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Parkinson30

 

 

LES J. PARKINSON'S

NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES

A couple of weeks ago I wrote just a small piece about systems and mentioned the widowhood system that was mainly referring to racing into this town. I had quite a few comments sent my way regarding the widowhood system and when it came into this country. I dare bet that it has been here much longer than we all think and one text I received from Steve Redfern went on to say that his father was taught the system by Mons Slabbink and raced it with some success in the 30’s. Yes it has been round for many years but the majority of fanciers were never privileged to it all those years ago. It was a similar case when the darkness system came out and the first time I saw young birds that had been brought up as darkness young birds. The late Denis Gleave brought his team of young birds down for the marking at the first young bird race of the season. I was putting them through and said to Denis, “These are early bred” and in his usual smile he said “No they were bred at the normal time” and said no more. That was my first experience of darkness but no doubt there were many using the system long before then. This is probably the same with all systems that come and go, someone has to be the first to try them and they are the one’s that get the first benefit of using it because as soon as other’s start to change they all get caught up and find it harder to win no matter what the new system might be.

Still don’t know

After all these years we still do not know where they go and why we lose experienced pigeons when they have previously completed the task without any problems. That has been the case this year because we have lost pigeons that have flown several channel races including Tarbes. In the first National FC race of the season we sent what were to be our Tarbes team for this year. But as is very often the case things don’t go to plan and as I sit here there are still two missing and it is Sunday afternoon. Earlier today a chequer cock did drop and looked as if he had just been for a fly round the loft. The two that are missing did fly Tarbes last year and one had been twice and on the face of it there should be no reason why they have not turned up. Also with this being an easy race up here into the North West the pigeons are going to have to have another channel race in preparation for Tarbes and that will probably be Nantes with the NFC. I am certainly pleased to see us back at Nantes because that is one of the race points that has a ring to it when under discussion. In my early days of the sport the two race point that many talked about and referred to as the ones to win were Nantes and Pau the later now been replaced by Tarbes. When pigeons go missing it is very often put down to poor breeding but when they have had the races, flown well and returned from even further distances it makes you wonder what has happened to them. Many are taken by birds of prey but they are not taking them all because we very often get birds turn up months later. Then there are a few seen and caught hanging around towns etc and reported before being returned to their owners. But there are a considerable number that still go missing and are never seen again. I wonder when it will come to the point where pigeons can be chipped and traced because it is not all that expensive to do. I say about expense but to find out where they go wouldn’t it be worth a few quid at a test loft with the money raised through donations. It would be nice to have a system where they could be tracked and then when they come to a sudden stop we could then trace them and find out what happened to them. They could have gone into a loft where the owner is not aware because there are some lofts about where pigeons come and go and are not checked on a daily basis. I have seen these dove coats where there are also pigeons so no one actually cares as long as there are a few hanging around, these are not in a racing pigeon fanciers garden. I have seen the chips that go on rings but they are too big and clumsy to be beneficial to the racing fancier’s team. Anyway that system is probably a dream at the moment but one that will no doubt be in place at some time in the future. I must mention that I was impressed when I saw what small teams members of section L sent to the Fougeres National. There was only 3 or 4 fanciers who sent more than.

Keen

The correspondence with nephew Wayne continues and it looks as if he is the biggest part back to where he was when he had to part with the pigeons and as he said it is thanks to others. “Last  week  I said to you how pleased and grateful I was to some people, yourself, Kevin Grace, John Black and John  Searle. Well last Friday I called Terry Westwood and couldn’t believe he let me have 2 sets of 3 nest boxes with doors so I can race natural or widowhood to them. Also some floor grills as people tell me I would be better not to clean out as much and let the droppings go through the floor and do once a year or so also set of young bird perches. I know its probably bit late (never too late) to thank him but if possible would like to, what a gent. So got most things now, although I know us pigeon men like to change things around and are never happy with the loft. Hopefully I’ve got some good birds for next year, young birds had two ten mile tosses no losses so far”.

