AROUND THE SEVERN VALLEY
RAY BEVAN
Le Mans – July 2012
The Severn Valley Federation held its final OB race from Le Mans on 8th July following a one-day holdover with 86 members entering 597 birds. These were liberated into a SW wind.
Bromsgrove & District (7/67) saw Liam Ward in great form taking 1st, 2nd & 3rd Club, 1st 3rd & 4th Fed on 1130 & 1125(2). R Ebbitt takes 4th Club together with 5th & 14th Fed on 1096 & 1037. Also in the Club, M Ralph wins 7th Fed.
Ombersley & District (13/110). Gart Manley had a clear winner on 1126 also taking 2nd Fed with a cheq yearling hen of unknown origin. 2nd Club 10th Fed on 1062 went to L & C Minton with another bird down from their old ‘Fearless’ lines. The partnership have been in the prizes in every OB race. 3rd Club 16th Fed on 1025 was Bernie Pollard with a 2 yr old Antherian cock, a son of ‘Tommy’. (For anyone with any info on the Antherian family I would be interested in the history). 4th Club were Wilmot & Gelder – Ron Wilmot being the club’s hardest working member I’m told. Ron sent two birds and had the pooler as well. He was a regular winner a few seasons ago but now spends more time on the golf course. Ron would like to mention that his pigeon was a gist from Tony lacy when Ron had lost all his YBs off the loft in 2009.
Worcester SRFC (13/68). 1st Club 6th Fed on 1082 was Dennis Honeywood & Son with a 2 yr old Van Loon hen winning all pools and corn nom. 2nd & 4th Club and 8th, 11th & 13th Fed on 1073, 1058 & 1047 were Barry & Dot Ricketts. Their first was a 4 yr old cheq cock, the second a 3 yr old Vandenabeele cock. 3rd Club 9th Fed was Cliff Smith on 1068 with a 2 yr old cock.
Pershore (8/54). 1st & 2nd Club 12th & 18th Fed were P B & W Hyett on 1047 & 1016, both birds being 3 yr old hens. 3rd Club went to C J Allen on 931 and S Lane was 4th on 864.
Newent & District (4/30). Taking the red card was Martin Williams on 1036 good enough for 15th Fed. Martin was also 3rd Club on 944. In 2nd & 4th on 1001 & 911 were I & K Farley.
Gloucester & District (8/76) saw Mr & Mrs Rob Kerr taking 1st & 3rd Club on 1019 & 947. Their first was a Van Reet down from Keith Arnold lines and the second a yearling Vandenabeele. 2nd Club on 982 was Andy Harker with a 2 yr old from Frank Tasker lines. Andy, striving for that elusive first position keeps knocking on the door with 2nds this season. Brian Hawkins took 4th spot on 903; he races a good family of Busschaerts and this one was the first hen in the result.
Charlton Kings (5/57). 1st Club 19th Fed went to Willie Young – I think that Willier has won all the club’s channel races this season. 2nd & 3rd together with 20th Fed on 1005 & 1001 was Pete Barlow. 4th on 961 went to A ‘Tony’ Jenkins.
Cheltenham HS (9/46). 1st on 979 was Fed Chairman Marvin Griffin with his good lady Tracy. 2nd on 953 J Gwillim & Son; 3rd on 928 Teddy Trathen & 4th on 928 W ‘Bill’ Townley & Son.
Upton on Severn (12/49). 1st on 925 Lionel Brewer; 2nd on 816 S Smith; 3rd on 786 A Cooper & 4th on 716 Shane Harvey.
Malvern SR (6/40). 1st & 2nd Joe Smith on 824 & 781; 3rd R Turner on 779 & 4th on 772 M & C Lee.
That brings the curtain down on OB racing.
News to Ray Bevan at 16 Cedar Road, Brockworth, Glos GL3 4DL or email to
