Tom and Richie Baker Show the Way on a Stiff Day.
First Brymbo HS Breeder Buyer Race Bedhampton 2016
The Brymbo HS Breeder Buyer and open presentation was (for the second year) to hold a moot and presentation for what has now become an annual event. Organised by the stalwart Brymbo club members namely Ray Owens, Tony Murray, Shaun Cooke, Rob Lloyd and ably assisted by Mr “fix” it Alan Malone. The action started in early April (April 2nd to be precise) with the auctioning of the youngsters by the ever charismatic Tony Murray. No only being a member of Brymbo HS Tony is far more used to standing shoulder to shoulder with the elite of our illustrious sport so it is very welcome and refreshing to find him at his local club conducting affairs, with his well-known and travelled accent, a man of worldly experience and many words his infectious enthusiasm for his hobby and his fellow fanciers is enthralling to watch and witness.
The one hundred and fifty nine pigeons auctioned raised enough cash to enable the prize fund £4500 which would be competed for on 7rh September which was planned for a midweek race on the Wednesday. The evening was as last year with special guests to not only officiate with the prize presentation but also with the moot that would follow. Special guests for the evening were Monty Buxton and Darren Oakley both hailing from Derbyshire.
Monty a former formula 1 motor cycle racer who riding his Norton 500 cc has raced and competed against the likes of great names from the past such Mike Hailwood, Alan Shepherd, John Hartle, Phil Read, Fred Stevens and Derek Minter to name but a few of the English greats but also Scotland’s Bob McIntyre and Alistair king along with some great foreign names such as Australia’s Gary Hocking, Austria’s Bert Schnieder, and Argentina’s Jorge Kissling and Juan Carlos Salatino to name but a few. Monty has competed at the highest level and probably the challenging when competing in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT).
The first TT event took place in 1905, and was held as a closed roads motorcycle racing event with the original course being extended in the 1920s to use the current Snaefell Mountain Course. Known as the most dangerous and challenging road race in the world with over one hundred and forty fatalities in one hundred years it still attracts the top riders and a huge spectator following today. Monty Competed in this event during the late fifties and early sixties.
Monty ‘s love for pigeons matured as he matured and today after no less than eight midland national section wins is still a force to be reckoned with in the Derbyshire area. Accompanying Monty for the evening was another special guest Darren Oakley, Darren won’t mind us saying that he is a few years younger than Monty but nether less has held his own both locally at club and federation level as well as in the MNFC.
Two aces and great friends together Monty Buxton (L) and “Mr Charisma himself” Tony Murray.
Tom and Richie Baker receiving their first prize trophy and card from special guest Darren Oakley
Tom and Richie Baker (Mr and Mrs T Baker & Son) complete yet another “smash and grab” by winning the Brymbo HS breeder buyer Race from Bedhampton. With the sale originally held early on April 2nd with some 159 youngsters on sale and auctioned by the ever charismatic Tony Murray 2016 would be different with the addition of a four bird open race to spice up the action.
The birds were hampered on Tuesday 6th September for an anticipated liberation at Behampton on the 7th. The previous weekend had proved a difficult day for race controllers around the country with birds on the continent at Carentan being held over. Local classic clubs to us were the Beeston castle 2 bird the Wrexham 2 bird and the Gobowen 2 bird all holding at Carentan.
The previous weekend had seen the MNFC hold until the Sunday for a liberation at Chale but with all channel races holding over it was to be a long wait for the specialist clubs with the Brymbo (being conveyed by the same vehicle as the Chester 2 bird) had just about managed to catch the weather right. After basketing the previous evening the 48 birds in the breeder buyer and the 72 pigeons in the open race were liberated 1.30pm into a south east wind.
As the afternoon progressed and with the anticipated velocities to be well into the mid 1500’s birds were scarce and there was no “beating drum” around North Wales indicating where the early birds were. We would have to wait for the strike where early times would be announced. During the day there had been a number of liberations from Bedhampton with the specialist clubs holding on the channel until bring the birds back and also liberating at Bedhampton with some sketchy returns.
Early times at the Railway Inn Brymbo (home of Brymbo HS) were that Tom and Richie Baker (Mr and Mrs Baker) Ruabon probably had the best breeder buyer and there were a couple of open pigeons further up in to North wales. It was no surprise to hear early times into North Wales but one of the shortest flyers looked to be the winner, which in itself bares tribute to a good pigeon. It was thought that the longer flyers would benefit but it turned out a fare race with the first three pigeons varying from flying 171 to the winner 176 to the second and 186 to the third.
So we were wrong with our forecast of where the race winner would be with the forecast winds but class prevailed and it wasn’t long after arriving at the strike that most would know that the Bakers would triumph and collect the buyers prize of £750 a nice little addition to add to the list of prizes this top team have achieved over the years from federation and classic club winners (10 x 1st Gobowen 2 Bird. 2 x 1st Chester 2 Bird. 1 x 1st Shotton Gold Ring) to national winners (4 x 1st Welsh South Road nationals, 8 x 1st Section WSRN).
The pigeon that would win the breeder buyer was bred by Merv and Chris Lewis of Gwersyllt Wrexham who was to “hit the bar” themselves having bred the winner and collecting half of the available pot to pocket a nice £750 they also managed to take second position with a pigeon bred by B Cooke and Son to earn themselves another £450 to add the evenings pot.
