L J Parkinson - 11-06-24

L J Parkinson

Had a call from Tony Cowan about my comments on the BOP situation, he went on to explain why effectively nothing will ever be done about it. The RSPB are financially sound and if you go up against them you are going against the backing of many millions of pounds, which the sport does not have, to even start a challenge. They continually get millions in donations, it’s a never-ending cash flow that would not be matched by our hobby. Where the BOP population is concerned it’s a case of, we pigeon fanciers must put up and shut up. What I am surprised at is the small bird lovers not kicking up a fuss. Elizabeth feeds the birds daily, and we used to have all sorts of birds visiting the feeders but no more. Yes, we do get a few but nothing like the numbers and assortment that we used to have. What happened to the Nightingale singing in the morning, or the Greenfinch and Pied Wagtails that we used to feed, does no one care about these birds anymore, it appears not when it comes to the much-increased numbers of the BOP population. I was down at the club marking last week and a member was told that the BOP is supposed to be restricted in numbers. To get by this they do not count them as they should, they give areas with reduced numbers, how true that is I don’t know, what I will say is the source of the information is not usually wrong.  

North West Classic.

The season for the North West Classic started with a race from Weymouth when 26 members entered 211 birds were liberated at 8.15 am into a northerly wind. This was the type of races I like with the vels at a respectable racing speed of 1200ypm, and there were only 13 making that velocity the rest were down in the 1100/1000ypm mark Eric Taylor of Goostry 1st sec A 1st open, is having a good year but that’s nothing new, he has been winning for many years. In this race he takes the top spot with a Stefaan Lambrecht’s X Ceusters off Kevin Lawson.

Eric Taylor winner

This one is raced on the widowhood and is out of a kit of young birds he brought in last year. He is totally different than Eric’s old family that are tame but dominant in their boxes. They are fed on Vanrobaeys with plenty of training until they know their boxes and hens. This year Eirc decided to buy a new loft this year didn't think it would work out, new loft, new pigeons, competition getting stronger, but it is, and they are doing well. Eric is also 3rd & 4th section 13th 15th open; they are all yearlings and record vels of 1238/1200/1195ypm winning £150. Eric sends his congratulations to all the winners in what is a very competitive club here in the northwest. Stephen Turnock Stoke on Trent 1st sec B 2nd Open. Since joining the club Stephen has had some good results and in this race wins 1st & 3rd section 2nd & 4th open collecting £484.46. The first bird was 2nd fed got me second was a Grizzle Cock, he got me second Fed week before when he was beaten by a loft mate to take 1st & 2nd against 2,763 birds.

Steve Turnock 1&2 - S Turnock lofts 

The bird that was 4th is a cheq gay pied hen who the week before the NWCC she was sent to the Apedale & District 4 bird specialist club from Guernsey where she was 1st. The system I use is the traditional roundabout system which allows Stephen to race both cocks and hens. They are fed a depurative and diet mix up as their morning feed (S & S Seeds) while the night feed is a super widowhood. Training is for both cock’s and hens with 10 training tosses each but on separate days and not together, when ¾ of the races are completed, there is no more training. The best performance for Stephen to date is topping the North Staffordshire Fed with a Grizzle Cock out of 4,792 Birds. Kevin Tagell from Congleton is 2nd section A 3rd Open with a yearling cock on 1235ypm winning £65. Kevin is another regular sender with the club and is a regular in the prizes. For Kevin this was a strange day’s racing, it is unusual, but he never clocked on the day from NFC Messac.

Kev Tagell 

He was 15 minutes behind in one of his club races and he took the 1st 4 positions in the other one. He sent 5 birds to the classic and the only one that hadn’t won this year was his first bird home, to be 2nd sect 3rd open. This was my blue yearling widow cock who is of Vandenabeele blood lines and both parents are multiple winners for Kevin, and they always seem to do better in the classic races. The originals come from Ron Dodd of Chester. Kevin sends his congratulations to Eric Taylor and Steve Turnock who had very good races with the classic. G Holker & Sons from Swinton. This National winning partnership are one of the longer competing members in the club and are 4th 5th 6th section 5th 6th 8th Open. They have been one of the best racing and breeding lofts in the northwest for many years. David Brookfield from Leyland is 1st section C 7th open the longest flying member in this race. The birds housed at this loft are a mixture of Scammel & Peplow crossed with the R & D Gaskell Gevaerts.

