LANCASHIRE NEWS

David Farrell of Marton HS.

Hi everyone, welcome to Lancashire Life.  Although I didn’t send my birds again last week my two Federations had good races deciding to liberate the youngsters early on Saturday morning to try and avoid the forecast rain in the afternoon.  It turned out to be a lovely day in Manchester with sun around but also a strong South West wind to help propel the youngsters in the right direction.  Well done to Glen Bowers, Phil Brown and Tommy Gerrard for giving us all a good race last weekend with more importantly good returns for everyone.  It’s one of the hardest jobs in pigeon racing being a Race Controller and not one I would undertake, yet everyone seems to have an opinion but won’t volunteer to do the job themselves.

Eric had another weekend at home with an extra day last week due to him having a scan at Hope Hospital; they were brilliant with him there and couldn’t do enough.  Anyway an early trip from Rochdale to Hope saw me doing a round trip of about 60 miles so on the way back we decided to feed our faces with a McDonalds before going home.  As it was a Friday afternoon there was no point in Eric going back to his unit so we went home and chilled out there.  I showed him two latebred Roland Janssens which are really nice and he was made up to see them having missed the daily contact with the birds that I’ve got.  Pip also decided to give her opinion and as Midge used to do, she decided to give them a free wash before I took them back to their parents.  I’ve got this vision in my head of her taking it one step further and seeing the babies head disappear into her mouth, she’s so laid back though she just takes everything in her stride.  So apart from the result of the Man City game which we won’t talk about, Eric really enjoyed his break at home and didn’t want to go back.

I had a couple of nice letters during the week from two guys who picked up on my comment regarding ETS and how I wondered what fanciers of the 1930’s and 1940’s would think of it.  The first letter was from a gentleman from Aylesbury who is 90 years young and wishes to remain anonymous, he tells me he’s shy but I don’t believe that for a minute.  His memories go back to 1928 but he spent 7 years of the 1940’s in an infantry battalion and only 1947-49 and thereafter racing pigeons.  He suggests with respect that pigeon racing as a sport has not progressed since those days.  Frequently during summer Saturdays in his home village, about midday, great kits of pigeons racing North could be seen and it was understood they were birds of the mighty Manchester Flying Club.  In the village schoolboys built their own lofts from scrap materials acquired (never bought, no money) birds and raced in the novices club.  No clocks, they ran the birds in.  Endless hours were spent trying to catch the infrequent strag – the lost bird – rare in those days and one successful senior flyer maintained that the best breeding pair was a first prize winner crossed with a strag.  This was real sport.

Birds were liberated to arrive home on Saturday afternoons – most fanciers worked on Saturday mornings and at most lofts there would be a happy gathering of men waiting for the birds arrival – a small social occasion – ETS better than that never!  Our writer remembers as a small boy wondering why no effort was ever made to determine the cause of a “smash” – the loss of large numbers of birds for no known reason, where’s the progress here?  Plenty of theories but never an attempt by the racing pigeon fraternity to discover the facts.  Once there were observers all over the country on Saturday afternoons and kits could have been tracked but now with ETS how many will be observing the skies?  It is so obvious that pigeon racing is in decline if measured by numbers particularly and in the present economic situation what sensible man would think of investing the large sum of money involved in acquiring a loft, baskets, ETS, birds corn, chemicals, training costs etc, and £30 to get a strag back, it’s beyond my comprehension.  In 1948 he bred about 10 young birds who had to find their own living in the fields but who all raced the full young bird programme through to Berwick some 212 miles, what a comparison to today’s coddled birds!  Well what do you think of this gentleman’s thoughts, do you agree, have we progressed or not or are we just throwing money away on a sport that some think has not progressed any further.  Thanks to Mr K for his contribution.

My second letter was from Des Hodgkins of Kettering, Northamptonshire who also sent me a nice article which appeared in the BHW in 2003 about his once in a lifetime bird Heart of Gold.  With Des’s permission I would like to print his true story Heart of Gold but not yet!  I’m going to save it until the end of the season but as an introduction I will include Des’s letter now – “I am an ex-fancier who packed up in the 1970’s owing to pressure of work and having a young family to bring up (a boy and a girl, and my wife and I have now been married 55 years and have 5 great grandchildren).  I was born in Ipswich, Suffolk in 1925 and my father moved the family to Southend-on-Sea when I was 10 and when the war came I was evacuated to Mansfield, Notts with my school.  Whilst there I met a fancier who was a miner on shift work and I became very interested in his pigeons, eventually cleaning them out and taking them for training to Mansfield Station secured on my bicycle carrier.  For this I received 2/6d per week as pocket money!

