AROUND THE UP NORTH COMBINE

by Keith Simpson

Silkworth’s Record Breaking Murphy & Ayre

“Here Comes The Girls”, Claire enjoying an earlier night out with the lasses.

Silksworth Comrades Homing Society is one of five Clubs that make up the North East Counties Federation, with the other four Clubs being Dawdon, Murton Cornwall, New Seaham and Wearside. While the Sportsmans Arms is one of seven Clubs that belongs to the Sunderland Premier Federation, with the remaining six Clubs being Castletown,  Deptford, Ford Two Bird Club, Oddfellows, Plains Farm and West Side 6 Bird Club. Some fanciers are dual members with both Feds being part of the Up North Combine with the Silksworth and onetime Ryhope Progressive members holding their own at Federation and Combine level through the years, with many top performances being achieved time and time again. Both the North East Counties and the Sunderland Premier are very strong Federations with a number of top notch lofts that are performing well at Combine level. Looking through the roll of honours list Brannan & Partners of Silksworth won 1st UNC Brussels (1) in 1951, and the Ryhope loft of Johnson & Shillitto achieved the same 1st UNC Brussels (1) in 1952. Then 2 years later in 1954 it was the turn of Wardell, Son & Reid also of Ryhope to win 1st UNC only this time from Lille. 1968 saw the partnership of Forth & Son win 1st UNC Ashford young bird when there were 9,221 birds competing. Tipling & Pickard reached their goal when the Ryhope duo won 1st UNC from Lillers (2) in 1972 out of an entry of 6,680 birds. Moving on to 1977 the Ryhope loft of Porter & Groody struck Gold by winning 1st UNC Lillers (2) from a convoy of 12,636 birds, in the year same year Silksworth’s J.J. Horn won 1st UNC young bird Ashford from an entry of 12,577 birds. Jeff topped the Combine for a second time 2 years later from Lillers (2) from 16,005 birds. H Brown & Son of the same Club won the same Lillers (2) event in 1980 from a convoy of 17,651 birds. Abbeville (1) brought more Gold Medal success in 1990 when Thurlow Brothers of Silksworth won 1st UNC when there were 16,041 birds competing. The Silksworth loft of H Potts & Sons dreams were fulfilled in 2002 when they won 1st UNC Chenoise out of an entry of 6,202 birds, Clubmates Thurlow & McCluskey reaped their rewards in 2005 after winning 1st UNC Bourges from a convoy of 1,886 birds. Some of the mentioned fanciers are no longer with us but their memories will live on, each and every one of them have lived the dream. And I’m sure the future holds more 1st UNC success for the Silksworth and the more recently formed Sportsmans Arms.

In 2009 the loft of Murphy & Ayre were the winners of a record breaking 10 x 1st Clubs and 187pts, which is an absolutely fantastic achievement by anyones standards. The lads outstanding season saw them win the old bird inland average, the channel average and the combined average. Three of their record breaking wins produced Federation winners, with the duo first topping the Fed charts at old bird Rivenhall (1) out of an entry of 1,684 birds. The boys best win of the season was achieved at Lillers (1) from 933 birds; when their pole position Fed winner went on to score a most impressive 2nd Up North Combine winning a UNC Silver Medal from a convoy of 18,088 birds, with the first three in the Combine being on the same yard. Clubmates Bell & Todner chalked up a well-earned 2nd Club, 5th Fed and 31st Combine, with E Passmore netting 3rd Club, 10th Fed and 128th Combine from the Lillers (1) race. Murphy & Ayre recorded Fed win number three of the 2009 racing season at young bird Selby (Bubwith) (1) when there were 1,536 birds competing. These lads have flown a very notably Pigeon over the years and really reaped their rewards again in 2009, with their old birds hitting the heights. I’ll just give a few of their top results over the past couple of years, starting with Lillers (1) in 2007 when 1st, 3rd and 4th Club, 1st, 5th and 11th Fed, 11th, 83rd and 111th UNC was won from an entry of 19,069 birds. Dunn Bros & Whitfield had a couple in the clock to chalk up 2nd and 5th Club, 2nd and 12th Fed, 41st and 115th UNC, while P Haswell netted 6th Club, 14th Fed and 147th Combine. Murphy & Ayre topped the Fed for a second time in 2007 when their Newton Abbott chart-topper went on to score a well-earned 29th UNC from a convoy of 6,266 birds. Passmore & Robson timed a good one in at the Ryhope Progressive to win 1st Club, 1st Fed and 11th UNC. The Murphy & Ayre partnership enjoyed some very good racing in 2008 with the lads winning 1st Club, 1st Fed Huntingdon (2) from 1,089 birds, and then a most impressive 1st Club, 3rd Fed and 6th UNC Folkestone (2) National was won out of an entry of 20,472 birds. The boys also topped the Fed charts with the young birds when their pole position Mansfield (2) winner saw off an entry of 1,513 birds. The loft had a couple of birds in the clock at the young bird Maidstone National to win 1st and 2nd Club, 3rd and 5th Fed, 84th and 122nd UNC when there were 19,646 birds competing. The partners Staf Van Reets and Jos Soontjens family have performed remarkably well for them with the lads being top loft in 2007, 2008 and 2009, they have also won the old bird averages in 2010 that could well help them to be the highest prize winners for the fourth consecutive season.

