ENFIELD CONTINENTAL FLYING CLUB UPDATE

In our last write up I mentioned that our Clubhouse had been subjected to an Arson attack where the Club had lost all the contents inside it. Since then, we have now moved into a new container which is much more bigger and more comfortable to move around in. This season we also gained another 3 members who hope to be racing Young Birds. The new members are Tony Casanova, Mihau Tosa as well as myself re-joining the club, even though I had continued to do there write up’s after I left 2 seasons ago.

The Inter Counties Fed held their annual AGM in February where two new Clubs joined, those were the Stanstead Club as well as the Lindsay Street Club who re-joined. The race programme was discussed and announced for the season which was as following.

Old Birds

15th April - Stoney Cross

22nd April – Blandford

29th April – Yeovil

6th May – Honiton

13th May – Wadebridge “UBI Combine”

20th May – Blandford

27th May - Guernsey “UBI Combine”

3rd June – Yeovil

10th June – Truro “UBI Combine”

17th June – Honiton

24th June – Guernsey “UBI Combine”

1st July – Yeovil

8th July - Wadebridge “UBI Combine”

Young birds 

22nd July – Stoney Cross

29th July – Blandford

12th August Blandford

19th August – Yeovil

23rd August – Yeovil “Midweek race”

26th August Honiton

2nd Sept – Honiton

9th Sept – Yeovil

16th Sept Wadebridge “UBI Combine”

With the race programme all sorted the next things to sort out were all the vaccinations for racing, which were mainly done by Club Secretary Steve Holloway as well as Billy Watkins with help from other members.

The first race of the season soon arrived which was flown from Stoney Cross. For this race 6 Members sent 105 birds which were liberated in a North Wind. Straight out the blocks was Steve Holloway taking 1^st,2^nd & 3^rd also 18^th Inter Counties Fed 2479 birds with a Chequer Van Reet Hen who won 2x1st’s last season, a Blue Pied Soontjen Hen who has scored several times in the top 6 before. And a Blue Van Reet Hen all flown on the Roundabout System.

The Husband & Wife team of Algis & Jurgita Tiataurus took 4th Club with a Dark Chequer Lambrecht Hen who was bred by Geoff Barker. This hen has previously taken 1^st Club, 6^th Inter Counties Fed and 12^th UBI Combine. Fifth Club was Billy Watkins with a Dark Chequer Cock bred by Mark Edwards. This Yearling Cock took 5^th Section 24^th NFC National last year as a young bird. Finally in 6^th place was Algis & Jurgita Tiataurus with a Blue Gaby Vandenabeele Cock.

Race 2 on the 22^nd April was flown from Blandford with 5 Members sending 88 birds, with 3058 birds in the Fed for this race. These were liberated at 10.40 with no wind given at Lib site.

Picking up his second win of the season was Steve Holloway with the same Chequer Van Reet Hen who won last week, this now takes her up to 4x1st’s. Second spot was Algis & Jurgita Tiataurus with a Blue Chequer De Klak Hen . Third & Fourth places went to Steve Holloway with a Blue Busschaert Cock from Steve Sheffield & a Lambrecht Chequer Cock bred by Geoff Barker. 5^th Club was Billy Watkins with the same Dark Chequer Cock, bred by Mark Edwards who won 24^th Open NFC YB National last year. Finally in 6^th spot we have Algis & Jurgita Tiatauris with a Blue De Klak Hen.

Steve Holloway’s “Bella” 6 x 1^st                        Algis Tiatauris with a YB on his head

Race 3 was due to be flown from Yeovil, but when the transporter arrived it was unable to access the site due to an event taking place, so the birds were then taken to Blandford, which when they arrived, they weren’t allowed access due to it not being prearranged as Blandford is on an Army base. Finally, the birds ended up at Stoney cross. These were liberated at 10.30 in a Light Southeast wind. In the club 6 members sent 97 birds. Taking the top spot once again we had Steve Holloway with a Chequer Van Reet Hen now named Bella who clocks up her 5^th win of her racing career. Second, Third & 4th went to Billy Watkins with a late bred Chequer Cock bred by Mark Edwards, a Chequer Van Rijn Cock bred by Bryan Cowan & a Blue Cock bred from Bill’s Stock obtained from Simon Schofield. Fifth spot went to Algis & Jurgita Tiatauris with a Blue De Klak Hen. Finally in 6^th we had Steve Holloway with a Blue Chequer Van Reet Hen.

Billy Watkins with his Grandson Frankie

Race 4 was flown from Honiton on the 7^th May with 5 Members sending 98 birds. These were liberated at 10.30 in a Northwest Wind.

First past the post this week was Steve Holloway with “Bella” the Van Reet Hen Clocking up her 6^th win. Her race record now is, 1^st Club, 18^th Fed Stoney Cross, 1^st Club Blandford, 6^th Club Blandford, 1^st Club Yeovil, 1^st Club Yeovil, 1^st Club Honiton, 4^th Club Exeter & 1^st Club Stoney Cross.

Runners up this week was Algis & Jurgita Tiatauris taking 2^nd,3^rd & 4^th places with a Blue Cock, a Blue Chequer Hen and a Chequer Pied Hen all from their own family of Lambrechts & De Klaks.

Finally, 5^th & 6^th places go to Steve Holloway with 2 Blue Hens both Van Reets

Race 5 was the first UBI Combine race of the season which was to be flown from Wadebridge. The birds were marked on the Thursday evening and liberated on the Saturday Morning at 10am in a Northeast Wind. In the Club 4 Members sent 58 Birds with 2,300 going in the Combine. The winners this week also taking 2^nd Club were Algis & Jurgita Tiatauris with a Chequer Hen & a Blue Pied Hen both their own bloodlines. 3^rd Club was Steve Holloway with a Chequer Pied Padfield Jan Aarden X Soontjen Cock. Fourth Spot this week once again went to Algis & Jurgita Tiatauris with Chequer De Klak Cock. 5^th Club was John Figueira with a Blue Chequer Busschaert Hen. Finally in 6^th we had Arif Karibas with a Blue Pied Van Reet.

Race 6 was our next race of the season to be flown from Blandford on the 21^st May and for this race we marked on the Saturday for a Sunday race. At the end of Marking 5 Members had sent 86 Birds.

Our winner this week was Arif Karibas who has broken his novice status. Arif only joined us last year and is the keenest person in the Club and is always willing to help and learn. Arif’s winning pigeon was a Dark Chequer Busschaert x Kirkpatrick Cock. Second & third places went to Billy Watkins with a Chequer Cock bred by Mark Edwards & a Blue Herman Beverdam Cock. 4^th & 5^th was Steve Holloway with a Red Chequer Maarten Vinkenborg Cock & a Blue Jan Aarden Cock. Finally in 6^th we had Algis & Jurgita Tiatauris with a Blue Chequer Hen from their own family.

Arif Karibas with children Ismail & Aylin        Arif’s Busschaert X Kirkpatrick 1^st Club Winner

In the next write up, the members First BICC & NFC races of the season as well as the club races.

Until then, Take Care

Jamie T….