My father moved back to Oxford which was his home town because it was becoming difficult around the Thames Estuary with the Battle of Britain at its height and the threat of invasion imminent.  Mother & Father decided to bring me home from Mansfield as Oxford was as safe as anywhere being virtually in the centre of England.  The miner promised to send me four young birds in 1941 if I could get Dad to help me build a small loft.  This was done and my pigeon career started.  I joined the Old Headington (Oxford) Homing Society soon after and, of course; corn and transport were at a premium.  Fortunately a Farmer Brown was in the club and cheap beans were assured.  With regard to transport, one of our other members was “Nobby” Clark who had access to a horse and cart.  On Friday nights he would drive up to collect the race baskets and we nicknamed the horse Big Game after one of the Classic winners of the time.  Nobby would drive the horse and cart through Oxford to the station where the baskets would be put on rail to join the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Fed for onward transmission to the race point.  One of my jobs as a recent school leaver was to work out all the velocities by long division, quite a task with the large figures involved but we managed.  We had to visit our pub which was our HQ at the Bell Inn to ascertain the liberation time as this was in the form of a telegram from the Convoyer pinned on the pub door.  Very few telephones in those days!

I was called up for Army Service in March 1944 and served in Italy, Greece and Palestine but luckily my father kept the birds going and I was able to pick up where I left off in late 1947 when I was demobilised as a War Substantive Sergeant in the 17/21st Lancers.  By then the old club had been superseded by a new club called Shotover & District FC which is still a force in the BB & O SR Fed.  I eventually became Assistant Secretary as we had a very good number of members.  I also graduated to clock setter for all the 12 bird Toulets which most members used and we had an 18 bird Toulet belonging to a fancier called Cooper, naturally we called the clock Big Ben.  I achieved quite a few successes at the distance and was 8th Section, 80th Open in the first every NFC Pau race with my single entry – a Mealy WF cock.  I also had a young fancier time in for me the day I got married on the 11th July, 1953 when my Blue hen was 51st Open San Sebastian.  A nice little earner for when we were back from honeymoon!

With regard to ETS I am sure that with the passing of most of the older fanciers in the next ten years it is bound to take over with the ever increasing expertise in computers of young people today.  I look at my scrap book and see the number of fanciers sending (1973 results sheet) and it is about treble what is being sent today with the same decrease in birdage.  Today’s clocks are wonderful examples of progress in the technical sense after the old Toulets.”

Thanks to Des for a fascinating insight into pigeon racing during his spell as a fancier.  Can you imagine pinning a telegram to the pub door these days with the liberation time on, someone would run off with it for a joke so nobody knew the time.  I know some of the older fanciers in my area have said how they used to load their birds on the local trains for training and then the baskets would be brought back on the return journey.  If anyone has any photos of this I would love to see them and publish them here.  Were losses fewer then?  How about not having a choice of corn and methods like we have now, everyone was more or less on a level playing field but I don’t fancy the idea of breeding off the local strags, they cough round here!

Accrington & DHS/Dave Stuttard – 6 members sent 61 birds to Wollaston and taking the Red card this week is Alan “The Terrier Man” and wife Fran Johnson with a Blue Wildy cock from their Porter & Richardson stock on 1841.  Billy Bentley & Son take the next three with their Haslingden Specials; their first bird taking second place is a Cheq hen on 1840.  Third placed bird is a Red hen doing 1843 and the bird taking fourth place is another Red hen on 1821.

Ashton-under-Lyne Flying Club/Harry Kenyon – Racing from Cheltenham on the 16th August 4 members sent 55 birds liberated at 0745 in a South West wind.  Taking 1st, 2nd & 4th is Club Secretary Harry Kenyon on 1798 with a youngster bred by J & S Ward, the same bird as last week.  Second bird home on 1783 was a Linderlauf x Lambrecht followed by a Gabby off S Knowles x W Riding stock.  Splitting these three up on 1776 was Connard, Conroy & Wright with a youngster bred from J & S Ward’s Wall, Lunt & Green stock.

Atherton & District Fed/Chris Ainscough – On Saturday 2nd August, 2008 flying from Wollaston (2) 14 members sent 338 birds liberated at 11am into a South West wind.  1st Mr & Mrs Lomax with a Pied hen flying 80 miles, on 1534/Deane.  2nd A Wicker with a Grizzle cock flying 79 miles, on 1530/Deane.  3rd A Wicker Blue cock on 1527/Deane.  4th A Wicker Blue cock on 1523/Deane.  Well done Colin & Alan.  On Sunday 10th August, 2008 flying from Kempsey, 15 members sent 329 birds liberated at 0820 into a South West wind.  1st W Haslam & Son/Deane with a Blue cock flying 101 miles on 1916.  2nd Mr & Mrs Lomax/Deane with a Blue hen flying 102 miles on 1899.  3rd AW Haslam & Son/Deane Pied cock on 1898.  4th W Haslam & Son Blue cock on 1897.   Well Done.

Barnoldswick Prem RPC/Paul Taylor - Hi and welcome to Barnoldswick Life, we were having our 4th young bird race, straight to the results – On the 10th August, 2008 racing from Wollaston the birds were up at 0930 in a South West wind.  1st, 2nd & 3rd P & B Taylor on 1930, 1922.3 & 1922.  4th Steve the Terminator on 1902.  P & B Taylor take the nom.  In the 5th young bird race from Cheltenham the birds were let go at 0745 in a South wind, straight to the results - 1st G Thompson on 1736 with a cock.  2nd P & B Taylor on 1735 with a hen that’s taken a Red card this season.  3rd G Thompson on 1732 with another hen.  4th Mr & Mrs Pennington on 1729 and another hen for the Flying Pennington’s.  I believe good returns were had and well done to our new winner the young bird specialist Mr G Thompson with the Flying Pennington’s taking the nom money.  I’m sure Alan will be buying Gordon a celebratory drink well done Gordon.

