NORTH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB
By George Wheatman
Thurso sections 2017
Pete Rodgers has named the winner of the North Road Championship Club’s PJ Lofts-sponsored Thurso race “Against the Odds.”
That was probably because the extremely strong south-east wind that the birds had to face suggested that the east coast was an unlikely place to find the winner. As it turned out, there were 11 Section C birds in the first 20 of the open result and there were eight yearlings, including the winner.
Pete and Terri Rodgers, winners of NRCC open Thurso.
Any bookmaker declaring odds on this race would have included the husband and wife partnership of Pete and Terri Rodgers among the favourites. Why? Well, there were past performances to prove they were capable of winning among top opposition, and current form suggested that they were poised to triumph yet again, and they had not relied on blow-homes for those successes. For instance, when they won the NRCC race from Thurso in 1995, when living in Massingham, Norfolk, the winning velocity was only 1025 yards per minute. This year it was an even tougher race and won on 967ypm. They also won the young bird national in 1997 when that was an altogether different type of race with a winning velocity of 1640ypm. Then there was the experience they gained by mixing it with the Big Boys of the Up North Combine when they went to live in Pete’s native north east.
Again they found the winning formula. They were not resting on their laurels, however, and, having settled in east Lincolnshire at Burgh le Marsh had eased back into the winning groove.
In the build-up to the last NRCC old bird race of 2017 their open results with this premier north road organisation had been: Dunbar 18, 22, 31 and 32; Fraserburgh 12, 23 and 43; and Lerwick 4, 5 and 70. These results were interspersed with loads of club and Federation success. So form was in their favour, giving more than just a hint that they could well be in the shake-up and so it proved. Here, in his own words, Pete tells us about his winning Thurso pigeon: “The yearling cock that we timed is from my old family of Gevaerts. When I left the North East in 2010, I gave my stock and race team to my good friend John Millward, who has been having pigeons from me since the early 1990s. This family of pigeons have won at club, Federation and National level for several fanciers, including John who won the Chester two bird classic.
“Porter and Richardson also won 1st NRCC Perth with a cock bred from these lines. This young cock who we call Against the Odds, has won 2nd club, 2nd Fed Whitley Bay, 3rd club, 3rd Fed Sedgefield, 5th club, 5th Fed Alnwick, 3rd Alnwick Peterborough and District Federation yearling race (beaten by two loft mates) and, of course, now 1st NRCC open Thurso.
“He has also had all the Peterborough Fed races up to that point except Dunbar, Perth Fraserburgh and Lerwick. I sent 19 to the race and as of today (That was within a few days of the race) have 15 returned.” There was plenty of evidence to put Pete and Terri among the favourites and they didn’t disappoint.
Second Open
Another in-form loft, that of Mr and Mrs Brian Garnham, of Butterwick, Boston, had a great race from this difficult Thurso, taking second place with a velocity of 950ypm, and also weighing in with 6th and 7th positions as they timed three birds on the day.This not only emphasised their position as outstanding fanciers, but was also a just reward for the many hours of selfless work they have given the fancy. The NRCC is lucky to have a committed, hard-working chairman, and race adviser, in Brian, and the joy brought about by this outstanding team performance may compensate just a little for the criticism those who are brave enough to take office sometimes have to endure.
Brian and Angie Garnham, 2nd open NRCC Thurso, with their pigeon minder Kim.
In the build-up to the Thurso race, their open NRCC results this summer had been:Dunbar 43 and 102; Perth 36, 82, 118 and 137; Fraserburgh 22, 33, 46, 53, 67 and 80; Lerwick 11, 20, 28, 46 and 97.
Brian must have nightmares about “NRCC weather”, so often does it become unfriendly on race weekends, and although the chosen date of a Friday this year presented perfect conditions for a liberation, there was some concern about the strength of the head wind that the birds would encounter for the whole of the journey. Brian explains his feelings as follows: “To this end I discussed with fellow committee member Graham Britton that I was confident we would get pigeons to all areas, but not all the pigeons would be capable of dealing with the strength of this wind. “Our criteria does not allow for us to hold over until they get a following wind. Until this changes, we have no other option. As far as I am aware this criteria is shared by all National organisations.”
