North Liverpool Fed
Hello Folks, On Saturday 3rd June, the North Liverpool Federation held their eighth old bird race of the season from Yeovil, this time in conjunction with the North West Combine.
81 members sent 1639 birds which were liberated at 9.30am into North East wind. The morning broke with clear blue skies, wall to wall sunshine and a temperature of 14 degrees which was set to rise into the early 20 degrees bracket as the day progressed. With the leading pigeons negotiating the 165+ mile race in three and a half hours a good race ensued with most reporting fantastic returns once again. So, without further ado, let’s go around the clubs.
First to report this week was Ashley Healey on behalf of the Litherland HS (8/184) were the federation president, Joe Pearman takes the top spot for the first time this season. The winning pigeon is a Leo Heremans which has had previous form winning 10th, 18th, 22nd & 28th fed. Well done, Joe. Teddy Davin & son clock a hattrick of pigeons to take 2nd, 3rd & 4th. First in the clock is a yearling cock, sire is a son of ‘Big Kev’ when paired to a daughter of ‘Caligula’, followed by a 2 year old cock which is a previous winner and is also bred from a son of ‘Big Kev’. Finally it was ‘Irene’ a 3 year old hen who takes the 4th prize, she is a federation winner in her own right and is also a proven breeder being dam of a federation winner. All three birds originate from Kevin Moran blood.
It was all a dream and then it became reality for Rees Brothers & Caples in the Central FC (14/180) when they clocked their 3 year old cheq cock to take top spot not only in the club but provisionally 1st federation AND 1st North West Combine, an achievement the lads have dreamt of since they joined the sport as kids 20 years ago. Their winner is bred by Gregory Brothers – Ireland and is through their Heremans Ceusters lines. This cock is a fantastic racer winning 3x1st and 3x2nd clubs beaten by a loft mate on one occasion. Harry, Peter and Thomas would like to thank their silent partner Georgie Caples for all his help this year. Justin & Julie Deary & Barlow take 2nd prize with a home bred yearling cheq hen who has taken minor cards before. Her sire is a NEHU cheq cock who is a half-brother to Colin Priestman’s ‘Durham Dazzler’ when paired to a cheq hen bred down from John Crehan’s Jan Hooymans. Auctioneer, John Rimmer takes 3rd spot with a 2 year old Manderlaertz x Walter Docx cheq cock bred by McCardle & Archbold and His nest mate was a winner last season. 4th prize goes to Terry Hodson with a yearling cheq cock bred by Graham, Wendy & Conor Muirhead. The club’s pontoon was won by Rees Bros & Caples with this week’s winning pigeon bagging them a nice £100. There were also £110 nom monies up for grabs once again this week, Tony Hawkins winning his share of £60, Wally Vickers £30 and J&J Deary & Barlow £20. Well done to all the prize and money winners.
Provisional 1st Fed - Rees Bros & Caples Rees Bros & Caples holding 1st & 2nd federation
To continue with the success of Rees Bros & Caples our next stop must be the Vauxhall HS (7/144) because the lads took the top spot here too with the super ‘Irish 37’ once again bred by Gregory Brothers. He was clocked just 2 seconds after his loft mate (Central FC winner) and is provisionally 2nd federation 2nd North West Combine, talk about doing it in style!! ‘Irish 37’ has been a super racer this season arriving with the first drop of pigeons every week to rack up some very tasty performances including 4x1st, 2x2nds once beaten by loft mate, but it doesn’t end there, he has also been beaten on the trap twice by loft mates to win federation honours. A serious pigeon in ultra-form. 2nd club – Williamson & Murphy, 3rd club – J McDowell & Son and 4th club – Rees Bros & Caples, no further details due to no club scribe.
Next up is the Princes Park HS (8/176) and the winning ways continue for Team Heague taking 1st and 4th this week. The winning pigeon is a yearling blue widowhood cock which won last week also making it 3x1st and 1x2nd clubs this season, he is a gift pigeon from Lee Maguire. John and Danny’s second timer is a 2 year old blue widowhood cock who is a previous prize winner. Another gift, this time from Paul Beaumont. J Devine & Son take 2nd & 3rd prizes. Their first arrival is a yearling mealy widowhood cock bred by friend, Les Cooke from his Lambrecht stock. Next over John’s pad was a 2 year old blue hen, she is bred down from Premier Stud’s ‘Better than Bolt’ lines via Nicky Lyth – Middlesborough. Well Done all.
