“The Original” Around The Up North Combine
By Good Corn
Saturday 15th September saw the Teesside Federation entry of 436 birds liberated from Chelmsford at 8.10hrs flying into a light South-West wind. The Billingham T U H/S loft of Colin Atkinson is showing some outstanding young bird form this season for the lad timed a couple of birds to win a top-notch 1st Club, 1st and 16th Fed to record his third Club and Federation win of the season so far. With pole position being won by a blue hen achieving a chart-topping vel of 1532 to win 1st £5 Fed Rings for the second consecutive race, with the winning hen scoring for the second race running after chalking up a notable 2nd Club, 5th Fed Huntingdon. Colin who won 1st Club, 1st Fed Pontefract (1) and 1st Club, 1st Fed Worksop (2) second timer was a blue cock doing 1466.2. Colin who also won 1st Section, 4th North of England Homing Union Futurity Race from young bird Reed winning a pocket busting £1,328.92 in pools and prize money, timed a later bred youngster by Terry Elliott & John Watson of Gateshead to lift 3rd Tees Valley Federation and Teesside Federation breeder/buyer on 1430 to bank £150.00 each. Its good to see the partnership of Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins in the frame again after timing two of their entries to lift 2nd and 6th Club, with the blue card going to a well-fancied home-bred blue hen doing 1501 to chalk up 5th Fed, 1st Fed Nom, 2nd £5 Fed Rings and a brilliant 1st Tees Valley Federation and Teesside Federation breeder/buyer winning the £700.00 prize money. Brian & Keith's second timer was a blue cock doing 1466.3 for 15th Fed with the cock being the previous scorer of 15th Fed Oakham. Ali “Mac” McLeod had six of his squad on the clock to net 3rd and 4th Club, 9th, 10th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Fed. Mac's green card scorer was a direct Evans & Hawkins blue hen doing 1478 and she was followed by the yellow card potting chequer Vandenabeele cock on 1470, with the cock having the same dam as Ali's good racer “630” while the sire is full brother to the lads 1st UNC Burbure Gold Medal winning “Gaby Lou”. Third and fourth on the clock was a blue cock and a blue pied hen that touched down together to achieve 1466.1 and five second later came a chequer cock and a blue cock that hit the pad together on 1465.6. Tommy Clark & son Gary clocked a red cock making 1468.0 to notch up 5th Club, 13th Fed.
The Middlesbrough H/S partnership of the late Wyn Cole, Ste Wheatley & grandson Connor have really gone to town this week after timing no fewer than four of their team to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Club. With Ste & Connor's red card winning chequer hen who recorded a top vel of 1522 going onto score 2nd Fed. The blue card was awarded to a blue cock achieving 1511 for 4th Fed while the yellow card potter was a blue pied hen making 1485 to net 7th Fed, and fourth on the clock came a blue hen racking up a vel of 1480 for 8th Fed to round off a very impressive team performance for Ste & Connor. Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley kept it in the family by taking the remaining two positions by lifting 3rd and 6th Club with the green card going to a blue hen on 1491 to claim 6th Fed, and she was followed by a second blue hen doing 1469 for 11th Fed.
Moving onto Haverton Hill where Andrew “Jappa” Appleton & Paul “Skunky” Longstaff returned to their winning ways after timing a trio of youngsters to win 1st, 3rd and 4th Club to record their third young bird win of the season after winning 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 7th, 8th, 9th and 12th Fed Pontefract (1), and followed that up a week later by winning 1st, 2nd and 4th Club, 5th, 7th and 17th Fed Worksop (2). This weeks chart-topper was a Ali “Mac” McLeod Vandenabeele blue cock achieving 1468.1 for 12th Fed, with the cock being out of Mac's 1st Club, 1st Fed, 21st UNC Bourges winning hen in 2017 and also half sister to Jappa & Skunky's this years 1st Club, 1st Fed, 3rd UNC Burbure (1) Bronze Medal winner out of an entry of 10,633 birds. The duo's green card potter was a Ali “ Mac” McLeod Vandenabeele blue hen x Ian Stafford hen, and she was followed by the yellow card scoring blue Ali “ Mac” McLeod Vandenabeele hen to round a a cracking winning performance. Skunky not only returns from Bennidorm he also returns to the money after timing a Tees Valley Federation & Teesside Federation breeder/buyer bred by McMillan & Grossland to lift 2nd to bank £250.00 each. The loft Stuart Lewis, Coby & Amber McCabe gate-crashed the party to claim 2nd Club, 14th Fed with a blue hen racking up a vel of 1466.6, while Paul Gatley, Bob Harrod & son Dale notched up 5th Club.
