LES J. PARKINSON'S
NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES
We had a young bird reported dead via the RPRA by Mrs King of Somerset so as I do in such cases I phoned her up to thank her for going to the trouble of reporting the pigeon in the first place. She was so pleased that I had phoned and was very apologetic about her cat taking what was by this point a dead pigeon into her house. The lady went on to say that she had now buried the pigeon and thanked me for contacting her about the pigeon. These are the people who do have a good word to say about pigeon fanciers when we take time to contact them.
Bosmans-Leekens
When we were in Belgium a few years ago by chance we were introduced to Dirk Leekens and we took a few photos of his lofts. I tried to get a bit more information at the time but nothing materialized until now. This has come about because I was asking about the Grizzles that have popped up in the lofts of Derek Woodward over at Wincham. I had mentioned this to Peter Fox and he came up with the following information.
The Bosmans-Leekens lofts
The Bosmans-Leekens partnership’s latest wins include 1st Provincial La Souterraine 1479 young pigeons, 1st National Chateauroux 5,884 yearlings, 2nd National Tours 4,039 birds. This season has been a good one and they have won 19 x 1st including several times the first five plus 3x1st Semi-Provincial and 1st Provincial Gien 4,271 birds this being the fastest of 6,579 birds. 1st Provincial La Souterraine 1,479 young birds and 2nd National Tours 4,039 old birds. Then to secure a very good season they won 1st National Chateauroux against 5,884 yearlings.
In 2011 Dirk Leekens took a break with the pigeons after a very successful spell during which time he won the title of 1st National Champion youngsters in 2010. Other prominent positions included 3rd, 4th, 5th National Brive. 2nd National Brive in 2004. 1st National Brive in 2011 and three European Cup Ace Pigeons. Dirk’s new partner Marc Bosmans used to race in partnership under the name of Bosmans-Geboers in the long distance races. But due to work commitments his partner, a busy restaurant owner, had time difficulties so Marc eventually had to stand alone at the helm of the colony. Then at the party of the “Gouden Duif” there was a conversation between Dirk and Marc and a new partnership was born. This led to a change in direction and all the long distance pigeons were removed and replaced with the best of the Leekens bloodlines. A round of eggs from Dirk Leekens' best racers and breeders were moved to Marc’s place before Dirk sold all his birds at the end of 2011. There was just one bird retained and that was “Lucky Luke” because he was by this time 15yrs old. But this good cock was on their side and in 2012/13 the hens he was paired to produced 25 young birds that were then put into the stock lofts. There are always going to be additions to the stock team and one such pigeon was the "Triple Olympiade” of Etienne Stassen which has proved a good stock bird being sire of seven different 1st prize winners in the new loft. Another being “Speedo” 1st Europacup Ace Pigeon from Marc’s Father Willy was also introduced to the stock loft.
The Bosmans-Leekens partnership
The aim of the new partnership was to compete in the middle and great middle distance races. In 2013 with the new young birds they were soon on the winning trail with 5 first prizes and 2 Ace pigeons. Then at the start of the 2014 season the Bosmans-Leekens partnership began the season with a team of 30 cocks and 46 hens on widowhood. This meant that with having 16 extra hens some cocks could be raced to two hens making the competition within the loft even better. One loft with what were considered the better hens including the national winner were paired in late November at which time they were allowed to sit for a week.
The national winner "Miss Limburg" is the slightly larger type of pigeon and is slightly deeper. She has what is considered a fast wing and at the time she had dropped 2 flights, and at this time she was also showing that she was in form with her dominance around the loft. As with most pigeons they progress with experience and age and in her case she first raced successfully in the middle distance events where she won 6x1sts. Because of her consistency she was basketed with two other very good hens for Chateauroux and sent sitting 10 day old eggs. She has flown well so is a candidate for the National Championship middle distance yearlings KBDB. After their excellent National win from Chateauroux with the yearlings they were by the smallest of margins beaten into 2nd place in the provincial and National race from Tours against 4,039 old birds.
As the season progressed they could see other pigeons showing form and one such pigeon was a young cock with the ring number 2090113/14 who had paired with a hen in his new loft and because he was so keen he was nominated and arrived Saturday afternoon like a bullet to greet his new hen. The result being that he won 1st provincial against 1,479 birds and 41st National against 18,588 birds so another excellent result added to an impressive year. With him being from the line of "Lucky Luke" he was duly named "Lucky 13" and a full brother is the “087/13” who was last year’s Ace Young Bird Fondclub Paal in the provincial races.
