Annual Presentation Evening 2011

Details: Published: 20 January 2001; Hits: 737

WELSH SOUTH ROAD NATIONAL

by Gareth Watkins

ANNUAL PRESENTATION EVENING 2011

The annual presentation evening of the Welsh South Road National Flying club took place on Saturday evening 19th November when members and guests sat down to a lovely four course meal at the Grove Golf Club on the outskirts of Porthcawl. Members of the Welsh South Road Federation were also present for their annual get together. It was good to see harmony amongst the members of the two organisations and it’s to be hoped that the National and the Federation can continue in this manner for the benefit of the members of both organisations. The 2011 season certainly witnessed “a coming together of minds”, with both the National and the Federation, which convoys the National to most races, enjoying for the most part, an excellent season’s racing.

John Ludlam's Tarbes winner

The main guests for the evening was the highly successful partnership of Bill and Beryl Lewis who carried out their duties in a professional and friendly manner much to the delight of all present.

The presentation of the prizes kicked off with the BHW Sponsored Carentan Old Bird National race which was won by the Rhondda partnership of Morris & Pugh of Maerdy. They won the Mr & Mrs D. Lloyd & Son trophies for 1st Centre section and 1st Open. The other section winners were Dennis Ford of Blaenavon for 1st East section and A.H. Jones for 1st west section.

Next up were the winners in the General Picton sponsored Messac National. Here Dennis Ford once again came out top winning the Mr & Mrs Lloyd trophies for 1st East section and 1st Open making it TWELVE National wins for the Ford loft. Gareth Treharne and son Stuart came in for 1st Centre section whilst P & L Cole took the honours with 1st West section.

The Cholet National was sponsored by EWC Fabrication Ltd and the outstanding Garndiffaith partnership of Ron Scammell and Paul Peploe did a 1-2 in this race to take 1st & 2nd East section and 1st & 2nd Open. The top class Gelligaer fancier David Evans came in for 1st Centre section with the Ystradgynlais partnership of Brian and Anthony Williams, fresh from their win of 1st Open BICC Falaise, taking 1st west section.

Next up were the winners in the longest old bird race – this year flown from Tarbes at more than 600 miles to most competing lofts. This race was sponsored by Morris & Pugh of Maerdy and the winner of the Jim Hooper Longest Old bird Race Trophy proved to be a bird entered by John Ludlam of Nelson which also wins 1st Centre section. The Padfield Family of Cwmtillery maintained their outstanding record in long distance National races winning the Mr & Mrs Lloyd Trophy for 1st East section with W. Davies taking the honours in the West section.

The Clive Hughes Sponsored Niort National took place on the same weekend as the Tarbes National and the winners here proved to be Denny Phillips & family from Nantymoel. Denny’s timer wins 1st Centre section and 1st Open. Andrew Vincent of Llanhilleth clocked one of his team of naturals for 1st East section with Club President Charlie Bradshaw Jnr taking 1st West section.

The final old bird race of the season took place from Bergerac, a 500 mile slog for most competitors. This race was sponsored by Marathon Lofts and the winner was Mark Sparey of Abertillery with a widowhood cock that had been 5th Open Tarbes at 606 miles just two weeks earlier. Mark also clocked a second bird to finish 3rd Open in this race. Mark’s winner takes the Jarvis & Betts Blue Ribband Trophy for 1st Open plus the WSRNFC Trophy for 1st East section. Gareth and Stuart Treharne of Nantyglo come in for 1st Centre section with Phil Fishlock and Hilary Roberts taking the first prize in the West section.

Young bird racing on the south road into Wales had proved to be fairly successful with minimal losses to most competing lofts and so it was that there were 1,300 babies lined up for the British Homing World sponsored Eastbourne National. The winner for the second time in 2011 was the Abertillery maestro[sorcerer’s apprentice] Mark Sparey who had three birds drop together for 1st 2nd & 3rd East section and 1st 2nd & 3rd Open. Morris and Pugh of Maerdy topped the Centre Section for the second time in 2011 and over in the west section Phil Fishlock and Hilary Roberts added yet another section win to their already impressive CV.

The final race of the 2011 National race programme took place in late September when members entered their young birds in the Clive Hughes Sponsored Carentan National. This race witnessed one of, if not THE most outstanding performances that I can ever remember in National racing into Wales. The Nantyglo partnership of Gareth and Stuart Treharne clocked 11 pigeons in a matter of seconds, with a further five pigeons close behind to win the first SIXTEEN positions in both the Open and Centre section in this 180 mile channel race - outstanding pigeon flying. John and Pat Webber a little further down the valley at Six Bells clocked for 1st East section with Watkins Brothers of Neath taking top spot over in the West section.

The following trophies were also presented on the night:

Old Bird Carentan/Messac Average – Dennis Ford.

Old Bird Messac/Niort Average – Mark Sparey.

Old Bird Cholet/ Niort Average – Scammell & Peploe.

Three Longest Race Averages Old Birds – Mark Sparey.

Combined all race Average Old Birds – Mark Sparey.

Longest Old bird/ Longest Young Bird Race Average – Mark Sparey.

Combined Average All National races – Mark Sparey.

Young Bird Race Averages – G. Treharne & Son.

Special Ring Scheme flown from Carentan Young birds was won by Morris & Pugh.

Possibly the most prestigious trophy that can be competed for by WSRNFC members is the coveted Gold Cup. This magnificent trophy is presented to the pigeon with the most outstanding set of results in National racing in any given season. The 2011 crop of entrants were particularly impressive and the winner – announced on the night was the Scammell & Peploe partnership’s outstanding two year old round about hen which won the following prizes in National racing during the 20011 old bird programme:

9th section 17th Open Carentan.

58th section 102nd Open Messac.

2nd section 2nd Open Cholet [ beaten by loftmate].
4th section 8th Open Niort.

4th section 5th Open Bergerac.

The winner of the Doreen Jones Trophy for R/U to Gold Cup Winner was yet another terrific pigeon, which in all probability would have come out on top in most seasons. This was the big hearted two year old widowhood cock raced by Mark Sparey which won 5th Open National Tarbes at 606 miles and 1st Open National Bergerac at 504 miles in 2011. Two truly outstanding racing pigeons raced by three top class fanciers.

The committee would like to thank Ann and Martin Meredith for sponsoring two oil paintings as well as all the other generous sponsors who continue to support the Club. In this capacity I feel that Clive Hughes deserves a special mention because he not only sponsors some of the races but also donates a framed pigeon portrait of each and every National race winner. Clive also took all the photos that accompany this report, so take a bow Clive, your generosity and skill as a photographer are much appreciated. I should also be sure to mention the generosity of those fanciers who donated 2012 youngsters to the auction held after all the presentations had been completed.Finally, our thanks go to Bill and Beryl Lewis for attending and presenting the prizes in such a professional and friendly manner.

That sees the end of a particularly successful season for the club. It also sees the end of my involvement as pro tem Press officer. I must say that I have enjoyed the experience immensely and wish the club and its members every success in the future. Enjoy your pigeons and who knows what can be achieved if you continue to work together for a common purpose.