“The Original” Around The Up North Combine

Top Drawer Season, For Ali McLeod Of Billingham T U H/S

By Good Corn

 

   For the third consecutive year I was invited to present the trophies at the Teesside Federation 2017 presentation evening which as the previous two years it was held at the Weston Social Club, Middlesbrough. I took Grandsons Hayden & Tyler along, with the knowledge we were going to be in for a fantastic night and we were not disappointed. On our arrival at the venue the room was starting to fill up and it wasn't long before I had a quick chat with a few of the lads. As time moved on Federation Secretary Steve “The Mic” Wheatley took centre stage to welcome the members, their families, friends and guests to the Federations biggest night of the year, and quickly followed that up by thanking everyone who had helped him throughout the year. Steve then gave a run down on the members performances and achievements on what was a very difficult seasons racing from the old bird inland, channel and young bird races. But despite all that was thrown at the Billingham T U H/S, Haverton Hill, Middlesbrough H/S and Beechwood & Easterside members, they came through it all with flying colours, with a number of top performances at Section 5 and Up North Combine level. The very small Federations members may well lack in numbers birdage wise but they more than made up for it from big birdage from the Up North Combine and North Of England Homing Union Open races competing against up to 18,000 plus birds. As always some members performed better than others and that is always fatal when Stephen is on the mic, for the unfortunate ones who have not performed too well throughout the season are always going to be in for some friendly banter and is always taken in good taste. Stephen then asked me up to present the silverware to the very worthy winners, after doing the honours John Thompson took to the floor to present the prize money to the joint Tees Valley Federation and Teesside Federation Breeder/Buyer winners. Robbie Barron who had helped Stephen set up the trophies and things for the Feds big night earlier in the day when Stephen kept going walkabouts, then came up to present a wonderful bouquet of flowers to Stephen's wife Janice and his daughter in-law Jeanann for all the hard work and support they had given him throughout the season and supplying a first class buffet. This was followed by the Karaoke Disco, buffet and prize galore raffle, after everyone had eaten their food it was time for the D J to continuing with the music and giving the singers in the room the chance to perform their favourite songs. Another great night was had by all, which has become a regular thing at the Teesside Federations presentation evenings.     

 

Good Corn, Hayden & Tyler enjoying a great night at the Teesside Federation presentation evening.

   Top prizewinner in the Teesside Federation in 2017 was the Billingham T U Homing Society’s Ali McLeod, with Ali being the winner of the Old Bird Inland Average with 78pts, winner of the Channel Average with 37pts, winner of the Young Bird Average with 62pts and winner of the Combined Average with a grand total of 177pts. Ali started the season by timing five birds at old bird Bubwith to notch up 2nd and 4th Club, 2nd, 5th, 14th, 15th and 19th Teesside Federation with his fourth timer winning the Fed Nom. Ali who to many is also known as Mac hit the winners' enclosure from the second race Worksop, when he timed no fewer than eight of his entries to win a top notch 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 1st, 6th, 7th, 12th, 16th, 18th, 19th and 20th Fed out of an entry of 996 birds, with Mac's first three timer going onto chalk up a notable 5th, 12th and 13th Section 5 from a massive 7,060 birds. Onto the third race Oakham (1) where Ali had six of his team on the clock to pocket 3rd and 5th Club, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 20th Fed. A week later when the birds were at Huntingdon a trio of birds were timed in the space of three seconds to pocket 12th, 13th and 14th Fed; and this was followed up by taking 3rd and 5th Club, 3rd, 6th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 19th Fed at Oakham (2) the substitute race Rivenhall, when the green card potter went onto net 19th Section. Mac had five birds on the clock out of the Eastbourne (1) National, which has being probably his best performing race point in the past where he has won a great number of 1st Clubs and Feds with his timers going onto win Up North Combine Medals. This time the lad timed five of his squad to lift 4th and 6th Club, 4th, 7th, 10th, 11th and 20th Fed, with the yellow card scorer potting 13th Section and 110th UNC, while the second bird on the clock notched up 3rd £5 Fed Nom pocketing £20.00 and 146th Combine.

James McLeod with Father Ali, top prizewinner in the Teesside Federation and Section 5. Winning the “Old Bird Inland Averages”, “Channel Averages”, “Young Bird Averages” and the “Combined Averages”.

 

   Ali had another five birds on the clock a week later at Oakham (3) when he took 4th Club, 5th, 9th, 17th, 19th and 20th Fed. Mac recorded his second win of the season at the first French race point Burbure (1) where he won a brilliant 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th Club, 1st, 4th, 10th, 11th and 19th Fed from 425 birds with the pole position winner going onto win a most impressive 1st Section 5 winning £187.71, 2nd UNC winning a Combine Silver Medal from a convoy of 13,268 birds and also winning 3 bags of corn kindly donated by Mr & Mrs Arthur Andrews of Peterborough. Mac's next three timers went onto pot 78th, 177th and 178th Combine to round of a awesome performance. Ali has proved very hard to beat from Burbure since the UNC replaced this race point instead of Lillers in 2015, where Mac won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section and 1st UNC from a convoy of 10,617 birds.

   Moving onto Rivenhall where Ali timed four birds to chalk up 3rd and 6th Club, 10th, 15th, 16th and 17th Fed. Ali achieved his second channel win on the belt out of Roye where he clocked no less than seven of his entries to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Club, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 15th and 19th Fed with the yellow card potter winning the Fed Nom. Mac's red card winner went onto score 5th Section and 42nd Section and the blue card potter chalked up 12th Section and 62nd UNC, while the next four birds on the clock netted 160th, 161st, 192nd and 216th Combine to round off a top drawer team performance from the distance of 379 miles. Ali made it two wins on the trot at Peterborough when his squad achieved another fantastic performance when no fewer than eight birds were timed to win an awesome 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 15th and 19th Fed, 5th, 6th, 14th, 15th and 19th Section. Ali was amongst them again the following week when he netted a notable 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 10th and 13th Fed Oakham (4). The UNC had liberated from Bourges the previous day but there was no day birds recorded in the Combine, but Ali did time one of his entries on the second day, the same day as the Oakham (4) race to win a fantastic 1st Club, 1st Fed, 5th Section, 20th UNC from a entry of 1,795 birds and 21st North Of England Homing Union Open from a convoy of 1,989 birds to make it three wins out of three from the channel, including 2 x 1st and 1 x 2nd Feds which is a brilliant achievement by anyone's standards.

