MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
MIKE LAKIN
Bordeaux Falls to the Daykin’s Touch of ‘Black Magic’
I wonder if readers have noticed that regardless of how the weather has been up to the final race of the old bird season that our longest race nearly always is flown with a ‘nose wind’ and hot weather. This was the case once again though the wind in England did turn from North Westerly to West South Westerly.
Ian French the man in charge in Bordeaux cut the strings and got the 1,559 pigeon away at 6.30 am in no wind conditions which soon warmed up and the breeze strengthened to a Northerly direction.
At the home end it was very clear that the conditions would dictate that not too many birds would reach home on the day of toss which proved to be correct with just an intrepid 9 birds reaching home on day one.
After a couple of changes to indicate the likely winner of the race which must be excruciating for the people concerned who I’m sure got very little sleep with wondering if they would be knocked off top place the leading bird belonged to Gary Daykin of Nottingham who timed his favourite two year old hen in at 8.56pm to record a speed of 1135. The bird was very well fancied and has won her owner in excess of £1700. When I enquired to her breeding Gary explained that she is the result of a Kipp & Son hen that is also the mother of ‘black Magic’ Gary’s multi National performer when paired to a cock purchased from Dutch man Martin Vinkenburg who is well known for his long distance exploits in his home land. Quietly the Daykin loft has been acquiring long distance lines to achieve his ambition to win from the MNFC’s longest ‘Blue Ribbon’ race. So the man that they call ‘The Magician’ has cast another winning spell on the race. Gary had promised his good lady Pat that when he won the MNFC’s ‘Blue Ribbon’ race he would take a break from active partipation in the sport, so with this in mind it will be very interesting to see if he keeps his word!
Gary Daykin with two of his grandchildren Hannah and Alex and his Bordeaux National winner 'Amazing Grace'
2nd Open was taken by the South East section winner in the form of Lee Smith of Little Harrowden whose 3 year old Blue Hen clocks up a velocity of 1111. I can honestly say that my heart goes out to the man and he must feel though 2nd Open is a fine result just like the guy who lost a ‘quid and found 10p’. The error was made when the verification lines were checked just after the race closed on the first night and the race winner who has a past history of timing in late first day birds from the race point and so he waited until after the closure time which was well within the 60 minute ruling before verifying his pigeon honestly not knowing who was on top of the Club’s Leaderboard as he says it’s ‘’no good looking until you have one to look at’’. To my mind all of this leads me to think that our present verification rule and the Leaderboard need serious updating. In Belgium for instance the time is within 10 minutes after an arrival. Anyway back to Lee who is an excellent flyer who has many fine performances in the National organisations to his name and I say well done sir on yet another fine performance.
Lee Smith the 2nd Open winner with his grandson Rhys - 3rd Open winner Don Salt with his super hen 'Anndon Gold' . Look he's smiling Phil!
3rd Open and 1st North West section is taken by a grand chap with a wonderful racing pigeon in the form of Alton’s Don Salt and his 4 year old Pied hen who recorded a velocity of 1105 after being clocked at 9.23pm just as the light was rapidly fading. This hen was well expected after all she had already clocked up a 1st and 4th section from this Marathon racepoint. For her latest heroics she has won her boss over 800 ‘Bunters’ and is the winner of the 2 Bird Nominated race. ‘Anndon Gold’ as she is known because her first section win was the same week when Don and his wife Ann celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary is a crossing of Jos Thone blood via a grizzle Cock with 5 x 1st prizes off fellow clubmate Mick Brindley and a ‘pure’ Don Salt hen which has previously won good positions including 4th section from the MNFC’s longest race. She in turn is from a super cock which has 1st section and 4th Open from San Sebastian on his CV. With this in mind is it any wonder that Mr Salt has earned the title of ‘Channel King’?
4th Open and 1st South West section is taken by a loft that rarely fails to ‘bring home the bacon’ over recent times in the form of Steve Palin of Bishops Cleeve who clocked yet another hen. This hen is 3 year old bird having her first race from Bordeaux. She has now been named ‘Jeannie’ in memory of Steve’s late mother. I’m told that this is her third race of the season with the Mid Nat and she has performed with good consistency. Her sire is a Geerinckx x Vandenbeele bird that has 6 x1st club placings and 2 x 1st Fed wins with birdages up to 2537 birds. Her dam is another performance pigeon with 3 x1st prizes to her name as a young bird and was then put to stock because she was a granddaughter of ‘Trojan’ a winner of 8 x1st prizes and 4 fed wins with the Severn Valley fed. The basis of this line of pigeons is Frank Aerts which have performed well for Steve.
