L J Parkinson - 20-06-24

L J Parkinson

Had quite a few comments about my losses this season that I have never experienced before. It appears that many more pigeons have been lost than I thought there were. Mind you there are fanciers who have not had a good channel season, even down towards the south coast where they are less than 200mls compared to our 300mls plus up here in the northwest from the same race points. After hearing some of the comments I must say that I am feeling a bit better about those losses. It looks as if the tide has turned because I have only lost one since I wrote about my losses in these notes. While typing these notes I had a call from D C-T down in Essex, I mentioned what I was writing about. He went on to say that there were many birds being lost and the channel races had not been good even for the shorter flying fanciers in the Nationals.

BOP

Here in Middlewich, we are having a few BOP attacks on our pigeons, and they have not gone unnoticed by Jean-Pierre Vossen who lives just down the road from here. I met Jean-Pierre when he called about a pigeon that was sitting at the end of his garage. He told me of his concern for the pigeon and went on to tell me of his experiences and sent me the following with photos. “Pleasure to meet you earlier, the pigeon we were discussing in my garden has now departed, hopefully to its home. Please find attached pictures of the Sparrowhawk attack, unfortunately blown up the quality isn't the best. Pictures 4 we think is the female Sparrowhawk but more likely a Goshawk. Oddly you would have thought if it was a Goshawk the Sparrowhawks would have met their demise by now. We have seen the female Sparrowhawk, she is a steely blue grey and much larger than the male, capable of flying off with wood pigeons no less!” Pity we don’t have ring numbers to go with the photos for the owners to see where their pigeons have ended up. Thank you, Jean-Pierre, for taking the time to call and your concern for the pigeon on top of your garage.

Tested

I was talking to a local fancier about the losses I have had this year and he suggested that I get the pigeons tested in case there was something there that could influence those losses. So, I have had all the pigeons tested and a touch of this and that, but they tell me nothing major and nothing to cause the losses. They have all been treated for minor issues and are all looking well, mind you the race team have looked and handled well all season, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by others. It was only the young and stock birds on the right side of the race team that were affected. I was talking to a very knowledgeable fancier about problems that fanciers have in their pigeons. He was saying everything is easily treatable if you catch it in time. I am told the one thing you cannot detect in pigeons is respiratory problems, which is something new to me, a fact I didn’t know. Mind you they have not flown badly so I don’t think there are any issues with them, otherwise they wouldn’t have flown as well as they have. However, having spoken to the girls over in Colchester who tested the pigeons and might and only might give them a light course for respiratory before the young bird race season starts.

Results

The races continue and in the latest race for the Mid Cheshire Fed from Frome when 72 members entered 1225 birds that were liberated at 10-45am into a west wind. It’s not unexpected this year to see Ray Lunt taking the first 4 in the club, north section and fed with his entries in the Lymm FC. This week he has 2 yearlings a 2yo and 3yo taking the top four positions with vels of 1408 (3) 1406ypm all clocked on 3hrs 8mins. Also getting in on the act with the Lymm FC is Andy Roberts who has had some good results this year, in this race he is 5^th club 13^th fed with a yearling on 1347ypm. The next 4 positions in the fed go to Acton Bridge winners Mr & Mrs Carl Hickman who bring their pigeons to Middlewich for marking, as do other members of the club. On this occasion they clocked a year and three 2yo’s on 1375/1365/1363 (2)ypm. I have been talking to Carl about going over later in the year for information on his pigeons, one to look out for. Fellow club member Eric Taylor clocked a couple appear in the top 20 of the fed result 5^th & 6^th club 15^th & 18^th fed on 1347/1345ypm with two yearlings. 1^st Middlewich FC 1^st north section 9^th open Fed goes to Ebony Crowley with a grizzle cock bred by Ian French. Since finishing her first year at University Ebony has got back into the swing with the pigeons and is doing a good job in the lofts. Ebony’s first season last year saw her spending time with the young birds, and they have come good for her this year where they are also doing well and have continued with good results this season. While she was away at university this year’s crop of young birds would get out of my way but now, they are showing plenty of interest in Ebony. Anyway, in this race she clocked a grizzle who has done well this year with 1^st club 1^st section 9^th open fed Frome. 2^nd Yeovil. 3^rd Wincanton. 5^th Mangotsfield. 2^nd Cheltenham. With such lines you can expect winners from, De Wit Yves, “Romien Klein” “Double Kittel Brother” “Goede Rode” “Olympic Rosita”.

