WARWICKSHIRE WITTERINGS
DREW CALLAN
Frome & Taunton - September 2012
The third race of the young bird campaign saw us racing out of Frome in the West Country which came as a refreshing change from straight down the dog leg. On this occasion the geography of the area was to hold us to ransom. Keith was sat in a bubble of early morning mist that was being helped by the south easterly breeze which would be bringing it in off the coast and wasn’t quite brisk enough to move it out of the dip that Frome is situated in. With near perfect conditions along the remainder of the flight path it was a case of sitting tight and being patient.
As the morning progressed the weather improved and allowed Keith the opportunity to drop the flaps on the 1076 birds sent by 64 members to get them on their way at 10.30. The light easterly element that was forecast would mean a steady race for the birds on their journey home, and I feel that this forecast may have put a few members off and resulted in a drop in birdage as some do not like sending young birds in these conditions. Personally I don’t have a problem with it and if they are fit and healthy then they should cope if given a fair crack of the whip; it’s a long time to wait till next year to find out if your yearlings like east winds!
The convoy made light work of the conditions and for some fanciers the ETS print out looked like they were coming from a 20 mile chuck. Taking top honours this week, and he is probably thinking about time, is federation chairman Johnny Gilbert who had a shed full drop together and these 12 were over the pad in just 3 seconds to claim club, Centre section and first 12 in the fed with velocities ranging from 1455 – 1452ypm… a great piece of flying on a day that gave the birds few favours. Close on Johnny’s tail is P. W. Hudson of East Leake with a bird on 1451ypm, this bird being good enough to take the red card in this strong club and North Section in the fed. John Havens of Coalville club had 2 good birds next to gain 14th and 15th fed on 1446 and 1445ypm, good birds on the day in that wind. Next 3 positions were claimed by 3 very consistent lofts in the Nuneaton area who have been racing for a long time. In 16th fed on 1425ypm we have Mickey Lennon who wins the Hinckley club followed by Mr and Mrs Broadaway in 17th and Lloyd Bros in 18th fed, both these lofts complete in the Nuneaton NR club, their velocities were 1405 ypm and 1391 respectively. Two top end fliers fill the remaining fed positions this week with A Duncan of East Leake on 1388 ypm and Mr and Mrs J Passey in the Donisthorpe club on 1381. Top loft in the South Section of the Federation was the Wilson and Fray partnership who win at The Boat on 1343 ypm
Race four saw as at the ever popular Taunton as the chosen race point. Personally speaking this is not my favourite race point as it is prone to having its own micro climate which has resulted in quite long waits for better conditions and we have had to pull the lorry out of it and back up the road to get a race on a few occasions. On this occasion the 62 members had to once again sit tight and wait for Keith to have the right conditions to liberate the 1008 birds in his care. The main concern for us was the strength of the wind as with the lib site being high up the wind was gusting strong enough at times to rock the lorry. Fortunately it abated sufficiently to have the birds up and away in to what was described to me as a strong west/south west wind and the birds cleared immediately. Given the wind speed and direction it was no surprise that the convoy made very light work of it and rattled up country in a cavalry charge to get home.
The federation top 20 this week is a tussle between what I would say are the 3 top sprint lofts in the federation at present and all 3 have made their presence felt over both the old bird and young bird season. Top dog this week with a result that will put a wag back in his tail is Mick ORourke and team over on the eastern fringe of the fed. These guys know how to fly a good bird and this weeks winner has put a bit of daylight between themselves and the chasing pack being some 17 yards in front of the next birds. This bird also wins the North Section of the Federation on a velocity of 1762ypm.
Next up it’s that man again Johnny Gilbert with another top team performance with a drop of birds across the pads to take the next 13 positions in the fed across only 2 yards drop in velocity. Johnny has been getting a bit frustrated because on some internet pigeon forums he has been getting confused with the ‘other ‘Johnny Gilbert from up Dordon way. To set the record straight he would like it to be known that he is the younger, better looking of the 2, and doesn’t live on the golden mile. This team performance starts on 1745 ypm and the dust settles on 1743ypm. Close behind we have another couple across the pads sharing the same velocity of 1729 for Team O Rourke. Only 1 yard behind was a group of 4 birds for the Dalby brothers who have been having a great youngbird season. These 4 birds were over the pads in tandem for velocities of 1728 and 1727 ypm. The best bird in the Centre Section was recorded by the consistent D J Duffin of The Barras club who top this very strong club on 1724 ypm.
That’s it for this week. We are finally getting a bit of distance and experience in to the young birds which is what we want to help them as yearlings and beyond. Hopefully this can continue for the duration of the young bird race programme.
