LES J. PARKINSON'S
NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES
When I first had the young birds out and the odd ones would not trap, there were 10 out for the first night but by the end of the second day there was only one missing and the rest were safely locked up. What I did notice while they were out on their tile testing mission was that the widowhood cocks ignored them. I was amazed that they took no notice whatsoever of them sitting on the house roof. The cocks are trapping well and when I call them, with the exception of one they all come down onto the landing board and straight through the trap - pity they don't do that on race days.
I had a text from PL after the first race asking how I had gone on. The reason he asked was because he had seen them exercising so well around home. I am sure they will improve as the distance increases, a time when they don't usually do a lap of honour or two. I am sure most fanciers will agree it is the way pigeons fly around home that makes the difference and not the time they spend on the wing. When Alan Groom was winning well in the club a few years ago his pigeons were scooting round at speed, racing the sky and could be seen crossing Middlewich. With mine that is not the case, yes they are flying well around home and do disappear coming back racing. But when they are around home it is only on a leisurely pace as if they are in it for the long haul and not just the short ones. What I have always found is the longer the races become the more time around home they spend on the wing is far better for them rather than chasing down the road every day. The longer the races the less speed they need; if they are going to keep going, they don't want to burn themselves out after the first 150mls or so. I always feel that is where some fanciers go wrong and cannot get the distance because their pigeons are prepared for speed. In a tail wind they will be able to compete but when the going gets tough they fail. I have seen local fanciers pigeons racing the skies in Middlewich but not these pigeons who have never been speedy around home but have done a good stint on the wing twice each day.
Marking station
Pat Sutton sent me an amusing photograph of the Congleton Marking Station taken on the 28.04.14 so some serious work needed here before the first race marking session on the 22nd May 2014. When I have sent to the NFC I have used this station and it is always spot on. When the NFC first moved I was wondering if the move would and it has so well done to all concerned. Pat has also sent me a few photos of the tour bus for the Australian fanciers who called in to see Roger and also went to Geoff Kirkland so at those places they will have seen some good birds.
Young birds
The young birds are now batching up but on their second time up as a group they were disturbed by a buzzard who is not going to touch the pigeons but they do disturb them and when they do they are soon off. The problem is that when they go off in this way they are frightened and can soon be that far away they are out of their own area and lost with most never finding home again. After having four old birds go earlier in the season to BOP I am surprised that a few of the young birds have not been taken even when they were on the garden. I did lose one young bird on their first time out in the garden but they were not flying then so I have no idea where that one went. I suppose we have to be thankful around here that we do now have the same problems with BOP as they do in the south west and the Lake District and further north into Scotland.
Club/Fed News
The results are coming in thicker and fast now that we are a few weeks into the racing season. Mel Bratt is on the ball with the news from their weekends result for the Winsford H.S. "The second race of the season saw 281 birds entered into the two races. In the South West Federation 135 birds were entered for the Mangotsfield race. Taking first place was H.Bratt & Son with a velocity of 2146ypm with a 2yo hen raced on the roundabout. This Busschaert x Janssen hen has prized in both club racing and National racing, being my first bird. Sire is a Stuart Elvin cock, sold last year into Wales, "Look after him Jack" The Dam is a Mark Kilby Janssen and was put to stock after winning 3x1st positions. In 2nd position was Dave Dickenson with a vel of vel 2089ypm with a 2yo chequer pied cock that has won several cards and is through David's good Van den Bosche lines, through Derrick Walker of Warrington. These birds have flown well for David. In 3rd & 4th position are Jones Bros but unfortunately we have no information on these birds. In the Mid-Cheshire Federation we saw 146 birds entered into the Cheltenham race. Taking 1st are Jones Bros, vel 2126, with a yearling Chec Hen that won as a young bird last year. These lads have a good family of Andre-Clements that have been winning for quite some time. In 2nd position are Mr & Mrs Albert Austin with a vel of 2115ypm, once again this loft has started the season on fire. The pigeon on this occasion is a chequer Lambrechts raced on the widowhood system and scored as a young bird. In 3rd place we have Richard Ormandy on 2082yom nut again no information on this bird, what we can say is that Richard is a new starter with a very impressive set up and is racing a very good pigeon this year. In 4th position are Jones Bros recording a vel 2074ypm with a chequer cock raced on the traditional widowhood system that was a prize winner last year. This is the loft to beat week in, week out, a very consistent loft from 70 to 500 miles, a excellent team of Andre Clements. That is it for this week. Congratulations to all the members for the way they are working together on marking nights. The two Federation venture is working well" Thanks to Mel Bratt for a good report. The first race for the Mid Cheshire Fed from Worcester saw 82 members send 1271 birds that were liberated at 9.30am in a south east wind, this was a good start for the fed. The fanciers on the west and especially the north west side of the fed hammered the result. 