North West Classic Club

As mentioned last week I have been struggling to get details on some of the winners in the NWCC but we are getting there. In the case of Tony & Simon Hughes there were three e-mail address’s and the request went to the wrong one. Anyway this is what they had to say after their section A winner in the NWCC race. “We fly both cocks and hens on a traditional roundabout system that suits our limited time available due to family and work. We started this season like most others with 36 cocks and 36 hens with a couple of spare hens to play with. The team is paired up around the second week in January and they rear a pair of youngsters which are sold on to help fund the running of the lofts and racing. The birds are then treated for canker and respiratory before training commences 2 weeks before racing, with as many tosses from 30 miles as possible, this continues 2 weeks into the season then no more training is given unless we think it's required. We feed Versela Llaga corn all year round with the odd different brand added here and there, which we purchase from Ashton Pets at Oldham that is owned by Stuart Ward. 80 to 100 youngsters are reared for our team that are flown on the darkness, and these are trained as much as possible. The first bird timed was our fancied entry and was pooled all the way in the section only due to the strong easterly winds on the day of the race. He is a 2 year old chequer Vandenabeele of M&D Evans bloodlines. This one is no stranger to winning as he has won 6x1st clubs and 1x1st fed as well as many minor prizes. Our second timer is our own Brass Van Loon family and is a light chequer 2yo cock that is a winner of minor prize's but not a first prize to date. Third over the pad is our very good 4yo Vandenabeele chequer cock that has many prize's to his name and was our first timer in NFC Fougeres race and will figure high in the open result. The fourth bird over the pad is a yearling chequer cock that has been coming consistently all season and his nest mate won the Danebank Open Race from Cheltenham at the beginning of the season” The A & S Hughes partnership are one of the most consistent lofts in the North west and are regulars in any of the organisations that they compete in.

