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Around The U N C 26-10-18

 

“The Original” Around The Up North Combine

By Good Corn

   I received a email from John Elsdon who has had Pigeons since 1946 and although John raced in the early days, he moved over to fancy pigeons soon after. With John being a former President of the National Pigeon Association, of which he is a life member. John has judged some 650 shows in his time (Fancy and Show Racers), including Blackpool and one of his duties this year was to judge at the Egton Show, North Yorkshire Moors which he believes for the third time. John and his wife Beverley stays at Great Ayton and they always enjoy their weekend along the Cleveland coast where they invariably include Skinningrove in their travels, as they did in August this year. They last judged this show on the beautiful part of the Cleveland coast in 2011. 

John Elsdon, judging one of the Show classes.

   They stayed in Great Ayton at the same hotel they have used a few times before for this Show and the Stokesley Shows, with them travelling up on the Monday, for the show which was on the Wednesday and the rest of the time Beverley indulged in her new-found hobby of landscape photography (ever since she had some of her endeavours included in her workplace’s official calendar). The Egton Show was very popular with members of the public on a fine day and for John & Beverley  it was the usual Fur and Feather classification which they see at most of these Yorkshire Agricultural shows.

   The couple were warned earlier at the Tockwith Show, entries were down here too. This was generally believed to be as a result of the cold late spring and followed by the hot weather bringing about a heavy fall of feathers. They had sixty-two in the book with just a few empty pens, with Mr R Parker judging the forty-two show racers (just two exhibitors here, thanks for your support gentlemen). As a fancy judge, John chose Richard Henderson’s Andalusian Nun as his best with a yellow Turbit from David Knaggs as runner-up. Both these two birds were in excellent condition for the time of the year. Another notable bird was the Long-Faced Tumbler from Michael Knaggs, as Mike knows John is no expert on Long-Faced Tumbler's but John thought this hen was his best entry. Richard Henderson had two promising young Dragoons present which John shall be watching out for at future Shows. Among the fancy fliers, John picked out Keith Story’s black West as best. Robert Knaggs (yes, another one) had Best Junior with a Horseman.

   The Section was ably run by those tireless workers, Colin and Ingrid Farndale. I first came across Colin when he used to visit the late Harry Walker who flew pigeons at Brotton in his early days, later in life Harry moved into his late mother's house at Skinningrove which was next door to my parents house. Harry's Show Pigeon loft was on the same allotment as our racing loft, where Harry used to spend many a time talking about “The Good Old Days” of Pigeon racing. Colin visited Harry many, many times over the years, with Colin always picking Harry up for the Shows they attended as Harry was a non-driver. Both Harry and Colin had some very good Show Pigeons through their hands with them winning numerous firsts and other prizes over the years. Back to the Egton Show where there was lots of poultry present, prize money, good lunch, John just wished they had shows like this down their way.

Skinningrove H/S Clubhouse.

   When in these parts, John & Beverley always pays a visit to Skinningrove a pigeon racing hotbed of fanciers who have their own headquarters building with a full-size wooden carving of a man spanning the wing of a pigeon. Strangely, every time they visit, the person they speak to in the street always turns out to be an active Pigeon racer.

   I would like to thank John for the very interesting information on the Egton Show including the photo's, and wish him and Beverley well in future Shows. And who knows we may well bump into each other when him and Beverley are in Skinningrove.

   With that I will sign off until next time. Any news to Good Corn 6 Boulby Drive Loftus Saltburn Cleveland TS13 4JN. Tel: 01287 643624 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.