MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB

MIKE LAKIN

VIRE 2014

A Good Race for the MNFC & Tony Whitehouse

The first part of the Midlands National Flying Club’s popular ‘Double Header’ races from Vire and Bordeaux resulted in a hard but fine race from Vire with nearly 2000 birds being recorded on the final result.

The Bordeaux race highlighted what experienced fanciers have always known and this is that ‘distance tells’ with only birds with long distance blood in their veins capable of completing the course. The facts are clear and simple when the conditions are tough only those bred for the job are up to the task.

Look now at the shorter race from Vire which was flown from distances varying from 225 375 miles for the members proved once again to be a very popular event with 5,081 birds being liberated at 6.30am on Saturday the 26th July by convoyer Darren Barton who reported a good liberation in sunny conditions and a Light North wind. This wind direction was to continue right up to the Midlands area when a little more of a helping breeze enabled some of the longer flying pigeons to take advantage.

Winning the race we see the South West section’s Hateley Heath West Birmingham loft of Tony Whitehouse clock a yearling Blue cock recording 1258 for the near 260 mile race. The bird which Tony informs me is a bird of Cannock’s Jack Walker ‘Hillcroft Bomber’ x Syndicate lofts ‘Young Couple’ breeding. The heavily pooled bird that is raced on the widowhood system certainly brought home the bacon for his owner winning just under £2,300!

Tony Whitehouse with the National winner

 

The North West section winner on 1252 is Newcastle fancier Alan Windsor who is ably supported by Snooker Fradley. The boys are good friends of mine and no one knows better just how hard these lads have worked this year to achieve their successes. Readers may remember that earlier in the year I predicted that we would probably hear more about this team and they have proved me right. Their timer is a self bred 2 year old widowhood cock which is bred from Kevin Earl and ‘Galaxy Lofts’ stock being a crossing of Vandenabeele x Soontjen ‘Magic Star’ lines. The bird was 12th section from Fougeres which was also a stern test earlier in the season. So it is clear that this bird isn’t frightened of hard work.

Snook & Alan Windsor with the 2nd open and 1st NW section winner

The West section is represented in 3rd Open position to the Chorley fanciers Mr & Mrs F.B. Jennings & Son. These are also dedicated fanciers who are enjoying another good season. Their section winner is a yearling Blue hen that records 1244 and is a Michel Van Lint based pigeon bred from birds off Dean Pallatt. The section topper is a Granddaughter of ‘Amos’ while the dam is from ‘Mysterious Lady’. The Jennings’ also take 2nd section and 12th Open so it’s clear the partners ‘had them right’.

Jennings & Son the winners of 1st & 2nd West section and 3rd Open

4th Open and 2nd North West is taken by Crewe based partnership of Mr & Mrs Nigel Shaw who clocked a yearling blue hen that was sent sitting 5 day old eggs. Nigel tells me that his hen which put up a velocity of 1239 is a Flor Engels based pigeon bred by Graham Davies off stock that he acquired from Frank Shreader.

Nigel Shaw with his 4th Open winner

A well known and respected name lays claim to 5th Open and 2nd South West section on 1236 and that name is Jonathan Hamplett the son of the living legend Harold. Jon tells me that his bird is yet another hen but this time the pigeon is a 2 year old. She won 1st North Staffs Fed from Bath as a yearling and was having her third channel crossing of the season. It was the motivation of a 2 day old baby that appears to have spurred this Joris Blomme x Robert Venus hen into top action.

Jonathan Hamphlett's 5th Open winning hen

Arthur Jones the President of the Gloucester Federation who has been flying exceptionally well for a while now in the National races and his 6th Open and 3rd South West section provides more proof of this fact. Arthur’s pigeon a 2 year old widower cock and his breeding is Colin Lloyd ‘Prince’ x his own De Keyser family. The bird scored twice as a yearling but came home badly injured from his first channel race of the season. Seven weeks later he proved his recovery with 1st club 10th Fed from Messac and followed the two weeks later with his latest result.

Arthur Jones shows us his 6th Open winning bird

Colin & Luke Williams timed yet another yearling Blue Hen for 7th Open and 4th South West section. The bird was gifted to the brothers by Dave (Tink) Taylor and is former MCC winner and is a mixture of Staf Van Reet x Vandenabeele when paired to a crossed Engels x Thas cock when on loan from their brother. This looks like pay back for the brothers because Tink won section J in 2013 with one from the Williams’ birds. The hen was sent nursing a 7 day old baby.

Colin & Luke Williams the 7th Open Vire winners

Merryhill’s R Jones took 8th Open with a yearling Blue W/F Cock which recorded a velocity of 1227 while Telford’s Vaughan Bros & Son finished in 9th place with a 2 year old cock just 2 yards behind the 8th placed bird.

3rd place in the North West section and 10th Open is a Pencil cock belonging to Silvester Brothers & Tomkinson on 1223. The ‘Silverado’s ‘ pigeon is a Staf van Reet x Van Loon a combination that has served the partners with good dividends in the past and also did the trick for them the day after from Bordeaux.

