“The Original” Around The Up North Combine

By Good Corn

 

I have been missing the Haverton Hill information off Club Secretary Tommy “Hot Off  The Press” Barron the past few weeks, which I knew given time I would receive. I knew Tommy was spending a lot of time with his family as he was soon to be a granddad, so it's Congratulations Tommy, Hope the family are all doing well and thank you for the following information. Starting at Huntingdon where 1st and 3rd Club out of 94 birds was won by Stewart “Lewie” Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe who were recording their third win of the season. With both the red and green cards being won by yearling blue pied Busschaert hens doing 1240 and 1214. Paul Gatley, Bob Harrod & son Dale pockets 2nd and 4th Club with two 3y blue cocks that are the lads channel candidates of their old Busschaert x Van Loon making 1228 and 1211, with the blue card potter taking the 10p pools. Steven Smith & son Aaron are in 5th spot with a yearling dark pied Busschaert hen on 1194, the duo's second timer won the Fed Nom on 1176.

Stewart “Lewie” Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe made it to wins on the belt and their fourth win of the season at Oakham (2) after timing two birds to win 1st and 5th Club out of 102 birds with top spot being won by a 2y blue cock knocking out a vel of 1493 to take the 10p pools and £17.29. While second on the clock came a 2017 bred blue hen achieving 1441. Steven Smith & son Aaron are in 2nd spot on 1477 with the lads blue card scorer being a 2y dark Busschaert cock who is the sire of the hen who took 5th Club the previous week out of Huntingdon. Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff clocked a well-fancied yearling blue cock bred by Ali McLeod to lift 3rd Club on 1469 to win the 25p, 50p, £1 pools and £15.25. Robert “Facebook” Barron pots 4th Club with the yellow card potting 1y Heremans Ceusters blue hen being through John Wheatcroft doing 1452.

Onto the Burbure 2 (Sub Roye) race where the channel men Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff were the winners of 1st, 2nd, 5th Club from an entry of 46 birds with their chart topper that wins the £1 pools pocketing £26.98 being their good 4y chequer cock brought out of the stock loft and given a couple of races before going over the pond, the cock is now the winner of 4 x 1st Clubs 2 x 1st, 2 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd Feds, 1 x 1st Section, 6th, 13th, 29th, 36th, 65th UNC, with him winning from 273 to 433 miles. The blue card was awarded to a yearling blue Ali McLeod x Billy Machie hen and she was followed by a 2017 bred chequer hen. Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod and son Dale chalk up 3rd and 4th Club with the green being netted by a 2y blue cock which is bred through Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley's “Jade”, while the yellow was claimed by a 3y blue cock which was 4th Club Huntingdon two weeks previous. Onto the Yearling Noms, 1st Robert Barron with a dark cock bred through Dekka Lamb x Graham, Gilchrist & Brennan winning £100. Stewart “Lewie” Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe takes 2nd a chequer hen pocketing £50.

There's no stopping Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff at the moment for the inform duo racked up another winning performance from Chelmsford (2) after timing no less than three of their team to win a smile on yer face 1st, 3rd and 4th Club from an entry of 105 birds. Leading the way was a yearling blue hen bred by Ali McLeod achieving 1502 winning the 25p pool, the hen is carding for the second race running for she was 2nd Club of Burbure (2). Both the green and yellow card lifters were yearling chequer cocks doing 1494.2 and 1485 which like the winner were bred by Ali McLeod, I can just picture Linda chasing Paul away from Mac's loft to try and stop him from getting any more birds from Mac lol. Paul Gatley, Bob Harrod & son Dale are pulling out of the stops to regain a pole position win, this week they timed a yearling blue hen bred through their Busschaert x Van Loons on 1494.8 to lift 2nd Club. Stewart Lewis and the young girls Amber & Coby McCabe notch up 5th position with a previous scoring 3y blue hen a 1484.

