Lancashire Social Circle

The final racing events of the 2022 racing season for the Lancashire Social Circle took place from Weymouth on 10th September, when the Circle held there young bird races. The reason for three races is members are entitled to enter 4 youngsters in the YB race, and there possible two exchange pigeons from the draw and exchange that took place earlier in the year. Then finally 2 pigeons in an event we call the Friendship race, this is where members have been presented with a pair of youngsters from one of the guests, honorary members or just one of their friends attending the Circle functions. This all came about when the exchange we held for a number of years with the Midland Social Circle was discontinued with the falling membership of the Midland. An article published in this year's BHW Stud Book gives the readers the reasons why and how the Lancashire Social Circle has not only survived but grown over its 116 year history, bucking the trend of decline in all other pigeon racing organisations, that I hope will be an interesting read.

But back to the race 31 of our members entered a total of 105 birds that were liberated at 09 17pm into a north west wind. Following the three very successful OB races when members experienced  exceptional returns this trend carried on with almost all members clocking in all their entries even our longest flyers on the day Peter Robinson from Kendal and Brian Holland from Keighley a very good performance by both of them. The clear winner flying almost 194 miles timing in a blue cock was Bob Smith from Burtonwood on 1310. Bob has had a good racing season with the Circle but with only two inland races and a third from Guernsey with the OBs and Bob's team being more of a middle distance family of birds the top places have eluded him. This is not to say he can't win the shorter sprint events is untrue, when you look at this year's Bamford Gold Ring Race where he picked up around £3000 from this one race. As I said he has had a good season and wins the Battersby Trophy and a Frank H Parsonage Award for winning this race, along with being runner-up to the Two Bird Average. Bob was also runner-up the Combined Average winning the Lady Proctor Smith Silver Salver and was also runner-up for the Anglo Scottish Friendship Trophy.

Bob Smith winner of the LSC YB Race with a clear velocity 

The man to beat this season John Winstanley from Orrell was second timing a cheq hen flying 8 miles further than the winner doing 1292.This pigeon is carrying a Bamford Gold Ring and I believe she picked money up in that race the other week. She is also a past winner having won 1st Mangotsfield and a 5th club a little earlier, her full brother was last year's winner in the St Helens 3 Bird club. She is out of the original Syndicate cock when paired to a hen from Curtis Wall & Lunt out of a pigeon called 'Playful'. John wins the Combined Averages winning the Sir William Proctor Smith Trophy, he also wins the Anglo Scottish Friendship Trophy, the Brian Dickinson Trophy and the Joe Haworth Trophy, putting a great end to a great racing season.

John Winstanley Second YB Race & Sixth in the Exchange Race with one from Malcolm Parry-Jones

Keith Iddon was third on 1269 with a blue cock. Keith with his racing partner Ronnie Wilson who have been formidable over the last few seasons with their team of young birds, never being far away from the top spot with a fabulous team of Van den Brandt's pigeons. Sadly, the loft is not in a catchment area for a local club, and the one he raced in for many years has now disbanded, leaving him with little competition. The first of his four timers was a blue cock that was not the intended entry, but its mate who was sitting on a youngster a few days old. Sadly, this hen that was one of his exchange pigeons was injured on its last training toss so could not be entered. The system was to take the cock away for three days and leave the hen on her own feeding the youngster, but now injured and out of the race team the cock was brought back and proved very keen on the baby. As I said earlier there is no club for them to race in so the pigeons are only trained as far as Whitchurch around 40 miles back to the loft and then entered in this their first race of the season from Weymouth 206 miles.

Peter Morris from Speke Liverpool has been on fire this season with his team of Heremans-Ceusters Van den Bulck's having figured in all races with the Circle this season. In this race Peter timed a blue hen flying 188 miles doing 1256 with his second in the clock less than a minute later winning him the Best Two Bird Average winning the Irish Trophy. Peter was one of only six members left in the running for the Brian Dickinson Trophy one of the most difficult trophies to win, when members have to nominate a single bird and time it in every race of the season. Peter was runner-up for this trophy proving his ability to pick the best of his two entries every race. Peter's first in the clock is an in-form pigeon flying only to the perch that had had minor prizes so far this season.

David Newson is a third generation pigeon fancier who is making a name for himself these last few seasons not only in the Circle races but on the wider stage of national and specialist club racing having picked up good money in the Bamford Gold Ring race these last two years. David's first in the clock was a blue hen flying almost 212 miles to Banks near Southport doing 1262 picks up fifth prize.

David Newson 2nd LSC Exchange Race

The final diploma went to Alan Jones from Liverpool who clocked a blue cock doing 1254 to take sixth place. Alan is another flyer who is on top form this season, I note he only sent one old hen to the national race pooled all the way to win second section L only to be beaten by another Circle member Roger Sutton.

Alan Jones Sixth in the LSC YB Race

Moving on to the Breeders Exchange race when 23 members entered 31 exchanged pigeons that reflected the poor returns one or two fanciers had experienced this year. But once again the returns were exceptional with 25 of the race entries on the result sheet. As if not to be out done from the main race Peter Morris took the top spot with a very well fancied blue hen, I know this as Peter asked me if he could nominate her for the Woodhouse trophy in the main race, sadly with three separate race results this was not possible. This hen won 2nd Club 3rd Liverpool Amal the other week showing her form and as a result was sent with full confidence. She was bred by Graham Mackay being the best of the Heremans-Ceusters originating from the Wheatcroft pair that are responsible for a long string of winners. Doing just shy of 44mph this hen's velocity was 1282 for the 188 miles covered home to Speke Liverpool. Peter wins the Barrett Trophy and a John Marsden Award as the racer of the winning pigeon.

