Burton & South Derbyshire Federation.

Anthony Probert of Hill Ridware tops the Fed out of Weymouth, in a stiff race to end the old bird season.

Saturday July 9^th saw the last race of the 2022 old bird season; it was the third visit of the season to the Dorset coastal town of Weymouth. Alys cut the strings at 07-35 in clear blue skies; sunshine; and a fresh NNE wind, which turned NW at the home end.          

64 members from 9 clubs sent 1027 birds; and they had a stiff end to the season, with clear blue skies all the way, there was no cloud cover to protect them from the heat of the sun, it was a day that gave no help at all to the birds. Saying that, returns were again very good, and one must congratulate the federation in providing excellent racing throughout the whole old bird season.

Congratulations to one of the most improved lofts in the federation that of Anthony Probert of Hill Ridware; who flies mainly Leo Heremans from the premier stud bloodlines.  Anthony wins his second fed race of the season on 1326 with 28” a 4yo NWHU Leo Hereman cock, this cock has had five prizes in the top 11 of the fed this season. His sire is a son of “De Jan”; his dam is off a brother to “Den Euro” when paired to a sister of “Las Vagas”.      Anthony had three more birds to follow up taking 3^rd; 5^th and 7^th fed on 1315; 1300; 1292.6.  The first one a yearling cheq Hereman hen off the “Blackpool Cock” who is a grandson of “Dark Destroyer”; her dam is a daughter of “Supersonic”. 

ANTHONY PROBERT HILL RIDWARE 2 X 1ST FED IN 2022

She was followed by the yearling blue cock who topped the fed out of Salisbury; his sire is a son of “Houdini” who was a son of “Wild Wind”; his dam is a granddaughter of “Manchester” x “Dark Redemption”; she is known as “Dark Sensation”.

The fourth bird is a yearling cheq cock; his sire is a Colin Lloyd Cattrysse; his dam off Les Pinfield of Stratford on Avon; she was off a son of “Donker Leo” when paired to a daughter of the “Ace Pair”.

Runner up on 1319 was D. Nesbitt & Sons, Mark timing in a 2yo blue Hereman hen; she was followed by a 2yo blue hen off Mark Darby on 1298 taking 6^th fed.

MARK NESBITT OF HILL RIDWARE

Completing the Hill Ridware top seven were Spink & Barks; Phil and Daz timing in a WHU yearling cheq pied cock on 1310 to take 4^th fed, this is a Mark Jansenne from Chris Mather of Cardiff.

SPINK & BARKS HILL RIDWARE

8^th fed on 1292.5 was Trevor Jennings of Holbrook flying 23 miles further than the Ridware birds. Trevor timed in a 2yo Cooreman hen; sister to his “Good Hen”.

TREVOR JENNINGS HOLBROOK

Neil Harvey; flying as M.Harvey & Son loft 2 at Swadlincote Town; took 9^th fed on 1288 with a yearling cheq pied cock; his sire is a Hereman Cuester off Chris Vasey and Gary Cox stock; his dam is a Stefaan Lambrecht off James Parker.

NEIL HARVEY

10^th fed on 1286 was Phil Bourke of Stretton, Phil timed in a yearling D & G Wright Soontjen cock, a brother to “Mo”. Both these cocks ring numbers end in number 11, the shirt Mo Salah wears at Liverpool; this cock is known as “Mo’s Bro”.

PHIL, SOPHIE AND JACK BOURKE.

Around the clubs,

At Stretton, 6 sent 116 and Phil Bourke caps a fantastic old bird season by taking the first four on 1286; 1268; 1258.3; 1258.2; the winner a yearling Soontjen cock off D & G Wright stock.  He was followed by a 2yo blue “Verbree 33” x D & G Wright hen; this hen “02” has been the top hen in the loft this year.      

Third was a blue 2yo Vandenabeele cock, a nephew of M/M K Lycett’s “Eddy”; he is a previous winner this season out of Salisbury (2). 

Fourth was a yearling blue D & G Wright Soontjen hen.  This was Phil’s ninth win of the season out of the twelve fed races. Well done Phil; Jack and Sophie.

Up at Holbrook, 8 sent 137 and Trevor Jennings took top spot on 1292 with a 2yo Cooreman hen.                              

Kev Matthews was runner up on 1284 with his good yearling Vandenheede cock, this cock has won a 1^st; 2^nd; and 4^th this season.                        

Brian & Sue Stone were 3^rd & 4^th on 1263.6; 1263.5; with a yearling Jansenne and a yearling Jansenne x Sticker Doncker.

At Hill Ridware; 8 sent 99 and the top seven filled the top seven in the fed result above.

At Swadlincote Town, 14 sent 241 and Neil Harvey took 1^st and 2^nd on 1288; 1284; the winner a Cuester x Stefaan Lambrecht cock; followed by a yearling blue Stefaan Lambrecht hen off James Parker stock.                                         

Mr & Mrs Graham Evans were 3^rd on 1282 with a 2yo blue Wildemeersch hen; her sire was 4^th in the rpra 2019 one loft race; and her dam bred Graham’s fed topper from Carentan and Messac a few years back; the blue hens brother won out of Salisbury the previous week at Castle Gresley.                                                                                                                         

T & D Fearn were 4^th on 1280 with a 2yo blue pied hen; she’s a winner of multiple prizes. Her sire is “43” a winner of 3 x 1^st and a grandson of “Hideaway”. Her dam is a Stefaan Lambrecht.

At Etwall; congratulations to Pete and Shirley Harrison who timed in a well fancied 3yo cheq to take top spot on 1262, well clear; well done Pete.                                                              

Alan Peach was runner up on 1235 with a yearling blue Jansenne hen. Kev Southall was 3^rd & 4^th on 1209; 1196; the first a 2yo mealy Van Den Bulck cock; followed by a 2yo dark cock off the Cooper Bros stock.

At Osmaston Park, Stan & H.W.Hall took the first three on 1260; 1247; 1246; the winner a yearling cheq cock followed by a yearling blue pied hen and a yearling blue wf hen.                                                                                                  

The Johnson family were 4^th on 1241 with a 2yo cheq cock.

Stretton Bowls Club centenary open day.

Sunday July 10^th saw Stretton Bowls Club, the parent club of Stretton Flying club, hold their centenary open day.  It was a lovely summers day, a good crowd gathered, with hot and cold food available, and of course a very busy bar. 

People were invited to try crown green bowling; there was bowls golf, skittles, and other games on the clubs two greens.   The local fountains special school provided hot food throughout the day, and of course there was a BBQ. Other local groups had tombola’s and stalls on site, and Stretton flying club were asked to put on an open day.  The flying club had various timing clocks ranging from a Jundes Thexor from circa 1902; to the up to date Bricon ETS system. They also had an old guys Brittanica pin wheel calculator that the club secretaries of the past used; and we had a 1940 stud book and pigeon gazettes from the 1950’s to the latest edition of the BHW.  We showed the public how we used to race rubber the pigeons and the use of thimbles; and then how the modern ETS system worked; we also had interesting facts about our birds and their efforts in the two wars; and the RPRA provided a schools pack with leaflets etc.  Of course we had pigeons on show, we put on a variety of colours and young Jack provided two of his rollers. I’d like to thank Alan Brassington; Ron Dakin and Phil and Jack Bourke for providing the pigeons. 

        

    

            

    

        

    

Also, thanks to Dave Johnston; Phil Whetton; Phil Bourke and Pete Wightman for their time and effort throughout the day.   Special thanks to Barry Odom for his piece of art work explaining how pigeon racing worked; such a shame Barry wasn’t able to attend due to his spell in hospital, I can see a Blue Peter badge coming your way Barry?                                                                                                            

No doubting the stars of the show, young Jack and Sophie Bourke who were tireless in promoting our hobby. Thanks to everyone, a great success.

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