federation and I know that they will still want to keep up to date with all that is going on. I know that my first job after ringing out lib times to my own members will still be to let Janina know! Janina really has supported me over the last couple of years and it is my pleasure to call her my friend. We all wish her and Alan nothing but good health and happiness.
At our last Fed meeting the race programme for 2014 was finalised and Old Birds will start on the 19th of April from Newark, this is 84 miles to me, being one of the shorter flyers in the fed. Contrary to what some may think, you can get the distance racing North Road and we will be going to Berwick, Stonehaven and Thurso for old birds, Thurso being 478 miles for me! The old bird racing will end on the 11th of July and young birds will commence on the 25th July, again from Newark, our furthest race being on the 13th September from Aycliffe which to me is 191 miles. The Thames Valley is in a really good position at the moment with a committed group of officials. Carol Byfield who also does an excellent job at Borehamwood really is the most organised pigeon secretary I have ever come across and I wish some of her organisational skills would rub off on me! Carol’s husband Anthony is also the race controller for the federation. Chairman Roy Barnes from Watford Club never fails to make me laugh at every fed meeting (in a good way Roy) and wants only to improve and move the fed forward. We also have a good transport manager in Richard Llewellyn from Stonebridge and I truly believe this man would run himself into the ground running round to help anyone, if I had a quid for every mile he had done up and down the motorway last year I would be a very rich girl. David Pettit again took on the role of conveyer this year and in my opinion I wouldn’t want anyone else looking after our birds. Along with these and our diligent auditors John Randall and Pip Gomes, we really can’t go far wrong this year. It was decided at the meeting that the fed will hold two breeder/buyer sales, the dates for these are Sunday the 6th and 27th of April. Penning will be from 11am and the sales will start at 12.30pm at Mill End Sports and Social Club. The fed will keep 20% of monies made and the rest will all be paid out in 4 prizes of 40%, 30%, 20% and 10%. The fed has held successful breeder/buyer sales for the last couple of years with birds being donated from top flyers in the fed and beyond. The breeder/buyer race will be held on the 6th of September from Ripon and although only members in the Thames Valley can send, anyone can donate a young bird. Why not donate a bird and win some money? Last year the fed paid out over £1800 in prize money and hopefully, with the sales being well supported we will be able to top the £2000 mark this year. The next federation meeting is being held on the 13th of March, to start at 7.30pm and all fed members are welcome.
I am really hoping to keep this column going for as long as Janina has and to make that happen and to keep it interesting I need information from all the clubs in the Thames Valley. Fred Taylor from Stonebridge rang me to introduce me to their press officer Dr Kumara Srikrishnamurthy and that same day he had emailed me information and pictures about the clubs Federation Trophy winners and the shows that were held at the club during January. Dr Kumara himself won two trophies, the Fraserburgh Cup and the Lucky Forman Trophy. Stonebridge members Henry White and the partnership of Daniella and Manwaring also won the conveyors trophy and the cup for the best average of the two longest youngbird races. Congratulations to all these Stonebridge members.
Henry White and Dr Kumara
Onto then the Stone bridge shows, the first one was held on the 8th of January and the judge was George Morris from Isleworth club. He decided the prize cards for old hens (handling) should go to Derek Damali who also picked up a total of £25 in prize and pool money, second prize to Mohamed Mourse and third and fourth to George Gallagher. Philip Cooper and Fred Taylor received commended and highly recommended. Young hens through the wires saw George Gallagher take first and third with a total of £19 prize money, Mr D Hurley was 2nd and 4th.Fred Taylor and Derek Damali took commended prizes with Richard Llewellyn achieving very highly commended. The following week the judges were from Hemel Hempstead club, Teddy Palmer and Jo Hagan and winning the fancy colours section was John Llewellyn who also bagged £7 prize money, Fred Taylor was 2nd with Mr Hurley taking 3rd. The judges for the last week were Paul Stone and Eddie Milleret from South gate racing club and they decided that D Hurley should take the top prize for best eyesign, followed by Fred Taylor and Derek Damali. Final class was All Winners and D Hurley was judged ‘best in show’ with George Gallagher taking 2nd, Philip Cooper 3rd and Derek Damali 4th. Dr Kumara says his birds are all paired up and sitting eggs so he did not enter any of the shows this time round. Thanks to him for all the information. Here are a selection of photos..
News from my own club, Houghton Regis is that we accepted two new members into the club at our AGM, Matt Thorne and Mick Higgs and I have had a few enquiries from people thinking about joining for young birds. We have an open radius and are situated at Creasy Park Football Club in Dunstable. We are the last pick up in the Fed which is handy for those wanting to fly both North and South as we don’t have to rush basketing our birds. While it is always great to welcome ‘new blood’ into the club, it’s also reassuring that we are able to hang onto our members and some have been with us for longer than I have been alive!
Me with members Bill Smullen and Pete Briars
Being a complete pigeon geek I cannot wait for racing to start and to be at the club every week, I am happy this year that with Easter being later, I will have the two weeks school holidays before racing starts to train my birds. Always good to plan ahead, just hope the weather is kind to us all this year. Some have said I need a ‘pen’ name and I am interested in hearing any suggestions!
Please write to or call me with any news on
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