“The Original” Around The Up North Combine

By Good Corn

Friday 6th July the Up North Combine were at Reims for the fourth French channel race of the season, when Chief Convoyer Peter Maw liberated the entry of 3,265 birds at 6am in a light North wind. The weather had being very hot of late and the temperatures where very high again which was going to affect some of the birds, with dehydration getting to them.

Going straight to the East Cleveland Federation and starting at the very top of the tree where the Skinningrove H/S partnership of Mr & Mrs I & E Purver timed their fancied yearling smokey blue Gaby Vandenabeele hen to win an outstanding 1st Club, 1st Federation from a 35 members entry of 304 birds, 2nd £2 Fed Nom pocketing £51.00, 3rd North Of England Championship Club banking £177.85, 1st Section 7 netting another £148.19 and 8th Up North Combine. Ian &  Liz's chart-topping hen who was competing over the pond for the first time and was ¾ way done on her first flight is out of the duo's “Jutla Cock” who is a grandson of “James Bond” the winner of 1st National, the lines of “Bliksem” is also in the pedigree. While the dam of the winning hen that was picked out as a young bird by Liz so is her favourite, is the “Temple Park Hen” who was purchased from Stewart Knowles at a NEHU Show Of The Year sale. With her containing the lines of “Tobias” and “Superman” on her sire's side and “Jester” and “Carrie” on her dams side. This was Ian & Liz's second consecutive Reims 1st Federation win as they won a brilliant 1st Club, 1st East Cleveland Federation, 1st £1, £2, £5 Fed Noms lifting £177.00, 1st Section 7 netting £112.39, 1st North Of England Championship Club banking another £327.64 and 1st Up North Combine winning a Combine Gold Medal with “Dream Girl” from a convoy of 4,193 birds in 2017. This years Federation winner who won her Club by just under 10 minutes and topped the Fed by 4 minutes was prepared for the Reims race the same as “Dream Girl” was in 2017, so too was Ian & Liz's most fancied 3y chequer pied Gaby Vandenabeele hen who was 3rd Club, 3rd Fed and 23rd UNC from Reims last season behind “Dream Girl”. Unfortunately the chequer pied hen never made it home on the day which was a very big disappointment for Ian & Liz, the hen did return the next day with a very bad injury which needed a number of stitches to knit her flesh together. The injury will heal but her racing is now finished for she has being retired to the stock loft.

Ian & Liz Purver of Skinningrove H/S the winners of 1st Club, 1st East Cleveland Federation, 1st

Section 7 and 8th Up North Combine Reims 3,265 birds.

 

Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson timed a couple of 2y and a yearling doing 1232, 1157, 1112 to lift a notable 2nd and 5th Club, 3rd, 11th, 16th Fed, 15th, 92nd, 201st Combine. The loft of the late Gordon “Shang” Peirson MBE & sons Sack & Jim and loft helpers Bever McConnell and his son Bobby the winners of an outstanding 1st Club, 1st Fed Oakham (2) out of an entry of 812 birds are in 3rd spot. With the lads first time in the clock fancied green card scoring 2y blue De Rauw Sablon roundabout cock that was bred for Bobby by Steve Trattles of the brother and sister partnership of Steve & Sheila Trattles of Loftus fame knocking out a vel of 1168 to win the £1 Fed Nom, 2nd £2 Fed Nom pocketing £48.00, and going onto net 69th UNC.

