NORTH LIVERPOOL FEDERATION
On Saturday 15th April the 2023 campaign began for the members of the North Liverpool Fed, the first race of the season was flown from Ludlow.
Morning broke with clear blue skies and a chilly 2 degrees north wind. But the temperature was predicted to improve slightly as the day progressed and so it was, at 11am the anticipation of the members was rewarded with news via the race controller Conor Pearson, that the strings were cut and that the birds had been liberated, race on.
First stop is the Princes Park HS where we see the first red card of the season awarded to the loft of John Devine & Son, the winning pigeon “Shan” is a yearling Lambrecht blue cock, a gift bird from friend L Cooke via his Stephen Foster blood. In bridesmaid position seen the trio Dooley, Rowan and Chapman, their prize winner is a yearling bred by Paddy Cousins, sire is a grandson of ‘Donker Leo’ and ‘Sagan’ whilst the dam is a daughter of Jos Cool’s ‘Supercool Lady’ when crossed with a son of “Winnetou’ also of Jo’s Cools. 3rd position was Davy Barratt clocking a 4 year old blue hen who was racing back to chipping eggs, she was bred by good friend Peter Morris. 4th position was Team Heague clocking a yearling blue cock, a gift pigeon from Lee Maguire.
Next up we have the Bootle HS, Eddie Naylor & Son claim the 1st and 2nd spots, their first timer is a hen they call ‘Dana’ she was a winner in 2022 and is a granddaughter of their good red Walter Docx hen a winner of 5x1st and many other prizes. Their second timer was a Janssen which is a consistent racer winning many cards, bred by Alan Horton of Telford. His sire is a winner of 12x1st clubs and 3x1st Open Federations. In 3rd place seen Keith Graham with a pigeon bred via Kenny Simpsons ‘Bob’s cock’, dam is a Van Reet. 4th club was Alan Hardaker with a home bred pigeon.
The next result received was from Connor Muirhead on behalf of the Kirkdale WMHS. The first two places were snapped up by Johnson Bros & Pattison. Their first timer is a 2 year old Vandenabeele hen, the sire originated from the lofts of McCardle & Archbold whilst the dam was bred by Ronnie Baker. 18 seconds later the partnership clocked their second arrival, a Jos Cools, both parents bred by Stephen Foster. Mr & Mrs Muirhead & Son, Graham, Wendy and Connor take 3rd and 4th club with just 3 seconds between both pigeons. Their first timer, a yearling pencil blue cock a direct son of ‘Stitches’ when paired to the ’87 hen’ whilst their second timer is a yearling blue cock, sire is a North Liverpool Fed winner and is a son of ‘Stitches’ when paired to a double winning hen, a daughter of the ‘Late bred cock’.
Over at the Liverpool Central FC 13 members sent 265 Birds. Taking the top spot was the ever consistent Rees Bros & Caples with a 3 year old cheq hen who has had numerous prize cards during her racing career, she was bred by Mick Lennon, Nuneaton (Thanks Mick) 2nd place Wally Vickers (no details) 3rd place and back with this week’s winners, Harry, Peter & Thomas, this time with a blue wf Van Den Bulk hen, sire is bred from a full brother x daughter of ‘Kittel’ whilst the dam is a granddaughter of ‘Brother Goede Rode’. 4th place goes to Terry Lunt with a 2 year old cheq cock, this cock was 1st & 2nd as a youngster and winning Young bird of the year in the club, he was bred by club mate Terry Hodson. This race saw the club pay out a cool £210 in bonus ball and nom monies, Wally Vickers wins £80, Rees Bros & Caples £60, Steven Ferns collects £40 and John Pearson £30, well done to all the prize winners.
1st Liverpool Central - Rees Bros & Caples
John Nixon starts his season off with a bang over at the Netherton HS taking 1st & 2nd club and provisional 1st and 2nd Federation with a split second between his two arrivals. John’s first arrival is a Bosua x Hartog via Paul Beaumont crossed with a Van Loon from Ste Goulding, this yearling blue cock is super consistent having already bagged 1st club 4th fed Ludlow and 3rd club 4th fed Hereford last year. John’s second bird is via Paul Hourihan and Lee Maguire bloodlines, and she scored as a youngster last year. Mick and Robyn McDonald take 3rd & 4th club, both pigeons through the ‘Dominator’ lines via McCardle and Archbold, their second bird has previous form including 2nd fed 2022. Thanks Brian.
