MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
MIKE LAKIN
MNFC Y.B. Coutances
‘Flight Leader Leads Them Home’ For D & J Hawkins & Evans
When the convoy of 3,989 birds were released at 9.00am on the Sunday after a one day holdover due to adverse winds over the channel on the first day it was clear that though the wind’s strength had abated that the North North Westerly wind would still be a stern test for the MNFC’s young novice birds.
Once up into the midlands the wind swung around to a West South Westerly direction which would help the longer flyers especially those in the North Eastern area. This was to prove to be the case as leading the convoy home on 1295 was a young Blue Cock now known as ‘Flight Leader’ by his owners Dave & John Hawkins and Mark Evans. As is usually the case with most of the Midland National winners this boy is again bred in the purple being off a cock known as the ’42 Cock’ who previously won 1st section from Alencon and he in turn is a full brother to ‘Lord and Lady of the Rings’ who won 1st & 2nd in the 2004 Gold Ring race. ‘Crystal’ which won 1st section and 1st Open in the 2012 Yearling Classic from Picauville is also featured in the latest winner’s pedigree.
The partnership of John & David Hawkins & Mark Evans the winners of 1st National
The National winner’s dam was bred by Bill Hague and she has Gaby Vandenabeele’s ‘Bliksem’ lines. The partners tell me that this darkness reared bird was only lightly raced prior to the race and sent away sitting a pair of 2-3 day old babies and so was the lads favourite of their 3 bird entry and the £1600 in winnings amply proves this fact as he also wins the 2 bird Nominated race.
Close behind the winner we see Simon Parkinson of Crowle who clocked a Blue Pied cock on 1288. Simon’s bird is a cross bred bird the father being a Luc Christieans bird of the Lucas x Conny lines. This is a fairly new introduced family which Simon has brought in to cross with his Van Mechelen and Jochem-Van Hasselt birds that he has raced with great success for many years. This then is the first years breeding and Simon tells me that he is very impressed with how these offspring are performing.
The 2nd Open winner belonging to Crowle fancier Simon Parkinson
The dam of the 2nd open winner is one of his Jochem-van Hasselt pigeons. The basis of this particular bird is a mixture of Van Lint x Geerinckx families. In her first years breeding in 2015 she bred two birds to appear highly in the MNFC Ace Pigeon Competition and now in her second season a 2nd Open winner so the future looks very rosy for this bird. Simon is a real young bird specialist and uses the sliding door method with birds hatched in February and then put on the Darkness system until the middle of June.
It was nice to read what Simon says about the race ‘’ It was a tough day but my birds arrived home in really good condition. So then all credit to the Mid Nat for thinking of the birds and holding them until the Sunday. If they had been released on Saturday we would have experienced an absolute disaster. Some people really have short memories. The Midlands always puts the birds first which is why they are currently the best in the business at organising National races’’. Many thanks Sir I just hope that a few of our critics read your words as I couldn’t have put it more eloquently myself!
Another very successful Doncaster flyer fills the 3rd Open placing in the form of Micky Betts who timed a chequer hen on 1242. The breeding of this one is from a Peter Fox cock he being bred from a daughter of Asduif. Her dam is a direct Johan Donkers hen which Mick purchased a few years ago now and three of the four have bred winners .
Micky Betts 3rd Open on this occasion
The nest sister to Mick’s 3rd Open winner is the Betts best young bird this year and was the fourth bird that Mick clocked from Coutances. After what Mick described as a ‘tough race’ he has 13 out of his 18 home from this 310 miles race in two days.
In 4th North section and Open is Rob Fenwick who is also from Donny. Rob has been flying with great success in the MNFC for a number of years now with both Chris Howard and now flying solo. Rob’s bird which records 1229 is a Blue hen after her near 7 ½ hour flight.
The Fenwick family take 4th Open
Winning the North East section and taking 5th Open we see the Ripley team of Mr & Mrs M & J Gaunt & K Gaunt and try saying that lot after a couple of pints!. The family have only recently started racing to this new location and so the win is even more commendable. The bird is one from a crossing of their own house family x a hen from Dave Impett the marathon flyer. The bird was not an early bred bird but one put directly into the darkness loft flying back to his perch.
