MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
MIKE LAKIN
MNFC ‘Poppy Appeal’ Ancenis
‘Bill’ Does the Job for Hobbs & Son
The third race of the 2016 season was flown on schedule for a change on the 2nd of July when 3,923 birds were liberated at 6.30am into a West South Westerly breeze. With the influence of a fresh West wind on the channel it was generally accepted that the Eastern sections would benefit from the conditions on the day this proved to be the case but as will be revealed in this report there was several excellent performances put up by Westerly section members and their pigeons. Considering the difficult racing prior to the event the entry of just under 4,000 birds was reasonable though this reduced figure obviously affected the size of the prize pot.
Troy Hobbs with his Ancenis National winner
The leading pigeon recorded a velocity of 1445 back to his home loft in Raunds for B Hobbs & Son which means that the latest MNFC winner goes to Northamptonshire. When I contacted the winner it was explained to me by Troy the son of the partnership that sadly his father had passed away but the name continues out of respect to Dad. Troy told me that their winning bird is a 2 year Old Chequer Cock named ‘Bill’ and was sent flying on the widowerhood system. Obviously this suited ‘Bill’ as he leads home the 2nd Open winner belonging to Lawrence Ogden of Fotheringay. I am informed that Lawrence the owner is a retired PE teacher knows a thing or two about fitness as clearly shown by his 2 year old Chequer cock which I am informed won his club the week before the Ancenis race. The pigeon is bred from stock off Lawrence’s friend Peter Crawford of Ipswich who has had a good deal of success over many years with his family of Middle distance birds.
The Nottingham loft belonging to G & S Daykin & Son takes 1st NE section and 3rd Open with one of their fine Soontjen pigeons in the form of a Blue hen bred from his Double National winner. Gary told Jos my spy in the NE that he is very pleased with the consistency that this 2014 bred bird has shown this season. It’s now back down into the SE now to the loft of Mr & Mrs Geoff Jakings who take 4th open and 3rd section with a Gaby vandenabeele bred Yearling hen which will win the Yearling Classic Trophy. Geoff tells me that she has raced well for him this year and went to the Bedhampton race and then showing no ill effects she went back to Fougeres the following week with the local federation and now from Ancenis this game little roundabout hen takes this top placing. I liked the nice photo that Geoff sent me showing his bird to his granddaughter Layla and his great grandson Harry mmm Harry Jakings sounds like a real pigeonman to me. 5th Open and 2nd NE section is taken by clipstone’s Dave Evans a good fancier who clocked a 2014 Pied hen which won 2nd section 7th Open Northern Classic earlier in the season and this Dean Skuse x Derek and Ryan Nuttall bred hen has been very consistent all season and so was well pooled in her section.
6th Open and 1st NW section goes to a real super star of a bird not just in this race but all season as earlier this grand Late Dennis Burton based Delbar cock has been 1st and 2nd band C in the MCC for his owners Adams Bros . Pooled to the hilt this cock wins along with a four figure haul 1st Open and Section in the 2Bird Nominated race on 1412 ypm. The bird has now been christened ‘Alberto’ by Ricky McGraw the ‘Ginger Prince’ in tribute of the great friend ship between Albert the senior partner and the great late Dennis Burton who was a legend in North Staffordshire for his exploits with his Delbar based pigeons. 7th open and 3rd section is filled by another fine bird in the form of another 2 year old chequer belonging to Betts Topham and Son. This cock was 3rd section from Bedhampton and was 86th Open from Ancenis in 2015 as a yearling. This will see her owners pick up a nice cheque for this handsome pigeon.
Lawrence Ogden proudly shows off his 2nd Open winner - Gary Daykin the NE section winner
Geoff Jakings admiring his 4th Open winner with his granddaughter Layla and great Grandson Harry - Dave Evans of Clipstone with his 5th Open winner
Les & Albert show off their superb cock 'Alberto'
Leading the charge in the SC section and taking 8th Open is Hinckley’s Pat Frisby who it will be remembered won 1st National last season. Pat’s yearling hen record’s a speed of 1409 just 3 yards in front of fellow SC section flyers Henton & Wheatley the 9th Open winners who also timed a 2015 hen. It is well worth noting that these two lofts filled the next two places with Henton & Wheatley 3rd and Pat Frisby 4th.Filling the top ten Open places we see the East section winner in the form of Frank & George Bristow who are no strangers to the readers. Their first bird is yet another widowhood yearling hen bred from a gift bird from their friend Tick Jobes which won 1st section from Fougeres in 2014 for the partners. Ancenis appears to be a good race point for Tick as he also won his own section as you will read later in this piece. The Bristow’s also took 2nd place in the East section with a Casaert widowerhood cock. One gentleman who was in the original top four places in the SC but slipped down a couple of places is Pat McGonical who races with his son Paul. This result is a belated birthday present to Pat who was 80 years young a few days before the Ancenis race. The bird that did the boys proud is a 2 year old gay pied cock that is of Cueleman breeding off Mick O’Rourke the sprint specialist. He is called ‘white tail’ and was sent to his maiden channel race on 12 day old eggs. Many happy returns on both accounts sir.
