LEICESTERSHIRE NOTES
by John Ghent
Leicester Continental Club Portsmouth
Well, following the longest holdover in recent memory and a trip across the Channel and back the birds finally got away from Portsmouth, a little unusual for a MNFC race but needs must sometimes!
Putting together the results for a club certainly gives you a different perspective on things and you get to the look at the wider result in a different way. The Portsmouth race in the Continental Club was dominated by the South East contingent barring a couple of standout performances from fanciers on the total opposite side of the radius.
GOLD RACE
I believe the best decision the committee made over the winter was to introduce league points into the Gold Race, it has certainly given club members something to think about and has really shaken it up a little!
1st place in the Gold Race was Sturgess, Son and Grandson, true small team fanciers who love the nomination side of our hobby. They scooped 140 points towards their league total and claimed their first victory in the Continental Club. Hot on their heels with a 3 year old was Chris Watts of Glenfield followed by Mick Lennon in 3rd. Starting to find some form is current Super League Champion John Murphy with the final prize money position in the Gold Race. The only other member to clock their nominated pigeon for qualification in the Gold Race was Jerry Wright. Despite it being a long way down the pecking order in the MNFC this bird has won Jerry 100 points in the Super League race, so please remember everybody to clock your nominated pigeon, regardless of how late it comes!
On to the Silver Race now and it was super double for Derek Leitch, winner again after topping the Silver Race from Coutances! Not only did Derek secure the win against the wind in this sprint event, he also clocked a second bird soon after for 1st and 2nd in the Silver Race! The following 5 positions all went to to South East Section fanciers, the Melton pairing of Crossley and Truszowski in 3rd place with two J & T Gateley birds in 4th and 7th. These were split by the small team fanciers Sturgess, Son and Grandson with to stormers in 5th and 6th, rounding off a great race for the trio! Back over to the South Centre Section men now and a fancier to score in both the Gold and Silver results, Chris Watts of Glenfield who clocked his nominated pigeon as his first bird, great performance from Chris. The final two positions in the all important Top 10 both went to the Nuneaton man and 2014 Super League Champion Mick Lennon. That finishes off the race results for the much delayed 2nd race.
Some fanciers have really hit form already this year but there is still plenty of time, with 5 races remaining, for a fancier to pull out from the pack. As you will see below, with the addition of points being awarded for the Gold Race, league points are being accumulated at a phenomenal rate and once we get further up the road that will only continue so there is ample opportunity for people to strike back! Current league positions are as follows:-
- Mr and Mrs Jerry Wright - 556 points
- Mick Lennon - 537
- Derek Leitch - 509
- Chris Watts - 426
- Crossley & Truszowski - 407
- J & T Gateley - 391
- Sturgess, Son and Grandson - 387
- John Gilbert - 311
- John Murphy - 303
- Rob Glover - 199
- Chris Sutton - 85
- Bill Thrower - 55
