LES J. PARKINSON'S
NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES
Well what a week I have had, firstly half of the website went down on the Monday morning and that was off all week. Also on the Monday Mark took the pigeons training and noticed that they were not leaving the liberation point. So as I was waiting for them to come home all sorts of things were going through my mind and they were taking longer than they had been the previous week. At the weekend we had a great race 1st & 3rd club with both being up in the top twenty of the fed and they dropped in one after another. For that race it was a rare occasion my birds were mixed with the rest, when we race in the club for the first few races I normally have them put in a crate of their own but I was late so they were mixed. I do think that with the continuing problems of young bird sickness each fancier should be able to have their birds in a crate on their own as long as they pay for the crate to try and stop the YBS spreading. Anyway on the following morning which was Tuesday they went for their daily training toss and while basketing I took note of what was in their crop and they were empty. I checked because I was thinking was this YBS but the last time I had it was in 2002 and that was the last year I raced the young birds in the club until we got to Mangotsfield that is unless they went in a crate on their own. When I had it back then they were bringing corn up all over the place and looking pretty down when perched. That was not the case with these so I dismissed that thought but there was definitely something wrong with them. I don’t have them out around home so they are not left picking around anywhere that they shouldn’t they are only trained basket to the loft and fed. They were trained for the rest of the week and as Mark said they were not doing their normal half turn and away, they were hanging around for about 5mins before leaving. However when they did strike for home they made good time and as they arrived they were stretched out in a line really racing to the loft. So on the Friday I could see no definite problem so sent them to the race. Saturday morning I was getting wound up because the web site was still not up and we were being chased for one reason or another. Also on the Saturday morning I had a text telling me that they were going for an early lib and so I started to change my work for the day. All the sections were cleaned with fresh water put in and I waited for the call from Joyce who said she would let me know. I waited and then the call came to say that they were out at 9.50am with thoughts on a 1500ypm plus race so that meant we should get them about 11.30am. I kept asking myself the question: “Why were they going for an early lib and they were not up until 9.50” I couldn’t weigh that one up. Anyway I stood there waiting and waiting with the expected time well gone. Then I saw the chequer cock pop over the tree’s straight on line landing on the board and through the trap. But hang on I didn’t hear the ETS ping so took a look and no bird registered so I went into the loft and put him through again and still no registration showing. So back into the loft and this time I swiped the pigeon over the pad until I heard it register. By this time I was ready to call it a day and close the loft up when something goes wrong everything else does. Anyway it didn’t make any difference not registering because I was well beaten but after winning the previous three and being on the fed result I was beginning to wonder what had happened in this race where we actually finished last. What was more annoying was the way they came, after all in the previous three races they were dropping in like a training toss with no problem at all. After the chequer cock I waited nearly 40mins before the next one cam and then they dropped in well. I spoke to a few people and some had decent races some didn’t which is always the case but what was bothering me was why they were so far behind after flying so well in the first three races. Ray phoned and I was telling him and they were also behind, he went on to say that it looked as if they had not all left the race point which is what mine were doing in training. Later on the Saturday I was telling Mark and he said “Tomorrow will be the telling point if they have YBS” So Sunday morning I went in and handled them, none were holding corn from the previous night and the droppings were perfect. I have come to the conclusion that they picked something up in the crate but only in a mild form. I suppose with not having the problems that most have with young bird sickness I do not know the signs to look for and that in itself can be a setback. Since writing the above we have had a trip out to collect a pigeon and one of the lads was saying that he had been talking to a convoyer who said that pigeons were not clearing the site as well as they should. Think I better mention that this was not at Cheltenham but not far away. I was also talking to George Mainwaring on the subject and he was thinking along the same lines that by the way they were turning up some had not cleared the liberation site. Just one of those things that happens with racing pigeons. George went on to say about reporting strays and how mobile numbers are now used and they can run away with a few quid. Easiest way is to email them through to the governing body and let them sort it for whichever organization it might be. Getting back to the point of the pigeons being ill and not leaving the liberation point I was talking to one of our members down at the club and he was saying he had been reliably informed that the problem was in their heads. I didn’t say a lot about it but when I was coming home I remembered an article that I had written about 10/15yrs ago about this problem of them not leaving the liberation point and after contacting Ferdy Vandersanden about a similar problem he said it was in their heads. I will have to find that article because the information from Ferdy was interesting. I will also add that in my opinion which is through experience Ferdy has always been well ahead of anyone else when it comes to health issues in racing pigeons.