    The following week the birds were at the Eastbourne (2) National but after the birds were held over on the Saturday and Sunday not looking too good for a liberation at the race point on the Monday the convoy of 12,356 birds were brought back and liberated from Rivenhall on the Sunday. Ali's entries racked up a brilliant team performance after no fewer than five of his squad were timed to win an awesome 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th Fed out of 404 birds, 2nd, 8th and 9th Section, 13th, 80th, 81st, 143rd and 149th UNC. Ali marched on to record his seventh Club win and fifth Fed win of the old bird season at Newark (1) when he won a cracking 1st Club, 1st, 8th, 13th and 16th Fed when there were 287 birds competing. Mac never wasted any time in achieving his eighth Club win and sixth Fed win of the campaign for that was knocked up a week later when the birds were at Newark (2) where no less than seven birds were clocked to win a belting 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 20th Fed from 325 birds, with Ali's first four timers going onto chalk up  an outstanding 1st, 4th, 14th and 18th Section when there were 2,846 birds away. Ali's fantastic run continued at Burbure (2) the fifth of five channel races and final old birds race of the season, where the inform Mac clocked seven of his over the pond squad to win a top drawer 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 14th and 19th Fed, with the fancied red card winner also winning the Fed Nom. Ali's first five birds on the clock went onto score a most impressive 7th, 18th, 25th, 27th and 133rd UNC from a convoy of 10,689 birds, and his red and blue card scorers also doing enough to win the UNC “London North Road Friendship Trophy” For The Best Two Bird Performance. Mac's brilliant performances throughout won him the Section 5 Channel Average, the Old Bird Inland Average and the Old Bird Combined Average with a total of 328pts which was 148pts ahead of the next loft to round off a fantastic days racing and an outstanding old bird season at Club, Fed, Section and Up North Combine level.   

Fred Postill receiving 1st Breeder/Buyer prize money from John Thompson.

   Moving onto Ali's very successful young bird season, due to Mac's van being off the road in the lead up to the first race from Pontefract (1) the lad believed the youngsters needed a few more training tosses under their wings before they were ready to compete in the race basket, so he missed the first race. After getting transport back on the road Ali supplied the babies enough experience in the training basket leading up to the second race from Pontefract (2) for them to compete in their first race, Mac had five of his first timers on the clock to pocket 6th, 8th, 17th, 19th and 20th Fed, 10th and 12th Section. Come the Tuesday after the birds had competed in their first race Ali noticed a few of the youngsters had come down with the virus a number of fanciers call “Fat Eye”, knowing the virus spreads like wildfire, Mac cabined the birds up and let the virus take its course. After a few days the birds were looking the part once again, I take my hat off to Ali for he kept the birds off from the third race Worksop (1), they were there to fight another day.

    And by hell they did just that from race number four when “The Mighty Mac” timed no fewer than six of his entries in the space of 28 seconds to win a most impressive 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Fed when there were 726 birds competing, with the six youngsters going onto score a earth-shattering 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Section from a convoy of 4,534 birds. The pole position winner that was 20 seconds in front of Ali's blue card scorer also won the Fed £5 Ring banking £70.00 in prize money, Mac also had three later birds on the clock to net 14th, 19th and 20th Fed to round off an outstanding days performance. After keeping the birds off from the first race and missing the third race due to no fault of his own, only being honest with himself and thinking of the welfare of other fanciers birds, never stopped Ali's birds from churning out top team performances for the rest of the young bird programme. For Mac recorded his second young bird win on the belt at Melton Mowbray after timing five birds to win a belting 1st and 3rd Club, 1st, 4th, 17th, 18th and 19th Fed out of 645 birds, 5th and 9th Section when there was 4,335 birds away.

    Ali achieved a hat trick of wins out of Peterborough where in had no less than nine of his inform squad in the clock to win a cracking 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Fed when there was 591 birds competing. Onto Rivenhall where Ali timed five birds to net a useful 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, 5th, 6th, 8th, 11th and 15th Fed, with the yellow card potter going onto take 2nd £5 Ring pocketing £45.00 in prize money. Mac was back on the winning track a week later when the birds were at the Maidstone National, for the lad timed no fewer than eight of his entries to win a top notch 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th, 13th, 17th, 18th and 19th Fed out of 310 birds, with Ali's pole position Fed winner also winning 1st £5 Fed pool banking £45.00 and going onto score a brilliant 2nd Section and 5th UNC from a convoy of 11,055 birds. Mac's blue card potter also went onto lift a belting 5th Section and 13th Combine, while his eighth youngster on the clock was a blue hen bred by Butto Bell which won the Breeder/Buyer and £700 in prize money to round off another fantastic days racing. Ali shut up shop after the Maidstone National, so he missed the final race from Pontefract (3) but not before he won the Section 5 Young Bird Average with 190pts beating the second loft by 7pts. Mac also won the Section 5 Combined Average with a massive total of 514pts, beating the second loft by an awesome 237pts.

   A big majority of Ali's continued success has being achieved from his good old trusted Gaby Vandenabeele family, the bloodlines have withstood the test of time, not only for Mac but also for others, as he has either bred winners for others or they have bred winners themselves from birds obtained from him. Many, many auction sales go on through the season with some of the fanciers being called “Champions”, I often laugh at myself when reading this and then ask myself, what category would Ali come under after winning the old bird, channel, young bird and the combined averages in his Federation and Section in 2017?                

   The partnership of Tommy Clarke & Son Gary were the Feds seconds highest prize winners with the duo being Runners Up Old Bird Inland Average on 66pts and Runners Up Combined Average with a total of 104pts. Also winners of the “Bird Of The Year”. Tommy & Gary started the 2017 old bird season in fantastic style after timing no less than five birds at Bubwith on the opening day of the new season to win a top notch 1st, 3rd and 5th Club, 1st, 4th, 8th, 10th and 11th Fed when there were 946 birds away. The Father and Son partnership had a couple of birds on the clock a week later at Worksop to pocket 5th and 6th Club, 10th and 11th Fed, 19th and 20th Section. Win number two from three starts was achieved out of Oakham (1) when three of their squad were timed to win a cracking 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd, 3rd and 12th Fed, with the duo's red card winner which was the same 2y chequer hen that topped the Fed from Bubwith going onto score 15th Section. Tommy & Gary were in the frame for the fourth race running at Huntingdon where three birds were clocked in the space of nine seconds to lift a notable 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 8th, 9th and 11th Fed, 11th, 12th and 14th Section, with their yellow card potter being their Bubwith and Oakham (1) winner.

Gary Clark of Tommy Clark & Son, “Runners Up Old Bird Inland Average”, “Runners Up Combined Average”,

and winners of the “Bird Of The Year Trophy”.