Two happy chaps Silvester Bros & Tomkinson

In 4th North West section and 13th Open is a 2 year old celibate cock belonging to Mr & Mrs Colin Lomax. This was his fourth crossing of the year previously he won 4th club from Falaise, 2nd Club Fougeres and he flew Messac. He has won good positions with the Fed, Amal and Combine. His breeding is Verheye from my old buddy Tommy Shaw the finest Stoke on Trent sprint man in living memory.

The North section winner is Nigel Laycock and yes it is his incredible racing cock ‘Northern Bound’. What more can you say about this ‘Black Opium’ based pigeon? In 2013 he won 1st Ace Middle Distance pigeon with the MNFC and in 2014 you wouldn’t get very good odds on his having done so again. The cock has no less than 5 top four section placings during this period and this latest result underlines what a class act he is. He did the job this time sent sitting and as can be seen on the photo he was sitting them very tight. Truly a dream of a pigeon.

Laycock team with the super racer Northern Bound 1st North section

2nd North section is filled by D & J Hawkins & Evans who need no intros from me. Their timer is the nestmate of the section winner from the last MNFC race. These two are grandchildren of Champion ‘Shadow’ whose blood I’m told is responsible for 30 National and classic race winners. The two birds mother is a De Rauw Sablon hen her sire ‘Lucky Ace’ is also father of 1st National Argenton 25,586 birds whilst her dam is ‘Marlon’ and is also mother to 1st International Limoges which was the fastest bird in the entire liberation that contained over 35,000 entries.

Hawkins & Evans 2nd North section

3rd North section Linley & Bond who obtained their stock from Dave & John Hawkins his Blue cock recorded 1215 just 4 yards behind the Hawkins partnership.

Paul Linley looking cool about his 3rd North section win

Micky Betts yet another top notch fancier takes the 4th section place. The bird is a yearling cock which is a grandson of the Vandeheede cock ‘Frans’ x with a bird bred by Mick’s pal Ian Vernon from his best breeding pair ‘White Spot’ and ‘Marie’ which are Kees Bosua and Frans Timmermans lines. Mick tells me that he had a good race with 23 out of 25 on the day and one next morning. He said the birds homed in very good condition.

Mick Betts 4th North section

Tidying up in the West section we see Chapman & Sons claim the 3rd section spot with a 3 year old Dark cock the velocity of 1216 being good enough to secure 17th Open.

4th section is taken by Mr & Mrs John Howman of Weaverham on 1211. Their 4 year old bird and is another hen which has been flying on the widowhood system but went paired and sent to this race sitting 12 days. On her sire’s side she is a granddaughter of ‘Black Gold’ the winner of the 2006 South West one loft race. Her mother is ‘Lucky 13’ a hen that was a Old hens National race specialist winning 2nd 10th 26th and 31st Open during her career and is a daughter of ‘Bubbles’ the 2006 Europa One Loft winner.

John Howman with his 4th West section winner

Just behind we have Jamie Langrish the bird was bred by John Redfern and is a Hofkens based bird. Jamie wishes to thank John for his help and advice which has obviously worked as Jamie has clocked up 19 x 1st and 18 x 2nd prizes at club and Fed levels.

Jamie Langrish successful again from Vire

Into the South Centre section now and here we see D J Aston of Sutton Coldfield time a yearling Blue flighty hen on 1220 to secure the £150 1st Prize.

2nd and 4th SC section is Mich Lennon of Nuneaton. The 2nd placed bird is a Vandenabeele. Its sire is a double grandson of Bliksem off Astere Vergotte from Alter. Astere is a man who I have visited and written about in the past and at the time he only raced his hens very successfully. The mother is from M & D Evans and is off a bird named ‘Top Investment’ and they have bred two fed toppers already this season so if you add this latest National result it was a top investment if you will pardon the pun.

Mich Lennon 2nd & 4th SC section from Vire

D & J Leitch secure 3rd section on 1190 with a bird that is bred in the purple being from birds from Teressa Marshall & son from their De Rauw Sablon x Brochamp ‘Euro Diamond’ lines. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this bird pop up in a later long distance race. Close behind we have Albert Babington when he clocked the nestmate to his first Ancenis bird. The dam was bred by Ken Darlington to help Alb start up again 2007. Albert tells me he got his old Van den Bosche birds back from many of his old friends and customers. He also said they came like the race was from Bath! You must have got ‘em right mate.

1st spot in the newest section the North North West section went to the Preston Loft of Tom Whitehead. Tom’s bird was a 2 year old Blue Pied Cock and his velocity of 1214 places him in 19th Open position. The bird in question is named ‘Rainbow’ and has won several 1st prizes previously and 3rd and 6th Fed from Mangotsfield and Yeovil. This was his third channel crossing this season and he always homed on the day. On this occasion he was sent feeding a big youngster with his hen having laid her first egg. He is bred from a J & S Dickens cock from the lines of ‘Terror’ and ‘Shelley’ who won 37 x 1st prizes between them. His dam is ‘Molly’ a daughter of ‘Ragatoe’ and ‘Toeys Princess’. The pair have bred many winners for Tom and others.