Travelling around the sections now and we first of all need to tidy up the S E section and in 4th section we see Mr & Mrs Graham Groom of Burton Latimer who timed a 3 year old chequer hen on 1401 which I confident could well feature on the forthcoming Bordeaux race because this is the race that the Grooms regularly shine from. In 4th NE section a loft that has been very consistent in the MNFC over the last couple of seasons is that of Ralph Jepson who clocked his 2014 Chequer hen on 1394. She is a cross of his own family x a Soontjen based pigeon off Darren Oakley. I’m told that this hen has been flying well previously to the Ancenis race. Ralph has asked me to give a mention to Tony Wardle for his assistance which is well appreciated. Lets look at the ESE section now where Steve Surrey ‘takes home the bacon’ and the £150 prize that goes with it. The bird that did the hard work is a 2014 bred Cheque cock named ‘Alfie’ this Lambrecht x Docx bred bird has been a previous fed topper. I’m told that the sire was from Steve’s pal Tony Webster of Kent while the dam is from Ray Brown of Darlington. Both of the parents have bred and won many prizes. Terry Roughton takes 2nd slot with a good 5 year old cock that has been winning good prizes for years and is a product of direct Bert Braspenning pigeons. 3rd place is claimed by Mr & Mrs George Trundle and Grandson with one of their very successful Busschaert cocks. Proof of their ability is the fact that his nestmate won the section in 2015 from Carentan. 4th section goes to another good fancier in the form of Willy Beckett. Willy timed a 2014 dark hen on 1365.
Moving right across the country we head to the SW section the loft of Shaun McDonough of Pelsall. The section topper is a yearling hen of Wildemeersch x Marick Vink lines. Both parents being fed toppers themselves. Shaun tells me that this young lady has numerous club and fed prizes to her credit already. On her last race with the MNFC she won 13th section and 55th Open. So surely a pigeon to look out for! In 2nd section and right up the section topper’s bottom we see another yearling on 1372 just .2 behind the winner. The bird belongs to Astbury & Horton and is through Jack Walker’s ‘Syndicate Lofts’ birds containing the lines of ‘Dutchmaster’ ‘Rocket’ and ‘Aviator’ in her illustrious pedigree. Stafford’s D & M Locke fill the 3rd rung with yet another yearling Blue hen which achieved a velocity of 1369. Just a couple of yards behind we find G & J Jones & Adams with a 2 year old Blue cock.
Pat Frisby and his son who won the SC section - Henton & Wheatley to the fore again from Ancenis - Still smiling George & Frank Bristow the East section winners
Pat and Paul McGonigle show off their good cock 'White Tail' - Steve Surrey the ESE section winner with 'Alfie' and resplendent in his 'shades' - Graham Groom with his 4th section winner the same bird which won the section from the same race point in 2015 - George Trundle 3rd ESE section
Back up to the NW section we find E g Mackey of Wardley in 2nd section and a highly respectable 28th Open on 1376. The bird responsible for this good result is a 2 year old Blue Pied hen. Up again for 3rd section are Adams Brothers who up to press are having a superb season. This one is a 2 year old Chequer hen on 1358.95 which just edges out Mitch Denson and son who got pipped by the slenderest of margins being .03 of a yard but the pain will be dulled with the cheque of £260 as the bird was well fancied. The bird is a 2014 Red Cock which was gifted to the partners by Doncaster’s D & J Hawkins & Evans. A nice present as he was also 23 Open from Coutances. A mere 2 yards behind the Denson’s we see the partners McGraw Clegg & Preece who sound more like a dodgy solicitors name. They timed a Leemputten based bird originating from Wright Bros. The bird a yearling roundabout hen was on a run of good form as she won 6th Staffs Moorlands fed the previous week.
The North section sees the man who helped the Bristows to bred their latest section topper in the form of Tick Jobes who not only wins the section but also fills the 3rd slot as well. The first bird that achieves a velocity of 1374 is a yearling widow hen that is of Alwyn Paddey x Herman/Van Loon breeding. I hear that she has been a real star flying well as a baby and this year has scored on five occasions in the Yorkshire Progressive club already. 2nd section goes to the Bentley fancier of E H Jones who is a mere .1 of a yard behind Tick’s hen. Mr jones hen is a 3 year old Blue hen. 4th section is filled by Beltoft’s Gordon Tune who is enjoying a decent year with the MNFC. His bird is a 2014 chequer cock on 1333 for his 428 mile journey.
