Mike O’Hare Memorial Race - 18-09-26

Mike O’Hare Memorial Race.

The Late Mike O’Hare’s wife Rita presented money to be used by the clubs in Middlewich in whatever way they think best. The decision was made to split the money between the new marking headquarters and the last race of the season. Mike was a long-time member and supporter of the local clubs and was always there to give a hand where possible. Over a period of years along with partner Ron Woodward, they were one of the best racing lofts in the Mid Cheshire area. Not only were they op in the club they were also prominent racers in the Nationals. The photos were taken at a special event for the Mike O’Hare award. I wasn’t there so I have little knowledge of how the event went on. However if our excellent club and fed secretary, Lesley Moss had anything to do with it then things will have gone well.

Since starting back racing in 2023 for young bird racing, I was more than happy with things going well, in fact even better than that. However, as we know when things are going as per plan something always comes along and spoils everything. In our case we had two races early in 2026 where the birds were marked and instead of pressing the correct button that did not happen. An error on marking night was made by the clock setter who pressed the wrong button and we were disqualified, let me make it clear the error did not upset me, after all we all make mistakes at some point in our lives. In normal life the precedent is set and that was covered when the same thing happened in a National race to Ethan down in the southeast corner, as is often the case that's another story. 

It's surprising how much you learn when something goes wrong and you discuss the issue with fanciers from far and wide to get their views. Apparently, this has happened with other fanciers experiencing the same issue. I spoke to the chief at Benzing who supplied the clocking list of my birds timed from the race, but this was not accepted for my M3 Series Benzing. A point that will no doubt be raised is that there were two clocking in my clock because Ebony had her own pigeons and at different points in the early part of the season we both were disqualified in different races. I did have a lengthy conversation with Benzing Agent Jim Savage who could not understand why we lost the positions in the race under clock setter errors. Billy and I are fine, we have had a sit down and talked and shook hands. He is a real good worker for the club and always doing something.

The upshot being that I stopped racing for the rest of the season. I love racing the pigeons and all sorts of things were going through my mind to the extent it made me ill and I ended up in hospital, might sound a bit far to you but that's what happened and how much the pigeons mean to me, and I'm still on medication. Going back to Ebony her days of racing pigeons are over, and she has resigned from the club meaning one more member less no matter how little she has been with the pigeons with being at Edge Hill University for 3yrs. That spell is over now, and she has moved back to Middlewich, possibly in the house where the pigeons are housed.

All that upset has now finished, and we can now move on. To me and probably many others this has highlighted the fact that with the Benzing M3 Series, clock setters need to keep an eye of which button to press. It was suggested that I did my own clock but as always after being a long time official of organisations I don't think anyone should set or strike their own clock. I have set plenty of clocks over the years but never my own.

Did I miss racing during this period of being stubborn, of course I did, that's why I have had pigeons for over 70yrs, even though I did have a short break from racing. I even had 7 of my Bamford's Gold Rings left for this season, that was a waste of money that turned out to be. Even though I said that the race is always well supported and worth a go, who knows what next year will bring in this race.

Do I think it has done them any harm not racing the young birds’, no I don't because one of my best seasons ever saw the young bird's left at home all season and I got a good team of yearlings out of them. On the other hand, from what I have heard there have been some real disasters during the young bird season which has been highlighted by the number of young birds entered in the races. I hear that some of the One Loft Races have had races that have seen few returns on the day from the final races. Don't get me wrong, my young birds have had some good training, and I have also lost a few along the way. Come next year I will more than likely lose a few in those early races just like the fanciers who have raced there as young birds. In one young bird trainer I had one where I took them to 25ml toss and was waiting all day for them after a 6am liberation. After a couple of days, I ended up with 26, so I am happy with them. I bought a pair on the Elimar auction site from Neil Hopkins because the original buyer dropped out. They were a bit strong on the wing, but I persevered with them before letting them out and was impressed with the way they settled. I don't like picking them out, but I do like the Grizzle cock of the pair in every way, his brain is in the right place, always thinking and looking for his place in the old bird loft.  The nestmate is a blue pied went missing for 4 weeks until I walked round the corner one day to see him sitting on the trap waiting to go in. From handling him I can see that he has been looking after himself or might have even been in a loft locked up. For some reason I think he has been looking after himself, it's the way he handles and looks in the loft.

What's going to happen now, that's the big question, at least I have the winter months to think about it. Something I have already started on because I have already started with a reduction from 122 to 78 birds in the lofts. Still looking but got to the stage now where they are pigeons that I am sure can be used in the stock loft. Yes, in the stock loft where I have already reduced and still housing 5 too many, something will have to give.

Les Parkinson.