Chris Lewis (M & C Lewis) is collecting the partnerships prizes of first breeder and second breeder buyer collecting a total of £1200.
Merv and Chris Lewis need no introduction locally. Having bred the first and raced the second pigeon this race result is just another feather in the cap of a loft who can and does compete at an extremely high level locally and will no doubt return in 2017 for another crack at the funds on offer. Breeder of the second pigeon is Brymbo’s own B Cooke and Son (Barry and Shaun). No Strangers to the winner’s podium themselves the partnership collected £450 for second breeder.
Shaun Cooke (B Cooke and Son) Receiving his second breeder prize from Darren Oakley with master of ceremonies Alun Malone looking on in the back ground.
Completing the top three in the breeder buyer race was Paul Coombes of Ellesmere Port. Having completed an old bird season that saw Paul tick another box in his strive for excellence by winning the mighty North West Combine from Portland and beating some 6900 pigeons, the Brymbo race was not upper most in Pauls mind as he waited for his pigeons and he actually thought he would be behind but to his enjoyment the pigeon he had bought from the sale and bred by John Parrott of Ellesmere HS was to land him third prize and a pickup of £300 to boot. Paul also managed to time in his second pigeon to take sixth place earning himself another £125 as the buyer and M Smout £125 as the breeder.
Paul Coombes, Ellesmere Port Third Brymbo Breeder Buyer
Breeder of the third prize pigeon is the relatively new loft of John Parrott from Overton. Better known for his breeding, breaking and handling of sport horse’s john came into this hobby in 2015 taking the Ellesmere HS by storm. John is not only an emerging talent with regard to his pigeons he is also and energetic and enthusiastic sportsman who although want and likes to compete enjoys helping out in whatever capacity he can.
A breath of fresh air locally has made a mark in his first attempt at this race and will no doubt be back in 2017 to again compete for the cash. John also managed to time in his second pigeon to take seventh position in both the breeder and buyer categories earning him another £220 (£110 x 2)
John Parrott and Daughter Lily collecting their prize cards and cash totalling £520
James Smith breeder winner of ninth position Derek James winner ninth buyer
Closing the honours for the breeder buyer is James Smith, Northwich (Left) breeder of the ninth position and winning £60. James is one of the hardest working fanciers and can be found supporting a lot of local events in North Wales as well as a conciencous worker for the NFC. Also collecting his ninth position as the buyer is Ellesmere’s own Derek James (right) of Bagley who also collects a cash payment of sixty pound.
To attract further birds to bolster the convoy a four bird open race was run in conjunction with the breeder buyer race. The birds were liberated in tandem with the breeder buyer pigeons whom were allowed to duplicate back into the open race. With 25 fanciers entering 72 birds the race was to turn out a great success for John Davies Bagilt timing two of his four entries within a minute of each other to take first and second open. With his first pigeon pooled through and nomed John tales £316 with his first pigeon and £84 with his second totalling a nice pick up of a round £400.
John Davies receiving his winner’s trophy and diploma from Darren Oakley
In third position we have the partnership of Tom and Richie Baker (Mr &Mrs Baker & Son) taking another pull at the cash with their pigeon pooled right through taking second pull of the nom winning £203. In fourth place we have Clive Bateman (HV Bateman &Son, Wrexham) Clive collects £127. Taking fifth place and receiving £99 is the partnership of Hale and Langa Cefn Mawr. Taking sixth position and receiving £69 is the Brymbo partnership of Lloyd and Bagnall. Taking seventh place and £52 is John Parrott of Overton. In eighth position we have the partnership of M & C Lewis collecting a further £52 and to close the prize fund in ninth place is G Williamson of Llay collecting £24.
Clive Bateman (HV Bateman &Son) receiving his fourth open prize
Keith Lloyd (Lloyd and Bagnall, Brymbo) receiving his prize money.
Some of the participants and visiting guests at the Brymbo BB presentation and moot. (L to R) Mrs Sue and James Smith (Northwhich) Keith Lloyd, Tom Baker, Barry Pemberton, Richard James, Richie Baker. And Derek James holding court.
The Tobianski family (L to R) Tony, daughter Megan and wife Wendy enjoying their night out.
The 2015 breeder buyer presentation passed without any acknowledgement to the participants the successful fanciers and or the attendees to the presentation evening. The evening on 2015 was also a huge success with four panellists taking a number of useful and informative questions from the fanciers present. The moot itself was also preceded by the prize presentation which saw the winner Antonio (Toni) Prevete (racing in his late dad’s memory as C Prevete and Son). Toni has only recently become involved with the pigeons since the passing of his dad and has “grasped the nettle” quickly and has now started to see and reap the rewards of success. Winning both the breeder and the buyer in 2015 Toni collected the coveted trophy along with a cheque for some £1400 TIDY.
Toni Prevete receiving his 2015 winning trophy and his cheque for taking first breeder an buyer totalling £1400
Brymbo leader and club secretary Ray Owens
Visiting guests and participants from 2015 Brymbo moot and prize presentation.
(L to R) Tim Lloyd with Panel Guest and then West Cheshire Federation president Ronnie Dodd and wife jenny (west Cheshire federation secretary). Emma and Toni Prevete. Barry Pemberton and Richard James
