MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB

MIKE LAKIN

Celebration Night for the M.N.F.C. Stars of 2015

The Doncaster race course Gala Suite was once again the chosen venue for the Midlands National Flying Club’s latest presentation, the night when the Club celebrates with the season’s ‘super stars’. Without a question of doubt the gala Suite is a fantastic place to hold a celebration evening. Personally I never tire of joining in the festivities and chatting with the latest crop of winners. Yes the evening takes a lot of hard work to organise but when it comes together successfully it is well worth the efforts as proven once again with over 200 members and guests in attendance.

(Right) Albert Bennett presents Long Service awards to Roy Jones and Tony Whitehust who are 90 not out in years of service between them to the MNFC

truly remarkable and the club appreciates all that they have done for the MNFC

(Left) 'Thanks a million Ann'. Ann Covington our retiring Race secretary who has done a sterling job for the MNFC receiving a gift from the President Roy Jones. 

She will be a hard act to follow. Thanks again Ann. 

This year’s Guest of Honour was Albert Bennet who raced his fabulous Van Bruane based pigeons so majestically winning National races from both Nantes and Pau into rural Shropshire during a success littered career. Since he moved house he turned his interests to the equine type of racing and he continues to breed race horses with more than a little success. That said in his brief but interesting after dinner speech Albert chuckled as he told the guests in attendance that breeding races horses can certainly drain resources faster than the pigeons ever did. Albert thanked the Club for inviting him to present the trophies and though he no longer raced pigeons he maintained his interest by still subscribing to a weekly pigeon paper and he couldn’t fail to notice the huge advances made by the Midlands National Flying Club over recent years. He then proposed a toast to the Club.

''My dad's the Champion'' Pat Frisby celebrates with his son after receiving the Midlands National's Combined Averages Trophies from Albert Bennett

These comments were echoed by the Club’s President Roy Jones who thanked his Committee who have worked so well to make the Midlands National the force that it is today in British pigeon racing. Highlighted not only by the record amounts of prize money currently being paid out to winning fanciers but also the new innovations like the proposed ‘Midweek Training Scheme’ and plans to launch a ‘One Loft race’ with profits used to push on ahead with our ‘Flying Back To Nature’ and ‘Secret Messages’ projects if the R.P.R.A. ‘Future of the Sport’ committee decides to no longer support our efforts to enlighten our younger generation all about the values of the racing pigeon. The Midlands National is committed to its efforts to keep the sport of pigeon racing strong in this country and it would be a crying shame in my opinion if the country’s governing body fail to help us on our mission to keep the sport alive long into the future. Roy also pointed out the fact that it was the forward thinking Mid. Nat. that had got the latest French liberation sites in Carentan, Ancenis and Coutance. Yes the M.N.F.C. has plenty to be extremely proud of.

Second from left Les Adams receiving the "Poppy Appeal" Shiled from Jason Barnett

A presentation was made to M.N.F.C. by Jason Barnett of the ‘Poppy Appeal’ Shield given to the first recipients Adams Brothers the winners of the Ancenis Open race

with the profits from the race going to the British Legion Poppy fund.

Albert Bennett receiving a little gift to show the club's appreciation to him for presenting our prizes.

Other presentations were made to both the President Roy Jones and Chairman Tony Whitehurst who between them have completed over 90 years of service to the Club a remarkable achievement.(See photos above)

Congratulations to all of our successful members especially Pat Frisby who was the 2015 Champion by winning the Club’s Combined Averages and  R & S Gubbins ( Long Distance) A J Windsor (Middle distance) and Mellonby & Wheelhouse (young bird) the winners of the Ace Pigeon Awards.

CLICK HERE - MNFC Winners 2015 - Photo Gallery

Mike Lakin