The loft of Joe Barnes, Son & Grandson have being a force for some time now with them being second highest prize-winners in 2009 chalking up 112pts for their seasons work. Joe and his family were the winners of 4 x 1st Feds with them winning 1st Fed old bird Folkestone (1) National out of 1,322 birds, with the red card winner going on to score a very impressive 11th UNC from a convoy of 25,466 birds. The loft of E Passmore was hard behind netting 2nd Club, 2nd Fed and 12th UNC; while Tyler Bros took 3rd Club, 4th Fed and 30th Combine. Joe and his gang timed a second bird to lift 4th Club, 6th Fed and 61st UNC; while P Haswell got in on the act to pocket 5th Club, 8th Fed and 73rd UNC; Joe and his partners good day continued after clocking another four birds to pot 76th, 93rd, 119th and 141st UNC; while McSween & Sexton took 84th UNC and the loft of Murphy & Ayre notched up 144th Combine to round off a great days racing for the Silksworth fanciers. Joe and the boys achieved something they have always wanted to do, win Bourges the UNC longest race of the campaign and they not only won 1st Club for their chart-topping winner went on to win 1st Fed and a useful 30th Combine when there were 2,512 birds competing. The lads were top of the Federation tree for the third time at Melton Mowbray (4) with their red card winner seeing off an entry of 668 birds, and then Fed win number four of 2009 came at young bird Peterborough when there were 1,467 birds away. As I have already said, this loft has being a force for some time with them enjoying much success in their time in the sport, going back to 2003 they won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section 4 and 2nd UNC old bird Ashford (1) National from a convoy of  30,041 birds, being beaten by .1 of a yard. In the very same year the loft won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section and 6th UNC old bird Ashford (2) National when there were 23,041 birds competing. Two outstanding performances at the very highest level from very big entries, it doesn’t bet much better than that. I can also remember this loft enjoying a fantastic young bird season in 2006 when they topped the Fed from the last four races, their Huntingdon Fed winner saw off an entry of 1,504 birds and the Melton Mowbray (2) chart-topper beat 1,199 birds. The lads third Fed win was achieved at the Maidstone National when there were 917 birds competing with their pole position Fed and Section winner going onto score a very impressive 5th Up North Combine from a convoy of 16,494 birds. The partnerships fourth consecutive young bird Federation win came at Selby (3) when there were 805 birds away, the boys certenly had their young birds on song in 2006 that’s for sure. Mind you on saying that it was not just 2006 where they flew a very good youngster for the partnership won the Club young bird average in 2009, to make that five consecutive young bird average wins which is a fantastic achievement. Joe and the boys also won 3rd Open young bird Lillers in 2009, which again is great flying. Joe and his partners hit the winners’ enclosure in fantastic style from this seasons Folkestone (2) National when their red card winner went on to win an outstanding 1st Fed, 1st Section 4 (banking £142.00) and 4th UNC from a convoy of 17,366 birds. H Potts & Sons chalked up 2nd Club, 3rd Fed and 26th UNC while E Passmore timed no fewer than four birds to net 3rd and 5th Club, 4th, 6th, 16th and 19th Fed, 35th, 48th, 146th and 167th Combine. Pearson & Son took 4th Club, 5th Fed and 45th UNC and Tyler Bros notched up 6th Club, 7th Fed and 51st Combine, while Murphy & Ayre potted 9th Fed and 97th UNC with this being followed by Dunn Bros who clocked a couple of birds to lift 14th and 17th Fed, 132nd and 156th UNC to round off a brilliant Club performance for the Silksworth members. Joe and his family had another win at the Eastbourne Yearling National after timing no less than three birds to win 1st, 6th and 7th Club, 6th, 14th and 15th Fed, 39th, 114th and 116th UNC out on an entry of 7,030 birds. With H Potts & Sons timing three birds to lift 2nd and 3rd Club, 7th, 8th and 20th Fed, 51st , 56th and 160th UNC, while M Brown & Son netted  4th Club, 9th Fed and 59th UNC. Small & Nisbet took 5th Club, 12th Fed and 106th UNC and the loft of Peter Firth chalked up 16th Fed and 119th Combine.