White Bros Malc & Stuart had a couple of birds on the clock to lift 4th Club, 9th and 17th Fed, 82nd and 210th UNC on 1164 and 1108. With their well-fancied 2y blue Mike & Lee Prokopowicz Jos Thone x Steve Wilson, son & daughter cock  winning 3rd £2 Fed Nom claiming £20.40, 1st Loftus Championship Club netting £33.00 and 1st Sponsorship banking another £80.00. The cock hit the heights out of Burbure (1) when he won a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Fed and the 10th UNC from a convoy of 10,633 birds, he was on the clock for the second time from the second channel race Burbure 2 (sub Roye) when he notched up 249th UNC. The duo's second timer was a 2016 bred pied hen who is out of a cock bred by Kevin “Fieldwalker” McFarlane of Bolden fame for the 2014 Loftus Championship Club breeder/buyer, while the dam of the pied hen who took 238th UNC from Burbure (2) is out of the brothers old Soontjen family. Tich Richards & Alice Marsay had a fancied 4y on the clock to notch up 15th Fed and 155th UNC on 1139 with Tich and his granddaughter Alice timer potting 3rd Loftus Championship Club lifting £11.00 and 3rd Sponsorship claiming another £32.00. While Sayers Bros David, Kenny, Brian and loft helper Richard took 18th Fed, 222nd UNC on 1103.

 

Next stop is Skelton Green where Alan & David Wright returned to their winning ways to record their second channel win of the season after timing no less than five of their entries to win a top notch 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th Club out of a four members entry of 54 birds, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 10th, 14th Fed with vels of 1246, 1178, 1170, 1163, 1144. With pole position being won by a 2y who topped the Club charts by 32 minutes going onto score an outstanding 10th UNC, and the duo's green card potting yearling went onto chalk up 55th UNC while their yellow card claiming 3y netted 65th UNC. Alan & David's fourth timer was a 2y taking 83rd UNC, while fifth on the clock was a 2y chequer Busschaert that claimed 129th Combine, with the lads timer being the previous winner of 4th Club Oakham (1), 2nd Club, 15th Fed Burbure (1) out of 726 birds and 1st Club, 15th Fed, 79th UNC out of Burbure (2) from 253 birds. Alan & David really had their birds on song this week with their birds producing the Feds top performance of the day, and all credit to them for achieving this.

The inform loft of Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell of Guisborough had a couple of birds on the clock to lift 2nd and 6th Club with the blue card being awarded to a 2y achieving a vel of 1183 to chalk up a nice 5th Fed, 48th UNC. While Mick, Boss & Trevor's in the money second timer was a well-fancied 4y doing 1149 to go onto lift 13th Fed pocketing £65.00 for winning the £5 Fed Nom, 2nd Loftus Championship Club netting £22.00, 2nd Sponsorship claiming £48.00, winning the £100.00 Nom and 114th Combine to round off another profitable days racing.

Onto Brotton H/S where the loft of Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson & Tubby “Graham” Purver and the very helpful Evo “Ian” Everington & Frankie Rolands had two birds on the clock to win 1st and 6th Club from a seven members entry of 51 birds, with the red card winning yearling who topped the Club charts by 13 minutes recording a chart-topping vel of 1199 to go onto score a notable 4th Fed and 33rd UNC. While second on the clock came a 2y on 829.5. Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners timed a single bird to lift 2nd Club on 1068. While Darren & James Waters the 1st and 2nd Club, 7th and 8th Fed, 69th and 70th UNC Bourges winners clocked a 2y doing 1061 to take 3rd Club. Frank & Brenda Reilly & son Wayne timed a 2y on 1032 to pot 4th Club and a yearling on 859.1 to notch up 5th Club.

 

David Coates records his second win on the trot at Boosbeck after timing three of his channel team to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club out of a three members entry of 39 birds. With top spot being won by a 2y achieving a chart topping vel of 1150 which was enough to pot a useful 12th Fed and 109th UNC. The blue card was netted by another 2y doing 1102 to lift 19th Fed, 225th UNC; while David's green card lifter was a 3y knocking out a vel of 1099 for 20th Fed, 228th Combine. The timer flew very well from the channel last season chalking three times over the water scoring 2nd Club, 18th Fed Burbure (1), and then taking 5th Club, 31st Fed Roye when beaten by two loftmates that won 1st and 4th Club, 2nd and 25th Fed. Onto the Reims race where 4th Club, 14th Fed, 164th UNC was taken when beaten by a loftmate that was 2nd Club, 5th Fed and 43rd UNC from a convoy of 4,193 birds. David has flown a notable channel bird for a number of years now with the lad producing Federation wins and some good Combine positions along the way.

