Keith Mott

Writes about winning fanciers past and present

2006 B.H.W. BLACKPOOL ‘SHOW OF THE YEAR’

We start our new series of Show Racer specials one week after the very successful 2006 B.H.W. Blackpool ‘Show of the Year’. Last week’s event seemed extra special to most of us, after nearly loosing it with the recent ‘bird flu’ problem and with many other major shows being stopped, we must consider our selves very luck. I must say, most of that good luck was brought about by the very hard work of our good friend, Peter Bryant, general manager of the R.P.R.A. and his crew of workers at the Reddings. Full credit must go to Peter, who has had countless meetings in recent months with DEFRA, trying to protect all our showing and racing for the membership!

The show seemed even more packed than usual and as always it was great to meet up with my friends from the B.H.W. The highlight of the Blackpool Show for me every year is meeting up with all my fancier friends, including Brian and Thelma Denney, Tommy Gilbertson, The Allwright family, Bob Reeves and all the Show Racer lads. The National Flying club had their new crates on display on their stand and I must say, I was very impressed. They were the best metal pigeon crates I’ve ever seen and we are all looking forward to trying them out in the 2006 racing season!

The 2006 Show was very special for our good friends Mr. & Mrs. Ron McCarthy of South Wales, who won Best in Show at Blackpool for record forth time. I think I’m right in stating that Colin Carter is next in line with twice Best in Show at Blackpool and you can read a full loft report on this loft in a forthcoming Show Racer special. Ron McCarthy has previously won Supreme Champion at Blackpool, but this year the class was cancelled, because of so many early shows being called off because of the ‘bird flu’ problem. Ron’s Blackpool B.I.S. winner was his wonderful blue yearling  cock, Champion ‘Blue Boy’, and he also won a red card at the ‘Show of the Year’ as a young bird last year. This handsome Show Racer has plenty of previous good form, winning: Champion bird at the Monmouth Show, 1ST. British Show Racer Federation and 1st. South West Show Racer Society. A wonderful pigeon! There is a full loft report on Mr. & Mrs. Ron McCarthy further on in my ‘ELIMAR’ article list.

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT.