NRCC Day of Champions
By George Wheatman
Do you want to know what it feels like to win one of the toughest challenges in pigeon racing and hold one of the most coveted trophies in the sport?
And do you want to know how to turn a poorly attended, loss-making annual prize-giving into a sociable, enjoyable, family-friendly and profitable day out?
Well, you could have found the answers to these questions at the North Road Championship Club’s second Day of Champions at the highly accessible Springfields Exhibition Centre, Spalding, which followed the successful launch of secretary Ray Knight’s innovative idea in 2015.
1st Open winners with club sponsor Peter Bennett and their plates courtesy of Peter Bennett photography - erwick Section and Open winners with their trophies and champagne sponsored by Pol Roger.
First to the star of the show, Eddie Seabourne, of the Norwich partnership of Hall and Seabourne. His flying partner is, in fact, his wife Linda.
Readers will be aware already of the shenanigans at the moment of timing when Eddie was taking a bath as the outstanding Dream Diamond arrived home before schedule, only to be greeted seconds later by a scarcely dressed, still dripping, Eddie.
Judging by its relaxed attitude in the show pen at Champions Day, Dream Diamond seems to have recovered from the ordeal of the 500-plus mile trip and, more importantly, of the possible psychological impact of Eddie’s appearance on arrival. Widowhood or what?
NRCC 2016 Lerwick winner Eddie Seabourne, of Hall and Seabourne (L), is handed the King George V Cup by last year’s winner Ivan Rich
Eddie still recalls the drama and excitement of that day, and the significance of triumph in the much-hyped 100th NRCC race from Lerwick.
He did not let inhibition prevent him from sharing his feelings with fellow fanciers at presentation time. First, there was the imaginative touch of inviting the previous year’s winner, Ivan Rich, to hand over the magnificent trophy, in itself a timely reminder and representative of the quality of the select group of fanciers whose inscripted names it carries.
Eddie’s obvious emotion moved all but the most hard-hearted in the hall, and you could hear a pin drop as he told of how he had always dreamed of winning the King’s Cup, but how, last year, he had decided to call it a day after working so hard to build a family of pigeons over a period of 15 years without achieving this ambition.
When he decided to sell his birds, however, no one seemed interested in buying them. By then, however, he had already sent in his resignation to the NRCC. Later, however, he asked the secretary if he could withdraw it as he would like to have another go. It was, of course, easy to grant such a wish, and fortunes had a dramatic turn and now he has his name on what is probably the most coveted trophy in UK pigeon racing, and one that goes only to the very best fanciers and pigeons.
Eddie implored everyone in the room: “Never give up, follow your dreams and, one day, they will come true.”
The day itself, and its success, was made possible by the support from the NRCC's Strategic Partners, Belgica UK, PJ Lofts, Bamfords Top Flight, Unikon, Peter Bennett, the Racing Pigeon and their other very welcome supporters, Kevin Winter, Retford Poultry, Ecco Lofts, Ray Knight DVD, Boddy and Ridewood, Wilkes Farm and Lowfold Lofts.
One of the star attractions of the day was the NRCC new transporter where driver Merv Greatrix and convoyer Darren Shepherd were giving everyone the lowdown on how the truck worked. This will be a great boost to racing next year.
L-R Peter Crawford with Jack Shelley pointing to the number plate purchased for the NRCC - L-R Peter Crawford, Jack Shelley and John Norris all of whom have been great supporters to the club - Club Chairman, Brian Garnham, presenting Christine and Brian Guilford with their trophies for 1st Open Perth, with Steven Conkey of Peterborough winner of the FC George Rose Bowl.
Mr and Mrs Rocky Wilson, 1st Open Dunbar, with W Bearder, 1st Sect A, T Woolsey 1st Sec B and A Pinner, for Mr & Mrs R Boulton 1st Sect C - 2016 NRCC Thurso winners, Dave and Pat Evans, with section winners: back left - A Waudby Sect A, I Rich for M Bishop Sect F, Walton Bros Sect B, A Bennett Sect E, B Cowan, Sect H, Mr Mrs Smith Sect I - Young Bird Berwick winners, Pete and Margaret Dayton and partner Albert Sayers, with section winners, Joe Pixiato Sec B, Paul Crooks Sec A, S Rudledge Sec F.
Old Hens Berwick winners, Pete and Margaret Dayton and Albert Sayers, with section winners, E Seabourne Sec F, S Conkey Sec E - L -R Overall Average Trophy, Old Bird Average Trophy Mr & MrsT Winterton, F G Wilson Trophy J Pinner for Mr & Mrs D Thomas, Woodston Challenge, John Moore and Paul Ransome, Keeble Border Trophy P and E Kellett - Diploma of Merit winners, Front L-R Michael and Graham Britton, Dave Brackenbury; Back, Terry Winterton.
The sale was a great success with highest price being £400 for a son of Billy Bearder’s Kings Cup winner.
It does not appear possible to organise anything in pigeon racing without some disappointment, and the one downbeat part of the Day of Champions was that the Champions Row was not so well supported as the previous year. Hopefully successful fanciers will put that right next year. It is something the organisers deserve.
However secretary Ray Knight said: “I would like to thank all the vendors of the pigeons, the buyers and those who turned out to support the club.
“The day itself made a little over £5000 profit.”
Champagne for Lerwick Section winners sponsored by Pol Roger - Plates sponsored by Peter Bennett
Ray and his team will be glad to receive ideas that could result in making the 2017 Day of Champions even better. If you have such an idea, don’t keep it to yourself.
One thing fanciers may appreciate is the presence of representatives of the East Midlands RPRA to enable some dialogue that could benefit the sport.
Photographs are published courtesy of Peter Bennett:
