MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
MIKE LAKIN
Nigel Laycock ‘Lives the Dream’ from Carentan
The MNFC’s maiden flight of 2014 was a very successful one in every way. First was the send of 9,645 birds and secondly was the fact that nearly a thousand members entered the race. Both of these figures are well up on previous years. Even the one day holdover couldn’t dampen the spirits that the sponsored Carentan race which saw the birds away at 7.30am and Ian French reported back that the birds had wasted no time heading for home in the light Southerly wind conditions. The strength of the wind grew stronger en-route which lead to the leading pigeons recording velocities of nearly two yards a minute. I am delighted to say that the marking stations coped admirably with the extra workload that a 9,645 bird entry creates. Our thanks go to all those who pitched in to keep hold ups to a minimum. Thanks also to the patience of the lads waiting on the arrival of the transporters.
The rewards for the fine send are reflected in the prize money which will be paid out in a few weeks which amounts to £11,553 and an additional £20,000 plus in pool money. This surely proves that the MNFC is the club to fly with.
As was announced in the initial report Nigel Laycock of Womersley wins the race with a velocity of 1985 y.p.m. In fact Nigel’s winner which he has named ‘Live the Dream’ who really made his owner’s dreams come true with not only 1st National placing but is also the 1st Yearling Classic so in truth a double national race winner. This is reward for Nigel’s constant quest to get the very best bloodlines. Proof of this statement is in the winner’s breeding as his father is a son of a 1st Northern Classic winner from Messac and a Soontjen based hen which was 1st Section from Tours in 2011. When you also consider that the sire was also father of Nigel’s 2nd Open MNFC Tours winner from last season you realise how potent this pigeon is!. The mother of Nigel’s winner is a hen from Eric Limburg’s ‘Black Opium’ lines. She is a full sister to the sire of ‘ Northern Bound’ the yearling cock that in 2013 won 2nd section twice. If that doesn’t prove that Mr Laycock has the ‘right stuff’ I don’t know what does.
Nigel and Ryan with the Carentan National winner.
Let’s talk a little about the winner a yearling Chequer Cock which wasn’t raced as a young bird but trained well up to 50 miles. This year he has raced on widowerhood prepared on Van Robaeys corn and the use of products from ‘Pigeon vitality’ which Nigel is very impressed with. The bird homed in driving rain at the home end and it was Nigel’s wife who spotted it go into the loft when it dropped down from a great height like a stone. In fact Nigel was standing in another section and missed his arrival but thankfully the E.T.S. like the pigeon did its job.
Looking every inch a winner, 'Live The Dream' back in his box.
In 2nd North section and Open is a Blue Pied widowerhood cock belonging to Linley & Bond of Thorne. The pigeon timed on 1981 and is a Vandenabeele which Paul Linley explained comes from stock off Dave & John Hawkins who also appear prominently on the result in 8th Open position. I think that it is common knowledge that the Hawkins have the best from their close friends and now racing partners M. & D. Evans. Paul explained to me that all of his birds originate from the Hawkins loft. He also asked me to mention his close friend Roy Barley who is a great help to him with the birds. I asked if the partners had done anything special to induce the latest result and Paul said no not really but he said that they also had topped their federation on the same day so it is clear that the birds are in real form. Also I did notice a newly erected wishing well in front of the lofts perhaps this is the explanation?
Paul Linley with his bird and the lucky wishing well in the background
In 3rd Open and 1st North East section position on 1972 we see two great veterans of the sport in Wooff Brothers who moved down from County Durham to work in the Nottinghamshire coalfields and now live in Ollerton. They said when being offered jobs locally they asked if there was a pigeon club and on hearing yes there was a strong club in Ollerton the boys were happy to settle. The brothers timed a widow hen which has been flying very well for them on a velocity of 1972. Though they are 78 and 82 years young, the brothers are still as keen as the proverbial mustard and recently turned from the North Road to the South route and they so nearly hit the jackpot straight away as they topped the Leaderboard for a while before landing up in 3rd Open.
To prove that ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ the Brothers told me that a couple of years ago their young birds contacted Paramyxovirus and had to be culled. A sad day indeed but friends rallied round on hearing of their sad plight and gave them some replacements and guess what their 1st NE section winner and 3rd Open birds is a yearling hen flown as a widowhood hen and is a crossing bred off two of these gift pigeons. The sire is a Wildemeersch from Terry Smith and Grandson while the dam is off John & Les Salt. It’s great to have friends and the Brothers are very grateful to them.