The Barnes family proudly holding the Jack Strong Memorial Trophy for Bourges. Credit to the lad for an outstanding round of youngsters.

E Passmore was the scorer of 53pts, with the lad topping the North East Counties Federation charts at the Eastbourne Yearling National when there were 180 birds away, with the pole position winner going on to chalk up a well-earned 14th UNC from a convoy of  3,750 birds. H Potts & Sons the winners of the UNC channel average in 2001 were the scorers of 33pts. This is another Silksworth loft that has flown a very consistent bird for a number of years; in 2008 they won a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section and 4th UNC Folkestone (1) National when there were 31,088 birds competing, the winner that also won 1st Presidents nom went onto score a most impressive 4th North of England Homing Union from a whacking convoy of 45,989 birds which was an absolutely fantastic achievement. The partnership timed a second bird that race to chalk up a well earned 2nd Club, 5th Fed and 79th Combine to end a great day for the H Potts & Son partnership. The boys who were the brains behind the very successful Silksworth young bird Maidstone National breeder/buyer a couple of years ago had a Federation win in 2009 with that being achieved at young bird Selby (3) out of an entry of 823 birds. They also enjoyed a Fed win in the Sportsmans Arms with that coming at young bird Selby (2) when there were 2,032 birds competing.

The loft of McSween & Sexton have enjoyed some fantastic results with them performing outstandingly from the distance races over the past few years, in 2009 they were the scorers of 33pts. The partnership had one Fed win with that coming in the Sportsmans Arms from Bourges when their pole position winner went on to win a brilliant 3rd UNC winning a UNC Bronze Medal from a convoy of 2,512 birds. The boys who always seem to excel at Bourges timed another couple of birds to chalk up 3rd and 4th Club, 6th and 9th Fed, 84th and 110th Combine to end a very good days racing. The partnership were the winners of 1st North Of England Young Bird Futurity race from Stratford-Upon-Avon in 2006 and what an absolutely fantastic race the lads had from Bourges in 2007 when they won a most impressive 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 8th Fed, 6th, 12th, 67th and 74th UNC from a convoy of 3,137 birds. It did not stop there for another three birds were timed to chalk up 10th, 14th and 15th Fed, 84th, 120th and 121st Combine to round off a earth shattering loft performance from their 14 entries flying the distance of 565 miles. These lads made channel racing their own in 2008 with them winning 1st Club, 1st Fed and 44th UNC Clermont from a convoy of 9,684 birds. The partnership topped the Fed charts again from Bourges when their winner went onto win an outstanding 2nd UNC from a convoy of 2,419 birds, three more birds were timed that race to lift 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 37th, 85th and 124th UNC. Andrezel produced another channel win when the red card winner went on to score a brilliant 1st Fed and 5th UNC from a convoy of 4,787 birds. Lillers (2) saw the lads win 1st Club, 4th Fed and 28th UNC when there were 13,722 birds, to round off an absolutely fantastic channel season. The partnership won the Up North Combine channel average in 2007 and 2008 to add to their top channel performances. Looking back through the lads channel performances the past few seasons shows how hard they are to beat from the distance races, with a number of top class loft performances being produced at all levels. The partnership had another good one at this years Lillers (1) race when they won 1st Club, 1st Fed and 33rd UNC from a convoy of 18,368 birds. E Passmore scored 2nd Club, 2nd Fed and 84th UNC while P Haswell timed a couple of birds to lift 3rd and 5th Club, 3rd and 5th Fed, 97th and 130th Combine. Peter Firth netted 4th Club, 4th Fed and 104th Combine and this was followed up by Barnes, Son & Grandson pocketing 6th Club, 7th Fed and 140th UNC. Then H Potts & Sons chalked up 8th Fed and 160th UNC, only to be followed by Murphy & Ayre who notched up 9th Fed and 163rd Combine.

