Parkinson 253 3/9/10

LES J. PARKINSON'S

NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES

As I mentioned last week I was getting the young birds trained privately to at least 120mls and at the same time I was considering training a few hens for the old hen’s National. At least that was what I wanted to do, I had been exercising the hens and they had started to take a good interest in some serious flying around the loft. But then the time came for the 90ml toss and that is when I decided that was not the course of action that it was going to take. As I looked through the hens it was obvious that they were not going to be in the right wing condition to take on a 300ml plus race. They had done well in the other National races where I had sent them so I decided not to push my luck. They were down to their last three flights and that is no way to send old hens at this time of the year. Their body moult was good and I started to think that with them being so far on their wing and going into crates for a couple of days their body was likely to fall apart as well so the decision was easy to make the hen’s stay at home. On the Sunday I was watching the country file weather report and the prediction for the week was good so it was an excellent opportunity to get some longer training tosses into the young birds and of course for the National should I decide to send. Although they had been to quite a few tosses from Stafford with Alan and Malcolm that was not enough if I was going to send them to the National. With the National in mind I made arrangements to get them down to Gloucester with Mark Anderson and they did not have it easy probably because there were only a few pigeons with such a jump for babies. So after this one I decide that those left would not be going to any races this year but I am happy with those that I have in the loft for next season.

Stray

“Hello, I would be very grateful if you could give me contact details for people with homing pigeons in Fareham? I am just back in England after a sailing holiday, during which a young homing pigeon who seemed defeated by heavy winds hitched a ride on our boat!We had her with us from Cherbourg to Alderney. I contacted the Strays helpline via my Blackberry and looked after her according to their advice, and she was very well revived by the time we let her go on Alderney 24 hours later(we thought of bringing her back to England to return to her owners but were away two weeks and just couldn't, for lack of space etc, plus poop all over the boat, as we had no box on board for her!). But we'd love to know if she made it home. The strays line told us she was from Fareham (I have her ring ID details), but said they couldn't tell us more.I'm actually a journalist and would love to write about this, which I hope could provide some nice publicity for homing pigeons. I had never really understood before the interest in them, but fell in love with this plucky little bird! She was very pretty and friendly. I have some nice photos too of her on our boat, if she is home and her owner wonders where she was. If you have any contacts for the Fareham area, I would be very grateful if you could let me have them so I could try to contact the owner; of if you could forward this message. EF” I do have the details and have had a few e-mails and phone calls over the pigeon that belongs to David Wilkinson in Plymouth. Unfortunately to date the pigeon has not returned but we let me know if it does. This is another case of the general public taking an interest in racing pigeons and every bit of publicity for the sport is needed.

The Europa Final

This weekend sees the final of the Europa Classic. The two weeks prior to this final race for the Europa Classic saw the birds being prepared for the final race on the 12th September. For the main longer training tosses up to 120mls and no doubt that preparation is as good as it can be especially when the weather was on the side of the pigeons for a change. At the end of the first two weeks they were then given a couple of days rest before a few 35ml tosses depending on the weather during the final week. The birds will then be security checked and marked on Friday the 10th and as always everyone is welcome to attend this session and indeed give a hand. The birds will then be sent up on the Saturday morning for the race from Hexham an approximate distance of 250 miles or indeed 400km on Sunday 12th Sept. Just as last year the loft is only 30% full which is 300 paid entries, plus reserves plus Venturers. Almost identical to last years figures, indeed so the same as last year they will pay out 30% of the advertised prizes as per the rules. However just like last year they would not be happy in paying the First prize winner of this great race just £9000! As always the senior officials intend to bump up the FIRST PRIZE TO £21,000 for 2010, by using the income of the secondary auctions of returned birds as per 2009. This gives everyone in the race at least one chance to win a considerable amount of money. The team can not guarantee that everyone who attends the race will win a lump of money! However as always they can guarantee that everyone will get a fair crack of the whip and will have a great day out at the Europa under the big top Marquee. As always food drink and the company of like minded pigeon men will be available from 9am Sunday. The rooms at the hotel were becoming short during the last couple of weeks and after staying at this hotel we know it is a good one. If you fancy a go why not call Derek there may still be a few tried and tested pigeons left to activate.