Two happy people: Wooff Brothers who won 1st NE section and 3rd Open MNFC Carentan.
In 3rd North section and 4th Open with a velocity of 1971 is Simon Parkinson from Crowle and his yearling Cock bird was well fancied proof of which is shown by the fact that and will in fact win the 1st Open and section in the Club’s new ‘2 Bird Nominated Race’ so the full details of the man and his bird will appear in more detail in the ‘Nominated’ report. Without a shadow of a doubt Simon is emerging as a dominate player in the MNFC.
Simon Parkinson
This fact also applies to the man in 5th Open placing which is Mick Betts of Scawsby who clocked a 3 year old Vandenaheede widowhood hen. The sister of the hen has already won 1st section from Alencon a couple of years ago. The sire of them both is a bird off Freddy and a son of his famed pigeon ‘The Millionaire’. Their dam is grandmother of Mick’s 2013 MNFC winner from Ancenis and is a daughter of ‘Frans’ a cock the Vandenaheedes got from De Rauw - Sablon’s world renown ‘Dream Couple’.
Micky Betts
In 6th Open is J & JL Redfern who clocked yet another yearling on 1963. John’s bird is a Chequer Cock and it is good to see his name up amongst the leaders one again.
This also applies to the 7th Open winner Doncaster’s John Coxon who timed a 2012 Chequer W/F cock on 1958. The bird is another of his Colin Lloyd ‘King Arthur Cattrysse. The pigeon also wins 1st prize in duplication with Dunscroft Social Club a nice bonus.
9th Open is claimed by the Horbling ‘Hotshots’ Frank & George Bristow which will also take the 1st East section trophy. The bird in fact also won the section in the same race in 2013 so is a really good one. She is an Eric Ceuleman hen which is a granddaughter of Eric’s good cock ‘Rossi’. Frank told me that they had 40 birds home out of 40. Surely providing proof to both their methods and their pigeons.
Frank & George Bristow off to a great start with 1st East section
10th Open and a superb 1 South West section is won by Alan & Sue Butler of Essington. Their bird is a 2 year old Blue Cock and is a cross between a Robert Rome Houffliyn cock and a Van Elsacker x Sterkens hen. Their timer has already shown signs of his ability winning several prizes already and he was the first bird clocked the previous week from Kingsdown. The team sent 10 birds and 9 were clocked in just 30 minutes excellent flying in anyones book. Well done to you both.
Proudly showing the 1st South west section winner Alan Butler
2nd SW section and a very creditable 13th Open is won by R & J Westwood Bros with a yearling blue hen recording 1945. She has previous with 2nd prize from Frome as a young bird and 1st M/W from Swainswick. Her father won 1st Open from Messac with the MCC in 2008.
2nd SW section R & J Westwood Bros
The Chambers Family from Cannock who are no strangers to success fill 3rd SW section on 1927 with yet another yearling.Don’t be surprised if we see their named again as the distance increases. Hickman,Mason & Jones of Brereton take the 4th SW section diploma with a 2 year old cock clocking a velocity of 1925.
A real ‘blast from the past’ in the form of Albert Babington the man who gained great fame when he brought the first Mueleman-Wouters pigeons to the U.K. more years ago than he may care to remember claims 1st South Centre section on 1938 with a yearling pied cock that is guess what a crossing of his old blood with a Ceusters pigeon from Crowcross Lofts. This cross seems to be working as already they have won as young birds and a bird the same way bred was Albert’s 2nd timer. To quote ‘Albert there is not much more to say at the moment but as long as they wins, that’s all that counts’’. Couldn’t have put it better myself Albert.
2nd SC section is claimed by Jerry Wright with a Eric Braunstone’s Summers Brothers and Daughter are 3rd SC section with a Blue Pied 2012 hen. Committeeman Johnny ‘Giblet’ Gilbert carries on his recent excellent form by winning 4th section with a yearling Chequer cock on 1914.