   The lads inform chequer hen won top spot for the third time in five races a week later at Oakham (2) when four birds were timed to win a most impressive 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, 1st, 2nd, 5th and 11th Fed out of 823 birds, with the red and blue card winners going onto score 5th and 17th Section from a massive convoy of 6,215 birds. Tommy & Gary were enjoying a brilliant run and it got even better the following race out of the Eastbourne National when five of their team were on the clock to win a very impressive 1st and 3rd Club, 1st, 3rd, 13th, 14th and 16th Fed out of 622 birds, 1st and 9th Section winning £194.56 for 1st Section 5, 4th and 79th UNC when there were 18,257 birds competing, 5th and 80th North Of England Homing Union Open from a convoy of 26,042 birds. With Tommy & Gary's winner being their awesome chequer hen who won the Fed Nom and the £5 Fed Nom banking £60.00, what a fantastic season this hen was having, she was having a season we all dream of. Another top team performance was achieved the following week when the birds were at Oakham (3) after no fewer than eight of their inform team were timed to chalk up a cracking 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th Club, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 13th and 18th Fed.

   A single bird was on the clock at Burbure (1) to pocket a useful 2nd Club, 3rd Fed and 57th UNC; and this was followed up by winning 1st Club, 8th Fed Rivenhall out of 557 birds. Two birds were on the clock out of Peterborough to claim 3rd Club, 5th and 19th Fed, with the green card potter going onto net 11th Section. Tommy & Gary returned to the winners' enclosure at Oakham (4) to record their sixth Club win and their fourth Fed win of the season after timing five birds to win a notable 1st and 5th Club, 1st, 5th, 7th, 17th and 20th Fed from an entry of 463 birds. Three birds were timed from the Rivenhall National to notch up 15th, 19th and 20th Fed; and then the duo took 2nd, 5th and 6th Club, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 14th, 15th and 18th Fed out of Newark (1). Tommy & Gary never let up for they had six of their entries on the clock at Newark (2) to chalk up 4th and 6th Club, 7th, 9th, 13th, 14th, 18th and 19th Fed, with the yellow card lifter picking up 15th Section. Burbure (2) saw Tommy & Gary pot 5th Club, 6th, 11th, 16th and 20th Fed, 40th and 202nd UNC to end a fantastic old bird season.  

   Tommy & Gary had three of their young bird Pontefract (2) entries on the clock to score a notable 2nd and 3rd Club, 2nd, 3rd and 18th Fed; with the blue potter winning the Fed Nom and 1st £5 Ring banking £70.00 while the green card lifter that was timed one second after the blue card scorer lifting 2nd £5 Ring pocketing £45.00. The lads had no fewer than five of their youngsters on the clock a week later at Worksop (1) to net 2nd, 4th and 6th Club, 3rd, 6th, 14th, 16th and 18th Fed, with their blue card scorer going onto lift 12th Section. And their fifth timer, the mealy hen that took 2nd £5 Ring the previous race, winning the Fed Nom and 1st £5 Ring netting £70.00. Onto Worksop (2) where Tommy & Gary timed no less than eight of their entries to notch up a striking 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th Fed, 14th, 18th and 19th Section, the boys also timed their money spinning mealy hen later on to win the Fed Nom. Melton Mowbray saw Tommy & Gary time a couple of their squad to pot 2nd Club, 3rd and 20th Fed with their blue card scorer going onto chalk up a nice 7th Section. 

   Tommy & Gary were in amongst them again out of Peterborough when they had five of their steady away team on the clock to lift 2nd and 6th Club, 2nd, 6th, 9th, 11th and 18th Fed, with their third timer winning 1st £5 Ring and £70.00 in prize money, while their fifth timer, the chequer hen that scored 2nd Club, 2nd Fed winning 1st Fed Nom, 1st £5 Ring and 6th Section from Pontefract (2) winning the Fed Nom. Three birds were timed at Rivenhall to claim 5th Club, 9th, 16th and 18th Fed, and that was followed up by potting 3rd and 4th Club out of the Maidstone National where their green card scorer went onto chalk up 4th Fed, 16th Section and 65th UNC, and their yellow card lifter notched up 8th Fed. Tommy & Gary's outstanding season which achieved a number of very impressive loft performance, came to a close at Pontefract (3) when they had eight of their squad on the clock to net 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 3rd, 5th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Fed. Tommy & Gary  had banked a very nice sum of money out of the £5 Ring Scheme, it's easy to obtain the rings but a lot, lot harder to put them on the right birds.     

   Colin Atkinson & Alby Woodward showed improvement throughout the 2017 racing season which saw them being “Runners Up Young Bird Average” with 37pts, winners of “Young Bird Of The Year Trophy” and third highest point winners in the Fed with a total of 53pts. Colin & Alby had a single bird on the clock at old bird Worksop to notch up 13th Fed. The two lads first win of the old bird season was achieved at Huntingdon where they timed three birds to win a fantastic 1st and 2nd Club, 1st, 6th and 20th Fed out of 972 birds with the well-fancied chart topper also winning the Fed Nom. The red and blue card winners also went onto win a brilliant 1st and 7th Section from a very competitive convoy of 7,024 birds. Win number two was recorded out of Oakham (3) when the two lads won an impressive 1st Club, 2nd Fed and 20th Section; and this was followed up a week later by claiming 6th Club, 18th Fed Burbure (1). Colin & Alby timed their yearling chequer cock that won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section Huntingdon at Rivenhall to net 4th Club, 13th Fed and 1st Fed Nom. And then the duo picked up 20th Fed Peterborough before taking 3rd Club, 3rd and 10th Fed Newark (1), with the well-fancied green card scorer being their Huntingdon Section winner also winning the Fed Nom for the second time. 

Third highest prizewinners Colin Atkinson & Alby Woodward, “Runners Up Young Bird  Average”

and winners of the “Young Bird Of The Year Trophy”.

   Colin & Alby's young bird campaign got off to a good start when they timed four of their entries in the space of ten seconds to chalk up a very nice 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Fed with the duo's blue card potter going onto claim 18th Section, the two lads timed a later five babies ten seconds apart to notch up 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th Fed to round off a very enjoyable days racing. Colin & Alby timed a couple of early birds at Pontefract (2) to win an outstanding 1st and 5th Club, 1st and 5th Fed out of 850 birds, 4th and 9th Section when there was 5,795 birds competing, another four later birds were timed to chalk up 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Fed, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Section to round off another notable team performance. Colin & Alby timed their chequer cock that won 1st Club, 1st Fed and 4th Section Pontefract (2) winner again the following week at Worksop (1) to win a brilliant 1st Club, 1st Fed when there were 811 birds away, and 1st Section from a convoy of 5,285 birds. A fancied single bird was on the clock out of Melton Mowbray to pot 5th Club, 8th Fed and 1st Fed Nom. Colin & Alby recorded their third young bird win in seven starts at Rivenhall when they won a top notch 1st Club, 2nd Fed and 4th Section, a second baby was clocked to claim 12th Fed. The following week with the birds at the Maidstone National 11th Fed was taken by their double Federation winning chequer cock. A couple of birds were in the frame at Pontefract (3) to lift    2nd Club, 2nd and 12th Fed, the boys also won the Fed Nom with their double Federation winning chequer cock.  

