ROGER SUTTON
Provisionally 1st & 2nd Section L NFC Tarbes 2011
Text by Les Parkinson. Photos by Elizabeth Wilkinson.
Roger holding the 1st Section hen & Les Parkinson holding her loftmate, probable 2nd Section
When I first started racing pigeons many years ago, one of the more prominent names to figure on the National results was that of Roger Sutton, although at that time he was in a partnership. His prominence has not changed, in fact over the years he has improved with more and more top results at the highest level of competition. An outright 1st National win has not yet fallen to him but he has enjoyed many section wins along the way. This latest has come in the Tarbes Grand National flying 693 miles, and it is quite possible that Roger's second pigeon will be good enough to take 2nd Section.
Roger races his pigeons in Astbury, on the successful family farm run by Roger, his wife Pat and their two sons Greg & Andrew. In addition to their farming activites, they have all worked hard with their now thriving Astbury Pigeon Supplies business.
I don’t think that there is any doubt about the fact that Roger’s two pigeons were on the pace for the first day. The second day was not at all easy but the early sunshine provided willing pigeons with a good start. Anyway, the section winner and probable 6th Open is a blue hen whose genes go back to many of the old winning family that are housed at these lofts. She is one of his good 500 mile day birds and has previously won 2nd Section Angers in addition to flying Saintes twice on the day. Some 36 minutes later Roger clocked a second blue hen that in all probability will be 2nd Section L and not much behind her loftmate in the open. This hen was 1st Section 2nd Open in the Old Hens' National and has been in the first dozen of the section several times through to Saintes.
Well done to all who competed in the race and an extra special mention to Mr Shackleton & Son of Keighley who put up a fabulous performance to win probable 1st Grand National at 740 miles.
Roger's expansive set-up
The eye of 1st Section L
The wing of the 1st Section L hen shortly after her 693 mile flight
This is a picture taken from Roger's garden with Astbury church in the background. Did Roger sneak over the fields after breakfast to pray for an early one from Tarbes?