Friday 22nd June saw the Up North Combine at Bourges their longest race of the season, when the convoy of 1,360 birds were liberated at 5.45am into a light North wind which was going to be a very long, tough day for the birds. As it panned out there was only two outstanding birds clocked on the day in the Combine, with 1st UNC being won by Eric Wilson of Owton Manor, Hartlepool single entry from a distance of 548 miles with a vel of 1131.1. The Plains Farm, Sunderland partnership of  Dawson, Peacock & Smith won 2nd UNC on 1127.2 from a distance of 585 miles. A total of 70 birds were clocked in the three day race time, with the East Cleveland Federation having eight of their 100 birds back on close of play. Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson of Skinningrove were the winners of 1st Club, 1st Fed, 11th UNC. Keith Wren & Margaret Stone chalked up 2nd Club, 4th Fed, 34th UNC on 580.7, with Keith & Margaret’s blue card scorer being a 2y blue cock who is out of a cock who is a son of “Village Lad” and his dam is a Peirson & Dransfield Busschaert. The blue cock was unraced as a young bird and then lightly raced as a yearling out to Burbure, his program for this year was Chelmsford, Burbure (1) and then into Bourges. Keith & Margaret are big lovers of Bourges with them doing very well from the long one over the years including winning, 1st, 3rd, 4th Club, 3rd, 7th, 8th Fed, 37th, 94th, 102nd UNC in 2012 out of 1,725 birds. In 2013 they had another three birds on the clock to lift 2nd Club, 4th, 9th, 13th Fed, 52nd, 83rd, 147th UNC out of 1,640 birds. In 2015 2nd Club, 2nd Fed, 53rd UNC was potted and in 2016 Keith & Margaret won a cracking 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 3rd Fed, 12th and 21st UNC when there were 1,306 birds competing. Steve Winspear & son Ty netted 3rd Club, 6th Fed, 53rd UNC on 411.7, with the lads timer being their most fancied entry a 4y dark chequer hen that wins the £1, £5 and 3rd £2 Fed Noms banking £97.20. The green card potting cock is of George Carteus breeding which goes back to the great Yellow Diamond.

Only one made it home in race time at the Brotton Six Bird Club with that being for Frank & Brenda Reilly & son Wayne who timed a 7y chequer Albert Marcelis hen achieving a top vel of 646.1 to win 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 2nd £2 Fed Nom netting £19.80 and 25th UNC. The chart topping chequer hen had previously scored five times from over the channel with her chalking up a 3rd, 4th, 6th Club Reims, 6th Club Roye and 1st Club Fontenay. Both members who sent at Boosbeck timed one bird each with Ian “Knocker” Brown coming out on top to win 1st Club, 3rd Fed, 26th UNC with a 4y knocking out a vel of 646.0. While Club Secretary Don Smith & Daughter clocked a 4y doing 545.1 to lift 2nd Club, 5th Fed, 38th UNC. Darren & James Waters of Brotton H/S timed a 2y and a 3y 11 minutes apart to win 1st and 2nd Club, 7th and 8th Fed, 69th and 70th Combine with vels of 324.1 and 322.8. Darren and his father James always look forward to the Bourges race, a thing that has being in the blood of the family for many years for James late father Jim won Bourges many times over the years with his winning performance producing 1st Fed winners and very good Combine turns. Darren & James have also won Bourges a few times including them winning 1st Brotton H/S, 1st Fed, 44th UNC Bourges in 2014 from a convoy of 1,611 birds.

Brenda & Frank Reilly Brotton Six Bird Club of F Reilly & Son holding their 1st Club, 13th East

Cleveland Fed Oakham (3) and 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 25th Up North Combine Bourges winners.

