LES J. PARKINSON'S
NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES
The season is well under way and there have been a few disappointed fanciers already. They are the ones who had worked hard to make the first race, only to be left behind. These things do happen in the early part of the season but you should never give up - your turn will come. Distances are short at the moment and as they progress we will see see fresh names appear. That is always the case. The problem for us is we are 5 down already. They have just disappeared around home and I am sure it is the BOP that are taking them. We have lost experienced pigeons that were exercising well and looking as if they were ready to start the season. We are not the only ones who are suffering locally because Alan Groom was telling me that he is also a couple down.
YBs
I eventually got the young birds out for their first fly but it was not all that successful with 10 spending a night on the tiles. When we rose next morning there were 6 on the house with a further 2 joining them a bit later in the morning. When I say a bit later, it was 7.30am. By the end of the following day 9 of the 10 were back in the loft so not too bad.
Colours
I am very often asked about bits and pieces that I put in my articles and I recently added some photos of Willi Theiles pigeons in Australia. Since then I have been asked if there is anyone out there who has cultivated the Schallie Janssens. Let me know. I have also been asked about the Black/Black Grizzles or Tiger Grizzles as they are known. These come from a well known Belgian loft where one of the partners was well known as an auctioneer. The colour says nothing about quality, this is something that a fancier either takes to or does not and the Belgian partnership are enthusiastic breeders with their pigeons going to many countries and gaining success.
Name
Talking to a fancier who was saying that I should go back to writing under Sez Lez. In the Gazette it was "Travelling with Sez Lez". I never asked why he thought that I should but that was a name I used when I first started writing in the late 70s. When I look back at all the places we have been to write about fanciers and their pigeons we have covered some miles. I have used many names while I have been writing with most going no further than myself or the editor, in fact on a few occasions years ago I would type out an article and send it off with no other details and they still went into the paper.
Club/Fed News
No doubt news on racing will start to arrive think and fast and if you are sending any please remember that the more information you supply the better the reading. We start with the Macclesfield FC report from Tewkesbury when 10 members sent 122 birds. Taking the first red card of the season is Alan Senior on 1619ypm with a 2yr old widowhood cock bred by Alan, the dam is a Paul Stobbs direct Soontjen paired on to a Vanwildermeersh cock from Rick & Simon Geary a winner of 6x1sts for them bred by F Faulkner of Birmingham. In 2nd we have George & Mark Greenwood with a yearling widowhood cock on 1616ypm and is a Flor Engels Van Loon x Vandenabeele bred for them by fellow club mate Stuart Goldstraw. Third is Roger Bowers on 1614ypm clocking a 2yr old natural cock the dam is a Soontjen bought at the late Derrick Hills sale at Meir and was again paired on to a cock from Rick& Simon Geary's bred through their great cock Shy Boy. We have a special mention for Brenda, Rogers wife whose been tending to the birds for a few weeks while Roger's not been to well but is now over the worst and recovering. Fourth on 1613ypm are Rick & Simon Geary with a 2yr old widowhood cock bred by them. The sire's a Hybrecht from J Keywood on to a Soontjen hen a daughter of Shy Boy. The club do well for sponsors and this week the race sponsor is club PO Kevin Bowers. The next race for the club was from Hullavington with 11 members sending 170 birds. Stuart Goldstraw on 1517ypm wins this one with a 2yr old Flor Engels natural cock bred by Stuart from birds direct from Mr & Mrs Geoff Kirkland, this was the winners first race of this season with only one training toss under it belt. Next on the list to clain 2nd prize is Alan Senior recording a vel of 1510ypm with a 3yr old widowhood cock a Lambrecht x Herman (Alwynn Paddy) bred by him, this cocks now a winner of 1x1st and 5x2nds. Third are Rick& Simon on 1488ypm with the same Hybecht x Soontjen widowhood cock that was 4th the week before. In 4th position is Alan Senior on 1470ypm with a 4yr old widowhood cock. This cock was bred for Alan by Paul Stobbs of Durham from the combine winning Soontjen's and was a 1st prize winner for Alan last season. The race sponsors for this race are Roger& Brenda Bowers. We now move on to the Middlewich FC who were at Worcester for their first race of the season when the top two positions went to Dickens & Wilkinson who saw home a yearling blue pied hen from the Lambrecht/Meuleman lines. "Ollie Star" a 2yo chequer cock was next in the clock for the partnership and is a 2yo that has previously won a prize or two and is another from the Curtis, Wall & Lunt team. Parkinson & Wilkinson are 3rd after seeing home a strawberry mealy cock who was bred from a son of Winston 1st National Ace Pigeon and a daughter of Red Barcelona with the dam being bred by Mark Anderson out of a grandson of 1st National winner De Narbonne and a granddaughter Brive 1 from the Taveirne-Rigole lofts. This cock has also won 4th Carentan and 2nd Swainswick. 