Blackburn & District Federation/Diane Slattery – Another hold over but didn't they drop in well?  A big thank you to Brian (XXX Sweetheart).  Well done Fran & Alan Johnson for Accy, Brian Stuttard at Padiham, Alan Lewis at Great Harwood, Jimmy Jackson at Chatburn, John Taylor at Ossy and Harry Lofthouse at Clitheroe. Nice to hear that returns were good after the last few weeks.  The Lollipop man didn't send again and I must admit I am getting quite used to it.  I have never had so much attention - breakfast in bed, bath run for me - a massage!  He even watches Starsky & Hutch with me.  Romance reigns again - I doubt it will be for long so I am making the most of it.   On to the result for Wollaston YB flown on the 10th August, 2008 with 39 members sending 610 birds, liberated at 0940 in a West South West wind.  1st & 6th Mr & Mrs A Johnson/Accrington & Dist 1841 Blue C & 1820 CWF H.  2nd, 3rd & 5th W Bentley & Son/Accrington 1840 BWF H, 1832 Red H & 1821 Red H.  4th B Stuttard/Padiham 1829 Cheq C.   7th Mr & Ms Eddisford/Accrington 1799 Cheq Pied H.  8th Derek Thompson/Padiham HS 1791 Blue H.  9th P Robinson & Son/Padiham 1788 Blue H.  10th J Sudderick/Padiham 1782 Blue H.  Club winners – Accrington & DHS 6/61 Mr & Mrs A Johnson.  Chatburn HS 2/25 J Jackson.  Clitheroe HS 4/66 H Lofthouse.  Great Harwood HS 8/145 A Lewis.  Oswaldtwistle HS 9/104 J Taylor.  Padiham HS 10/209 B Stuttard.  Well done Fran & Alan.

On to Kempsey YB flown on the 16th August, 2008.  Congratulations go to Harry Lofthouse 1st & 2nd Fed for Clitheroe, Mr & Mrs Joe Slattery (well done Dad) for Accy, Brian Stuttard for Padiham, Jimmy Jackson for Chatburn, Wheatcroft & Hodder for Great Harwood, Dawson Bros & Daughter for Ossy and last but not least Mr Burrows for Bentham.  Well flown all of you.  Well the Lollipop Man is back racing and he got them all back (makes a change) so he is a happy little bunny. I think he got fed up of me finding things for him to do.   44 members sent 678 birds liberated at 0830 in a South East wind.  1st, 2nd & 4th H Lofthouse/Clitheroe HS 1764 Cheq H, 1760 Cheq H & 1756 Cheq H.  3rd & 6th J Parker/Clitheroe 1758 Blue C & 1738 Blue C.    5th Mr & Mrs JW Slattery/Accrington & DHS 1745 BWF H.  7th H Chatburn/ Clitheroe 1737 Cheq H.  8th W Bentley & Son/Accrington 1733 Cheq H.  9th B Stuttard/ Padiham HS 1731 C.  10th K Croft/Clitheroe 1728 PBL H.  Club winners – Accrington & DHS 8/79 Mr & Mrs JW Slattery.  Bentham HS 2/59 G Burrow.  Chatburn HS 4/65 J Jackson.  Clitheroe HS 5/103 H Lofthouse.  Great Harwood HS 7/119 DW Wheatcroft & Hodder.  Oswaldtwistle HS 9/94 Dawson bros & Daughter.  Padiham HS 9/159 B Stuttard.

Cadishead FC/Joe Barton – On the 16th August, 2008 the Club raced form Cheltenham when 4 members sent 95 birds liberated at 0710 in a South East wind.  Taking first, third & fourth was W Haslam & Son, their first a Blue hen on 1792 with the next two being on the same second on 1781.  Second Wicker & Hardman on 1783 also taking A & B Pools plus 1st Nom total £18.  Second Nom Mick Haslam & Son £6.

Castleton Flying Club/Mick Fleming – In the Castleton race from Swainswick, 6 members sent 130 pigeons in a strong South West wind.  Taking first place on 1798 was Brandon, Culshaw & Brandon with a Soontjen cock bred by them off Gary Leigh stock.  They had a great season with old birds and have carried on with the young ones.  In second place on 1794 was Joe Whelan with another Staf Van Reet bred by George Newton.  All Joe’s results this year have come from George Newton stock.  In third place on 1790 were last week’s winner Mick Fleming with a cock bred off Ned Briscoe’s stock from Ireland and the other breeder Gerry Clements Combine winner Hatton, a superb cock.  I apologise to Ned Briscoe as I’ve been calling him Cordwell second name by mistake.  In fourth place on 1787 was Phil Carter who won all the pools with a hen bred by Mick Fleming off his Jan Thielen stock.  Phil only sent one pigeon to race so he’s got it buzzing against a hundred pigeons, a good performance.

