AROUND THE SEVERN VALLEY
RAY BEVAN
WEST BAY & POOLE - MAY 2012
Before our round-up can I take the opportunity to congratulate Graham Clift of Tirley on his fine performances with firstly the Central Southern Classic from Carentan on 6th May when he was 7th Open and the following week from the BBC Fougeres race where he is provisionally 1st Section 2nd Open with a yearling cock. He also clocked another yearling cock shortly afterwards which will also be well up in the Open. Both these yearling cocks with the BBC were bred from Graham’s stock by his good friend George Harding and raced by George as young birds. George then gifted them to Graham who broke them to his loft at Tirley. Not bad for broken pigeons! The sire’s side is from Graham’s van Breemens, the dam's were purchased from Ron Jones’ clearance sale at Paulton and are Janssens. When I say that Graham timed in these yearlings, that’s not really true as he was at Ascot races with Bovis Homes from who he has recently retired as a director. It was his good friends George and Pete Barlow who were left in charge of the proceedings so well done to them. Graham races in the Severn Valley Fed with Pershore & District and Charlton Kings FC; he is an ex-secretary/treasurer of Charlton Kings. I myself, as Chairman at the time, couldn’t have wished for a more amiable or helpful guy – well done Graham. By the time you read this the official results will be out from the CSCFC and BBC and you will see that Graham has had several birds in good positions in both races.
Back to the Severn Valley Federation. At West Bay on 6th May 107 members sent 1743 birds liberated into a very cold NE wind – it turned out to be a very hard race with many empty perches at night.
Worcester SRFC (15/191). Taking the first four in the Club were Barry & Dot Ricketts plus 1st Fed on 1076 then 1062 for 4th Fed, 1037, 1034, 1033 & 1029 for 12th, 13th, 15th & 20th Fed. A fine performance in a very hard race.
Pershore & District FC (9/177). Well out in front were Paul, Brian & Wendy Hyett with a yearling cock on 1075 which also won 2nd Fed. 2nd Club on 992 was J & L Eggerton; 3rd on 918 was K P & M Fitzpatrick; 4th on 856 was C J Allen.
Bromsgrove & DFC (14/177) was won by Liam Ward who made a clean sweep with the first four places on 1068, 1054(2) & 1053. Liam also takes 3rd, 7th, 8th & 9th Fed – another fine performance on a hard day.
Ombersley & District (15/218). The red card went to Ritchie Pollard on 1057 who took 5th Fed with a Hartog x John Birch widowhood cock. Ritchie just gets his nose in front of his dad Bernie who timed a cock from Roger Gurnay’s lines on 1052 for 10th Fed. 3rd was Eric (Treader) Adams (assisted by his loft manager Will Woodhouse who I am told has been awarded his own scraper!) making 1034 which was good enough for 14th Fed. In 4th spot was Les Minton on 1033 winning 17th Fed. Also in the Club, N Baylie is 19th Fed.
Cheltenham HS (9/143) had Robbie Rome taking the first four positions on 1056, 1050 & 1030 plus 6th, 11th & 18th Fed. Robbie comes from a very distinguished family, his father being Robert Rome of Annan who has had tremendous results in the Scottish National over many years. This was a particularly good result as Robbie lives miles off the normal drag especially when there is east in the wind.
Upton on Severn (14/242). 1st Club 16th Fed on 1033 was John Fretwell; 2nd, 3rd & 4th on 1023, 1011 & 999 is Brian Locke.
Gloucester & DFC (13/238). 1st on 1026 was Ray Bevan with a Vandenabeele down from Louella’s Piconal lines; 2nd was Mike Stokes of K Stokes & Son on 1007 with a yearling Van Reet down from Keith Arnold – the lad’s investment starting to pay off. 3rd on 972 was Alen Gibb who timed a five year old ‘Heinz Variety’ cock who has scored several times for Alen in Classic racing. The following week this cock was 47th Open in the Classic in a hard race from Carentan, at the same time winning the nomination in the Gloucester club. 4th on 963 was Andy Harker with a Van Loon – Andy having his first race of the season couldn’t find his pocket clock – after much searching he found them in Theresa’s knicker drawer! There must be a moral to this story somewhere.! Paddy Russell won the club nomination.