Peter Morris Fourth in the YB Race and first in the Exchange Race with one from Graham Mackay

Graham Mackay from Swinton but flying to an allotment at Farnworth near Bolton returned the favour to Peter Morris by taking second and fourth in the exchange race with two cracking young cocks bred by Peter. The first of these a blue pied doing 1207 and the second his nestmate being a blue on 1175 whose sire is a Heremans-Ceusters x Van den Bulck with the dam being from the Janssen based line of pigeons, with both parents being winners.

Graham Mackay Second & Fourth in the Friendship Race with two youngsters from Scott Irving of Annan in Scotland

David Jones known to all as DL was third flying to Llandudno in North Wales with a chequer cock bred by Brian Walsh on 1197 that is bred from the best of the R & B Smith pigeons. The North Wales members are not in the most favourable of locations for top positions in the Circle races, but The Lancashire Social Circle is not all about the racing it's about camaraderie that extends to the best social events in the sport. This performance of DL's shows this camaraderie within the membership with the number of phone calls of congratulations he received. DL's system with his youngsters this season has been to separate the sexes after the 3rd race as the hens were starting to pair. For this race with the Circle, and with race marking being earlier than for his club later in the day he only gave his entry his hen for about an hour before basketing and this was all the motivation he needed.

David Jones Third in the Exchange Race with a YB from Brian Walsh

Flying all the way up the Carnforth was Maurice McCartney who timed a chequer cock flying almost 242 miles doing 1166 to win fifth place. Maurice tells me he was over the moon with the way his entries came having not been on the darkness they were not in the best of feather. The reason behind this was Maurice had them on the darkness at the start of the year but following a two day stay in hospital where the birds were left to look after themselves he never put them back on the system. But this has not stopped them performing in the YB races this season with his club. Maurice's exchange pigeons came from George Pendleton and he had them both on the result along with several other members.

Maurice McCartney with a fine performance in Fifth place in the Exchange Race with a youngster from George Pendleton

John Winstanley timed a blue hen from Malcolm Parry-Jones doing 1165 to take the final place in sixth. This pigeon has been steady away all season but never braking any pots, he comes from Malcolm's team of middle distance pigeons so could improve next season as the distance gets a  little further.

The friendship race was again an excellent race for returns with only two entries failing to make the result sheet. These being a mixture of pigeons from all parts of the UK from Scotland down to Lincolnshire with others from more local fancier friends. A great two bird performance was put up by Alan Bamford, Graham Mackay and Maurice Jackson but these could not be out done by the Winner Roger Sutton who had both his entries over the pad in a matter of minutes to take first and third prizes in the race with two youngsters from Alistair Ewart a keen member of the Midland Social Circle. The first of these being a cheq hen doing 1269 followed by a cheq cock on 1197.Roger wins the Dave Allen Irish Crystal Glass Trophy for the racer of the winning pigeon while Alistair will collect the Colin Brough Memorial Plate for the breeder of the winner.

Roger Sutton Winner first & Third in the Friendship Race with two from Alistair Ewart

Maurice Jackson took the second and sixth places with two blue cocks from Tim Webster a fellow club member who has rewarded Maurice in the past with performance pigeons in this event. Following the passing of one of our Honorary Life Vice Presidents Bob McLaughlin his nephew presented a small trophy the Circle in memory of his late uncle that is awarded to the breeder of the second placed pigeon in this race. So Tim will be presented with this at the dinner in November at Lytham St Anne's on Sea.

Maurice Jackson who clocked two good pigeons in the Friendship race winning Sixth with pigeons from Tim Webster

Keith Iddon collects the fourth prize with a blue hen from Frank Bristow again from the Midland Social Circle that is helping to keep the Midland connection going strong. Both Frank and Alistair attend our Gathering on a regular basis. As reported earlier with no club racing only private training by car This young hen from Frank was entered in her first race of the season to win fourth prize doing 1173.

Keith Iddon Third in The LSC YB Race & Fourth in the Friendship Race with one from Frank Bristow

Ray Bullen picks up the fifth place on 1159 with a Cheq hen one of a pair of youngsters from Willie Lawrence from Scotland. This is not the first time this partnership has proved successful as only last season they were in the prizes collecting their diplomas at the prize presentation. Ray had two birds from Willie this Cheq hen and her mate a cheq cock that were off his best with both parents having won this season. The cock of this pair unfortunately got hawked twice this year, the first time no cuts but he lost his tail, the second time was a bit more serious. This cock decided he was not going to risk racing again and when training refused to come out of the basket. Clever lad I'd say. The hen however had no problems and raced consistently being on the club result a number of times. Ray decided to pair her up and she was on eggs when the race came round and performed well being fifth in the race. Willie has always tried to give Ray youngsters from his best and previously one has topped the Combine for him. Because of her Scottish heritage Ray has decided to call her 'Wee Lassie'

Ray Bullen Fifth in the Friendship Race

I would like to extend a very big thank you to Alan Bamford and Alan Bamber for arranging and bringing the baskets to the race marking and transporting them back ready for the transporter to pick up a little later in the day. My thanks also go out to all the marking committee that includes Peter Latham and Maurice Jackson along with the rest of the members who helped get the pigeons race marked and basketed, a real team effort that did not go unnoticed. Another item that did not go unnoticed was the Veranda the Golf Club, our race marking station, had erected for the Lancashire Social Circle to mark the birds under should it be raining. I can only say since we moved to the Alder Root Golf Club three seasons ago, the race markings have gone more smoothly and are much more enjoyable with the lunch provided by the Circle that make it a true social event.

Brian Dearn Tel. 01254 772515