Moving onto the Teesside Federation where three very game birds made it home in race time, with all three birds being timed in the Middlesbrough H/S. With top honours being won by the husband and wife partnership of P & C Smith who timed one of their two entries to win a fantastic 1st Club, 1st Fed Nom, 1st Fed out of an entry of 31 birds and a well-deserved 39th UNC with a top vel of 544.5. Paul and his good lady wife Carol who is a great help at the loft pole position winner was a 2y blue pied natural cock, with his sire being of Frank Sheader lines while the dam was of Ronnie Evans bloodlines. The chart topping cock had three races before Bourges from Huntingdon, Burbure (1) and Chelmsford (2), the cock who returned home with hawk attack signs would not have had the Chelmsford race but Paul decided to send him as he had not being out of the loft that much after the Burbure (1) race. Paul & Carol's old birds had two training tosses prior the first race and have had no training since. They have a nice set up are the back of their house where Paul has lived for over 50 years, Paul who was a one time member of the Cleveland Combine has enjoyed success over the years with channel racing being his main races of the season. I would like to thank Paul & Carol for their time and have to say I really enjoyed my time with them and wish them every success in the future.

Paul & Carol Smith of Middlesbrough H/S with their 1st Club, 1st Teesside Fed, 39th UNC Bourges winner.

Jack Burton & son Steve who are very well known and respected for their previous outstanding Bourges performances chalk up a cracking 2nd Club, 2nd Fed, 56th UNC with a vel of 400.4.  Jack & Steve have proved themselves from the 542 miles race a number of times over the years with top performance of 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 2nd Fed, 21st and 40th UNC Bourges in 2014 from a convoy of 1,611 birds. Jack & Steve also won 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 67th UNC Bourges in 2015 from an entry of 1,736 birds, when beaten by Gamble & Pledger of Haverton who won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 27th UNC. With them being the only two clocked in the Fed in race time, and only 73 birds timed in the Combine. Onto 2016 where Jack & Steve won a top drawer 1st Club, 1st Fed, 15th UNC Bourges from a convoy of 1,306 birds, with their winner being the only bird being clocked in race time in the Fed and only one of 65 recorded in the three day race time in the UNC.

The loft of the late Les Wellburn & sons Les & Derek are in third spot with the brothers green card potter being a 4y chequer hen doing 334.3 to lift 3rd Fed, 67th UNC. The lads are another loft that love their channel races with Bourges being their main priority, a race point they have won and scored from many times over the years including winning a top notch 1st Club, 1st Fed, 8th UNC Bourges in 2012 from a convoy of 1,725 birds. The lads also won 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 23rd UNC Bourges in 2013 when there were 1,604 birds competing, before winning 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 32nd UNC Bourges in 2017 out of an entry of 1,759 birds when only 37 Combine birds made it home in race time.

Davis & Ian Wallis of the Hardwick timed a 3y doing 663.5 to win 1st club, 2nd Tees Valley Federation, 19th UNC, while Chris Barron chalks up 2nd Club, 7th Fed, 32nd UNC on 587.3 with the same bird that won 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 15th UNC Bourges in 2017.

J Dowd of Stockton West End wins 1st Club, 6th Fed, 31st UNC with a 4y achieving 588.7. A big well done to the fanciers and their birds that made the UNC result, I hope some of the other entries have made their way home safely

The Up North Combine was at Oakham (3) on Saturday 23rd June, when the East Cleveland Federations 60 members entry of 1,330 birds were liberated at 9am flying into a light North wind. Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson wins 1st Club, 1st Fed at Skinningrove on 1440.7. B & K Simpson were very close behind to chalk up 2nd Club, 2nd Fed on 1440.6, with Brian & Keith's blue card scorer being a yearling blue flipey Willy Jacobs widowhood cock bred by O'Roory Hill Stud, Ireland. As a young bird the cock chalked up 4th Club, 4th Fed Worksop (2) when beaten by a loftmate that scored 3rd Club, 3rd Fed out of an entry of 1,830 birds, and he followed that up a week later out of Melton Mowbray by taking 19th Fed when beaten by a loftmate that chalked up 3rd Club, 7th Fed when there was 1,612 birds competing.