Club/Fed newsHere is result for the Rudheath club of the second Wincanton race when the birds were up at 9am in north west wind. 1st & 3rd is green fingers young Frank Lockwood recording a vel of 1325/1289ypm with his good old Busschaert family both having scored before well done sir. In second position we have last weeks fed winner John Stubbs on 1297ypm, John is starting chemo treatment next week so best wishes from all members to John. Finally we have club PO Malcolm Hewitt with a blue w/f hen on 1281ypm for 4th prize. John Stubbs takes pools so just this week’s Lulworth to go to finish off young birds off so good luck to everyone. Over at the Poynton RBLHS 5 members sent 83 birds to Blandford approx 170 miles. The birds were liberated at 10am in a WNW wind and Pete Stanway had a field day taking the top three positions in the Club and 4th,5th & 6th Fed 91/1439 birds with vels of 1521.5/1521.4/1521.2ypm. His first bird was a Wimmy Moens via Mark Evans followed by a Janssen x Engels and a Van Reet x Janssen. Ken Johnson was 4th Club, 12th Fed vel 1509 with a Marcelis via Stuart Knowles. In the next race from Poole approx 185 miles it was Mike Webb’s turn to take the first three positions in the Club vels 1392/1391/1387ypm with D & G Brown are 4th Club vel 1380. The Macclesfield FC race from Hullavington saw 7 send 138 birds with Martin Hough claiming 1st and 2nd on 1071/1070ypm both were bred by Martin and these two same way bred but from separate nests. They are Willy Thas on the sires side from a brother to Geoff Kirklands famous Snake paired on to Martins old Cheekie lines full of winners with both returning to the perch. Mick Goldstraw is 3rd on 1046ypm with a Sootjenn x Hybrechtoff fellow club members Rick & Simon Geary. Martin Houghis also 4th on 1041ypm the dam is aCareera and a sister to Wall, Lunt & Greens Blue Wonder the sire again a brother to Geoff Kirklands Snake well done martin. Now on to Blandford when 5 sent 85 birds leading the way again is the in form Martin Hough again claiming 1st & 2nd on 1512.9/1512.5ypm. The first in the clock is an Andrew Duggins Janssen the dam won 2x1sts and 1x2nd as a youngster last season while the second bird is bred through birds from Ron Williamson of Portadown the sire being a grandson of Millennium Superstar and the dam a granddaughter of Fantastic Light. Both Martins birds are young hens returning to the perch. In 3rd & 4th are Richard & Simon Geary on 1494/1491ypm the first being a Sootjenn x Vandenabeele sent sitting a brother to their moot winner with their next being a Sootjenn x Hybrech hen also sent sitting. We now move on to Poole when 6 sent 75 birds led home by George Greenwood & Paul Beaden aka team GB who finish a exceptional season in first position on 1375ypm after clocking a Staf Van Reet x Wildermeersh cock witch has already carded thisseason and was bred by them through their good classic cock. Martin Hough on 1367ypm is 2nd with a Staff Van Reet x Sootjenncock returning to the perch. Jill & Brian Smith are 3rd on 1356ypm after clocking a Vanbreeman x Tasker hen sent sitting and was bred by them through their very good stock. Club PO Kevin Bowers on 1354ypm is 4th with a Staf Van Reet x Houben hen sentpaired. The members would like to thank John Twister of Macclesfield for sponsoring the race. 7 sent 80 birds in the Moulton FC who were at Wincanton when Rob Barnett took the red card on 1270ypm with a chequer hen. Harry Vernon is next with a chequer hen on 11236ypm with the next two positions going to Mel Bratt on 1229/1227ypm they were also chequer hens. In the Lostock FC race from Kingsdown 8 members sent 163 birds with the red card going to Keith Herbert with a blue pied hen and was also 3rd after seeing home a blue cock recording vels of 1331/1323ypm. 2nd goes to Ian Cooper with a chequer hen on 1330 leaving 4th to Robert Kent recording a vel of 1269ypm with a blue hen. The Minshull mid week were at Kempsey to finish the season off when 6 sent 137. 