Wrexham Writings - 10-07-25

Wrexham Writings

Once again, the weather forecasts presented the officials with some tough decisions. It was decided to basket on Saturday for a Sunday race.

The Ninth Race of the 2025 season for the Wrexham Federation saw the birds released at 8am on Sunday 15th June from Weymouth in a West wind.

47 members sent 917 birds.

1^st and 7^th C. Rudd, Llay 1499 and 1472, 2^nd,4^th and 6^th S.Burgess, Wrexham 1494, 1486 and 1475, 3^rd and 10^th M & J.Thomas, Wrexham 1489 and 1459, 5^th D.Jones, Llay 1476, 8^th P & T.Reece, Horse & Jockey 1463,  10^th P.Bates & Son, Bagillt 1459.

7 mins 58 seconds covered the first 40 birds in the fed (the same as last week). 24 of the top 40 were yearlings this week which is the most this year. The yearlings now have some good race experience.

Well done to Colin Rudd, Llay of topping the Fed this week.

Llay HS saw Colin Rudd taking 1^st and 3^rd. The winner is a yearling Cock bred from stock gifted to Colin by Dave Gladwinfield of Liverpool. It is a Van Den Bulck. This cock has refused to let any hens into his box but on basketing this week Colin introduced a stock hen which he took to, obviously gave that extra motivation. Colin’s second bird is a yearling bred by Richard Gould of Bethesda and is a Lambrecht. Rich is enjoying the Cyprus sun at moment, but I know he was pleased with Colin’s Fed win. Second club is Derrick Jones timing a 2-year-old widowhood cock. Known as ‘The Cornet Cock’ (due to last 2 digits). This year he has taken fed positions of 1^st 851 (birds) and 12^th (971 birds). Last year in the fed this cock scored 38^th (1286 birds), 30^th (1212 birds), 29^th (1008 birds), 24^th (859 birds), 1^st (833 birds), 9^th (659 birds) and 1^st (360 birds). As a young bird he was 25^th (1355 birds), 2^nd (1422 birds) and 1^st (142 birds). He has won the North Wales Championship Club. Fourth club is Wilf Marsh timing a yearling.

Wrexham and District HS saw Steve Burgess taking 1^st, 3^rd, and 4^th. The winner is a 2-year-old Widowhood cock bred by Shaun and Barry Cooke, last year in the fed this cock scored 8^th (1212 birds), 26^th (859 birds), 40^th (833 birds) and 2^nd (360 birds). This cock has now won 4x1st, 2x2nd, 1x3rd, 3x4th in club plus a 11^th fed on top of fed results previously mentioned. In the fed this year he has won 5^th (851 birds), 23^rd (769 birds) and 3^rd (971 birds). Steve’s second bird is a 2-year-old Lambrecht Widowhood Cock, Winner of 1x1st, 6x2nd, 2x3rd, 2x4th, last year this bird took following fed positions 10^th (1212 birds), 6^th (859 birds), 17^th(833 birds), 17^th (659 birds) and 31^st (360 birds) and this year 13^th (1547 birds), 37^th (1456 birds), 34^th (851 birds) and 19^th (971 birds).  Steve’s third bird is a yearling May Pigeons x Ceuster Widowhood Cock. Last year this bird scored 2^nd Club Hullavington and 20^th (874 birds) in Fed. This year he has scored in fed 8^th (1547 birds), 9^th (1583 birds), 3^rd (851 birds) and 5^th (971 birds). He has now scored 3 x 1^st, 2x2^nd and 1x4th club. Second club is M & J.Thomas (our superb Fed Secretary) timing a Yearling Cheq Cock, this is a Ceusters bred in the stock loft. Last year in the fed this scored 38^th (1464 birds) and this year was 4^th Club Weymouth when he scored 18^th (851 birds) in the fed.

Horse And Jockey saw P & T Reece taking 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th club. The winner is a 2-year-old Widowhood cock bred from stock obtained from Adams Brothers of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. Last year in the fed this bird scored 28^th (318 birds) and this year in the fed 35^th (851 birds) and 19^th (769 birds). The second bird is a Yearling Widowhood cock bred from two Syndicate Lofts stock birds, last year in the fed this scored 37^th (616 birds). Fourth club is a 2-year-old Blue Cock, Syndicate Lofts x Gary Inkley. Scored 11^th Fed as a YB. Last year in the fed he was 22^nd (1456 birds) and 29^th (859 birds). This year in the fed 11^th (1456 birds) and 29^th (851 birds). In third club Brian Griffiths timing a 2-year-old cock. 3/4 Adrian Duggins Hercules 95-line x Iron Lady blood from House of Arden. This year scored 20^th (1334 birds) in the fed.

Bagillt HS saw Chip Shop Boys Phil and Neil Bates taking 1^st, 2^nd, and 4th. The winner is a yearling Blue Cock, the ’27’ cock that was 1^st Fed (1334 birds) at the opening race and this year 20^th Fed (1583 bird), 5^th (1456 birds) and 10^th (971 birds), and last year in fed was 2^nd (882 birds) and 22^nd (874 birds).  His brother topped the fed from Wincanton (1). Second in the clock is yearling Cheq hen who this year in the fed scored 24^th (1583 birds). The fourth club is a yearling blue Hen. In third club is Gareth Jones timing a 2-year-old cheq hen who this year in the fed scored 15^th (1334 birds). Thank you to Neil Bates for sending me photos (included) of his first 3 birds in last weeks Wincanton race, these also took 6^th, 7^th and 9^th Fed (971 birds). Good to hear that Phil Bates might be out of hospital this week, though he will need to return for an operation. Get well soon.

