LANCASHIRE NEWS

Hi everyone, welcome to Lancashire Life.  Well I finally managed to get some training in last week and the widow cocks made their first trip in the basket to Congleton with Cyril Smith one of our club members who were taking his own on Sunday afternoon.  As this is only Sunday I’m hoping they will get down the road a few more times this week, but I was really pleased as the latebreds who hadn’t been on a trainer before, returned with the others.  Apparently Cyril tells me they cleared straight away and headed for home, I hope they do that on race day!  I did lose one but he may work his way back during the week.   The weather has been awful again all last week with no other opportunities for training, even on Saturday when my club members sent their birds to Wollaston, it was an awful morning with heavy rain and low cloud making visibility poor.  It did clear up considerably as the morning went on and the chance of a liberation came, well done to the new Border Amal Race Controller Martyn Slicker who with the help of David Pearson from the North East Lancs Fed, produced an excellent race for our members.

Aside from the weather it was a busy week all round, visiting Mother, setting up ETS systems and taking Eric to the hospital. They’ve now put his operation back a month to May because a more urgent case has come up but in the event his blood pressure was sky high so I don’t think they would have done the op anyway until it’s under control.  So it’s even more tablets for him and regular trips to his GP to check that its coming down.  He was cheered up on Saturday though when Manchester City had their first win for quite a number of weeks, his brother turned up with a new City shirt for him and having received one from Kim the week before he’s now well kitted out to support his team.

The legendary Gordon Sinclair with Kitty.

Pip decided that she would help me clean out the widowhood loft on Sunday, well I cleaned up and she just got in the way dropping her toys all over the floor expecting me to play.  I nearly had a ball dropped in my tin of paint last week when she wanted to play and it just bounced off the edge of the tin.  She heard the sound of the ice cream man for the first time today and stood at the gate with her head going from side to side wondering what it was.  She was absolutely black having had fun running about in the wet garden all afternoon.  She’s got fed up of chasing the pigeons now and just thinks they’re boring, the babies are not frightened of her though and will happily walk all around her.  She did pinch Eric’s doughnut off the table last week when my back was turned for a minute and was found happily licking the jam out of the middle.  We daren’t laugh though and she got a severe telling off for her mischief, I don’t remember Midge getting up to half of the trouble that Pip does but at least she can be trusted with the birds.

Young Eric with his very first pigeon.

Eric's first loft.

Whilst the cocks were away I put the hens in their boxes so they would know what to expect on a race day but some of the yearling hens didn’t want to know and I didn’t have enough old hens to go round.  Having said that, the cocks usually fly round the loft for a couple of hours and when they came back from training they were quite happy to carry on flying round until they had enough and their hunger got the better of them.  Those that did come in right away had a nice surprise to see some female company in their boxes  One of the old 2001 hens decided to play up to me, that is until she saw who was coming to visit her in the box!  I was forgotten then.  The old hens are brilliant with the widowhood cocks, they just show up to them with no hesitation and it makes the job that much easier.  We will see what happens this week if I decide to send them, I’ve got 18 cocks so they will probably be split 9 in each Fed.  That’s the advantage of being able to send to two Feds in one Club, we mark for both and they both pick our birds up at our headquarters.  On to some results, with a big welcome to some more new Press Officers who have bravely volunteered to submit their Club’s results and reports this year.  One Club faxed their result through on Sunday but unfortunately it was blank and I didn’t have a telephone number to contact them.  If your result isn’t featured this week please let me know and I will include it next week:

Ashton-under-Lyne Flying Club/Harry Kenyon – 10 members sent 155 birds to Wollaston with Oldham Fed on the 12th April, 2008 liberated at 1200 in a West wind.  1st J & S Ward on 1546 with a Peter Van Der Merwe, also taking all pools and Nom £16.15.  2nd and 3rd K Wroe on 1544 and 1528 no details of birds.  4th J & S Ward on 1525 with another Peter Van Der Merwe.  Well done to J & S Ward.