John Coxon is yet another excellent North section member who fills the 6th Open slot on 1226and the greedy beggar also follows it up with 8th Open also on 1225. The birds that take these are a cock and hen and are both Chequers but I have no other details I’m afraid.
Johnny Coxon the winner of 6th and 8th Open Monty Buxton up with the winners once again
7th Open and 2nd North East section is filled by a fancier who has had plenty of success over the years with the MNFC in fact I believe he has topped the section on no less than 8 occasions. The bird that has performed for Monty Buxton this time is a mixture of Marike Vink crossed with Peter Fox’s ‘Drum’ lines and with a little bit of Lindaluif blood for good measure. Monty’s young birds are kept separated and only allowed together before basketing time to provide the motivation. It’s nice to see one of the workers in the form of John Burtoft well to the fore in 9th Open place. John as locals will be well aware is the Officer in Charge of the large Skellow marking station. His velocity is 1224 with a second arrival in 13th Open slot .Well done John. Another friend of mine in the form of Eric Burnett and his son Ashley take the 10Th place and 3rd NE section with a well fancied Blue hen that lifts a nice cheque for nearly £700 smackeroos.
Eric Burdett & Son 3rd NE sec & 10th Open - Rich Turner of the Turner & Pallatt team who had a superb race with their first two arrivals - My mate Jos Mee 2nd Open in the Gold Ring Race
This bird is a granddaughter of the partners hen that won them the Yearling Classic race a few years ago and an ETS and £1450. This hen was coupled to a bird off Richard Turner which won the Derbyshire Fed on 2 occasions and received a RPRA sprint award for his efforts. The mother of the hen is a Derek Wilson of Cuckney blood line. This hen has performed most consistently appearing on the fed result on no less than 5 occasions. Also she took £310 in the NMCC a week or two before her national result. 4th 5th 6th and 8th NE section is filled by the partnership of Turner & Pallatt and there is little doubt that this loft can make the feathers fly. Their first arrival is a Dean Pallatt Van Lint cock bred down from ‘Attire’ blood that was sent sitting 10 days on eggs. Richard thinks that the 6th section winner will feature very highly in the NE Ace young bird result and is also a Pallatt based bird out of ‘Mysterious Lady’ lines. I would also like to mention here my friend Jos Mee he didn’t finish in the top 4 places of the section but he did snaffle up 2nd place in the Gold ring race and a nice prize of over £726 so get the cheque cashed and bring a wad of it to the dinner Jos because I’m very thirsty!!
An outstanding bird belonging to Arnold & Johnson which wins the West section and fills 17th Open to my mind is a super performance and definitely befitting of her win in the Gold Ring race. The velocity of 1213 is a wonderful performance on the day. In fact there are several other good birds in the same section and great credit to them all. Lets look a little closer to the Gold ring winner which in total won over £1350 for her efforts. She is bred from stock off the partners good friend Stuart Knowles from Widnes. She is a Lindlauf x with the Arrien Verreckt blood. The lads have been racing with the Lindlaufs for ten years but the Verreckt birds are from stock loaned to the partners by Stuart. Well done boys a super performance to be proud of! In 2nd W section we see another grand performance by a young chequer cock belonging to Devine & Kelly who hail from Liverpool. The velocity of 1195 and winning 23rd Open showers further credit on this little battler. Another bird that had obviously had her ‘Tom Tom’ fitted is a Blue hen racing to the loft of Dickie & son Richard Spring of Kirkby which records 1190 for 24th Open place. Richard informs me that this bird is from a Willy Thas cock from their pal Terry Kirman and a hen off Michel Janssens which has Inbrecht origins in her pedigree. Derek Hurst of Birkenhead takes the 4th W section placing with a young cock off John Henwood. Derek introduced young birds off Morris & Booker via John and they flew very well earlier in the year. Mr Henwood sent the 4th section winner over to Derek with another YB to try and it looks like they are birds well worth their perch. Derek tells me that he clocked a further 3 birds that are raced on the sliding door system on the day.
