AROUND THE UP NORTH COMBINE
by Keith Simpson
Record Breaking Wilson & Heard
The Up North Combine members basketed their birds for the Folkestone National, the first Classic race of the season on Friday 11th May 2012. The first transporter arrived at the race site at 01.45 on the Saturday morning and the last driver arrived at 02.00, prospects were looking very good as the forecaster had predidted plenty of sunshine. The morning brought clear blue skies at the race point with a cold Northwest wind, all points en-route reported simler conditions, except the Norfolk area who had a few showers. At 07.00 chief convoyer Steve Profitt liberated the convoy of 24,246 birds into a Northwest wind with no cloud and unlimited visibilty, the majority of the birds cleared well but some didn’t want to face the wind like they had done the previous week and took a while to clear.
As always I’ll start with news from Steve Thornton of Eaglescliffe & District Homing Society, where 10 members sent 226 birds. It’s a different race point but the same winners for an incredIble five consecutive races, with the loft of John Wilson & Harry Heard enjoying another good race after timing two birds to win 1st and 2nd Club. Top spot was won by a yearling grizzle cock from Paul Janssen of Belguim, the red card winning cock achieved a chart-topping vel of 1244 to go onto score 5th Fed, 1st Fed nom and 32nd Section. The grizzle cock is in fine form this season for he is the previous winner of 1st Club, 3rd Fed Worksop and 4th Club, 22nd Fed Melton Mowbray when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 2nd Fed, his sire was also a good racing cock for he won 3 x 1st as a young bird. Second on the clock for John & Harry came a 2y cheq hen making 1239.9 which was enough to pocket 6th Fed, the blue card scoring hen won 1st Club, 1st Fed and 20th UNC Yearling Eastbourne National last season from a convoy of 5,598 birds. The winning duo timed a later bird, a yearling cheq cock making 1221 to notch up 30th Fed.
Phil “The Rolling Stone” Armstrong is not giving up the ghost for the lad is trying his best to win number 1 spot; this week Phil timed no fewer than three birds to lift 3rd, 4th and 6th Club. With the green cared being awarded to a previous scoring 2y blue Gevaert cock doing 1239.6 to chalk up a useful 7th Fed, the cocks ½ brother topped the Fed in the Stockton GYA Fed. Second in the clock for Phil came a yearling blue Maurice Matthews cock making 1234 to net 13th Fed, the blue cocks sire won 6 x 1st Clubs, 1st Fed Lillers and 2nd Clermont in the GYA. Phil’s third timer was a 3y cheq Janssen x Van Loon knocking up a vel of 1231 to go onto pot 18th Fed, the cock is no stranger in the clock for he is the previous winner of 5 x 1st Club and 1st Fed Selby. I’d like to thank Steve for the info which has included Phil’s GYA winning performances; this keeps the record straight because some fanciers could read the winning performances wrong by believing they were achieved in Eaglescliffe. One things for sure, that Phil has previously flown a very good Pigeon and I’m sure once he has found his feet he will win his fair share in this Club. Steve Thornton & Family are in 5th spot after timing a 2y cheq cock from Soontjen Gold, the Vanrobey winner x a dtr of the Saturday, Sunday, Monday cock. The cock who is a full brother to a 2011 channel winner racked up a vel of 1233 to pocket 14th Fed.
Phil Armstrong holding his blue cock that netted 3rd Club, 7th Fed Folkestone.
The Portrack provided the Tees Valley Federation winner for the third time in five races, this week we see the loft of Fred “Janssen” Postill timing no fewer than three of his 15 entries to win 1st, 3rd and 6th Club from an 18 members entry of 452 birds. Fred’s well out in front pole position Fed winner that saw off a 68 members entry of 1,370 birds was a yearling cheq cock who recorded a chart-topping vel of 1772 which was enough to go onto score a very impressive 5th Section 5 out of 3,440 birds and 35th UNC from a convoy of 24,246 birds. Fred’s green card potting 2011 bred cheq pied cock knocked up a vel of 1237 to net 10th Fed and his third timer was a 1y blue cock doing 1228 to notch up 22nd Fed to round off a great day at the office. McGlade, Gibson & Partners timed a yearling blue hen achieving a vel of 1248 to score a very impressive 2nd Club, 2nd Fed and 23rd Section. The boys timed a second bird, a 2y cheq cock doing 1222 to take 29th Fed. Craggs Bros & Sons are in 4th spot with a yearling blue pied hen making 1236 to pocket 12th Fed, the lads yellow card potter won 1st Club, 6th Fed Melton Mowbray when there were 1,743 birds competing. Jamie Singh, Mick Carrick & Maurice Heslop had a couple of birds on the clock to lift 5th Club, 21st and 25th Fed with their first timer being a 2y red cock making 1228, while their second timer was a 2y blue pied cock on 1225. The cock scored 3rd Club, 7th Fed and 2nd Fed nom from Selby on the opening day of the new season.
Norman Dixon hit the winners’ enclosure in great style at the Hardwick after timing no less than three birds to win a very impressive 1st, 2nd and 4th Club from an entry of 207 birds. Topping the charts for the very popular Norman was a 2y cheq cock recording a top vel of 1246 to chalk up 3rd Fed and 26th Section. The blue card was awarded to a well-fancied 2y cheq pied hen doing 1237 to go onto score 8th Fed, 2nd Fed nom and 1st £2 nom banking £56.00, third in the clock for Norman came a 3y cheq cock knocking out a vel of 1231 to take 19th Fed and round off a great days racing. Norman has flown a notable Pigeon so far with him netting 4th Club, 15th Fed Bubwith, and then having a couple of birds on the clock at Melton Mowbray to lift a well-earned 3rd and 4th Club, 4th and 10th Fed. Last week when the birds were at Huntingdon Norman timed a single bird to pocket 5th Club, 30th Fed, I hope Norman continues to get the best out of his birds and top the Fed like he did in 2011. Worton, Dyball & Ruddy have a couple of birds in the frame to take 3rd and 5th, with the green card scoring yearling blue hen doing 1232 to notch up 15th Fed. The partnerships second bird was a 3y cheq hen on 1228 to net 23rd Fed; the hen won 1st Club, 13th Fed Worksop. The lads timed another two birds in the space of 3 seconds to lift 27th and 28th Fed with a 2y blue cock and a well-fancied yearling cheq cock who won 1st Club, 3rd Fed the previous week from Huntingdon, this week he wins 1st £5 nom pocketing £55.00. Lister Bros & Walker clocked a 1y blue pied hen on 1227 to notch up 6th Club, 24th Fed.
Moving onto Thornaby where we see the loft of Mr & Mrs Thompson & Family win a very impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 4th and 9th Fed with vels of 1245 and 1237. The red card winning 3y cheq cock who went onto chalk up 30th Section won 1st Club, 14th Fed Bubwith in 2011 when there were 1,882 birds, and also netted 2nd Club, 16th Fed Huntingdon (1) from a convoy of 1,982 birds. The blue card scoring 3y blue cock is no stranger in the clock for in 2011 he potted 3rd Club, 14th Fed Melton Mowbray (2) out of 1,488 birds and then netted 4th Club, 16th Fed Huntingdon (2) when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 7th Fed out of an entry of 1,166 birds. The cock was in the clock again at Melton Mowbary (3) when he notched up 6th Club, 19th Fed when beaten by a loftmate that netted 5th Club, 12th Fed when there were 1,181 birds competing. The cock hit the winners’ enclosure at the Maidstone National when he went onto win 1st Fed and 46th UNC from a convoy of 17,164 birds; he finished off by taking 4th Club, 20th Fed at Melton Mowbray (4) from an entry of 704 birds. Both Pigeons performances are taken off last season Fed sheet, I dont know if they scored in any more races other that whats on the Fed sheets. Thomas Bros & Son are in 3rd spot with their green card scoring 2y blue cock making 1232 to pocket 16th Fed, the cock notched up 30th Fed out of Bubwith when beaten by a loftmate that took 3rd Club, 16th Fed and also netted 3rd Club, 24th Fed Worksop. R Lynas & Son netted 5th Club, while Nick Lyth took the next three Club positions.
Next stop is Stockton West End where the inform loft of Steve Hope & Evans record their fifth win in six races out of an entry of 205 birds, with their red card winner being a well-fancied 2y blue cock achieving a chart-topping vel of 1236 to chalk up 11th Fed and 2nd £2 nom pocketing £18.00. What can I say about the winning duo, other than they are enjoying an outstanding season in both Club and Federation. Speight & Sons are in 2nd spot with their blue card winning yearling blue hen making 1231 to go onto lift 17th Fed, the hen is the previous scorer of 2nd Club, 17th Fed young bird Pontifract (2) when she was beaten by 2 seconds by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 16th Fed out of an entry of 1,816 birds. The partnership of Appleton, Howells & Hobson are in 3rd position after timing a 3y blue hen doing 1231 which was enough to pocket 20th Fed, their green card potting hen won 1st Club, 6th Fed and 2nd Fed nom at Rivenhall (2) in 2011 from a convoy of 1,244 birds. Rudd, Son & Birch clocked a 3y blue cock on 1223 to lift 4th Club, 26th Fed, with Philly Welford chalking up 5th Club while the 1st Club Melton Mowbray winning loft of Eddie Place netted 6th Club.
For a number of years now the Up North Combine go to Melton Mowbray (2) a week after the first Folkestone National, they did that again this season but had to wait to see how the weather was going to improve before making a decision on when to basket the birds for the scheduled race. On the morning of Friday 18th May the UNC weather committe took a good hard look at the weather forecast for the following day and decided to put back basketing for 24 hours, once again this was the right thing to do as the weather on Saturday proved the Combine would not have got a Saturday race. Saturday morning arrived and the committee again voted to delay basketing for a further 24 hours and again as things panned out the committee were spot on. On the Sunday the weather committee decided to basket 2 hours earlier that day for a Monday race, not everyone was happy about the decision of a Monday race as many members were working that day but there are also some fanciers who work on a Saturday with them taking the rough with the smooth. I have to be honest and say I thought the best day for the weather was Tuesday but Im not on the UNC weather committe and dont want to be, the committee have carried the can many times for what they have decided but someone has to make the decisions and they are not going to be right all of the time.
Nine Eaglescliffe & District Homing Society members sent 239 birds, where the inform loft of John Wilson & Harry Heard set a new Club record by achieving six consecutive wins, which is a fantastic achievement. The over-joyed duo’s red card winning 2y blue direct Vandenabeele cock who is a previous scorer recorded a chart-topping vel of 1226 to go onto chalk up a very impressive 3rd Fed. A later bird was timed, a 2y old blue Janssen doing 1190 to pick up 24th Fed. Harry is going great guns this season with his outstanding winning performances, Im sure it won’t be long before he hits the big screen, maybe in a staring role of a new Terminator movie. Steven Hill comes into the frame in great style netting 2nd spot with Steven’s blue card potter being a 2y blue Van Reet hen making 1225 which was enough to pot a well-deserved 4th Fed. The sire of Steven’s blue hen is off the President from Mark Caudwell and the dam is of Tony Mardon lines. Its also welcome into the frame for Mr & Mrs Richard Hutchinson who timed a 3y old blue cock bred from a son of Village Lad the double 1st Up North Combine Gold medal winner, to lift 3rd Club, with a vel of 1207 the cock went onto pocket a notable 8th Fed. Steve Thornton & Family are in the yellow card position after timing a yearling cheq Jos Thone x Cooperman cock who is from a full sister to Cavendish x a son of Ian Stafford's Klien Dirk cock. The cock who won 1st Club as a young bird achieved a vel of 1204 to lift a useful 10th Fed. Alan Armstrong & Son had a couple on the clock to take 5th Club, 16th Fed on 1197, with Alan’s timer being a 2y blue Vandenabeele cock that won race as a young bird. Alan’s second timer that took 30th Fed was a 2y cheq Vandenabeele x Houben hen that topped the Fed as a young bird. Alan Skarkey & Son Lee clocked a yearling cheq Soontjen x Van Loon cock to notch up 26th Fed.
Steven Hill’s 2y blue hen, scorer of 2nd Club, 4th Fed Melton Mowbray (2).
Richard Hutchinson holding his blue cock that potted 3rd Club, 8th Fed Melton Mowbray (2).
Onto Thornaby where we see the loft of Don Sergenson top the Club charts, with the well out in front red card winner being a 2011 bred blue cock recording a vel of 1236 which was more than enough to win a most impressive 1st Federation. This is Don’s second win of the 2012 racing season after the lad won a well-earned 1st Club, 5th Fed Melton Mowbray (1) out of an entry of 1,743 birds. Mr & Mrs Lynch & Son who chalked up 2nd Club, 16th Fed behind Don’s Melton Mowbray (1) winner are 2nd Club to him again this week. The loft of Thomas Bros & Son continue their good run after timing no fewer than three birds to chalk up a notable 3rd, 5th and 6th Club, the partnership are injoying a great season with their birds performing well at both Club and Fed level, with their first timer being in the Fed’s top 20, four times in six races. Mr & Mrs Thompson & Family follow up last weeks top performance by timing a single bird to notch up 5th Club. Craggs Bros hit the winners’ enclosure at the Portrack with the boys red card winner being a well-fancied 2y blue cock achieving a top vel of 1210 to go onto score a notable 7th Fed and 2nd Fed nom. Mr & Mrs Dennis & Beryl Nicholson enjoyed a good clocking day after timing four birds to chalk up 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 9th, 11th, 17th and 23rd Fed with vels of 1206, 1204, 1196 and 1191. With the duo’s first, second and fourth timers being 2y cheq cocks, and their third timer being a yearling cheq cock. McGlade & Hughes are in the yellow card position with a 1y cheq hen making 1200 to pocket a useful 14th Fed. Singh, Carrick & Heslop notch up 5th Club, 15th Fed with a yearling cheq hen on 1198, while Hayes Brothers 2011 bred blue hen lifts 18th Fed on 1193 and the loft of McGlade, Gibson & Partners take 29th Fed with a 1y blue hen doing 1186.
The in form Norman Dixon records his second consecutive win at the Hardwick after timing a couple of birds to win 1st and 3rd Club. With Norman’s well-fancied chart-topping 2y blue hen achieving a top vel of 1228 to score a most impressive 2nd Fed and 1st Fed nom, she netted 4th Club, 10th Fed Melton Mowbray (1) when beaten by a loftmate that scored 3rd Club, 4th Fed. Norman’s green card scoring 2y blue hen racked up a vel of 1210 which was enough to chalk up a well-earned 6th Fed. I have to say that both of Norman’s timers put up a fantastic performance on a very tough day, more so because they have to fly between 4 to 10 miles further than the other birds in the Fed from this race point. Heightley, Son & Hayes are in 2nd spot with their blue card scoring 2y blue pied cock banging out a vel of 1210 to chalk up a useful 5th Fed. Lister Bros & Walker pots the yellow with a 1y blue cock doing 1202 to pocket 12th Fed, while the partnership of Worton, Dyball & Ruddy time a yearling blue hen and a 2y cheq pied cock in the space on 2 seconds to lift 20th and 21st Fed. Hope & Evans tops the Stockton West End with the same 2y blue cock that won the previous week, this time with a vel of 1201 the cock nets 13th Fed. Spright & Sons are in the blue card position with a 1y cheq hen doing 1191 to chalk up 2nd Club, 22nd Fed. C Mcintosh takes 3rd and 4th Club, 25th and 28th Fed with a yearling cheq cock doing 1189 and a 1y blue pied hen making 1186, while P Welford is in 5th spot and Eddie Place & Son notches up 6th Club.
With the help of Wayne Shields I will be reporting on the Tyne To Tweed Section for the rest of the season, starting with Huntingdon (1) where the Percy Main loft of Ronnie Stevens & Gary McCauley timed a couple of yearlings to win 1st and 3rd Section with vels of 1309 and 1289 from a convoy of 5,963 birds, with the duo winning the Charlton Leslie Trophy for their Section win. The Pigeon that split their two birds in the Section was also raced by them as the lads won 1st Club Howdon with another yearling to chalk up 2nd Section on 1290 to round off a fantastic days racing. Alan Kelly of Whitley Bay timed a 2y making 1289 which was enough to chalk up 4th Section, Clubmates J Sandberg & Son who had trouble with their ETS had timed a bird before Alan and being the honest sportsman he is he took 2nd Club, with the lads winning the Club but losing their Fed and Section position. Alan is enjoying an outstanding season with him winning 1st, 3rd and 5th Club Bubwith with the red card winner being a blue Galaxy Lindalauf x Koopman x Louella Lindalauf cock that went onto score 3rd Fed and 14th Section out of an entry of 6,286 birds. The chart-topping cock flown on the roundabout system scored as a young bird where he netted a 4th and 5th Club; his full brother won 2nd Club, 2nd Fed, and 2nd Section as a young bird when there were 4,170 birds competing. The dam has 3 wins to her credit and the sire has 3 wins as a yearling, he is sent never fancied but when pooled fails to deliver. Alan’s green card potter was a blue Syndicate Lofts x Koopman hen, while his third timer was a cheq Syndicate Lofts bred by Keith Richards of Blyth. Alan won for the second week running at Worksop after timing four birds to win 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, with his red card winning blue Grondelare/Syndicate Lofts x Syndicate Lofts/Galaxy roundabout cock who went onto chalk up 9th Fed, 15th Section when there were 7,579 birds competing. As a young bird he potted 4th Club, 6th Fed out of 1,947 birds, 4th Club, 13th Fed from 2,832 birds and 14th Fed, 17th Section when there were 5,531 birds competing. His sire has a1 x 2nd, 1 x 4th and 2 x 5th under his wings, while his dam that has always being at stock is out of a pair of winners. Win number three off the belt was achieved at Melton Mowbray (1) when Alan timed no fewer than four birds to win a most impressive 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Club, 1st, 7th and 16th Fed, 1st, 10th and 41st Section, winning the Snowdon Trophy from a convoy of 6,363 birds. With Alan’s pole position Section winner being the same yearling cock that won 1st Club, 14th Section Bubwith on the opening day of the new season, the blue card was awarded to a blue Koopman x Lindlaufe cock while the yellow was taken by the same cock that won Worksop and Alan’s fourth timer was a Piet Valk blue cock who like the previous three timers was flown on the roundabout system.
Allan Haley & Wayne Shields, the 1st Club Huntingdon & Folkestone winners.
Lee Blythe showed how it is done at Meadowell after timing four birds to win an awesome 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th Club out of 299 birds (timing a Club trainer in between his first and second Pigeons) 5th, 7th, 8th, 32nd and 41st Section, with his first 3 timers being clocked in the space of 11 seconds to achieve vels of 1288, 1287.9 and 1287.4. Lee is flying a good Pigeon with him timing three birds at Bubwith to win 1st, 3rd and 4th Club, and then from Worksop the lad won his second concesutive red card out of an entry of 402 birds. Lee had two birds on the clock at Melton Mowbray (1) to notch up 5th and 6th Club when there were 365 birds away, and now this weeks very good loft performance. Clubmate Tommy Bell timed a yearling blue cock doing 1280 to pocket 3rd Club, 17th Section, while Davey Robinson & G/Son clocked a 2y cheq hen to pot the yellow. Ashington’s Mr & Mrs J Glasper & Burns the previous scorrs of 8th Section Bubwith, timed a 2y doing 1288 to chalk up a well-earned 6th Section, while the loft of Davey Barron & Son the top points winners in 2011 clocked four birds in the space of 7 seconds to notch up 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd Section. Moving onto Newsham where Wayne Shields & Allan Haley the 2008 winners of 1st UNC young bird Maidstone National with “Haley’s Comet” from a convoy of 17,849 birds, enjoyed a great days racing after timing no less than four birds to win a top notch 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Club, 9th, 12th, 23rd and 24th Section with the vels of their first couple of timers being 1287 and 1283. The partnership of Robson Bros & Thompson had two birds on the clock to pocket 3rd and 6th Club, 13th and 25th Section, with Derek & Ian’s first bird making 1283. Mrs Treasa Marshall, Sons & Smith win the old one, two at Seaton Sluice with their red card winning 2y recording a vel of 1282; while Irving Bros tops the charts at Shiremoor with their 2y winner achieving a top vel of 1284 to score a useful 10th Section.
The Holywell partnership of W Charlton & Son wins 1st and 4th Club, with their red card winner doing 1284 to chalk up 11th Section, and their yellow card potter picking up 30th Section. Bob Parker, Davey Holland & Craig Thompson the winners of 2nd UNC Fontany out of 3,683 birds and 3rd UNC Lillers (2) from a convoy of 10,352 birds in 2011, are in 2nd spot with a yearling doing 1281 to net 15th Section. Hall Bros, Dessie and Barry the winners of the 1st UNC Folkestone Young Bird Centenaryin 2005 and 1st UNC young bird Maidstone National in 2006 with “Delaval Star” when there were 16,490 birds competing pots the green with a yearling doing 1276 to notch up 28th Section. K Brown of Hirst Northern timed a 3y achieving a vel of 1281 to pocket 16th Section; D Elsender & Miller of Forest Hall recorded vel of 1280 to net 18th Section. While Gair, Daws, Towns & Richards of Bedlington lifts 27th Section with a 3y on 1276; the Tweedmouth loft of George Hastie timed three birds to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd Border Fed with vels of 1228, 1186 and 1181 flying a distance of 248 miles.
The Folkestone (1) Nationals convoy of 3,877 birds were up and away at 07.00 on Saturday 12th May with the birds flying into a North West wind. Topping the Section was the Holywell partnership of Bob Parker, Davey Holland & Craig Thompson, who have being here before after last years outstanding season. The happy trio’s winner was a yearling recording a pole position winning vel of 1283 to win the Hilton Thomas Trophy and go onto win £174.31 prize money for 1st Section 1 and a fantastic 4th Up North Combine from a convoy of 24,246 birds. The well-fancied winner also won 1st North Of England Championship Club, winning the “J Rollo Memorial Trophy” and replica and £394.83 in pools and prize money. Bob, Davey & Craig timed a second bird, another yearling doing 1256 to chalk up 3rd Club, 32nd Section and 152nd Combine. Steve W Partis who had two Section wins in 2011 is in the blue card position with a 3y doing 1262 to net 17th Section and 103rd UNC. Moving onto Meadowell where Davey Robinson & G/Son timed a couple of birds to win 1st and 4th Club out of an entry of 157 birds, with the red card being won by a 2y blue hen achieving a cart-topping vel of 1278 which was enough to score a very impressive 2nd Section and 10th UNC. Davey’s second timer out of his 8 entries was a 2y cheq hen, the partnership have been in the first 6 in the Club from all five races so far this season. Lee Blyth timed three birds to lift 2nd, 5th and 6th Club with his blue card potting 2y blue hen making 1257 to net 31st Section and 145th UNC. Tommy Bell pots the green after timing a yearling cheq hen, while Davey Robinson & G/Son clocked a 2y cheq hen to take 4th Club. The inform Walker loft of Harrison, Blackett & Renwick enjoyed another fantastic loft performance after timing no fewer than five birds to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th and 17th Fed, with their red card winner being the yearling cheq hen that won 1st Club the previous week. This week with a red card winning vel of 1277 the hen went onto score an outstanding 3rd Section, 12th UNC; their blue card potter achieved a vel of 1265 to chalk up 12th Section, 74th UNC while their green card scoring yearling that made 1262 went onto net 18th Section, 108th Combine. W Thompson notched up 6th Club with a yearling. Bob Donaldson & Son of Chevington Drift timed a yearling to lift 5th Section, 24th UNC. This loft won 1st UNC Bourges in 2008 with “Moonlight Express” out of an entry of 2,419 birds and also won an out of this world 1st, 2nd and 3rd UNC old bird Folkestone (1) National in 2009 with their winner being “The 36 Hen” when there were 25,466 birds competing.
Stevens & McCauley tops the Howdon charts with a well-fancied yearling recording a vel of 1273 to chalk up 4th Fed, 6th Section, 30th UNC and 4th NECC pocketing £75.21. Davey Barron & Son of Ashington fame the previous winners of 1st UNC Chenoise in 1999 with “Bant’s Choice” from a convoy of 6,046 birds, had a whirlwind race after timing no less than ten birds in just over 5 minutes to score an outstanding 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 30th and 38th Section, 48th, 60th, 63rd, 64th, 81st, 100th, 117th, 118th, 144th and 172nd UNC flying a distance of 306 miles. Davey has the knack of getting the very best out of his birds and that showed last season when he won 14 x 1st Wansbeck Federations, after winning 11 x 1st Feds in 2010. Moving onto Newsham where the loft of Wayne Shields & Allan Haley leads the way after timing a couple of birds to win 1st and 4th Club, with the duo’s red card winning 2y achieving a top vel of 1275 to score 4th Section, 20th UNC. The lads second timer achieved a vel of 1255 which was enough to pocket 35th Section and 165th Combine. Warnes & Anderson are in the blue card position with a yearling doing 1269 to net 9th Section, 54th Combine, while Robson Bros & Thompson pocket 3rd, 5th and 6th Club with their green card scoring 2y making 1262 to pot 16th Section, 101st UNC. The boys second and third timers were clocked in the space of 1 second to net 40th and 42nd Section, 177th and 180th UNC on 1254. Next stop is Amble where R Hume & Son have three birds on the clock to win 1st, 5th and 6th Club, with their winner recording a chart-topping vel of 1265 to lift 13th Section, 75th UNC. The next couple of timers that were clock in the space of 5 seconds recorded vels of 1258 to pocket 27th and 28th Section, 138th and 139th Combine, a later bird was timed to collect 197th Combine. D Bootle takes 2nd Club, 20th Section and 115th UNC on 1261, while W Baxter & Son net 3rd Club, 25th Section, and 121st UNC on 1260 and Stalker & Hall take 4th Club, 26th Section, and 135th UNC with a yearling doing 1258 and their second timer picks up 186th Combine. P James notches up 200th UNC with a yearling, to round off a good day for the Club flying 313 miles. Trevor Shell who flies a distance of 317 miles into Alnmouth had his birds in good fettle for the lad timed three quick-fire birds to win a very impressive 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 19th, 23rd and 29th Section, with Trevor’s pole position winning yearling doing 1261.9 to chalk up 110th UNC. 20 seconds behind the winner in the blue card position came a 2y making 1261.0 to net 119th Combine, the green card scoring yearling that was timed 1 minute later had a vel of 1258 to net 141st UNC to round off a great loft performance.
Rae, Kettle Bros & Henderson tops the Blyth Valley charts with a yearling doing 1260 to lift 24th Section, 120th UNC, while Mr & Mrs Gaze & Family pots the blue card with a yearling to take 45th Section and 189th UNC. Alan Kelly records another win at Whitley Bay after timing three birds to win 1st, 4th and 5th Club, 10th, 19th and 20th Fed, with the red card winner being Alans’ Bubwith and Melton Mowbray (1) winner, with a vel of 1255 that was enough to chalk up 162nd UNC. J Sandberge & Son also timed three birds to pocket 2nd, 3rd and 6th Club, 15th, 16th and 22nd Fed out of an entry of 1,489 birds. M Straughan wins the red card at Alnwick with a yearling doing 1255 to net 36th Section and 166th UNC. At Shiremoor G Spowart & Son timed a couple of birds to win 1st and 3rd Club with their red card winning 3y recording 1254 to lift 12th Fed, 37th Section and 169th Combine, the partnerships second timer was a 2y taking 30th Fed. Clubmates Bennett, Marrs & Spillard chalk up 2nd Club, 18th Fed with a 2y. B Taylor & J & S Sweet come out on top at Hirst Northern with a yearling doing 1254 to pocket 39th Section and 176th UNC, while F & J Gray wins at Hirst Industrial with a yearling also making 1254 to notch up 41st Section and 178th Combine. G Purvis & Oliver wins the red card at Dudley with a 2y doing 1253 to take 13th Fed, 44th Section and 188th UNC.
The Melton Mowbray (2) convoy of 4,957 birds were liberated into a North East wind at 06.00 on Tuesday 22nd May after a one-day holdover. The Walker loft of Harrison, Blackett & Davey Renwick the local corn store merchant enjoyed a fantastic race after timing no fewer than four birds to win an outstanding 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club. With their chart-topping yearling hen that won 1st Club the previous week recording a vel of 1285 to win a most impressive 1st Section, winning the Mrs Scott Trophy for winning 1st Section. This is the lads second Section win of 2012 after winning an out of this world 1st, 2nd and 3rd Section Worksop, back to their green card scorer that achieved a vel of 1257 which wa senough to pocket 20th Section. Geordie Blackett, Son & G/Son got in on the act by timing a yearling to chalk up an impressive 2nd Club, 2nd Section on 1284; while the late Norman Stark & Son Norman pocket 6th Club with a 2y. At Newsham the loft of Alan Langlands, Malcolm & Mick May and Billy (Batman) Reay, who did a charity absail dressed as you guessed it Batman wins the red card with their chart-topping winning yearling achieving a top vel of 1282 which was enough to score an impressive 3rd Section. Wayne Shields & Allan Haley had another good clocking day after timing three birds in under a minute to chalk up a notable 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 6th, 9th and 11th Section with vels of 1275, 1272.6 and 1272.3; a couple of later birds were timed to collect 24th and 26th Section to round off a good days racing. Warnes & Anderson’s yealing that knocked up a vel of 1257 pockets 5th Club, 19th Section, while Robson Bros & Thompson took 6th Club, 21st Section. Hall Bros of Holywell timed no fewer than four birds to win 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th Club, with their red card winning yearling doing 1282 to chalk up a well-earned 4th Section. Parker, Holland & Thompson pots the green with Charlton & Son taking 5th Club. John Maughan tops the Shiremoor charts out of a Club entry of 139 birds, with Jonh’s pole position winning 2y making 1280 which was enough to lift a notable 5th Section. G Spowart & Son the winners of 2nd UNC old bird Folkestone National in 2011 from a convoy of 23,325 birds; are in 2nd spot with a 3y that pockets 27th Section. Bennett, Marrs & Spillard takes 3rd Club while Irving Bros time three birds to net 4th, 5th and 6th Club.
Davey Robinson & G/Son enjoyed a good race at Meadowell after timing three birds to win 1st, 3rd and 6th Club out of an entry of 205birds, with the winner being a 2011 bred cheq hen recording a top vel of 1274 to score 7th Section. The green card was awarded to a 2y cheq hen doing 1272 to net 10th Section, while their third timer was a 2y blue hen making 1259 to lift 17th Section. Tommy Bell clocked a yearling blue cock doing 1272 to pot 2nd Club, 8th Section, while the loft of J O’Dowd timed a 2y blue pied cock and a yearling blue cock in one second to lift 4th and 5th Club, 15th and 16th Section with vels of 1260. Moving onto North Shields where Robertson, Sons & Bramwell timed a couple of birds to win 1st and 2nd Club with their red card winner recording a top vel of 1270 to net 12th Section, while G Thurstone & Son tops the Whitley Bay charts on 1270 to pocket 13th Section. The loft of Mr & Mrs Milburn wins pole position at Howdon with their winning yearling doing 1260 to pocket 14th Section, with Stevens & McCauley tops the Howdon charts with a well-fancied yearling recording a vel of 1273 to taking 2nd and 3rd Club. The Douglas & Douglas partnership of Blyth Valley net 18th Section with a 2y doing 1258 and Clubmates Rae, Kettle Bros & Henderson had a couple of birds on the clock to lift 22nd and 30th Section with vels of 1255 and 1251. C Towers of Blyth Boro timed a 2y doing 1253 to pot 28th Section, and the Percy Main loft of Steve Griffiths & Smith clocked a 4y making 1251 to lift 29th Section. Steve won 1st UNC Bourges in 2004 from a convoy of 2,123 birds. Stevens & McCauley are in the blue card position. D Wilkinson & Son wins pole position at Dudley.
That’s my lot for this week, thanks to the lads who have helped with this report. Any news to Good Corn at 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.