MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
MIKE LAKIN
BORDEAUX 2013
Scunny’s Jonathan Walker Takes The Blue Riband
The 2013 MNFC Blue Riband race was flown on Sunday the 28th July after a one day holdover. The healthy 1351 bird entry were liberated at 6.10am in no wind conditions which were correctly forecast to gain a South, South Westerly momentum during the morning. So though it was possibly to the dismay of the Club’s real Long Distance enthusiasts we were expecting a fast race. It was still something of a shock to see that verifications were on the Leaderboard before 3.30pm in the afternoon, to admittedly shorter flyers but still to lofts flying over 500 miles with velocities of nearly 1700 ypm!
During the afternoon and into the early evening the leading name changed several times - something of a ‘hot potato’. Finally the lead rested up into Scunthorpe and the loft of Jonathan Walker who for some time now has flown an excellent pigeon in the Midlands National Flying Club. One particular pigeon that earned Jonathan over £7500 during his racing career was the ‘Walsh cock’. This bird was bred by Jon’s in laws Mr & Mrs Pat Walsh and is from their best pair of Staf Van Reet stock birds. Though this cock came from ‘sprint’ origins he took to the MNFC like a proverbial ‘duck to water’ right up to 400 miles plus. In total Jonathan told me that he won no less than 17 x 1st prizes - what a pigeon! Well this super racing pigeon has now become an excellent racer breeder because when coupled to a Vandenabeele hen which Jon purchased from a sale in Telford I believe, they bred the latest MNFC Bordeaux winner. The bird actually homed while Jonathan was checking the Leaderboard during a heavy shower. Walking back up to the loft and working out that he needed a pigeon in the next couple of minutes to edge out the current leader, he found his 2 year old chequer hen already in the loft but the ETS had done its job and timed the bird on its arrival recording a velocity of 1699. Jon’s only disappointment was the fact that he missed his National winner’s return. Talking to Jonathan a few days later he told me that she was a widowhood hen and had been left with her mate from the previous evening until she was basketed for the race. She has been raced quite hard this season and had been timed from earlier MNFC races. So another fancier has achieved his ambition to win a MNFC race and also obviously wins her section the East section.
In 2nd Open and 1st South Centre section with a velocity of 1689 is the same man who in fact won the 2012 Bordeaux race. This man is Ted Jackson who last year won the race with a Blue 3 year old Florizoone x Van Der Wegen bred pigeon. So the obvious wonder thing to wonder is, is it the same pigeon? I put this question to Ted and with a chuckle he said ‘’no he was sat safely in the breeding section as after a lot of thought I decided to retire him’’. So what is your 2013 pigeon? ‘’He is a ½ brother to last year’s winner. Off the same father but this time when paired to a Gyselbrecht hen which I got from Birmingham’s Micky Collins who knows the Gyselbrecht family, especially Carlo, very well’’. The bird was in fact very similarly treated to the 2012 winner being the last baby reared in 2011. As a baby he was trained and just had the odd race or two. As a yearling the bird was pushed on having a full series of inland races and twice across the channel. Then in 2013 plenty of work and several channel races including the hard Ancenis race. Obviously this latest edition had no fears of long distance and who knows what the 2014 event holds in store for him and the rest of the team that Ted and his son Scott are building slowly but very surely. Ted is a wily old fox and armed with more brothers and sisters to his last two Bordeaux pigeons and I for one wouldn’t bet against him being up there again!
3rd Open and 1st North section goes to Lewis & Angela Milne who live in the countryside to the north of Doncaster. The 2013 racing team of just 12 cocks and 4 hens are housed in two converted garden sheds. The couple decided to concentrate on National racing after setting up home together three years ago. Both Angela and Lewis work in the education service so time is at a premium. Their club racing is with the Yorkshire Progressive which boasts members who have 3x 1st and 2x 2nd section wins to their credit over the last two seasons and so competition is fierce, which the partners feel is good motivation to get the best out of their birds. Their bird is a 2 year old Vandenabeele and bred by M & D Evans of Whitley Bridge being a son of Calvin and Cosmic Girl a 1st UNC winner so both were superb racers. The section winner ‘77’ was bought along with his nestmate brother off Mr & Mrs Crossley who were retiring from the sport. Both were soon broken to their new home and sent to Carentan just three weeks later while sitting eggs, both homing within ½ hour of each other, proving their intelligence. In 2013 the birds were raced on the widowhood system but to get them to cast their first flight they were re-paired and then parted after the flight was dropped and back on the widowerhood method. Thanks to help from their good friend ‘The Asken Ace’ Tic Jobes the birds were trained down to Leicester three times a week leaving at the crack of dawn. ‘77’ their single entry for Bordeaux spent the night before basketing with his hen. The bird homed at a speed of 1685, which it is believed could be a record for 600 miles plus. The birds are fed according to the weather with Gem corn, which the partners feel is good quality topped up with Lewis’ own energy feed. Carrs Adherb and Hilton ‘super fit’ is a must the Milnes believe. It certainly seems to work on their cock ‘77’ who has several good results with the MNFC before Bordeaux. Lewis was just sorry that his Granddad was no longer alive to see this result but dedicate their performance to ‘Sonny’ Newsome of Chester who pushed the partners to achieve this superb result.