4th goes to Mark & Heather Smith who clocked their good Staf van Reet blue hen that has won a number of prizes from across the channel. The Dickens & Wilkinson team were also 1st & 2nd from Cheltenham in the Middlewich 5B with a chequer w/f and a blue pied both yearling hens from the highly successful partnership of Curtis, Wall & Lunt and recorded vels of 1544/1543ypm. 3rd are Mr & Mrs Dave Healey who clocked a blue cock on 1530ypm while 4th goes to Mr & Mrs Dudley Niblett who saw home a 2yo blue Soontjen cock raced on the widowhood. The Rudheath club were also at Worcester when the birds were liberated at 9.30am in an east, south, east wind that was rather cold at that time of the morning. New members Steve Harrison took the red card on 1433ypm with a 5yo Roland Janssen hen bred by his brother Paul. Jason Lambert is 2nd with a Staf Van Reet cock on 1432ypm also winning the nom. Malcolm Hewitt is in 3rd position with a Heremans-Ceuster cross Lucien Greats cock bred by A Richardson of Whitby with a vel of 1369ypm. Keith Herbert is 4th on 1355ypm with a staf Van Reet Cock. In the Moulton club 8 members sent 140 birds that saw a blue cock take the red card followed by a blue pied cock recording vels of 1544/1494ypm racing to the lofts of Peter & Mike Child the first is a 3yo then a yearling.
Peter & Mike Child
Mr& Mrs Roy Croxton were 3rd after seeing home a blue yearling cock on 1469ypm finishing ahead of Colin Bell with a vel of 1449ypm after seeing a 3yo mealy cock drop through the door. The first race of the season for the West Coast Fed saw 1195 federation birds liberated in a strong south west wind. The Kirkham & Wesham HS members J Hassall & Jackson had a good race collecting 1st 2nd 10th & 11th positions with JB Riley being 3rd while collecting the red card in the Stalmine HS. 4th goes to Jones & Harrison who were followed by Fleetwood HS winners Blane, Edge & Blane 5th. Paul Fisher & Son had a good season last year and have again started well with 1st in the Staining HS to go with 6th fed. The top spot in the Queens Inv went to P Hodgkinson with 8th & 9th going to Ron & Shirley Mott from the Blackpool Col. A Raby is 12th ahead of J Stockton who also had two close up in 13th & 14th positions. c Jones is 15th while George Anyon is 16th followed by J Julian 17th. The Pilling Inv winners are Mr & Mrs Pearson who finish 18th & 19th leaving 20th to fellow club members Tom's Roskill & Williamson. The other club winners are Mr & Mrs Holloway & Family in the Fleetwood & Dist. Dave Farrell over at the Marton Village club and Thornton & Cleveleys winners C Mellor & Son. I notice on the fed result the West Coast are going to take a few samples for drugs this season to be taken at the federation officials discretion. These will be done by the President & Secretary who are both none competitors. In the Poynton RBLHS 13 members sent 210 birds to Tewkesbury. Pete Stanway took 1st & 3rd positions with vels of 1647/1643ypm in the Club with these two also being 6th & 9th Fed with two from the Staff Van Reet family. Petes first bird is a grandson through his good mealy cock that won 3 X 1sts and an RPRA award. His bird that was 3rd Club is similarly well bred being a grandson of both Mark Cordwell's Champion 44 with another RPRA award winner and Keith Arnolds Champion 39 yet another RPRA award winner. Pete McGill was 2nd Club, 7th Fed with another Staff Van Reet out of Pete Stanway stock !! Mike Webb breaks the cycle and takes 4th Club, 15th Fed vel 1627ypm with a Van Loon X Koopman that is already a multiple winner. Mel Bratt has taken on the job of PO over at Winsford, wonder who he has doing his emails. Mel goes on to say "As you will be aware, Winsford are flying in two Feds this year, Mid-Cheshire and Southwest Cheshire. The main officials of Winsford will oversee both Federation racing i.e. Mike O'Grady Chairman, Lionel Goostrey President, Margaret O'Grady Secretary, Tony Kirton and Keith Hitchen have kindly offered to support Margaret. Tony and Keith set and checked the clocks for South West Cheshire, with Albert Lever and Kenny Lamb setting Mid-Cheshire. For the first race, marking went well for both Federations, with only a blip on the ETS marking run by Albert Austin. A total of 303 birds entered. Onto the races starting with the Mid Cheshire members sent 148 birds to Worcester. First and breaking his novice status is Paul Ollier locally known as "Ollie" with a natural cock recording vel of 1545ypm. Ollie lives in a flat and races to a converted outhouse. "Well done Ollie" Second are H. Bratt & Son Mel with a