Darwen HS/Chris Ainscough – Saturday 16th August, 2008 when 11 members sent 216 birds to Cheltenham liberated at 0710 into a South East wind.  Darwen members would like to thank Mr Race controller for a good liberation this week.  1st Chris Ainscough with a Cheq cock flying 124 miles on 1796.  2nd Franco Ponti Dark Cheq cock flying 124 miles on 1714.  3rd Bernard Clarke Red cock flying 124 miles on 1708.  4th Chris Mather Blue cock flying 120 miles on 1707.  Bernard picked up 1st PM and goes through to the final of the KO flying against Franco.  2nd PM goes to Mick Riley.  1st Nom goes into Thornley & Kennedy’s pocket for the third week running & 3rd PM Jim Pickup collected 2nd Nom & 4th PM.  Well done everyone.

Deane & Dist FC/Chris Ainscough – Saturday 16th August, 2008 flying from Cheltenham, 5 members sent 125 birds liberated at 0710 into a South East wind.  1st W Haslam & Son with a Blue hen, flying 117 miles on 1792.  2nd A Wicker Blue cock flying 117 miles on 1783.  3rd W Haslam & Son Cheq hen on 1781.  4th W Haslam & Son Blue cock on 1781.  Well done lads.

Droylsden Flying Club/John Bancroft – On the 10th August, 2008 the Club had 8 members sending 86 birds liberated at 9am in a South West wind from Swainswick.  Taking the first two is Norman Johnson; his first bird on 1744 is a Janssen son of his good 01, bred by Robbie Byford of London.  His second bird was another bred by Robbie Byford on 1740, this was a Linderlauf.  In 3rd place are Mr & Mrs Bancroft on 1737 with a Blue Cheq cock Louella Gabby Vandenabeele.  The sire and a daughter from a pair of De Klak bought from Andy Pereira of Portsmouth.  3rd Club President Jack Sinclair took the fourth card with a Blue cock doing 1735.  This week’s nom was won by Mr & Mrs Bancroft.

On to the result for the 16th August, 2008 when the birds were at Cheltenham.  8 members sent 106 birds liberated at 0745 in a South West wind.  Taking the first four is Jim & Chris Kenyon with velocities of 1792, 1786, 1759 & 1744.  The 1st and 3rd pigeons are both out of the Wonka lines out of Mick Betts stock.  2nd & 4th are both nest mates Jan Huybrechts out of the Bird of the Year 2005 and the Stockport Open winner.  The 2nd pigeon also wins the Breeder Buyer race and £105.  0ur breeder buyer is different than most breeder buyers, each member can put two rings forward at a cost of £5 per ring, the ring numbers are put in sealed envelopes and these are sold of at £10 each, so no one knows whose bird they have bought until after the race and the breeder keeps his bird.  Jimmy Kenyon said Norman Johnson owes them both a drink on Friday night as he was fortunate to win the buyers part of the prize.  This is the second time on the trot the Kenyon Brothers have won the Breeder Buyer, Norman Johnson picked up £105 well done the pair of you.  One of our members Billy Owen has had a heart attack and is currently in Tameside Hospital all the Droylsden members wish Billy a speedy recovery, get well soon in Billy.

Eccles & Winton Homing Society/Jerry Thomas – 10 members sent 158 birds to Wollaston on the 2nd August, 2008 liberated at 1030 in a South West wind.  1st G Capps on 1569 with a Camphuis Janssen Cheq hen.  2nd Boon & Vickers on 1533 with a Dark Cheq Busschaert hen.  3rd A Nixon on 1528 with a Blue Camphuis Janssen hen and 4th A Langslow on 1528 with a Dark Cheq Vandenabeele cock.  This was a bad race with poor returns and a lot of birds still missing.

Failsworth Flying Club/Jeanette Taylor – 3 members sent 56 birds to Cheltenham with the Border Amal on the 16th August, 2008 liberated at 0745 in a South West wind.  Taking the first four this week is Phil Murray, his first and winning pigeon on 1787 was a Janssen x Staf Van Reet, the Sire is Turbo King bought at the Leo van Rijsdik sale and the Dam a Mardon Van Reet both owned by Jeanette Taylor.  Second in the clock on 1784 was a Gaby bred out of John Gladwin’s Formula 1 Loft stock, followed in third on 1754 by another Gaby youngster bred out of a Quinton Loft cock and the dam a gift direct Gaby hen from Jeanette Taylor now named One Eye as she was badly pecked by a bossy cock at the home loft..  4th on 1753 is a Van Loon, the sire bought at a Charity sale donated by Martyn Slicker and the dam off Cyril Smith’s Mona Lisa lines.

In the other Club race from Cheltenham on the same day with the North Cheshire Federation, the birds were liberated at 0720 with 3 members sending 78.  Also taking the first four positions is young Steve Maylett of the JP & S Maylett partnership with his Lambrechts on 1769, 1765.82, 1765.55 and 1765.01.  It’s interesting to see that the birds in both races were liberated from the same race point only 25 minutes apart and yet the velocities are so different.  Well done to both Phil and Steve.

