ROSE OF THE SHIRES
Sue & Nathan
A bit of catch up from the Raunds club to start with as scribe Ian Jarratt has been sunning himself in Spain. In the first race from Retford the club had 6 members sending 78 birds and were led home by two dropping for the club and Federation elder statesman Pete Madejczyk recording 1201 and 1192ypm. His yearling winner is bred down from his own Busschaerts x Neil Burt Jan Aardens and was making its debut in the winners enclosure. The runner up, another yearling, was one from his Fraserburgh Fed topper of 2007. This small family of birds are certainly getting mentioned a lot in results of late. If I remember rightly they stem from two birds selected by Pete from two different fanciers and with Pete’s experience and knowledge he has got them performing and breeding the goods. Adrian Webb clocked four in 24 seconds (using his Benzing Quartz clock without thimbles) to take the next four places with three yearlings and a two year old doing 1177, 1175, 1174 and 1172ypm. His two in the cards were a yearling from the Tumley Lofts Stud in Devon which had 2nd Fed Pontefract last year and a yearling self bred Busschaert, both raced on the Webb roundabout system. Pools this week went to the old master Pete Madejczyk.
News from the Fed Social Committee regarding the Gold Ring Scheme is that a prize fund of £560 is up for grabs (for those who are in it of course) in races from Pontefract on the 15 August, £30 per section, then from Scotch Corner £80, £50 and £30 and finally from Alnwick on the 5 Sept £180, £105 and £55. With all that money and kudos available I have bred a couple of babies from son Roberts stock and entered them via my good mates Barry and Joy Andrews. I am told that the club now have 20 birds entered in this competition.
Another bit of news from the club is that last year the above mentioned partnership won one of the prizes generously donated by the Federations long time sponsor Paul and Jayne Newbold of P J Lofts. The prize was one of their excellent Willy Thas youngsters and that baby is now settled in at the Andrews loft and being taken care of by its new owner Joy Andrews. She has diligently saved all her pocket money for the last few weeks and entered it in the gold Ring scheme as well.
From Pontefract with 7 sending 103 it was Adrian Webb’s hard training and special Webb roundabout system that won the day when four birds again dropped together to win 1st, 3rd 5th and 6th beings plit by birds to the “new kid on the block” Phil Lane.
Adrian’s winner was a four year old hen having its first race of the season warming up for the longer events after impressing with a 12 Amal position from Fraserburgh last year. His next arrival in third place was also in the Amal Fraserburgh result last year in 16thg. This is one of Adrian’s very consistent Busschaert team. Phil Lanes 2nd prize winner needs little introduction to those who follow the Fed results. He is a blue cock bred by Rob Wooliss (Mr Eyesign) in 2006. As\ a young bird he won 1st Chesterfield 2nd Chesterfield and 1st Pontefract. In 2007 he had a year off and just won 3rd Scotch Corner then in 2008 he won 1st Wetherby and 1st Pontefract in the Kempston club and 1st Raunds club from Wetherby. Phil also took the pools.
On Saturday 25 April the Northants Fed were at Wetherby for the around 115 mile or so third race of the season. The birds are now getting back into the swing of things and it wont be long before they are up into Scotland. The birds were away at 0800 hours into a cool south east wind that would turn more southerly in places but would remain light to moderate. The weather at the home end started very well and locally the mighty UNC were away at Huntingdon from 0630 and they cleared in seconds. But then the sunshine was replaced by cloud and the odd spot of rain but the clouds were high and the weathermen said it would clear quickly. The Yorkshire Middle Route birds were up at Huntingdon mid morning so it must have been OK up the line for most of the morning.
RAUNDS
In the Raunds club Barry and Joy Andrews led the field doing 1328ypm with a yearling hen that was the produce of a Pete Aitchison gift hen of the renowned Alf Chamberlain bloodlines and one of B & J’s own cocks. When you talk about breeding this one would have been expected to win. With a Dam from the Chamberlain lines and a sire from “01” a multi prize winning Busshaert from the best of the Louella stud and “Milly” another multi winner both having topped the Fed from Lerwick with Milly being an Amal winner it should have been a cert! If only it was that simple.
