Lancashire Social Circle
The final old bird race of the three the Circle hold was from Nort-Su-Erdre were only 25 of the 40 members entered their two entries into this 400 plus mile race to most of the members. The pigeons on this occasion were transported by the Midland National and liberated at 06 30 into a light west wind. The race turned out a testing one with several members failing to time in on the day, but with an entry of only two pigeons this is to be expected.
The result showed 20 birds timed in, with six members having both in the clock, the first of these being Roger Sutton who had both his birds home in less than 12 minutes. This fantastic performance wins him the race, winning him the J S Kearns Trophy for the winner of the longest OB race along with a Frank H Parsonage Award. Roger's first over the pad was a 3y old chequer hen timed at 15:15:57 doing over 45 mph with a velocity of 1326. Roger also wins the Cotswold Trophy with the best average from the second and third OB races with a velocity of 1356, followed in second place by Ray Bullen on 1297. Ray took the second place on the result when he timed a 2y old blue cock flying 413 miles to his home loft in Cheadle doing 1254. I noticed from the ring numbers one from the same stable raced by Graham Mackay, another blue cock also made the result. Les Adams one of our shorter flyers was third timing a 2y old cheq cock on 1157. This being Les's maiden season has seen some fine performances in the old bird races, not actually winning the races but always being there or there about, wins him the OB average with a velocity of 1212. This fine achievement wins him the Arthur H Todd Trophy, followed in second spot by last year's winner, John Winstanley doing 1175, who picks up the runner-up trophy, the Dr William Anderson Trophy. This year's winner of the Reliance Trophy awarded to the Best Average from the first and third OB races goes to Les Adams with a velocity of 1185, followed in second place by John Winstanley 1126.
Back to the result of the race itself, in fourth place is George Pendleton who timed the first yearling on the result a cheq cock on 1153. Peter Morris was fifth with the first of his two entries a 3y old blue hen on 1126, with his second also a blue hen this time a 4y old timed a short time later also on the winning day. Another member having both his birds over the pad in good time was John Winstanley, who timed two blue hens just 8 minutes apart, the first a 2y old who picks up the final diploma in sixth place on 1060.
The Circle have some splendid silver trophies, two of these being the Wright Trophy and the Roy Mundy Trophy. Both these were originally presented for the members competing in the National Flying Club from Pau, this was when the National only had two races, the first from Nantes and the second from Pau. At the time almost all the members of the Circle were members of the NFC and would nominate two pigeons from their entries in the Pau race to compete for these trophies. In more recent years with the addition of more channel races provided by the NFC less and less members have been competing in the 700 mile races, has meant these two magnificent trophies have had limited competition. So this season a decision was made to use them for the members and honorary members who were competing with the NFC in the Saintes race to enter two pigeons for these trophies, with the response from the membership being so much better than in the past.
The Saintes birds were liberated at 6am into a light north east wind changing to west north west in the UK. A total of 210 members of the National entered 1146 birds, with the first of the Circle members to record a pigeon being Roger Sutton. Roger's first of his nine entries won 1st section L 20th open with a well fancied 2y old hen well pooled picking up £253 on a velocity of 1100 flying 517 miles 752 yards. I understand the story behind this winning pigeon is, it was a Lancashire Social Circle exchange youngster from David Jones in 2024. But the story doesn't end there, the parents of this pigeon were again exchange pigeons from Brian Walsh in 2022, both raced well for David and have gone on to produce a number of winners for him. These two pigeons from Brian originated from the stock of R & B Smith from which Brian has had a number of pigeons over the years. This proves the exchange of youngsters have in many cases proved beneficial to both parties.
Brian Holland put up a very fine performance winning 1st section K 25th open flying 564 miles 1639 yards with a velocity of 1090, when he timed his cheq w/f cock one of his 3 entries in the race. This nominated pigeon wins the Wright Memorial Trophy for Brian, and I see from the race result of our last race this cracking 2y old cock was on that result when he was flying 445 miles. This brings the old bird season to an end and I look forward to seeing all the members at race marking on the 4th September for our young bird race from West Bay, which is being sponsored by Alan Jones from Liverpool. Alan wishes to sponsor this race as he feels his health and age is catching up on him and has asked the committee to make him an associate member that will enable him to attend all events even though he will not be racing pigeons. I am sure all members will extend their gratitude to Alan for his sponsorship of the young bird race, which Alan is delighted to do following all the many happy times he has experienced with Circle members and their guests over the many years of his membership.
Brian Dearn Tel. 07514 743391.
