MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
MIKE LAKIN
2014 PRESENTATION
The Club Celebrates a 'Golden Season’
The MNFC trophy table
Once again the club chose Doncaster Racecourse as the venue to hold its latest Presentation on the 22nd November. The racecourse’s Premier Suite is a wonderful place to host the Club’s night to honour all of it 2014 winners.
This year has been a golden one in more than one sense as well because not only is it the Club’s 50th Birthday since its formation meeting in 1964 but 2014 has seen the Club increase not only its membership for the third year running but also the race entries have seen a good increase. Yes a truly ‘Golden Year’.
It was announced by the President Mr Roy Jones that prize money is to be increased in 2015 by at least £1000 per race, which will be divided equally amongst the sections. The Club’s President spoke with pride about the club and the work which the Committee has done to give members a club to be proud to be a member of. To quote Roy, who has been involved with the club since its formation, ‘’Over the years the Midlands National has had some excellent committee men but the present committee is without doubt the best one ever.’’ He told the audience how the club had invested heavily to purchase a second articulated trailer which will benefit both the members and their birds and allow more federations to join us en bloc and reap the reward of first class travel and membership of the MNFC. Roy reported that the ‘Secret Messages’ venture which was set up by the Club and supported by the RPRA was in big demand and already over a hundred schools have been visited and the response has been fantastic, which has helped to raise the image of pigeons and their efforts during the two world wars and hopefully we will get some new recruits to our ranks.
Our Guests of Honour were Mr& Mrs Peter Farrow who many will know is The Manager of the Queen’s Royal Lofts. Peter spoke with passion about his love for the sport and he told us that he is enthusiastic of the great interest that the Royal Family is showing in the Pigeon Sport. This is highlighted by the fact that a new loft is currently being built to house the Royal Lofts pigeons. Peter told the audience that he writes a monthly report on the progress of the lofts and he has been asked on a few occasions when the latest update is a day or two late, where is the report? Obviously the interest is there from the Royal Family. Much of this interest has been ignited further by Peter as he said that several members of the family have visited the lofts as well as The Queen herself including Prince Philip and Prince Charles, who Peter told us were all big supporters of both the ‘Flying Back to Nature’ and ‘Secret Messages’ projects. Peter told us of his determination and ambition to win a National race for Her Royal Highness. Now wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Norman Bridgwater receiving his 'Friend of the Midlands National' trophy and a crystal clock inscribed 'for a job well done'
It would be impossible to write about all of the many Prize Winners but I would like to highlight just a few of the main winners. First of all Frank & George Bristow who have enjoyed a fantastic season once again winning not only several section races but also Ace Pigeon Awards and the Bordeaux National race. They then topped it of by winning the Combined Average trophies. Well done to two genuine fanciers on a year to remember.
Another man well worth talking about is Nigel Laycock who this year won not only a National, and a Yearling Classic decanter from Carentan, he then went on to win the Vire 2Bird Nominated Race with his fabulous pigeon ‘Northern Bound’. This bird also won the Middle Distance Ace Pigeon Award for the second year in succession. For sure this cock has got to be one of the greatest birds to ever fly with the MNFC. Nigel tells me that his Champion is in the UK team going to the Olympiad in January. Let’s hope that he wins his Class which would be a great thing for Nigel, his bird and the MNFC!
It was good to see all of the Old Bird 2 Bird Nominated Race Winners there to collect their trophies. I firmly believe that the 2 Bird Nominated races will grow in both support and popularity over the years as they are the fairest of all competitions demanding the member’s powers of selection.
Evidence of the success of the evening was abundantly clear with the amount of people dancing right until the end of the night.
I will leave you to look at the many photos of our latest winners. How many of the faces do you either know or recognise? Then take a look at the winners list to see if you are correct.
The 2014 Champions Frank & George Bristow
Nigel Laycock the winner of the Carentan race needs help from his son Ryan to carry back his haul of trophies
Shaun McDonough the Fougeres race winner
Steve Palin the yearling and 2Bird Nominated race winner from Fougeres
Ian Jarrett the Ancenis race winner
Mr Taylor the Yearling Classic RP/De Weerd sponsored decanter
A smiling Tony Whitehouse the Vire race winner collects his trophies
Stuart McCurry of Wisbech the Portland Race winner. Stuart is proud to be the first National winner from his are for over 65 years. So you won't see many Gold National winners ties in your local the Stuart.
Steve & Barbara Goulding receive their Carentan Y B National Trophies from Peter Farrow
Simon Parkinson 1st 2bird Nominated from O B Carentan
I have left the captions of the rest of the photos for fear of getting some of the names wrong. - Mike.
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Elimar - November 2014