In 4th Open and 1st South West section is committee man John Fretwell of Twyford with a velocity of 1680. John’s pigeon is a 2 year old Blue cock which has previously won 7th section from Fougeres. He is a full brother of ‘St Malo’ which has won 2nd section MNFC Bergerac and 1st section NFC St Malo. As a yearling the bird returned home from the second race of the season three weeks late and badly hawked but he was nursed back to health as he was the last youngster from John’s daughter off Marcel Sangers’ ‘Andre’ a winner of Ace Middle Distance pigeon of the Zutphen. The bird’s sire was bred by Rodney Greer at his Millfield stud being a son of ‘Tom Thumb’ an excellent Janssen based bird which flew well in the London North Road Combine. John would like to pass on his appreciation to Ian Bull for waiting on and timing his bird while he was away attending the wedding of his nephew up in Yorkshire.
That’s four birds winning four different sections which once again underlines the fact that the longer races are the fairest of all because it’s more about good pigeons than locations.
5th Open and 2nd South centre section is Bill Marbrow the farmer from Whitwick. Bill timed a 2 year old Grizzle hen having only her third race of the season. Her sire is off Mr & Mrs Kirkland and I believe it is from their ‘Snake’ lines. The mother is a past winner of 4th Open Bordeaux in 2010. This hen’s sister won 1st section from Carentan earlier in the season. Another brother has flown brilliantly for Bill which has won no less than 7 x 1st prizes this season and also a 3rd section placing. So this latest result has rounded off a superb old bird season.
6th place and 2nd South West section is taken by another loft that is enjoying a good year and this loft belongs to Ces Leadbeater & Sons the Rugeley aces. The lads clocked a well fancied yearling Blue chequer hen, their velocity of 1671 just edging out the 7th Open and 3rd South West section winning pigeon which is a Blue Pied hen belonging to K Parry & Son. This two year old hen was sent sitting 14 days and had already proved her ability with 1st club (the only bird in race time) and 14th Fed from Niort in 2012 as a yearling. She is a Kees Bosua pigeon and her sire is a double grandson of the famous ‘Kanibaal’ when paired to a Nico Noordenne based Bosua bird which has bred winners for the Parrys previously. These results include 2nd section and 10th Open MNFC in 2007 and she is the grand dam of 1st section 7th Open 2008 ‘Treble Chance’. The mother of their latest performer is bred by Nigel Templer and is a g/daughter of ‘De Bult’.
Another previous national winner fills 8th Open and 3rd South Centre section and this is Jerry Wright who clocked a 2 year old widowerhood cock which has been named ‘Spooks’ as he is son of ‘The Ghost’ who has two top 40 Open placings in the NFC being 1st section 39th Open Fougeres and 4th section and once again 39th Open Saintes. This cock is in turn off a Thas Grizzle cock x a daughter of Leadbeater & Sons’ ‘S Ring’ and Jerry tells me that this is the best stock hen that he has ever owned! The dam of ‘Spooks’ is another Willy Thas bird being a daughter of Micky Betts’ ‘Prince Willy’ the 1st MNFC winner from Le Ferte Bernard. The 4th SC section winners are Drew Callan & Son who clocked their good hen ‘Witsend Emma’ a 5 year old Blue Hen and her breeding is Krauth x Grondelaers. The birds originate from Drew’s father back home in Derry, Northern Ireland and Gerald Delaney, the line of ‘Terry’ the top racing bird Gerald is famed for his Grondelaer loft. I’m told that this hen is consistent with a capital C and this was her 5th channel race in 2013 and in total she has been across the channel on no less than 22 occasions! Drew enjoys the National racing scene as ‘’these are the races that gets the heart pumping faster’’ says Drew. Drew would like to thank the two Micks and Dave for their help when the birds were diagnosed with a respiratory problem in the mid-season when the loft’s form dipped alarmingly. The birds are raced on the popular roundabout system and are coupled for the last race of the season as this suits the hens in particular which Drew favours as they are ‘more reliable and gutsy’ he believes. The birds are trained anywhere South of their loft and the food used is a Gem mix and supplements. An interesting point is that the birds old and young have access to a hopper of barley. I know some fantastic flyers who favour this underestimated food, which is high in many food values. The 4th section winner is now to be put to stock very few would consider that she hasn’t earned it!