Simon Hughes with their 3rd section winner in the NWCC

Tony Hughes with the 1st section winner in the NWCC

Club/Fed News

The Macclesfield FC report from their Frome race when 11 members sent 280 birds with the red card going to Kevin Moore on 1824ypm after clocking a 6yr old cock raced on the roundabout. This is a very good winner and was bred by Kevin from his excellent Sootjen family with this one having won 5x1st winner plus two section wins and a 2nd fed. 2nd and 3rd are Richard & Simon Geary on 1806/1805ypm the firsts being a 2yo hen sent sitting and is a Delbar bred by Phil (the potter) Hall, this hen has also scored 2nd Saintes for the lads. Their second bird is a 2yo Sootjen x Rietvick widowhood cock previously a 2x1st prize winner and has now scored 3x2nds this season so far and was bred by the partners Kevin Moore is also 4th on 1803ypm with a 3yo roundabout cock bred by Kevin, this ones a Sootjen x Vandenabeele also a previous card winner. Te club have good sponsors and this week the race was sponsored by Jim Spooner. The club then moved on to Blandford when 10 members sent 214 birds, having a excellent result taking the first four are Richard & Simon Geary with vels of 1423/1407/1402/1394ypm. Their first was a Sootjen x Vandenabeele yearling widowhood cock this bird is a late bred  not raced as a young bird having only its 5th race. Then they had a yearling Vandenabeele widowhood cock bred by themselves off their good cock Hollins Boy a multi prize winner which unfortunately returned injured from training at the start of the season and died in his box a few days later a great loss for them. Third is a Sootjenn x Vandenabeele again a yearling on the widowhood and bred by them, the dam being a vandenabeele was purchased from Frank Howard’s sale. In 4th spot we have a Staf Van Reet x Sootjen yearling widowhood cock the dam being a Staf Van Reet is off John Albutt direct out of his gold medal winner while the sire is their good racer Shy Boy winner of 18x1sts, well done lads. Again the club was sponsored by Roger & Brenda Bowers. We now move on to the Rudheath clubs race from Seaton 2 when the birds were liberated at 10-30am in a South wind. The birds made light work of the 178 mile fly winning 1st & 2nd for the second week running is the golden mile magician Ian [Tommy] Cooper with two widowhood cocks. The first is a Busscheart x Syndicate Lofts off Derek Woodward while the second one is off his old Busschaert family and Ian even managed to pinch the pools after recording vels 2107/2091ypm. 3rd goes to Malcolm Hewitt with a Staf Van Reet hen doing 2035ypm and is a 4yo winner of 2x1st. 4th is won by B & G Mainwaring flying who are flying very consistently this year and is this race clock a dark widowhood cock on 2033ypm. PO Malcolm went on to say that most members had very good returns and it was nice to see sect L getting probable winner of Fourgers National and he sent 4 and had 3 in clock in 20mins with the other coming out of north an hour later which is a brilliant start to joining the National again this year well done to leading birds and fanciers. Now on to the Middlewich FC race from Seaton when 13 sent 183 birds. Mark & Heather Smith are continuing to race a good pigeon and are having an excellent season especially with their hens both on the roundabout and sitting. In this race they take the top two positions recording vels of 2120/2104ypm with a 2yo chequer hen form the Pearson & Dransfield stock and was sent sitting. Their second bird is a 7yo blue hen that last year won 2 x 1sts and was 2nd earlier this year. Dudley & Irene Niblett are 3rd after clocking a 2yo on 2096ypm with a red Marcellis cock adding another prize to his collection. 4th goes to Carol & Robert Carson who saw home a yearling chequer w/f cock bred from O’Hare & Woodward recording a vel of 2090ypm. The pools this week go to O’Hare & Woodward and Alan Groom. 8 sent 74 in the Kingsdown race for the Middlewich 5B where Dave & Lynn Healey are having a good run and collect another red card with a 3yo blue cock clocking up 1995ypm and collects first share of the pools. The next two positions go to the in-form loft of Mark & Heather Smith with two yearling blue cocks recording vels of 1959/1915ypm. Their first in the clock is a winner of 3x2nds this year and comes from the O’Hare & Woodward stock followed home by a breeder/buyer from last year. O’Hare & Woodward are 4th after seeing home a 3yo Vandenabeele blue cock on 1910ypm. The second share of pools goes to Alan Groom. The club also allow trainers that can go forward to the fed and with being on the ETS Mark & Heather had three before their 2nd prize winner and another before their 3rd so had a good race all round. Over at the Royal Wires club 10 sent 174 to Seaton (1) when the partnership of Andy Noon & Geoff Callan won this coast race with the Mid Cheshire Fed. Andy & Geoff are 1st 3rd & 4th club recording vels of 1305/1298/1297ypm with the winner being a blue hen bred from their A & S Hughes of Rochdale stock that is Vandenabeele based stock. Ray Worrall is still going strong this week collecting 2nd club with a blue hen bred from a cock that is a barker cross while the dam is a Staf Van Reet on loan from Andy Noon & Geoff Callan. Still with the same club Andy Noon & Geoff Callan are getting into their stride in the in the Seaton race when 10 members sent 121 birds. In this race they took the top two positions recording vels of 2080.9/2080.1ypm. Their widowhood cocks were in good form for this race and their club winner is called “Hicky” named after Geoff’s best mate Carl Hickman and it has 3x2nds to go with this win. The partners second bird is a blue cock bred from A & S Hughes of Rochdale stock. Tommy Davies is 3rd club on 2058ypm with a 2yo Busschaert hen that also wins the club nom. 4th goes to John Donaldson with a 2yo on 2047ypm. Meanwhile over at Lymm they were racing from Portland when the birds were liberated at 11.05am in a strong West wind. In 1st place we have Martin Joy on 2038ypm with a blue De Mayer widowhood cock. 2nd goes to Fell Bros who clocked a chequer widowhood cock off their Wall, Lunt & Green stock doing 2035ypm. 3rd & 4th positions go to Graham Walker on 2031/2030ypm with a De Mayer cock and a Walter Docx cock both on widowhood. 