Ali “Mac” McLeod of Billingham T U H/S holding his 1st Club, 2nd Teesside Federation, 1st Hardwick Breeder/Buyer,
97th UNC Maidstone National winner.
The loft of Lythe & Warwick timed one of their 15 entries to win 1st Club at the Beechwood & Easterside with Al & Kenny's well out in front red card winning blue cock recording a chart-topping vel of 1516 to go onto score an impressive 3rd Fed. Derek Gibson & Burnip are among them again after timing no less than four birds to chalk up a notable 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th Club. M Donnelly clocked one of his entries in between Derek's second and third timer to pot 4th Club.
The East Cleveland Federation 52 members convoy of 1,177 birds were on their way at 8.30hrs, Stafford & Wilson win 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club and Fed at Skinningrove on 1267 and 1266.6 (x2) with Sayers Bros taking 4th Club and Fed on 1557 and they were followed by Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee doing 1547 to net 5th Club, 6th Fed; the duo timed a couple of later birds to notch up 19th and 20th Fed on 1490 and 1484. The partnership of Keith Wren & Margaret Stone timed a couple of their entries to lift a nice 8th and 13th Fed with first on the clock being a mealy hen bred by John Soderlund & John Maddison of South Shields doing 1544.2. Second on the clock for Keith & Margaret was a chequer cock bred by Terry Elliott & John Watson of Gateshead. The loft of the late Gordon “Shang” Peirson MBE & sons Sack & Jim and loft helpers Trevor McConnell & son Bobby clocked a blue Van Den Bulck cock bred by Stuart Watson of South Bank to net 12th Fed on 1512.
Dave “Rooster” Storr is taking some knocking off his perch at Brotton H/S for the inform “The Rooster Booster” records a hat-trick of wins after winning 1st Club by 8 minutes, with the chart-topping youngster achieving a vel of 1554 which was enough to score a very nice 5th Fed. The red card winner is chalking for the second time after netting 2nd Club, 12th Fed Worksop (1). Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners timed a couple of their team to lift 2nd and 3rd Club, 16th and 21st Fed on 1497.8 and 1482. With Reg & Ray's green card scorer being the previous potter of 3rd Club, 14th Fed Oakham. Frank & Brenda Reilly & son Wayne are in 4th spot with the yellow card claiming youngster knocking out a vel of 1481 for 25th Fed. Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson, Tubby Purver and loft helpers Evo Everington & Frankie Rolands pocket 5th Club, 26th Fed on 1481. Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore notch up 6th Club, 30th Fed on 1479.
Frank Reilly holding the 1st Club Brotton H/S, 8th East Cleveland Federation, 24th UNC Maidstone National winner, while Brenda is holding the 1st Brotton Six Bird Club, 1st East Cleveland Federation, 1st Section, 1st Up North Combine Maidstone National winner.
Frank & Brenda Reilly, son Wayne and loft helper Peter Marshall timed a couple of babies to win 1st and 3rd Club at the Brotton Six Bird Club with the red card winner being a Heremans Ceusters achieving a top vel of 1497.8 to chalk up 17th Fed. Close behind came Mr & Mrs Bob & Barbara Moore who netted 2nd Club, 18th Fed on 1497.1.
