Welsh Sr Fed 2013 Presentation

Details: Published: 20 January 2001; Hits: 1277

WELSH SOUTH ROAD FEDERATION

Another Successful Annual Presentation Evening

by John David

All photos of presentation by Matthew Tomlinson

On Saturday 16th November 2013 the Welsh South Road Federation joined ranks with the Welsh South Road National to hold their joint presentation evening at the Grove Golf Club, Porthcawl.

At around 5.30pm members and guests started arriving at the Golf Club from all over South and Mid Wales. Earlier that day the chairman and myself went along to the Grove to set up the wonderful array of trophies to be presented to the winning Federation members later that evening. By 6pm all 80 members and guests had arrived and before starting the meal the secretary asked for a minute's silence for absent friends and mentioned the sad absence of Denis Ford of Blaenavon who had died earlier this year. John said Denis always attended these events with his whole family and this great champion will be sadly missed.

John David right Fed Secretary introducing Stuart Wilcox Chief Guest with Tony Evans Fed Chairman centre

Before introducing the guests the secretary welcomed everyone to this the 28th annual dinner and prize presentation of the Welsh South Road National Flying Club and said the Federation were indeed grateful to the National for once again inviting us to share in their celebrations which has worked well for the mutual benefit of both organisations for very many years. The caterers were again to be congratulated for providing an excellent meal and it has to be said that its little wonder that our respective organisations have returned to this venue for the fifth year running. He added that such was the success of the organisations in 2013 that there was not an empty seat in the house and then handed over the microphone to the Chairman Tony Evans to say a few words. Tony first of all thanked Mr & Mrs Martin Meredith who did a tremendous job running the web site during 2013 which has helped Federation members to be kept informed of results and events on a regular basis. He went on to say the federation which is by far the biggest in Wales had 300 members competing in 30 clubs which are spread over 2,400 sq miles and is 60 miles across from Caerwent in the east to Llanelli in the West. Over 23 races in 2013 the federation sent 54, 670 birds which averages 2,377 birds per race but without overseas races the average birdage rose to 3,034. He said the biggest entry for old birds was 4,829 and 4,469 for young birds and went on to say that it’s hard to believe that fanciers from 13 different clubs topped the fed this year. The most successful club for fed wins was Pontypool who topped the fed 5 times, then Torfaen 4 times Penhill in Cardiff 3 times, Trevethin twice and Pontypridd, Merthyr, Maerdy, Pill, Nantymoel, Rhymney Castle, Ystalyfera and Llanelli once each. Finally he said the strongest club in the Fed for winning points is Cwmtillery who did not top the fed this year so you can see competition was extremely strong from all over the federation.

The secretary then introduced the chief guests Stuart Wilcox and his wife Trudy from Bristol and said the organisations were indeed fortunate to have Stuart as he is extremely busy on weekends with his auction business. He added that in his earlier days he always regarded Bath as the biggest rugby club outside Wales and as Stuart played prop forward for them he was clearly very successful in the sport. Stuart at the ripe old age of 37 for a rugby player was part of the Intermediate cup final team that played at Twickenham. In recent times Stuart has emerged as a leading auctioneer of racing pigeons and next weekend has sales for Syndicate Lofts (the number 1 stud in Wales) and Alwyn Hill who is one of the most highly rated distance fanciers in the whole of the UK. Of course Stuart is also highly successful with his own racing pigeons winning many top awards. Another guest of the National this year was Chris Sutton the professional pigeon photographer who sponsors the WSRNFC and the secretary thanked Chris for promptly publishing pictures of all the 2013 National winners this year on the Elimar web site in advance of our presentation taking place.

First to be called up to receive their federation awards was the highly successful partnership of A & A Deacon regarded by many as the best flying partnership in the whole of Cardiff. Fanciers may recall a great champion pigeon they owned that was named “Champion Lightswitch” but this time two of their yearling pigeons led the field in the first OB race of the season from Salisbury when 198 members sent 4,156 birds.