Jerry Wight amongst the prizes again
John Gilbert and his gang
Let’s slip back up into the North East section where P W Hudson of Beeston times a cock and hen both yearlings to take 2nd and 3rd section on 1950 and 1947 respectively. A Frans Zwols yearling Blue hen bred by Border lofts puts Lucan Clay up with the pace setters in his first race flown with the MNFC. Lucan tells me that his bird flies to her box and is paired to him! Colin Dixon timed a Pearson and Dransfield Busschaert 3 year old cock which Colin tells me he is confident that he will win again with the MNFC. I will be watching Colin.
Lucan Clay
Tidying up the east section in 2nd section we see a very familiar face in the form of Ian Cameron who timed on of his tried and tested birds a 4 year old Blue Chequer of Camphius X Herbots breeding. He has won amongst other prizes 3rd 4th and 15th section with the MNFC. Both of the birds parents have bred winners and Ian says that the dam is the best racing hen he has owned since his move to Lincolnshire with wins of 1st,2nd,3rdand 7th section with the MNFC. In 3rd East section we see another of the club’s East section star players in Roly Rusling who clocked a 3 year old roundabout hen of Leo Van Rhijn breeding and records 1894 and in the past I was told that she has won other prizes.
Moving down to the South East section now and in pole position is Ronnie Secker of Oakham who is a retired Postman who was lured into the sport by the late Bill Andrews. Today Ronnie races just 8 Widower cocks with two being entered into the race. The section winner velocity 1941 is bred from a Wildie cock fom Mick Levitt of Tick Hill x a Vandenabeele hen from Star Lofts. The bird showed its potential when it won 1st Club and 8th Federation the previous week. Ronnie tells me that since his win until when I heard from him the smile was still on his face.
Ron Secker the SE section winner
2nd section is taken by the Milton Keynes loft of William McMillan with a Delbar cock bred from birds off his father Tommy who raced in the NIPA. Last season the same pigeon won 10th section and 27th Open from Fougeres with the MNFC and has other prizes at club level.
William McMillan
Julian Richards who wins 3rd section placing with a yearling Mealie pied cock that was sent unpaired and was just flying back to his box. The bird is of Busschaert x Delbar breeding and as as young bird won 2nd in the club Breeder Buyer race and 2nd club from Portland.
Julian Richards with his 3rd SE winner
4th Section was won by P Page of Wootton with a velocity of 1913. The bird in question here is a yearling widower that is a Louella bred Lindelauf cock.
The ESE section saw M Godfrey of Walsoken take the £150 1st section prize with a velocity of 1894 30 yards in front of the 2nd section placed pigeon belonging to Pat Royle of Kings Lynn. Pat’s bird is another yearling this time a mealy hen who was on her maiden trip across the channel.
Pat Royle
3rd section is claimed by Dave Wyles of Drove End with a velocity of 1863. While the Wereham loft of K & D Woolston grabs 4th spot on 1838.
I’m sorry that the news is very vague but I can only work with the information that I receive. I am tired of asking fanciers who are in the top four positions in each section to either phone, write of email me a photo and a few details.
Crossing back over the country to the West section and here we see R & B Smith giving it the old 1-2. The birds responsible for Bob and Brian’s latest success are two hen the first one being a yearling hen and is off a son of their superb stock cock Hughie. Her mother is a Janssen hen off the partners great friend Malta fancier Joe Xuereb. Joe obtained his direct Janssen birds from his Italian friend Ernesto Agostani who bought so many birds from the world famed brothers that they told Ernest that he didn’t need to purchase any more because he had from all their best lines. These Maltese imports have proved their resilience with each race meaning a 60 mile plus sea crossing to reach the small island of Malta. The 2nd section winner is a 2 year old hen that has already scored at National level. Her sire is a brother of Richard Grayson’s 1st section L winner from Messac. Other brothers to this cock include a bird that recorded the best velocity from 7000 from Portland and ‘The Hawk’ a big winner from 70 to 430 miles. Her mother is the Smiths ‘Saintes Hen’ an excellent channel pigeon whose best performance was 1st section 16th Open NFC Saintes. The lads inform me that both of these hens are widow hen who had three inland races before Carentan and during this period normally get two 40 mile tosses and using the comeback races to maintain fitness levels once the channel races begin.
