“The Original” Around The Up North Combine

B & K Simpson Club and Federation Old Bird Inland Average Winners

By Good Corn

   After poor weather conditions at the race point and on route early doors the East Cleveland Federation 46 members entry of 850 birds were liberated at 9.50hrs from Oakham (4) the final old bird inland race on Saturday 13th July flying into a light north wind. A number of members were looking for the first arrivals at around the 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes mark for the 130 miles fly but the birds took longer with the first timers taking just over 3 hours. Former fancier Bill Heslop of Brotton and chairman of the East Cleveland Federation has been coming to our loft to watch the birds in for a number of weeks now, Bill can not believe we are hardly seeing any race birds running trough despite which direction the wind is blowing. For the past 4 to 5 races was have only seen a handful of birds running through Loftus and Liverton Mines and only the odd batch on the coast, for some unknown reason the birds are taking a different route with a majority of the birds coming from out the back. Returns this week were very good for the fanciers at the bottom end of the Combine.

     Stafford & Wilson of Skinningrove timed a couple of birds to win 1st and 4th Club, 1st and 8th Fed on 1261 and 1252. The loft of B & K Simpson timed no fewer than four of their inform widowhood team to score 2nd, 3rd, 5th Club, 2nd, 7th, 10th, 14th Fed on 1260, 1253, 1242, 1240. With brothers Brian & Keith's blue card potter being a 2y chequer Dirk Van Den Bulck  hen bred by good friend Bob Fenech of Norfolk fame, the blue card scoring hen who won 1st Club, 4th Fed Bubwith as a young bird has netted a couple of times before this season after taking 10th Fed Huntingdon (2) when beaten by a loftmate that pocketed 3rd Club, 3rd Federation. The hen also claimed 4th Club, 9th  Fed Chelmsford (1) when she was beaten by her loftmate that took 2nd Club, 7th Federation. The green card was awarded to a Bob Fenech bred yearling Dirk Van Den Bulck hen and she was followed by a 2018 bred chequer Louis Cooreman hen the previous winner of 1st Club, 7th Fed Folkestone (1) National when there was 1,041 birds competing and 2nd Club, 3rd Fed Oakham (3) out of 1,350 birds this season. The hen is a daughter of a cock from the brothers one-time number one stock pair “Cavendish” a direct Louis Cooreman when paired to “449 Hen” bred by Bob Fenech and a winner on the road, the pair bred numerous Club winners including Federation winners when paired to different partners. The dam of the hen was purchased for stock from Les Stevens of the famous “Tractor Boys” of Kent fame. Fourth on the clock came a 1y chequer Dirk Van Den Bulck cock bred by Bob Fenech, to round off a notable team performance for Brian & Keith the winners of both the Club and Federation old bird inland averages this season. Sayers Bros Dave, the late Kenny & Brian notch up 12th Fed with a 3y on 1241. While the loft of Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee clocked a 1y bred by Brian Clennan on 1239 for 16th Fed, with the duo's timer being the previous potter of 19th Fed Roye when beaten by two loftmates that won 1st and 3rd Club, 5th and 13th Fed when the winner went onto net 98th UNC out of 6,476 birds.      

   1, Keith & Brian Simpson of B & K Simpson Skinningrove H/S, winners of the Club and East  

       Cleveland Federation Old Bird Inland Averages. Can you tell which of the lads birds flew the 

       best? 

   The winning run continues for the Skelton Green partnership of Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell after the lads timed their inform 2017 bred Van Loon cock racking up a vel of 1257.7 to win 1st Club, 4th Federation. The cock has flown outstandingly this season after taking 2nd Club, 5th Fed out of Newark Show Ground when he was beaten by his loftmate who won a cracking 1st Club, 3rd Fed. The cock was in the frame for the second time at Oakham (1) where 4th Club was netted beaten by two loftmates that won 1st and 3rd Club. The cock hit winning form from the Folkestone (1) National where he won 1st Club, 3rd Fed and then he took 3rd Club, 16th Fed, 201st UNC Ypres when beaten by a couple of loftmates that won 1st and 2nd Club, 7th and 10th Fed, 82nd and 110th UNC from a convoy of 12,043 birds. The cock was in the points again  from Chelmsford (2) where he claimed 3rd Club, 5th Fed when he was beaten by two loftmates who won 1st and 2nd Club, 3rd and 4th Federation; and last week he chalked up 2nd Club 4th Fed when beaten by a loftmate who won 1st Club, 1st Fed Newark Cattle Mart (2). The lads are runners/up old bird inland Federation average. The full Club result will be in my next report.