9 members of the Minshull mid week club sent 148 birds to Kempsey that saw Ken & Clive Riley take the top two positions with a 3yo & 5yo dark hens recording vels of 1468/1461ypm. J Lambert is 3rd with a 2yo chequer hen and also 4th after seeing home a chequer pied hen recording vels of 1414/1413ypm. The club then went to Cheltenham that saw 7 send 161 that were led home by two racing to the lofts of Kenny Burke with sidekick Gary Hodkinson also playing a part. They were a yearling chequer hen followed home by a 3yo blue cock on 1314/1310ypm. Nice to see Alan Dimelow getting in amongst the prize winners and we hope that his health is on the up. Alan was 3rd after seeing home a yearling blue hen with a vel of 1305ypm ahead of Keith Herbert who clocked a blue hen on 1284ypm. In the Lostock HS Wincanton race 10 sent 157 with Robert Kent filling the top two positions on 1338/1336ypm after clocking a dark chequer cock and a blue pied cock both being 2yo. The club then went to Kingsdown with an entry of 135 birds from 7 members and again the top two positions went to Robert Kent with a yearling blue pied cock and a 2yo chequer cock on 1974/1969ypm. Kenny Burke is 3rd after seeing home a 3yo blue cock on 1956ypm that was followed by a yearling blue pied cock racing to the lofts of Keith Herbert to record a vel of 1947ypm. The Moulton FC were at Seaton when 9 members entered 96 birds that were led home by a yearling chequer hen racing to the lofts of K & S Bell with a vel of 2016ypm. 2nd & 4th go to Peter Atherton whose first in the clock was a mealy cock collecting first share of the pools before clocking a chequer cock with their vels being 2000/1988ypm. Coming in between is Colin Bell on 1994ypm after seeing a red cock enter the loft. Jones Bros had another good race in the Wettenhall 10B club race from Wincanton with vels of 1343/1323/1302ypm. The winner is a 4yo blue cock that ahs won 5 x 1sts and 1st fed with the next being a yearling red cock that was 3rd in the first race and was their most consistent bird last year. 4th went to a 4yo chequer w/f cock that has also won 3 x 1sts plus other cards and as always they are from their excellent team of Andre Clemens stock that have done them proud. 3rd sees Hitchin & Horsfield collect another card with one from the G&K&C Hitchin lines and is a good blue cock that also has 4 x 1sts to his credit. The Winsford FC were at Seaton when Harry Vernon took the red card on 1323ypm with a yearling grizzle hen raced on the roundabout and comes form the Willy Thas lines crossed in with Harry’s old established family. 2nd & 4th go to Lionel & John Goostrey clocking up 1317/1294ypm both are chequer Flor Engles cocks which is both son’s of the Taylors Choice winner. Coming in between we have Jones Bros who saw home a yearling blue Andre Clemens hen that also won last year. Club PO Albert Austin tells me that to date they have had 7 races with 7 different winners, not bad going they must all be out to win. Got a couple of results on the Lymm & District Federation races starting with Mangotsfield when 78 members sent 1283 birds that were liberated at 2pm in a South East wind. The winner is Derek Woodward from the Lymm FC finishing just ahead of Fell Bros who are also 6th. Tyldesley winner Tom Smith is 3rd while the Charnock Heath leader’s in this race are P Moss & Son finishing 4th 15th 17th & 18th fed. In Ashton Park the red card goes to Joe Dorning who is 5th & 12th fed with Old Lodge and National winner Tommy Jackson 7th just ahead of fellow club members Mr & Mrs O’Hara with Tim Webster 9th 10th & 11th. F Higginson is 13th, Martin Joy 14th, E Touhey 16th & 20th and Reid Bros 19th. The next race for the Fed race was from Yeovil that saw 77 send 1173 birds to be liberated in a North West wind. Once again the winner is Derek Woodward from the Lymm club who also takes 7th. A little birdie tells me that for the following week Derek was asleep when the bird’s came for the next race and wife Marjorie was not very happy, in fact several days later he was still in the doghouse. Tyldesley winner Tom Smith is 2nd 4th 18th fed with Tim Webster also having a good race coming home with 3rd 4th 6th 17th fed racing with the Heath Charnock club. Yet again Joe Dorning finished in top spot over at Ashton Park to collect 5th fed Martin Joy 8th & 12th, Fell bros 9th & 15th, P Moss & Son 10th, Graham Walker 11th, Old Lodge winner Tommy Jackson who is enjoying the year is 13th, Edward Touhey 14th, Fell Bros 15th, B & P Hooper NW 16th, Mr & Mrs K O’Hara 19th & 20th. The last organisation to cover this week is the South West Cheshire Fed race from Wincanton when 62 sent 937 birds. The top spot once again goes to Mick & Wendy Mellor who are having another good season with the Crewe West End club. 2nd 3rd 9th go to Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt while Wettenhall winners Jones Bros are 4th. The next four positions go to the Hankelow club when the red card went to Joe Glover who was also 8th fed with A Williams 6th, Graham Davies 7th leaving 10th to Greenbank winners Mr & Mrs Colin Earp. Just the Middlewich 5B winners Dave & Lynn Healey missed out on the fed result this week.

Photos

This weeks photos include one of Marjorie Woodward with one of their recent Federation winners.   

 

Marjorie Woodward with one of their Lymm & District Fed winners

Les J.Parkinson. Elimar, 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 ONJ. Tel/Fax; 01606 836036. Mobile 07871 701585  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. web-site www.elimarpigeons.com