Next up was the secretary of the same club Viv O`Connell who topped the Fed from Littlehampton in what was the fastest race of the season 1731 ypm when 223 members sent 3,793 birds. It was nice to see Viv present with his wife after having a very nasty health scare earlier in the year when all of his club members rallied around to offer their support.

The father and son partnership of A & A Deacon of Cardiff winners of 1st & 2nd Fed Salisbury OB (4,156 birds)

Above Viv O`Connell Sec Penhill club winner of 1st Fed Littlehampton OB (3793 birds)

Frampton & Price of 6 Bells were next to be called up winning 3rd Federation Carentan OB and 4 Federation cards in the first 20 Open positions. It was Neil Price from this partnership that suggested holding an Open Race from Cholet as there was no national on this race which proved a great success!

The secretary said one of the truly great performances of the year must surely be that of the Carentan OB Federation winner but regrettably the partnership of Mr and Mrs R J Williams of Llanelli were unable to be present due to personal circumstances to receive their award. Their great yearling hen topped the fed by 40 ypm when 216 members sent 2970 birds for this first channel race of the season.

It was then the turn of the winner of the new race point of Nord-sur-Erdre a distance of 300 miles into the principality and unfortunately Tony Coombs was unavailable to attend as he is secretary of the Gwent Greater Distance club whose presentation was on the same night. However it was nice to see his son Darren and g/daughter Keah receive the award in his absence.

Darren Coombs and dtr Keah receiving their award for 1st Fed Nord-Sur-Erdre

Next award to be presented was to the new partnership of Parker and Raymond of the Maesteg Celtic club who were winners of the west section of the fed from Bedhampton (3) OB and Cholet OB. Mike as you all know is the race controller for the Federation and once again did a very good job given the very difficult circumstances we all find ourselves in with the ever changing weather patterns that exist in the world today.

Parker & Raymond of Maesteg receiving their award

The Saintes race this year was convoyed by the National Flying Club and in this race there was a photo finish with the top spot being won by the partnership of Jones & Battenbough of Ystalyfera whose winning bird recorded a velocity of 1148ypm.

Arwel Jones receiving his trophy for 1st Federation Saintes

Finally the blue riband race for old birds was flown from Bordeaux a distance of around 500 miles and this time the birds were convoyed by the British Barcelona Club. An exceptional bird “The Ninety cock” was clocked by the Pontypool partnership of Dancey & Son whose pigeon recorded a velocity of 1640 ypm. They were also the winners of the longest 3 Race average flown from Cholet, Saintes and Bordeaux which is a tremendous achievement considering that in these races the pigeons were competing against the best birds in the NFC and the BBC.

The partnership of Dancey & Son of Pontypool winners of 1st Federation Bordeaux

Moving on to the young bird programme one of the truly outstanding performances of the year was undoubtedly put up by J & J O`Leary of Grangetown who once again flies in the Penhill club making it a hat trick of 1st Federation wins for this highly successful club.

I had the pleasure of meeting John several years ago when visiting Steve Shaw and it was fantastic to see his dedication to the sport has paid dividends by putting up this great performance.

J & J O`Leary receiving his award for 1st Federation Frome YB, vel 1214 birds 1665 (ahead by 64ypm)

Another great win was put up by J Courts & Son (B) loft of Nantymoel from Chale YB flown on 25th August. This time John’s pigeon was 57 ypm ahead of the field of 3,764 pigeons entered by 217 members and this win was well deserved as John is the hard working secretary of the Nantymoel club.

I suggested to John that his B loft status should now be promoted to the A loft but John was adamant that this status still belongs to his father’s loft the well known John Courts (Senior) now 80 years of age and still flying well!

John Courts enjoying the moment when he received his awards for 1st Fed Chale YB

Jones & Paget, Rhymney Valley 1st Fed winners Carentan YB

The next big win was put up by Jones & Paget of the Rhymney Castle club who topped the Fed from Carentan YB with 1000 birds competing. This partnership also clocked a very good old bird from Bedhampton(3) when they finished 2nd Federation 3,738 birds.