Dave Brookfield 

The lofts are 32ft in length with a pan tiled roof are set up to race the both the widowhood and roundabout systems. They are fed on Versele-Laga mixes. A question that is always worth asking is, do you add anything to the water, at this loft it is plenty of garlic. There is very little training at these lofts, but they do fly round home for half an hour in a morning. Best performance are 2 x 1sts in the North West Combine and four 1sts in North West Grand National. M & H Smith from Middlewich who is having a good year clocked a 3yo blue hen that was 2nd section 9th open. She is medium build and no stranger to the prize list, previously being a section winner in the Mid Cheshire fed and some good open fed positions. The birds are raced on the roundabout system and the hen’s section is nothing glamorous and part of the main 18ft loft. The hens are exercised every day for around 45min to hour mark depending how they are enjoying it. If the weather is kind I do like to get a training toss on Wednesday or Thursday. The feeding system is the standard feeding protein on return from the race, using carbohydrates during the middle of the week and fats towards the end of the week. The birds return to electrolytes in the water on Saturday, Gerdon I on a Sunday, probiotic Monday and minerals on the corn Tuesday. Mark would like to thank Mike O’Hare / Peter Latham / Mark Darby and my long-suffering partner Ruth for their constant support and advice. Rob Smith from Stockport clocked a yearling cock on 1203ypm to collect 7^th section A 10^th Open.

Bob Smith NWCC

Mr & Mrs Dave Cox from Warrington have had some good performances with the club in recent years and that looks like it is going to continue. In this race they are 2nd & 3rd section C 11th & 12th Open with a yearling and 2yo, both being cocks. This is a good club so we could do with more information from the winners. I do leave messages or send emails as provided by our very good secretary Diane Bonney.

D W Cox

Results.

This week the South West Cheshire Fed saw 46 members enter 505 birds that were liberated at 12 noon in a northwest wind. Middlewich 5B had a good race with Les Parkinson & Elizabeth Wilkinson Elimar Lofts topped the list with a yearling Chequer hen. She was bred by our friend Slav Tomczak over at Macclesfield and has so far won 4^th club 9^th fed, 5^th club 9^th fed and this week’s 1^st fed, her nest mate has also won a 1^st.