   The partnership of Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins got off the old bird mark after chalking up 4th Club, 9th Fed and 18th Section at Worksop. The duo then took a useful 6th Club, 7th Fed Oakham (1), before timing the yearling blue hen who potted the yellow out of Workshop at Oakham (2) to net 8th Fed and winning the Fed Nom. Brian & Keith had a couple of their entries on the clock from the Eastbourne National to score a notable 2nd and 5th Club, 2nd and 6th Fed, 4th and 17th Section, 12th and 125th UNC, with the blue card scorer also netting 12th NEHU Open, a well-fancied later bird was timed to win 2nd £5 Fed Nom pocketing £40.00. The boys had another two birds in the frame out of Rivenhall to pot a nice 2nd and 5th Club, 9th and 14th Fed, with this being followed up by taking 14th and 16th Fed Peterborough. A couple of their team were timed one second apart at Oakham (4) to claim 12th and 15th Fed, and then a week later when the birds were at the Rivenhall National 6th Club, 12th Fed was taken. Moving onto Newark (1) where a brace of birds were timed to pocket 4th Club, 4th and 11th Fed. Onto the young birds where Brian & Keith clocked a blue hen at Worksop (1) to lift 15th Fed and 2nd £5 Ring pocketing the £45.00 prize money. The duo were in the money again from Peterborough when they clocked a dark cock to chalk up 12th Fed, 2nd £5 Ring and another £45.00 prize money.   

Keith Perkins of Brian Atkinson & Perkins, scorers of 2nd Club, 2nd Fed, 4th Section, 12th UNC and 12th NEHU Open Eastbourne.

   Butto Bell & Weedall won the Fed Nom out of old bird Huntingdon, Butto and his mate John had a trio of birds on the clock, a blue hen and a couple of blue cocks at young bird Pontefract (1) to chalk up a useful 7th, 8th and 9th Fed. Two weeks later when the birds were at Worksop (1) Butto & John clocked a blue hen and a blue pied cock to score a notable 3rd and 5th Club, 4th and 12th Fed. The lads had another couple of youngsters in the clock at Melton Mowbray to pocket 9th and 11th Fed with the first timer being the blue pied cock that netted 5th Club, 12th Fed Worksop (1), while the duo's second timer was a blue cock. Butto & John's season ended on a high when the lads timed the blue cock that took 11th Fed Melton Mowbray to win a top drawer 1st Club, 1st Fed out of 181 birds and 7th Section when there were 2,078 birds competing. Steve Wilson was in the frame at old bird Bubwith after timing a yearling chequer hen to notch up 6th Club, 9th Fed; and two weeks later when the birds were at Oakham (1) Steve timed a fancied 4y blue cock to chalk up a very nice 4th Club, 5th Fed, 1st Fed Nom, the lad also clocked the 1y chequer cock that took 6th Club, 9th Fed Bubwith to take 19th Fed. 

John with “Butto Bell” of Bell & Weedall, winners of 1st Fed Young Bird Pontefract (3) Trophy.

   George Brydon clocked a yearling blue cock out of old bird Oakham (3) to pocket 10th Fed, and then followed that up by timing another 1y blue cock at Oakham (4) to notch up 14th Fed. George hit the heights at young bird Pontefract (1) the first of nine young bird races, when he timed one of his twelve entries, a black hen to win a most impressive 1st Club, 1st Fed out of 391 birds and 11th Section when there were 3,177 birds competing. The over the moon George timed a later fancied grizzle cock to win the Fed Nom and round of a fantastic day. George was in the frame for the second race running out of Pontefract (2) where he timed a chequer hen to chalk up a useful 4th Club, 4th Fed and 8th Section, the lad also clocked a blue hen to pocket 9th Fed and 15th Section. George was in the clock for the third consecutive race when he timed a black hen to claim 17th Fed Worksop (1). Shaun Smith timed a 1y chequer cock at old bird Bubwith to chalk up 20th Fed. Shaun also clocked a blue hen at young bird Worksop (1) to claim 20th Fed. Jeff Huggert & Keith Gregory timed their fancied yearling blue hen at old bird Worksop to win the Fed Nom. Sadly Keith “Greg” passed away in 2017.

Shaun Smith scorer of  20th Fed old bird Bubwith and 20th Fed young bird Worksop (1).

   The Haverton Hill partnership of Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod & Son Dale enjoyed a fantastic season with the lads being the Federations fourth highest prizewinners with a total of 43pts. Paul, Graham & Dale who was the Club top prizewinners with a brilliant 10 x 1st, 8 x 2nd, 7 x 3rd, 5 x 4th Clubs and 83pts, first old bird Fed points of the season were chalked up at Worksop when they pocketed a nice 3rd Club, 4th Fed and 9th Section. A week later when the birds were at Oakham (1) the lads took 2nd Club, 13th Fed; and that was quickly followed up by claiming 2nd Club, 19th Fed, 13th Section Huntingdon. Paul, Graham & Dale had three birds on the clock out of the Eastbourne (1) National where they won a cracking 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 12th, 15th and 17th Fed. The boys were in the frame again from Oakham (3) after timing two of their entries 21 seconds apart to clock up 2nd and 3rd Club, 14th and 16th Fed. Next stop is Burbure (1) where a couple of their water birds were timed to notch up 2nd and 6th Club, 5th and 16th Fed with the well-fancied blue card potter going onto win the Fed Nom, 2nd £5 pool banking £40.00 and 93rd UNC; while the the lads second timer picked up 229th UNC. Paul, Graham & Dale's achieved their second Club win of the season at Rivenhall when three birds were on the clock to win a top notch 1st and 6th Club, 1st, 11th and 12th Fed when there were 557 birds competing, with the boys Fed chart topper going onto score a very impressive 3rd Section from a convoy of 3,783 birds.

Good Corn presenting the “Burbure (2) Trophy” to fourth highest prizewinners Paul Gatley & Dale Harrod of Gatley, Graham Harrod & Son.

 

    The trio recorded their second Club win on the trot out of the second channel race Roye when they timed three of their French entries to win 1st and 5th Club, 3rd, 14th and 20th Fed when they also won 1st and 2nd £5 Fed pools. The lads pole position winner also went onto score a very nice 6th Section and 45th UNC, while their second timer notched up 213th UNC. Moving onto Peterborough where the boys timed a single bird to net a notable 3rd Club, 11th Fed; the partnership returned to their winning ways out of the Rivenhall National when they timed a  trio of birds to win 1st, 4th and 5th Club, 2nd, 11th, 13th Fed and also winning the Fed Nom, with Paul, Graham & Dale's pole position winner going onto chalk up an outstanding 3rd Section and 24th UNC. The three lads were in the channel frame again at Reims after timing four of their squad to pocket 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 7th, 17th, 19th and 20th Fed; with the blue card potter going onto lift 177th UNC. Paul, Graham & Dale came up trumps at Burbure (2), the fifth and final channel race of 2017 after timing a couple of birds to win a cracking 1st and 5th Club, 1st and 12th Fed out of an entry of 271 birds; with the Fed chart-topper going onto win a most impressive 2nd Section and 4th UNC from a convoy of 10,689 birds. The winner is not a daft Pigeon for it not only won the Club by six minutes, it is the very same yearling blue cock that won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section out of Rivenhall.

After achieving a top notch old bird season Paul, Graham & Dale must have had high hope for their young bird season, and like their old bird team, the lads young bird performances  didn’t disappoint them. For the boys had three of their entries on the clock out of Pontefract (2) to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, with their red card winning youngster going onto score 14th Fed. Paul, Graham & Dale returned to the winners' enclosure at Melton Mowbray where they clocked two of their squad to win a very nice 1st and 4th Club with their chart-topping baby going onto net a cracking 2nd Fed out of an entry of 645 birds and also potting 6th Section from a convoy of 4,335 birds, while the yellow lifter went onto claim 13th Fed. Paul, Graham & Dale recorded their third young bird win from seven starts out of Rivenhall after they timed no less than four of their inform young bird team to win a belting 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th Club, with pole position being won by a blue pied hen that went onto chalk up a cracking 3rd Fed. The well-fancied green card scorer who took 10th Fed, won the Fed Nom and the yellow card lifter pocketed 19th Fed. The inform Paul, Graham & Dale made it two wins on the trot at the Maidstone National after having two babies on the clock to win 1st and 5th Club, with the red card winner going onto score an impressive 3rd Fed, 10th Section and 28th UNC. While the lads second youngster on the clock took 12th Fed; a third baby was timed to notch up 16th Fed. Paul, Graham & Dale achieved  a hat-trick of wins from Pontefract (3), the final young bird race of the season after clocking four birds to win 1st, 2nd and 6th Club, 4th, 6th, 17th and 18th Fed to round off a top notch season.

   The loft of Stuart Lewis, Coby & Amber McCabe who were Haverton Hill's second highest prize winners with a belting 8 x 1st, 7 x 2nd, 5 x 3rd, 5 x 4th Clubs and 68pts, were the Federations sixth highest points winners with a total of 37pts. Stuart, Coby & Amber's first Fed points of the 2017 old bird season were chalked up out of the second race Worksop, when a couple of their entries were timed three seconds apart to win a very impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 3rd Fed, 8th and 9th Section. The partnership enjoyed another notable race out of Oakham (1) where three of their squad were timed to win a very nice 1st, 3rd and 5th Club, with the red card winner going onto score 9th Fed and the green card lifter potting 18th Fed. Stuart, Coby & Amber recorded their third consecutive Club win at Huntingdon when another three of their team were clocked to win a notable 1st, 4th and 6th Club, with the chart-topper going onto lift an impressive 3rd Fed and 3rd Section.   

Stuart Lewis & Amber McCabe of Lewis & Coby & Amber McCabe, winners of 1st Fed Oakham (3) and Peterborough.  

   Stuart, Coby & Amber had their old birds on song for they knocked up an outstanding fourth consecutive win out of Oakham (2) after winning a notable 1st Club, 9th Fed. Stuart, Coby & Amber chalked up another winning performance two weeks later at Oakham (3) after clocking two of their entries to win 1st and 4th Club, with the inform Stuart, Coby & Amber's well fancied pole position winner that was three minutes in front of the next bird in the Club going onto win a fantastic 1st Fed when there were 671 birds away, 1st Fed Nom and 1st Section from a convoy of of 4,354 birds. Rivenhall saw the trio time a couple of yearling blue hens in the space of one second to pot a useful 3rd and 4th Club, 5th and 6th Fed, a later bird was clocked to pick up 16th Fed. Stuart, Coby & Amber were back at the top of the Club charts out of Peterborough to achieve their sixth old bird win of the 2017 racing season when they had two of their entries in the frame to win a very impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 2nd Fed when there were 518 birds away. With the red card winner going onto win a brilliant 1st Section from a convoy of 4,203 birds, and the well-fancied blue card potter that had already won 1st Club, 9th Fed Oakham (2) who was pooled to the hilt winning all Club pools, 1st Fed Nom and 3rd Section to round off a top notch and money spinning performance.

   Stuart and young Coby & Amber must have being really pleased with their old bird performances which had racked up a number of top notch achievements at Club, Fed and Section lever. The trio  were amongst them again at Oakham (4) after they timed a couple of their squad four seconds apart to chalk up 4th and 5th Club, 18th and 19th Fed; and a week later when the birds were at the Rivenhall National a single bird was timed to claim 3rd Club, 6th Fed and 125th UNC. The partnership recorded their seventh win of the old bird campaign at Newark (1) after timing no fewer than three birds to win 1st, 2nd and 5th Club, with their chart-topper going onto score 12th Fed.

Moving onto the young birds where Stuart, Coby & Amber got off to a winning start after timing no less than four of their squad at Pontefract (1) to win an awesome 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club with their chart-topping youngster going onto chalk up a useful 5th Fed; while the winning partnerships other three babies went onto net 10th, 11th and 20th Fed to round off a great start to the young bird campaign. Race number three was from Worksop (1) where a couple of birds were clocked to pot 2nd and 6th Club, with the blue card lifter also claiming 13th Fed. Onto Melton Mowbray where a single baby was timed to notch up a nice 2nd Club, 6th Fed, 26th Section.