Terry Roughton 2nd ESE section - Shaun McDonough's SW section winning hen - Astbury & Horton's 2nd SW section winner - Gerald Jones of the Jones & Adams partnership in 4th SW section - Mitch & Ryan Denson who are enjoying a grand season
The Dark hen belonging to McGraw Clegg & Preece - Team Fisher who dominated the NC section from Ancenis - Steve Noblett and family after their good result - Tim & Isabel Webster with their good bird - Jamie Langrish with 'Miss Reliable'
The Likely Lads themselves Bauress & Murray 4th West section - Tony Meek the 1st EN section winner with his dog 'Solo' on guard duty - Alan Richardson in 3rd EN section with his little helper improving the photo no end - This handsome Chequer Cock was 3rd NE section from both Ancenis and Bedhampton For Betts Topham & Son obviously a case of 'Handsome is and handsome does'
In the NC section we see ‘Team Fisher’ have an absolute field day taking the first five positions. Brian the senior partner sent me the details of the first two birds the section winner is a yearling Chequer Pied hen that records 1367 to win a very creditable 43rd Open placing. The second bird yet another yearling but this one is a Pencil cock and he proved his worth from Coutances when he won the section. Brian says that he was delighted with the team’s result and the first two in particular who in the past have shown their worth on what Brian describes as ‘’roll your sleeves up days’’.
Heading over to the NNW section we have Preston’s Tom Jackson time a 2014 Blue hen which was obviously well fancied and will her owner a very healthy cheque for nearly £400. It is result’s like Tom’s that will convince others to no only enter the races but put a few bob on them as well because if the selection is justified the rewards are there to be won. The section winners velocity of 1360 was good enough to take 54th Open a good effort in my book. 2nd section is filled by a name that is appearing on the leading positions with some regularity and this is J L Noblett & Son of Lostock Hall. The bird is yet another yearling hen on 1353 but this time she is a natural pigeon and was sent sitting eggs. The bird was bred by a close friend Joe Livesey and her breeding was from a Impett x Denney cock when paired to a hen off Reg Sarre. I’m told that due to health problems the racing has been on hold for a few weeks but hopefully this result will be the ideal tonic. 3rd section in the NNW is Tim Webster who clocked a 2 year old Blue cock that in 2015 took 4th section last season. The bird is a De Rauw Sablon being inbred to ‘Freddy’ and a grandson of ‘Snoopy’ a son of ‘Blauwe Prins’. Tim tells us that he got 4 of his 5 bird entry on the day and where in great shape on their return so full marks to the MNFC. 4th section is taken by Joe Livesey the man who also bred the 2nd section winner for Steve Noblett. Joe’s timer is a 2 year old blue hen that was nominated in the 2 B Nom race.
News is rather scarce from the West section where the winner is Terry Kirman with a 2 year old Blue cock that was pooled to the knocker and along with loft mate which finished in 5th section will lift nearly £900. I understand from what I’m told off ‘Pigeon Chat’ that Terry was understandably upset when his name wasn’t on top of the section on the leaderboard but it must be remembered that until we are either informed by an official or we see the paperwork from the clock station then the club is unaware of any errors. 2nd west section is filled by Kirkby’s Nairn & Brown who clocked a Dark hen on 1309 but once again no more info I’m afraid. One chap who has been in touch is 3rd placed Jamie Langrish who clocked a hen known as ‘Miss Reliable’ a chequer hen of Pouw Bros x van der Velden breeding. This good hen was 4th West section Ace pigeon in 2015 so it is no surprise that she was well pooled and has her name. Bauress & Murray take 4th placing with a 2 year old blue cock that like the previous bird was well fancied.
Crossing the Pennines once again up to the EN section where we see Tony Meek claim top spot. The bird is a 2 year old Vandenabeele hen now named ‘Lacey’ after his daughter. She had been racing on the roundabout all season but Tony decided to couple her two days before basketing which obviously lit her fire to record 1374 and win 32nd Open. Tony tells me that she is now being aimed at Bordeaux when she will go sitting 14 day old eggs. 2nd section goes to one of our long established lofts belonging to Mr & Mrs Pete chapman. The bird is a 3 year old hen on 1367. I have visited and spoken to Peter on several occasions and I am fully aware of his motivational skills. 3rd place is filled by Alan Richardson of Whitby. The bird that takes the 61st Open placing alsi is a 2013 chequer widower cock that is definitely bred in the purple being a grandson of 1st National Chareauroux from Page Bros. His mother is a Hubert Schroyens based pigeon. This was the cock’s first channel race of the season as he was entered in the previous race that was brought back to ‘blighty’ but proved that there were no ill effects by this good result. This bird does appear to be a ‘clas act’ as in 2015 he appeared three times in the top 14 places on the local Combine’s result and also flew from Bourges a distance of 530 miles I’m told. His nestmate won 94th place in the Sun City Million Dollar Race. Additionally his half-sister won the 2013 RPRA One Loft race. A case of the ‘apple and the tree’ being proved accurate once again I believe. Peter Thorpe of Cross Gates takes 4th section on 1343 with a 4 year old hen that along with her sister have been on the result every time they have been entered. Obviously you have two good birds there Peter.
As I am finishing writing this report the numbers for the final two races of the O.B. season have been declared with nearly 7,000 going to Vire which I believe is a record for this race and a healthy 1500 plus going to Bordeaux. The sun is sizzling and I hope that it cools down by Saturday when the birds are due to be released because flying up to 600 plus miles in hot conditions is a big hurdle.
Mike Lakin