1st & 7th went to Mr & Mrs P Sylvester who took the top two positions in the Acton Bridge club, the fed winner was on 1605ypm. Cheshire FC winner Don Risley is 2nd with Kingsway winners Mr & Mrs J Burnett & Son 3rd. Mr & Mrs Green had a good race collecting 4th 11th 12th & 13th positions while Bill Mather is 5th. Rob Bebbington had a great season last year and has started this season with 8th 16th & 18th Fed, his brother Geoff has told me this last weekend that he is having young birds next year in aviary type lofts and will see how he goes. 9th goes to JA Cox with Winsford winner and new boy Paul Ollier 14th.Crewe Premier winners Mr & Mrs Jimmy Bennett are 10th & 20th with Moulton winners Peter & Mike Child 15th. John Hill finishes 17th with 19th going to Mel Bratt. Four clubs missed the cut in this first race and they are the Middlewich FC where Dickens & Wilkinson collected the red card. The Rudheath club saw new member SL Harrison take top spot while Peter Berry won the Sandbach club and Graham Davies was the winner over at Wrinehill. The South West Cheshire saw 50 members send 701 birds that were liberated at 12.15pm in a south west wind. This was an easy race for Mr & Mrs Albert Austin who took the top three positions with three on the same yard of 1554, these were entered through the Winsford HS club who are racing in the two local feds. The Crewe West End members took the next four positions with Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt leading the way to take 4th & 7th fed being split by Rob Bennett being 5th & 6th. Lionel & John Goostrey are 8th with Mick & Wendy Mellor are 9th and Middlewich 5B winners Dickens & Wilkinson 10th. Two clubs missed out on the fed result this week and they are Steve Parkinson who topped the list in the Greenbank club while Graham Davies did likewise in the Hankelow club and continues his winning ways after a very good year in 2013. The Middlewich FC moved on to Cheltenham where for the second week in succession Dickens & Wilkinson took the top two positions, the vel's this week are 2093/2092ypm. Their winner is known as "Tommy" and is a 2yo Lambrecht red cock who is no stranger to the winning positions having collected a few along the way. Those include 2nd club 6th fed, 5th, 1st club 2013 and then starts the current season with 1st club and they are all at Cheltenham. 2nd was "Princess Stella" a 2yo blue w/f hen from Curtiss, Wall & Lunt and an even better pigeon having won well on land. 4th club Cheltenham 2012. 7th club Mangotsfield, 1st club 7th fed Yeovil, 1st club 3rd fed Portland, 2nd club 3rd fed Mangotsfield, 5th club Cheltenham, 1st Show race Portland all in 2013 and then starts this year with 2nd club Cheltenham. 3rd on 2045ypm are O'Hare & Woodward with a blue pied hen while Mark & Heather Smith recorded a vel of 1956ypm with a Fran's Vanwildersmeerch that has won several minor prizes. The Middlewich 5B were at Mangotsfield for another 2000ypm plus race, the season has really got off to a flyer but as I type these notes the weather forecast for the coming weekend is a nose ender. This weeks red card goes to Dudley & Irene Niblett racing in the 5B as their main club, they clocked a 2yo Soontjen blue w/f cock that also prized last year. David Wilkinson is next on the list assisted by grandson Sam and they clocked a red hen who is a granddaughter of a 1st National winner and records a vel of 2083ypm. Going to be interesting in the young bird racing with Dudley & Irene having Craig two doors away and right behind is where David has moved his young birds into daughter Kerry's back garden with grandson Sammy keeping a close eye on them, I think Sammy will be the next pigeon man in line in the family. New member Tony Lacking is 3rd on 2059ypm with Dickens & Wilkinson 4th after seeing home a blue cock out of an egg off Curtiss, Wall & Lunt. This one was the winner of 1st Gold Ring race last year and also 3rd club at Kingsdown. 9 members sent 135 birds to the Moulton FC were also at Cheltenham when Peter & Mike Child won another race with a 2yo chequer cock and were 3rd & 4th after clocking a chequer pied cock and chequer cock, the vels being 1951/1910/1908ypm. The partnership were split by Mr & Mrs Roy Croxton who saw home a yearling blue cock on 1925ypm. We now move on to the Macclesfield FC report on the Hullavington race when top spot goes to Ben Walton on 2106.9ypm after clocking a yearling w hood cock bred by Ben. It is a daughter of Frans Zwols direct on the dams side Bert and Dreamgirl lines, on to a Koopman direct from Van Dyke being a double grandson of Kannibaal. This is a good pigeon having now won 2x1sts 1x2nd for Ben. Close behind in 2nd is Martin Hough on 2106.7ypm with a yearling widowhood cock bred by him from his Roger Sutton national winning family crossed on to the Willy Thas stock of Mr & Mrs Geoff Kirkland. Stuart Goldstraw is 3rd with a vel of 2096ypm