MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB

MIKE LAKIN

CHALE YOUNG BIRDS 2012

Another win for the Montilas

The  MNFC held its first Young Bird race of the 2012 season from Chale. The birdage for this race was well down on the previous year but this was widely expected after all the heavy losses which have been endured by members this year. Without a doubt 2012 will be long remembered but for the wrong reasons. Never can I remember a worse summer, with one good day followed by a week of rotten weather which has deeply affected our sport. With this in mind the send of over 3,006 pigeons was a good one and after a one day holdover the birds were released at 8.45 into blue skies and a WNW wind which was much lighter than on the previous day.

As with all races the wind decides the approximate location of the winners and this proved to be the scenario once again which will always be the case especially in races ranging from distances of 100-200 miles. The most important thing though is ensuring that returns are good and judging by the comments made by the competing members that I spoke to this certainly was the case on this occasion.  Many believe that the birds experiences in this shorter event proves to be invaluable education for learning to eat and drink in the MNFC transporter’s crates. This I am convinced is a very important lesson because once a young bird is shown it never forgets.... unlike most humans!

On now to the actual race and the winners are the likeable twins Robert & Peter Montila who hail from Everton in Bedfordshire. This isn’t their first national win as they have been on the winners rostrum before including 1st MNFC from Bergerac a few years ago. They have also won an Old Hens National in the past. The Brothers hadn’t previously raced their Young birds this  season as their babies have only been privately trained gradually up to a distance of 70 miles, which the lads felt wasn’t ideal preparation. The  winner is a chequer pied hen and is bred from a half brother of Les Grain’s famous double national winner ‘Max a Million’ while her dam is from their friend Pieter Oberholster, who is well known for being the UK PIPA agent. The bird actually came with a loftmate but the other bird refused to drop and was joined a few seconds later by a third arrival which trapped second and these two pigeons finish in 5th and 6th Open places. The winner’s velocity is 1516 while the other two record 1475 and 1473 respectively. This shows how much time the second bird lost.

Montila Brothers - 1st National Chale

There were no such problems at the Leighton Buzzard loft of Mr & Mrs Eric Corkett and Sons where two birds were clocked in 5 seconds for 2nd and 3rd SEsection and Open. The 2nd placed bird is of Kees Bosua blood and is in fact related to Ron Fullwood’s 2nd Open Queen’s Diamond Jubilee race winner. While the 3rd Open pigeon is a half sister to Ron’s 4th SE section winner from Vire earlier in the season. Obviously superb bloodlines.

In 4th Open we see the nearby loft of Mr & Mrs Keen who clocked a well pooled bird which has been their first bird in every race this season and won 2nd federation a week or two previously. This explaining why she had so many xx’s by her ring number. She is of Wildemeersch x Vandevelde breeding. A class pigeon without a doubt.

The 7th, 8th and 10th Open placings are filled by Paul McMillan the ‘Wisbech Wizard’ because how else can you describe a fancier who specialises in Young bird racing with such spectacular fashion. Last season in the corresponding event he was 2nd & 3rd Open and from Carentan in 2011 he took the first four section positions! The first bird is named ‘Dirty Harry’ because he is very promiscuous with the ladies! He is from his friends Mr & Mrs Willie Beckett’s stock loft and he is of  Gevaert van Schoorisse x Brian Kaid breeding and is a brother to a bird that flew well for Paul in last season’s Nationals. Paul only competes in young bird races because in the past he has been affected by ‘pigeon lung’ symptoms. Soin this way he can take a break from pigeons for half of the year. In total Paul had 11 birds in the top 91 placings. Simply amazing!

The winner up in the NE sction is Guy Bennett who is back into pigeons after a 20 year break. I am informed that he has a ‘secret weapon’ in the shape of his daughter who has been helping her dad with the pigeons as she is on a university ‘gap’ year. His Huyskens Van Riel bred young cock has won federation honours previously hence the heavy pooling which will result in a nice cheque arriving shortly. I hope that you are going to share it with your young partner Guy.

