“The Original” Around The Up North Combine

By Good Corn

 

On Saturday 30th June the Up North Combine was at Maidstone for the second Inland National race of the 2018 old bird season, we were scheduled to go to Eastbourne (2) National but after much discussion regarding the Eastbourne National at the UNC Finance Committee meeting held on Thursday 17th May. It was proposed by one of the Federations in writing and endorsed by the committee that Federations be given the chance to vote as to where they would like to go for the second National i.e. Eastbourne or Maidstone Lakes, due to the volatile weather conditions. The voting by each Federation to forwarded to the UNC Secretary within the next 21days. With the voting in it came out 17 Feds to 6 to go to Maidstone. I have to say that I don't agree with the change of race points, simply because I'm one of the members that believes what's passed at the AGM should be left at that. I know a lot of members will disagree with me but that wont change my mind on my way of thinking, the race programme was set out and it should have been left at that. But come the proposals for the AGM I would vote for Maidstone due to it being more inland than Eastbourne, this giving a better chance of a liberation away from the sea fret/ mist/fog. The start of the racing season should have also being left as it was instead of voting on putting racing back a week due to the very poor weather we had at the time, by doing this there was a very big jump in distance from the second to third race of 100 miles and then into the Eastbourne (1) National for the fourth race. That must have done a lot of damage to the birds by jumping the birds like they did with the fourth race being from 269 miles to the shortage flying lofts. Was this the cause of suffering such a bad Eastbourne National race? where a great number of lofts suffered big losses, but will we learn from this?

Chief Convoyer Peter Maw liberated the Maidstone convoy of 11,782 birds at 7.50am flying into a light North-East wind, which was going to hold the birds up a bit. Starting with the Teesside Federation where the Billingham T U H/S loft of Steve “Wilber” Wilson gate-crashed the party after timing no fewer than three of his 15 entries to win a most  impressive 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club, 1st, 5th, 8th Fed out of 378 birds with vels of 1366, 1335, 1311. With pole position being won by a blue 2015 late bred hen having her seventh race and going onto score a brilliant 2nd Section 5 and 6th Up North Combine. The chart topping hens sire is a son of the world famous “Drum”, while her dam is a daughter of Dolf Bakker & son Rudd “Valtalas” with the Netherlands duo's pigeons being Gerald Koopman. The blue card was awarded to a 2y chequer hen who chalked up 183rd UNC, with her sire being a son of Steve's, Bakker & son bloodlines and her dam is a daughter of “Dutch Master”. The green card was chalked up by a 2y blue hen again of Dolf Bakker & son Rudd bloodlines, while the dam is bred down from “Hannibal” bloodlines. Steve has obtained the very best of Dolf & Rudd's very highly rated family. Steve enjoyed a fantastic race from Maidstone but his success did not end there for the lad also had a great result in the Stockton & District who fly in the Great Yorkshire Amalgamation (GYA), where he won 1st, 3rd, 4th Club out of Reed from a distance 186 miles. With the red card winner being off his blue cock that has chalked a few times in Billingham T U H/S where he has gone onto score a number of times in the Fed and also winning more than his share in the Fed Nom. While the dam of the winner is Steve's Maidstone Federation winner, the winner was the first ever youngster bred out of this pair.

Steve “Wilber” Wilson of Billingham TU H/S the winner of 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club, 1st, 5th, 8th Teesside

Federation, 6th and 183rd Up North Combine Maidstone National, holding his 1st Club, 1st Fed, 2nd

Section, 6th UNC Maidstone National winning 3y blue hen from a convoy of 11,782 birds.