The Skelton Green loft of Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell returned to their winning ways after timing no fewer than three birds to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club to rack up their third young bird win of the season. The lads pole position winner that topped the Club charts by 4 minutes racked up a vel of 1498.4 to lift 15th Fed, while the blue and green card lifters touched down together to achieve 1474. The partnership of the late Peter Winspear & son Derek and his son Mark timed three of their inform entries in the space of 11 seconds to notch up 4th, 5th and 6th Club.
Jimmy Reed achieves his second win on the bounce at Marske & New Marske to record his fourth young bird win of the campaign, with Jimmy's red card winner being a flying to the perch blue chequer Gaby Vandenabeele x Brown & Hunt hen. The partnership of the late Jack Brown & Tony Hunt filled a couple of chambers to lift 2nd and 3rd Club with Tony's blue card potter being a mealy Van Osch hen sitting 17-days. The green card was awarded to a blue hen feeding a 9-day old youngster, with the hen being a granddaughter of Tony's “SED Cock” x Dirk Seppers. The loft of Paul Longstaff, Geoff Moore & Ron Mackay timed a couple of birds to pocket 4th and 5th Club with the yellow card claiming blue hen being from Wade & Hogg of West Auckland. While Paul, Geoff & Ron's second timer was a chequer Heremans Ceusters hen from Anth Moore of Guisborough.
Moving onto Staithes where Chris “Strongbow” Cooke timed a couple of birds to win 1st and 5th Club to achieve his second win on the trot and record his fifth win from seven races. The red card winner that topped the Club charts by 4 minutes was a red Francois Leys x Armand Van Looy cock that is the previous scorer of 3rd Club Worksop (2) when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 20th Fed when there was 1,535 birds competing. This Francois Leys x Armand Van Looy pair have proved to have been successful for Chris for the red cock is now the third winner from the pair out of the four babies Chris has bred from them this year. The other youngsters off the pair have chalked up 1 x 3rd, 1 x 4th and 2 x 6th Clubs, which is not to be sniffed at. Second on the clock was a chequer pied hen blast from the past Stan Biss distance bloodlines. Deano Ward had four birds on the clock to pocket 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club, with Dean's blue and green potters being timed in the space of nine seconds.
After a two-day hold-over the Up North Combine convoy of 10,914 birds were liberated from the Maidstone National on Monday 24th September flying into a North-West wind. And what a brilliant race it turned out to be for the Brotton Six Bird Club loft of Frank & Brenda Reilly, son Wayne and loft helper Peter Marshall who timed a couple of birds to win an outstanding 1st and 2nd Club with the red card winning blue Louis Van Teelan hen bred out of birds obtained from Jimmy Richardson recording a top vel of 1314.2 to go onto win a earth-shattering 1st East Cleveland Federation from a 49 members entry of 887 birds, 1st Section 7 winning £148.62 prize money and 1st Up North Combine winning the “Jocker Mills Memorial Trophy”, the “Young Bird Cup” and a Combine Gold Medal. The winning blue hen was one of a number of later bred youngsters this year with her not thrown a flight. The partnerships blue card scorer was a red Louis Van Teelan who racked up a vel of 1233 went onto net 79th Combine with this being the youngsters second chalk after netting 3rd Club Chelmsford, and a third bird was timed to lift 5th Club. Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore chalked up 3rd Club while Dave Storr pocketed 4th Club.
Brenda Reilly holding the 1st Club Brotton H/S, 1st East Cleveland Federation Bubwith (3) winner.