Slawek Tomczak outside his lofts

They are well bred being out of the Bosma stock from Curtis-Wall-Lunt. 2^nd 3^rd 4^th Middlewich 5b 2^nd 3^rd 8^th fed with a 2yo blue cock and 2 x 3yo go to the inform loft of Mark Smith who is having a good year. In this race they recorded vels of 1304/1286/1275ypm. Still with the 5B we have Peter & Dawn Latham 5^th club 11^th fed with a yearling blue cock on 1273ypm. Plus, we have Carol & Robert Carson 6^th club 15^th fed with a 2yo blue hen on 1267ypm, that was a good result for the club. Mr & Mrs Nigel Shaw won the Hankelow club and collect 1^st 4^th 5^th 6^th 7^th plus 4^th 14^th 19^th Fed with vels of 1284/1268/1262ypm. The partnership has a very good all-round team to race from 60 to 700mls and has been successful right the way through. Mr & Mrs Colin Stanley are 2^nd club 12^th fed after clocking a yearling on 1273ypm. Still with the Hankelow club we have the ever-present Joe Glover 3^rd club 13^th fed with a 2yo on 1271ypm. The Greenbank FC saw the top three positions go to Turner & Son who are also 5^th 6^th 7^th Fed recording vels of 1280ypm(3)ypm with 2 x 2yo & a yearling. Fellow club member Tommy Hulme is 4^th club 16^th fed with a yearling on 1267ypm. D & P Whitefield have the top 4 places in the Halmer End FC to go with 9^th 17^th fed, their first two are yearlings on 1275/1264ypm. The Crewe West End sees Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt continue to be amongst the winners with 1^st club 10^th fed with a 2yo on 1274ypm. Bob Humphries is 2^nd & 4^th club and 18^th fed on 1262ypm with a 3yo ahead of Roy Parker who also clocked a 3yo with a vel collecting 3^rd club 20^th fed on 1260ypm. A couple of clubs missed out on the top 20 in the fed and they are the Duddon PFC where K W Walker & Sons are 1^st & 2^nd club on 1256/1247ypm ahead of Gary Adamson 3^rd on 1234ypm followed by K & K Rowland 4^th recording a vel of 1231ypm. We now move on to the Winsford HS where the top two positions went to G&A&C Jones with vels of 1246/1244ypm. Mr & Mrs D Jones are 3^rd club on 1237ypm ahead of Richard Ormandy 4^th with a vel of 1236ypm. Cannot finish on the SWC Fed result without a mention for 5^th Winsford HS 43^rd Open which went to Mel Bratt in his last ever pigeon race before passing away. As secretary Mel did a good job for the Fed and will be missed by many. I spoke to him on the phone many times during his illness and even when we were talking while he was in hospital, he was always positive. I remember on one occasion he said, “Am I boring you” No Mel you weren’t, I was listening to what you had to say and it’s a pity you were not here to do this latest result, I would have loved to have known what you would have said with me topping the fed. RIP. Moving on to the Mid Cheshire Fed race from Weymouth when 74 members entered 1214 birds that were liberated at 9.30am in a North wind. As is often the case Lymm FC member Ray Lunt takes the top 4 positions in club , section and open with two on 1270 and a further two on 1269ypm, they are all yearlings that are 32yards in front of the next on the result. Another regular towards the top of the fed result are W & P Brown from the Earlestown FC collecting 1^st 4^th & 6^th club 5^th 9^th 18^th fed recording vels of 1237/1204/1194ypm.Arnold & Johnson are 2^nd club 6^th fed   clocking up 1216ypm with fellow club member B Atherton ending a good day with 3^rd & 4^th club 8^th 15^th fed on 1208/1195ypm. Sankey Bridge winner M Magee saw home a yearling and 2yo to collect 1^st & 2^nd club 7^th 10^th fed with vels of 1210/1199ypm. I Hill ends the day with 3^rd club 19^th fed recording a vel of 1192ypm. 1^st club 1^st south section 11^th open go to Martin Willimas racing with the Greenbank HS where he takes the top three places on 1199/1146/1136ypm. Joe Glover leads the way in the Wrinehill club with 1^st & 3^rd club 12^th & 16^th open fed on 11981195ypm. Coming in between are J & B Oakley also on 1198ypm. Leigh & Atherton HS is won by J Chadwick also finishing 14^th Fed on 1197ypm. Completing the top three are Bill Buxton on 1190ypm and G Grundy 1183ypm. Meanwhile in the Middlewich FC Mark Smith secures 1^st 3^rd 4^th club 17^th fed with a yearling on 1195ypm. 2^nd club 20^th fed with a vel of 1191ypm after seeing home a yearling are Peter & Dawn Latham. In the Halmerend FC D & P Whitfield are in 1^st & 2^nd positions recording vels of 1090/1085ypm ahead of C Gill 3^rd on 1023ypm. Now here’s a rare one, Acton Bridges Mr & Mrs Carl Hickman missing out on the fed result, they are normally one of the premier winning lofts, it shows we can all have a bad one from time to time. Anyway, they still take the first three in the club recording vels of 1170/1169/1168ypm. Overt in the Frodsham HS Sidney Rogers & Son fill the top two positions on 1105/981ypm ahead of Geofrey Warburton on 952ypm. In the Rudheath WMHS long time pigeon worker Kenny Burke wins this week’s race on 1164ypm with Dave Lowe 2^nd with a vel of 1143ypm followed by Kieth Herbert 3^rd on 1134ypm. In the St Helens FC A Greenhall secures the top three positions recording vels of 1187/1181/1178ypm.  

Photos

I was looking through my file and found an old photo of Melvin Bratt who passed away recently and the Winsford fanciers. Mel is the young chap on the left, Doug Pope, Joe Whitney, Les Kettle and Albert Lever. We also have a range of photos for the NWCC race.

Les Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ.
Tel: +44 (0)1606 836036. Mob: +44 (0)7871 701585.
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Web site: http://www.elimarpigeons.com