The loft of Tich Richards & Alice Marsay the previous winners of 1st Up North Combine young bird Peterborough National with “Peanuts” in 2016 from a convoy of 11,967 birds timed a couple of yearlings one second apart to lift 3rd and 4th Club, 3rd and 4th Fed with vels of 1440.1 and 1440.0.  Sayers Bros Dave, Kenny, Brian and loft helper Richard are in 5th spot with a yearling widowhood Stuie Watson/ Smit Van Winkle hen doing 1438.56 to notch up 8th Fed. The hen is the previous potter of 10th Fed young bird Bubwith (3) and she also has a 17th Fed Oakham (2) this season. The partnership of Mr & Mrs I & E Purver clocked a 3y chequer pied Gaby Vandenabeele hen achieving 1407 to take 6th Club, 15th Fed, the hen is chalking for the second time this season as she netted 6th Club, 18th Fed, 3rd £2 Fed Nom pocketing £28.80 and 167th UNC Folkestone National out of an entry of 18,454 birds. The chequer pied hen had previously won a 1st Club, 2nd Fed before she scored an impressive 3rd Club, 3rd Fed and 23rd UNC Reims in 2017 when she was beaten by her loftmate “Dream Girl” who won an earth-shattering 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st £1, £2, £5 Fed Noms netting £177.00, 1st Section 7 pocketing £112.39, 1st North Of England Champion Club banking £327.64 and 1st Up North Combine winning a Combine Gold Medal from a convoy of 4,193 birds for Ian & Liz.

The Skelton Green loft of Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell followed up their Chelmsford (2) winning performance by producing an earth-shattering team performance after timing no fewer than five birds in the space of nine seconds to win a most impressive 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Club, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th Fed, a sixth birds was clocked to take 6th Club, 16th Fed. The red and blue card winners were both yearlings that touched down together to achieve vels of 1438.8,while the green card was awarded to a 2y who was timed one second later to knock out a vel of 1438.6. Mick & Boss & Trevor's next couple of timers that hit the pad together were a 2y and a 3y doing 1437.4, and the boys sixth timer was a yearling on 1418 to round off a brilliant loft performance and scoop all the Club points, which takes some doing.

This was Mick, Boss & Trevor's fifth win of the season after winning 1st Club, 19th Fed Bubwith when there were 1,474 birds competing, and they didn't have to wait long for win number two because that was achieved the following week at Newark when 1st Club, 7th Fed was won from a convoy of 2,332 birds. After a very close 2nd Club, 2nd Fed Oakham (1) when beaten by .1ypm out of 1,606 birds, the lads recorded their third win of the season at Worksop to win 1st Club, 16th Fed when there was 987 birds away. After resting their birds at both Oakham (2) and Burbure (2) they reloaded their team for Chelmsford (2) where they had four birds in the frame to win 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th Club, 8th, 9th, 18th, 21st Fed out of 1,131.  Alan & David Wright notched up 17th Fed with a 2y doing 1417, while Bill Chapman, sons Steve & Colin and the late Tommy Swinburne pocketed 19th Fed also with a 2y on 1409.

Onto the Brotton Six Bird Club where the loft of Frank & Brenda Reilly & son Wayne records their second win of the weekend with their red card winner being a 2y mealy Heremans Ceusters hen achieving a chart topping vel of 1421 to lift a nice 13th Fed. Frank, Brenda & Wayne's winning hen is recording her second win of the season after winning an outstanding 1st Brotton H/S, 1st Fed Chelmsford (1) from a convoy of 2,189 birds. The inform W & S Ward timed a couple of 2y to lift 2nd and 3rd Club with the blue card scorer being their inform 2y Staf Van Reet hen who is racing her socks off this season after winning 1st Club Bubwith on the opening day of the season and followed that up a week later by netting 2nd Club Newark when she was beaten by a loftmate. The hen was in the points for the third time out of the Eastbourne National where she notched up 5th Club, and then she potted 2nd Club Oakham (1) where once again she was beaten by a loftmate. The winning never stopped there for the very reliable hen won 1st Club, 1st Club Nom and 12th Fed from Worksop (2) and followed that up a week later when the birds were at Huntingdon by winning 1st Club, 1st Club Nom for the second inland race running. And then 6th Club Oakham (2) who taken when she was beaten by three loftmates that won 1st, 2nd, 4th Club, and then last week she chalked up 2nd Club Chelmsford (2).  Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson & Tubby “Graham” Purver and loft helpers Evo “Ian” Everington & Frankie Rolands clocked two 2y to claim 4th and 6th Club

Kevin & Merv Brown & Sacker “Billy” Cole are in 5th position with a 2y.