Look at this little beauty 3rd W section. Richard Spring with a budding fancier perhaps? Derek Hurst 4th W section
Over to the other side of the country now where Mr & Mrs David Robinson of Cottingham win the East North East section with a young hen that was sitting on 3 day old eggs. David who is a vet who due to work restraints only has the time to race with young birds explained that he races in co-operative with his near neighbour Graham Howman who breeds David a team of young birds for Mr & Mrs Robinson to race and at the end of the season the young cocks that are considered to be the best go back to Graham to break and race on the widowerhood system. The birds are put on the darkness system until the middle of June then the lights go on. After the first three races the cocks are separated and only loft trained until the Thursday when they return and can ‘party’ until basketing. After the longest club race which is two weeks prior to the MNFC’s final race the birds are allowed together and some that pair and lay are then entered in the Coutances National race. The section topper looks like an outstanding pigeon as she has won her local club and scored on two other occasions. She is a Jos Thone x Pouw Brothers bred pigeon. Having a super race and winning 2nd 4th 5th & 6th section is filled by a loft that is often amongst the leaders and this loft belongs to Paul & Helen Johnson of Burton Pitsea who timed their first bird a young hen that is the same way bred as their hen that topped the section from Carentan 2 years ago. It is off their Hughie Jackson cock and a John Rawson hen that have bred winners every year and it was flying a distance of 335 miles to record 1184 which is 6 yards behind the section winner. Their second bird another hen was bred from Stuart Ward stock being of Van de Merwe x M & D Evans breeding.3rd section is taken by the well known loft of Mr & Mrs Kerry Mellonby who clocked a velocity of 1160 with a young W/F hen. Kerry told me that he sent 10 clocked 3 on the day and got another 4 early next day which is very creditable when you consider that Brid is over 350 miles from Coutances. Tony Meek is also up with the leaders when he clocked a young vandenabeele hen sent racing to eggs.
Paul & Helen Johnson who took 2,4,5& 6th in the ENE section brilliant flying - Kerry Mellonby 3rd section this time in the ENE - Tony Meek with the pace setters in the ENE section
News is very scarce from the East section which is a great shame because the Grimsby loft od Ward & Winchester had a great race taking both 1st & 2nd places with a Blue hen taking the £150 section prize and the second timer a chequer cock on 1185 just 4 yards behind their first arrival. Jon Walker of Scunthorpe lays claim to the 3rd place when he clocked a Dark Chequer hen on 1171. Close on her heels is the 4th section winner belonging to Barton on Humber fancier M Cook who clocked young hen on 1164. So come on folks get the info and a picture to me and I will in turn give you the credit that you deserve.
The North West section sees the 3nd open place in the Gold Ring race go to A & S Hughes of Rochdale along with the 1st section win. A cheque for £641 will shortly be heading up to the Dale for the performance by their chequer hen that records 1180. Right behind the Hughes’s is Bill Turnock of Buglawton which is near to ‘Bear Town’ which is Congleton one if not the last town’s to forbid bear baiting. Anyway back on track Bill’s bird is a young hen that has simply looked a class act after being on the darkness system as she moulted out so well. She has flown the season with credit and was Bill’s first timer from Chale and finished in 24th section. She also went to the North Staffs 4 Bird Classic and though a little behind looked immaculate on her return so it was decided to send her back to Coutances where she clocked 1178 and wins her boss a nice little cheque. Her breeding is on the sire’s side a Van de Weyer from Roger Sutton and her grandsire was a good winner as a yearling despite being a poor trapper. As a 2 year old the bird won 12 section L in the NFC from Messac and 2nd NW section from Vire in the Mid Nat. The hen’s mother is bred from a good Camphuis cock with 2 NW Lancs fed wins on his CV x a Janssen from Keith Foulke of Derby which is off stock from Monty Buxton who you will note took 2nd section 7th Open in this race. Bill tells me that he feeds farm beans and green peas mixed with Vanrobaeys No1 and No3 mixes plus plenty of peanuts. No wonder you got her doing somersaults Bill. Cheadle’s Mick Brindley who is quite a young bird specialist takes 3rd section with a chequer hen that records a speed of 1171. We don’t have to move far to find the 4th section winner a dark cock belonging to Prince Brothers who have as readers will be aware have enjoyed a superb year in the MNFC. The bird was their favourite being in the 2 Bird Nom race after winning 2nd club the previous week from Portland. The bird I’m told is bred from stock acquired from J & D Staddon.