It gives me great pleasure to write about the 2nd NE section winner who is Jos Mee of Forest Town. Jos is a great help to me in collating the North East section info; he serves me and his ‘patch’ excellently. She is a Peter Van de Merwe from Up North fancier Tony Twentyman x Staf Van Reet of Jos’ old family. She was sent motivated by a ‘crazy widowhood’ as she was sent paired but only allowed to see her mate briefly after training or exercise then parted until the next flight. Well done Jos.

Moggie Morgan claims 3rd section with a young cock off his old Van de Weyer family which was sent sitting a 4 day old baby. His sire was the loft’s best yearling in 2011 when paired to a daughter of Moggie’s 3rd Open Bergerac hen. These birds are super allrounders.

4th NE section goes to Bob Staples with a cock sitting chipping eggs which is of Theo Yskout breeding  from John Smith of Bircotes x Bob’s own good channel family.

The North section was like the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ with an incredible 10 birds timed in with just 5 yards between them all! Now that’s what I call competitive racing. Leading the ‘charge’ is Brennan Brothers who finished in 1st 6th 10th and 11th section. The first bird is a Lambrecht  and is a sister to the loft's 1st section 3rd Open Caretan winner of 2011. These lines were obtained from Steve Maylett of Oldham. The other birds were bred from pigeons off Terry Higgs, Nick Adshead and Northern Ireland fancier Albert Cousins. Jon Brennan wishes to thank Messrs Freeman and Pashley for their help in training his birds.

John Brennan - 1st North section

In actual fact it is Mr & Mrs Rob Pashley who fill the 2nd and 3rd places. Their first timer is a Vandenabeele x Kyper/Hinchcliffe Bros pigeon. The 3rd section winner is a Gardner Van Camp x Levitt Wildemeersch. My North section ‘spy’ tells me that the Pashley birds are ‘darkness’ pigeons and in superb condition to enable them to compete at the very highest levels.

In 4th section is something of a young bird specialist in the form of Chris Howard & Son their bird is a black cock of Van de Merwe x Soontjen breeding. His sire being a direct son of Fenwick & Howard’s famed ‘Cavendish’. The new partnership has only been flying for a short time and they have topped the fed twice already in their ‘maiden’ season. Chris gives credit to his friend John Lowcock for his help. Anyone who knows Chris will tell you he is a hard taskmaster who trains twice a day weather permitting. I’m told that the birds are conditioned using Comed products.

The East section was dominated by Frank Bristow who has been flying with amazing affect over the past few seasons. Absolutely brilliant. On this occasion Frank and his son George who is in charge of training I am informed  have claimed 1st 2nd  4th  5th 6th section placings. The loft’s first bird is a Cheq W/F cock of M & G Cassaert  breeding. This latest winner is a grandson of Frank’s famous ‘Streeter’ who won 20 x 1st prizes including 5 x 1st Fed!. Frank says that he has been visiting the Cassaerts for years and is it any wonder?. The photo is of Frank & George in front of their marvellous Tranter loft that they won in the QDJ RPRA race flown from Fougeres with the MNFC. I’m told that Frank is ‘over the moon’ with the quality of the loft’s workmanship. So  take a bow Jay.

George & Frank Bristow - 1st East section

3rd East section is filled by Grimsby’s Martin Dunks who clocked a blue hen for a very creditable performance with a velocity of 1363 up to the East coast of England.

One of the club’s best performances on the day was put up by Doug & Mark Nesbitt of Rugeley who clocked a darkness reared Staf Van Reet youngster which was motivated on the sliding door system. I was told by Doug they had 7 out of 8 home on the day with one reported in Oldham which came home next day on it’s own steam.

Doug Nesbitt & son - 1st SW section

In 2nd South West section is Darren Burton of Wolverhampton who clocked a blue pied cock for a velocity of 1335. In 3rd  place in the SW is Penn’s Tanner & Son. When the club contacted the partners they were full of praise for the club and the excellent conditions of their pigeons after their arrival home.

