“The Original” Around The Up North Combine

By Good Corn

As promised last time, I have the Marske & New Marske report from Newark, where we see the loft of Geoff Bavin filling no less than three chambers to win a very nice 1st, 4th and 5th Club. With Geoff's red card winner being a yearling blue roundabout cock bred by Clubmate Martin Hogarth, the chart topping cock is the same way bred as Geoff's last seasons 1st Club, 1st Fed and 72nd UNC Burbure (1) winner when there was 13,268 birds competing. The Dam of the winner flew very well for Martin winning 4 x 1st Clubs, also in the bloodlines is a equally good hen that won 4 x 1st Clubs over the channel for Martin. The yellow card was netted by a 4y dark Schoorisse roundabout hen, and next in cell three came a 2016 bred blue cock bred down from the late John Clayton who flew in the Marske & New Marske Club. Tony Hunt of the late Jack Brown & Hunt partnership is in 2nd spot with a 3y red widowhood cock bred off Tony's good breeding cock the SED Cock. The red cock flew well in 2017 where he won 2 x 1st, 1 x 2nd and 1 x 3rd Clubs. The Bubwith winning partnership of Paul Longstaff, Jeff Moore & Mackay clocked a Busschaert widowhood cock bred down from stock of Paul's late partner Harry Middlemass to lift 3rd Club.

After the cancellation of racing due to the weather forecast on the weekend of the 28th and 29th April, the Up North Combine were back on track for their third race of the season from Chelmsford on Saturday 5th May. The East Cleveland Federation 80 members convoy of 2,189 birds were liberated at 8.30am into a light South West wind, but the wind freshened as the morning went on with some East in the wind at the home end. The Pigeons we saw were very high in the sky, with them dropping in from different angles but mostly from out of the back after over shooting. For some reason a number of fanciers believe we are not getting the best of racing at the moment, the birds are flying at great speed but after a glut of Pigeons back they suddenly dry up and are taking all day to home.

Now for the result starting at Brotton H/S where the loft of Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne timed a 2y mealy Hereman Ceusters hen that came from the heavens to record a vel of 1793 which was enough to win a most impressive 1st Club out of a sixteen members entry of 482 birds and 1st Fed. The cracking handling hen is the Son of a mealy cock who is the previous winner of 1st Club Maidstone National in Brotton H/S, while the pole position winners Dam is the previous winner of 1st Club Melton Mowbray also in Brotton H/S, when Frank, Brenda & Wayne won 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club that day. After a bad knock on the wing where she was struggling to get off the floor the hen was retired from racing and put in the stock loft, where she is certainty proving her worth. I knew Wayne would be away when I called at the loft, as he was enjoying a holiday in Spain. I have know the Reilly family for a great number of years and it's always a pleasure to be in their company, I have always found Frank a true honest man who always tells you the way it is. If their Pigeons are not flying well then he will tell you so, and if there is an illness in the loft then he won't hold back from telling you so. Another good thing I like about Frank, he will always try and help you the best way he can, the sport could well do with a lot more of Frank Reilly's in the racing game.

Frank Reilly of Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne, holding their 2y mealy Hereman Ceusters hen,

winner of 1st Brotton H/S, 1st East Cleveland Federation Chelmsford 2,189 birds.

Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners the previous weeks 1st Club, 1st Fed Newark winners are taking some holding so far, for this week the lads timed no less than four of their squad to win an outstanding 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 2nd, 5th, 9th and 19th Fed with vels of 1787.7, 1782.5, 1778.9, 1772.7. With the blue card being awarded to a 2016 bred blue pied Fabry x Van Limpt De Prut cock who is the previous winner of 4th Club, 12th Fed Oakham, 1st Club, 2nd Fed Oakham, 1st Club, 6th Fed Rivenhall. The fancied cock wins 1st Loftus Championship Club Special Nom banking £150. Reg & Ray's yellow card scorer was a 1y mealy Fabry cross, while the duo's third timer is no stranger in the clock for their 3y blue Busschaert hen is the previous winner of 1st Club, 11th Fed Newark, 6th Club, 23rd Fed Peterborough, 28th Fed Oakham, 3rd Club, 11th Fed Rivenhall, 2nd Club, 8th Fed Peterborough, 1st Club, 6th Fed Oakham (3). Fourth on the clock was a 2017 bred Fabry cross to round off a cracking team performance. The loft of Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson, Tubby “Graham” Purver and loft helpers Evo “Ian” Everington & Franky are enjoying a good start to the season and this race they timed a 2y Van Reet hen bred by Clubmates Bill & Shawn Ward to lift a very nice 3rd Club, 3rd Fed on 1786.8. The hen is the previous scorer of 2nd Club in the Brotton H/S out of the 2017 Eastbourne (1) National when she went onto score a notable 7th Fed, 82nd UNC when there were 18,257 birds competing, and 83rd North Of England Homing Union Open from a convoy of 26,042 birds. A fancied later bird was timed to lift 5th Loftus Championship Club Special Nom lifting £30 on 1754.1.

