NORTH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB
by George Wheatman
NRCC Founding
It has been an age-old argument among pigeon fanciers: which is the easier route to fly, from the north or from the south?
And it appears that this debate was the reason behind the formation of the North Road Championship Club back in 1901. They chose the hard road, while the National Flying Club went for the softer option!
This is revealed in an article kindly sent to me by NRCC stalwart, Roger Buckley, of Syerston, near Newark, a man who has known the thrill of winning the King’s Cup from Lerwick.
The cutting was from the Pigeon Racing News of April 1955, and this, in turn, had been extracted from the old Homing News. It was a report of the inaugural meeting of the NRCC, held at the Railway Hotel, Leicester, on the Saturday afternoon of 9th February 1901.
During the course of the meeting, Mr JT Hincks (incidentally, the winner of the first NRCC race from Lerwick in that same year) said that the National Flying Club had given up the north road because they considered it to be the hardest, and they intended to confine their attention to the south road which was the easiest.
He added that fanciers considered the bird that won the hardest race was the champion and it followed, therefore, that the winner of the Grand Open Race from Lerwick would be the champion of the year.
These remarks were, apparently, received with much laughter, and the title of the new organisation was adopted as the North Road Championship Club.
The meeting was presided over by Mr A Macomb Chance, of Birmingham, and he was the President from the launch to 1905.
The report of the meeting as sent to me by Mr Buckley reads as follows:
“The crowded state of the large room at the Railway Hotel, Leicester, on Saturday afternoon last, 9th February 1901, and the enthusiasm which pervaded the assemblage, is striking proof, if any were needed, that the North Road has by no means lost its charms for Midland and Southern fanciers.
“Mr Chance, who presided, was supported by many gentlemen whose names, household words among fanciers, will be found in the official list, opened the proceedings, urging upon all present the necessity for unity in order that a grand race might be organised and carried to a successful issue.
“At the request of the chairman, Mr Harrison, fortified with a pile of correspondence, gave some idea of the amount of support likely to be accorded to the proposed race.
“After considerable discussion, the suggestion was thrown out that a committee be formed, but Mr Howey pointed out that, prior to this step being taken, it would be well for the meeting to consider some particulars of the proposed venture as, being somewhat late in the season for an important race to be arranged, it might happen that some clubs were so far committed in other directions.
“For example, North Middlesex FC, which he and Mr Cummings represented, had settled their programme two months ago, and this included a race from Lerwick open to all members of the NHU within London Centre.
“Other clubs (Alexander Palace HS and East Ham HS) had arranged programmes to enable members to compete in this open race on July 15th next.
“If the meeting would accept that date, he was authorised to promise his club’s support.
“After further discussion, in which Messrs Lovett, Hincks, Mackenzie and Merrick participated, it appeared that the Midland Homer League, Leicester and County Fed, and London NR Fed, had already arranged to race together from Lerwick on 8th July.
“Mr Howey stated that, even if the North Middlesex FC was unable to join the race this year, he was sure in future years his club would arrange any future race to be flown in conjunction with the Open Race from Lerwick.
“Mr Hincks suggested that before the committee was appointed, it would be well to formally inaugurate the club, and he accordingly proposed that a club be formed under the name of the North Road Championship Club.”
It was at this stage of the meting that he referred to the fact that the National FC had given up the North Road because they considered it to be harder than the South Road.
“The next point which arose was the appointment of a secretary, and all thoughts at once went to Mr Harrison. He made a struggle, but all his efforts to extricate himself were unavailing, and he was elected.
“With regard to the committee, Mr Chance suggested that it would be an advantage to have representatives from the districts which were likely to be represented in the race.
“The committee was appointed. It was decided that members be allowed to use timing clocks approved by the committee.
“Some conversation ensued as to the subscription to be paid and the number of entries this would cover.
“Mr Sedgwick compared the advantages of flying as a member, or non-member, and the following arrangement was made:
“That the annual subscription be one guinea, entitling a member to send five birds, such birds to compete for the open and special prizes, four shilling per bird extra to the fifth.
“Non-members to pay ten shillings for two birds, and five shillings per bird extra.
“Mr Hincks said that there was one thing it would be very advisable to settle at once, namely the appointment of a convoyer.
“He proposed the Rev Mr Mackenzie. There was no need to ask for a seconder for everyone present jumped to the suggestion which was carried by acclamation.
“Mr Mackenzie could not give an answer at the moment, but promised that his answer would be before the committee at their first meeting, which it was afterwards suggested might, if possible, be held at Derby on 23rd February, the date of the annual meeting of the National Homing Union.
“The proceedings terminated with a cordial vote of thanks to Mr Chance for presiding, and to Mr Harrison for performing the secretarial duties of the meeting.
“The committee elected was: Rev JWA Mackenzie, R Ratcliffe and C Clark (Northampton and Leicester Fed), CJ Merrick and E Rivers (Midland Homer League), A Macomb Chance and Joseph Horton (Birmingham and District), WFD Schreiber, WJ Howey and S Cummins (London and District), J Wormald (Yorkshire), J Compton and Henry Sawtell (SW Fed).”
It was because of the initiative taken by these pioneers, that the North Road Championship Club, whose race programme has been interrupted only by two World Wars, is able to celebrate its centenary race from Lerwick this year.
This famous milestone, sponsored by Unikon and with a £1,000 prize to the winner thanks to the generosity of supportive members, will be held on June 25th (basketing Wednesday June 22nd, and entries by Friday June 17th).
Big honour for the winner will be to receive the coveted King George V Challenge Cup at the NRCC Day of Champions, on Saturday December 3rd, at Springfields Exhibition Centre, Spalding.
There will be a magnum of Pol Roger Champagne to help the winner celebrate, and also bottles of Pol Roger Champagne for each section winner, for whom the achievement will be marked by the presentation of gold medals.
On the eve of this momentous race, it is, perhaps, appropriate to reflect on the fact that all this is possible because of the first steps taken by a far-sighted group of fanciers 115 years ago . . .