Frank & Brenda Reilly, son Wayne and loft helper Peter Marshall day got even better after they also timed two of their Brotton H/S entries to win a brilliant 1st and 2nd Club, 8th and 9th Fed, 24th and 30th UNC with vels of 1256 and 1253. With the red card winning chequer Veenstra x Heremans Ceusters and the 1st UNC winning blue hen also winning the “Terry Craggs Memorial Trophy” for The Best Two Bird Performance with a average velocity of 1285.2 while their blue card scorer was a Heremans Ceusters to round of the partnerships best ever racing performance. Congratulations to Frank Brenda, Wayne & Peter on their 1st Up North Combine winning performance, in a season where they showed some promise with the old birds after winning 1st Club Brotton H/S, 1st Fed Chelmsford when there were 2,189 birds competing. And also winning 1st Brotton Six Bird Club, 2nd Fed, 25th UNC Bourges from a convoy of 1,360 birds when only 8 Federation birds and 71 Combine birds were recorded in the 3-day race time. Mr & Mrs Bob & Babs Moore are in 3rd spot with the duo's green card scoring youngster racking up a vel of 1248 to go onto lift 13th Fed, 42nd UNC; a second bird was timed to claim 5th Club, 110th Combine on 1227. Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson, Tubby Purver and loft helpers Evo & Frankie also clocked two babies to lift 4th and 6th Club with the yellow going to a blue cock doing 1228 for 106th UNC. The cock is out of Evo's 1st Up North Combine Gold Medal winning “Evo's Lad” when paired to a Koopman hen gift bird from Jack Corns who is a granddaughter off “Kliner Dirk”. Second on the clock was a blue pied Van Loon hen of Evo's 1st UNC winner.
Onto Skinningrove where Stafford & Wilson timed three birds to win 1st, 3rd and 4th Club, 2nd, 5th, and 7th Fed, 8th, 16th and 23rd UNC on 1277, 1263 and 1256.6. Brian “Brunks” Laity had a couple of his entries on the clock to lift 2nd Club, 3rd and 20th Fed, 13th and 64th UNC on 1264.7 and 1237.6. Keith Wren & Margaret Stone are in 5th spot with a chequer pied cock doing 1246.9 with the cock being bred by Terry Elliott of the Elliott & John Watson partnership from Gateshead for Margaret. Two later birds were timed to lift 67th and 157th UNC on 1236 and 1222. While Sayers Bros Dave, Kenny, Brian and helper Richard takes 18th Fed, 60th UNC on 1239 and they were followed by Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee who pots 19th Fed, 63rd UNC on 1237. Tich Richards & Alice Marsay notch up 181st UNC on 1218.
Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell timed no less than six birds to win a cracking 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th Club at Skelton Green with vels of 1264, 1250, 1249, 1246.9, 1225, 1223 to go onto score 4th, 11th, 12th, 15th Fed, 14th, 37th, 39th, 46th, 125th, 148th UNC. The late Peter Winspear & son Derek and his son Mark claimed 5th Club, 73rd UNC on 1234, while Des Williams and loft helper Roger Wall timed a fancied youngster doing 1210 to chalk up 2nd £2 Fed Nom pocketing £36.60.
Ian “Knocker” Brown timed a early bird at Boosbeck to win 1st Club, 10th Fed, 32nd UNC on 1252.
Next stop is Staithes where Deano Ward the 2018 1st North of England Homing Union Futurity Race winner timed thee birds to win 1st, 2nd and 4th Club. Chris “Strongbow” Cooke also had three of his entries in the frame to lift 3rd, 5th and 6th Club, with the green card being awarded to a red Francois Leys x the late Armand Van Looy cock who netted 3rd Club Worksop (2) and also won 1st Club Chelmsford the week before this race. Second on the clock was a blue Francois Leys x the late Armand Van Looy hen who is the previous winner of 1st Club Huntingdon; and she was followed by a blue hen who is bred out of direct Francois Leys stock with her being the previous winner of 1st Club, 4th Fed Worksop (1) when there were 1,650 birds competing.