The 9th Open bird belongs to the Tewkesbury loft of Booth and Roper. I have little detail about it except that it is 4 year old Red hen and her velocity of 1661 is also good enough for 4th SW section.
Nearer to home now and Cheadle where Prince Brothers take 10th Open and 1st North West section. The brothers have enjoyed a great season with 12 x 1st prizes locally and other good results in both the NFC and MCC but this result is surely the icing on the cake. The bird responsible is of Staf Van Reet x Louis Van Loon breeding and like the previous pigeon is another 4 year old Chequer hen. The boys certainly made her earn her corn as this was her fifth channel race of the season and she has always been a consistent performer which included 1st club and 8th Staffs Moorland Fed from Fougeres. After her return from the Ancenis race she was paired and she was sent to Bordeaux sitting 10 day old eggs.
Continuing with the 11 th Open and 2nd NW section on our sectional round up we have a gentleman Brian Heath who has been investing in long distance bloodlines for a while and his actions are now being rewarded. Brian, who lives in Market Drayton, clocked 2 year old Mealy cock of Biss x Super Crack bloodlines on 1652. I’m told that he and three other birds spent the first 20 months of their lives flying to an aviary. All four had three preparation races as yearlings then straight into Saintes. In 2013 it was the same build up three inland races then jumped into Bordeaux. Brian tells me that all of the four were clocked on the day. Well done Brian using the old classic long distance method of short preparation races and a big jump. On this occasion it was certainly very successful. 3rd NW section is filled by one of the club’s legendary lofts that of Mr & Mrs Geoff Kirkland. I’m sure if they were to place all of their national trophies on one table that it would collapse. Geoff has simply done the lot! On this occasion a 4 year old Blue cock was timed. Geoff explained ‘’He has his origins of my old family, mostly Alfons Bauwens’’. Geoff also was most grateful for the holdover as he was in the hospital on the Saturday having a check up on a recent op but was home to see all his birds return. The best tonic of all eh Geoff? In 4th NW section we have nearby fanciers Cheddleton’s R & J Goodwin & Son who clocked a 2 year old latebred which was unraced as a youngster and just raced to the coast as a yearling. The recent Ancenis race was his first ever channel race but he must have enjoyed it judging by his result from Bordeaux! The bird is a Wildemeersch bred by Derrick Jones x a Vandenabeele bred by the late Dave Goodwin, both parents being loaned to the Goodwins by Neil Briand.
Doing the ‘double’ on the same day is G & S Daykin & Son who took 1st North East section from both races. Gary in fact timed the first yearling to feature in the Bordeaux race. The pigeon is a bird of very similar breeding to his superb 500 mile racer ‘Black Magic’. This young cock now named ‘Black Magic Boy’ is bred from a Kipp & Son hen when paired to a son from ‘Black Magic’. It should be born in mind that the Black Kipp hen is also the mother of ‘Black Magic’. I know that Gary has great faith in his ‘Magic’ line. This latest model wins 13th Open place. 2nd NE section is the single entry from Spondon’s Farrar Son & Peters. The birds are currently in the care of Seamus O’Donnell and he is obviously doing a good job. The bird is a gift pigeon off Jack Whitehouse a founder member of the MNFC who has had to give up the sport for health reasons. The bird I’m informed is off Janssen bloodlines which has won previously 1st club 5th Fed from Saintes, 2nd club Carentan and a 1st and 3rd placing from Fougeres before this Bordeaux result - not bad for a ‘broken’ gift bird eh? 3rd section is taken by another partnership who are enjoying a superb season and this is Betts Topham & Son who clocked the same bird that they timed from Ancenis which won 2nd section 11th Open. The bird is a mixture of their ‘house’ Soontjen x Wildemeersch family with 25% of Silvere Toye added. Well done boys, great flying. In 4th NE section is another chap who is having a great year and this is the Derek Wilson of Cuckney. Derek clocked a 2 year old Blue Pied hen on this occasion. Very well done again Derek.
2nd East section and 38th Open is the Kingston Family and they own a superb bird in their ‘North Moor Lass’. As a yearling she was 1st section K, 1st North East 700 mile club 3rd NFC Open Old Hens race. This year she has won 2nd Club and 1st Club 3rd section and 12th Yorkshire Middle Route Combine from 482 miles. Then add on 4th section Carentan and 22nd section Ancenis with the MNFC. Then it was off to Bordeaux a distance of 614 miles, sent sitting 3 day old eggs. All I can say is what a fabulous pigeon and credit must go to the Kingstons for maintaining her to enable her to achieve such excellent results. I would rename her ‘North Moor Super Woman’!
3rd East section goes to a name that has been synonymous with long distance racing for years. This is Barnetby fanciers Tuplin & Son who clocked a 3 year old Dark Cock on 1559 which will take 43rd Open. 4th place in the East section is filled by a very successful partnership which are Scarborough’s Mr & Mrs Pete Chapman. They also timed a Dark Chequer cock and just as the previous pigeon it is a 3 year old and this pigeon was flying 649 miles. A superb result once again for this Ace loft.
The other leaders of the North section are as follows. 2nd section is won by Harry Gravil & Son. The bird also flew from Bordeaux successfully in 2012 but Harry never bothered taking his clock in as his mate Mally Robinson had already clocked three birds so he thought the bird was an also ran but if he had got it read off it would have actually been 9th section. The bird, a nice Blue cock, is a three year old Vandenabeele x a hen off Jeff Smith of Scunthorpe. Grandson Joe is now showing a keen interest in the pigeons so the 2nd section winner is called ‘Joe’s Pride’. 3rd section is filled by the Leeds fancier Frank Quinlan who like the previous bird is another 3 year old Blue cock which covered the 614 miles in 11 hours 15 minutes for a velocity of 1602. I have no further details of the bird but I know that Frank spends plenty of time in Belgium looking for the best possible blood to race. 4th section is taken by a man who has excellent pigeons also, this man being John Dudhill of Mexborough and he has built a strong loft that is winning not only for himself but also for quite a few other fanciers. The bird that did the damage on this occasion was a 2 year old Blue cock a Delbar x Busschaert flown on the widowerhood system.
The West section now beckons and pole position is filled by Stan Smith and his son Lee. These lads love their long distance racing and Stan talks about it with great passion. The partners were in fact 1st section 2nd Open from Bordeaux with ‘Murphy’a broken Janssen based gift pigeon of Kirkby’s Dave Murphy. The latest performer is a 3 year old chequer hen and is now named ‘Lynn’s Joy’ after Stan’s good lady. When looking at the hen’s breeding it ism to quote my informant Ron Iron, a real case of ‘horses for courses’. Her sire is a direct Stoffel Ophoff, the German long distance specialists x a daughter of ‘Murphy’. As a yearling she won 2nd section 8th Open from Tours but the partners showed their patience as after illness she was rested in 2012. She was sent to this latest race sitting 3 day old eggs as she was rather late laying but it obviously didn’t affect her performance in any way.
Stan and Lee concentrate on just the MNFC and the Liverpool Championship Club where I’m told they won over £400 in prize and pool money. This is certainly the best way to get the maximum from your birds and if you live in Liverpool is a must in my opinion. It’s good to see Stan and his team up on top again - well done. 2nd section is taken by Huyton’s Terry Keating who clocked a 2 year old hen of Janssen x Silvere Toye lines. This game little bird named ‘Lili’ was sent sitting 15 day old eggs and homed during a thunderstorm looking as ‘fresh as paint’. Long distance is in her blood as she is a granddaughter of Terry’s 3rd section 22nd Open Dax International beating 15,000 plus other birds. While her sire scored in the MNFC 2007 Falaise race which was a very hard race. Terry sportingly sends congratulations to Stan and his son and thanks Steve Johno and Ron Irons for doing a great job. Nice one T. 3rd West section is taken by J. F. Moore of Birkenhead who timed a 4 year old Blue hen bred by Ward & Cullens. She is a granddaughter of the Dutch Ace Long distance bird ‘Gladiator’ x a hen which is full of Dutch Ace pigeons and is a daughter of top breeder ‘Den 785’. The bird was sent sitting one chipping egg. This hen is another ‘good un’ with several channel placings including 3 times being 2nd club from Niort, the local club’s longest race. She was well fancied and she wins over £500 for her owner. Yet another well pooled bird belonging to Bauress & Murray takes 4th section and just under £500 with a 3 year old Southwell cock. This Southwell family is a very old breed which is regaining popularity as the attraction of long distance racing increases. Jim says that he can’t (or won’t) divulge where he got this lightly raced bird from as he doesn’t want other local fanciers going there before he goes back himself! The bird was sent sitting a big young one and driving his hen. The bird has only had a few channel races but still has flown well with results that include 6th section from Bordeaux in 2012. The bird is also 2nd in the L.C.C. so will no doubt he will put a nice cheque in the lads bank account.