As it transpired, there could have been a long wait for a liberation had they not been released on Friday, as the weather subsequently became bad. Again, in his own words, Brian explains the breeding of his successful day pigeons: “First of all could I congratulate Peter and Terri Rodgers on another fantastic performance this season. I had the pleasure of verifying their winner, a pigeon in super condition. “We were fortunate enough to be just behind him with a blue widowhood cock bred from a Jan Theelen hen gifted to us on a visit with Geoff and Bridgett Clare to Belgium/Holland several years ago. The sire was a gift pigeon (another Jan Theelen) from our great friend John Rumney. “Our Thurso runner-up previously went to Lerwick this year gaining 3rd Sect, 11th Open, being our first timer. He also went to all the other NRCC races. “Our second pigeon was a yearling hen bred from Reliance, half brother of our Kings Cup Winner (Bon Ami who won the Lerwick race in 1998), a son of the same Theelen hen when paired to another of John Rumney’s Jan Theelens. She was our first pigeon at Dunbar and Fraserburgh this year.
“Third day pigeon was a widowhood cock, another yearling, from a Dave and Kirk Bullen cock paired to a John Rumney hen. He also went to all the NRCC races this year, and was our second Lerwick pigeon. “All this has only been possible thanks to the help of other fanciers and thanks must go to the Clares, John Rumney and the Bullens for their help.”
Other Section C fanciers in the top 20 open results included the seemingly ever-present Terry Winterton, 9th on 871ypm, Mr and Mrs Kingswood, 13th on 857, Alan Wright and Mr and Mrs Paul Newbold, 16th on 841, Carl Upsall and Grandson Reece, 18th on 823, and Dave Brackenbury 19th on 823, with outright winners Mr and Mrs Rodgers in 20th position on 815.
Third and Fourth Open
Another man who gives a lot to the sport had a day to remember when he took third and fourth open positions from Thurso, first and second Section A. Paul Crooks, of Nottingham, is an NRCC committee man, representing his section and, to quote his own words, “eats, breathes and sleeps pigeon racing.” I am obsessed,” he admits. This dedication has been rewarded by improved NRCC results in recent years such as taking the first six places in Section A in last year’s young bird race and reached new heights when he finished in third and fourth open positions from Thurso. Paul timed his first bird at nine minutes past seven, and was still enjoying the moment when a second arrived, respective velocities being 916 and 913ypm. Both were blue hens, the first one being one of the 12 yearlings he sent to the race, and the second being a two-year-old.
Paul Crooks, 3rd and 4th open NRCC Thurso.
The section winner was a Van Loon which had been raced on roundabout all season prior to the Thurso race, for which it was paired up to another hen and sent sitting, and the runner-up was also paired to another hen and was guarding SEVEN eggs. She was a Soontjen x Van Loon.The Soontjen blood in Paul’s loft is from one of the all-time greats of NRCC racing, Kevin Lawson, via his Sheader birds. Kevin, says Paul, has been very helpful with his advice. Paul was able to send so many yearlings as part of his 20-strong team because he had had a fantastic young bird season last year. Both had a busy preparation for the Thurso race and the section winner had been eighth Notts Federation in their yearling race from Alnwick. Although he has reached the age of 65, Paul has not completely finished work in his own business which specialises in the maintenance of fire extinguishers and which is now in the hands of his son, who also is an expert in alarm systems. Paul answers the SOS when his son becomes too busy to cope.But he makes sure that there is plenty of time for the pigeons which he has enjoyed for 52 years.
Sprint racing had been the priority for the majority of this time, and to this end his birds have a 24-mile training toss every day, but, now he has introduced distance and hard-day blood into his loft, he is getting a lot of pleasure from the longer races.The most satisfaction to date came from an outstanding Thurso race.
The next Section A pigeon was timed to the loft of Bill Bearder and Sons, winners of the difficult Fraserburgh race this season. They finished eighth open this time round, and other Section A fanciers in the first 20 open were S Brooks (12th on 859ypm) and Mr and Mrs George Knowles (17th on 834ypm).