Moving onto the Teesside Federation starting at Haverton Hill where the loft of Andrew “Jappa” Appleton & Paul “Skunky” Longstaff had three of their entries on the clock to win an outstanding 1st, 4th and 5th Club, 1st, 6th and 11th Fed out of an entry of 305 birds. With Jappa & Skunky's well-fancied pole position winner being the same Ali “ Mac” McLeod Vandenabeele blue cock that won 1st Club, 12th Fed the previous race out of Chelmsford. This week with a vel of 1230 the Federation winning cock went onto win the Fed Nom, 1st £5 Fed Pools banking £60.00 and 91st UNC. The lads yellow card potter racked up a vel of 1198 while their third timer achieved 1182.5. Stuart Lewis, Coby & Amber McCabe are in 2nd spot with the well-fancied blue card potter knocking out a vel of 1217 which was enough to lift 3rd Fed and 2nd £5 Fed Pools netting £30.00 and 196th UNC. The loft of Andrew Gatley, Bob Harrod & son Dean lifts 3rd Club, 5th Fed on 1204, the lads timed a later bird to lift 2nd £5 Fed Rings pocketing £50.00. Nathan Bonar had a couple of youngsters on the clock to claim 12th and 13th Fed on 1182.4 and 1179.
Ali “Mac” McLeod wins top spot at Billingham T U H/S after timing three birds to win 1st, 4th and 5th Club with the red card being won by a blue Vandenabeele hen doing 1229 to go onto score 2nd Fed, and 97th UNC. The winning hen who is full sister to Mac's 2017 1st Club, 1st Fed, 2nd Section 5th UNC young bird Maidstone National winner when there was 11,055 birds competing, has lined Mac's pockets to the tune of £1,840.00 after winning him 1st breeder & 1st buyer in the Hardwick, Stockton event. Mac's yellow card potter was a blue pied hen doing 1178 for 14th Fed and she was followed by a blue hen doing 1166 for 19th Fed which was enough to win 1st £5 Fed Rings and another £70.00 which will struggle to see the light of day again lol.
The Beechwood & Easterside partnership of the late Wyn Cole, Ste Wheatley & grandson Connor enjoyed a great clocking day after timing no fewer than six of their entries to win a top-notch 1st, 3rd and 4th Club, 4th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 18th and 19th Fed with vels of 1206, 1183, 1175, 1172, 1167 and 1164. With Ste & Connor's red card winner going onto lift 3rd £5 Fed Fed Pools netting £15.00 to round off a great team performance before setting off for a Turkish holiday in the sun. The late Les Wellburn & sons Les & Derek timed a couple of their natural youngsters to lift 2nd and 5th Club, 8th and 16th Fed on 1193 and 1174.
The final race of the 2018 racing season was held on Saturday 29th September when the Teesside Federation liberated 251 birds from Pontefract (2) at 8.50hrs flying into a South-West wind. The Haverton Hill partnership of Andrew “Jappa” Appleton & Paul “Skunky” Longstaff enjoyed their second Fed win on the belt with Jappa & Skunky's pole position Fed winner that racked up a top vel of 1811 being a grizzle cock out of their P & D Lofts Dirk Van Den Bulck x Pit Bull stock. The two lads timed a couple of later birds to notch up 11th and 12th Fed on 1765, 1760 to round off a fantastic season. Nathan Bonar the Worksop (3), Oakham and Huntingdon Fed winner had no less than five birds on the clock to chalk up a useful 2nd, 3rd and 4th Club, 7th, 8th, 9th, 13th and 17th Fed on 1776, 1775, 1774, 1746, 1701. Robbie Barron nets 5th Club, 10th Fed on 1766, while Stuart Lewis, Coby & Amber McCabe timed a trio of youngsters to claim 15th, 16th, 18th Fed on 1731, 1702, 1697.
Onto Billingham T U H/S where Colin Atkinson timed no fewer than six birds to win 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 19th Fed on 1809, 1803, 1802.6, 1802.2, 1799, 1696 with the well-fancied first timer winning the Fed Nom. Colin's top performances throughout the nine race program was rewarded by winning the Teesside Federation Young Bird Average, which was more than deserved.
Onto the Beechwood & Easterside where the partnership of Club Secretary Derek Gibson & Burnip enjoyed a cracking race by winning the first five Club positions with the red card winner recording 1741 to chalk up 14th Fed while the blue card potter achieved 1689 for 20th Fed to end the season on a high.