   W & S Ward enjoyed another good race at the Brotton 6 Bird Club timing three of their squad to win a top notch 1st, 2nd, 4th Club, 5th, 6th Fed with vels of 1557.7 and 1554. While Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore potted 3rd Club with their green card scoring making 1235 for 20th Federation. Again the full Club result will be in my next report.

   Harris Bros Eric & Ian and his son Ian “Shot Gun Kelly” are enjoying some late season form at Loftus where the lads record their second win on the bounce from a 11 members entry of 425 birds. With top spot being won by a 2016 bred chequer roundabout hen recording a chart-topping vel of 1258 which was enough to chalk up a top-notch 3rd Federation. The winning hen is the previous winner of a cracking 1st Club, 4th Fed, 73rd UNC Burbure (2) in 2017 from a convoy of 10,689 birds, the chequer hen also won 1st Club, 5th Fed in this seasons North of England Homing Union Brighton Centenary Race and she has also netted other minor positions along the way. The winning hens sire is a Louis Cooreman who was purchased from Doncaster, while her dam is a Karel Boeckx from former Clubmate the late David Thorpe. The winning hen who topped the Club charts by just under three minutes, half sister has flown the best for Eric, Ian & Shot Gun Kelly this year after winning 1st Club, 6th Fed Newark Cattle Mart (2) the previous race and has also chalked up other minor Club and Fed positions this season.    

    2, Harris Bros & Son of Loftus, chequer Karel Boeckx hen winner of 1st Club, 3rd East Cleveland

Federation Oakham (4).

   Terry Callan was the out in front winner at Brotton H/S with Terry's winner being a yearling racking up a winning vel of 1249 to go onto lift a very nice 9th Federation. Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners are in 2nd position with a yearling on 1240.9. While Mick Smithies the previous weeks 1st Club, 9th Fed winner has a couple of his entries in the frame to pocket 3rd and 5th Club with the green card lifter doing 1235 for 19th Fed. W & S Ward clocked a yearling to lift 4th Club, with the yellow card potter being a Leo Heremans hen who won 1st Club, 13th Fed Oakham (1) in Brotton H/S and 1st Club, 12th Fed Chelmsford (1) in the Brotton 6 Bird Club this season. Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson Tubby “Graham” Purver and the most helpful Evo “Ian” Everington & Frankie Roland picked up 1pt after timing a blue hen to notch up 6th Club, the blue hen is the previous winner of 2 x 1st and 2 x 2nd Clubs plus other minor positions.

   Onto Boosbeck where Ian “Knocker” Brown timed a couple of birds to win 1st and 2nd Club with the red card winner being a yearling Van Ockel cock knocking up a winning vel of 1229 for 30th Fed. The blue card was awarded to a 2y Janssen cock making 1228.5. David “Ralf” Coates and his little helper Craig Clapton are in 3rd spot with the duo's green card potting 3y Busschaert cock doing 1228.4. 

