Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Combine

The Rat Man Reports

The second race for the organisation was from Lemans in mid France famous for its racing car stadium the liberation site is on the overspill carpark at the lemans racing track stadium. This race also fell in the same week as of 75 years since the famous world changing D-day Second World War landings so as respect the race was named the D-day landings race in respect for all who battled in the battle and to those who lost their lives fighting this terrible war so the birds and fanciers played their part in respect and remembrance. The pigeon transporters were also applied with giant poppies and soldier logos to the front and rear of the lorries and logo sprayed on a few race creates for this race and event. The convoyers report by willy Ward, Thursday evening after all birds were marked and loaded the three transporters met at Markham Vale services on the M1 so the feeder transporter could load the baskets on the main two large transporters from the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire federations to be united with the Yorkshire federations on the two transporters for the final race and journey. After all were loaded final checks on creates and the lorries were carried out with all being correct and well the journey began to Portsmouth docks. On arrival in the early hours at Portsmouth the lights were switched on inside the transporters and fresh water applied for all birds to drink, once all drinkers were full and level the lights were switched off to allow the birds rest. Friday morning at 0730am it’s time to board the ferry all water is drained away from all drinkers and the two transporters safely boarded on the ferry. On arrival to Caen port the transporters are off loaded from the ferry to a secure compound and the birds watered again and also fed with the countrywide premium mix once all birds fed and watered both birds and drivers can rest after the legal rest period the journey to Lemans begins on arrival at 6.50pm the transporters are levelled at the race point and fresh water applied to all birds. Saturday morning the day of the race saw a clear day in Lemans but very high gusts of winds on the coastline and in the channel all day so the decision by the convoyers and the race committee was to hold over as Sunday predicted the winds to go and more sunshine on the cards for the race. Saturday afternoon and 3pm all drinkers were drained, and fresh clean water reapplied before all the birds were given a refeed of countrywide corn. Sunday morning was bright warm ,clear and sunny with a clear calm channel and a clear line of flight in place it was time to get the D-day race underway with 14 organisations sending 3,775 birds that were liberated on Sunday the 9th of June at 06.30am into a variable wind . All baskets inspected after liberation then water drained off and the lorries sprayed with Vercon S biocide then the journey home begins. To the top 20 positioned lofts now The winner of the combine and also claiming 16th combine is the partnership of Alan Atkinson and Scott Grayson of Herringthorpe Rotherham and also flying in the Barnsley and District Federation (little Barnsley fed known to most) they win the combine and the Barnsley federation with a 1y blue pied hen flown on the widowhood system this hen has also won the mid Yorkshire combine and was sent to the Yorkshire Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire’s first combine race from Falaise this season and achieved 29th open combine Alan informs me she as a young bird as of all their young birds are raced the full programme and are sent to the young bird Carentan race were she was sent to As a young bird she is of the Rene Vander Weyer strain were her parents originate from the late Alan Douglas of Rotherham were Alan purchased these direct in Belgium x with a gift pigeon from their late friend Lenny Frail of Rotherham who regularly gifted birds to try and race to Alan and Scott the hens winning velocity is 1368 flying 380 miles their second pigeon also a widowhood hen to finish 16th combine is a 2y dark hen which is a Peter Vander Meyer strain originating from Darren Peters of Sleaford line birds and was again gifted by the late Lenny Frail to the partnership. 2nd combine is S Speight and Son of Morley Leeds who fly in the Dewsbury federation were they achieved 1st Dewsbury federation and 1st Morley FC in this race the partnership consists of Mark Speight and his late father Stan but now Marks son in law has taken up racing pigeons Danny Moon who plays a major part in the partnership so the and son is now continued their winning bird is a 2y blue widowhood  cock which is a Gabby Vandenabeele X Rob Conney stock from Normanton this cock also was sent to the combines first Falaise race prior to being sent to Lemans were he achieved 2nd club 5th Dewsbury Federation .The partnership would like to thank Rob Conney for guidance and of their obtained birds they flew 403 miles on 1367. 