clocking a 3yo widowhood cock that is a Engels Van Loon again through birds from Mr & Mrs Geoff Kirkland and Geoff Frith of Lincoln, this cocks a consistant one for Stuart with 6 cards including 2nd Carentan last season. In fourth we have Roger Bowers recording a vel of 2087ypm with a yearling cock sent natural on the chase, this one was one of Rogers breeder buyers from last year bought at the Meir sale. The race was sponsored by Mark Fox plumbing of Denton so thanks for the support. Well done to the prize winners and Ben also winning the star pool, club PO Kev Bowers. In the Sandbach FC Worcester race 7 members sent 151 birds that saw Peter Berry collect the red card on 1536ypm with a blue hen sent sitting. This hen won Tewkesbury last year and is from the very good Verheye lines that have won so much for Eric Taylor. 2nd are Wayne & Roy Beverley on 1424yom after clocking a yearling chequer Staf Van Reet widowhood cock. 3rd & 4th go to Tommy Hulme & Son recording vels of 1388/1382ypm with a 3yo blue pied Staf Van Reet Cock and a 2yo Willy Thas cock, both were raced on the widowhood. We now move on to the Rudheath club race from Cheltenham when 13 members sent 164 birds that were liberated at 9.30am in a south east wind. James Smith takes the red card with a yearling widowhood red cock on 2071ypm also winning the nom. Jason Lambert takes 2nd & 3rd with two 3yo black pied cocks from the Staf Van Reet lines recording vels of 2045/2040ypm. Alan Dimelow is 4th after seeing home a 2yo dark hen on 1985ypm. The West Coast Fed members saw 1370 birds liberated at Worcester in a South, south wind at 9.45am making it a real fast race and a very close one at that with only 53 yards between the first 30. Three of the top four positions with less than a yard between them they are 1st 3rd & 5th all went to the Fleetwood & District lofts of J McLellan with J Stockton from the Fleetwood HS being 2nd 5th & 7th. The Blackpool Col winner Kenny Cardwell is 6th followed by Mr & Mrs Holloway & Family finishing 8th 14th & 18th fed. D Groves & Son are 9th ahead of the Queens Inv winner Brian Fisher who is 10th & 11th. Ron & Shirley Mott collect another card for 12th just in front of Greaves & Roe who are 13th 15th & 17th. Staining HS winners Walsh Bros are 16th with the last two positions in the top 20 going to G Wilkinson. There are five club winners not making the top 20 this week and we start with the Kirkham & Wesham winner G Dodd. The Marton Village was won by Dave Farrell while Mr & Mrs H Pearson won the Pilling Inv. JB Riley led the way in the Stalmine & District while C Mellor & Son topped the list in the Thornton & Cleveleys club. 55 members of the South West Cheshire Fed sent 770 birds to Mangotsfield to be liberated at 9.45am in a south east wind. One of last seasons best flyers in the area was Graham Davies and he wins the Hankelow club and tops the fed this week. The Crewe West End sees Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt collect another red card to go with 2nd fed while fellow club member Rob Bennett is 3rd & 10th. Mel Bratt tops the list in the Winsford club and ends up 4th fed with Middlewich 5B winners Mr & Mrs Dudley Niblett being 5th fed. J Clark is 6th ahead of Mr & Mrs P Floyd 7th with the Greenbank winner Dave Jenks 8th and John Peever 9th. All five member clubs appeared on the result this week so a good race all round with the top ten all being over 2100ypm. Our reliable scribe John Lawson over at Warrington has called in with the latest from the Cheshire FC starting with their first race of the season from Worcester when 9 members sent 159 birds. Don Risley is 1st club & 2nd fed with a blue chequer yearling widowhood cock bred by his mates A & M Smith of Derbyshire and is the lines of Van Dyke/Koopman/Vink. Don is also 4th club with a blue cock, their vels being 1582/1523ypm. Bill Mather is 2nd & 3rd club with two widowhood cocks recording vels of 1565/1538ypm and also takes the noms with his second bird. The club then went to Cheltenham when 9 sent 162 birds that saw 1st & 2nd go to Tommy Davies with a home bred blue hen first in the clock and a blue cock both being from his Busschaert family and record vels of 2034/2022ypm. Bill Mather has the widowhood cocks in 3rd 4th & 5th positions all bred by Bill from his good family of Van Dykes clocking up 2000/1999/1990ypm. John has also sent the details on the Kingsway club who also started at Worcester when 5 sent 96 birds when the red card went to Mr & Mrs John Burnett with a blue pied hen on 1575ypm. John had a very good start to the 2013 season with a section winner in the Midland National and a 14th in the Bamfords Gold Ring young bird race from Portsmouth winning £465 and also had two others winning a total of £190. Mr & Mrs Alan Green are 2nd club with a blue cock on 1566 with Jim Cox being 3rd with a Grizzle hen on a vel of 1551ypm. The club then went to Cheltenham when 7 members entered 135 birds with Mr & Mrs Jim Jones having a very good race going 1st 2nd & 3rd club with the winner recording a vels of 2117/2074/2070ypm, this one also won Yeovil last season. Their second in the clock is a 2yo Duggins/John Kirk from the Walter Docx lines with this one also winning the club nom and followed through the door by one from a Walter Docx/Jans crossed with a Gerry Tom's Jan Aarden/Walter Docx.
Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ. +44 (0)1606 836036. Mob: +44 (0)7871 701585. E-mail:
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