Farnworth & DHS/Ken & Mary Green – The Club raced from Wollaston when 11 members sent a total of 177 birds.  After a one day holdover birds were liberated at 0950 into a strong South West wind.  This turned out to be a fast race with the leading birds doing over a mile a minute.  The first three birds on the result sheet belonged to R Toplis, a Blue cock, Chequer hen and a Chequer cock, on velocities of 1779, 1777 & 1773.  Fourth was J Chadwick with a Chequer hen on 1766.  On the 16th August, 2008 they raced from Kempsey when 17 members sent a total of 329 birds and liberation was at 0845 into a strong South wind.  Taking the Red card was Derek Owen with a Pied cock on a velocity of 1890, second and third was Russ Toplis with a Blue cock and Chequer hen on 1879 & 1876.4.  Fourth was Chris Mather with a Chequer hen on 1876.1.  It was another fast race and sadly some workers missed their birds, bad luck Mal!

Garstang HS/Isobel Billington – The 10th August saw 10 members sending 238 birds to Wollaston, the birds were up at 10am in a West South West wind after a holdover.  Claiming 1st & 4th positions is Ken Galt, his birds recording 1695 & 1649.  Ken was also 10th North West Lancs Fed from 1135 birds.  In 2nd & 3rd place was Peter & Isobel Billington their birds doing 1671 and 1668.  The nom bird was won by Fred Bindless.  Ian Noblet has now been allowed home from hospital after a long stay of eight weeks.  We all wish him well and a speedy recovery.

Hartshead Flying Club/Jimmy Bardsley – In the Club race from Swainswick 4 members sent 59 birds.  Taking 1st, 2nd & 3rd with his Gaby Vandenabeele youngsters is Billy Vickers & Son on 1787, 1779 & 1734.  4th was R & C Sidebottom on 1706 with a Soontjen.  On to Cheltenham on the 16th August, 2008 when 3 members sent 81 birds.  Taking 1st, 2nd and 4th place is Billy Vickers & Son again with his Gaby’s on 1772, 1756 and 1732.  The winning pigeon also won at Swainswick the previous week.  R & C Sidebottom took 3rd with a Soontjen on 1736.

Hindley Homing Society/Powder Blue – 4 members sent 51 birds to Kempsey flow on the 10th August, 2008 and liberated at 0900 in a South West wind.  1st, 2nd & 3rd Colin Crompton on 1808 Blue C, 1800 Dark C and 1797 Blue C.  4th Kevin Flatley on 1781 Blue H.  Well done to Colin Crompton taking 1st, 2nd & 3rd and my old friend The Ace Kev Flatley in 4th but look at my old friend Siddy Robbie, his first bird pooled a/t and 1st S/N, not lost his touch.

Kersal Vale HS/John Crehan – The Club kicked off the young bird season with just three members sending 36 birds to Wollaston 1.  Winning their first race with second to boot is the newly formed partnership of Billy Fingleton & Brian Wheeldon with two young birds bred from gift birds from Crehan & O'Connor on 1511 & 1498.  3rd is Crehan & O'Connor on 1495.  The second young bird race was from Wollaston (2) with a better turnout of 7 members sending 120 birds.  1st this week is Crehan & O'Connor with a Blue hen on 1578.  2nd is M Davies on 1540.  3rd is Mr Keith Sandbach on 1538.

On to Kempsey where 10 members sent 140 birds liberated with a fantastic decision at 0730 into a light South East wind.  Wall, Lunt & Green come in with a bang taking the first four positions with velocities of 1932, 1901, 1900 & 1900.  Members reported good returns which is what we all need with the big losses many have suffered this year.  I know some don’t like the decision to liberate so early but I think it’s plain to see that the returns have been much better than the later liberations and as these young birds are next years old birds its common sense to put the birds welfare first.

Lostock FC/Ken Burke – In the Club race from Swainswick (1), 7 members sent 102 birds.  1st S Herbert & Son on 1466 with a Dark Cheq cock.  2nd & 4th R Kent on 1464 with a Cheq Pied cock followed on 1462.12 by a Cheq hen.  In 3rd place is J Smith on 1462.43 with a Cheq cock.  On to Swainswick (2) when 8 members sent 105 birds.  1st R Kent on 1407 with a Cheq hen.  2nd & 4th K Burke on 1388 Blue Pied cock and 1385 Blue Pied cock.  3rd J Lambert on 1386 Cheq Pied hen.

Marton Village HS/Frank Fleming – On the 10th August, 2008, 13 Members sent 283 birds.  The birds were held over until Sunday and liberated early.  It turned out to be a good race for the Red card specialist David Farrell.  His first bird a Dark cock bred from his Alan Cornwall Soontjens crossed with David’s Cassaerts just about beat its loft mate into second place, this being a Cheq hen bred from his Janssen crossed Cassaert stock that have stood him in good stead all season, they came together only one second separating them.  Roy & Mark Acton begin their push once again third with a youngster bred out of the bird clocked at Niort, a Linderlauf.  These have been flying well all season and have proved to be a good buy from Darren at Foxwood Lofts.  The partnership also was sixth with a self bred “Acton Special”.  Don & Kevin Spencer pushing all the way with their Belgium purchases doing them proud. `73` a Red Meuleman cock from their Marcel Van Ostoyan stock wins the fourth prize, followed by a youngster bred from a Wildy crossed Vandenabeele pair from an entire clearance sale from John Haywood.  The best youngster for the partnership this season has to be `76` this Red cock again another of their Belgium via Marcel Van Ostayen birds wins the pools and takes ten points in the “League”.  The hard luck story of the day must go to Peter Fish his bird stayed out for five minutes, he will have to get together with Steve & Anne Nicholls they have had this problem for the last three races.  Derry Savage took the second part of the pools with his good Cheq cock `373` this pigeon must be the most consistent this season grabbing the pools most weeks.