Collection
Talking of strays we had a young bird reported in Kidsgrove so decided to take a trip out to collect it. The loft was on an allotment where there were several other lofts and it looked like an old type Sunday morning gathering to see what went either right or wrong in the Saturday race. Elizabeth took a photo while she was there so it will be somewhere on the pages. While in the area we also went over to see Paul Dewsnap at his lofts and what a spread he has. Paul races a good pigeon and is a dedicated fancier who puts his all into the pigeons and gets the results. Nice to see you Paul, now we know where you are we can call again. Used a couple of the photos taken at Paul’s, one holding a 2014 performer and the other where we were discussing the racing season to date.
LJP with fanciers in Kidsgrove
Paul Dewsnap with one of his 2014 National performers
Paul Dewsnap and Les Parkinson discussing the season's racing
Club/Fed news
In the Middlewich FC race from Cheltenham 6 members sent 150 birds that saw Mike O’Hare & Ron Woodward collect 1st & 3rd on 1406/1391ypm after clocking a blue pied and blue both being cocks. Their pigeons are a blue cock flying to the perch the sire being a Soontjen From Mr & Mrs Niblett with the dam being a De Klak from their Mr & Mrs Turner pair. Their next bird which was 3rd club was a blue cock from their very good Vandenabeele family containing the bloodlines of Shadow, De Bandiet and the Combine Cock. 2nd are Peter & Dawn Latham with a dark hen on 1399ypm, their pigeons have been flying well and they have the biggest team that I have ever seen flying round the loft. 4th goes to DJ&CJ Wilkinson with David & young Sammy clocking a blue w/f hen to record a vel of 1349ypm. In the Rudheath club 10 sent 153 to Cheltenham when the top two positions went to Keith Herbert, the winner by 60ypm good one Keith he must be keen. The winner is a blue cock followed home by a blue hen recording vels of 1420/1360ypm. The next two places went to Alan Dimelow who saw home a dark and chequer both being hens on 1358/1327ypm. News is that Ian Cooper did all the running around for mate Malcolm who promptly left off the result, say no more. The Middlewich 5B race from Mangotsfield saw 10 send 106 with the red card going to Mr & Mrs Albert Austin with an easy winning blue hen on 1426ypm, the partnership was also 4th with a pencil cock on 1369ypm. 2nd goes to DJ&CJ Wilkinson when David clocked a blue w/f hen on 1384ypm. O’Hare & Woodward had a couple well up in the race but I am told they were trainers but still go forward to the fed. In the Sandbach club race from Cheltenham Eric Taylor came in winning 1st & 3rd prizes on 1447/1434ypm with a chequer Van De Rhees cock and a Verheye/Van De Rhees blue hen. 2nd is John Allbutt with a blue pied Staf van Reet hen on 1434ypm while 4th goes to Roy & Wayne Beverley who clocked a chequer hen to record a vel of 1401ypm. Over at Moulton who were also at Cheltenham Tony Lacking clocked up another win with a vel of 1366ypm after seeing home a chequer cock. 2nd & 3rd went to Mr & Mrs Roy Croxton on 1348/1317ypm with a blue and chequer both being hens. 4th went to Peter & Mike Child on 1309ypm with a blue pied cock. Meanwhile the Crewe West End were a bit further down the road at Mangotsfield when 17 sent 352 birds. When it comes to the sprint races Colin Lindop is never far away and in this race collects the red card on 1451ypm. The next three positions all went to Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt on 1435/1433/1409ypm. Ur PO Gary Hodkinson is back and reports on a couple of races for the Lostock FC starting at Tewksbury when Derek Woodward finished 1st & 4th with a grizzle cock and blue hen recording vels of 1538/1523.4ypm. Kenny Burke clocked a blue hen and chequer cock for 2nd & 3rd with vels of 1524/1523.5ypm. The club then went to Mangotsfield when Kenny Burke collected the red card with a chequer pied hen on 1342ypm finishing just ahead of Jason Lambert recoding a vel of 1335ypm with a chequer cock. A mealy hen on 1333ypm dropped through the doors for Keith Herbert 3rd while one of those grizzles for Derek Woodward claimed 4th on 1322ypm. In the Minshull midweek race from Worcester two fanciers claimed the prizes and they are Kenny Burke who saw home two chequer hens both on 1339ypm with the next two positions going to Keith Herbert on 1329/1323ypm with two hens being a blue pied and blue. Now let’s take a look at the Macclesfield FC reports firstly on the Tewkesbury the fourth young bird race unfortunately there is no report on Frome. This was because the race was cancelled due to the members suffering with or getting over the dreaded young bird sickness which seems this year is the worst it’s ever been. So on with the Tewkesbury race with 8 sending 216 birds. Press officer Kev Bowers (yes you read it correct) Kev rises from the depths of the results to claim the red card on 1518ypm clocking a young cock sent chasing its hen and bred by him. The sire is a Soontjen bought from the late Dereck Hill sale at Meir and was put onto a Soontjen hen of fellow club mate Alan Senior. The inform Martin Hough is second on 1501ypm clocking the hen that was second a fortnight ago at Hullavington and bred by him. The dam is his number one stock hen from Roger Sutton out of his National winning birds while the sire was purchased from Barron & Blakey bred by Syndicate Lofts. In third & fourth continuing a good season is Roger Bowers on 1479/1478ypm. Roger’s first is a Soontjen x Jos Thone young hen that scored second in the first race of the season and continuing the winning ways the sire was 3rd sect L National this year. He then clocked a cock homing to the perch bred by fellow club mate Alan Senior out of his Frank Sheader, Paul Stobbs direct Soontjen stock. Mel Bratt keeps us up to date with the Winsford club and in the latest race 13 members sent 269 birds to Mangotsfield with the South West Cheshire federation. Continuing their dominance of the young bird season, we have David Dickenson & Son with four in the first six. Taking the red card for David with a velocity of 1421 we have a young bird off his No 5 pair stock, from his very good family of Vanden Bosch off Derek Walker of Warrington. This young bird has carded previously. In second position also on 1421 is a bird from a batch of six Dave bought from A.L.Painter, this has carded before so it looks like a good investment Dave. Taking third position and stopping a clean sweep are H. Bratt & Son on 1418 clocking into their trusted T3 with a chequer hen which has already prized this year and flying to a freshly hatched out youngster. The breeding of this hen is 100% Mark Kidby from his winning Van Triest Jannsens. These have been a good family for this loft. In fourth place was again David Dickenson vel 1416 with a Chris Hitchen bred YB being a Lambrecht purchased in the breeder buyer. Very good flying Dave who also takes fifth a vel of 1413 with another being from the batch of six purchased from the Midlands partnership of A.L.Painter. Rounding off the top six were Jones Bros vel 1413, the lads don't seem to have the youngsters wound up yet but hold on to your hats! The Mid Cheshire Fed saw 67 members send 1362 birds to the second Cheltenham race when they were up at 9.50am in a west wind. This was a good race for the shortest flyers in the Wrinehill club who took the top six positions when Joe Glover ended up 1st 2nd 4th 5th with Dave Beeston 3rd and Frank speed 6th. Sandbach winner Eric Taylor was 7th & 10th with Crewe Premier’s Steve Parkinson being 8th fed. John Allbutt is 9th while Mr & Mrs Geoff Matthews keep amongst the leaders in 11th place ahead of Graham Davies 12th. Keith Herbert picks up another red card in the Rudheath club while J Hill from the Kingsway club clocked three close together for 14th 15th & 17th places in the fed. R Worrall is 16th Mellor Bros 18th and Middlewich FC winners Mike O’Hare & Ron Woodward finish 19th leaving 20th for Roy & Wayne Beverley. There are three club winners missing the fed list and they are Rob Bebbington in the Acton Bridge club. Tony Lacking in the Moulton FC and Bill Mather overt at the Cheshire FC. 54 members of the South West Cheshire Fed sent 883 birds to Mangotsfield when they were liberated at 9.45am in a west wind. Crewe West End member Colin Lindop covered the top spot seven yards ahead of Greenbank winners Mr & Mrs Geoff Matthews in second position. John Allbutt is 3rd with Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt putting two in the clock in 8 seconds for 4th & 5th just ahead of Dave & Baz Mellor 6th. Middlewich 5B winners Mr & Mrs Albert Austin are 7th with Dave Dickenson & Son 8th & 9th with Mick Stockton 10th that sees all four member clubs finishing on the fed result.
Photos
Again we include two of the winners from the lofts of Mike O’Hare & Ron Woodward the first being “807” a blue pied cock winner of 6th Sect L 32nd Open NFC Carentan this year. He is a Vandenabeele from “Gaby 563” “Dream Maker” “Benetton” and “Lady of the Rings” bloodlines. This one also prized last year in the MCC Gold Ring Race from Carentan. “084” is a blue hen with many prizes from the channel including 9th Sect L 85th Open NFC Fougeres and 25th Sect L Cholet. Her sire is a Staf Van Reet from their Tony Mardon bloodlines the dam from Ken & Mark Cliffe.
Above and below, two blues of O'Hare & Woodward - details in article
Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ, +44 (0)1606 836036. +44 (0)7871 701585.
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Web site: www.elimarpigeons.com
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