3rd and 14th combine is Mr and Mrs Dora Andrews of Royston Barnsley who is flying her socks off and is a lady fancier who at the moment is the Queen of the skies flying 392 miles on 1365 and 1353 also claiming 2nd Barnsley federation 4th combine is Paul Fletcher of Shirland  Derbyshire who flies in the North Derbyshire federation were Paul achieved 1st North Derbyshire Federation and 1st Shirland FC  flying 359 miles on 1364 the bird is a 2y mealy cock flown on roundabout system and this being his 3rd flown channel race in 3 consecutive weeks sent. Paul only set up with pigeons again 5years ago and this cocks parents were kindly gifted late Bred birds his mother from Rob Pearson of Kilburn Derby and his father Clive Yates of Tamworth Paul informs me he had to collect this cock twice from lofts as a young bird and even now Paul says he never exercises at home around the loft 5 minutes fly he’s finished all the time and in 3weeks this cock has won Paul £1500 with the combine position and fed Lemans win plus other wins he has also achieved 55th open MNFC and a 1st Derbyshire 2bird Club  511 mile race 24th open north Midlands Continental Club Saintes and won the north Midlands 2bird challenge averages plus trophy and plus the main nom winning bird. Paul works long hours as a taxi driver so the birds are mainly hopper fed Bucktons high protein corn and chicken growers pellets for simplicity and high protein and fats Paul in his 5years has achieved some very impressive results that need mentioning for a small courtyard garden set up in the National flying and specialist clubs 2nd open North Midlands Continental Club Saintes 2016 and 1st section 13th open national flying club yb 2016 plus many North Derbyshire federation positions and wins and national section positions well done Paul for what very short limited time you have available. 5th combine is Jackson Brothers of Castleford who fly in the Normanton federation were they also win the Normanton federations race with a 2y natural flown broken pigeon flying to eggs in the nest as of a young bird it was bred and raced the full young bird programme including Coutances with the National flying club at John Booths loft of Castleford the partnership was a few cocks short so John kindly gifted the bird to them this blue cocks full sister won the combines race last year for John from Carentan he is of German family of birds called Schloemers he flew 399 miles on 1364 6th combine is Dean Poxton of Grimesthorpe Barnsley flying 390 miles on 1360 with a 2y dark chequer hen flown on the roundabout system she also claims 3rd Barnsley federation she is of Michael Van Lint birds and originates from Nick Barron of Norwich birds obtained. 7th combine is Weston and cox of the Stocksbridge Federation who top the federation as well this is a 4y blue White flight hen flown on widowhood flying 380 miles on 1357.13she is the brother and sister to six other birds in the race team that have all won and claimed federation wins and positions these fellow siblings have won the partnership 2 x RPRA Derbyshire and South Yorkshire Region awards they are all of Herman Cuesters from Maiden and O’Connor of Cheshire X Steve Gilbert of Burnley Wildesmersch 8th combine is D and A Green of the Central Derbyshire federation flying 362 miles on 1357 9th combine is Stevenson Merriman and son of the central Derbyshire federation flying 362 miles on 1355 10th combine is J and N Beal of the Normanton federation who also claim 2nd Normanton federation on 1354 flying 392 miles 11th combine is Mr & Mrs Dennis Underwood of the Normanton federation with their Ronnie Evans of Sunderland channel flying family of birds flying 399 miles on 1353 to also claim 3rd Normanton federation 12th combine is S Barnett of the Derbyshire federation flying 385 miles on 1353.37 13th combine is D Hughes of the Derbyshire federation flying 387 miles on 1353 15th combine is Harry Jackson of Camblesforth Selby also flying and winning the Central Yorkshire Federation with a 2y blue hen flown on the roundabout system she is a Frans Zwols pigeon bred down from Eagle Boy , Dutch Prince and De Diamant lines and she has previously scored positions over the channel last year as a 1y old she flew 398 miles on 1352 17th combine is John Castello and Family of the West Yorkshire Federation who also win this federations race flying 400 miles doing 1351.69 18th combine is C Redfern and Sons of the North Derbyshire federation flying 360 miles on 1351 and claiming 2nd North Derbyshire federation 19th combine is Rod Smith and Son of Dronfield in the North Derbyshire federation with a 4y blue hen flown on natural being sent sitting nest eggs for 10days she also wins their local club and this is her third channel race win she is a Staff Van Reet x Gabby Vandenabeele flying 373 miles on 1351 20th combine is the partnership of Handley and Thornton of Hipperholne West Yorkshire also flying in the West Yorkshire Federation to claim 2nd federation she is a 2y chequer Irish rung hen sent on the roundabout system and was bred by the partnerships close friend Joe Ward of Belfast she is a Herman Cuesters X Gabby Vandenabeele and has achieved numerous wins and positions for the partnership she flew 401 miles doing 1350. Well there you have the top twenty in a big competitive combine folks...

The Rat Man.

Harry Jackson

S Speigh & Son

Transporters