Blackburn & District Fed/Diane Slattery -Week two already.  Firstly I would like to thank everyone for getting their results to me so quickly.  Well done to Brian (Padiham)topping the Fed.  Mr Gornall won Great Harwood, Harry for Clitheroeagain, well done to Fran and Alan at Accy,well done Billy at Ossy, right clock and rubber this week.  Mr Parker again (Alan) for Chatburn and last but not least Jack and Zoe for Bentham.  Thelollipop man couldonlymanage second this week. Must be down to his broken toe - clumsy sod - I told him he was too old to chase me but would he listen, NO HE WOULDN'T!!!!!!. He still thinks he is on widowhood.  Now on to the result – 52 members sent 951 birds to Wollaston on the 12th April, 2008 liberated at 11.15 in a Westerly wind  - 1st B Stuttard/Padiham HS on 1443 C.  2nd P Robinson & Son/Padiham HS on 1437 C.  3rd GJ Gornall/Great Harwood HS on 1436 CHPC.  4th G Williams/Padiham HS on 1435 C.  5th & 9th H Lofthouse/Clitheroe HS, 1432 BWFC and 1426, CHPC.  6th J Parker/Clitheroe HS, 1431.55 Cheq C.  7th H Chatburn/Clitheroe HS, 1431.14 Red C.  8th Mr & Mrs A Johnson/Accrington & Dist, 1429 Blue C.  10th K Croft/Clitheroe HS, 1426, BCPH.  Club winners – B Stuttard/Padiham HS 10/211.  GJ Gornall/Gt Harwood HS 10/184.  H Lofthouse/Clitheroe HS 7/144.  Mr & Mrs A Johnson/Accrington & DHS 9/136.  Billy O’Sullivan/Oswaldtwistle HS 8/134.  Mr A Parker/Chatburn HS 4/80.  J & Z Pickup/Bentham HS 4/62.  Well done Brian.

Darwen HS/Chris Ainscough – Hi Flyers. The weekend prior to racing I was invited by my friend the Silver Grizzle, to go with him to Rotterdam to visit the loft of Anton Van Heuval, once the home of the great pigeon The Aviator.  When we got off the plane at Rotterdam, a taxi to the hotel took us about 30 mins, where Anton had made all the arrangements for us we arrived there about 9.45pm. On Saturday morning Anton picked us up and took us to his home where we met his family, and were invited in for coffee and bickys before showing us round his lofts.  Anton first showed us in his racing lofts we couldn’t see much ventilation but the lofts were very clean and fresh inside. I must learn how to put photos on to the laptop I could have shown you some fine lofts, all fitted with the ETS system and had been for years.  When we told him we still clocked in using T3 clocks he laughed, and told us we were behind times, We were then taken into the stock loft, This being an old shippon converted.  Each pair of stock birds had their own compartment with loads of room for each pair and they looked very settled in their little homes.  All the birds were in excellent condition and nearly all had babies in the nest.  I think there were just two families of pigeons, mainly Anton’s own family x Van Der Rhees and Linderlauf, and after handling a vast number of pigeons, I could have closed my eyes and told Anton which family was which, each handled the same.  All the birds are bred around these two families.  We did spot some White birds in one of the aviaries, me and Rods laughed and said, I wonder if they are Roland Janssens, so of course I asked Anton, and he said yes they were.  I told him that I had just got a family of them together this year, and I was hoping something good comes out of them.  If my memory serves me right, I think Anton said that Roland had visited him in the past.  Friday night and another good turnout once again for Darwen with plenty of helping hands for marking, even members who are not sending with the old birds, Jim Pickup being one of them, and because of his house move will only be sending with the young uns.  This week is the start of Darwen’s KO so everybody put plenty on. Let you know next week who got through to the next round.

On Saturday 12th April, 2008 racing from Kempsey, 10 members sent 208 birds liberated at 10.40 into a West wind.  1st K. Nuttall flying 109mls on 1530 with a Mealy C.  2nd Chris Mather flying 105mls on 1530 Cheq H picking up again 1st PM, 1st Nom and his KO bird. 3rd & 4th was Bruce Peacock flying 109mls on 1513& 1507 with a BH & Pied C.  He picked up 2nd PM and through to round 2 in the KO.  I was 5th collecting 2nd nom. Well done everybody.