Mike Prokopowicz & Son Lee wins top spot at Skinningrove H/S after timing a couple of birds to win a cracking 1st and 3rd Club from a thirteen members entry of 519 birds. With the red card being won by a yearling blue hen bred by former 1st UNC Gold Medal winning Brian Clennan (Byron & Clennan) of Staithes, with a top vel of 1784.2, to go onto score a useful 4th Fed. The green card was awarded to a Brian Clennon bred 2y chequer hen making 1777.7 to lift 10th Fed. The hen is the previous scorer of 2nd Club, 6th Fed Newark (2) in 2017 from a convoy of 1,045 birds. White Bros Malc & Stuart split Mike & Lee after timing a 2017 bred blue cock achieving 1781.7 to net 7th Fed. With the blue card potter being bred by W Gates & Son of Boldon fame for the Loftus Championship Club breeder/buyer being the previous scorer of 2nd Club, 6th Fed Peterborough as a young bird when there were 1,339 birds competing. The Sire is a 2006 bred Vandenabeele purchased from M & D Evans, while the Dam was bred by the late Nev Evans of Haverton Hill fame. Sayers Bros Kenny, Dave, Brian and loft helper Richard are in 4th spot with a 2y Smit Van Winkle widowhood hen bred off the best of Geach Bros & McKenna of Hartlepool on 1767. B & K Simpson timed a 2y well-fancied blue Kev Parsons Hofkens/Brian & Karen Hawes Leo Van Rijn natural cock to chalk up 5th Club, £5 Club Nom and 3rd Loftus Championship Club Special Nom netting £90 on 1762. The Sire of Brian & Keith's timer was on loan from Kev and is a Son of ace stock cock “King Kall” Sire, G/Sire & G/G Sire to hundreds of winners. While the Dam of the Brothers timer was purchased for stock where she has more than earned her place, for she is the Dam of a number of good winners including 5 x 2nd Federation winners.

David Coates and loft helper Popeye of Boosbeck followed up their 1st Club, 30th Fed Newark, by timing a yearling achieving a vel of 1781.2 to win 1st Club from a three members entry of 125 birds. With David & Popeye's red card winner doing enough to chalk up a notable 8th Fed; which just might bring a smile to David's face. David & Popeye's former Clubmate Derek “Golly” Foster tops the Staithes charts after timing a couple of birds to win 1st and 6th Club from a four members entry of 76 birds. Chris Cooke scores 2nd Club for the second race running, with the blue card being awarded to a yearling chequer Belgian hen from Francois Leys who is the previous scorer of 3rd Club Rivenhall as a young bird. Deano Ward had three of his squad on the clock to pocket 3rd, 4th and 5th Club. The Father & Son partnership of Keith & Matty Arkless of Loftus timed a yearling achieving 1754.2 to lift 4th Loftus Championship Club Special Nom pocketing £60.

The Skelton Green partnership of Bill Chapman, Sons Steve & Colin and the late Tommy Swinburne wins 1st Club out of a ten members muster of 349 birds, with the lads pole position winning 3y recording a chart topping vel of 1776.8 to win 1st Club Show pocketing £20.00, 12th Fed and 2nd Loftus Championship Club Special Nom banking £120. Very close behind in 2nd spot was Alan & David Wright also with a 3y doing 1776.2 to go onto net 14th Fed. Alan & David had a couple of later birds a 3y and a 2y touch down together to notch up 5th and 6th Club, 17th and 18th Fed on 1773.1, with their 2y taking 2nd Club Show and £12.00. Derek Winspear & Son Mark the Clubs 2017 young bird average winners clocked a 2y on 1775.9 to lift 2nd Club, 15th Fed; the duo also timed a 2y to claim 3rd Club Show and £8.00. While the forever trying Des Williams and loft helper Roger Wall timed a 2y knocking out a vel of 1775.7 to pot 4th Club, winning the £10 Lucky Number and 16th Fed.