More success for Bob & Brian Smith 1st & 2nd West section
3rd West section are another partnership namely O’Hare Brothers of Holland Moor. Their bird is a Charity sale bird donated by Childs & Everson and she showed her form was rising with 2nd place from Yeovil the week prior to the Carentan race. The brothers have only joined forces this year and to date have won 4x1st and 1x2nd place. Good flying gents well done.
One of the O'Hare Brothers with the 3rd West section winner
4th section goes to West Derby loft of T & M King with a velocity of 1853. This is followed closely by Les Morris of Southport who timed a son off the 2013 Carentan winner a case of keeping it in the family isn’t it.
Les Morris so near to repeating his 2013 performance
I feel that I must mention the fine bird owned by J & J Gosling & Grice which will be 6th section as a young bird he was in the top four places in the two MNFC races in 2013 a brilliant pigeon.
A superb bird J & J Gosling & Grice never missed a prize in the last three MNFC races
Finally in the West I wish to highlight an honest young man who informed us that he was in the wrong section by a few yards and his honesty meant that he dropped a few places in his new Western section to finish in 7th spot. That man is Anthony Elmer whose bird recorded 1841. Anthony tells me that he only races 3 cocks in a rabbit hutch type loft and his pigeon named ‘Bobster’ did him and his young 5 year old daughter Mia who named him proud. The bird is a Gaby Vandenabeele based bird bred by Scunthorpe’s Chris Smith.
Anthony & Mia Elmer with 'Bobster'
The North North West section seems to be filled with ‘shrinking violets’ as the feedback is non existent. 1st and 2nd section places are won by Todmorden lofts with D Cullinane & son on 1854 and Mr & Mrs Brian Fisher close behind on 1841.
Ryan Cullinaner
Mr & Mrs Fisher
In 3rd section on 1814 we see Barnes & Walmsley of Lytham who clock a fancied bird a 3 year old Blue which will lift a decent payday for her owners. 4th section is claimed by R Thirkill & Son and these lads are no strangers to the MNFC and their 5 year old chequer cock recorded 1802. So come on lads in future give me some info to work on.
Barnes & Walmsley off to a good start
Information is no problem though in the North West section where the winners are Mr & Mrs Barry Dyche of Bucknall. On this occasion Barry clocked a 2 year old Blue hen which was flying on the widowhood system. I was told that the bird was bred by Frank Brownley of Border Lofts and is a Frans Swols pigeon. On this occasion her winning velocity was 1905 and she had won other prizes prior to this result.
Baz Dyche with his NW section winner
In 2nd NW section we see another loft which is no stranger to the top placings and Silvester Brothers and Tomkinson bird highlights this fact beautifully because their timer a bonnie Blue Grizzle 3 year old Latebred is bred from a superb hen that has 7 x 1st prizes on her CV and she is of Jimmy Crompton Vandenabeele x De Klak breeding. On the father’s side he is off the partners base families the ‘Toey’ Van Reets x Van Loon. Proof of the potency of this pair is the fact that a full brother to their latest winning bird has already notched up two 1st section victories. It’s good to see the lads back on song.
All smiles at Park view lofts for Silvester Bros & Tomkinson after 2nd NW section
3rd section goes to a loft that is always thereabouts if it is a ‘quick one’ and a velocity of 1900 was just the ticket for R & J Goodwin & Son. Their first bird was a Blue Pied cock Verheye x Vandenabeele bred from Louella stock. The loft actually had a great race with two birds very prominent in the ‘2 Bird Nominated Race’.
R & J Goodwin and Son enjoyed a cracking race which included 3rd NW section
4th section was won by Alan Windsor of Newcastle, who along with his not so silent partner ‘Snooker’ are really on song with multiple first prizes already in the locker. Their bird is off Galaxy Lofts stock and records a velocity of 1897. Don’t be surprised if these lads pop up with other excellent results later in the season.
Alan Windsor with his pal Snooker Fradley photographed with the 4th NW section winner.
A couple of announcements
Will members who use Grimsby Marking Station please note that the marking for the next race is now at the Lindum Club, Clee Road, Grimsby DN32 8QL. Also note that to cut waiting time for the transporter pick up that the Stoke Marking Station will be operating from 9.30am-11.30 am until further notice. Will Clock Station Officials make sure that their Clock envelopes and printouts are sent to the race secretary promptly because the result cannot be finalised until they are all received. Finally sorry for the delay in getting this report compiled but we had a few several reasons for the delay.
---