Deane & Dist FC/Chris Ainscough - Saturday 12th April, 2008 racing from Kempsey, 8 members sent 90 birds Liberated at 10.40 into a West wind.  1st Mr & Mrs Lomax flying 102mls on 1505 Cheq C.  2nd P & P Hacking flying 101mls on 1497 Cheq C.  3rd Terry Pike 104mls on 1492 with a Blue C.  4th and just scraping in W Haslam & Son & the Silver Grizzle flying 101mls on 1490 with a Blue C.  What’s happened to the new Partnership Alan?  Where are you?  Well done to you all.  Ta ra till next week.

Droylsden Flying Club/John Bancroft - 9 members sent 131 birds to Wollaston liberated at 12 noon in a West wind.  Taking the first threeis last years top prize winner Chris Delahunt & Son, the firstpigeonis a 4yo Blue cocka winner of 4x1st and 2ndBorder Amal.  This pigeon has won from the channel and picked up monies in the Lancashire Nantes Club, thewinning velocity is 1538.  Next pigeon was a yearling Blue Cheq cock on 1532 and is a Grondelaer and 3rd another yearling Grondelaercock on 1510.  Taking 4th was Mr & Mrs John Bancroft on 1509withathree year old Red Cheq cock, a Gabby x Van Den Boschwith two young still in the nest.  Picking up the nom is Chris Delahunt & Son.

Failsworth Flying Club/Jeanette Taylor – With no members sending to the North Cheshire Fed race last week it was a poor turnout for the first Oldham Fed race with 5 members sending only 57 birds.  I think the poor weather conditions through the week had put people off with the forecast for Saturday not being very good either.  The birds were liberated at 12 noon in a West wind and taking 1st and 3rd position is Mr Taxi Driver, Tony Balzan on 1544 with a Blue cock and 1535 with another Blue cock.  In 2nd place is Phil Murray on 1542 with a Gay Pied cock gifted from Sam Whitworth which was a very consistent racer for Phil last year.  Taking 4th place was the partnership of Harold Tilley & Paul Tyborczyk on 1512 with a Cheq hen.  Well done to Tony from all members.

Farnworth DHS/Mary Green – The Club started their old bird race programme from Stafford with the birds facing a strong, cold North wind and 18 members sent a total of 235 birds.  Liberation was at 10.50 and taking top spot was new member John Allen with a Blue cock on 1121.  Second and fourth was DH Johnson with two Chequer cocks on 1118 and 1101.  Third was the newly formed partnership of Wicker & Hardman with a Chequer cock on a velocity of 1107.  Good returns were reported by all members.  The following race was from Wollaston and liberation was at 10:45 into a West wind.  19 members sent a total of 257 birds.  Top spot went to Secretary JD Hamilton with a Chequer cock on a velocity of 1461.  Second was W Haslam & Son with a Chequer hen on 1459.  Third was Wicker & Hardman with a Blue cock on 1458.9 and fourth was Paul Riley with a Pied cock on a velocity of 1458.1.  Good returns reported.

Heywood FC/David Buckley – The Club were at Wollaston for the first race of 2008 and taking the Red card, not for the first time is P Hart.  1st P Hart on 1520.  2ndP Hart 1513.  3rdI Walker 1511.  4thP Hart 1510.  5thG Foran 1496.  It was a funny race for some of us with large gaps between birds.

Hindley & District Mid Week Club/Barrie Rhoden – 12 members sent 176 birds to Wollaston on the 9th April, 2008 liberated at 1230 in a West South West wind.  1st, 2nd and 3rd were Chadwick Bros on 1401 Cheq W/f H, 1399 with a Cheq H and 1396 with another Cheq H.   4th T Wills on 1392 with a Blue Hen.  Pools payout was Chadwick Bros £13, Caldwell Bros £8 and C Crompton £4.