The late George Skidmore & grandsons Michael & Liam Jackson timed a yearling achieving a top vel of 1425 to win 1st Club, 15th Fed at Lingdale.

Jimmy Reed is enjoying an awesome run of form at Marske & New Marske for Jimmy filled no fewer than three chambers to win a top notch 1st, 2nd and 4th Club to clock up his third win in four inland races. Leading the way by two minutes was a 2017 bred blue Gaby Vandenabeele unpaired cock from David Reed achieving a pole position vel of 1420.9 which was enough to score a welcoming 14th Fed. The blue card was awarded to a 2y blue roundabout cock of his own strain crossed in with his Homer & Williams bloodline, and he was followed by the yellow card potting 3y mealy roundabout cock of from Brown & Hunt stock to round off a very enjoyable days racing. The late Jack Brown & Tony Hunt had a couple of birds on the clock to lift 3rd and 5th Club with Tony's green card potter being a 1y blue Dirk Seppers Van Gompel widowhood cock, who netted 2nd Club out of Huntingdon. Tony's second timer was a 2017 bred Dirk Seppers/Van Gompel/De Klak widowhood cock was 4th Club from Huntingdon.

The Brotton H/S loft of Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson & Tubby “Graham” Purver and loft helpers Evo “Ian” Everington & Frankie Rolands were the winners of 1st and 2nd Club, 15th and 18th Fed with vels of 1424.4 and 1410. With pole position being won by a yearling blue flipey hen through John Soderlund & John Maddison “Parkside Lillian” and ”Village Lad” bloodlines, with the hen being the previous winner of 1st Brotton Six Bird Club young bird Maidstone National. The blue card was awarded to a 2y blue De Rauw Sablon x Rietvink cock off Evo's 1st UNC winner “Evo's Lad”. Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & partners had three birds in the frame a couple of yearling doing 1405 and 1404 to lift 3rd and 4th Club and a 2y doing 1398 to notch up 5th Club.

Now for the Teesside Federation where we see the inform Billingham T U H/S loft of Ali “Mac” McLeod winning the first eight Club positions, 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 19th, 20th Fed out of an entry of 438 birds, to record his seventh Club and sixth Fed win of the old bird campaign. With pole position being won by the same 2y blue cock that won 1st Club, 1st Fed Huntingdon four weeks ago and 1st Club, 1st Fed last from Chelmsford (2). The cock who is out of a son of Mac's old cock onto a hen through a grandson of Ad Schaerlaeckens “Sissi” achieved a top vel of 1426.8, the cock is really proving himself this season with three Federation topping performances. The blue card was awarded to a 2016 bred blue Vandenabeele hen that was timed six seconds after his Fed winning loftmate to rack up a vel of 1426.0. With the hen previously chalking up a number of positions including 2nd Club, 2nd Fed Oakham (4) and 2nd Club, 3rd Fed, 8th Section, 80th UNC  Rivenhall National last season when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 2nd Section, 13th UNC from a convoy of 12, 356 birds. The blue hen a daughter of Mac's “29” a very good racing cock who is now at stock are achieving a number of cracking performance including 1st Fed, he in-turn is from Mac's 2nd and 8th UNC, while the dam of the cock was a real consistent racing hen winning Ali the pools regular.