Tom Whitehead the NNW section winner

In 2nd section is a loft that are enjoying their racing with the club and this is Mr Cullinane & his son Ryan and he tells me that ‘’the hen responsible is an 09 bird bought at Blackpool from Royal Oak Lofts. She is a Peter Van De Merwe pigeon and is paired to our previous section winner from Ancenis. We are delighted with our old bird season with the MNFC and can’t wait to get cracking with our babies!’’. That’s the spirit Ryan the true enthusiasm of youth.

3rd section is taken up by another veteran Cheq W/F cock 09 bird belonging to the Banks fanciers Liddle & Field. Their bird recording a velocity of 1164.

4th & 5th section is taken by another friend of mine Gary Spavin. Gary as many will know supplies a testing service for fanciers and it’s amazing how many excellent fliers use him. To my mind he is correct in his belief of why give birds expensive and possibly harmful treatments when they aren’t needed. Anyway Gary has sent me details of his first timer which is a Cheq W/F widowhood hen of Van Dyke x Heremans breeding. This was her 10 time across the channel and she has won previously from Carentan and 1st as a baby in the 2Bird Club. His second arrival is another of his 3 year old hens which was also nominated in the 2 Bird Nominated race.

Gary Spavin the winner of 4th & 5 NNW section shows us his other passion elephant training

Into the South East section now and Chris Gadsden who was the first member to verify on the online service timed two birds on the same second the first a Blue hen and the other a Dark Cock so these two birds share 1st & 2nd places and prizes which with the pools amounts to a nice pay out of nearly £600. Well done Chris.

Pete Chamberlain clocked his yearling Chequer hen to take 3rd section. The bird is a crossing of Staf Van Reet x Cameron Stansfield’s ‘Old English’ long distance blood. Quite an interesting cross but Pete says the bird is very consistent and has won in the Harrowden SRHS previously.

Peter Chamberlain with his beauty

In 4th section is Lee Smith who enjoyed a good weekend as he was prominent in the Bordeaux race as well as from Vire.

Lee Smith with his grandson Rhys and his first bird from Vire

Close behind we see John Cave & Son who timed a yearling hen with ‘previous’ as she won 4th section and 31st Open just three weeks before from Ancenis. She was then paired and sent sitting 5 day old eggs.

John Cave still smiling after his latest result

Moving further East now and S & T Mc Curry had an absolute field day in the East South East section when he took 1st 3rd & 4th positions with first a yearling cock and then followed up with two of his yearling hens. Well done but how about a few details next time please.

Splitting the McCurry birds was another successful Wisbech loft which is Mr & Mrs Willy Beckett who laid claim to 2nd berth with the same widower cock that won the section in the previous race from Ancenis. As reported then the pigeon is a Formanoir bird.

Willy Beckett and his little helpers with his 2nd ESE section winner

The ‘King’ of the East section on this occasion is the Ruskington loft belonging to H Gostlow & Son who recorded 1128 with a Black 3 year old cock. The pigeon was obviously fancied as it was selected and will win the East section ‘2 Bird Nom race’.

The 2nd position was won by Frank & George Bristow their bird is a Cassaert based yearling widow hen. Frank explained that he kept the Vire hens unpaired but the section containing the hens that were destined for Bordeaux were repaired and as the results show it was a pretty inspired decision.

Frank & George Bristow 2nd East section posing for the camera again

3rd section is taken by another partnership who had a great weekend in the form of Steve & Mike Cook from the Vire race they clocked a 4 year old Chequer cock bird that like the section winner was in the 2 Bird race. Another well known loft grabs 4th position which is L Tuplin & Son who timed a yearling cock on 1108.

The last section that we take a look at on this report is the North East where we see a familiar team in pole position which is G & S Daykin & Son who fill 1st and 3rd slots with two of their Soontjen based widow hens. Their first bird is a 2 year old while the second timer is a 3 year old.

Gary Daykin 2nd & 4th NE section

2nd section is taken by Andrew Newton a previous National winner. Andrew pips the Daykin bird by .22 of a yard and is a big supporter of racing his hens and this latest result highlights this fact because his timer is a 3 year old chequer hen.

Andrew Newton with his pal 2nd NE section

Mr & Mrs J Hodgson from Alfreton take 4th section with a 5 year old hen which records a velocity of 1176.

Kevin Bowskill is right up behind the Hodgsons bird on 1174 and this yearling cock is called ‘Little Joe’. This Karel Herman based bird is a direct son of ‘Smoking Joe’ who won 10 x 1st club prizes plus Fed wins. His mother is aso a triple winner and was 11th section and 62nd Open Carentan in 2012. Kevin like many others reports that the birds looked in excellent condition on their arrival home.

Kevin Bowskill with 'Little Joe'

Next week the Bordeaux race report will appear. It was as previously stated a very tough race and the birds on the result all deserve credit for their efforts.

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