   The Federations seventh highest points scores with a total of 18pts was the loft of Barron Brothers Tommy & Robbie who enjoyed a good first full season back in the sport winning 4 x 1st, 6 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd, 6 x 4th Clubs and 47pts. Tommy & Robbie who started the season with a team of yearlings after restarting racing with the young birds in 2016, got off to a great start after timing a couple of birds at the first old bird race Bubwith to win an impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 3rd and 6th Fed. A week later when the birds were at Worksop a single bird was timed to lift 4th Club, 5th Fed, 10th Section. The Brothers clocked up their second win of the season in fantastic style out of Burbure (1) after timing one of their five entries, a chequer hen to win a top notch 1st  Club by 14 minutes and going onto score 2nd Fed winning 1st £5 Fed pool pocketing £60 and chalking up a belting 15th  UNC.

Robbie Barron of Barron Brothers, scorers of 2nd Fed, 15th UNC Burbure (1) etc, presenting bouquet of flowers to Jeanann & Janice Wheatley.

   The lofts third old bird win was racked up at Oakham (4) when two birds were timed two seconds apart to win a cracking 1st and 2nd Club, 8th and 9th Fed, with the well-fancied blue card potter also winning the Fed Nom to round off a very enjoyable day. The following week when the birds were at the Rivenhall National 18th Fed was taken, and then 4th Club, 10th Fed and 173rd UNC was netted at Burbure (2). Moving onto young bird Melton Mowbray where a couple of babies were timed in the space of 29 seconds to pocket 5th and 6th Club, 14th and 15th Fed; a later youngster was clocked to win 1st £5 Fed Ring banking £70.00. No fewer than three birds were on the clock out of Peterborough to win a top notch 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, 10th, 17th and 20th Fed; and the following week when the birds were at Rivenhall a couple of birds were timed to pot 2nd and 5th Club, 4th and 20th Fed.

   Moving onto the Maidstone National which saw Robbie have no fewer than four of his squad on the clock to pocket 2nd and 3rd Club, 5th, 6th, 15th and 20th Fed; with the blue card scoring well-fancied dark hen who won 1st Club Peterborough also winning the Club £1 pool pocketing £22.00, the Club Star Nom and £40.00, the Fed Nom, 15th Section and 70th UNC. While Robbie's green card scoring fancied blue hen pocketed 2nd £5 Ring banking £45.00 and 85th UNC to round off a very good day for the Robbie and loft helper Dave Lewis. Onto the final young bird race of 2017 which took place from Pontefract (3) where five birds were on the clock with the first two arrivals touching down together to chalk up 3rd and 4th Club, 7th and 8th Fed; and then three seconds later came Robbie's third timer to lift 5th Club, 9th Fed; while his final couple of timers claimed 19th and 20th Fed to earn Robbie runner-up Club young bird average.

   The loft of Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff the winners of 4 x 1st, 5 x 2nd, 8 x 3rd, 4 x 4th  Clubs and 51pts were the Federations ninth highest points scorers with a tally of 16pts. The boys timed three of their entries at old bird Worksop to pot 5th and 6th Club, 8th, 14th and 17th Fed; with the duo's first timer going onto claim 16th Section. Two of Andrew & Paul's team touched down together out of Oakham (2) to lift 3rd and 4th Club 17th and 18th Fed; and a week later when the birds were at the Eastbourne National a couple of birds were on the clock to chalk up 4th and 6th Club with their yellow card lifter going onto claim 18th Fed. The lads had three of their Burbure (1) entries on the clock to net 3rd and 5th Club, 6th, 15th and 20th Fed; with the duo's green card potter going onto notch up 97th UNC and their second timer taking 211th Combine. The following week when the birds were at Rivenhall Andrew & Paul chalked up a useful 2nd and 5th Club, 3rd, 7th and 18th Fed with the blue card scorer going onto pocket 15th Section. The boys were in the frame again out of Roye when they timed three of their channel team to lift a notable 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 6th, 10th and 17th Fed; with the blue card potter doing enough to lift 144th UNC and the green card scorer picking up 185th Combine.

Good Corn presenting the “Reims Trophy” to Paul Longstaff of Andrew Appleton & Longstaff.

   Next stop is Peterborough where a trio of birds were timed to lift 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 12th and 18th Fed; and this was followed up by claiming 3rd Club, 16th Fed out of Oakham (4). Andrew & Paul had a single bird on the clock from the Rivenhall National to net a a notable 2nd Club, 3rd Fed, 6th Section and 55th Combine. Andrew & Paul who have flown a very impressive channel bird for a while now where their birds top performance have won them a number of Club and Fed averages and some top UNC positions, were in the frame again from the fourth French race Reims when the lads timed a couple of their seven entries to win a brilliant 1st and 3rd Club with their well-fancied chart topper winning £100 Club Star Nom, 1st Fed out of an entry of 104 birds, 1st Fed Nom, 4th Section and 36th UNC from a convoy of 4,193 birds. Onto Burbure (2) where the boys timed three of their channel team to chalk up a notable 2nd and 3rd Club which helped Andrew & Paul win the Clubs Channel Average, 7th, 9th and 15th Fed; with the duo's blue card scorer going onto pocket 111th UNC and their green card potter claiming 141st Combine.

    Andrew & Paul were in the money from young bird Pontefract (1) when they timed a blue pied cock to win 1st £5 Fed Ring banking £70.00 and then clocked a blue hen to win 2nd £5 Fed Ring pocketing another £45.00 to round off a very profitable day. The lads hit the winners' enclosure two weeks later at Worksop (1), when their winning baby went onto chalk up 9th Fed. The duo knocked out their second win on the belt out of Worksop (2) after a couple of babies were timed to win a top notch 1st and 2nd Club, with the pole position winner being their blue pied cock who won 1st £5 Fed Ring and £70.00 out of Pontefract (1) and this time he lifts 11th Fed and 2nd £5 Ring pocketing £45.00; the lads blue card potter went onto claim 17th Fed. The boys chalked up a useful 3rd Club, 7th Fed, 28th Section from Melton Mowbray; and they also timed their money spinning blue pied cock to win 2nd £5 Fed Ring and £45.00 in prize money. Then a week later when the birds were at Peterborough two of their squad were timed to net 3rd and 5th Club, with green card scorer going onto pick up 19th Fed. Onto the Maidstone National where the two lads had a couple of their entries on the clock to chalk up 4th and 6th Club, 7th and 14th Fed.

The new to the sport partnership of Steven Smith & Son Aaron who chalked up 1 x 3rd, 4 x 4th  Club and 6pts, timed a couple of their old bird Bubwith entries to pot a useful 3rd and 4th Club with their green card scoring yearling chequer cock going onto claim 20th Fed. After timing a 1y blue cock at Worksop to lift 15th Fed and then pocketing 5th Club at Huntingdon and then taking 6th Club out of the Eastbourne National Steven & Aaron timed one of their Burbure (1) entries, a yearling blue hen to score a notable and well-deserved 4th Club, 7th Fed and 166th UNC. Steven & Aaron had one of their three Roye entries on the clock to net a well-deserved 4th Club, 12th Fed and 194th UNC.  