 

Moving onto Marske & New Marske where Club Secretary Martin Hogarth was the only Club member to send to the Reims race as he was the only one to send from the Burbure 2 (sub Roye) race. Martin got both his birds back but only timed his first bird to score 21st Fed and 246th UNC with a vel of 1093, with Martin's timer being a 2016 bred blue hen that had been very consistent from over the pond with her netting 30th Fed out of Reims from an entry of 287 birds and then  winning 1st Club, 50th Fed Burbure (2) in 2017 when there were 907 birds competing. The hen was also 3rd Club, 41st Fed Burbure (1) this season when there were 726 birds away and then notched up 53rd Fed Burbure (2).

Its win number four on the belt for the Brotton Six Bird Club trio Frank & Brenda Reilly & son Wayne after timing two birds to win a belting 1st and 2nd Club with top spot being won by a 5y, while the blue card was awarded to a 2y to keep up their winning run. The partnership of Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson & Tubby “Graham” Purver and loft helpers Evo “Ian” Everington & Frankie Rolands had a couple of 2y in the frame to take 3rd and 6th Club. Andrew & Gavin Doe, John “Dillon” Swales and the late Sandy Sanderson are in 4th spot with the lads yellow card scorer chalking for the second time from France after netting 6th Club Burbure (1) when beaten by a loftmate that notched up 5th Club. Darren & James Waters clocked a 5y to lift 5th Club.

There comes a time when you sit back and admire some fanciers consistent top channel performance and that time has come for the Haverton Hill partnership of Andrew “Jappa” Appleton & Paul “Skunky” Longstaff who have been on cloud 9 this season after their top performances at Club, Federation and Up North Combine level. Andrew & Paul's birds achieved another fantastic channel performance after the inform duo timed no fewer than three of their six entries to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd, 4th Club from 31 birds, 1st, 2nd, 7th Teesside Federation from an entry of 219 birds. With pole position being won by their reliable and well-fancied outstanding 4y chequer Ali McLeod Vandenabeele cock who recorded a chart topping vel of 1240 to win all Club pools netting £39.76, the Fed Nom, 1st £5 Fed pools and 11th Up North Combine. The outstanding cock who has more than earned his place in the stock loft even if he is just there to look at, must have been a pleasure to have raced after winning an earth-shattering 5 x 1st Clubs, 3 x 1st, 2 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd Feds, 1 x 1st Section, 6th, 11th, 13th, 29th, 36th, 65th UNC. The very reliable cock has given Jappa & Skunky some very happy times and I'm sure there will be always a place in their hearts for him, with him being talked about many times in the coming years. This is the time when Jappa & Skunky will be hoping a new star of the loft is born, and it will have to go some to better the chequer cocks awesome performances.

Jappa & Skunky's blue card scorer was a yearling blue hen who was timed three minutes after her Federation winning loftmate to knock out a vel of 1235 which was enough to lift 2nd £5 Fed pools and net an impressive 14th UNC; then hen chalked up 3rd Club, 8th Fed, 44th UNC Burbure (1) when beaten by a loftmate that won a earth-shattering 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section 5 and 3rd Up North Combine winning a Combine Bronze Medal from a convoy of 10,633 birds. The yellow card was awarded to a 2y chequer hen who was on the sheet last year, this time with a vel of 1148.2 the hen pocketed 121st UNC to round off another fantastic team performance from over the channel and puts them in front for the Federation Channel Average with one race to go.

The loft of Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod & son Dale timed four of their eleven entries to take 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th Club, 4th, 14th, 18th, 20th Fed on 1187, 1076, 955, 873, with the green card going to a yearling blue hen who follows up the 4th Club, 6th Fed she netted the previous race out of the Maidstone National, this time she goes onto lift 61st Combine. Paul, Graham & Dale who were the Clubs top prizewinners in 2017 other three timers were all yearlings.