The East Cleveland Federation 31 members Bubwith (3) muster of 602 birds were up and away at 9.40hrs flying into a South-West wind that was going to see them hit high velocities. And the highest velocity on the day was achieved by the Brotton H/S loft of Frank & Brenda Reilly, son Wayne and helper Peter Marshall who timed no less than three birds to win a brilliant 1st, 4th and 6th Club, 1st and 17th Fed on 17631721, 1698. With pole position being won by the blue Veenstra x Heremans Ceusters that was 5th Club the previous race. Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners had a couple of birds in the frame to chalk up 2nd and 3rd Club, 8th and 14th Fed with vels of 1743 and 1726. Mr & Mrs Golly & Linda Peirson, Tubby Purver and loft helpers Evo & Frankie picked up two points by netting 5th Club.
Frank Reilly holding the 1st Brotton Six Bird Club, 16th East Cleveland Federation Bubwith (3) winner.
Sayers Bros Dave, Kenny, Brian and helper Richard hits top spot at Skinningrove with their red card winning youngsters knocking out a top vel of 1752 which was enough to score an impressive 2nd Fed. The lads timed a second bird doing 1730 to notch up 9th Fed. Stafford & Wilson takes 2nd, 4th, 5th Club, 3rd, 5th, 6th , 18th Fed on 1748.6, 1747.7, 1747.0, 1721.1. B & K Simpson pockets 3rd Club with Brian & Keith's green card potter being a darkened down flying to the perch blue pied Dirk Van Den Bulck hen bred out of Gary Hopkinson of Cheshire stock doing 1748.2 to net 4th Fed. Tich Richards & Alice Marsay notch up 7th Fed on 1744 while Brian “Brunks” Laity timed three birds to claim 10th, 19th, 20th Fed on 1729.8, 1719.5 (x2), with the first timer being the same youngster that scored 2nd Club, 3rd Fed, 13th UNC out of the previous weeks Maidstone National race.
Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and helper Trevor Mitchell recorded their third straight win at Skelton Green with the lads pole position winner racking up a top vel of 1729.3 to score 11th Fed. The partnership of the late Peter Winspear, son Derek and his his Mark enjoyed a good clocking day after timing no fewer than five of their squad to lift 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Club, 12th, 13th, 15th Fed on 1727.6, 1727.0, 1724.
The Brotton Six Bird Club loft of Frank & Brenda Reilly, son Wayne and Peter Marshall are not letting anything get past them after timing a couple of their entries to win a top notch 1st and 2nd Club, 16th and 28th Fed on 1722 and 1713. With the red card being won by the chequer Veenstra x Heremans Ceusters that won 3rd Club, 12th Fed Bubwith (2) and 1st Club Brotton H/S, 8th Fed, 24th UNC Maidstone National. W & S Ward are in 3rd spot with Bill and grandson Shaun green card potter doing 1706.
Chris Cooke was the only member to send at Staithes with his first one home being the blue hen direct from Francois Leys stock that won 1st Club, 4th Fed Worksop (1) and 6th Club out of the Maidstone National. Second home was chequer w/f Franz Fran x Francois Leys who won 5th Club Bubwith (1), 1st Club, 20th Fed Worksop (1) and 6th Club Maidstone. Next came a blue Franz Fran x Francois Leys hen who was followed by a Francois Leys x the late Armand Van Looy hen hen who is the previous winner of 1st Club Huntingdon and 5th Club Maidstone. The next bird home was a red cock that netted 6th Club Oakham and is nestmate to the fourth bird home, and then came a chequer Francois Leys x the late Armand Van Looy hen the winner of 1st Club, 15th Fed Bubwith (1), 4th Club Worksop (2), 6th Club Huntingdon. With the hen being the nestmate to the red cock who won 3rd Club Worksop (2), 1st Club Chelmsford and 3rd Club Maidstone National. Out of the 20 young birds raced Chris has won scored 15 Club and Federation positions this young bird season.
That's me finally done for the 2018 racing reports, thanks to the fanciers who have supplied info throughout the season as without you the reports would not be possible. With that I will sign off until next time, I'm sure I will have plenty to go on through the winter months. 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.