Steven Smith & Son Aaron scorers of 20th Fed old bird Bubwith, 15th Fed Worksop, 7th Fed Burbure (1) and 12th Fed Roye.      

   The loft of James Stewart & Steven Barron who were the scorers of 1 x 3rd, 1 x 4th Club and 3pts, clocked one of their thirteen entries out of Huntingdon to chalk up a useful 3rd Club, 18th Fed; and they also netted 4th Club, 19th Fed from young bird Pontefract (1).

   The late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek of Middlesbrough H/S were the Federations fifth highest prizewinners with a total of 39pts, with 19pts being scored from France to earn them Runner-Up Channel Average. The lads were in the clock at old bird Oakham (1) to pocket 2nd Club, 14th Fed. Les & Derek enjoyed a fantastic clocking day at Huntingdon when they timed no fewer than four of their entries to win a very impressive 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 16th Fed, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 19th Section. The Brothers were on the clock again at Oakham (2) where 2nd Club, 20th Fed was notched up; and then they took 4th Club, 19th Fed out of the Eastbourne National. Les & Derek returned to their winning ways at Rivenhall when no less than three of their entries were timed to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 2nd, 4th and 19th Fed, with their pole position winner going onto pot a notable 12th Section.

Les & Derek Wellburn of the late Les Wellburn & Sons, receiving the “Runner Up Channel Average Trophy” from Good Corn.

   The two lads recorded their second win on the trot from the second French race Roye after timing a couple of their channel entries to win a brilliant 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and 5th Fed when there were 263 birds competing, with their chart topper going onto score an outstanding 2nd Section when there were 1,522 birds away and 23rd UNC from a convoy of 7,146 birds, while their blue card lifter went onto chalk up a nice 106th Combine. Les & Derek love the longest race Bourges, and they loved it even more in 2017 after timing their 2y chequer cock on the second day to win an outstanding 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 1st £5 Fed pools banking £145.00, 7th Section, 32nd UNC and 34th NEHU Open. The Brothers love for competing at Bourges, where they have won the race a number of times over the years with their winning birds achieving some very good Fed and Combine positions along the way. 

   Les & Derek were still celebrating their top notch Bourges performance when they timed a couple of their squad at the Rivenhall National to win a notable 1st and 4th Club, 10th and 17th Fed, with their red card winner going onto score 157th UNC. Les & Derek's outstanding channel season continued at Reims when they recorded their third water race win from four starts after timing no fewer than four of their sixteen entries to win a cracking 1st and 4th Club, 2nd, 6th, 12th and 18th Fed. With the Brother's chart topper going onto score a notable 7th Section and 70th UNC; and their yellow card potter went onto net 148th Combine to round off another very fine channel performance. With the birds back on English soil at Newark (1) the two lads timed no fewer than three of their inland team in the space of 3 seconds to notch up a useful 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 17th, 19th and 20th Fed. The lads were in the frame again at Newark (2) when a single bird was timed to claim a useful 3rd Club, 5th Fed, 12th Section; and then the following week 2nd Club, 18th Fed Burbure (2) was taken to end a fantastic old bird season from both inland and the channel.    

   The loft of Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley were the Federations eighth highest point scorers with 17pts. Stephen & Jeanann hit the winners' enclosure on day one when they won 1st Club, 18th Fed from old bird Bubwith. Stephen & Jeanann hit the heights out of Oakham (1) after timing a couple of their entries to win a brilliant 1st and 4th Club, 1st and 16th Fed out of an entry of 1,026 birds, with the well out in front pole position winner gone on even further to win a most impressive 1st Section from a massive convoy of 7,152 birds. The duo were amongst them again from Huntingdon a week later when three of their squad were timed in the space of 11 seconds to notch up 15th, 17th and 19th Fed; with the first two timers potting 13th and 20th Section. Onto Oakham (2) where Stephen & Jeanann achieved another winning performance to win a cracking 1st Club, 4th Fed; the duo followed that up by taking 3rd Club, 9th Fed, 180th UNC from the Eastbourne National. 

Steven Wheatley of Mr & Mrs Jeanann Wheatley receiving the “Oakham (1) Trophy” from Good Corn & Ste “The Mic” Wheatley.

   Stephen & Jeanann got back to their winning ways at Oakham (3) after timing a couple of their squad 20 seconds apart to win a belting 1st and 2nd Club, 12th and 15th Fed. The duo took 3rd Club, 17th Fed at Burbure (1) with a 2y blue cock; before netting 4th Club, 20th Fed out of Rivenhall. Stephen & Jeanann were in the frame again out of Roye where they potted 3rd Club, 13th Fed and 202nd UNC. Another win came the happy couple's way at Peterborough when they won 1st Club, 10th Fed; they followed that up a week later by winning 1st Club, 11th Fed Oakham (4), and then took 3rd Club, 16th Fed out of the Rivenhall National. Stephen & Jeanann returned to the winners' enclosure at Newark (1) where they timed a couple of 2y hens in the space of 18 seconds to win a very nice 1st and 2nd Club, 6th and 9th Fed.

   The bands were playing and the winning performances continued a week later at Newark (2) when Stephen & Jeanann timed no less than five of their 20 entries to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Club, 3rd, 4th, 12th, 15th and 16th Fed; with the pole position winner scoring an impressive 6th Section and the blue card potter that was timed 3 seconds after the winner chalking up an equally impressive 8th Section to follow up the previous weeks 1st Club, 6th Fed winning performance to round of a brilliant days racing. Stephen & Jeanann's cracking old bird racing season came to a close where it started, in the winners' enclosure when they topped the charts for the third consecutive race at Burbure (2), with their red card winner going on to lift 17th Fed and end an outstanding old bird season campaign. Moving onto the young birds where Stephen & Jeanann hit top spot from Pontefract (2) where a couple of babies were timed to win 1st and 2nd Club, with the red and blue card winners going onto pocket 15th and 16th Fed. The duo then took 4th Club, 10th Fed Worksop (1) 

   The partnership of Keith Hodge & Dennis Potter chalked up a total of 13pts to be the Federations tenth highest prizewinners. The duo were on the clock out of old bird Oakham (1) where they netted 3rd Club, 15th Fed; the lads hit the winning trail from the Eastbourne National when their chart-topper went onto score a top notch 5th Fed, 16th Section and 122nd UNC. The boys were back in the frame at the Rivenhall National to pocket 2nd Club, 14th Fed. Keith & Dennis timed a very early bird, a dark pied cock out of the third young bird race Worksop (1), to win an outstanding 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 10th Section; and the two lads followed that up by taking 2nd Club Melton Mowbray with their chequer hen going onto pocket 12th Fed. And then a week later Keith & Dennis conquered Rivenhall in great style after timing a couple of their entries to win a cracking 1st and 3rd Club, with the red card winning blue cock who topped the Club charts by an incredible 12 minutes going onto win a brilliant 1st Fed out of 450 birds, 1st £5 Fed Ring banking £70.00 and 3rd Section from a convoy of 2,954 birds. The green card scoring blue cock chalked up 14th Fed to round off a fantastic day for Keith & Dennis.    