Dunn Bros & Whitfield netted 30pts in 2009 with the lads winning 1st Fed old bird Selby (2) in place of the Mansfield race from an entry of 2,085 birds. This loft seems to fly a notable bird as in 2008 they were the winners of 1st Club, 1st Fed Newark out of 1,931 birds and they were also the winners of 1st Club, 1st Fed Rivenhall (2) when there were 1,141 birds away. The partnership recorded their third Fed win of 2008 at young bird Peterborough (2) when their chart-topping youngster out-flew an entry of 780 birds.  The loft of Pearson & Son were the scorers of 26pts. Moving on to the loft of Bell & Todner who netted 20pts throughout the 2009 racing season, the lads had a Fed win in the Sportsmans Arms with their chart-topping Clermont winner flying 414 miles going on to pocket a well-earned 35th UNC from a convoy of 11,505 birds. With Clubmates Firth & Hooper chalking up a notable 2nd Club, 8th Fed and 106th Combine that day. The Bell & Todner partnership won 1st Club Clermont in the Sportsmans Arms again this season with their red card winner going on to produce a well-earned 2nd Fed and 16th UNC from a convoy of 9,095 birds. Beaten in the Fed by Gibbon, Son & Kirkbride who won 3rd UNC, the Westside 6 Bird members timed a second bird to lift 2nd Club, 3rd Fed and 22nd UNC to win the ‘Danish Cup of Friendship’ for the best two bird performance. The loft of Rush & Partners the previous winners of 1st Club, 1st Fed and 2nd UNC old bird Maidstone in place of Lillers (2) in 2005 from a convoy of 14,701 birds, clocked a good one in at Clermont to win 1st Club Castletown, 4th Fed and 27th UNC. The four birds did well in the North Of England Homing Union Queens Cup with Gibbon, Son & Kirkbride winning 3rd and 30th winning the Amtrak Trophy for the best two bird performance. Bell & Todner chalked up 22nd while Rush & Partners netted 37th Queens Cup from a convoy of 12,669 birds, which again in excellent flying at the highest level.

Tyler Bros the previous winners of 1st Club, 1st Fed and a most impressive 13th UNC Eastbourne Yearling Classic in 2008 from a convoy of 5,886 birds were the scorers of 20pts in 2009. Joe Barnes, Son & Grandson were the scorers of 2nd Club, 2nd Fed and 20th UNC, while Clubmates Murphy & Ayre netted 3rd club, 4th Fed and 44th Combine from the same Eastbourne race to round off a good day for the Club that race. The Brothers have had a notable win in 2010 when they won 1st Club, 4th Fed and 107th UNC Folkestone (1) from a convoy of 20,270 birds, with Small & Nisbet netting 2nd Club, 6th Fed and 114th Combine.  Small & Nisbet notched up 19pts in 2009; they did have a Fed win in the Sportsmans Arms with that coming at young bird Selby (1) when there were 1,335 birds competing. The lads have enjoyed great success in their time together with the duo achieving many top loft performances. In 2003 the boys won both the Up North Combine Bird of the Year and the Sealink Trophy with their yearling ‘Magic’. The hen was the winner of 6th Club and 17th Fed Mansfield from 2,330 birds, and then took 3rd Club and 3rd Fed Epping when there were 1,879 birds away. The hen also netted a useful 2nd Club, 2nd Fed, 2nd Section and 4th UNC Ashford (1) National when there were 30,041 birds competing. The outstanding hen went on to win 1st Club and 1st Fed Melton Mowbray from an entry of 1,304 birds and also chalked up 2nd Club, 2nd Fed, 3rd Section and 17th UNC Ashford (2) National from a convoy of 23,041 birds. Magic rounded off her fantastic 2003 racing season by potting 3rd Club and 12th Fed Melton Mowbray against 1,190 birds. The boys won 3 x 1st Feds flying in Silksworth in 2005 with them opening their account at Lillers (1) when the chart-topper saw off an entry of 1,156 birds to go on to score 29th UNC from a convoy of 20,591 birds. They also won the Ryhope Progressive Club the same race with their red card winner going on to pocket 2nd Fed and 39th Combine. Fed win number two came at the Folkestone (2) National which also brought a stunning 8th UNC when there was 17,213 birds away, the loft also won 1st Ryhope, 1st Fed and 14th Combine that day which once again showed what the lads were capable of achieving. The third Fed win of 2005 came at Maidstone out of 691 birds, the winner proved its worth by netting an outstanding 3rd UNC out of a convoy of 14,701 birds. The duo also had a 1st Club, 2nd Fed and 29th UNC Folkestone (1) National that season. I have mentioned the boys Folkestone (2) Sunderland Premier Federation win; in fact they had a second Fed win from North Weald (2) out of an entry of 1,463 birds. The partnership topped the Fed four times in 2006 with their Brooklands (1) National winner going onto score a very impressive 3rd UNC and a Bronze Medal out of an entry of 29,005 birds. Clubmates J Strong & Sons filled a couple of cells that race to lift an outstanding 2nd and 3rd Club, 2nd and 3rd Fed, 4th and 11th Combine, with Murphy & Ayre netting 4th Club, 5th Fed and 17th UNC while H Potts & Sons potted 5th Club, 8th Fed and 27th UNC to end another great performance for the Silksworth members. Small & Nisbet’s North Weald pole position Fed winner took 25th UNC from 20,721 birds, their third and fourth Fed wins came at Melton Mowbray (4) and Melton Mowbray (5). It will be no surprise if these two lads work their way back to the top, they have done it in the past and are capable of achieving the same in the future.  P Haswell chalked up 15pts in 2009; the lad has enjoyed a very good win this season when he won an outstanding 1st Club, 1st Fed and 40th UNC Andrezel from a convoy of 4,106 birds. Murphy & Ayre netted 2nd Club, 3rd Fed and 67th UNC while McSween & Sexton took 3rd Club, 4th Fed and 86th Combine from the Andrezel race. D Cornish scored 10pts throughout the 2009 racing season.