A & S Hughes 1st NW section 3rd Gold Ring - A happy Bill Turnock with his good hen 2nd NW section - Prince Brothers who have enjoyed a superb season
Switching over to the East South East section now and once again S & T McCurry showed the way home once again with another section win. This is the 3rd section victory of 2016 which is very impressive flying. The bird is once again the result of the McCurry house family which is the son of Alan Atkinson’s ‘Tele Savalas’ which Stewart bought from the Louella stud when crossed with the Soontjen based Lenson hen. As Stewart told me recently the first winners came directly from this base couple but now it is the children of the pair that are carrying on the good work. Alan Maile who holds an annual One Loft race in conjunction with the MNfC’s young bird programme fills the next three section places. His winning bird is called ‘Richie Rich’ and the bird won £1800 in the OLR and £200 with the MNFC. The bird contains the blood of ‘Valiant’ a superb North road racer for Mamwell Bros x a Marc Cappelle the famous Belgian sprint ace.
Stewart McCurry's base couple that have bred a dynasty of excellent national performance birds - Alan Maile who had a great race from Coutances
Heading a little to the West now to discuss the South East section where we see another young bird specialist in the form of Les Papp who timed a Blue hen of Busschaert x gaby Vandenabeele breeding record 1132 to take the 1st place. The hen was sent sitting 6 day old eggs after competing in just two club races prior to this event. This poses the question do birds need too many races before the big test? 2nd & 4th section is filled by the elusive Montila brothers. The first one being well fancied and will bring home a nice cheque for Robert & Peter. In 3rd & 5th section we find S & L Bowles who also appear to be ‘shrinking violets’. All I know is that both of their birds were Blue hens and they recorded 1066 and 1064 respectively. In addition I note that the loft clocked nearly 50% of their entry in this race and so a little info would have been much appreciated.
The South Centre Section is led by Johnny ‘Giblet’ Gilbert who is one of the workers for the Club though judging by his lack of info is unable to send me an email. John in fact takes 1st & 2nd in the race with a cock and hen on 1101 and 1095 respectively. Something of a dark horse is ‘our Giblet’ but a fine worker for the Midlands National without a doubt. 3rd section is taken by Mr & Mrs John Passey & Family who clocked a Blue hen which won the £2 Un-Limited nom with a velocity of 1086. Just one yard behind we see John Murphy who clocked a Murphy x O’Rourke bred Chequer hen less than a yard behind the 3rd placed pigeon.