Steve Chapman of Chapman, Sons & Swinburne, winner of 1st Club, 1st Club Show, 12th Fed,

2nd Loftus Championship Club Special Nom, with Mr & Mrs Ian & Liz P

Moving onto the the Brotton Six Bird Club where the loft of W & S Ward are going great guns, for Bill and Grandson Shaun are taking no prisoners after timing a couple of their squad to win 1st and 5th Club from a ten members entry of 57 birds to record their third consecutive win. With the lads well out in front pole position winner being a 2y Leo Heremans through Homer & Williams of Grangetown/St Mary's fame, while their second timer was a yearling Leo Heremans x own Van Reet. Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson, Tubby “Graham” Purver and loft helpers Evo “Ian” Everington & Franky also had a couple of birds in the frame, both yearlings to lift 2nd and 3rd Club. With the blue card being chalked up by a Trevor Taylor of Great Ayton fame chequer Hereman Ceusters hen, while the green was netted by a blue Ian Stafford hen. Ricky Cush comes into the frame in 4th position with Ricky's yellow card potter being a 2y chequer flipey Soontjen cock bred by N Ceadman. Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne return in the points after timing a yearling to notch up 6th Club.

News from the Marske & New Marske Secretary Martin Hogarth, who informs me that Geoff Bavin records his second win on the belt after timing a couple of birds to win 1st and 4th Club from a four members entry of 77 birds. Leading the way was a 2017 bred red Brown & Hunt/Ian “Evo” Everington widowhood cock. The yellow card was potted by a dark roundabout hen bred from the late John Clayton stock. The late Jack Brown & Tony Hunt had no fewer than three birds on the clock to lift a useful 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club, with the blue card going to the same 3y red widowhood cock bred off Tony's good breeding cock the SED Cock, that was 2nd Club the previous race. Tony who has not being in the best of health of late, second timer was a 2y blue Dirk Seppers/Janssen Van Gompel widowhood cock. Tony's third timer was a 2016 bred Jan Aarden widowhood cock. Just like last year Craig Wedgewood had his loft broken into and all his young birds stolen again, just when the youngsters were ready to wean off. This has happened to Craig before, this time some of the youngsters that were stole were FUT rung babies Craig was breeding for his mates Des Williams & Roger Wall of Skelton. I last heard that Craig was on the lookout to move to another Club due to the constant loft break-ins.

The Teesside Federation entry of 926 were up and on their way home at 8.10am. The Billingham T U H/S loft of Ali McLeod continues his very impressive run by following up his previous race Federation winning performance, by timing no fewer than six of his team to win a most impressive 1st, 2nd and 5th Club, 1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 13th and 17th Fed. With Mac's pole position Fed winner, like the East Cleveland Federation winner that came out of the heavens, being a yearling chequer Vandenabeele hen recording a chart topping vel of 1764.2. The hen is full Sister to Ali's blue pied hen “64” who has a 3rd and 36th Up North Combine to her credit, while the Sire is direct Mark Evans. Oddly enough Ali wanted this hen for Burbure but she shined before, which is not a bad thing. The blue card was chalked up by a 2y blue cock on 1755 who had scored a few times as a yearling including, 4th Club, 5th Fed Bubwith, 2nd Club, 4th Fed, 6th Section Peterborough when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 3rd Fed, 5th Section when there were 4,203 birds. He also took 3rd Club, 4th Fed, 25th UNC Burbure (2) when beaten by two loftmates that won 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 3rd Fed, 7th and 18th UNC from a convoy of 10,689 birds. The cock is a Son of Mac's good racing cock “82” a former winner of Teesside Federation Bird Of The Year, and top producing cock. Third on the clock was a 2y blue cock doing 1751, with him being one of Ali's best racing cocks at the moment. He topped the Section out of the young bird NEHU FUT race and went onto top the Fed as a yearling, and he is one of the two birds that won Mac the UNC London North Road Friendship Trophy for the best two bird performance from Burbure (2) in 2017 when 7th and 18th Combine was won. The cock who has many Fed cards to his name is full Brother to 1st and 2nd UNC and is soaked with the very best of Ali's Vandenabeele bloodlines. The cock had been Ali's £5 bird the previous two races but you’ve guested it, he changed it this week, but Ali's first two birds did win all the Club pools to make up for not keeping faith in the cock. Next came a blue hen doing 1746 who is the previous winner of 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section, 2nd UNC Burbure (1) from a convoy of 13,268 birds. She is full Sister to Mac's previous timer and his 1st UNC Gold Medal winning “Gaby Lou”. Ali's final couple of timers were both yearling blue cocks making 1735 and 1732.27 to round up another top notch loft performance.