Completing the prize list after knocking on the door all season was non other than Mick Lawless who clocked three for 2nd , 3rd and 4th doing 1322, 1320 and 1316ypm. His first home was “The Hat” a pure Willy Thas cock on widowhood that gets it’s name from sitting on Mick’s head every time he goes in the loft (just like his hat). The cock topped the Fed from Scotch Corner as a baby and this time collected the pools. Next in the clock was the full brother to the above that has several minor prizes to it’s credit. Making up the list in 4th was a cock that was a first cross Willy Thas and Mick’s own distance family he brought when he moved from Corby. He topped the Fed from Perth last year a yearling.
Wellingborough North Road
Out of W.N.R 8 members, sent 93 birds to the race point. A. Neville took 1st & 2nd club, doing 1293/1283. A. "Pensioner" Neville's first club, was a 2yr old Cheq W/F hen which was bred by Albert Farrow, she won Y/B Berwick. His 2nd was a 3yr old called "Mrs Boxford", she has been 2nd Fed and won quite alot of races. She was bred by Dave Boxford. The 3rd & 4th club was taken by D.Gent, doing 1276/1271. Dave "Darn Good" Gent's birds we're clocked in by Derek Palmer. His father-in-law and daughter are loft managers, as Dave and his other half Andi have gone for a paddle. His birds are in safe hands with this trio.
Corby Town
Eight members sent 89 bird's to the Wetherby race point. Mr & Mrs Power took 1st club, with a Blue Chq cock-doing 1329. The 2nd club was snapped up by Mr & Mrs Stanton. Their van Reet hen was doing 1302. R.Fairbairn took 3rd club place with a jan arden cock, doing 1301.
Hopefully, young Aimee Barker, club reporter will have her computer back on line very soon. You're doing a great job via text Aimee.
Brixworth Club
Retford 11/04/09
A bit of catch up here as well where1st & 2nd club was won by A.Barritt, doing 1246.515/1241.193. "Crown" his first bird. a blue chq cock, was bred out of one Cyril Strudwick and Mr G Bentley from Watford. This bird had always carded as a Y/B and a yearling, so "Crown" was pleased to have won a first with him. His second bird was a blue bar hen, she was also bred out of one of Cyril Strudwick's birds and Stu Wiskens Albert Witty family. Having mentioned Cyril Strudwick, I would like to say, that Cyril will be sadly missed by all of us at Brixworth Club. Cyril had been suffering for several months, and passed away just before Christmas. Cyril was one of our long standing member's and highly respected fancier. Especially when it came to long distance, he was one of the club's best distance flyers for many years. During training season, Cyril would be seen most days on his butcher's bike, with a basket full of pigeons on the front. He would bike to Pitsford, even though he was well into his seventies. We will often have a drink to Cyril, but we will sip it, to make it last-as Cyril would always say. C.Freeman (Wag) took 3rd club with his Grizzle hen, doing 1205.748. His hen was bred out of his Alan McGlasson pigeon's. Wag was telling me that this little hen, was lost off the top of his loft last year. She was found by a non-fancier who looked after her. She finally returned home on the last but one Y/B race, she had 2 training tosses then sent to Retford.
Pontefract - 18/04/09
Out of Brixworth Club, 9 members sent 101 birds to the race point. C. Freeman (Wag) took 1st club doing 1743.889. His blue cock was bred out of his Alan McGlasson birds. Wisken & Wigfall landed with 2nd club, doing 1721.713. Their blue hen was from a club breeder/buyer, and bred by Paul Stephens-and has had 7x1st places. A lot of people will have noticed that Stu Wisken has a new partner, Malc Wigfall. The club would like to welcome Malc, it's nice to see new members-and Phil & Jenny Lockwood, and Matt Gunett. Welcome to you all, we hope to see more of you when the Y/B season starts. C.Freeman (Wag) also netted 3rd club, doing 1710.704, with his blue hen bred from his Alan McGlasson stock. She had 2 1st's last year.
Well guys and gals, the weather will hopefully hold out for next week's race. Have a good week and a lovely Bank hols. We wish you all a good race, and safe returns.
Bye for now. Take care.