The green card went to a yearling blue hen on 1417.2, the hen is a granddaughter of Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins 1st UNC winning “Ollie”, while the Dam is from Mac's good racing cock “82” when paired to “46” the winner of 3rd UNC. The blue hen flew consistent as a young bird where she scored 2nd Club, 5th Fed Rivenhall and followed that up a week later by winning a top drawer 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st £5 Fed Pools pocketing £45.00, 2nd Section 5 and 5th UNC Maidstone National. This season she netted a notable 2nd Club, 2nd Fed Huntingdon when beaten by a loftmate. The yellow was taken by a fancied 2016 bred blue Vandenabeele cock making 1416 to win the Club £5 Pools and the Fed Nom, the cock scored 2nd Club, 3rd Fed Chelmsford (1) when beaten by a loftmate who won 1st Club, 1st Fed. He also chalked up 2nd Club, 2nd Fed Chelmsford (2) where again he was beaten b y a loftmate. The cock is from “82” Mac's very good racing cock who is a previous Teesside Federation Bird Of The Year winner, with him being the brother to “29”. Next on the clock came a 1y blue pure Vandenabeele cock doing 1413 who has being the pool bird a number of times, the consistent cock who netted 2nd Club, 2nd Fed Oakham (1) and 3rd Club, 3rd Fed Huntingdon when beaten by two loftmates is the first young bird from a hen who is the daughter of top stock cock “King James” that won Mac 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section 5 winning £152.59 in prize money out of 1,695 birds and 6th Up North Combine Burbure (2) in 2016 from a convoy of 9, 331 birds, then put to stock. With the hen being line bred to Mac's old number one stock hen while the sire is half-brother to Mac's good cocks “29” & “82”. He was followed by a 2y blue cock on 1406 and next came a 1y blue cock on 1401 who potted 3rd Club, 3rd Fed Chelmsford (2) when beaten by two loftmates, and Mac's final timer was a yearling blue cock doing 1400 to round off another cracking performance.

Next stop is Haverton Hill where the smile on Skunky's face said it all because that winning smile was as long as his pockets, and that is some smile. For the partnership of Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff are producing some top performances this season and have done so again this week, after racking up another show-stopper, after timing three of their entries to win a belting 1st, 2nd, 5th Club, 5th, 6th, 12th Fed with vels of  1418, 1417.7, 1411 to record their sixth win of the season. With pole position being won by a yearling Ali McLeod Vandenabeele chequer cock winning the 50p pools, the cock is carding for the second time this season after taking 2nd Club, 11th Fed Newark. Five seconds after the red card winner in the blue card position came a well-fancied 1y blue Vandenabeele hen bred by Ali McLeod pooled to the £1 to bank £10, the hen is scoring for the third time this year for she netted 3rd Club out of Newark and a cracking 1st Club, 4th Fed, 1st £5 Fed Pool pocketing £60 and 110th UNC Eastbourne National from a convoy of 18,545 birds. The blue hen is the son of a cock that won 2 x 1st Federations for Ali, while the dam of the blue hen won 1st Club, 1st Fed and 21st UNC Bourges for Ali in 2017. Andrew & Paul's third timer was a 2017 bred chequer cock who was 4th Club out of Chelmsford (2), and like the previous two timers he was an Ali McLeod Vandenabeele. Stewart “Lewie” Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe lift 3rd Club with a yearling blue pied hen doing 1412.5 to chalk up 10th Fed. The green card scoring hen won 1st Club, 11th Fed out of the Huntingdon race. Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod and son Dale net 4th Club, 11th Fed on 1412.3 with a yearling blue hen bred by Border Lofts.

I was sent a photo of Robert Barron's 2y chequer cock bred through Brian Murray of Manchester and Grangetown/St Marys, North York’s Fed Brian Hart & son Gary's 3rd UNC Bronze Medal winner. As a yearling in 2017 the cock was raced by Barron Bros Tommy & Robert where he won a brilliant 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 1st £5 Fed Pools, 15th Up North Combine Burbure (1) when there was 13,268 birds competing and 16th North Of England Homing Union Open from a convoy of 16,744 birds. The chequer cock carded for the second time when he chalked up 4th Club, 10th Fed, 173rd UNC Burbure (2) when there was 10,689 birds competing. In 2018 the cock has being raced by Robert Barron where he has scored 3rd Club, 16th Fed Eastbourne National. Then 2nd Club, 7th Fed, 1st Fed Nom, 2nd Trimdon and Shotton Open, 42nd UNC Burbure (1) out of 10,633 birds and 42nd NEHU Open was chalked up. The cock has also claimed minor positions.