1st & 2nd go to Kenny Burke on 1278/1276ypm with a blue pied cock and blue hen. Billy Whisker is 3rd after seeing home a dark chequer cock on 1274ypm while 4th goes to Ken & Clive Riley who clocked a chequer cock with a vel of 1267ypm. The Lymm FC were at Mangotsfield when the birds were liberated at 8.45am in a north west wind. 1st & 2nd go to Graham Walker who clocked Docx x Engles blue hen and a Walter Docx blue cock recording vels of 1420/1419ypm. In 3rd position is Colin Sheffield with a Van Den Brande cock doing 1417ypm. 4th place goes to Martin Joy on 1416ypm with a Lucien Geerts Cock. The Middlewich FC moved on to Wincanton that saw O’Hare & Woodward top the list with a vel of 1331ypm after moving a chequer Staf van Reet cock across the ETS pad racing home to the perch. Alan Greoom is 2nd on 1325ypm with a Van Den Bosch blue hen that has previously won two x 4ths. 3rd goes to Syd Latham who saw home a blue chequer Busschaert cock drop through the door to clock up 1324ypm. Mark & Heather Smith are 4th on 1319ypm with a FVW chequer pied cock racing to the perch as were all this weeks card winners. It was a similar story in the Middlewich 5B where O’Hare & Woodward collected another red card with a blue Vandenabeele cock on 1322ypm. The next two positions went to Alan Groom on 1227/1217ypm after seeing home a blue w/f hen that won the first race followed by a blue hen that prized the week before, they are both from Alan’s well established Van den Bosche family. Billy Whisker is 4th after seeing a chequer w/f cock go through the traps to record a vel of 1205ypm, this one was bred by Elimar lofts and won a couple of weeks earlier. Bill was telling me that this cock will never be able to tread a hen after breaking his legs a couple of months ago. John Lawson is keeping his finger in with the PO job for the Royal Wires at Warrington whose latest race being the second from Wincanton saw Andy Noon & Geoff Callan come home with 1st 3rd 4th recording vels of 1350/1325/1321ypm. Their winner is a blue cock bred from their A & S Hughes and Adrian Duggins stock that has flown very well for them. Don Risley is 2nd club with a blue Van De Merwe x Antoon & Hilde Reynaert hen clocking up 1347ypm. The Wettenhall 10B saw their birds at Wincanton when Mr & Mrs Albert Austin topped the list with a blue FVW cock on 1523ypm. The partnership were also 3rd after seeing home a Mealy Lambrecht cock recording a vel of 1481ypm. 2nd goes to A Jones & Son with a black cock on 1493ypm and whose sire was bred by Mick Mellor with the dam being a Vandenabeele from Ray Westwood. Hitchen & Horsfield are 4th after clocking a blue Jos Thone cock recording a vel of 1475ypm. What I did notice was that the first four are all cocks racing to the perch, I remember the days when fanciers tried to keep the cocks back for widowhood and even when they sent most put their young birds down as hens. Mick Barlow starts his news from the Blackpool Col this week with, “Sat in the garden Sunday evening with a glass of Rose Wine” its all right for some. The Blackpool Col raced from Hereford for the second time when 8 sent 250 birds that were liberated at 9am in a light south west wind. What a great race after 2hrs 25mins Mick Barlow timed his good blue cock in for the third successive week to win the club and 9th fed 1683 birds. This cock is a Vandenabeele x Karel Boeckx that has now won 2 x 1sts 1 x 2nd and was also his £5 nom plus his Bamfords single bird nom winning £85 in pools and prizes. Mick went on to say that he had to admit that this cock was the only one trying and he ahs decided to pack in for this season. His birds were not on the darkness system this year for his own reasons so most of the second round of young birds are pretty loose in feather and he is aware that they are unlikely to perform in this condition as the distance increases. 