Claire Leighton presenting the Maurice Leighton Cup to J Strong & Sons.

John Thompson & Eddie Kell enjoyed a fantastic 2009 racing season to be rewarded with the Sportsmans Arms young bird average, Bird Of The Year and the combined average winners. Amongst the duo’s wins was a 1st Club and 146th UNC Eastbourne National, and a 1st and 2nd Club, 6th and 8th Fed, 124th and 142nd UNC young bird Maidstone National. I have seen the name of J Strong & Sons name on the UNC result sheets a number of times over the years where it has also appeared as Strong, Sons & Passmore, with the loft of Strong & Sons still going strong at Combine level. The Sportsmans Arms partnership had two old bird Sunderland Premier Federation wins in 2009 with their first being achieved at the Folkestone (2) National when there was 1,540 birds competing with the pole position Fed winner going on to score a well-earned 18th UNC from a convoy of 25,466 birds, with Clubmates Small & Nisbet netting 2nd Club, 11th Fed and 114th Combine. Fed win number two was produced at Rivenhall (2) when their chart-topper out flew an entry of 1,540 birds. The loft had a good win at Lillers (1) when their red card winner went on to score a notable 5th Fed and 56th UNC from a convoy of 18,088 birds.  Peter Firth the previous winner of 1st Club, 1st Sunderland Premier Fed and 4th UNC old bird Maidstone National out of 19,460 birds in 2007 when flying as Firth & Hooper enjoyed another good win in 2010 when he won 1st Silksworth Club, 2nd Fed and 43rd UNC Bourges from 1,988 birds. Clubmate J Lynn netted 2nd Club, 4th Fed and 59th UNC while P Haswell pocketed 3rd Club, 6th Fed and 160th Combine.

John Thompson & Eddie receiving the Baby James Taylor Memorial Trophy and the Young Bird Average Trophy.

The reason behind this report is that I presented the prizes for both Clubs at their joint presentation evening in 2009 but have never had the time for the write-up. Good friend Dave Drinkhall went up with me on the night, we sat in the company of Jeff & Claire Leighton who I have got friendly with over the years. It was a very good night out with a young local group entertaining the crowd, they may well have being a bit too loud for some but not for Claire. I talked to a few of the members throughout the night, who like me really enjoyed themselves. Any news to Good Corn at 139 Zetland Row Skinningrove Saltburn Cleveland TS13 4BN. Tel; 01287 643624 or Email; goodcorn@tiscali.co.uk