Hindley Green Homing Society/Barrie Rhoden – 6 members sent 63 birds to Wollaston on the 5th April, 2008 liberated at 1025 into a North West wind.  1st Chadwick Bros on 1219 with a Cheq Cock, 2nd and 3rd Barton Bros on 1209 Blue Hen and 1186 Cheq W/f Hen.  4th Chadwick Bros on 1159 Cheq Cock.  Pools payout was Barton Bros £24, Chadwick Bros £6 and D Skinner £4.  The birds were liberated in a Westerly wind at 1040 on the 12th April, 2008 when 8 members sent 100 birds to Kempsey.  1st, 2nd and 3rd Chadwick Bros on 1491 Blue Cock, 1484 Cheq Cock and 1482 Blue Pied Cock.  4th K Smith on 1466 with a Blue Cock.  Pools payout was Barton Bros £24, C Crompton £6 and D Skinner £4.

Kersal Vale HS/John Crehan –The Club’s second race was from Kempsey on the 12th April, where 13 members sent 316 birds liberated at 10am into a WSW wind.  In 1st spot for the second week in succession is Bonnici, Psaila & Curtis witha yearling cock they call “Longshanks” on 1596.  2nd this week is T McManus and helper Harry on 1590.  Crehan & O'Connor take 3rd & 4th on 1581 and 1565. Returns once again were very good.

Leigh HS/Joe Barton – The Club was at Wollaston on Saturday 5th April, 2008 when 6 members sent 56 birds, liberated at 1025 into a North West wind.  Taking the Red card and topping the Fed was A Outram with a velocity of 1225.  Second and third was Mr & Mrs Dickens, their first was doing 1153 followed by their second bird doing 1105.  Fourth place went to Mr & Mrs Hilton & Son on 1035.  A Outram took all the pools.  On to Kempsey on the 12th April, 2008 when 7 members sent 78 birds liberated at 1040 in a West wind.  Taking the Red card was Mr & Mrs Dickens on 1529, second R Parry & Son on 1455 and third & fourth Mr & Mrs Hilton & Son on 1425 and 1423.  Mr & Mrs Dickens took all pools.  No information on the birds available.

Lymm FC/Derek Woodward – The first race of the season was from Wollaston on the 5th April, 2008 when the birds were liberated at 1025 in a North West wind.  1st Noon & Callon, new members at Lymm this season, with a Blue hen sitting 10 days on a velocity of 1192 which topped the County Federation in the 2007 season.  2nd and 4th D Woodward with a Golden Gaby Cheq Pied widowhood cock on 1160 and a Blue WC doing 1127.  These are two brothers from Peter Fox stock.  3rd Ken Roane with a Blue Cheq WC on 1145.

Manchester Flying Club/Phil Murray – 9 members sent 172 birds to Wollaston on the 9th April, 2008 liberated at 8.45am in a light West wind.  1st and 2nd P Beck on 1509 and 1506, 3rd A & G Phillips on 1410 and 4th Hallam & Sayers on 1374.  The members would like to thank Tommy the Landlord at the New Inn, who has kindly donated £50 to the winner of the Cheltenham young bird race on the 20th August, 2008.  Many thanks to Tommy from all the members.  I would just like to remind members that subs for 2008 are now due and I can be contacted on 07894-710773 to arrange payment.  The race programme for 2008 is as follows – Old Birds – 9th April Wollaston, 16th April, Wollaston, 23rd April Kempsey, 30th April Cheltenham, 7th May Kempsey, 14th May Cheltenham, 21st May Cheltenham.  Young Birds – 23rd July Penkridge, 30th July Penkridge, 6th August Wollaston, 13th August Kempsey, 20th August Cheltenham and 27th August Kempsey.

Middleton DHS/Welcome to new PO Budgie Crathorne – for the first race of the season members sent their birds to Wollaston on the 5th April, 2008.  In 1st place was S Yates on 1161.97.  2nd J Wood & Son 1145.  3rd D Roberts 1134.  4th J Wood & Son1127.  For the second race the birds were liberated from Kempsey on the 12th April, 2008 and taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd was D Heaphy on 1592, 1589 and 1585.  4th D Roberts on 1582.