Provisional 1st Fed - John Nixon
Ashley reports that E.Davin & Son claim 1st and 2nd in the Litherland HS taking top spot is a 3 year old hen called ‘Mila’ after Ted’s 4 year old granddaughter. This hen is a previous fed winner from Purbeck. Sire is a Huybrecht bred by Jimmy & Ian Flemming, Crumlin, Northern Ireland whilst the dam is a Van Den Bulk bred by Lloyd, Moran & Healey. Teddy’s 2nd timer is from a son of Kevin Moran’s ‘Kittel Princess’ when paired to a daughter of the ‘Williams hen’ also from Kevin. The 2022 federation champions, Lloyd & Healey claim 3rd & 4th. First over the pad for Freddy & Ashley was a yearling blue cock, sire is bred by Central Lofts and is direct from ‘Jackpots Son’ sire of 10x1st fed’s when paired to ‘In Gold We Trust’ a direct daughter of ‘Gold Dust’, Dam is ‘Mother 52’ dam of our best racing cock a winner of 1st club 1st fed Bath 2067 birds, and also 1st club 2nd Liverpool Amal Kingsdown 980 birds. Their second timer was a 2 year old blue cock, sire is a grandson ‘De Jan’ & ‘Figo’ and the dam was on loan from Graham & Connor Muirhead, a top breeding hen for the partnership.
The first red card of the season in the Vauxhall HS went to McDowell & Son, Franny. Their winning pigeon is a flash of colour, a yearling mealy pied cock having his first race of his promising career as he was only trained as a young bird. He was bred by Ste Farragher, from a double grandson of Van Den Bulks ‘Grieple’ whilst the dam is a ‘Red Daniel’ Van Reet. 2nd & 3rd club, Rees Bros & Caples. Their first timer is a cock bred by Gregory Brothers, Ireland. He is a very consistent racer scoring 7 times in the top 8 of the club in 2022, thanks Tommy & Roger. The partnerships second arrival is a blue yearling hen, both parents are now in the stock loft. sire was a top racer and is bred through their own line of pigeons whilst the dam was equally successful and was bred by Gregory brothers. 4th club with a home bred blue widowhood cock was John Rimmer, this 2 year old has always been a handy bird.
The ever-competitive Pirrie FC seen the top 4 places go to 4 separate lofts, 1st was Fulton & Lee with a previous 1st prize winning hen bred by McCardle, Archbold & Maguire. Kenny Simpson & Son take 2nd spot with a hen that has previous form, winning 1st club 6th Fed Bath. 3rd place Joe Elder & Sons (no details) 4th Jimmy Foley (no details)
Clean sweep for Chris Jones in the Garston HC taking 1st, 2nd & 3rd places, unfortunately we have no details to report. 4th club Tom Kehoe with a yearling bred by Derek Jones, Wrexham.
The final club to report is the Edge Hill HS were Daniel & Ray Scotton take 1st & 2nd. Their winning pigeon is a 3 year old blue cock which didn’t race last year but he is a 1st federation winner as well as being beat on the trap for a second fed win to accompany his other multiple top 10 fed positions. This cock is an RPRA Award winner for best young bird performances. In 2nd place was a 2 year old blue cock coming down from the late Alan Fielding lines. Mr & Mrs Moffitt claim 3rd & 4th positions, first up is a yearling blue Van Loon cock bred in the stock loft, his brother won last year whilst their second arrival is a yearling blue hen bred by club mates Daniel & Ray Scotton through their RPRA award winner, thanks lads.
The provisional top 10 Federation positions are as follows:
1st J Nixon (1490) 2nd J Nixon (1490) 3rd E Davin & Son (1488) 4th E Davin & Son (1487) 5th Johnson Brothers & Patterson (1486) 6th Lloyd & Healey (1481) 7th Johnson Brothers & Patterson (1481) 8th E Naylor & Son (1480) 9th Lloyd & Healey (1479) 10th E Davin & Son (1473).
That’s it for this week, well done to all the winners, and a big thank you to all the club scribes for your contributions to his weeks article. Next race is Hereford.
Thomas Miller