Haverton Hill's Robert Barron's 2y chequer cock winner of 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 15th UNC, 16th

NEHU Open Burbure (1) in 2017 from a convoy of 16,744 birds.

The inform Middlesbrough H/S “Dynamic Duo” Keith Hodge & Dennis Potter recorded their third straight win with top spot being won by a yearling blue hen achieving a red card winning vel of 1421 which was enough to net a cool 3rd Fed. The same hen potted 2nd Club, 3rd Fed Oakham (2). Keith & Dennis are enjoying a good run for they have being in the frame from nine of the eleven races so far. Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley timed no less that three of the entries to lift 2nd, 4th Club, 4th, 15th, 18th Fed on 1420, 1405, 1402. The late Les Wellburn & sons Les & Derek had a couple birds on the clock to pot 3rd, 5th Club, 13th, 16th Fed on 1407, 1404.8; while the late Wyn Cole, Ste Wheatley & grandson Connor notched up 17th Fed on 1404.6.

The Stockton Hardwick partnership of Moore Bros Terry & Ste are proving tough nuts to crack for the brothers timed no fewer than three of their inform team to win a top notch 1st, 2nd, 5th Club with vels of 1420, 1394, 1378 to record a remarkable fourth straight win. The loft of Lister Bros Craig & Gary and the late Iky Walker also had a trio of birds on the clock to chalk up a useful 2nd, 3rd, 6th Club on 1391. 1387, 1374.

I have received some information on the loft of Stephen Bousfield & sons Mark & Stephen who fly in the Stockton West End who are members of the Tees Valley Federation. The three lads have enjoyed a cracking season so far with them starting the 2017 old bird season in very high spirits after timing four birds out of Bubwith to win a belting 1st, 2nd, 7th, 10th Club, with the red card winning 3y blue pied hen going onto win an outstanding 1st Fed from a convoy of 1,286 birds. Three birds were on the clock from the second race Newark when 3rd, 5th, 10th Club was notched up,  the boys recorded their second win in three races at Chelmsford (1) when their pole position winning 2y chequer cock went onto score 10th Fed. Onto the fourth race which was from the Eastbourne National where the partnership achieved their third win in four starts after timing two of their squad to win 1st and 8th Club, and seeing their chart topping 2y blue cock chalking up a notable 4th Fed when there was 844 birds away. Out of race number five of the season the lads clocked four out their entries to pocket a useful 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th Fed with their green and yellow card claimers going to net 7th, 10th Fed from 972 birds. Stephen and his two sons Mark & Stephen returned to their winning ways to record their fourth win of the season out of Huntingdon after they clocked no fewer than seven of their inform squad to win a belting 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th Club, with their red card winning 3y blue hen doing enough to pot 11th Fed out of an entry of 708 birds. The Bousfield family were enjoying a very good run of form with them scoring from the first six inland races, racking up 3 x 1st Clubs along the way but it never stopped there for they chalked up their fourth win at Oakham (2) when five birds were timed to win 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th Club with their winning yearling blue hen going onto lift a notable 4th Fed when there were 606 birds competing. The next inland race was from Chelmsford (2) and the lads were in among them again after timing a trio of their entries to scoop a useful 2nd, 3rd, 6th Club, with the blue card scoring 2y chequer pied hen lifting a welcoming 3rd Fed while the lads green card claiming 2016 bred chequer hen netted a nice 7th Fed out of 735 birds. Stephen, his two sons Mark & Stephen had scored in all eight inland races so far, so it was not surprising they were in the points for the ninth consecutive race from Oakham (2) to win 1st, 3rd, 8th, 9th Club, with the much inform partnerships pole position winning yearling blue hen going onto score 16th Fed.

Bousfield & sons of Stockton West End, blue cock winner of 1st Club, 4th Tees Valley Federation

Eastbourne National.

Blue pied hen the winner of 1st Club, 1st Tees Valley Fed Bubwith for Mark Bousfield & sons

Mark & Stephen of Stockton West End.

That's me done for another 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.