PETE HOWSON of Woodhouse
Sheffield’s Top National Loft
by Chris Gibson
This is a small report on what must be Sheffield’s top National loft. I say that as whilst most other lofts close by him seem hell bent on being top dogs just in their clubs, Pete Howson of Woodhouse succeeds where the others don’t even think of trying too.
Whilst I am biased towards the MNFC and as I always look forward to sending to the two young bird races, it is a fact that there is only one true National within the UK and that is of course the NFC. Below is a small piece that Pete has written himself regarding his latest NFC success.
Pete Howson
‘First of all I would like to say well done to all the fanciers who timed birds in from Saintes, especially those flying 500 mile plus. It was a very hard race. I would also like to thank the many fanciers who took the time to congratulate me. Section K has many good men to beat from that distance. It is a very nice feeling to be at the top.
The bird itself was lightly raced as a young bird, no more than three races. This year on roundabout he had two or three 100 milers. Then to Carentan, from where he was back late on the day. Then to Messac where he was 18th section 490th open 6,983 birds 9 hours 40 minutes on the wing. He looked fine so booked his place for the Saintes race and didn't disappoint. The cock is bred from 'long distance lines' most if which we have had for years. The dam was bred by my cousin Brian Dale. She's a mixed bag of tried and tested birds that will stick it out on hard days. So you could say he's “made in Sheffield”. The nest mate to him was 5th Section K 50th open Cholet NFC 7,006 birds. His sire was 5th open Saintes NMCC last year, again a hard race vel 801.3.'
Pete’s results in the NFC and NMCC:
2011 Messac 5,796b 5th Sec K, 255th Open, 13th Sec K, 385th Open, 18th Sec K 459th Open. Cholet 8,745b 2nd Sec K 60th Open. Fourgeres Y/ B 4,782b 28th Sec K 108th Open.
2012 Messac 5,764b 20th Sec K 863th Open. Saintes 3,617b 17th Sec K 400th Open.
2013 Fougeres NMCC 1,406b 12th North Sec 23rd Open. Saintes NMCC 401b 2nd North Sec 5th Open. Carentan Y/B NMCC 644b 1st North Sec 1st Open 9th North Sec 22nd Open.
2014 Cholet 7,006b 5th Sec K 50th Open. Messac 6,391b 18th Sec K 49th Open. Tarbes 2,769b 13th Sec K 371st Open. Saintes 1st Sec K 42th Open.
1st Section K NFC Saintes
Very well done Pete. I for one know that racing in the Nationals is a totally different ball game and it takes real quality pigeons to score well on the result. Winning a club or even federation is, in comparison, relatively easy compared to getting in the prizes in National racing, as I am finding out in the MNFC. But, if you want to test yourself and your family of pigeons then National racing is the way forward, as it is a real test.
That’s all for now.
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Elimar - September 2014