Steve who has won 4 x 1st Clubs in the GYA Club so far this season, has also seen him netting a few times in Billingham T U H/S where he took 5th Club, 9th Fed out of the Eastbourne National with a 2016 bred chequer hen. The following week when the birds were at Oakham (1) Steve timed his trusted blue cock to lift 5th Club, 7th Fed and also winning the Fed Nom. Steve was in the frame for the third consecutive race at the first channel race Burbure where he timed a fancied 2y chequer hen to pot 3rd Club, 5th Fed, 2nd £5 Fed pools pocketing £35 and 33rd UNC when there were 10,633 birds away. Moving onto Oakham (2) where Steve had a couple of birds on the clock and moving closer to the top to lift 2nd and 7th Club, with the blue card being awarded to a 2y chequer hen that potted a very nice 4th Fed and his second timer was a yearling blue hen who claimed 11th Fed. Steve was among them again at Chelmsford (2) where he clocked a 2y chequer hen to notch up 5th Club, 7th Fed. I'm really pleased with Steve's Maidstone National Federation win for the lad is a trier who has gone out to obtain the very best, I'm sure Steve will kick on from his outstanding Maidstone National performance. I would like to thank Steve for his time and giving me a chance to handle his top fettle birds and wish him more success in his future racing. It was good to see Robert Barron at Steve's loft who got there just after I arrived, we both came without a pen lol. I have known Robert and his brother Tommy for a great number of years, since working on the Olefins 6 Cracker Plant on the Wilton ICI Redcar Site.

Ali “Mac” McLeod timed a single bird to lift 4th Club, 12th Fed on 1303.6, with Mac's yellow card potter being a 2y blue Vandenabeele hen who netted a nice 3rd Club, 3rd Fed out of Oakham (1) when she was beaten by a loftmate that notched up a notable 2nd Club, 2nd Fed. The hen who also chalked up an impressive 2nd Club, 3rd Fed, 22nd UNC Burbure 2 (sub Roye) from a convoy of 4,051 birds, is a daughter of a cock who is a grandson of  “The Young Couple”, while her dam is out of Mac's very highly successful old Minderhoud family that have churned out numerous of Club, Federation and Section winners since their introduction. Tommy Clark & son Gary timed a 4y blue pied hen on 1297 for 14th Fed, she notched up 6th Club, 6th Fed out of Huntingdon.

Records sales have hit an all-time high at Haverton Hill after pop duo McFadden & Whitehead's hit song “Ain't No Stoppin Us Now” has been constantly being played at the loft of Andrew “Jappa”  Appleton & Paul “Skunky” Longstaff's loft. For the inform lads pumped up the volume once again by knocking out another first class team performance, after timing no fewer than four of their eleven entries to win a top notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 17th Fed with vels of 1352, 1351, 1334, 1289.5. Topping the Club charts for the duo who are knocking out top winning performances after top winning performances was a yearling blue Vandenabeele hen bred by Ali McLeod that took 4th Club Newark before winning a belting 1st Club. 4th Fed, 1st £5 Fed pools netting £60 and 110th UNC from the Eastbourne National. And then followed that up by taking 2nd Club, 6th Fed out of Oakham (3) when beaten by five seconds by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 5th Fed.

The red card winning well-fancied hen who went onto win 1st Fed Nom, 1st £5 Fed pools banking £60 and a well-earned 35th UNC is a son of Mac's double 1st Teesside Federation winning cock, while the chart toppers dam is the previous winner of 1st Club, 1st Fed, 21st UNC Bourges for Mac in 2017 when only 37 birds were recorded in race time when there were 1,795 birds competing. The blue card was chalked up by a well-fancied 1y blue hen who was timed 15 seconds after her winning loftmate, with her going onto lift 2nd £5 Fed pools pocketing £30 and netting a notable 40th UNC. Andrew & Paul's third timer was another well-fancied yearling, only this time a cock who claims 3rd £5 Fed pools netting £15 and 117th Combine. Skunky's just flipped his second favourite pop disc to Abba's number three hit “Money, Money, Money”, and clocked their fourth timer a, 2017 bred blue hen to round off a top class team performance.

Paul Gatley, Bob Harrod & son Dale are in 4th spot with the lads yellow card potter being a yearling blue hen doing 1324 for 6th Fed. Stuart “Lewie” Lewis, Amber & Cody McCabe had a couple of their entries on the clock to take 5th Club, 10th Fed with a 2y blue hen on 1306, and 6th Club, 16th Fed with a 3y blue hen knocking out a vel of 1289.8.

Haverton Hill's Paul Gatley of Gatley, Bob Harrod & son Dale scorers of 4th Club, 6th Fed

Maidstone National, with Middlesbrough H/S Ste Wheatley of the late Wyn Cole, Wheatley &

grandson Connor potting 3rd Club, 11th Fed Maidstone National.

