Established 1979 Company Number: 11693988 VAT Registration Number: 284 0522 13 +44 (0)1606 836036 +44 (0)7871 701585 elimarpigeons@gmail.com

L J Parkinson 14-08-18

Parkinson. LJ

As we sat down in the garden later in the evening after the Nantwich show I gave my good friend of many years Bobby Walton a call which I do from time to time. I was a bit surprised when Bob started telling me that he has decided to leave the sport because he has lost most of his interest in racing pigeons due to circumstances. These last few years have not been good to Bob and as he said it is time to get rid of the birds while they can do others some good, they are a genuinely good team of pigeons. Anyone who knows Bob will tell you how good a fancier he has been for many years, in fact as long as I can remember. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I think Bob is the biggest winner from the mighty Vanroadeys race that was so successful for many years. He still has a real good team of pigeons that bred him so many winners and therefore there will be winners in the loft. We shall have to see what happens in the coming weeks after he has put his house up for sale. He did say that it would be nice to see a pigeon fancier buy the house because he has a cracking set up and the garden is a pleasure to be in especially with the weather that we have experienced this year. Plus, there are a good range of lofts at the bottom of the garden that could be a great asset for any pigeon fancier. Bob has been one of the top racing fanciers in the Midlands from club to National racing during which time he has been one of the most competitive fanciers you would come across. Knowing Bob, I do understand why he is calling it a day because if he cannot put 100% in then he would rather not compete at all. If I find out any further details on the sale I will let you know, these pigeons will be of interest to many fanciers. I did ask Bob how many he had and after the conversation I could see that there will be some sorting out first because from what I can gather Bob works on the basis that not all pigeons are good enough and that is a fact.

 

Talking about good fanciers I was talking to Mark Gilbert about his racing this year and he tells me he has won 6 x 1sts Nationals this year and 27 in total plus a couple that he should have had. The reason I asked Mark about these performances was because we had just come back from Belgium and had been talking to a fancier about wins. I was saying that if Mark had been racing in Belgium and winning as he has here he would now be the world’s biggest superstar in pigeon racing. Yes, we know Mark sends big teams to some races but like all good fanciers most of those are being prepared for later races and therefore they are not all in it to win it. It’s the patience and correct preparation of pigeons that wins the most races and that is what Mark is good at. The world record for a pigeon I am told is over 300,000 euros but when you look at some of Mark’s pigeons he can match and beat them on quality breeding and performances, but he lives in the wrong country. I am currently in conversation with Nigel Langstaff who we know is a good fancier and he knows Mark very well and has been there for some of the races. Nigel was telling me that he has never seen anyone who is so fanatical about racing pigeons, he is unbelievable which is why he is so good at racing pigeons. Going back to numbers sent I was hearing about how many pigeons a few of the continentals send and they send far more than Mark. If you are competing in all the National and International races plus club, fed and Combine and expect to win you need a good team of pigeons behind you.

 

Racing the young birds is moving up a gear with the local federations having a good increase for the latest race from Cheltenham. The Middlewich FC were in this race when the red card plus 3rd went to Anthony Evans who is getting them going, in this race they recorded vels of 1233/1168ypm being split by DJ&CJ Wilkinson in second position on 1201ypm.

 

In the Acton Bridge club, they were on their first race of the season when they had 280 birds liberated at Cheltenham into a north west wind. The first 4 positions all went to the ever-present partnership of Curtis-Wall-Lunt firstly with a chequer cock son of "Hercules" a top racer winner of 9 x 1st plus 1st Combine and breeder of combine winners including “Donna 100” winner of 1st combine 5,802 birds and dam of the excellent winner “Arena 02” an RPRA Sprint Award winner. 1st combine 5,464 birds, so breeding does not come much better. 2nd is a blue cock being a son of "Playfull" another top racer and breeder cross “Tara” dam of combine winners. 3rd is a blue cock a direct son of “Fredrick" a prominent breeder. 4th is a blue hen granddaughter of the famous “Box 9 Pair” responsible for generations of winners. These 4 also took the top four positions in the Fed with vels of 1324.3/1324.2/1323.8/1323.0ypm. The above clubs were racing with the Mid Cheshire Fed where 52 members sent 1360 birds to Cheltenham where they were liberated at 8.45am in a North West wind. As mentioned above the team of Curtiss-Wall-Lunt took the top 4 positions. Other club winners are Kingsway G Hanagan. Rudheath Dave Pritchard. Crewe Premier Mick Stockton taking the top 3 places. Earlstown R & B Smith. Wrinehill A Hughes. Middlewich Anthony Evans. Leigh where Simon Kennedy takes the top 3. Tyldesley R&D Gaskell who also take the top 3 positions.

The next race for the Middlewich FC was from Mangotsfield when hard working Mark & Heather Smith topped the list recording a vel of 1609ypm. Anthony Evans keeps up his top positions with a2nd on 1599ypm ahead of DJ&CJ Wilkinson on 1589ypm.

 

The next race for the Acton Bridge club was Mangotsfield when 5 sent 197 birds, this would have been a good send for the club had all the usual members sent, but we know what happens at this time of the year. The first three went to Steve Carroll with vels of 1691 (2)/1690ypm. 4th goes to Geoff Bebbington who has been waiting for them to top the 100ml mark and now they have he comes up the list with a vel of 1665ypm. Geoff is pleased because this is his first nom bird in the club and comes from the lines of Kannibaal/Daniel Arras/Drum so good breeding all round.

 

Dave Beeston has sent me the first 4 in the Wrinehill club with the same fed where the top 3 positions all go to A Hughes with vels of 1532 /1507/1501ypm. 4th goes to D Everill recording a vel of 1287ypm.

The above three clubs were racing with the Mid Cheshire Fed when 59 members sent 1104 birds that were liberated at 8.30am in a light south west wind. The fed was topped by W&P Brown racing in the Earlstown club. Dave Pritchard keeps on winning in the Rudheath club taking another red card while Mr & Mrs carl Rowledge do the same in the Crewe Premier. Simon Kennedy does it again in the Leigh club taking the top three positions. That leaves Tyldesley where WJ Bradbury topped the list.

The Middlewich 5B were also at Cheltenham but not out until 9.15am which must have affected them because the fed was just over 100ypm behind the other fed from the same race point with this club another further 100yds behind. Ted Carson topped the list and was also 4th on 1097/1023ypm. Alan Woodcock came in between recording vels of 1082/1080ypm.

 

The club were liberated with the South West Cheshire fed when 50 members sent 920 birds liberated at 9.15am in a Light north wind. The fed was topped by Hankelow winner Graham Davies. Other club winners are Miss S & T Soper with the Crewe West End. Mick Stockton continues his good run over at Greenbank while J Thornley tops the Moulton list with H Bratt & Son Mel doing likewise at Winsford. 

The next race for the Middlewich 5B was from Bath when 5 sent 46 that saw Alan Woodcock collect another red card and also 3rd on 1593/1581ypm. Jimmy Smith is 2nd recording a vel of 1584ypm with 4th going to Mark & Heather Smith recording a vel of 1580ypm.

 

In the South West Cheshire Fed race from Bath 44 sent 636 birds liberated at 9am in a light south west wind. Top spot in the fed goes to Miss S & T Soper racing with the Crewe West End with the remaining club winners being, Mick Stockton who took the first 4 in the Greenbank club. Frank Speed at Hankelow. Dave Pritchard over at Moulton while K Bell wins at Winsford.

 

Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ. 01606836036 Mobile 07871701585. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. web site www.elimarpigeons.com This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.