Providing they are right the hens are raced every week and after their arrival from a race on Saturday and Sunday they receive a Recup-mix in the feed tray. From Monday to Thursday the basketing day they have a racing mix "Brilliant". On Wednesday the normal mixture is supplemented with candy seeds, peanuts and a fat blend. They very often receive cold pressed rape seed oil which is mixed on the feed and the pigeons soon eat it up as they do like it very much. As far as medication goes they use the Belgica de Weerd and vet Ferdi Vandersanden natural range of products ranges and followed as required. They are also given a treatment every three weeks against Canker, the product being Belgamagix. They are also treated for respiratory infections with Belga White which is given every few months. The range from the vet Vandersanden includes Vior and Vigoramine. Other products used are Entrocur and Recupforte that are applied over the food together with Belgasol provided to the pigeons coming home from a race. Pigeons arriving from a competition receive cleansing eye drops from the pharmacist. We must not forget that after one race finishes they are prepared for the next race.
Thanks to Peter Fox of Syndicate Lofts for the help and information and also De Duif for the photos.
NFC
There were a lot of concerns over the pigeons being held over with the young bird/old bird race but no need to worry they had a good race and from reports I have heard they came back well and in good condition. I always said that when we have sent pigeons on their transporter they have always come back better than on any other - fact. Those transporters cost but they are well designed and good for the pigeons as long as they are used correctly.
Club/Fed News
10 members of the Poynton RBLHS sent 209 birds to Hullavington. Mike Webb won the race and was 9th Fed vel 1393. Ernie Sellars was 2nd vel 1369 with his Fed breeder/Buyer bird that was bred by Ben Walton, Macclesfield. This bird was reported hawked in Port Talbot from the first race on 26th July. It has certainly repaid Ernie’s faith in sending for it. Ken Johnson was 3rd vel 1368 with van de Meure from a cock that won 7x1st’s for Bob Casey, Dane Bank. Richard Given was 4th vel 1359 with a Rolland Jansen cross from Chris Knowles stock. In the next race from Frome 10 members sent 185 birds. Richard Given had a good day taking the first three positions in the club and North Section of the Fed vels 1522/1519/1517ypm all three were cocks having their third race. Pete McGill was 4th vel 1508 with a van Reet out of club mate Pete Stanway stock. The final race was from Poole approx 185 miles when 8 members sent 131 birds. Richard Given was 1st 2nd & 4th club vels 1296/1271.3/1270. His second bird won the previous race from Frome. Mike Webb was 3rd Club vel 1270.1. The Sire was a Lefebre Dhaenen that was bred and raced by Mike and won 2nd Nantes whilst the Dam was a Delbar bred by club mate Tommy Bennett. Ernie Sellars was 1st and 2nd in the Produce race in conjunction with the Club race from Poole with Richard Given 3rd, 4th and 5th. In the Moulton FC Portland race Peter & Mike Child are still showing that they will keep going till the end by taking the top two places in this race with two chequer pied hens on 1201/1173ypm. Mr & Mrs Roy Croxton take the next six positions their first two being 3rd & 4th and they are two chequer hens recording vels of 1157/1124ypm. Over at Rudheath Keith Herbert secures the top two places on 1178/1171ypm with a blue pied and blue both hens from his reliable Staf Van Reet family, the winner also winning the nom. B&G Mainwaring are 3rd after seeing home a grizzle whose dam was from Alan Jones and records a vel of 1162ypm. George was saying that the young birds are doing well and he still has a good team left. Ian Cooper collects 4th prize on 1161ypm with one of his reliable Busschaerts that have been around for many years. In the Crewe West End 11 members sent 188 birds to Yeovil; that saw my mate Bob Humphries claim the red card on 1329ypm. The next two positions went to Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt on 1322/1319ypm while Colin Lindop is 4th recording a vel of 1275ypm. The Middlewich FC were at the clubs longest young bird race of the season from Portland when the birds did not have it all their own way. 1st & 2nd go to Mike O’Hare & Ron Woodward whose first through the trap is a dark cock. The sire is a Van Loon from Eric Harris from the North East and the dam a Supercrack from Tony Merrick. They then clocked a blue hen the sire being a Vandenabeele from their old Gaby bloodlines out of the 30 cock and a full sister to their 2 x Section L winner. 