Tommy Clark & Son Gary had five birds on the clock to lift 3rd and 4th Club, 5th, 6th, 10th, 15th and 16th Fed; with the first two timers a 2y blue cock and a 2y chequer hen that were clocked one second apart achieved vels of 1752.2 and 1752.0. The lads third timer was a 2015 bred blue hen doing 1746.1; while the final couple of timers being yearlings that were clocked two seconds apart were a blue hen and a white hen doing 1732.9 and 1732.6. Colin Atkinson timed a yearling chequer cock doing 1748.3 to pocket 8th Fed; with the cock being the previous winner of 1st Club, 2nd Fed and 4th Section Rivenhall as a young bird from a convoy of 2,954 birds. Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins timed their fancied 2y blue hen achieving a vel of 1738.9 to pocket 12th Fed and win the Fed Nom.

Hot off the press from Tommy Barron who informs me that nine Haverton Hill members sent 252 birds, with the loft of Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff enjoying a cracking day after timing no fewer than three of their squad to win a top notch 1st, 3rd and 4th Club. With top spot being won by a 2016 bred Soontjen x Ali McLeod hen recording a chart topping vel of 1761.8 to win the 10p pools pocketing £39.90 and going onto lift an impressive 2nd Fed. The well out in front red card winning hen that Jappa thinks a lot about returned shot last year, so he put her away until this season where she is repaying Jappa's faith in her. And here was me thinking Paul was the Pigeon man of the partnership, only joking Paul. The green card was netted by a 3y blue hen doing 1730.1 for 20th Fed, with her being the same way bred as Andrew & Paul's winner, the blue hen has proved to be the bridesmaid of the loft after winning 2nd Club, 3rd Fed Reims and 3rd Club, 5th Fed Reims when beaten by loftmates that won 1st Fed each time. The yellow card was awarded to a yearling blue pied Mark Walton of Guisborough fame Van Loon on 1729.9; Andrew & Paul timed a later fancied bird to win the 25p pools and round off a great days racing. The partnership of James Stewart & Steve Barron are in the frame for the second time in three races after timing a 2y consistent chequer Busschaert hen doing 1730.9 to lift 2nd Club, 19th Fed. With the blue card potting hen being bred by Bob Bolt of Tow Law, Jimmy was up at Tow Law through the week getting Bob's race routine and it could be paying off. Rob Barron had a couple of birds on the clock to notch up 5th and 6th Club with Rob's first timer being a 2y chequer Janssen hen who is the previous winner of 1st Club, 3rd Fed Pontefract (3) as a young bird, and 6th Club, 18th Fed Rivenhall National last season out of an entry of 404 birds. The hen is full Sister to the lofts 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 1st £5 Fed pools and 15th Up North Combine Burbure (1) winner last season from a convoy of 13,268 birds. Rob's second timer was a yearling blue pied hen bred by Harry Appleby of Durham fame, that was purchased at last years breeder/buyer sale. Rob clocked a later well-fancied bird to with the 50p and £1 pools netting £17.50, before planning a trip up to Tow Law in search of Bob Belt, in the hope of a few tips. We met Bob a few years ago after he got one of our birds in, and found Bob a very nice man.

Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley hits the winners' enclosure at Middlesbrough H/S after timing a couple of birds to win 1st and 3rd Club from an entry of 279 birds. Leading the way for Stephen & Jeanann was a yearling chequer pied hen recording a top vel of 1752.6 which was enough to score a notable 4th Fed. The green card was potted by a 3y blue hen making 1734 to take 14th Fed. The late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek clocked a 2y chequer hen on 1745.7 for 11th Fed; Les & Derek timed a later fancied bird to win the Club £5 bets. Keith Hodge & Dennis Potter are in 4th spot with a 2017 bred chequer hen knocking out a vel of 1732.2 to go onto pocket 18th Fed.  The late Wyn Cole, Ste Wheatley & Grandson Connor had a couple of birds on the clock to take 5th and 6th Club.

That’s me done and dusted 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.