Next up to the table was Brian Rocke of the Ystalyfera club who was the winner of 1st west section Salisbury (3) YB.

Then we had the partnership of H & M Pullen of Rhymney Castle winners of 1st Centre Section Salisbury (4) YB.

Following this was the turn of the ultra successful loft of W A Rees (Top Gun) of the Pontypridd club who won no fewer than 5 x 1st Sect in the Federation in 2013 from Carentan OB, Bedhampton (4) OB, Cholet (OB),Littlehampton and Salisbury YB with races ranging in distance from 76 to 336 miles.

Wyndham Rees of the Pontypridd won 5 x 1st Section prizes

The very well known partnership of G Treharne & Son came next who were o/all points winners in the Centre section of the Federation with 182 points. They also gained section wins from Bedhampton (1) and (2) for OB and Lyndhurst for YB. Proving their family of birds are winning at all distances they also collected a trophy for the longest 2 races OB average from Saintes and Bordeaux. It only became clear on Saturday night that Stuart is as good a dancer as he is a pigeon flyer.

Stuart Treharne receiving his awards including Highest Pts winner in the centre section of the Fed

Next up was the great partnership of B Williams & Son of the Ystalyfera club who were winners of no fewer than 8 x 1st West Section which consists of 2 for OB`s and 6 for YBs. It is little wonder that they won the Young Bird Average in the Fed as well as being highest Individual winners in the West Section with a grand total of 338 points.

Brian Williams & Son Anthony of Ystradgynlais receiving their trophies

Possibly the most difficult trophy to win is the combined averages old and young birds when you have to clock from every race point from the first old bird race until the last young bird race which is certainly no easy task. For the 2nd year running this award goes to the loft of Owen & RT Evans & Son of Maerdy in the Rhondda Valley.

Finally we move on to the top three fanciers for 2013.

R Lambert of Abergavenny had a truly great season with no less than 4 x 1st Federation wins from Falaise and Cholet with the old birds and Salisbury and Littlehampton with young birds plus many other notable performances. A very special award this year was a beautiful silver cup presented by the family of the late Haydn Radford of Abertysswg and Ron was the worthy winner from the Cholet Open of this award. In fact he was the only fancier in the Federation to top the fed four times. He was unlucky that there was no National on the Cholet race but certainly made up for it by winning the YB National from Littlehampton.

Then R/Up in the Fed with 25 cards in the first “20” Open positions was the well known partnership of Scammell & Peploe of the Hanbury club. They won the old bird averages in the Fed as well as the channel averages. Among their highlights were 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Fed from Cholet as well as 2nd Fed from Saintes, 2nd Fed from Salisbury (1) young birds, and 2nd Fed from Littlehampton YBs.

Tony Evans receiving the combined average trophy on behalf of Owen Evans & son

Ron Lambert of Abergavenny receiving the Late Haydn Radford Silver Memorial Cup

Below Scammell & Peploe of the Hanbury club achieving another truly memorable season

Left Stuart Treharne receiving the points Shield for Cwmtillery Best club in Fed 2013 from John David

Finally Fed champions for 2013 were Mr & Mrs Bromley of Trevethin who believe it or not only joined the Welsh SR Fed this year and achieved the award of highest o/All points winners at their first attempt gaining 360 points with 30 Fed cards in the first “20” Open positions and also winning the east section with 170 points.They were also 1st Federation from Bedhampton with the old birds and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Open Lyndhurst with the young birds the only loft to take the first “3” Fed positions in any one race. Many congratulations to them!

Mr & Mrs Bromley of Trevethin being presented with Ind points trophy

Other Federation wins in 2013 were put up by Spencer Jones Torfaen Bedhampton OB (1& 3); D K Flowers Torfaen Bedhampton 2(OB) and Salisbury 4 (YB); R Hyde Merthyr Salisbury 2; A Gardiner & Son Maerdy Bedhampton (5); OG Elliott Hanbury Salisbury(2); T & T Villars Pill Salisbury (3)

Additional Photos