Good Corn presenting the “Young Bird Rivenhall Trophy” to Keith Hodge of Hodge & Dennis Potter.

   The loft of the late Wynn Cole, Stephen Wheatley & Grandson Conner Wheatley timed a yearling blue pied cock at old bird Oakham (1) to notch up 5th Club, 17th Fed; this was followed up by taking a useful 4th Club, 7th Fed, 8th Section Huntingdon. Stephen & Connor had a 1y blue hen in the clock out of Burbure (1) to pot a nice 2nd Club, 9th Fed and 174th UNC; and then they took 2nd Club, 17th Fed Peterborough. The two lads had a couple of their Reims entries on the clock to lift a notable 3rd and 6th Club, 5th and 10th Fed, with the green card potter claiming 15th Section and 105th UNC, while the duo's second timer notched up 241st Combine. A chequer cock was timed at young bird Worksop (1) to notch up 6th Club, 19th Fed; the duo zoomed in to top the charts out of Melton Mowbray when their red card winning blue hen chalked up a useful 10th Fed. Next came Stephen & Connor's 2nd Club, 7th Fed Rivenhall which was achieved by a chequer hen, that was one of the duo's 16 entries.      

   The small team loft of Mrs Singh & Family who are flying broken pigeons Jamie brought with him from his old loft location in Stockton when flying in the Tees Valley Federation, timed a 2y red pied cock at the Eastbourne National to chalk up a notable 2nd Club, 8th Fed and 179th UNC. Jamie who flew a very good Pigeon in the Portrack Club in Stockton when flying in partnership with Mick Carrick and later flying as Singh Son, Carrick & Maurice Heslop, hit the winners' enclosure at Burbure (1) with the families well-fancied pole position winner being a yearling blue pied cock who went onto lift a well earned 8th Fed, 3rd £5 Fed pools pocketing £20.00 and 154th UNC. The Singh family were back in the thick of it out of the very testing Reims race when they timed their single entry, the 2y red pied who scored 2nd Club, 8th Fed and 179th UNC out of the Eastbourne National to chalk up another top performing 2nd Club, 4th Fed, 9th Section and 81st UNC. As I stated earlier, the partnership started the season with a small team of broken Pigeons, which I believe was 8 in total, so taking that into account the family have done really well for themselves. 

Jamie Singh & Family scorers of 8th Fed old bird Eastbourne National, 8th Fed Burbure (1) and 4th Fed Reims.

   It was welcome into the frame for M Fenwick who timed a yearling chequer cock at Reims to lift a useful 5th Club, 9th Fed and 223rd Reims. The loft of Arthur Cox & Son got off to a winning start from young bird Pontefract (1) after timing a couple of birds to win a very nice 1st and 2nd Club, with the red card winning chequer cock scoring 12th Fed while the blue card potting chequer hen netted 18th Fed to round off a very fine performance. The partnership were back in the frame out of Worksop (1) when no fewer than 3 of their team, a chequer hen and 2 chequer cocks were timed to lift an impressive 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club, 5th, 7th and 11th Fed. T Goodison was welcomed into the frame at young bird Rivenhall after clocking a dark cock to claim a useful 4th Club, 17th Fed.

   The Beechwood & Easterside loft of Lythe & Warwick got off to a winning start to the 2017 racing season after timing a yearling chequer hen to win 1st Club, 7th Fed out of old bird Bubwith.

   The partnership of Talbot, Son & Wardle timed a 1y blue pied cock at old bird Bubwith to pocket 2nd Club, 13th Fed. The lads yearling blue hen Burbure (1) pole position winner went onto score a notable 12th Fed and 189th UNC. The boys recorded their second consecutive channel win out of Roye after timing two of their entries to win a top notch 1st and 2nd Club with their chart-topping yearling chequer hen chalking up a very nice 9th Fed and 180th UNC; and their blue card scoring 2y blue cock netting 16th Fed to round off an enjoyable day. I don't know these lads but they flew a very notable channel bird in 2017, for they recorded their third French win of the year out of Reims after timing a couple of their ten entries, a yearling blue hen to win a very impressive 1st Club, 3rd Fed, 8th Section and 76th UNC; and then timing a second 1y blue hen to net 5th Club, 14th Fed.

   Arthur Cox & Son started the old bird season timing a couple of his entries in the space of seven seconds at Bubwith to net 3rd and 4th Club, 16th and 17th Fed. The loft of McCarthy Son & Profitt timed a 2y chequer hen and a 3y chequer pied cock nineteen seconds apart at Burbure (1) to chalk up a nice 2nd and 3rd Club, 13th and 14th Fed, 194th and 201st UNC. Jimmy & John hit the winners' enclosure at the Rivenhall National where their well out in front pole position winning 2y blue hen went onto score a top notch 7th Fed and 131st UNC. The lads were in the frame again the following week at Reims where they timed two of their eight entries, a 3y blue hen taking 3rd Club, 11th Fed and the same 2y blue hen that won 1st Club, 7th Fed, 131st UNC the previous week, that pockets 4th Club, 13th Fed this time. Jimmy & John hit the winners' enclosure at young bird Worksop (1) where their pole position winning blue hen went onto score a very nice 8th Fed.   

   M Donnelly had a couple of his eleven Reims entries on the clock to score 2nd and 6th Club with his blue card potting 2y blue pied cock going onto lift 8th Fed, 197th UNC; and his second timer a 2y blue hen claiming 15th Fed. Derek Gibson & Burnip were the winners of 1st Club young bird Peterborough, with the red card winning blue pied hen going onto score a nice 8th Fed. A week later when the birds were at Rivenhall another blue pied hen was timed to win a notable 1st Club, 13th Fed.

John Thompson presenting 1st Breeder/Buyer prize money to Derek Gibson.

   Before I sign off for another week, I would once again like to thank the Teesside Federation members for inviting the three of us long for a cracking night, the boys send their thanks to Jeanann who always finds time to come over and chart to them, before leaving them something. I wish you all a healthy and successful 2018.

   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.