3rd & 4th go to Parkinson & Wilkinson on vels of 1174/1173ypm the two dropped together. First through the trap is a blue w/f cock bred by Jack Laidler from the North East and was also 3rd club 19th Fed Cheltenham earlier in the season when a loft mate won the race. The nest mate to this cock 1st club 7th fed in the first young bird race of the season. The partnership then clocked a chequer pied hen for 4th and also the breeder/buyer pigeon bred by John Richards from his Vandenabeele’s. This hen was 1st club 14th fed at Cheltenham earlier in the season. In the Middlewich 5B race from Yeovil Mike O’Hare & Ron Woodward did the double by taking 1st 7 2nd in both clubs. In this race they sent 11 with one being a trainer which goes forward to the fed and that is a black hen from Kevin Spiers, a Midland Social Circle Exchange bird. She should have gone to the LSC Race on the Tuesday earlier that week but only laid her 2nd egg on the day of basketing, she is Eric Couleman bloodlines. The second bird that will win the club was also 2nd last week in the Middlewich FC from Yeovil so a race point that she has taken to. She is from their M & D Evans Gaby from the 55 Cock and the 69 Hen both top racers and breeders for the partnership. The 3rd bird which will be 3rd club is a blue hen her sire is a Gaby Cock being a grandson of Jester, Lady of The Rings, Shadow and Top Investment. The dam is a daughter of the 40 Hen their best ever racer/breeder. Now that we have that sorted 2nd & 4th go to Mr & Mrs Albert Austin on 1270/1187ypm with a blue & pencil both being hens. The club have a 10 bird limit but do accept trainers that go forward to the fed, I must say that looking at the vels in the race it was a bit of a mixed bag. In the Lostock FC race from Frome Derek Woodward took the top two positions after wife Marjorie was looking after them while Derek recuperated and as always she did a good job. The winner is a Grizzle cock and oddly enough I was talking to Peter Fox about these pigeons that originate from Dirk Leekens and I will be including a piece on Dirk next week. Back to the winners and the one that was 2nd is a blue cock, their vels being 1348/1342ypm. 3rd goes to Ian Cooper who clocked a chequer hen on 1332ypm while Kenny Burke saw home a chequer pied cock on 1330ypm for 4th place. The club then went to Yeovil when two fanciers shared the spoils with the top two going the way of Kenny Burke with a chequer and chequer pied both being hens recording vels of 1215/1214ypm. 3rd & 4th go to Tommy Howarth with a chequer and a dark pied being two cocks on the same yard of 1176ypm. The West Coast Fed were at Mangotsfield when 52 members sent 1074 birds to be liberated at 12.45pm in a light north west wind. Mr & Mrs Holloway & Family from the Fleetwood & District had a good race with their first four taking the top positions in the fed all being on 1257ypm, they also clocked another for 14th place, I notice that there is only just over a yard between the first 8. This was a tight race at the top with 5th also being on the same yard for Paul Fisher & Son finishing 5th 6th 8th 15th & 16th with their entries from the Staining HS & Queens Inv clubs. Jones & Harrison from the Kirkham & Wesham HS are 7th with J Hassall & Jackson 9th followed by Pilling Inv winners Mr & Mrs French. The Stalmine winner is JB Riley taking 11th & 12th positions ahead of PN Wyatt 13th. J McLellan is 17th, G Anyon 18th with Ron & Shirley Mott from the Blackpool Col being 19th & 20th. Just the Fleetwood & dist winner J Stockton missing the top twenty but is 22nd on the full list. John Allbutt is back on form in the Sandbach FC taking the first three in the Portland race recording vels of 1205/1203/1203ypm. The winner is a blue hen sent sitting 16 days and is a fed breeder/buyer pigeon bred by Eric Taylor with the other two being a blue cock and blue hen. 4th goes to Tommy Hulme 7 Son on 1184ypm with a Willy Thas/Staf van Reet blue cock. Meanwhile another good report comes from Mel Bratt the PO at Winsford 181 birds competed in the race from Yeovil with the South West Cheshire Federation. The members have kept a good birdage going all season, with half the members not competing. In first position and I told you to be prepared are Jones Bros and Karen with a cracker on 1296. Their winning bird is a chequer cock from their very good family of Andre Clemens sent driving his hen to nest with brothers and sisters winning in the past. In second position vel 1260 are the ever consistent Dave Dickenson & Son with a youngster from the batch of youngsters from A.Painter, this being a Frans Zwols. These have been very consistent for Dave and a good introduction. In third position was Richard Ormandy with a vel of 1259 after clocking a chequer cock bred by Mike & Keith Hitchen being a Jos Thorne from their Ian Stafford lines. Richard has flown a very good pigeon this year and will be one to watch next year. In fourth