“The Original” Around The Up North Combine
By Good Corn
The Up North Combine was at Oakham (1) for their fifth race of the season on Saturday 19th May, the Teesside Federations entry of 614 birds were liberated at 8.10am in a light variable wind, but there was plenty of East in the wind at the bottom end of the Combine as the morning wore on. Billingham T U H/S have dominated the Fed the previous four races and they have come out top again this time, for Tommy Clark & Son Gary timed four of their entries to win a top notch 1st and 6th Club, 1st, 8th, 12th and 20th Fed with vels of 1647, 1627, 1616, 1611. Pole position was won by a 2015 bred blue cock who took 5th Club, 6th Fed and 40th UNC Burbure (2) last season, his Sire is their good Walter Docx who is the Grand/Sire of Ronnie Evans 1st UNC winner, while the Dam of the Federation winning blue cock is a Daughter of Tommy & Gary's 2012 1st UNC old bird Folkestone (1) Gold Medal winning “Dream Maker” from an entry of 24,246 birds. Tommy & Gary who won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section and 4th UNC the previous week out of the Eastbourne (1) National, second timer was a 3y chequer hen who is full Sister to their winner. The chequer hen scored 2nd Club, 2nd Fed, 17th Section Oakham (2) when there were 2,215 birds competing in 2017 when beaten by a loftmate, she also notched up 18th Fed from Oakham (3). Third on the clock was a Scottish rung chequer cock and he was followed by a 3y Scottish rung blue hen who has scored a number of times including, 3rd Club, 8th Fed, 11th Section Huntingdon (1) out of 7,024 birds, 2nd Club, 3rd Fed Oakham (3), 15th Fed Newark (1) and 16th Fed Burbure (2) in 2017.
Ali McLeod timed three birds in the space of 49 seconds to net 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, with the blue card going to a yearling blue pure Vandenabeele cock doing 1644 to score 2nd Fed. The young cock is the first young bird from a hen who is the Daughter of top stock cock “King James” that won Ali 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. The hen is line bred to Mac's old number one stock hen and the Sire is half Brother to Mac's good cocks “29” & “82” who have being mentioned many times in my reports over the past 4 years. The 14y “King James” has filled every egg and brought up all his babies this year. The green card was netted by a 2y blue Vandenabeele hen who was timed seven seconds after Ali's blue card potter to achieve a vel of 1643 to lift 3rd Fed. With the Sire of the blue hen being a Grandson of “The Young Couple” while the Dam is from Mac's old Minderhoud family, that have proved their worth time and time again over the years. The yellow card was awarded to a 2017 bred blue pied pure Vandenabeele cock knocking out a vel of 1635 to claim 5th Fed; the Dam of the cock is full Sister to Ali's 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section and 3rd UNC Eastbourne (1) Bronze Medal winning “64” in 2014 when there were 16,708 birds competing, and the Sire is through the lads old lines. Ali had another seven later birds come together to notch up 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Fed with vels of 1615.5, 1614.7 (2), 1614.5, 1614.0, 1612.4 (2), with some of the timers either being winners or prizewinners.
Steve Wilson is in the frame for the second race running after timing one of his six entries, his well-fancied 5y blue cock who knocked up a vel of 1630 to pot 5th Club, 7th Fed and the winner of the Fed Nom. The cock has netted a few times in the past and also won the Fed Nom a number of times, including last season from Oakham (1) when the cock chalked up 4th Club, 5th Fed and 1st Fed Nom.
Moving onto Middlesbrough H/S where the loft of Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley got back to their winning ways after timing a previous scoring 3y blue hen recording a leading vel of 1639 to win 1st Club, 4th Fed to record their second win of the season. The late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek enjoyed a good clocking day after timing three of their team to lift 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club with the blue going to a 2y chequer cock doing 1632 to net 6th Fed. The green was claimed by a yearling chequer cock doing 1620 to pot 9th Fed, and eight seconds later came a 4y chequer cock achieving 1618 for 11th Fed to round off a very notable performance. Keith Hodge & Dennis Potter clocked a 2016 bred dark pied cock to take 4th Club, 10th Fed on 1619. While the late Wyn Cole, Ste Wheatley & Grandson Connor takes 6th Club and wins The £5 Club bets.
With Tommy Barron still on his hols, I'm short of the Haverton Hill info, but I do know that Stewart Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe enjoyed a good clocking day after timing no fewer than three of their entries to win a cracking 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club to record their second win of the season. Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff the Chelmsford and Eastbourne (1) National winning duo takes 4th Club, with the loft of Paul Gatley, Bob Harrod & Son Dale the Newark winners are in 5th place.
The East Cleveland Federations 77 members convoy of 1,606 birds were up and away at 8.30am, with the longest flying Club being from the distance of 132 miles. Starting at Skelton Green where the late Peter Winspear & Son Derek and his Son Mark hits the winners' enclosure after timing a couple of yearlings to win 1st and 6th Club, with the lads pole position winner recording a chart topping vel of 1681.7 which was enough to win a most impressive 1st Fed. With Derek & Mark's Federation winner being a yearling blue hen bred by Graham, Gilchrist & Brennan of Bolden fame, with the Sire of the winner being through the partnerships 1st Up North Combine winning family that won on the road before been put to stock. While the Dam of the blue hen being a Ceuster that is the winner of 2 x 1st, 2 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd Feds, in fact she took 9th Fed out of this race (Oakham 1) when beaten by seven loftmates, including the Fed winner.