Ebony Crowley with her 1st club 1st South section 9th fed 1,225 birds

Her second in the clock taking 2^nd club and on the fed result has had 1^st club 5^th section Cheltenham. 2^nd Mangotsfield. 2^nd Frome 7^th sec. 4^th Mangotsfield. Ebony was also 4^th with a Cark pied cock who has had 2 x 1sts 2 x 2nds 2 x 4ths this one was bred by Hibbert Bros from Rotherham and out of a batch of young birds she bought. They are all yearlings and recorded vels of 1361/1327/1304ypm. The above information is what we are looking for to help improve the notes and give your pigeons the credit they deserve. All you need to do is drop me and email straight after the result is published. Mark Smith continues to be one of the lofts to beat and is always a time to look for on clock nights and in this race clocked a yearling for 3^rd club on 1313ypm. In the Sankey Bridge HS I Hill secures the top two positions with a 2yo and yearling recording vels of 1356/1354ypm. Fellow club member M Magee is 3^rd after seeing home a 2yo on 1334ypm. W & P Brown had a good race with Earlestown FC winning 1^st 3^rd 4^th 5^th club to go with 12^th 16^th 17^th 19^th fed with vels of 1347/1345 (3)ypm. I remember going to see Bill many years ago, they had a good set up and were flying a good pigeon. Completing the list of those appearing in the top 20 of the fed with 2^nd club 14^th fed are Arnold & Johnson who clocked a 2yo on 1347ypm, pipped at the post. In the St Helens FC Arnold & Johnson topped the list plus 20^th fed with a yearling on 1344ypm ahead of A Greenall who clocked a 3yo & 2yo on 1340/1330ypm. Moving on to the rest of the club winners starting with the Frodsham HS where Sidney Rogers & Son have the best three vels of 1121/1113/1079ypm. In the Greenbank club Martin Williams leads the way recording a vel of 1297ypm ahead of John Peever on 1287/1279ypm. D & P Whitfield are 1^st & 3^rd in the Halmerend FC with vels of 1268/1255ypm being split by N&S Harvey with a vel of 1255ypm. Leigh & Atherton HS sees Jim Chadwick clocked a 2yo and yearling to take 1^st & 3^rd on 1338/1330ypm with the one in the middle in this case being Simon Kennedy with a yearling on 1335ypm. In the Rudheath WMHS the premier spot goes to Kenny Burke with a vel of 1306ypm. Peter & Mike Child are next on the list with a vel of 1284ypm leaving 3^rd to AJ Thornley on 1284ypm. That leaves Wrinehill HS where Darren Everill fills the top two places with a 2yo & 3yo recording vels of 1338/1332ypm. That leaves 3^rd to J & B Oakley whose first in the clock recorded a vel of 1317ypm. The next race for the Mid Cheshire Fed was from Guernsey when they were also at Mangotsfield on the same day when 38 members entered 250 birds that were liberated at 8-15am in a west-southwest wind. Our Goostry whiz kid Eric Taylor who enters his birds in the Acton Bridge club but marks at Middlewich, how’s that for a mixture, is 1^st club 1^st south section 1^st fed with a yearling on 1434ypm. Rob Bebbington is 2^nd & 3^rd club on 1307/1159ypm. Lymm FC winner Andy Roberts is 1^st club 1^st north section 2^nd & 19^th fed on 1434/1385ypm with a 2yo & 3yo. Anthony Cookson had a good race collecting 2^nd 3^rd 4^th 5^th club 3^rd 9^th 12^th 13^th fed with vels of 1434/1405/1396 (2)ypm. In the Sankey Bridge HS G Rutter takes the top spot plus 11^th fed with a yearling on 1431ypm. M Magee had a good race collecting 2^nd 3^rd 6^th club 5^th 10^th 16^th Fed on 1427/1397/1391ypm with three 2yo’s. Also getting in amongst the winners is I Hill 15^th & 18^th fed recording vels of 1392/1387ypm. W & P Brown lead the way in the Earlestown FC on 1415ypm after seeing home a 3yo. S Brown is 2nd club 14th fed clocking a 2yo on 1394ypm just ahead of K Owen with a vel of 1358ypm. D & P Whitfield racing with the Halmerend FC are 1^st club 7^th Fed clocking up 1411ypm with a 5yo and are also 2^nd on 1306ypm. In the Rudheath WMHS AJ Thornley secures the top spot after seeing home a 2yo on 1405ypm. Peter & mike Child are2nd on 1373ypm after seeing home a 2yo ahead of Keith Herbert who clocked the next two in the club recording vels of 1360ypm with two on the same yard. Nice to see Ashton in Makerfield HS back on the scene with a very well-known name topping their list, Mr & Mrs R Kirkbride who’s first recorded a vel of 1388ypm and 17^th Fed with a yearling. 