yearling dark Busschaert cock raced on widowhood from John Preece of Telford off his Joe 90 lines, I rate this one. The dam is a Mark Kidby Janssen. Third a young fancier having a great race with 5 in the top ten, Richard Ormandy with the first vels being 1505/1504ypm, short of information on Richard's pigeons. The race for the club with the South West Cheshire fed at Cheltenham when 11 members sent 155 birds for their first race. Albert Austin continued where he left off last year when flying with Middlewich 5 Bird. First Albert Austin vel 1554ypm with a 2yo blue Lambrecht, this cock won as a young bird and prized twice as a yearling. Second also goes to Albert with another 2yo pied cock, this being one of his good "Willdie" strain which won twice last year in M5B, both in North West winds. With another one we still have Albert with a yearling "Willdie" this yearling won three prizes as a young bird. Albert had three drop together recording vels of 1544ypm from 9 entered. "Good flying Albert" Fourth are Lionel & John Goostrey with a vel of 1549ypm after clocking a 2yo Kees Bosua widowhood cock that is a proven consistent racer. Next club on the list is the Minshull midweek who were at Stafford with just two members sending 87 birds. 1st & 2nd go to Tommy Howarth whose first in the clock is a yearling chequer cock followed home by a 2yo chequer cock both being on 1451ypm. 3rd & 4th go to Jason Lambert who saw home a yearling blue pied cock and a 2yo blue cock on 1425/1425ypm. The next race for the club was from Wollaston when an increased entry of 7 members sent 168 birds. Numbers made no difference with the top two positions going to Tommy Howarth firstly with as yearling chequer cock and then a 2yo blue cock reaching vels of 1942/1943ypm. 3rd 7 4th go to Kenny Burke and silent partner Gary Hodkinson who clocked two 2yo blue cocks on 1920/1919ypm. The Lostock FC started off at Cheltenham when 7 members sent 91 birds. Continuing their prize winning ways into the their other local club are Kenny Burke and Gary Hodkinson who saw home a yearling chequer hen and a 2yo blue cock recording vels of 1570/1568ypm. Derek Woodward is 3rd after seeing a 2yo chequer cock go through the ETS on 1548ypm while 4th goes to Tommy Howarth who clocked a yearling chequer cock on 1520ypm. Mick Barlow sends news for the Blackpool col who kicked off the season with a race from Nantwich some 60miles to most lofts. Ron & Shirley Mott timed two yearling cocks on the same second to win the club, one a Lambrecht the other a Davy Hunt pigeon both scored as young birds. 3rd place went to Chris Jones with a Jansen cock that won the £5 nom. The clubs next race on the saw the birds away at mid day in an east wind, Mick Barlow on his birthday timed a blue Karel Boecks yearling hen in to win the club and top the fed against 1700 birds, what a great birthday present drinks all round at the Mere Park pub. Mick would like to thank his good mate Phil Holloway from Fleetwood for the parents to this hen, that's the 2nd Fed topper Micks had off them, Cheers Phil. Chris Jones got 4 together to take the next 4 places a mixture of Derek Pedley x Kenny Cardwell family both very good fanciers. Well done Chris great flying a good race on a perfect race day wall to wall sunshine all the way home. Just about to finish when the West Coast fed result from their Nantwich came though on email when 1659 fed birds were entered. Not many different names in the top 10 which saw birthday boy Mick Barlow top the list from his entries with the Blackpool Col club. His fellow club member Chris Jones was 2nd 3rd 5th & 7th fed making it a good day for the club. Mr & Mrs Holloway & Family also had a good race taking 4th 6th 8th 9th & 11th fed after entering his birds in the Fleetwood & Dist club. Kenny Cardwell was also clocking them with 10th 13th & 14th positions while Fleetwood HS members Blane, edge & Blane finished 12th. Kirkham & Wesham winners are Jones & Harrison clocked three to end up 14th 16th & 17th fed with Marton Village winner Dave Farrell being 18th followed by F Hanley 19th and Ron & Shirley Mott 20th fed. A few clubs not making the top 20 in the fed result this week starting with the Queens Inv winner P Hodgkinson while PN Wyatt wins the Pilling Inv. Paul Fisher & Son do likewise in the Staining HS with Toms Roskell & Williamson collecting the red card in the Stalmine HS. That leaves the Thornton & Cleveleys club where the top spot was filled by J Brough.
Mick Barlow - 1st West Coast Fed Shrewsbury
Photos
Charlie Peel sent me a couple of photos of good winners from Ray Bullen. I spoke to Ray to see what info he could send but it is the wrong time of the year to get fanciers to commit to a few notes, so they are included anyway. There is also one of Moulton winners Pete & Mike Child. Other photos include Mick Barlow 1st West Coast Fed Shrewsbury and Ronnie Mott with Adrian Loughton.
Ronnie Mott and Adrian Laughton
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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