1, Derek Winspear of the Skelton Green partnership of the late Peter Winspear & Son Derek and his Son Mark, holding their blue hen the winner of 1st Club,
1st East Cleveland Federation Oakham (1).
The loft of Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell of Guisborough are in 2nd spot with a 2y achieving 1681.6 to chalk up an impressive 2nd Fed. The inform loft of Alan & David Wright had a couple of their team on the clock to lift 3rd and 4th Club with the green card going to a 2y Busschaert hen making 1679 to win 1st Club Show pocketing £21.50 and netting a notable 3rd Fed, the hen that came with the two birds in front of her is showing some form this season after taking 5th Club, 11th Fed Newark when beaten by two loftmates and then claiming 6th Club, 17th Fed Chelmsford where again she was beaten by a couple of loftmates. And she followed that up by taking 19th Fed from the Eastbourne (1) National when beaten by four loftmates. Alan & David's yellow card potter was a 2016 bred chequer Busschaert, the lads timed a third bird to lift 3rd Club Show lifting £8.60 and winning the £10 Lucky Number. Alan & Davis enjoyed a brilliant race the previous week form the Eastbourne (1) National they won 1st, 3rd and 4th Club, 1st, 4th, 7th, 16th, 19th and 21st Fed, 1st Section 7 winning £144.49 in prize money, 5th and 24th Up North Combine winning the “Ian McDonald Memorial Trophy” for the best two bird performance, with their other four timers going onto lift 55th, 143rd, 177th and 185th Combine. Mr Tony “Simply The Best” Bannister nips in to pocket 5th Club and 2nd Club Show claiming £12.90 with a yearling.
The Marske & New Marske partnership of the late Jack Brown & Tony Hunt made it two wins on the belt after Tony filled a couple of chambers to win a cracking 1st and 2nd Club and the Club Nom. With Tony's chart topper being a 2017 bred blue Dirk Seppers x Van Gompel widowhood cock racking up a top vel of 1676 which was enough to score an impressive 4th Fed. I have to be honest, I had never heard of the Dirk Seppers/ Van Gompel until Tony started timing them in and winning with them. The blue card was awarded to a yearling blue pied Van Gompel/De Klak widowhood cock, who is the previous winner of 1st Club Worksop as a young bird. Jimmy Reid had three of his roundabout team on the clock to chalk up a nice 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, with the green card going to a 2y blue Busschaert x Wildemeersch hen. While the yellow was netted by a 2016 bred chequer Brown & Hunt cock, who is a Son of Tony's “SED Cock”, and he was followed by a 1y blue hen from Mr & Mrs Geoff Kirkland stock.
3, Tony Hunt of the late Jack Brown & Hunt partnership of Marske & New Marske, holding his 1st
Club, 4th East Cleveland Federation Oakham (1) winner.
The loft of W & S Ward timed three of their Brotton H/S entries in the space of one second to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club, 5th, 6th and 7th Fed with vels of 1665.7 and 1665.5 (2), and then timed a fourth bird to lift 5th Club, 14th Fed on 1651.2 to round off a fantastic team performance. Bill & Shaun's red card winner was a yearling Leo Heremans out of the duo's “Pen 7 Pair” that are through Homer & Williams, while the blue card was chalked up by a full Sister to the winner. Bill & Shaun's third timer was a 2y Leo Heremans through Barnard & Burke of Guisborough, and that was followed by a 1y Leo Heremans/Gus Janssen through Homer & Williams. Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners had three birds on the clock to notch up 4th and 6th Club, 9th, 17th and 19th Fed on 1659.6, 1647, 1646.4; while Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne timed a 2y doing 1445.8 to claim 20th Fed and Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore were close behind also with a yearling doing 1445.7 to pot 21st Fed.
B & K Simpson had a couple of birds on the clock to win 1st and 2nd Club at Skinningrove out of a twelve members entry of 389 birds. With top spot being won by a fancied yearling dark Dirk Van Den Bulck cock that wins the Club £5 Nom and was bred by good friend Bob Fenech of Norfolk fame recording a winning vel of 1659.7 which was enough to score 8th Fed. Brian & Keith's blue card potter was a 1y blue Willy Jacobs hen bred by O'Roory Hill Stud doing 1652.3 to net 11th Fed.
Ian Stafford & Sparky Wilson timed a couple of yearlings in the space of seven seconds to lift 3rd and 4th Club, 12th and 15th Fed on 1652.2 and 1650.9. Sayers Bros Dave, Kenny, Brian and loft helper Richard notch up 5th Club, 16th Fed on 1649.7 with a yearling Hereman Ceusters cock bred by Gary Cox of Hull, who netted 5th Club, 13th Fed out of Newark. Mike Prokopowicz & Son Lee notch up 6th spot with a 2y blue hen who is the previous winner of 1st Club, 1st Fed Huntingdon (1), 3rd Club, 4th Fed Oakham (4) and 5th Club, 14th Fed Newark (3) in 2017. The Sire of the hen is a Son of Mike & Lee's number 1 stock hen “410”, who is full Sister to their 1st Up North Combine young bird Maidstone National Gold Medal winning “Georgia”, while the Dam of the hen was bred by Bowden Bros. I forgot to say in my last report that Mike & Lee won the £5 Club Nom out of the Eastbourne (1) National.