The Middlesbrough H/S partnership of the late Les Wellburn & sons Les & Derek achieved their second win on the trot after timing no less than seven of their 14 entries to win a top notch 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th Club, 3rd, 9th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 19th Fed with vels of 1204, 1117, 1091, 1090, 1061, 1053, 907. With Les & Derek's red card winner that topped the Club charts by 21 minutes being a 3y chequer hen that went onto score a very nice and notable 26th UNC, while their yellow card potter was a 4y blue hen taking 191st UNC. The brothers third timer was a yearling blue hen that claimed 250th Combine, and five seconds later came a 5y chequer hen. The lads next couple of timers were both 2y a blue hen and a chequer hen, and their final bird on the clock was a 3y chequer cock to round off a very impressive team performance. Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley had two of their seven entries in the frame to lift 2nd Club, 5th and 17th Fed with the blue card being awarded to a 2y blue cock making 1169 to pocket 67th UNC; while Stephen & Jeanann's second timer was a 3y blue hen. Keith Hodge & Dennis Potter timed a 2016 bred blue pied hen achieving a vel of 1129 to chalk up 3rd Club, 8th  Fed, 156th UNC.

Onto Billingham TU H/S where we see the very popular Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins French polish off a very notable performance after timing two of their channel entries to win a top notch 1st and 2nd Club, 6th and 11th Fed. With top spot being won by a 2y blue hen bred by Evans & Hawkins achieving a winning vel of 1148.3 to go onto chalk up 120th UNC. Brian & Keith who are the previous winners of 1st Up North Combine old bird Folkestone (2) National in 2010 with a yearling blue and white cock named “Ollie” after Brian's grandson Oliver, blue card potter was a yearling dark pied hen doing 1096 to claim 238th Combine. Brian & Keith first featured in the result out of Newark when they timed a yearling blue cock to lift 9th Fed out of an entry of 958 birds, and the following race when the birds were at Chelmsford (1) the two lads took 12th Fed when there was 926 birds competing with a fancied 2y blue hen that won the Fed Nom. Brian & Keith had two of their Burbure (1) entries on the clock to score 2nd Club, 4th and 20th Fed with their blue card potting 2016 bred blue pied cock going onto lift a notable 32nd UNC, while their second timer a yearling chequer hen pocketing 237th Combine. The duo timed the 2y blue hen that took 12th Fed and winning the Nom out of Chelmsford (1) at Burbure (2) to notch up 14th Fed, 199th UNC.

Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins of Billingham TU H/S, winners of 1st and 2nd Club, 6th and 11th

Teesside Federation, 120th and 238th Up North Combine Reims 3,265 birds.

It's welcome into the winners' enclosure for M Donnelly of the Beechwood & Easterside who timed one of his four entries a 3y blue pied cock, to win a much-deserved and notable 1st Club, 10th Fed, 208th UNC on 1108. The pole position winner is scoring from Reims for the second year running for the cock chalked up 2nd Club, 8th Fed and 197th Combine in 2017.

The Teesside Federation was at Oakham (4) on Sunday 8th July when their entry of 213 birds were up and away at 7.50am flying into a light variable wind. Starting at Middlesbrough H/S where it's a hat-trick of win for the loft of the late Les Wellburn & sons Les & Derek after the two brothers timed a couple of 3y to win a top notch 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 6th Fed. With pole position being won by a well out in front blue pied hen recording a chart topping vel of 1334; the blue card was awarded to a chequer cock that was over four minutes behind the lads winner. Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley timed four of their eight entries to lift a notable 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Club with the green card going to a 2017 bred blue pied hen knocking up a vel of 1307.3 for  8th Fed. The yellow was potted by a fancied 3y blue hen making 1287 to net 12th  Fed and winning the Fed Nom, third on the clock was another 3y blue hen on 1280 to claim 15th Fed. Stephen & Jeanann's fourth bird on the clock was a yearling chequer hen doing 1276 to notch up 16th Fed. Keith Hodge & Dennis Potter clocked a 1y blue cock on 1274 to pot 18th Fed.