2^nd club goes to K Derbyshire on 1262ypm followed by Hesketh & Wilde who recorded a vel of 1244ypm. In the Leigh & Atherton HS N Bramhall tops the list after seeing home a 3yo on 1385ypm with Simon Kennedy 2^nd on 1373ypm with a 3yo and G Grundy 3^rd also clocking a 3yo with a vel of 1351ypm. Ver in the Wrinehill HC Dave Beeston & Son top the list after clocking a 2yo on 1374ypm just ahead of Andy Emery who recorded a vel of 1357ypm with a 2yo followed by a 3yo racing to the lofts of Daren Everill on 1346ypm. In the South West Cheshire Fed before going onto the race must let you know that Lesley moss is the new fed secretary. Now onto the race from Guernsey which was a case of fighting for birds with the fed competing against the NWCC, so the fed ended up with 25 competitive members entering 151 birds that were liberated at 8-15am in a west-southwest wind. Topping the list are D & P Whitfield from the Halmer End FC put up vels of 1443/1266 (2) they stuck together and 1114ypm their first being a 2yo. In the Duddon PFC K W Walker & Sons are 1^st & 2^nd club 2^nd & 7^th Fed with a yearling and 2yo recording vels of 1437/1410ypm. In the same club Gary Adamson took the next four positions with his best being 2yo’s recording vels of 1372/1352ypm taking 16^th & 20^th fed. Gary clocked his 4 in 36 seconds which is not bad going out of Guernsey. In the Crewe West End Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt lead the way with a 2yo on 1419ypm, they are also 2^nd club 9^th fed after seeing home another 2yo on 1391ypm. 4^th club 10^th fed goes to Bob Humphries with a 3yo on 1389ypm while 4^th club goes to S & T Soper on 1375ypm. What a great result for Mel Bratt’s family from the Winsford club carrying on with the pigeons after Mel recently passed away, to take 1^st & 4^th club 4^th & 19^th fed with vels of 1414.8/1343ypm. I can imagine Mel and his buddy Mick sitting up there on the perches with Mel saying to Mick, “I taught them well” with a twinkle in his eye. 2^nd club 5^th fed with a 4yo go to G&A&C Jones with a yearling on 1414.7ypm, that was close. Chris Herbert finishes with 3^rd club. In the Middlewich 5B Jimmy Smith topped the list with a yearling on 1413ypm to collect 6^th fed. 2^nd & 4^th club along with 8^th fed go to Mark Smith whose first being a 2yo on 1405/1382ypm. Jones Bros & Karen Jones are 3^rd club with a yearling on 1389ypm.

Mel Bratt, Dougie Pope, Joe Whitney, Les Kettle, Albert Lever.

Photo

Had a visitor looking around my corn bin but after going around it a couple of times must have decided he was in the wrong place.

My friend the squirrel 

I quite often get asked about Ebony and the pigeons, is she still interested, yes, she is, outside of her university education which comes first. I have included two up to date photos of her feeding the young birds and one of her with her latest winner of 1^st club 1^st section see further details above. I must admit I have not spent as much time as I should have with the youngsters so the input from Ebony is much needed. It’s not taken long to see a difference in them, however they still need more time to spend with them.

Ebony Crowley feeding the young birds

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