Middleton & DHS/Budgie Crathorne – Racing from Cheltenham with the young birds, 18 members sent336 birds in aSouth, South East wind.  1stStan Yates, 113 miles, 1148y on 1781.  2nd J Wood & Son,114m, 1423y on 1772.  3rd Ray Wetherby, 113m, 547y on 1756.  4th J Wood & Son, 114m, 1423y on 1751.  Old Hens - 7 members sent44 birds in aSouth, South East wind.  1st Ken Mills, 111m, 10y on 1710.  2nd Anderson& Wragg, 112m, 897y on 1708.  3rd Ken Mills on 1705.  4th Dean Roberts, 110m, 1598y on 1682.  Attached is a photograph of S Gibbins with the winning pigeon from Niort on the 12th July, 2008.  Steve took 1st & 2nd Club, also 3rd & 7th North Cheshire Fed.

Steve Gibbins of Middleton DHS.

Minshull Mid Week Club/Ken Burke – 5 members sent 73 birds to Penkridge (2).  1st & 2nd J Smith on 1232 with a Slatey hen and 1222 Cheq Pied cock.  3rd ND Bloor 1219 Cheq cock and 4th GA Dimelow on 1217 Blue hen.  On to Wollaston when 5 members sent 65 birds.  1st & 4th J Smith on 1038 Cheq Pied hen and 1031 Cheq Pied hen.  2nd S Herbert & Son 1033 Blue cock and 3rd K Burke 1032 Blue hen.

Moorclose Flying Club/Dave Sykes – Racing from Kempsey on the 9th August, 2008 with 6 members sending 100 birds, AS Yates took the first four places on 1906, 1887, 1881 & 1865.  Well done Stan.

New Lancashire Federation/Alan Buckley – The Federation saw 40 members sending 630 birds to Wollaston YB2 flown on the 2nd August, 2008 and liberated at 11am in a light South West wind.  1st N Mulraney/Tyldesley Inv 1493 Cheq C.  2nd & 4th B Lonie/Tyldesley 1481 Grizzle C & 1473 Blue C.  3rd R Morris & Son/Blackburn South End 1479 Blue H.  5th Farnworth & Grant/Tyldesley 1440 Blue H.  6th & 10th D Skinner/Hindley Green HS 1437 Blue H & 1418 Blue H.  7th & 8th T Jackson/Old Lodge HS 1427 Blue C & 1425 Blue H.  9th WJ Bradbury/Lymm FC 1420 Cheq C.  Club birdage – Atherton 2/33.  Blackburn South End 5/57.  Hindley Green HS 7/75.  Leigh & DHS 5/19.  Lymm FC 5/107.  Old Lodge HS 9/191.  Tyldesley Inv 7/148.

North Cheshire Federation – 1673 birds were liberated from Wollaston at 1230 on the 2nd August, 2008.  1st Coutts & Stokes/Stockport 1536.  2nd J Wood & Son/Middleton 1530.  3rd V Dace/Stockport 1526.13.  4th, 5th, 6th & 7th JP & S Maylett/Failsworth 1526.07, 1525.76, 1525.45 & 1525.14.  8th S Maylett/Failsworth 1524.  9th Ashcroft, Watson & Pickup/Norden 1522.  10th R & R Norton/Norden 1514.

Oldham Flying Club/Sam Whitworth – 6 members sent 72 birds to Swainswick on the 10th August, 2008 liberated at 0900 in a South West wind.  1st Threlfall & Harris on 1800.  2nd K Donnellan on 1721.  3rd J Wood & Son on 1718 and 4th Bennett Bros on 1714.  Well done again to Alan & Peter, four on the trot.

Phoenix Flying Club/Ivan Byrne – Phoenix were at Wollaston for the third mid week race with 10 members sending 200 birds.  Daniel Tobias notched up his 5th win of the season just getting the better of Mick Byrne and Adam Vandaalen with a better trap.  Having their lofts very close together both birds racing home together.  Toby’s youngster was a Hartog and Mick & Adam’s youngster was a J & P Walker Busschaert.  Andy Harrison was in 3rd spot with a Rene Neuwelaert going in the clock and being very consistent with his young bird team.  The Club were at Kempsey for their Saturday race with 10 members sending 60 birds.  A wise decision by both Tommy Gerrard and Steve Duggan to get the youngsters up early.  Taking pole position is Shaun Horrocks with a young Grondelaer hen sitting eggs; she was well clear of the field and won’t be far away in the North Cheshire Fed.  Shaun also picked up 2nd with a Hartog.  3rd spot goes to the new starter Peter Lynam getting a little hen in the clock off the Brian Hatherley blood lines.