The Middlesbrough H/S partnership of the late Les Wellburn & sons Les & Derek clocked two birds to win 1st and 5th Club with the red card being won by a 2017 bred blue hen achieving 1319 which was enough to pocket 7th Fed, while Les & Derek's second timer was a 2y blue hen racking up a vel of 1283 for 18th Fed. Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley had two birds in the frame to chalk up 2nd and 4th Club, 9th and 13th Fed with a 2y blue cock doing 1310 and a yearling blue pied hen making 1303,5. Stephen & Jeanann were split by the loft of the late Wyn Cole, Ste Wheatley & grandson Connor who timed one of their three entries, a yearling blue hen doing 1303.9 to net 3rd Club, 11th Fed. While the loft of Keith Hodge & Dennis Potter clocked a yearling blue cock doing 1284 for 20th Fed.

Young Guns Leon Kime & Kenzley Read are enjoying an outstanding season at the Beechwood & Easterside with them knocking out another winning performance, the the two youngsters chart topper being a yearling chequer hen achieving a top vel of 1293 to go onto score a nice 15th Fed. Club Secretary Derek Gibson & Burnip are in 2nd position with the blue card being awarded to a 2017 bred blue hen making 1285 for 19th Fed.

Now onto the East Cleveland Federation where the Brotton H/S loft of Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners timed three 2y and a 4y to win 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Club with the red card winner recording a top vel of 1319 which was enough to win an outstanding 1st Fed from a 62 members entry of 1,006 birds. The blue card scorer knocked up a vel of 1283 for 9th Fed and the lads third and fourth  timers who touched down together made 1261. Mr & Mrs Golly “Graham” & Linda Peirson & Tubby “Graham” Purver and helpers Evo “Ian” Everington & Frankie Rolands had a trio of birds on the clock to chalk up 3rd, 4th, 5th Club, with their green card potting yearling making 1278 for 18th Fed. The yellow card claiming 2y is the previous scorer of 4th Club Oakham (3) when competing in the Brotton Six Bird Club, while third on the clock was a yearling.

The loft of Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor Mitchell have taken Skelton Green by storm the past couple of weeks and they have done it again in fantastic style after timing no fewer than five of their squad to win a brilliant 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Club, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 11th, 21st Fed with vels of 1311, 1291, 1281 (2), 1268 with the first four being yearlings and their fifth timer was a 2y. The lads fancied blue card scorer takes 3rd £2 Fed Nom pocketing £30.40, 2nd Loftus Championship Club picking up £30, 2nd Sponsorship claiming £48 and winning the £100.00 Nomination. Their money spinner is netting for the third inland race running after taking 2nd Club, 9th Fed Chelmsford (2) when beating by two seconds by a loftmate that chalked up 1st Club, 8th Fed when there were 1,131 birds away. The following week when the birds were at Oakham (3) 2nd Club, 6th Fed was taken when beaten by a loftmate that touched down together to win 1st Club, 5th Fed out of an entry of 1,330 birds. 6th Club was notched up the late Peter Winspear & son Derek and his son Mark with a yearling.

David Coates returned to his winning ways at Boosbeck which brought a half smile back to his face after timing two yearlings to win 1st and 2nd Club. With the red card winner achieving a vel of 1330 which was enough to score a notable 4th Fed; David's blue card potter is the previous scorer of 1st Club, 8th Fed Chelmsford (1) this season when there were 2,189 birds competing.

Ian Stafford & Mark Wilson takes 1st, 2nd, 3rd Club, 5th, 6th, 7th Fed at Skinningrove with vels of 1299.0, 1298.2, 1298.1 with their second timer taking 2nd £2 Fed Nom lifting £45.60, 1st Loftus Championship Club winning £50 and 1st Sponsorship banking another £80.  B & K Simpson are in 2nd spot with Brian & Keith's yellow card potter being a yearling Louis Cooreman hen bred by good friend Bob Fenech of Norfolk fame knocking out a vel of 1280.7 to pot 12th Fed. Tich Richards & Alice Marsay timed a yearling doing 1274 to lift 16th Fed, 3rd Loftus Championship Club taking £20 and 3rd Sponsorship netting another £32, with Tich and granddaughter Alice timer being the previous potter of 3rd Club, 3rd Fed Oakham (2) this season when there was 1,330 birds away. Mike Prokopowicz & son Lee clocked a yearling doing 1268 for 18th Fed.