place on 1257ypm are G&K&C. Hitchen. I have no information on this bird but will try to get the information for next week a very busy lad is our Chris. That's it for this week, one race to go then holidays! You mean you’re taking Yvonne on a holiday Mel. The Mid Cheshire Fed race from Portland saw the birds held over for one day when 42 members sent 630 birds that were liberated at 11.15am in an east wind. This was another good race for Acton Bridge members Curtiss, Wall & Lunt taking 1st 2nd 4th & 5th places, Ray was saying they were not as close together as they normally are. Crewe Premier winners Mr & Mrs Geoff Matthews had another good race with 3rd & 9th while a loft having a good season being Dave & Baz Mellor are 6th 11th & 14th. Mike O’Hare & Ron Woodward had another good day taking 7th & 8th after topping the list in the Middlewich. Wrinehill winner Colin Lindop always fly’s a good young bird and takes 10th 13th & 19th fed. John Kirk & son won the Kingsway club and pics up 12th fed along the way while Steve Parkinson is 15th, Frank Speed 16th, Joe Glover 17th, Dave Jenks 18th and Dave Beeston & Son 20th. Club winners not making the top 20 are Peter & Mike Child in the Moulton FC. Keith Herbert tops the list at Rudheath and Jones Bros collect the top spot at Winsford in this fed. Now on to the Macclesfield FC report from Poole when 7 members sent 83 birds to this the final club race of 2014. Taking the red card is the father and son partnership of Richard & Simon Geary on 1271 with a home bred cock homing to the perch. The sire is there good Soontjen Shy Boy a multi winner and now producing the goods in the stock loft on to a Koopman hen purchased from Syndicate Lofts. Roger Bowers finishes a consistent season on 1258 to claim second clocking the hen that scored second in the first race homing to the perch and is a home bred Soontjen the sire was third section L in the National this year. Club PO Kev Bowers is third and fourth 1249/1215ypm the first bird was a hen returning to the perch bred by fellow club member Alan senior from his good Soontjen stock. Ke’s second was again a hen also homing to the perch bred by his brother roger from a pair of Vandenabeeles purchased from Mr Sara of Cornwall. Gary Hodkinson sends the latest from the Lostock FC race from Frome where Derek Woodward clocked a chequer cock and Grizzle cock recording vels of 1328/1268ypm. The grizzle is one of those mentioned from those in the photos. 3rd & 4th go to Kenny Burke with two chequers a cock and hen on 1279/1273ypm. In the Minshull HS mid week race from Cheltenham the top two positions go to Kenny Burke with a blue hen and blue cock recording vels of 1275/1274ypm. Jason Lambert is 3rd after seeing a blue hen drop through the door on 1261ypm while Keith Herbert is 4th with a blue pied hen on 1260ypm. Last one for this week is the South West Cheshire Fed when 33 members sent 486 birds to Yeovil to be liberated at 11.15am in a North East wind. Crewe West End winner Bob Humphries took the top spot. 2nd & 3rd go to Mike O’Hare & Ron Woodward who had a good day all round in the local feds with their entries in the Middlewich clubs. Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt also clocked two close together for 4th & 5th while Winsford winners Jones Bros are 6th. Colin Lindop had two in the clock in no time for 7th & 8th positions with Mick & Wendy Mellor 9th and J Clarke 10th. Just Greenbank missing the top ten where John Peever secured the red card.
Photos
I very often get photos sent of winners but I try to select the ones that stand out above the rest, the latest are from Freialdenhofen & Son from Germany. In recent years the names of winning fanciers in Germany are becoming more and more known here in the UK. Are the pigeons any better than in any other European country, I don’t think so because the fanciers from each country all have their own challenges? In International racing the conditions on the day play a big part and no matter how we look at it the wind dictates the winners at this level. I am sure most fanciers have a good idea of where the prizes are going to go in their local feds when they see the conditions on the morning of liberation. So look at that on a European scale and then draw your own conclusion. Each country has their own winners no matter where in Europe they are and they are good pigeons. So when you are looking at winners don’t discard them from any country because they all have their own home grown top fanciers to compete against. Also had a photo via Chris Herbert over at Moulton of the late Alan Wright who passed away a few weeks ago. Alan raced for many years in the Cookson & Wright partnership.
Alan Wright
Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ, +44 (0)1606 836036. +44 (0)7871 701585. E-mail:
---
