THE PORT NEWS
Alan Shinton
Morris Thornhill has his day from West Bay
The 2013 season is well and truly under way with the West Cheshire Federation liberating from West Bay. The convoy of some 2027 pigeons were released by conveyer Dave Cotgreave at 8.30 am into a light North West wind. At the home end with distances varying from 172 to 184 miles the fancy anticipated a good honest race and they were not to be disappointed. At the home end with the Victoria HS Morris Thornhill (Victoria HS secretary) was well out in front. Clocking his cheque cock at 12.14 flying the 176 miles in 3 hours 44 minutes, Morris has not only won his club by some 9 yards per minute but also won 1st West Cheshire Federation by 8 yards a minute beating the ever consistent Brian Jones (who wins the Hooton HS) into second place.
The first ten in the West Cheshire Federation makes interesting reading as in third we have reigning federation points champion Mr and Mrs A J (Archie) Price. Fourth goes to MK (Micky) Locke winning the Willaston HS and then we have Roy and Robbie Sandland taking the next four positions (the maximum allowed inland within the federation result) timing the four birds in 6 seconds, which takes a bit of doing even when on ETS. In eighth position we have W H Cottrell and Son of the Hooton, another partnership who is enjoying a good season and in tenth position we have the buzzing partnership of Bateman Bros who take the red card in the Rock Station.
The Victoria HS Result
16 members sent 390 birds. Morris Thornhill wins on 1380, with Mr & Mr A J Price on 1371 taking second position. Third place is occupied by Paul Coombes, with the fourth position taken by founder club member Joe Ellis. Morris's winner is a 2 year old cheque cock bred down from birds acquired by Morris from local ace flyer Roy Sandland of the son and father partnership of R and R Sandland. This game cock is not a stranger to hitting the trap in front as he was first Victoria Club Frome in 2012.
Morris Thornhill with his West Bay Federation winner
The wing of the West Bay Fed winner
Morris has an idyllic set up with his loft set to back onto his north fence. His neat loft faces south west and has a well maintained lawn and garden in front of it. It is also worth noting that Morris enjoys a great relationship with all his neighbours which is a huge help not only with regard to loft maintenance, but also with the prevention of local cats entering his garden and their total understanding when waiting for pigeons to return from a race. This is something that Morris was quick to inform me about and acknowledge that they play their part with his birds.
Morris's loft and garden
Morris puts his success down to good pigeons and simplistic systems when preparing birds for racing. Morris leans more with his preparation to channel racing but is quite content to entertain winning at any level when the opportunity presents itself. His birds were late getting into pairing and breeding in 2013 due to tragic personal circumstances that Morris and his whole family encountered early in the year.
Morris conditions his birds on the classic roundabout system with his cocks and hens exercising twice a day morning and evening. He feeds a classic widowhood mix one ounce morning and night which will be supplemented by peanuts just prior and during channel racing. Minerals, along with "Impact" energy boost is also administered Wednesday and Thursday.
Morris's cock section
Morris will winter thirty two racing pigeons and all have to have performed to be kept for the following season. He also has a very neat and compact stock loft in which he houses approximately ten pairs of stock which have produced not only club and federation winners but also amalgamation winners such as Morris's 2011 Messac amal winner. The stock loft contains such winners as a Morris's Niort winner which for those not aware is a 500 mile race into Ellesmere Port.
Morris when visiting was busy getting his youngsters out and about and his old birds ready for the channel races. After what can only be described as a write off start to a season for Morris, his birds are now starting to come to themselves and I am sure that we will be hearing some more stories of winners in the near future once we get across the channel and start to see the velocities drop.
Morris's 2011 Messac Amal winner (who will be conditioned again this year for a channel campaign)
Victoria HS Club Knockout Challenge
Club Knockout Champions for 2013 are Mr and Mrs A J Price whose win is thanks to the help of their 4 year old dark Cooreman cock who has had a brilliant career. In second place we have my self (Alan Shinton), thanks mainly to the efforts of “Big Bri” a gift bird in 2012 to me from Brian Jones of the Hooton HS. And taking third spot we have Carl “thrifty” Curran.
Well done Archie as after relying on the old cock to take out the likes of Alby Davies and Co when they were on form he changed tactics for the last race and nominated a yearling which he clocked 11 seconds after his first bird to record 5th club and take both C and D pools winning £40.75 plus the club knockout. Well done Archie from us all at the Vic.
Here in Archie's own words is a little information about his Cooreman cock: "GB09Z81994 Cooreman cock won 1st club, 19th fed Monmouth 2402 birds, 2nd club, 3rd fed Hereford 2012 birds, and has been in the cards in the club many times but also scored in the fed. Won pool money many times since 2009 and again this year took me to the final of the knock out. I changed him for a yearling Vandenabeele cock bred from the last son out of the Wipenlogan from M&D Evans. But on a sad note for Alan Shinton I won the final due to Alan going into hospital and not competing in the final. Cheers Al the pint of Gunnies was lovely Archie."
Thank you for the information Archie, but what I will say is that the real final took place the previous week when three of us competed and both Carl Curran and myself found ourselves floundering and checking Archie's sheet for the 09 cock after race to find he had changed it to his yearling cock that smashed the pair of us. So no fluke and a well deserved win - Well Done Arch.
West Cheshire Federation West Bay (1) Result
91 members sent 2027 birds. The birds were liberated at 08.30 into a light North West wind.
Victoria 16 Sent 390 birds M Thornhill 1380, Mr & Mrs A J Price 1371, P Coombes 1334
Hooton 18 Sent 366 birds B V Jones 1372, WH Cottrell & Son 1362, G Harrison 1324
Willaston 8 Sent 287 birds MK Locke 1369, R & R Sandland 1363, 1363
Rock Station 12 Sent272 birds Bateman Bros & Son 1360, F McNamara & Son 1344, SWilliams
Chester 8 Sent 162 birds K Turner 1334, WWalker 1326.5, Lee 1324
Christleton 9 Sent 169 birds D Griffiths 1316, 1313, J Churchill 1277
Neston 12 Sent 238 birds Favager & Son 1316, C&CD Jones 1314, Favager & Son
Moreton B Sent 143 birds Mr & Mrs A Clare 1296, T Hvland 1291, Mr&Mrs A Clare
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