Prestwich DHS/Chris Carter – Cheltenham result from Prestwich - 1st Nick Doogan on 1738.  2nd Jack White on 1733.  3rd S & G Thompson on 1726.  4th Moran & Goodall on 1718.

Radcliffe DHS/Steve Green – 8 members sent 183 birds to Cheltenham liberated at 0730 into a South, South East wind.  Taking the first four places and carrying on where they left off from last week is A & C Fielding.  1st a Cheq Janssen hen on 1878, followed by a Cheq Staf Van Reet hen on 1877.  3rd a Blue Van Reet hen that won the other week on 1877 and 4th a Janssen hen on 1874.  A & C Fielding also took 1st pools with Mr & Mrs Jefferson taking 1st League Cup and the Nom.  The winning bird was verified by Steve Green and Mick Speakman.

Rawson Mid Week Flying Club/Mary Green – The Club raced from Kempsey when 10 members sent a total of 129 birds that were liberated at 0930 into a fresh South wind.  Well this turned out to be an up and down race with the winning bird clocking 28mins before the second from a distance of 100 miles.  This bird belonged to Mr & Mrs E Hodgson, a Chequer hen on a velocity of 1280, second and third was Derek Owen with a Chequer cock and a Blue Pied cock on velocities of 1083 and 1075. Fourth was D Lee with a white Hen on 1071.

Rochdale DHS/Simon Hughes – The Club had 9 members sending 238 birds to Cheltenham, the birds were away at 0745 into a South West wind.  Taking the rubber off the winner this week is A & S Hughes with a John & Mandy Turner Staf Van Reet cock bought at the Castleton presentation night on 1806.5.  Tony & Simon also timed two more in to take home second and fourth on 1801.3 & 1794.2, with two of their M & D Evans Gaby’s.  The ever present Gavin & Glyn Buckley was third with one of their excellent Braspenning youngsters. This was a good race for returns with everyone having 99% returns all we need now is for the wind to turn around into the North for some good steady races.

Rudheath WMFC/Derek Woodward – On the 2nd August, 2008 the Club raced from Cheltenham when the birds were liberated at 1230 in a South West wind.  1st & 3rd Derek Woodward with a Blue hen off a Son of Peter Fox’s Golden Gabby doing 1426 and a Blue hen from Kannibaal x Kleine Dirk lines off Peter Fox on 1287.  In 2nd place was C & IL Cooper with a Blue Busschaert hen on 1310.  4th B & G Mainwaring on 1169 with a Blue hen, their own breed.   In the Club race from Cheltenham on the 9th August, 2008, the winning bird was a Blue hen, a Granddaughter off a Dirk & Louis Van Dyck x with the Bourges hen on 1775.  2nd D Woodward with a Blue hen off Sissi x Floryroort line doing 1764.  3rd C & IL Cooper doing 1755 with a Blue Busschaert cock.  4th B & G Mainwaring with a Blue Pied hen doing 1750 one of their own breed.

Shaw & DHS/John Hughes – The second race for the young birds on the 26th July was from Kempsey when 12 members sent 392 birds liberated at 1230 in a light variable wind. First & second place goes to Slicker, Croston & Slicker on 1480 & 1479.  Third place goes to J Wood & Son on 1466.  Fourth place Holt Bros on 1460.  The next race was Cheltenham on the 2nd August, 2008 when 12 members sent 317 birds liberated at 1215 in a South West wind. Taking the first four positions is D James with velocities of 1579, 1579, 1578 & 1577.  The next race was Swainswick on the 10th August when 11 members sent 284 birds in a South West wind.  The first four places this time goes to Slicker, Croston & Slicker with velocities of 1814, 1814, 1797 & 1796.  To bring you up to date with the last race which is from Cheltenham the birds were liberated at 0745 in another South West wind. Ten members sent 254 birds.  The first four positions go to D James with velocities of 1788, 1785, 1784 & 1784. No information on the leading pigeons.

Skelmersdale HS/Les Seddon – The Club raced from Cheltenham (2) on the 16th August, 2008 and taking the Red card in 1st was Dave Holmes on 2002 with a Rietvink x Eijerkamp from stock off Mr & Mrs Greenhalgh of Garstang and Graham Rodricks of South Wales.  2nd Will Davies on 1983 with a Joop Groenen from Adrian Duggins.  3rd Geoff O’Hare & Bob Taylor on 1971 with a Gaby Vandenabeele.  4th Dave Holmes on 1960 with a Hartog x Van Loon off Mr & Mrs Greenhalgh.