Down to the South East sections now and 1st South East section is won by another long distance enthusiast in the form of Mr & Mrs Graham Groom of Burton Latimer who timed all of their 5 birds entered on the day. The loft is largely bred around birds off Cameron Stansfield the ex-B H W Editor and now partner with Les Parkinson in Elimar, who lives and breathes Long Distance pigeon racing. These birds are mainly from Graham Baker’s Ace racer and breeder ‘Meritman’ who is the lines of Albert Bennett's Zeus and Fabiola x Alfons Bauwens' ‘Goldwing’ winner. ‘Meritman’ won the NFC Certificate of Merit after finishing in 2nd,3rd,4th,5th and 10th section from Pau 636 miles. What a pigeon. One of this super cock’s descendants is ‘Max-a-Million’ the only bird to have won 2 MNFC races for the Late Les Grain. Graham’s 1st section winner is a Meritman x Brian Denney pigeon so it’s clear that she contains plenty of long distance in her pedigree. The partners 2nd pigeon takes 4th section and this one is bred down from Brian Stansfield & Son's 1st section 17th open NFC Pau winner at 686 miles (lines being Keith Bush of Cossall x the late Kenny Hogg of Hesketh Bank) when crossed with Cameron's John Wills lines and Jim Biss bloodlines. Armed with this quality of birds and well looked after in the Grooms capable hands how can they fail?
2nd SE section is a quiet man Lee (Andy ) Smith. This guy keeps on producing fine results with no fuss. This time it is a 2 year old Blue chequer hen recording 1584. 3rd SE section is also taken by a fancier that I have little information about. This is Bradville’s J. Baker who timed a 2 year old Blue cock which records 1571 and will win his owner a nice cheque for his efforts. I noticed with interest that the Vire race winner Albert Farrow finished in 5th section in this race. What a great day eh Albert?
Travelling further into the South East we take a look at the ESE result and leading the way here we see C R Colclough who timed a well pooled bird which is a Gaby Vandenabeele bred pigeon and has some fine results to his credit with 5x 1st prizes and 2x1st fed wins. The bird was sent sitting 5 day old eggs. In 2013 this good bird has been 6th and 15th open in previous channel races. 2nd ESE section is filled by King’s Lynn long distance enthusiasts Perry Brothers and Son who clocked a 4 year old Chequer cock just over 2 yards behind the section topper. 3rd section here is taken by G & N Arterton who timed two full brothers to take 3rd and 8th section. The first of which is a Blue Cock 2 years old and is bred off Kardale Lofts stock and like his brother a Jan Aarden cross pigeon. As many will know, the birds from the late Dale & Karen Newcombe’s lofts are top notch 500 miles plus pigeons. 4th ESE is Jonathan Gannon who clocked a yearling Chequer hen which is of George Burgess x A & T Deacon breeding so she will have no fear of the longer flights as highlighted by her grandfather who flew from Tarbes as a yearling and later won twice second section with the BICC from Barcelona! Next on the list is Chaplin & Ash who clocked a bird bred off direct De Vadder pigeons bred for the distance, as Brian Chaplin says. I know all about these De Vadder birds as a friend flew very well with them. Her mate a Norman Southwell based pigeon was also timed a little later in the afternoon.
Back up to one of the longest flying sections the North North West where just two valiant birds were clocked by Mr & Mrs Sarre. Their first timer is a pigeon purchased from Kiln Lofts and known as ‘The Goose’. He is a very consistent bird that is also breeding birds that are successful in MNFC races.
I must admit to being more than a little upset by the attitude of some of the members from within this new NNW section. They asked us to provide them with a section of their own, which we listened to and complied with, but they have not competed because the section is open to lofts flying 50-60 miles shorter than them. Come on folks, get real, there is no way we could provide a section solely for Cumbrian lofts. I hear some are saying it isn’t fair. It may not be but it appears that they consider that it is okay for North Lancs fliers to fly against fanciers flying in excess of 60 miles shorter into Staffordshire and South Cheshire. Pigeon racing isn’t really fair but remember ‘that good pigeons can make good locations!’
Well that’s it the job gets harder each season but like a good Bordeaux bird I’ve done it. I just now need some rehydration drink and a nice light diet for a day or two ha ha.
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