Ali “Mac” McLeod records another winning performance at Billingham T U H/S after clocking no less than eight birds to win a belting 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 19th, 20th Fed with vels of 1328.9, 1328.7, 1313, 1295.1 (2), 1294.3, 1271 and 1270. With top spot being won by a 2016 bred blue hen that has chalked a number of times including scoring 2nd Club, 2nd Fed Oakham (3) when beaten by a loftmate. The blue card was awarded to another consistent 2y blue hen who's positions include 3rd Club, 3rd Fed Oakham (1) and 2nd Club, 3rd Fed, 22nd UNC Burbure (2) this year. The yellow was potted by a yearling blue hen who was 2nd Club, 2nd Fed out of Huntingdon when beaten by a loftmate. Mac's next three timers that were clocked within seven seconds of each other were a 2016 bred blue pied hen, a 2y blue hen and a 1y blue hen, and they were followed by a couple of 2y a blue cock and a blue pied hen.

Steve “Wilber” Wilson had three of his squad on the clock to lift 3rd Club, 4th, 13th, 17th Fed with the green card going to a 2y blue hen doing 1315, the hen who is out of Dolf Bakker & son Rudd bloodlines on the sire's side and the dam is bred down from “Hannibal” bloodlines is the previous scorer of 3rd Club, 8th Fed Maidstone National this season when beaten by two loftmates that won 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 5th Fed, 6th and 183rd UNC. Second on the clock was a 2y chequer hen doing 1286 and she was followed by a yearling chequer hen on 1275. Tommy Clark & son Gary clocked two 3y chequer hens to notch up 7th and 14th Fed with vels of 1307.8 and 1281.

The strings were cut on the East Cleveland Federations 36 members muster of 660 birds at 8.10am with the inform Skelton Green partnership of Bowden Bros Mick & Bros and loft helper Trevor Mitchell going to town after timing five of their squad to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th Club out of a six members entry of 158 Birds. Leading the way was a yearling recording a top vel of 1342 to win a most impressive 1st Federation, the blue card was netted by a 3y making 1337 to lift an impressive 2nd Fed while the green card was taken by a yearling. Mick, boss & Trevor's yellow card scorer was a 2y and fifth on the clock came a 1y to round off a fantastic days racing. The late Peter Winspear & son Derek and his son mark clocked a 2y to take 5th Club and a couple of points.

 

Skinningrove H/S Club Secretary Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee recorded their second win of the season after timing two birds to win a cracking 1st and 2nd Club from a six members entry of 148 birds. With top spot being won by a yearling chequer cock bred from a full brother to Mike & Lee's  2009 1st Up North Combine young bird Maidstone National Gold Medal winning “Georgia” from a convoy of 19,646 birds, when paired paired to a hen bred by the notorious Woodroffe Brothers of Sunderland fame. The winning cock achieved a top vel of 1330.3 to go onto chalk up a notable 4th Fed. The blue card was awarded to a 2017 bred blue pied cock doing 1352.5 to pocket 8th Fed, the cock is bred from “Georgia” and a on loan cock from Wade Bros Richard & Martin of West Auckland fame.

B & K Simpson had three of their squad on the clock to lift 3rd and 6th Club, 9th, 13th  and 17th Fed with vels of 1320, 1317.8 and 1316, with the green card being awarded to a yearling mealy Dirk Van Den Bulck widowhood hen bred by Brain & Keith's good friend Bob Fenech of Norfolk fame. Second on the clock came a previous scoring 2y chequer Louis Cooreman widowhood hen, and she was followed by a fancied 1y dark Dirk Van Den Bulck widowhood cock who wins the Club £5 Nom. The cock is the previous winner of 1st Club, 8th Fed out of Oakham (1) and then he netted 4th Club, 10th Fed Chelmsford (2). Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson timed a couple of yearlings to notch up 4th, 5th Club, 10th,11th Fed on 1319.9 and 1319.2.

B & K Simpson of Skinningrove H/S yearling dark Dirk Van Den Bulck cock bred by Bob

Fenech, the winner of 1st Club, 1st East Cleveland Federation Oakham (5) 865 birds.