Norden Village RPC/Welcome to new PO Chris Corfield – In the first race on the 5th April, 2008 the birds were liberated at Wollaston at 11.30 in a North West Wind.   In first place and taking the Red card was Barber & Hilson with a Maurice Mattheuws widow cock on 1193, this bird also topped the North Cheshire Fed.  2nd and 4th Mr & Mrs Turner of Top Brass Stud on 1139 & 1124, we haven't seen much of John since he joined Rochdale’s tag team.  3rd place went to R & R Norton on 1125, a Granddad and Granddaughter partnership with a Vandenabeele widow cock off M & D Evans stock.   The second race on the 12th April, 2008 was from Kempsey when the birds were liberated at 10.15 in a West Wind.  Once again Barber & Hilson top the Club also getting second place with two Mattheuws widow cocks on 1598 and 1594.  This partnership is proving that with good management and birds your loft position doesn't matter regardless of the wind.  3rd and 4th place went to Brandon, Culshaw & Brandon, John having joined his Dad and Barnie this season.  Their birds being two Soontjen widow cocks on 1560 and 1555.  John said the last time he had seen this many pigeons in one place he was a tourist in Trafalgar Square.

Park Flying Club/Stephen Gough – The birds were liberated in a North West wind from Wollaston on the 5th April, 2008 at 11.15 when 7 members sent 88 birds.  1st R Davies & Sonon 1160 with a Blue cock.  2nd S Gough on 1094 with a Cheq cock.  3rd P Todd on 1082 with a Cheq cock.  4th S Gough on1068 with a Blue cock and 5th R Davies & Son on 1058 with a Cheq cock.

Phoenix Flying Club/Ivan Byrne – 10 members sent 95 birds to Penkridge on the 2nd April, 2008 liberated at 715am in a cold North West wind.  Phoenix kicked off their mid week racing from Penkridge with Brian Hatherley putting two hens in the clock to take 1st and 2nd on 1240 and 1238, Janssen and Staf Van Reet being the bloodlines.  Bringing up 3rd spot is Ray Norton from Norden on 1217.

The first Saturday race saw the birds racing from Wollaston on the 5th April, 2008 when 10 members sent 146 birds, having to face a strong head wind.  In 1st spot is young Daniel Tobias on 1128 with a cock that won a channel race last season.  2nd is Billy Cockin from over at Bury on 1124.  A Busschaert goes in the clock in 3rd spot on 1122 from Norden Village for the Father & Son partnership of Malc & Tony Hughes.  4th place goes to Paul Hart on 1110.

Prestwich DHS/welcome to new Press Officer Chris Carter – The birds were liberated from Kempsey at 1015 in a West wind.  Taking 1st place was D Roberts on 1582 and the winner of the Kempsey Trophy,   2nd&3rd S & G Thompson on 1575 & 1555. 4th N Doogan on 1552.

Radcliffe DHS/Steve Green – This week’s race was from Kempsey when 7 members sent 161 birds that were liberated at 10.00 into a Westerly wind.  1st past the post this week were T & K Ramsden with a Cheq widow cock from Moore, Ogden & Godwin stock x Janssen on 1568.  2nd was S Hamer with a Cheq Deschact/Denduyver widow cock on 1565.  3rd were T & K Ramsden with a widow cock via Moore, Ogden & Godwin stock on 1562.  4th S Hamer with another Deschact/Denduyver widow cock on 1555.  T & K Ramsden also took 1st pools; P & M Browning took 1st League Cup & the Nom.  The winning bird was verified by S Green & M Speakman.

Rawson Midweek Flying Club/Mary Green – The Club raced from Wollaston for their first old bird race and 5 members sent a total of 80 birds that were liberated at 3pm into a North Westerly wind.  Taking first and second was Mr & Mrs Ken Green with a Chequer Busschaert cock and a Cheq w/fJanssen cock on velocities of 1319 and 1318.446. Third was Shipperbottom Bros on 1318.441 and fourth was Wicker & Hardman on 1295.  Bryan Clarkson had first £1 pool bird on a velocity of 1243.