Fifth Open
When the going is tough and the distance is daunting, one father and son partnership usually in the result is that of Graham and Michael Britton, of Peterborough, racing as GV and W Britton for nostalgic reasons.This race was no exception as they won Section E once again and were fifth open on a velocity of 909. Their second timer was 11th open on 870.Their story is told by the ever-helpful Michael as follows: “As the day went on, the South East wind got stronger and both me and Dad thought we were going to be in for a testing race. “Unfortunately my Mother has been unwell this year and it meant a trip to the hospital for her on the Friday. I was in important meetings for the City that I couldn't get out of so wasn't able to depart the Office until 4 o'clock. A mad dash ensued to get home, but, in the end, we needn't have rushed as much, as the pigeons made even slower progress than we thought.“Obviously we are slightly ruing the wind again It favoured the shorter flyers and they certainly took advantage of the situation.“However our yearling (as all our team was) blue bar hen really put up a game effort. I wish we could say that she "came through the sky like a bullet" as our NRCC Thurso winner did a few years ago but, unfortunately, she didn't. She really had fought and given absolutely everything to get home and, for a while, I did fear how she was going to recover.“The section-winner, now named "The Spitfire Hen", was Dad's favourite for the race. She was, therefore, made our joint top pool pigeon and provisionally finished 1st Section E, 4th Open NRCC Thurso. Ultimately, because Paul Crooks timed two close together, she had to drop one place to fifth in the open result.“It is bred off a son of the late Ray Farrington's King’s Cup winner that Ray very kindly gifted to me on the condition that we made a donation to his favourite charity. I have to say that Ray was a true gentleman and a real credit to the sport, and we are indebted to his and his wife's generosity.“Its mother came from the MNFC Bordeaux winning fancier Barry Thirtle when he packed up racing on his own and, in turn, is down from the NRCC winning Perry Brothers pigeons that were so successful for him and many others.“Second in the clock, and some 40 minutes later, our next pigeon was another yearling dark chequer hen which provisionally finishes 3rd Section E and 8th Open (adjusted to 11th in the final result).“This pigeon is again bred from a daughter of Ray Farrington's NRCC Kings Cup winner when paired to a son of one of our hardest ever pigeons that won, among other prizes, 13th Open NRCC Lerwick (877 pigeons) and, I think, about 20th Open NRCC Fraserburgh when she came home in the pouring rain! In turn, she is bred down from our last Peterborough & District Federation Lerwick winner (1259 pigeons in 1992) - Shetland Belle.“We then never got another pigeon until 7:30 in the morning (another yearling hen) which should figure high up in the result and finish at 4th Section E. That made it three out of our six, and then we had to wait another whole day to get another. We are currently just the one short which was our joint top pool pigeon, along with being my favourite yearling and I now fear the worst if he doesn't return before the weekend.“As we don't race youngsters, we now look forward to the NRCC day of Champions on Saturday 2nd December when all fanciers will hopefully come together to enjoy a great day out!”
The late Ray Farrington whose 2010 NRCC Kings Cup winner’s bloodlines are still winning for Graham and Michael Britton.
Second in Section E, and 10th open, were D Bird and Dtr, easing the Brittons second pigeon into 11th position on decimals.
Section E winner NRCC Thurso for Graham and Michael Britton. The Brittons second timer from NRCC Thurso
Winner of Section B
Ken Sterland is the winner of Section B, and the Newark fancier is no stranger to success. His big moment of NRCC fame came in 2004 when he was 1st Open from Fraserburgh. On that occasion the winning velocity was 1977ypm. From Thurso, his section winner recorded a velocity of 798 (what a contrast!) for the 386 miles and also took 23rd position in the open result. His latest section win from Thurso is another performance of which he can be proud. Between the two there have been plenty of club and Federation cards to keep him happy. This latest section win in the NRCC, however, is an especially welcome boost to Ken’s spirits as, on the eve of the 2017 racing season, sadly he lost his wife of 33 years.
Ken Sterland, winner of Section B in the NRCC Thurso race pictured with Ian Dakin, convoyer for the Notts Federation.
The need to look after the pigeons has helped him cope with the bereavement and, hopefully, the birds will continue to keep him occupied for a long time to come as he comes to terms with his new, unwelcome, situation.Aged 76, the retired bricklayer has been a fancier for 25 years, although his father also kept the birds so he had an early grounding in the sport. The section winner is a three-year-old dark chequer Busschaert cock bird which had also flown Fraserburgh and Lerwick this season. Ken praised the decision to have three weeks between these races this season as, he said, he gave time to rest and prepare birds for all of the longer races.