Moving onto Marske & New Marske where we see the partnership of the late Jack Brown & Tony Hunt fill a couple of chambers to win 1st and 2nd Club to record  life long member of the sport Tony fifth win of the old bird season. With pole position being won by a yearling blue Dirk Seppers widowhood cock achieving a top vel of 1275 which was enough score 15th Fed, the chart topping cock is starting to take a liking to Oakham for he already has a 1st and 4th Club from that race point this season. The blue card was awarded to another blue Dirk Seppers widowhood cock only this time it was a 2y making 1266 to notch up 22nd Fed, the cock who won 1st Club, 13th Fed, 2nd £2 Fed Nom pocketing £39.60 out of the 2017 Rivenhall National from an entry of 891 birds, is chalking for the second time this year for he netted 2nd Club from Oakham (2). Tony is enjoying a good season with his small team of widowhood cocks with his Eastbourne National red card winner chalking up a nice 11th Fed, 100th UNC from a convoy of 18,454 birds. The following week when the birds were at Oakham (1) Tony won an impressive 1st Club, 4th Fed when there were 1,606 birds competing, and Tony's third consecutive red card winner was chalked up at Worksop when 13th Fed was netted when there was 987 birds away. Win number four of the old bird season was achieved at Chelmsford (2) when his chart topper went onto pocket 13th Fed again. Jimmy Reed has shown some form the previous few races and he is in the frame again after clocking a couple of his entries to lift 3rd and 4th Club, with the green card going to a 2016 bred chequer roundabout cock who is out of a son of Tony Hunt's “SED Cock”. Jimmy's second timer was a 2y blue roundabout hen of former Bourges ace flyer Brian Maude of Redcar fame. Martin Hogarth had a sitting 3 days 2y chequer hen out of his own stock in the clock to lift 5th Club, with the hen being in the frame two weeks ago out of Chelmsford (2) where she chalked up 2nd Club.

The Brotton Six Bird Club partnership of Frank & Brenda Reilly & son Wayne recorded their third straight win with their red card winner being a 2y achieving 1270 to lift 17th Fed, the winner is the previous potter of 6th Club Huntingdon when beaten by two loftmate that netted 3rd and 4th Club. Frank, Brenda & Wayne's first of their hat-trick of wins came at Oakham (3) when their 1st Club Brotton H/S, 1st Fed Chelmsford (1) winner out of 2,189 birds claimed 13th Fed when there was 1,330 birds away. On the same day the trio won 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 25th UNC Bourges from a convoy of 1,360 birds.

Next stop is Staithes where Club Secretary Deano Ward timed two birds to win 1st and 6th Club; while Derek “Golly” Foster had no fewer than four of his squad on the clock to lift 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Club.

Moving onto the Tees Valley Federation where the Portrack partnership of Hayes Bros, Keith, Graham & Colin timed a 2y chequer cock recording a top vel of 1342 to win a most impressive 1st Club, 1st Fed out of an entry of 489 birds. Lister Bros Craig & Gary and the late Iky Walker had a couple of their team on the clock to win 1st and 3rd Club at the Hardwick, with their well out in front red card winning yearling chequer cock achieving a top vel of 1340 which was enough to score an impressive 2nd Fed. Craig & Gary’s green card potter knocked out a vel of 1289. Chris Barron timed two birds to take 2nd and 5th Club on 1296 and 1273; while the son and father partnership of David & Ian Wallas netted 4th Club on 1274 and they were followed by Freddy Lancaster in 6th place on 1272. The inform Stockton West End partnership of Stephen Bousfield & sons Mark & Stephen racked up another win after timing their 2016 bred chequer cock recording a vel of 1337 to win a top notch 1st Club, 3rd Fed and 100th UNC. The winning cock is no stranger in the clock for he now has 2 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd, 2 x 4th Clubs to his credit including other position in the first 10 in the Club and Fed positions.

Brothers Stephen & Mark Bousfield of Stephen Bousfield & sons of Stockton West End, holding

their 1st Club, 10th Tees Valley Federation Chelmsford (1) and 1st Club, 3rd Fed, 100th Up North

Combine Maidstone National winning 2y chequer cocks.

 

Right that's me done for this week, 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.