It's win number four of the season for David Coates and loft helpers Popeye & Craig Clapham at Boosbeck after the three lads timed a trio of yearlings to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club. With top spot being won by a blue hen bred by David Parker of Cleethorpes for the Loftus Championship Club breeder/buyer who recorded a vel of 1652.9 to go onto score a nice 10th Fed, the red card winning hen who chalked as a young bird now has 2 x 1st Club wins this season after winning 1st Club, 30th Fed Newark out of an entry of 2,332 birds. The blue card was chalked up by a blue cock that came from a batch of six youngsters purchased from P & J Lofts, with her scoring as a young bird. The green card was awarded to a chequer Soontjen cock bred by Colin Sheerin for the Loftus Championship Club breeder/buyer, and like the previous couple of timers, he is a previous scorer as a young bird.
2, Craig Clapham & David Coates of Boosbeck, the winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 10th East
Cleveland Federation Oakham (1).
Next stop is the Brotton Six Bird Club where the inform Bill Ward and Grandson Shaun of the W & S Ward partnership got back to their winning ways after timing two of their six entries to win a cracking 1st and 2nd Club to record their fourth win of the season. With pole position being won by a 2y Homer & Williams Leo Heremans/Gus Janssen hen achieving a chart topping vel of 1651.4 which was enough to score 13th Fed. The blue card was netted by Bill & Shaun's inform 2016 bred Staf Van Reet hen making 1645.51 for 22nd Fed, with the hen now being the winner of a 1st, 2nd and 5th Club this season. Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson & Tubby “Graham” Purver and the very helpful “Evo” Ian Everington and Franky are in 3rd spot with their green card potter being a 2016 dark Evo bloodlines Lambrecht hen doing 1645.50 for 23rd Fed. Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore time a yearling to lift 4th Club, with their yellow card potter being the previous scorer of 4th Club, 20th Fed Bubwith (3) as a young bird when beaten by two loftmates that took 2nd and 3rd Club, 18th and 19th Fed when there were 791 birds competing. Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne clocked a 4y to pot 5th Club, while Ricky Cush notches up 6th place with a yearling. Deano Ward records his second win on the belt at Staithes after timing three birds to win 1st, 5th and 6th Club, to notch up his third win of the season. Golly “Derek” Foster also had three birds in the frame to pot 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club.
The Up North Combine have had to change the Chelmsford (2) race that was scheduled on Saturday 2nd June to Huntingdon, due to the A1 been closed with restrictions in the Bedfordshire area which will make it almost impossible to get to Chelmsford.
I would like to thank my little Edinburgh Pal, Bernie Britton for getting a couple of our birds back to us. We had two of our Newark entries ending up in Scotland, along with a number of other fanciers birds scattered around Scotland from that race. The first one a hen was reported by a lady working at a Golf Club in North Berwick, Bernie was soon on the case and went to pick the bird up for me. The second bird was reported in Fraserburgh by Walter Masson of Inverallochy, well known for winning 1st Open Scottish National Flying Club from Avranches in 1976 with a red hen named “ 5 O’clock Rock” from a distance of 622 miles. The top class hen who beat the 2nd placed bird that was flying 120 miles less by 135ypm, was presented with an Osman Memorial Cup for her outstanding performance. Walter put the cock on their transporter that was racing from Dunfermline that weekend, for Bernie to pick up early Saturday morning. Bernie then arranged with their transporter driver Rab to transport the two birds with him to the Ripon Race Course liberation site the following Friday, where I picked them up at 1.30am Saturday morning. Once again I thank Bernie for going out of the way twice, the lady at the Golf Club, Walter and Rab for all helping to get the birds back home. And no way am I going to mention Bernie's corn bill.
4, Walter Masson of Inverallochy, outstanding “5 O’clock Rock” winner of 1st Open Scottish
National Flying Club Avranches in 1976 from a distance of 622 miles.
Bill Heslop of Brotton & John Wilkie of Bolden have once again donated their fees earned from auctioning the birds at the 2018 Loftus Championship Club Breeder/Buyer Sales. The two lads donated £100 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which will help in funding the upkeep and operations of the Whitby Lifeboats. The Whitby Lifeboat Station had 40 call outs throughout 2017, and up to the end of April of this year they had 8 call outs. Bill & John 's second donation of £100 went to the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Last year the service flew a massive 1,042 missions across the region. The Community Powered Emergency Care were there when those people needed them most, to help them to continue this service, they must raise £5.1m every year. Bill & John's £100 donation will help towards the continued funding of life-saving services. Well done to Bill & John on thinking of others, who are always in badly in need of donations to help them to help others. That’s all for this week.