Malvern (7/140). Most members had poor returns like most clubs. Tony & Diane Drinkwater win on 1006 – the winner, a BCH widowhood cock was bought in 2011 and bred down from birds of Eric Ceaulemans – they are showing plenty of promise. 2nd Club on 987 was Joe Smith with a 3 year old bred from T & J Davies lines, this pigeon having won many prizes for Joe. 3rd on 983 was Trevor Boot and John Roper with a 2 yr old Biss Dordin hen – this hen being a past winner of the Fed’s YB Carentan Championship. 4th on 970 again was Tony & Diane Drinkwater. (JR – we are a bit out of sync but I am sure it will fall into place eventually).
Charlton Kings FC (9/189). 1st on 1005 A (Tony) Jenkins; 2nd & 4th on 994 & 959 was Graham Clift and 3rd on 963 was Gernal Jones.
Newent & District (2/26). Taking all four places was Martin Williams on 1000, 987, 935 & 929.
For the fourth race the Federation was at Poole when 86 members sent 1339 birds – a sad reflection on the previous week’s racing. They were liberated in an ENE wind.
Newent (5/89). Martin Williams again takes the top four in the Club plus 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 17th Fed. Making 1383, 1382, 1356 & 1328. Also in the Club M & R Yates take 18th Fed on 1292.
Worcester SRFC (14/149). 1st & 3rd was Keith Brushwood on 1331 and 1285. He also wins 4th Fed. In 2nd on 1313 plus 11th Fed Mr & Mrs J Ryder & Son. 4th on 1283 was Barry & Dot Ricketts.
Bromsgrove & District (9/108). For another week Liam Ward took the red card on 1319 for 6th Fed, 2nd on 1305 for 13th Fed & 4th on 1273. M Ralph was 3rd and 20th Fed on 1285.
Ombersley & District (11/147). The Club’s first four birds were all yearlings. 1st on 1318 (7th Fed) is Eric Adams – his loft manager, Will Woodhouse, will get the ‘Golden Scraper’ awarded to him at this rate! This cock, having won as a young bird was 3rd Club 14th Fed the previous week and was bred for Eric by Bernie Pollard from his Janssens. 2nd Club and 8th Fed on 1315 was Bernie Pollard. The sire was Barry Walton lines crossed with his old Tommy birds. 3rd Club 10th Fed 1314 was Shane Woodhouse with a bird bred by Colin Williams of Cleobury Mortimer. This yearling, was also a winner as a young bird. 4th Club 10th Fed went to Garth Manley on 1313. Garth was also 12th Fed. Three more members took Fed honours – Bernie Pollard 14th on 1304, Eric Adams 16th on 1298 and L & C Minton 19th on 1290. A very close race for the members.
Gloucester & DFC (9/99). Aidan & Tony Locke took 1st & 3rd Club together with 15th Fed on 1298 and 1228 with a 3 year old De Klak widowhood cock – a previous winner and Fed topper who has been a prolific card winer at Club and Fed levels – never far away. Their 3rd prize winner is a 2 year old Braspenning x De Klak widower. Splitting the partnership in 2nd place was Ray Bevan on 1239 with a 3 year old Vandenabeele down from P B & W Hyett x Redstar lines – a previous card winner from the first race of the season. Mr & Mrs Craig Mumford took 4th & 5th Club on 1222 and 1209. Their first was a Janssen, the second was bred by A & A Locke and had taken 4th in the Club breeder/buyer in 2011.
Upton on Severn (14/178). 1st on 1280 W Boulton, 2nd & 3rd on 1276 and 1264 Shane Harvey and 4th went to Lionel Brewer on 1259.
Malvern (10/157). 1st on 1258 E Collins, 2nd Mr & Mrs Tony Drinkwater on 1250, 3rd Joe Smith on 1237 and 4th to T & J Davies on 1225.
Pershore (8/185). 1st went to Paul, Brian & Wendy Hyett on 1236, 2nd to Mr & Mrs Michael Hyett on 1228, 3rd on 1194 to J & L Eggerton and 4th on 1177 to K P & M Fitzpatrick.
Cheltenham HS (7/82). 1st on 1202 Steve Palin, 2nd on 1175 Robbie Rome, 3rd and 4th on 1186 and 1158 to J Gwillim & Son.
Charlton Kings FC (7/145). 1st and 4th on 1186 and 1158 was A ‘Tony’ Jenkins, 2nd Fed President Pete Lloyd of P V & M Lloyd on 1181 and 3rd on 1176 Ray Barlow.
Again we’re up to date – just a few things missing but we’ll catch up.
News to me at 16 Cedar Road, Brockworth, Glos GL3 4DL or 01452 618891 or email Alen Gibb at
RHB