Les Papp 1st SE section - John Murphy 4th SC section - Johnny (Giblet) & Dianne Gilbert 1st & 2nd SC section with another budding fancier - John Passey with the grandchildren 3rd SC section
Happily the fanciers from the South West Section have provided me with plenty of info so I’m not scratching around for the back ground information. In top spot we see Alan & Sue Butler clock a Blue Houfflijns hen bred of stock supplied by Robert Rome. This hen went also to Chale where she was their 4th arrival home. The partners tell me they got half of their entry home and one other reported in Heathrow perhaps it was planning to fly home?? 2nd section is won by Cannock fancier David James on 1118 with a Blue W/f hen. David tells me that he has only been flying for two years after taking over the birds of his grandfather Willenhall’s Walter Deeming. Results since have been quite encouraging for David and include a section win from Carentan in 2015 with the MNFC. David says the loft is made up of Van Elsackers and De Meyer birds but as his grandad was a cross breeder so it is simply ‘pot luck’ because they bred in open lofts. Well it seems to be working David. 3rd section is taken by a loft that has been flying at or near the top for many years is the loft of Dougie Nesbitt & Sons. The partners timed a Gold Ring pigeon to lift a total of £226 . The bird is bred from a full brother and sister mating off Jack Walker. The parents are cross breds from a grandson of M & D Evans ‘Eisenhower’ x a granddaughter of the famous ‘Drum’. These two birds have individualkly bred birds to win over £2000 and the hen is dam of the partners 1st section in the MCC from Messac which has also won over £2000. 4th section is filled by Jonathan Hamphlett who clocked a bird bred off a cock supplied by G & C Cooper which in turn is bred down from their excellent racer/breeder ‘George’. While the dam is a hen acquired from the ‘champ’ himself Rugeley’s Janssen enthusiast Tony Bates. Jonathan tells me that the bird was prepared in races from Yeovil with the Wolverhampton fed and the MNFC Chale race.
Allan Butler of the A & S Butler partnership 1st SW section - David James 2nd SW section - Team Nesbitt 3rd SW section this time for this successful partnership
Young Charlie a member of the Leach partnership (or should that be partnersheep) who finished in 1st & 2nd NC section
Back up into North again now and this time the North Centre section where Adrian Leach of Leach Brothers tell me it was understandable a very tough race for this section. That said the Brothers first bird and section winner put up a very good result with a young grizzle cock that records a fine velocity of 1128 to finish in very creditable 95th Open position. When you look at his breeding you understand how the bird has ‘stick ability’ in spades as he was bred by good friends Walsh & Betts and is off their No1 Meerkirk cock which is now the sire of 10x 1st prizes. The dam is is 100% Miles Sunderland ‘Silver Shadow’ x Muller Jan Arden distance blood. The partners also fill 2nd section with a Les Green Kruger Cock x a daughter of Adrian super breeder ‘The 51 Hen’ which is one of the Leach Brothers most prolific breeding lines. 3rd slot is taken by Mick McGrath with a chequer hen on 665 while Leeds fanciers McCormick & Schofield take 4th section on 538 with a game Red cock bird.
Last but by no means least we move up to the North North West section where another of the star performers in the race emerges to the loft of B Sears of Haslingden who saw home his Blue cock that clocks up 1159 and a superb open placing of 50th position. In 2nd section are P & B Taylor with a speed of 1128 for the 338 mile journey. The bird was bred by John Devenney and purchased from a local breeder buyer sale the breeding is Hereman Ceusters x a grandson of ‘Drum’. The bird now named ‘Bob’ went to both MNFc races and from the Coutances races did his owners proud. 3rd section is taken by Paul Fisher & Son of Paulton and their Blue hen covered the distance in 9 hrs 15 mins to record a velocity of 1073. In 4th section we have cross bred bird bred from a cock off Micky Collins which contains the bloodlines of Jos Cools and Dirk Van Den Bulck x a hen from Scotland’s Mick McMurchie. The bird had previously shown his ability by winning the local federation from Nantwich against 929 birds for R & S Mott.
Brian Sears 1st section in the NNW - Emily Taylor shows off her dad's 2nd NNW section winner - 4th NNW section for R & S Mott
That wraps up yet another season which has certainly been far from a good one for pigeon racing but the Midlands National has coped as well and often better than its competitors and so provided her members with the best that it as it has been possible under so many trying conditions but because pigeon men are an optimistic breed we look for better things in 2017.
If you have won a section race in any of our seven races then I would advise that there is a handsome trophy awaiting your collection at the forth coming Presentation to be once again held in conjunction with the Old Comrades Annual Show at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday the 12th November. A full list of trophy winners including the Ace Pigeon winners and Average winners will be in the papers in a few days. So my advice is to turn to page 107 of the 2016 Handbook and get your bookings in for the presentation and booking for hotel accommodation because there are only a limited number of rooms available. If you come along I guarantee that you will enjoy a grand night in good winning company.
Mike Lakin