Steve Palin the 4th Open winner in full bloom - john Murphy with his 5th Open winner
5th Open and 1st South centre section is won by finally a cock bird which breaks up the dominance of the fairer sex on 1057. The owner is John Murphy of Willoughby who clocked a Norman Southwell based 4 year old which highlighted the breeds long distance capabilities after winning 17th Open in 2015. I can see this bird doing what Don Salt’s hen has already done next season by winning a ‘Diploma of Merit’ Award for being 3 times in the first 100 placings. I will watch with interest John. Another South Centre section bird fills 6th Open for G Barrett of Shipston on Stour who clocked his 3 year old hen that was clearly bred for the job as she had already won 1st Club and 2nd Coventry Fed from Niort when there were only 3 day pigeons. She is bred from a hen that won from Bergerac for brother Gerald and a cock bought at the Nigel Rigani clearance sale. The hen was prepared on the roundabout system but she coupled to another hen and the night before basketing a baby was popped under her. Yes the classic motivation for a hen to get 100% effort from them. Mr Barrett wishes to thank the lads who help out at his clock and marking station also his silent partner Geoff Sheppard and his wife Sally for not getting on to him to get the utility room completed. Finally thanks to Emily who released the hens out every evening when she arrives back from school and with this in mind he has named the hen ‘Little Me Me’ after her.
Graham Barrett who won 6th Open - Boulton & Harvey's grand hen that won 7th Open
7th Open on 1038 is a 2 year old Vandenabeele x Koopman hen belonging to Boulton & Harvey. As a yearling this ‘little trooper’ showed her class by winning two races including one from Carentan as a young bird. As a yearling she won 6th section and 16th Open from Bordeaux with the MNFC and so was sent back this time well fancied and she didn’t let her owners down who told me ‘’As the time was nearing 14 hour our hopes started to dwindle of getting a day bird. Then over the roof she came and we can’t put that feeling into words!!’’. All pigeon men will understand what you are saying there lads. Right up behind in 8th Open is Gavin Duggan who timed his 2 year old chequer cock on 1035 some 2 ½ yards behind the 7th placed bird. The bird was acquired from McCartan & Woodside who are successful flyers in the East Down Combine. The bird is flown on the Campden roundabout system and was competing in his third channel race of the year and Gavin is delighted that he got him on the day along with three other Evesham DFC members providing ample proof of the calibre of birds in the Evesham club as highlighted by John Fretwell who clocked a yearling cock in a son of ‘Caesar’ who was purchased at the Patrick Brothers clearance sale in 2013. He is a son of ‘Ettabak’’ and a daughter of ‘Chretian & Porcha’ the lines of H & R Wijnards and Wim Muller. The dam of John’s latest performer is a hen off Nick Adshead and she is a half-sister to his great hen ‘Milly’. John who it should be remembered took 1st & 2nd last year from Bordeaux says this bird has flown very consistently this year and has competed in every MNFC this year.
9th Open and 2nd NW section is Paul Dewsnap a fancier who concentrates on the longer races. This is highlighted in the breeding of his 2014 Pied hen with the sire being a bird from Padfield Brothers crossed with a Matt Rakes bred hen being a granddaughter of ‘Indy’ his 1st Open Tarbes National winner. The bird clocked a velocity of 1021 and knowing Paul she will have already have been earmarked for a crack at Tarbes in 2017.
Gavin Duggan with his 8th OPen winner - Long distance enthusiast Paul Dewsnap 9th Open
10th Open and winning the North section is Nigel Laycock and his hen that he timed will now win the prestigious MNFC ‘Diploma of Merit’ for the following performances from the ‘Blue ribbon’ race point. This fine 2011 Blue hen in 2013 won MNFC 1st section and 3rd Open Ace Pigeon after winning 3rd section 46th Open 1,351 birds and then followed up with 2nd section 37th Open against 1,486 birds and now 1st section and 10th Open. Without a doubt she is a pigeon to cherish. If my memory is correct she is through stock off Gary’s mate Paul Stobbs going back to Carlisle’s Tom Gilbertson & Son loft. In 2nd North section and finishing just behind the Laycock bird is a Dark cock belonging to Nick Adshead on 1015. This loft has been making quite a name for itself over the last few years as is proven once again in this latest result. G Inger and son Neil who are once again well to the fore and take 2nd North East section with a 2014 Blue cock that records 998 and judging by the pools on him was fully expected. This performance rounds up a superb season for the loft very well done.