2nd club goes to Ron & Shirley Mott with a Janssen cock while 3rd sees Kenny Cardwell in the prizes with a hen carrying a gold ring so hopefully for Kenny they are coming into form for the Gold Ring race coming up shortly from Kingsdown. In 4th position was George Burnside after being away on holiday for a short break in Scarborough. The club then arced from Monmouth about 140mls to most in the club with 8 sending 223 birds that Tony De Valle had away at 9.30am in a North west wind. Most lads thought three and a half hours but the birds had other ideas and were back in the Blackpool area in just under 3hrs. George Parker timed a white grizzle cock from the Willy Thas breeding to win 1st club. These grizzles of George’s are magnificent pigeons and Mick cannot believe that this is his first win with the young birds. George was away in Spain at the time of writing and the birds were being looked after by Graham Carroll who packed in after the old birds had finished racing so decided to help George. Well done Graham it has been suggested that it might be better for the loft if George stays in Spain? 2nd & 3rd club went to the ever present Kenny Cardwell with two Staf van Reets off his good blue cock and what a good family of pigeons they are. They win from the first race right through to Nantes 460mls even though Kenny got caught in this race as he was talking to a friend and ex fancier Don Spencer in the conservatory. Don goes round to watch the pigeons come each week and he spotted the two arriving, Mick did say that they should know better. Kenny’s birds are coming good now with two races to go plus the breeder/buyer and Gold Ring race from Kongsdown. Ron & Shirley Mott keep up with a good season collecting 4th in what was a good race all round considering the strong winds. The South West Cheshire fed race from Wincanton saw 42 send 615 birds that were liberated at 12.15 in a South west wind. Long time fancier Joe Glover took top spot plus 7th & 10th from his entries with the Hankelow club where 9/148. Dave & Terry Sherratt are 2nd with Crewe West End 11/185 the club winners being Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt who are 3rd & 9th fed. Bob Humphries finishes 4th ahead of Wettenhall 7/91 winners Mr & Mrs Albert Austin. Roy Jolley is 6th with Dave & Gary Beeston coming in at 8th fed. A couple of club winners not making the fed this week and they are C Rowledge over at Greenbank 9/100 and O’Hare & Woodward with the Middlewich 5B 6/91. In the West Coast Federation 68 members sent 1683 birds to Hereford to be liberated at 9am in a light south west wind. This weeks fed toppers are Mr & Mrs Pearson from the Pilling Inv FC 7/178 and they did have a good race collecting 1st 2nd 3rd 15th & 23rd. Mr & Mrs French are 4th 12th & 30th with Roskell & Williamson 5th 6th 7th 16th 17th & 24th fed. In the Fleetwood & Dist HS 5/114 with Holloway & Colley coming home with 8th & 27th. The Blackpool Col 8/250 was won by Mick Barlow followed by Fleetwood HS 6/139 winners Blane, Edge & Blane who are 10th 13th 18th & 20th. Walter Riding is 11th 21st & 22nd while Thornton CL HS 5/126 winner is Derek Pedley who is 14th & 26th. Thwaites & Holloway are 19th with Staining HS 5/113 being led home by P Fisher & Son who are 25th 28th & 29th. Club winners missing out are Marton Village 5/175 where Dave Farrell tops the list. 3/48 in the Queens Inv HS whos saw Brian Fisher collect the red card. J A Hassall at the Kirkham & Wes HS 8/175. The known L & L J Barrow saw them away in the St Annes HS 11/292. That leaves the Stalmine HS 5/73 that was won by J Grayston. In the feds R & E Bamford Trophy Result 35 members entered with the top three prizes going to 1st Roskell & Williamson £109.25p plus the sponsors trophy. 2nd Mick Barlow £65.55p. 3rd Walter Riding £43.70p. From the 35 birds entered 14 failed to be timed.

Photos

Picked out a few photos of our trip with Geoff Kirkland to Belgium, which was a good one all round.

Frank Howard, Geoff Kirkland, Les & Elizabeth

Frank Howard's racing loft

Frank's young bird loft and aviary

Les with Geert & Clara Phillips and Geoff Kirkland

Les J.Parkinson. Elimar, 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 ONJ. Tel/Fax; 01606 836036. Mobile 07871 701585 elimar908@btinternet.com web-site www.elimarpigeons.com