Shaw & DHS/Welcome to John Hughes, new PO for the Club - The first race of the season was from Wollaston when marking went smoothly under the new leadership of Will Holdaway.  10 members sent 145 birds liberated at 12:00 in a West wind.  First position went to Sean Whitehead with a Blue Hartog cock on 1536.  Second position Holt Bros with a Cheq Van Looncock on 1531.  Thirdand fourth positions also went to Holt Bros with two Van Loons on 1526 and 1521.  All birds were clocked in the conventional way, ETS not up and running just yet.

Tyldesley Invitation Club/Joe Barton – 9 members sent 83 birds to Kempsey liberated at 1040 in a West wind.  Taking the first two cards was TC Smith, his first a Blue hen doing a velocity of 1496 followed by a Blue hen on 1488.  Third place went to G Corbett with a Blue cock on 1479 and in fourth place Mr & Mrs Gaskell with a Blue cock on 1462.  J & S Barton took the pools.

Whitworth HS/John Martindale – 6 members sent 75 birds to Wollaston on the 12th April, 2008.  Whitworth’s first old bird race of the season started with a very good race for Vaun Barker.  He took 1st, 3rd and 4th with the winner doing 1519 ypm.  Splitting them up in 2nd place is “Tough Guy” Terry Whitworth & Son who is the Club’s “Mr Consistency”.

Wythenshawe HS/Welcome to Kevin Dickens new PO - Race one was from Wollaston on the 5th April, 2008 when 4 members sent 41 pigeons, liberated at 11:15 into a North West wind.  Taking the first four was Royal Oak Lofts, 1st and 2nd were self bred Camphuis from A & B Casson stock on 1062 and 1061.  3rd & 4th were self bred from direct stock from C & G Koopman on 1061 and 1054.758.  Well done Frank/Alan and Mike.  On to Kempsey on the 12th April, 2008 when 4 members sent 38 pigeons, liberated at 10:00 in Westerly winds. Taking 1st & 4th was Royal Oak Lofts; their first was a self bred Koopman from C & G Koopman stock on 1547. 4th was a Camphuis this pigeon is out of DE90 which makes it a Grandson of a Son of UK Bond on 1469. Taking 2nd & 3rd was Press Officer K Dickens, 2nd was a self bred Janssen x Busschaert on 1518.  3rd was a gift bird off clubmate Kevin Haslam, Busschaert breeding on 1470.

Denton Homing Society will be holding a Gold Ring race on the 10th September, 2008 from Portland.  Open to anybody flying 190 miles and over, the rings are £5 each with a maximum of 15 rings per loft.  The race is on a Wednesday and the birds to arrive in the Denton area at approximately 5pm.  Last years race was won by A & S Hughes who picked up £1,700, not bad racing against just 230 birds.  To obtain an entry form please ring Alan Partridge on 0161-336-7755 or contact any member of Denton HS.

John Crehan.

Forthcoming Events/News

Training – Bob Casey will be commencing training on Monday 31st March, 2008 from Cricket Corn Shop 9.15am-10am, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  Also picking up at the Pyramid, Stockport at 10.15am then on to Congleton and Talke Pits.  For further information please contact Bob on 0161-336-4365.

Graham Ward will also be commencing training as from Monday 10th March, 2008 from Middleton DHS headquarters at the Junction Inn, Middleton.  Graham will be there from 8.45am-9.45am Monday to Thursday and will be going to Alderley Edge and then on to Congleton.  If you are working you can drop the birds off at Graham’s by prior arrangement, please ring him on 0161-653-0613.

As usual, news, views and anything else to me, Jeanette Taylor, 20 Warwick Road, Failsworth, Manchester M35 0QQ.  Thanks to everyone for the photographs you have been sending in, keep them coming.  Don’t forget to let me have your club results/write ups the deadline is Sunday night for the following week’s column, I can include the first four for a Club, ten for a Fed and 20 for an Amal or Combine.  Thank you for your continued support.  My email address is jeanette@oasislofts.freeserve.co.uk or phone/fax to 0161-684-8889.