Nigel Laycocks fine Bordeaux hen which will now claim her Diploma of Merit
Another bird that was sent with confidence was the chequer w/f cock that was flown on widowerhood system and this confidence was well and truly rewarded with a cheque for close on a £1000 that will be dropping on the doorstep of Mr & Mrs Nigel Shaw for clinching 3rd North West section. Nigel informs me that the bird was bred by his pal Terry Williams who bought the parents a few years ago from a Battenburg sale. The bird won 18th Open a week or two before from Ancenis in the NFC. This will be both Nigel and his bird’s last race because the 2014 bred cock is going into the breeding loft as the Shaws will soon be moving house. I hope that it proves to be a good move for both parties! In 4th section we see the team that sound like a dodgy solicitors these being McGraw Clegg & Preece. The lads in fact clocked a few very decent birds the first one being a hen bred off a cock from Buxton’s Mantle Bros x a hen off the lads good friend Bill Williams of Walsall who has I know been supplying them with good birds for years.
In the East section Ian Cameron had an excellent race taking 1st 2nd and 6th places. The first bird is a 2013 bred Blue hen being bred from a Camphuis based cock off MacAloney stock which himself had previously scored from Saintes. The dam is a Premier Stud bred Hardy Kruger bird. Ian’s hen had never before knighted out often dropping after up to 15 hours on the wing. The second arrival which came just 8 minutes later on 966. This one a 2 year old Mealy hen is a crossing of a German introduction crossed with a Van de Merwe from the ‘Dazzler’ himself Darren Peters. Your IT skills might not be too hot Ian but your pigeon skills more than make up for it mate. S & M Cook of Barton on Humber are at it once again from the MNFC’s longest race with a 2 year old Blue hen that recorded 950 doing the job on this occasion. The Louth loft of Mr & Mrs Wagstaff saw home a 2014 chequer cock take 4th section on 938.
Tidying up now around the sections first up is the North East section where we see another good team in Turner & Pallatt take 3rd section with a yearling Blue hen of Van Lint breeding. She has flown all season on the ‘jealousy system’ and is now named ‘Charity’ after Richard came back from having his hen printed off and put his pocket clock into the base and went to watch a charity football match and on his return was delighted to see the clock had timed 3 more arrivals but horrified to see that they had come up as trainers! So don’t forget in future folks print off ‘race in progress’ to continue to clock more pigeons. In 4th slot is another G &S Daykin & Son pigeon this time a 3 year old Blue cock recording 961. In the next slot in the NE we see Barry Baker who timed a 2014 cock being bred from House of Aarden stock. The parents being full brother and sister and are grandchildren of Champion Vlekje. Barry tells me that he started up only three years ago and got the Jan Aarden lines to race from the longer distances along with youngsters off his old friend John Norris a past Kings Cup winner. The bird was sent racing back to a 10 day old baby and fed on Versele laga Energy Plus. Barry also said that he found the MNFC’s Training a great help to get the birds down to the coast in preparation for the channel races as he is a ‘one man band’ and from the three trainers had 100% returns each time.
On to the South East section and in 2nd section we see Smith & Wilson of Whittlesey. I got a nice email off Badger Wilson’s wife Mandy as her husband had a stroke five years ago and though Badger exercises the birds and feeds them all of the other work is carried out by his ‘better half’. The bird that scored on this occasion is a 2014 Blue cock that was their first timer from both Ancenis and Portsmouth and so he was the favourite this time and he didn’t let them down recording 924. Mandy made me laugh out loud when she wrote ‘’I can’t tell you how he was bred because I just pop them in a box and hope for the best! Wait for the eggs and put a ring on the babies’’. Perhaps we would all do better is we followed your example madam. In 3rd 5th and 6th section we see a man who enjoyed a fine race in the form of Pete Chamberlain who clocked a 3 year old chequer hen who was bred from two birds off his good friend the ex- BHW Editor one Cameron Stansfield Esquire with Graham Baker’s ‘Meritman’ running through their lines. Sandwiched in between we see Farrington Brothers of Denton on 895 with a 6 year old pied cock just 4 yards behind the 3rd placed bird.
Up to the East North East section we see Alan Sarel who I am told is along with his wife Flo a reformed sprint flyer who now concentrates on the longest races and chooses to train his own birds privately. The section winner is a 4 year old Van Bruane x van Loon widower cock who was sent to the MNFC’s Mayenne race which were brought back to Portsmouth and so Bordeaux was his only cross channel race. This obviously didn’t put him off and he recorded 848. In 2nd spot we see Bridlington’s Mr & Mrs Sellars who clocked their 4 year old Dark hen on 788. Mr & Mrs D P Gray of Owstwick clocked a 2014 bred Blue cock on 653 takes 3rd place for the 613 miles flight. 4th section place is taken by T Meek of Out Newton with a 3 year old hen getting on to result.
Finalising the Eastern side of the Club we see the East South East section is won by the Kings Lynn loft of Perry Brothers who are well known in the South East of England for their exploits from the longest races. Their winner is a 2013 Red Cock on 909. 2nd section goes to Willy Beckett who is a regular prize winner in the ESE section. Willy’s bird is a Mealy cock of Staf van Reet breeding which I’m told has been the loft’s first arrival from Bordeaux for the last three years. That takes some doing doesn’t it? Downham Market is the location of the 3rd section winner to Simon Emmerson & Son. A 2012 bred dark cock doing the business for the partners. Then it’s back to Kings Lynn once again for the 4th placed bird belonging to H G Cook son & Grandson which is yet another cock bird so it is obvious that the hen invasion hasn’t hit the Norfolk area yet.
3rd section in the North is filled by Steven Field of Purston whose 5 year old Chequer hen clocks up a velocity of 860. While 4th place goes to John Scratchard’s dark 2013 cock which records 761 and will win his owner a few bob in pool money too.
Slightly further west now and a team that had a good race in the North centre section is that of Spavin & Highley who took 1st and 3rd section places first of all with a cock bred from a van Wanroy cock loaned to the partners by Tommy Boland and a Jan Polder hen. The bird has been a consistent performer never first to the loft but never the last either. This is the norm I find with good long distance performers. The bird had been repaired after flying on the roundabout earlier in the year and was sent racing to a 9 day old baby that I’m told he was really keen on. Their second bird was sent in exactly the same race condition and this 2 year old has won a few minor prizes previously and is a Jan Polder x a Wilson Deken hen. John has a saying ‘’that if you pair slow pigeons together you will breed really slow pigeons’’. That may be true but from 600 miles is there such a thing? The lads were full of praise to the MNFC and sent their congratulations to all who timed an arrival on what was once again a tough race. The Mr & Mrs Brian Fisher team are once again up there taking 2nd section this time with their 5 year old Blue cock keeping the flag flying to record 742 and win a nice cheque of nearly £250 for his efforts. Yet another Todmorden fancier in the guise of Lee Brennan takes 4th section with a 2 year old cock bred by Rochdale’s G & G Buckley with the bird coming from their van Elsacker family.
The South Centre section and in the 3rd slot we see a man who is used to performing from the long races and that man is Lol Turner of Coventry who timed a 2012 Blue hen that is the sections 2 bird Nom race winner on 912 while the 4th position is filled by L & J Haywood of Dordon who clocked a 3 year old hen on 848.