The Champ of the South Centre section on this occasion is J & T Gateley of Braybrooke. Their bird is a Busschaert x Thas/Tasker ‘Filmstar’ lines. Their hen was sent to three races previously but done nothing special but was sent this time paired and the power of love appears to have done the trick!

J & T Gateley - 1st SC section

2nd section in the SC was John Havens from Leicester who saw home a hen of Wall Lunt & Geen x Ron Hillcoat lines. This hen had already won a 2nd prize from Marlborough. John would like to thank his friend Dave Richards for proving the stock. Chris & Denise Sutton take 3rd 4th 5th section slots. Their first bird is a Felands stud  Hoogland (Lewis & Lisa)  x a daughter of Frank Bristow’s ‘Streeter’. It looks like this cock is proving to be as good a breeder as he was a racer.

These three birds pushed another MNFC stalwart Bill Marbow into 6th place with a Geoff Kirkland Thas x stichelbaut young cock. It’s grandmother was a previous winner of 3rd open Bergerac.

Next we move to the North west section and we see Mr & Mrs Joe Booth have a great race taking 1st & 2nd section. Joe’s birds are in great form having taken 1st 2nd & 3rd  fed  and 1st & 2nd Fed within 7 days . The section topper now named ‘Jack’ is a son of Joe’s classic winner ‘Percy’ when paired to a g/daughter of ‘Shadow’ and the ‘90’ cock. These birds were purchased by the Booths from their good friend Jack Walker of Cannock. Joe was full of praise for the MNFC convoying team on the excellent condition of the returning pigeons. 3rd section is taken by a well respected loft that of Adams Brothers of Longton who timed a blue cock for a velocity of 1322.

Joe Booth - 1st & 2nd NW section

Their nearby neighbours McGraw Clegg & Preece who sound like dodgy solicitors partnership but are really a keen pigeon partnership. I think if we had a race on New Years Day these lot would send a team. Well on this occasion the lads are in 4th section with a Leemputten based bird bred down from the home of the ‘Leepos’ at Wright Brothers of Doncaster. The lads are enjoying a superb young bird season.

Glossop is the home of Hinchcliffe & sons who are next on the NW list and they time a well fancied bird that will draw a nice cheque for it’s owners. The bird is a Vandenabeele have recently introduced because to quote the partners ‘we have got to the point where we couldn’t fly a kite on a windy day in the short distance races. This is after years of concentrating on the long races for years.So this year we decideed to have some fun with some darkness yb’s’. Well it’s paying off lads. The partners wish to pass on their thanks to Eric Millner for all his help with vaccinating the birds etc. Yes he is a good un is Eric!

Yates and Rogers are top dogs in the West section and it’s good to see one of the workers getting their rewards. Their bird is a grandson off a Clive Yates ‘Wildie’ that the partners got off their friend Paul Doughty and his sire in fact won 6th prize in the Chester 2Bird Club from Caretan.

Yates & Rogers & Dixie - 1st West section

Dave Beadle & son finish in 2nd and 4th West section. The first is a blue hen bred off stock from Peter Fox her sire being a grandson of ‘Rocket’ a Dutch national winner. The dam is a sister to a 1st Chester 2 bird. The 4th section winner is also a Fox pigeon crossed with Dave’s 1st Shotton Gold Ring Winner.

Sandwiched in between is Ron Dodd & Son of Blacon in 3rd section with a pigeon called ‘08’. She is a troublesome bird I’m told who only comes in when she wants to but she has already shown her ability with a 2nd club from Ludlow. She is from a son of ‘Zidane’ and ‘Cleopatra’ from a friend Joe Sykes. The dam is from a cock off George Lawrence when paired to a hen off G & M Clayton from Gwent. This game little hen had started to show along with another hen to the same cock so the partners took the other hen away and ‘bingo’ 3rd section and a nice pools cheque. So she can come in when she wants too!

Before I sign off a quick reminder about the MNFC presentation which promises to be a real 5 star event at the Doncaster RaceCourse in one of their new suites which seats 300 guests. So book up and enjoy a fabulour weekend at the Doncaster show and the MNFC’s annual dinner which should be our best ever celebration night.