   Moving onto the Teesside Federation where their entry of 211 birds were up and away at 9.30hrs for the 131 to 134 miles fly with the first timer taking just under 3 hours 35 minutes. Starting at Billingham T U H/S where Ali “Mac” McLeod timed five of his squad to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,  5th, 6th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 14th, 20th Fed on 1238.6, 1238.4, 1211, 1201, 1193, 1177. With top spot being won by a 2018 bred blue Vandenabeele hen who won 1st Club, 18th Fed Huntingdon (2), she also has a 3rd Club, 6th Fed Chelmsford (1) when beaten by her loftmate who netted 2nd Club, 5th Fed to her credit this season. The twice winning hen is out of Mac's good racer the previous winner of 9th and 51st UNC Lillers and other good positions, the cock who is now breeding the goods at stock is son of a hen who is the daughter of the famous “Jester” and “Carrie” when paired to Mac's number 1 cock the sire, grand/sire & great/grand/sire of all of the lads big winners at UNC level. While the dam of the chart-topping blue hen is off Ali's number 1 Koen Minderhoud who is the mother of the loft. The blue card was netted by a 2y blue hen who was timed two seconds after the winner, with the Vandenabeele hen who won 1st Club, 1st Fed Chelmsford (1) last year and chalking 11th Fed Chelmsford (2) beaten by five loftmates, 3rd Club, 8th Fed, 97th UNC  Roye beaten by two loftmates winning 1st and 2nd Club, 1st and  6th Fed, 1st and 70th UNC, 1st Queens Cup, and also taking 2nd Club, 13th Fed Huntingdon (1) this season when beaten by her loftmate who won 1st Club, 1st Federation. The hen is out of Ali's 3rd UNC Bronze Medal winner and full of the lads winning bloodlines that have helped him stay at the top for a number of years now.

   Third on the clock came the green card scoring yearling blue Vandenabeele hen who took 4th Club, 4th Fed out of Oakham (3) behind three loftmate winning 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Federation. The little hen is out of a cock who is the full brother to the sire of Mac's 1st UNC Gold Medal winning “Gaby Lou” and a sister to Ali's 2nd UNC Silver Medal winner and a brother to 7th UNC. The yellow card was awarded to a 1y blue Vandenabeele hen who has scored before including 2nd Club, 20th Fed Huntingdon beaten by a loftmate. She is out of a cock who is direct from Mac's number 1 breeding cock when paired to a hen who is direct Mark & Dicky Evans Koen 7 pair. Next came a 2018 bred blue pied Vandenabeele hen who notched up 6th Club, 6th Fed Oakham (3) behind five loftmates, with her being full sister to “Gaby Lou”. The blue hen is the previous winner of the Tees Valley Federation yearling breeder/buyer where she banked £175.00.

Mac's sixth and final timer was a yearling blue hen who won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 4th Section Huntingdon (1), with her sire being out of Ali's number 1 Koen Minderhoud hen from Mark & Dicky Evans and his number 1 Gaby cock from T Fowler who are grand/parents and great/grand/parents to 2 x 1st UNC Gold Medal winners, a 2nd UNC Silver Medal winner and  a 3rd UNC Bronze Medal winner and numerous more Club, Federation and Section winners. The dam is a granddaughter of the famous “Freddy” of Freddy Vandenheed.

   Andrew “Jappa” Appleton & Paul Longstaff returned to their winning ways at Haverton Hill with the lads chart-topper being a 2y blue hen racking up a winning vel of 1211 to win the 25p Club pool netting £10.71 and going onto claim 7th Federation. Paul Gatley, Graham Harrod & son Dale timed a couple of yearling blue hen on 1209.5 and 1182 to chalk up 2nd and 5th Club, 8th and 17th Fed. While Stuart “Lewie” Lewis, Amber & Coby McCabe also had a couple of birds in the frame to pocket 3rd and 4th Club with the green card going to a 2018 bred chequer hen doing 1209.3 to net 9th Fed. While Lewie, Amber & Coby's yellow card scorer was a 1y blue cock making 1184 to notch up 16th Federation.

   I have added a photo of Keith Arkless, Hayden Simpson, Bill Dowey & Steve Rowe, the team are responsible for laying out the table and chairs, stetting up the baskets, printers and ringer for all the Up North Combine races for the East Cleveland Federation throughout the season. Well done and thank you lads for giving up your time.  

   3,  Keith Arkless, Hayden Simpson, Bill Dowey & Steve Rowe, the East Cleveland Federation 

        basket team for the UNC races.

   That's my last old bird inland race of the season. Any news to Good Corn 6 Boulby Drive Loftus Saltburn Cleveland TS13 4JN. Tel: 01287 643624 or Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.