South Lancashire Combine/Alan Buckley – Racing from Wollaston on the 2nd August, 2008 the Combine had 54 members sending 968 birds, liberated at 11am in a South wind.  1st Mr & Mrs Lomax/Atherton 1534 Pied H.  2nd, 3rd & 4th A Wicker/Atherton 1530 Grizzle C, 1527 Blue C & 1523 Blue C.  5th & 6th P & P Hacking/Atherton 1515 Cheq H & 1507 Blue C.  7th N Mulraney/New Lancs Fed 1493 Cheq C.  8th & 11th B Lonie/New Lancs 1481 Grizzle C & 1473 Blue C.  9th R Morris & Son/New Lancs 1479 Blue H.  10th C Mather/Atherton 1477 Cheq C.  12th & 14th Mr Ponti/Atherton 1446 Blue C & 1438 Cheq C.  13th Farnworth & Grant/New Lancs 1440 Blue H.  15th & 19th D Skinner/New Lancs 1437 Blue H & 1418 Blue H.  16th & 17th T Jackson/New Lancs 1427 Blue C & 1425 Blue H.  18th WJ Bradbury/New Lancs 1420 Cheq C.  20th Mr Thornley/Atherton 1416 Pied C.  Federation winners – Atherton 14/338 Mr & Mrs Lomax.  New Lancs Fed 40/630 N Mulraney.  Warrington Fed – No birds sent.

St Annes HS/Frank Fleming – On the 10th August, 2008 the Club had 12 Members sending 197 Birds.  Barnes & Burrow with a White Grizzle Hen bred from a Jos Thone pair win the Red card once again, with it also the Links Hotel Trophy.  Terry Smith the Lytham Ace nearly shoved them off their perch with a good second position, a Cheq cock from Gerry Clements Manchester Busschaert stock.  I think Terry will be paying my friend Gerry another visit this winter.  Third & Seventh the maestro himself Les Barrow with a Cheq hen bred down from the old lines he has had for many years.  Les also wins the single bird nomination with another of his good young hens. David Morrison always in the prizes has not let us down yet again with a Blue hen bred from a pair of Vandenabeele crossed with a Carreras from Martin Mitchell Stud takes the fourth prize.  Dean & Karen Allen win the Loft Prize £19.70 No.5.  ME Whiteside Trophy to next weeks race winner.  The west side winner is novice Steve Elder (or should I say was a novice) second is Brian Ingham the ever popular Secretary and third goes to J. Lye.

Three Counties Combine/Ken Burke – 397 members sent 3482 birds to Niort on the 12th July, 2008.  1st Brandon, Culshaw & Brandon/Lancashire Combine 1224.  2nd & 8th R Wignall Lancs Comb 1209.48 & 1178.  3rd WH Dolman/Cheshire Comb 1209.17.  4th & 14th Barber & Hilson/Lancs Comb 1197 & 1172.78.  5th J Leigh & Son/Lancs Comb 1192.  6th R Handley/Central Lancs Comb 1182.  7th J Holgate/Central Lancs 1181.  9th Hill & Gilligan/Central Lancs 1177.63.  10th J Sudderick/Central Lancs 1177.14.  11th Ellison & Sherliker/Central Lancs 1175.  12th GH Haworth & Son/Central Lancs 1173.  13th R Kent/Cheshire Comb 1172.81.    15th G Williams/Central Lancs 1168.60.  16th R Sutton/ Cheshire Comb 1166.50.  17th H Bratt & Son/Cheshire Comb 1165.85.  18th Dearden Bros & Johnson/Central Lancs 1165.44.  19th A Nixon/Central Lancs 1165.35.  20th S Gibbins/Central Lancs 1163.  Combine birdage – Cheshire Combine 57/356.  Central Lancs 221/2347.  Lancashire Combine 107/732.  Two Counties Combine 12/47.

Tyldesley Invitation Club/Joe Barton – The Club were at Cheltenham on the 16th August, 2008 when 6 members sent 78 birds liberated at 0710 in a South wind.  Taking the Red card was Farnworth & Grant with a Blue hen on 1766.  Second Norman Mulraney with a Blue cock on 1758.  Taking third & fourth was Eric Whittle his first a Cheq hen that took second last week on 1655 followed by a Cheq cock on 1650.  Most of the members have some sort of sickness in the young birds and that’s why there’s only a few birds being sent.  Maybe it may come back in the near future when you can breed 12 youngsters and still have them at the end of the season.  We live in hope.  Hard luck Norman & Eric on losing your hat tricks with Steve & Jed taking the Red card this week.

Whitworth HS/John Martindale – Racing from Cheltenham on the 16th August, 2008 the pigeons were up early due to expected rain later in the day.  Taking the Red card this week is Terry Whitworth & Son with a Busschaert cock doing 176lypm.  Terry also took third with a Van Loon.  In second and fourth with a Janssen/Van Hee cock and a Janssen hen respectively is John Martindale.

Wythenshawe HS/Mike Brennan – In the Club race on the 16th August, 2008 top spot goes to Royal Oak Lofts on 1831 with a Koopman hen out of our own stock.  2nd Kev Haslam on 1829 with a Janssen out of A Coutts stock.  3rd Royal Oak Lofts on 1795 with our self bred Black Pied cock, a Peter Van Der Merwe.  4th also goes to Royal Oak Lofts on 1747 with a Grizzle Silver Shadow Van Loon cock.

Wythenshawe Town FC 5 Bird Club/Mike Brennan – Racing from Kempsey there was a splendid performance from big Kev Dickens taking 1st & 2nd and £124.  The first bird a Blue Pied hen is a Houben out of R & R Davies stock.  2nd a self bred Bush x Van Reet.  3rd & 4th and £51 go to Al Nixon, no info of birds.

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.