 Phil and Neil Bates '07' - In 2025 4th Fed 1456, 6th Fed 769 birds and 7th Fed 971 birds

Phil and Neil Bates - 5th Fed 769 birds and 9th Fed 971 birds

Phil and Neil Bates - 6th Fed 971 birds

Ellesmere HS saw Andrew Lawley taking the top 4 positions. The winner is a 3-year-old cheq cock 75% Gaby of Shadow bloodlines and 25% Galaxy Van Loon, this bird won from Hullavington. In second club is a brother to the winner again another 3-year-old cheq cock, this bird was 2^nd club from Hullavington. Third Club is a yearling blue cock, Macaloney x Macaloney Ceusters x Gaby. This was 3^rd club Hullavington (1) and 4^th club Wincanton (2). Fourth club is a 3-year-old blue cock, the sire is one of Alan Shinton’s ‘Max’ Birds x Galaxy. This bird won last year and took 34^th (360 birds) in fed. He has also won in Bala club a few times. This cock was 1^st club last week when also taking 13^th (971 birds) in the fed.

This week was also our clubs third club 2 bird, and we were flying for £150 for 4 prizes due in main to kind sponsorship from Andrew and Alan. Andrew took the top 2 positions winning a total of £112.50, 3^rd and 4^th was Paul Howell winning a total of £37.50.

Brymbo HS saw Steve Jones taking the top 4 positions. The winner is a yearling Leo Hermans x Gaby Vandenabeele. The brother to this was 2^nd in the Breeder Buyer 2023 also taking 1^st in the open race. Second club is a yearling Herman Ceusters that has taken following fed positions this year 23^rd (1334 birds), 2^nd (1583 birds) and 21^st (851 birds). In third club is a 3-year-old blue cock. He is a Leo Hermans x Van Den Bulck. Last year in the fed this cock scored 37^th (1380 birds), 7^th (1212 birds), 6^th (1089 birds), 13^th (1008 birds), 17^th (859 birds) and 5^th (833 birds). Also won the Championship club. This year in the fed he has scored 6^th (851 birds) and 31^st (769 birds). Fourth is a yearling blue cock, Roman Klein x Van Den Bulck. This bird scored 15^th in the Breeder Buyer from Brighton last year. He won last week when he scored 15^th (971 birds) in the fed.

Cefn Mawr HS saw Mark Jones winning with a Dark Yearling Hen. In second and third is Stu Davenport. First in the clock is a Dark Cheq Yearling roundabout hen, she is a Herman Ceusters. Second in the clock is a Blue Yearling roundabout hen, she is a Van Den Bulck. Fourth club is Gary Williams timing a blue yearling hen. Her sire is from Pat Helliwell and the Dam from Alan Atkinson. Last year in the fed she scored 7^th (1096 birds).

Leeswood saw C & G Roberts taking 1^st, 2^nd, and 4^th. The winner is a 5-year-old red hen off the late Tec Woodward. This hen won Wincanton (1) and many other prizes. Second in the clock 2-year-old cheq hen. Out of stock from John the Farm Roberts. Has had few prizes this year. Fourth club yearling blue cock direct from John the Farm Roberts has carded this year. Third club R, T & K. Hughes, Ray, and Tim timed a 2-year-old Dark hen. Has won before and 2nd club few weeks ago. Full sister to last week's winner. Sire old Barny Busschaert family x Alan & Martin Crawley and Jack, John, and Adam Cocroft stock, many out of this family have won and prized before.

Rhyl saw Brian Jones taking 1^st and 4th. 2^nd and 3^rd was Steve Beardmore. If anyone in Rhyl would like details including, please get in touch on details at end of article.

Well done to all the prize winners and thank you all for the information, please keep it coming.

National Flying Club

There were some notable performances in the National Flying Club from Nort Sur Erdre. These are provisional positions taken in Section W.

1^st Derrick Jones, provisionally 101^st open. 7^th Stephen Beardmore, provisionally 218^th open, 8^th Lloyd and Bagnall, 10^th Gary Williams

Well done all in a wind that didn’t favour the area.

Feedback

It was lovely to receive an email from a past member of my club who I’ve never met. Good to hear you enjoy the content, Roger. Pop down to the comrades one Friday night from 7pm to see us.

Also lovely to hear from Eleanor from the British Homing World, pleased you enjoy the write up. But I have a long way to go to be as good as the other scribes.

Makes it worthwhile to know people are reading and enjoying.

Obituary’s

I was saddened to hear a past member of my club Gordon Cummings passed away. Gordon had not raced for a while but invested well in birds and did well in the time he raced. He was a great club member and enjoyed the club ‘Craic,’ but then he was an Irishman. His time became limited, so he packed the birds up which is always a great loss. Rest In Peace Gordon.

While mentioning the sad passing of people I thought I would go back to April and mention scribe Bill Britton who passed away on 12^th April. Personally, I never met Bill, but I read his articles and know he was friend to many members in the Wrexham Fed. Always good to read about Bill’s holidays and adventures of the past. Rest in Peace Bill.

In my own loft

Thank you to Thomas Miller of Liverpool for the kind gift of four young birds, I hope I can do some good with them as they are stunners.

If anyone else would like a multi performance bird in fed or other racing highlighting, please get in touch.

Any feedback (good or bad appreciated). Please send any info or photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wayne Jones