 

The Brotton H/S loft of Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & partners returned to the winners' enclosure after timing three birds to win 1st , 2nd and 5th Club from a six members entry of 120 birds. With the red card being won by a 3y achieving 1328 to lift a nice 5th Fed, while Reg & Ray's blue card

scoring yearling potted 20th Fed on 1313 and third on the clock was a 5y. Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson & Tubby “Graham” Purver and loft helpers Evo “Ian Everington & Frankie Rolands had two birds on the clock to lift 3rd and 4th Club with the green going g to a 2y dark Evo Lambrecht hen who took 3rd Club Oakham (1) and 3rd Club Oakham (2) in the Brotton Six Bird Club. The yellow was chalked up by a 2y blue hen bred by Don Gudgeon of South Shields fame, the hen is the previous potter of 4th Club Huntingdon when competing in Brotton H/S and 6th Club Oakham (3) in the Brotton Six Bird Club.

Its win number six of the old bird campaign for the loft of the late Jack Brown & Tony Hunt of Marske & New Marske after Tony filled no fewer than four cells to win 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Club. With the red card being won by a 2y blue Dirk Seppers/Van Gompel widowhood cock achieving a top vel of 1317.9 which was enough to score a useful 12th Fed. The chart topping cock who won 1st Club, 12th Fed Peterborough last season from a convoy of 1,408 birds, has carded a few times this year including 2nd Club Oakham (1). Tony's next three timers were the same breeding as his winner with the green card potter being the previous winner of 1st Club Chelmsford (2) and the yellow card scorer that won 1st Club Rivenhall last season has a 2nd Oakham and 2nd Club Maidstone National this year. While Tony's fourth timer a yearling widowhood cock has a 1st and 4th Club Oakham and a 1st Club Maidstone National to his credit so far this season. Jimmy Reed stopped the dry rub by lifting 2nd Club with a yearling blue w/f roundabout hen bred from Geoff Kirkland stock knocking out a vel of 1312 for 21st Fed. The blue card scoring hen has shown from this season for she is the previous winner 5th Club Oakham (1) and Worksop, 1st Club Huntingdon and Oakham (2) and 4th Club Chelmsford (2) from five straight races.

The Brotton Six Bird Club loft of Frank & Brenda Reilly & son Wayne are enjoying a fantastic run for the inform trio are recording their fifth consecutive win, with pole position being won by their 2y mealy Heremans Ceusters who racked up a chart topping vel of 1316 to go onto net a nice 15th Fed. The red card mealy hen is winning her third race of the season after winning a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Fed Chelmsford (1) when there were 2,189 birds away when competing in Brotton H/S. The hens second win was achieved out of Oakham (2) when she won 1st Club, 13th Fed from a convoy of 1,330 birds.

The East Cleveland Federations final old bird inland race took place on Saturday 14th July when the 47 members entry of 865 birds were liberated from Oakham (5) at 8.40am flying into a South West wind. B & K Simpson recorded their third old bird win of the season at Skinningrove H/S after timing no fewer than three of their entries to win 1st, 4th and 5th Club out of an entry of 202 birds. With Brian & Keith's red card winner being the yearling dark Dirk Van Den Bulck widowhood cock bred by Bob Fenech that is the previous winner of 1st Club, 8th Fed Oakham (1) when there was 1,606 birds competing, 4th Club, 10th Fed Chelmsford (2) when there was 1,131 birds away and then he netted 17th Fed from Oakham (4). This week the out in front fancied cock with a pole position winning vel of 1548 wins 1st Federation, and he also wins the Club £5 Nom. The winning cock contains the bloodlines of “Olympic Rosita” and “Double As x “Blauwe Leo'ke”. The yellow card was awarded to a 1y chequer Willy Jacobs natural hen bred by O'Roory Hill Stud making 1528.8 to pocket 6th Fed, with her being the previous scorer of 4th Club, 6th Fed Newark when beaten by two loftmates that netted 2nd and 3rd Club, 3rd and 5th Fed when there were 2,332 birds competing. The hen also notched up 17th Fed out of Oakham (2) from a entry of 812 birds. Brian & Keith's third timer who was timed four seconds after their yellow card potter was the Bob Fenech bred yearling mealy Dirk Van Den Bulck widowhood hen who netted 3rd Club, 9th Fed Oakham (4) the previous week. This time with a vel of 1528.1 the hen chalks up 8th Fed; the mealy hen contains the bloodlines of the mother of “Red Alert”, “Blauwe Leo”, “4000 Kittel”, “Goede Rode”.

Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee are in 2nd spot with the duo's blue card potter being a yearling chequer cock bred by Brian Clennon for the Loftus Championship Club breeder/buyer where he drew money, this time with a vel of 1536.6 the cock chalked up an impressive 2nd Fed. Sayers Bros Dave, Kenny, Brian and loft helper Richard timed a yearling doing 1532 to pocket 3rd Club, 5th Fed. While Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson notched up 11th, 12th, 13th Fed on 1524.2 (2) and 1523.8.

W & S Ward returned to their winning ways at the Brotton Six Bird Club after Bill and grandson Shaun timed a 2y achieving 1536.5 to win a cracking 1st Club, 3rd Fed and then a 3y making 1519.0 to net 2nd Club, 15th Fed. Ian “Knocker” Brown wins 1st Club with a yearling at Boosbeck.

Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners clocked up another win at Brotton H/S after timing four birds to win 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th Club with the red card being won by a yearling knocking out a top vel of 1519.3 to go onto score 14th Fed. The lads next two timers were both 4y that touched down together to achieve vels of 1509.1 and they were followed by a 2y on 1505 to round a notable performance.

The loft of Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson & Tubby Purver and helpers Evo & Frankie had a couple of yearlings on the clock in the space of 22 seconds to lift 2nd and 3rd Club, 19th and 21st Fed on 1514 and 1510. With the blue card being awarded to a blue hen of Derek Porter bloodlines, while the green was netted by a blue flipey Dino/Derek Porter hen.

The loft of Bowden Bros Mick & Bros and helper Trevor Mitchell are not giving up the ghost at Skelton Green for the inform trio scooped all the points after timing no fewer than six of their squad to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Club. With the red card winning 2y and the blue card scoring yearling that touched down together recording vels of 1517.3 which was enough to lift 16th and 17th Fed. Their next two birds on the clock were yearlings and they were followed by two 2y to round of a great team performance. Since the lay off of the Oakham (2) and Burbure (2) weekend the lads have never looked back with them hardly dropping a point in their Club, with them winning 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th Club, 8th, 9th, 18th, 21st Fed Chelmsford (2). And then winning 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Club, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 16th Fed out of Oakham (3) and quickly following that up by winning 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Club, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 11th, 21st Fed from the Maidstone National. A couple of birds were on the clock at Reims to lift 2nd, 6th Club, 5th, 13th Fed, 48th, 114th UNC; and then Mick, Boss & Trevor won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th Club, 1st, 2nd, 22nd, 29th, 36th Fed Oakham (4) before this weeks 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Club, 16th, 17th, 22nd, 25th, 37th, 39th Fed winning performance.

