LEICESTERSHIRE NOTES
by John Ghent
Well with the season fast approaching it is time to round up the final details of the off season as we all get into breed and wean mode! The weather has certainly not failed in its efforts to make it a difficult few months for the early breeders although from what I can tell the county of Leicestershire has gotten away fairly lightly! Fortunately for me I have babies that are just 7 days old and the weather seems to be brightening up now, a little chilly still but I am sure we can all remember we were still knee deep in snow this time last year, hopefully this milder weather is a sign of things to come for the start of the season in the middle of April, not long now folks!
Karen Shepherd, Secretary of the New Parks NRFC, sent me through the information below which relates to their annual show season.
"Dear John, Please find information regarding the above shows for publication in the relevant Pigeon Journal. The New Parks NRFC's Annual Christmas Shows took place at the Club Headquarters, The New Parks WMC over seven weeks from November 2013-December 2013. Both members and non members from the North and South Road Federations took part and 221 birds were entered. A big thank you goes to all who supported the shows, the judges who kindly gave their time, especially Mr Les berry Senior at very short notice, the organisers and the New Parks WMC for providing the venue. Also thank you to Adam Shepherd of Goozleshep Photograpy for taking the pictures.
Week one was Old Cocks. 7 members entered 43 birds.
1st Mark Smith, 2nd Lee Allen, 3rd John Poulton.
Judge: Paul Marsh.
Winner Mark Smith. Judge Paul Marsh.
Week two was Old Hens. 7 members entered 46 birds.
1st Stu Bale, 2nd Glennon & Bakewell, 3rd Lee Allen.
Judges: Les Berry Junior and Les Berry Senior.
Winner Stu Bale. Judges Les Beryy Senior & Junior.
Week three was Young Cocks. 7 members entered 31 birds
1st Lee Allen, 2nd Mick Moore, 3rd Colin McManus.
Judge: Sam Merry.
Winner Lee Allen. Judge Sam Merry.
Week four was Young Hens. 5 members entered 23 birds
1st Lee Allen, 2nd Summer Bros., 3rd Lee Allen
Judge: Mick Glennon.
Winner Lee Allen. Judge Mick Glennon.
Week five was Any Age Cocks. 7 members entered 44 birds.
1st Summer Bros., 2nd Mr & Mrs D Chamberlain, 3rd Mr & Mrs N Shepherd.
Judge: Mick Martin.
Winners Summers Bros. Judge Mick Martin.
Week six was Any Age Hens. 6 members entered 34 birds
1st Mark Smith, 2nd Stu Bale, 3rd Mark Smith
Judge: Darren Shepherd.
Winner Mark Smith. Judge Darren Shepherd.
Week 7 was for all card winners to award the Best In Show. Lee Allen was the winner.
Judges: Les Berry Junior and Les Berry Senior.
Best in Show. Winner Lee Allen. Judges Les Berry Senior & Junior. Trophy presented by Nigel Shepherd.
The Leicestershire South Road Federation held a general meeting on 24th February to finalise plans for the season ahead which is now just around the corner. We must thank Hilltop Services in Earl Shilton for their continued support in their sponsorship of the transporter. Everything was fairly straight-forward and it was a great feeling to discuss positives such as the various special races we are going to hold this year. The simplest discussion was regarding the channel races. The Federation will use the Midland National Flying Club for its channel races, all birds can be duplicated back from the MNFC for each race at a cost of 25p per pigeon and all the money will be given as prize money.
The breeder buyer sale will take place on 23rd March with penning starting at 12.00pm and the sale will start at 1.00pm. Our trusty auctioneer Alf Jones will be on hand to squeeze the prize money as high as possible, with this in mind I am sure the prize money on offer will be very substantial assuming Alf is in his usual form! The sale will be held at Federation HQ, the Old Aylestone Social Club on Middleton Street. If anyone would like further information then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Another positive move is that the Federation is holding a Nomination race where a maximum of 10 ring numbers can be nominated by a fancier. These 10 birds will be able to fly for the prizes in the Nomination race. The first prize is to be £50 and the remaining money will be split into £10 prizes until all the money is gone!
Finally, the Federation members have been asked to go back to their clubs to mandate the members on the exciting possibility of a combine race with the Harrowden Federation on July 12th from Portland. Once we get the feedback from the clubs and the Federation vote on it, then I shall inform all members, through this column, of the outcome.
A few weeks ago I announced the race programme for the Leicestershire South Road Federation, I now have the programme for the East Midlands Amalgamation racing North so thanks to Sam Merry for supplying the information below.
OLD BIRD
APRIL
19TH Wakefield Birdage £0.50
26TH Wetherby Birdage £0.50
MAY
3RD Aycliffe Birdage £0.50
10TH Whitley Bay Birdage £0.50
17TH Berwick Birdage £0.50
24TH Aycliffe Birdage £0.50
JUNE
1ST Perth Championship Birdage £1.50
7TH Harrogate Birdage £0.50 Code 4194
14TH Fraserburgh Championship Birdage £2.50
14TH Possible comeback TBC Birdage £0.50
21ST Lerwick N.R.C.C Championship Birdage £6.00 or £1.00 back nom NRCC
21ST Bubwith Birdage £0.50
28TH Harrogate Birdage £0.50
JULY
5TH Thurso Championship Birdage £3.00
5TH Possible comeback Birdage £0.50
12TH Clear week
YOUNG BIRD
JULY
19TH Wakefield Birdage £0.50
26TH Wakefield Birdage £0.50
AUG
2ND Wetherby Birdage £0.50
9TH Wetherby Birdage £0.50
16TH Aycliffe Birdage £0.50
23RD Whitley Bay Birdage £0.50
30TH Aycliffe Birdage £0.50
SEPT
6TH Berwick Championship Birdage £1.25
13TH Bubwith Birdage £0.50 Subject to birdage over opening races and projected support for the race.
Well I think I will wrap it up there, I should get another article sorted before racing starts to tie up all the loose ends before the results start hitting my email box in late April!
Hope those babies are all growing up strong, treat each one as the next champion and maybe, just maybe, it will be that once in a lifetime bird that we all pray for when each egg hatches! Speak soon.
"Mush"
83, Newport Street
Leicester
LE3 9FU
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