“Three weeks between races is good,” he said. He had 100 per cent returns from Fraserburgh (12 out of 12) and Lerwick (5 out of 5), but Thurso proved to be the toughest of the lot and, when we spoke, he had home four out of the eight he sent, including the day bird section winner and a yearling at 9am the next morning.Ken always flies on the natural system, and his Thurso bird was sitting when basketed.He is very keen on NRCC racing, but has no special preparation, just treating for canker and cocci, feeding Versele-Laga all year round, and putting nothing in the water.“I never change anything,” he said.
Other Section B names on the final result were few and far between, but included: Hales and Brewster (2) 45 and 163, WA Pell 85, D Croft (2) 102 and 166, R Buckley 148, M Lewis 173 and WW Hare and Son 183.
Winner of Section F
The father and son partnership of Dean and Ryan Carter, of Stowmarket, don’t feel at home in the section F which is usually dominated by Norwich area fanciers. They feel that their more natural place would be in Section I. Nevertheless it was in Section F where they were the winners from Thurso with a highly commendable performance which saw them also in the 14th open position on a velocity of 852ypm over a distance of 476 miles. They were also 46th open on 680ypm. They race as Buckle and Carter to honour the name of Ray Buckle, the man who introduced them to pigeon racing and who, sadly, died three years ago. Poignantly, Thurso was Ray’s favourite racepoint. The section-winning bird was a two-year-old blue chequer Jan Aarden hen which carries the name of the Tumley Hen as she was purchased from the Tumley Lofts as a youngster. She had flown the full NRCC programme with the exception of Dunbar, and had been their first bird from Perth, 343 miles, taking 109th open on 1032ypm. With Fraserburgh and Lerwick also under the belt, she had a big mileage on the clock before being sent to Thurso. She had been flown on the widowhood system all season before being allowed to lay after returning from Lerwick, and was sitting 10 days when sent to Thurso. It was five minutes to six on the second morning when she was timed, so was obviously well on the way home on day one.
Dean and Ryan Carter, of the Buckle and Carter partnership, who won Section F in the NRCC Thurso race.
Last year she went to most races, including Thurso, and was a consistent performer. Their second pigeon, also a two-year-old Jan Aarden hen out of the same parents as the section winner, was their first bird from Lerwick when they had four birds home on the day, timed nine of the 11 sent, and eventually had them all return more evidence of the quality of these men as distance flyers.The two birds were part of a group of six youngsters bought from Tumley Lofts. Ryan says that they bring in half a dozen new youngsters, from different sources, most years. No doubt the odds will be on a return to Tumley Lofts next year. Dean is a 55-year-old roofer, and Ryan (25) is a shift worker at Felixstowe Docks. They share loft chores as best they can but, because of the nature of their working hours, it is not possible to stick to a strict routine.That, obviously, has not hindered their performances as they have become one of the top lofts in the NRCC, consistently prominent in the results.
Other Section F fanciers in the top 50 included: I and S Rich 25, 26 28 and 34; Moore and Ransome 29; W and HE Attlesey 30, 39 and 40; Mr and Mrs DA Phillips 35 and 42; M Harrod 42; and RG Prewer 49.
The Tumley Hen, Buckle and Carter’s section winner.
Winner of Section H
Ray Luffman, racing as Mr and Mrs Luffman and living near Epping Forest, a long way from Thurso (501 miles as the pigeon is supposed to fly) is the winner of Section H. His velocity of 706ypm also gave him a highly creditable 36th open position.It was the third of three hard races for this three-year-old blue hen who had had 14 and a half hours on the wing from Perth, and 16 and a half hours from Fraserburgh, before being a second day timer from Thurso. Ray timed her at 10-20am, but she had arrived a little while before that because he found her in the young bird section having closed the trap on her section so that he would not miss any Thurso birds!! “I don’t think she had been there too long,” he said. “She is a good bird, and I hope that she will be able to go to Lerwick next year.” The section winner is now called “Anne’s Pride” in memory of Ray’s late wife who died four years ago and who was so supportive of him in his hobby, and in life generally. Ray is experienced in many facets of pigeon racing, and is former convoyer for the London North Road Combine, but he is comparatively new to NRCC racing, having joined just three years ago. He accepts that he is having to adapt his management to this type of national racing, preparing the birds differently and holding them back a little more than previously. He has been reflecting on the large number of miles “Anne’s Pride” must have flown on her own, and is considering trying to send his NRCC candidates as trainers with the Peterborough and District Federation to give them a different line into London. So far he has enjoyed all aspects of NRCC racing, especially the helpfulness and camaraderie shown at the Cambridge marking station. He says that by helping mark the birds he has learned a lot about what is required to compete in this premier north road organisation.“For me now, all racing is geared towards preparing for the NRCC races,” he said. “I have enjoyed it very much.”Ray is convinced that, before long, a London area fancier will be celebrating an NRCC open win, something that I have suggested over recent years based on the increasing number of outstanding performances from that area. Given the favourable conditions, the quality of fanciers and birds is equal to the task. Now 72, Ray took over the birds from his dad in 1965. He sent eight to Thurso and, when we had our lengthy and most enjoyable chat, he had five of them home. Now retired, he experienced a variety of jobs, including working for an engineering firm, securing his heavy goods driving licence, still shivering at memories of the time he moved from a warm office to take up work as a scaffolder on a day when the temperature was well below freezing, yet going on to thoroughly enjoy this job where he became a superviser, before finishing his working life in property maintenance with Islington Council.
He describes the loft’s performances this season as “not too bad” but feels that he overwintered too many birds having lost only three of the 62 young birds he had reared. Away from the birds, he enjoys pike fishing in the Fens, but his real joy in life is enjoying the company of his livewire granddaughter, 12-year-old Emma who makes sure that he retains a positive outlook on life.
Ray Luffman with the apple of his eye, granddaughter Emma, and his 1st and 2nd Section H NRCC Thurso.
Winners of Section I
Retired farmer, 79-year-old Bob Blatch, and his 49-year-old builder son Charles, make up the partnership which won the long-flying Section I from Thurso, also finishing in 33rd open position. This was backed up by a second bird which was 46th open, and a third at 66th, these three being from an entry of 16. Ten were back safely when we spoke. The section winner was a blue white flight yearling cock which had flown Thurso with the Essex Combine only two weeks earlier. Having raced on roundabout earlier in the season, he was paired for the Thurso races and, in fact, was feeding a big youngster for the NRCC race.Some of the older birds sent to Thurso, had also been to Lerwick this year.“I like to send every pigeon every week if I can,” said Bob. “The basket is a better judge than me.” Bob said that neither of the Thurso races was easy, but he did not like racing in North East or North West winds because that told you nothing about the pigeon. He recalled taking 1-2-3 Combine in a 1994 young bird race when the winning velocity was 2200ypm. “They had done nothing before, did nothing afterwards, and bred nothing,” he said.“This bird is a boisterous boy around the loft, and I am ever so pleased with the performance.”Because he has the time now that he is retired, and his son is working, most of the jobs around the loft fall to Bob, but he relishes his close friendship with his son. “We are like Siamese twins,” he quipped. They say that farmers never retire, but Bob was persuaded to do so by Charles who thought he had earned the reward of enjoying his leisure time.Bob says that he has always had reasonable pigeons, but farm work and looking after the cattle in particular had to take priority. “You have to earn a pound before you can spend it,” he said. “We never did the pigeons justice in those days.”Members of the Maldon and District club, he says they have been pleased with the results this year, picking up Federation and Combine cards, as well as winning 11 out of 16 races with the club. They were members of the NRCC a number of years ago, but re-joined only last year. Thurso is 493 miles to their Braintree loft.
One name fanciers will be delighted to see in the Section I results is that of the incomparable Peter Crawford, of Ipswich, who has endured a sad summer following the death of his wife. His Thurso entries took 47th, 54th and 144th open positions.Ross Olive, of Wickford, also had a race to remember, with five birds on the result: 38, 48, 71, 80 and 107.
Other leading fanciers in this section included: Mr and Mrs T Calver 51, V Hymus 59, Mr and Mrs R Reason 65, James Boyd 84, 87 and 152, and D Wildin 90.