The Teesside Federation entry of 274 birds hit the skies at 8.20am where we see the loft of Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley of Middlesbrough H/S win top honours in both Club and Fed after timing three of their ten entries to win a top notch 1st and 3rd Club, 1st, 7th, 19th Fed. With pole position being won by a fancied 3y blue hen recording a chart topping vel of 1505 to win the Fed Nom, the red card winning cock has tried for top spot this season after taking 2nd Club, 6th Fed, 38th UNC Burbure (1) from a convoy of 10,633 birds. And then netted 2nd Club, 4th Fed out of Oakham (3) and followed that up last week by claiming 4th Club, 12th Fed winning the Fed Nom. I can also remember the hen winning last season. Stephen & Jeanann's green card potting 2015 bred blue hen made 1479.5 who also won 1st Club in 2017, has carded this season including 5th Club, 19th Fed, 218th UNC Maidstone National when beaten by three lofts mates, and then took 5th Club, 15th Fed Oakham (4). Third on the clock came another 3y blue hen doing 1464.2, with the hen being in the frame out of Burbure (1) when she netted 4th Club, 10th Fed, 56th UNC. Then out of Burbure (2) she potted 4th Club, 20th Fed and then claimed 17th Fed from Reims. Keith Hodge & Dennis Potter had no fewer than five of their team on the clock to lift 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th Club, with the blue card being netted by a 2015 bred blue cock doing 1479.81 for 6th Fed. The yellow card was pocketed by a yearling blue cock on 1479.1 to collect 9th Fed  and one second later came a 2y blue hen making 1479.0 to claim 10th Fed; she was followed 12 seconds later by a 2017 bred blue cock picking up 11th Fed on 1477. Keith & Dennis who have enjoyed a cracking old bird season with them chalking up a few wins along the way fifth timer was a 1y blue hen on 1466.3 for 17th Fed and round off a notable loft performance.

Ali “Mac” McLeod of Billingham T U H/S timed five birds to win 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th Club, with top spot being won by a 2y blue hen. The good honest hen who has a number of chalks to her credit knocked out a top vel of 1501 to score 2nd Fed. Two of the hens brothers have topped the Fed on more than one occasion, with her being a pure Vandenabeele from a cock who is full brother to Mac's 1st Up North Combine Burbure Gold Medal winning “Gaby Lou”. The green card was awarded to a 2016 bred blue cock who is out of a son of Mac's old cock onto a hen through a grandson of As Schaerlaeckens “Sissi”, with the cock achieving a vel of 1279.88 to net 5th Fed. The blue cock is certainly no stranger in the clock this season for he has somewhat being an sensation after winning 1st Club, 1st Fed Huntingdon, 1st Club, 1st Fed Oakham (3) and 1st Club, 1st Fed Chelmsford in the space of four races which is a fantastic achievement. Third on the clock was a 2017 black pied hen doing 1474 for 12th Fed and seven seconds later came a yearling chequer Vandenabeele hen making 1473 for 13th Fed, with the hen who won a cracking 1st Club, 1st Fed Chelmsford (1) being out of a direct Mark Evans cock while the hens full sister is Mac's blue pied hen “64” who has a 3rd and 36th UNC on her CV. Mac's fifth timer was a 1y blue Vandenabeele hen making 1464.7 for 18th Fed with the hen who won a awesome 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 24th UNC out of Burbure (1) having the same dam as Ali's 1st UNC Burbure Gold Medal winning “Gaby Lou”, while her sire is half brother to the sire of “Gaby Lou”. Once again Mac has enjoyed a fantastic old bird season with one channel race to go, his top performances week in, week out has seen him win 9 x 1st Clubs, 6 x 1st and 3 x 2nd Feds and a number of other positions in the top six in the Fed, including winning the first four positions in the Fed one race and the first five from another race. Mac's consistent top performance throughout the old bird season has won him the Old Bird Inland Average and the Old Bird Combined Average.

The loft of Tommy Clark & son Gary had a trio of birds on the clock to lift 2nd Club, 3rd, 14th and 16th Fed with the blue card being awarded to a previous scoring 3y blue hen achieving 1494. Second on the clock was a 2015 bred chequer hen on 1468 who has being in the frame a number of times this season, and she was followed by a yearling chequer hen doing 1466.5, with the hen being in the frame a couple of times as a young bird. Its welcome back into the frame for Butto Bell & Weedall who clocked a yearling blue Vandenabeele cock knocking out a vel of 1479.3 to chalk up a useful 4th Club, 8th Fed. With Butto's yellow card scoring blue cock who is the previous winner of 1st Club, 1st Fed young bird Pontefract (3) being a son of good friend Ali McLeod's top stock cock “King James”.

Right that's my lot for this week. 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.