Out to the West section we see Kirkby fanciers Nairn & Brown grab the glory with a 2014 bred hen flying 602 miles for a speed of 896 with guess what? A bird bred out of Mike Locke bloodlines who finished in the 2nd section place and he is the same gentleman who enjoyed a dream weekend and is the same Mike Locke who as well as his great result from Bordeaux won the NFC Tarbes race the very same day. Mike’s bird is a 2 year old Latebred hen that was trained using the John Clement’s training programme. As a yearling she had 2 channel races winning a 2nd prize in one of them show her potential. Now named ‘Lady Rose’ she is full of Albert Bennett National winning van Bruane blood of his Tarbes winning ‘Champion Hermes’ lines and also Van Bruane lines from Bob Mayo. ‘Lady Rose’ is in fact a full sister to his National winner ‘Phoenix’. There mum is a superb racer breeder that has a 1st & 2nd place in the Beeston castle 2B Specialist Club from Messac and carentan respectively and 6th section L from Tarbes in 2015. Grandsire of these two winning hens is ‘Bordeaux Wiggins’ which won 1st west section and 7th Open from Bordeaux. 3rd section is taken by J Richards & sons of Whitchurch who welcomed home a yearling Red cock on 840. 4th section is filled by Bauress & Murray who regularly pop up when Bordeaux comes along. This is highlighted by the fact that their 2014 bred timer is directly from their cock that won 2nd 4th and 6th section from Bordeaux as the loft’s single entry over these years while his mother is a hen off Andrew McFenton of Swansea and she is also the mother of the partners 2nd section winner last year. Highlighting yet again that like breeds like.
Bordeaux Gallery
Nigel Shaw with his 3rd NW section winner - Two fine Longton lads Keiran & Ricky with their first three timers from Bordeaux people shouldn't be allowed out in public with shorts like those Kee - Ian Cameron 1st & 2nd in the East section
S & M Cook 3rd East section this year - Richard Turner of Turner & Pallatt with their 3rd NE section winner - Barry Baker up there with the leaders in the NE section
Badger Wilson 2nd section in the SE - Pete Chamberlain had a great race with 3rd 5th and 6th SE section - Alan Sarel the ENE section winner
The Beckett clan celebrate 2nd ESE section - Spavin & Highley 1st and 3rd in the NC section - Mr & Mrs Fisher & Son 2nd N section this time
Lee Brennan with his 4th NC section winner - Mike Locke on 'cloud 9' after a wonderful weekend here with his 2nd west section winner - Bauress & Murray 4th West section
Plenty to smile about the Noblett family 2nd and 3rd NNW section
Moving in a Northerly direction now up to the North North West section and the section topper is Joe Livesey of Bamber Bridge who clocked his winning bird a 2 year old Dark cock that is bred from gift birds off Dave Impett of Blackpool who Joe says has been a good mate for many years. The bird achieved a velocity of 858. 2nd and 3rd section places are filled by the Lostock hall flyers J L Noblett & Son whose first timer was a 3 year old Blue cock bred by Maskame & Mackie being a son of their ‘Double Delight’ which won 1st section 11th Open SNFC Tours 708 miles when she was coupled to a cock from d & D McFadden containing the blood of Eric Cannon and R Hammond. The dam of the 2nd section winner is a Bruggeman Brothers hen gifted to the partners by Dave Impett. Joe Livesey said that Dave is a nice man I would go as far as saying that he is in fact a very very nice man!. This cock previously took 392nd Open in the NFC from Saintes. The 3rd section winner is a Dark hen her sire being off Joe Livesey of Eric Fox x Brian Denney lines. While her mother is a roosen of Jelle Jellema and Saya Bros blood. 4th section is taken by O DJ Harrison & Son with a blue Pied hen being of the old Barker x Busschaert family lines. This hen won 9th Fed from Niort as a yearling. Also well up there in the NNW is a 6 year old Dark cock belonging to Alan Raby that has a plethora of good performances to his name including 5th fed Fougeres, 6th Fed Messac and 2nd Ashton 2 Bird from Niort and in 2015 he won 75th Open in the Mid Nat Bordeaux race. For those wondering what his breeding in wonder no more as it’s a Bruggeman off that very very nice man Dave Impett.
That’s about it for the last race of the old bird season but I would just like to thank people who congratulated me for timing two birds to take 12th and 16th section and 37th and 63rd Open so as they say hopefully it’s a case of ‘mighty oaks from acorns grow’
Mike Lakin
The MNFC O.L.R. 2nd Hotspot Lyndhurst Race 26th August 2019
1 the Magnificent Seven 1135 £585
2 Wirswall Wizards 1103 £250
3 Shoe String 1097 £200
4 Corkett family 1096 £150
5 Harvest Lofts 1095 £75
6 Gary Downing 1094 £50
7 Gibbs & Byrne 1087 £50
8 P R Heywood1086 £50
9 Magnificent Seven 1086 £50 1
0 Porkie 1085 £50
The full result is on the MNFC website