1st Princes Park, winner of 3x1st - Team Heague
Brian Halsall gets a brace of hens to take 1st & 2nd in the Netherton HS (7/213) the winner is the very consistent ’26 hen’ who has some very good federation prizes under her wing. Her sire is a direct son of ‘Bullet’ x ‘Rocket’ whom have 4 RPRA Meritorious awards between them when paired to ‘Zero 65’ a daughter of ‘Pencil Amelia’ and ‘Gull 60’. Brian’s second timer is a latebred which is the same way bred as 2nd club two weeks ago and is from the ‘Black Saturday’ cock. John Nixon claims 3rd prize this week with a Bosma via Paul Beaumont which has already won the federation two weeks ago. 4th Club goes to McCardle, Archbold & Maguire with a Mandelaertz hen of ‘93’, one of their best cocks.
Chris Jones makes it two on the bounce to claim his third win of the campaign in the Garston FC (8/178) clocking his good red cock which won last week and is also a winner as a youngster. Tom Kehoe is this week’s bridesmaid with a two year old blue pied hen bred by Wayne Smith out of his Houben lines. Alan Jones clocked a home bred cock which was sent driving to take 3rd spot. Back to this week’s winner now, and Chris Jones clocked a blue cock to take 4th prize, he was bred by Dave Cain and is a previous winner as well as multiple other cards. This week’s pools were also won by Chris Jones – a good day at the office Chris, Well Done.
The on-form loft in the Bootle FC (7/125) do it again, Eddie Naylor & Son take all four positions this week. The winning pigeon has shown previous form taking 2nd club in 2022 as well as 2nd & 3rd club this season. The sire was bred by Frank Bristow whilst the dam is a Busscheart. Next up for the lads is a pigeon through Dave Siner bloodlines, a Wildermerch x Janssen followed by a 2 year old who’s dam is through Alan Halsall and was a winner of 4x1st clubs as a youngster as well as 4th Fed. Finally, it was another bred by Dave Siner to take 4th club, again a Wildermerch x Janssen. Well Done lads. Mr & Mrs Hodgkinson win this week £25 nom.
At the Pirrie FC (11/229) Joe Elder & Son claim 1st and 2nd spots. Their winner was 10th fed 33rd North West Combine last year from Newton Abbott whilst his dam is the pigeon in second place, she’s shown previous form winning 1st club 7th Liverpool Amal as well as a 5th Fed among other prizes. She was also 4th Liverpool Two Bird Specialist club from Newton Abbott. Last weeks federation winners, Fulton & Lee finish 3rd and 4th club. Their first bird is bred from their old stuff paired into Tommy Hibbs pigeons followed by another pigeon bred by Tommy Hibbs.
Mr & Mrs Muirhead & Son had an excellent race in the Kirkdale FC (6/123) clocking 3 pigeons to take the first three positions. First up is a yearling blue cock a previous winner of 1st club 5th fed, he is a direct son of their number one cock via Gerald Delaney when paired to their good racing Jos Cools hen via Ronnie Johnson. Next up is the consistent ‘12’ hen, she is a direct daughter of their ‘latebred cock’ who in turn is a son of their number one cock when paired to their 7x1st pied hen again via Gerald Delaney. The dam is a daughter of ‘29’ x Ste Smith. The third timer for the partnership is one from a joint venture with Alan Halsall. The dam is their own ‘Blue Leo’ hen when paired to Alan Halsall’s North West Combine winner. Well Done team. Johnson Bros & Pattison finish 4th club with a Jos Cools cock which was 2nd club Ludlow beaten by loft mate. Thanks Conor.
To conclude this week’s results, our final stop is the Edge Hill HS (5/87) and Mr & Mrs Moffit continue their impressive season taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd club, making it six wins out of eight. First up is a yearling roundabout cock a full brother to this cock has had 3x1st, 2nd & 4th fed. The sire is bred by club mates Daniel & Ray Scotton from their RPRA award winner, and the dam is direct from Syndicate Lofts. Next up is last week’s club winner. A brother to this cock has had a 1st, 2nd & 3rd club and 6th federation and originate from Planet Brothers Van Loon stock. Taking 3rd for Ste & Pat is a 2 year old cheq hen which carded last year and is once again bred from the Planet Brothers Van Loon stock. 4th club goes to Daniel & Ray Scotton with a blue yearling cock bred by John Mowbray – Northeast.
Daniel Scotton asking the Convoyer, "Can we go home yet?"
The Federation provisional top 10:
1st & 2nd Rees Bros & Caples (1447)(1447), 3rd J Pearman (1426), 4th Williamson & Murphy (1425), 5th & 6th E Davin & Son (1424)(1423) 7th & 8th B Halsall (1422)(1422) 9th & 10th Mr & Mrs Muirhead & Son (1420)(1420).
So, there we have it, a full round up of all the club’s and some very nice results being put up across the federation. Warmest congratulations to Rees Brothers & Caples on behalf of myself and all members of the North Liverpool Federation, fantastic flying from you lads so far this season and good luck for the combine honours. In my last article, I said I felt like the best was yet to come, and I wasn’t wrong.
Our next race is from Yeovil in conjunction with the North West Combine.
Thomas Miller
