MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB

MIKE LAKIN

2013 PRESENTATION EVENING

A Grand Finale to a Wonderful Season

The members of the MNFC have had yet another season to remember with some excellent races an increased membership and a huge increase in the all so important thing - prize money! Though winning a National race is a priceless commodity, no one will deny that good financial rewards are a lovely and welcome addition. I think that the Midlands National stands up well on both of these criteria. In 2013 the total birdage was up by nearly 7,000 birds on the 2012 season and this helped the club pay out over £41,000 in prize money, an increase of nearly £12,000 on the previous season, with this year’s total prize and pool money grossing just over £140,000. Truly an impressive amount.

The Midlands National's trophy table

The venue chosen by the Club for its 2013 Gala Night was once again the plush Doncaster Racecourse ‘Concourse Suite’ which is the home of the world famous Classic horse race ‘The St Leger’ so surely a fitting location to hold a presentation of the MNFC, considered by many to be the country’s leading light in pigeon racing and who are committed to living up to their motto of ‘Raising The Standard’, and few can argue that with the aid of a good committee who follow sound advice the Midlands National Flying Club is now delivering. I think that a gradual year on year increase in its membership surely verifies my opinions. The Club is also confident that 2014 will show a further increase in its membership numbers.

The Club was proud to have Mr Michael Massarella as our ‘Guest of Honour’ this year and he gave a lovely speech which showed that though he is part of the country’s premier pigeon stud that he is really ‘one of us at heart’ when he explained how he like so many other fellow fanciers is up at the break of dawn each morning tending to his pigeons. He summed it up so well when he explained to those in attendance that he was ‘A lucky man who had never had a real job but had earned his living from the two things that he had a real passion for… pigeons and horses’.  

The Club’s President started his speech thanking all of the people who have helped to make the MNFC the organisation that it is today. He then went on to explain how the club with the aid of Jim Jenner, the Royal Pigeon Racing Association and Louella are committed to introduce its ‘Flying Back To Nature’ educational programme into U K schools which it is hoped that through pigeons, which are the ideal educational tool in so many subjects will help not only our children’s education but also impact on a greater interest in the sport of pigeon racing. I should like to add a mention here to Gary Daykin, Peter Humphries and Richard Chambers who are with a number of other people doing a sterling job in making www.flyingbacktonature.com a success. Though the website is still not fully completed it is well worth looking at to see how the aforementioned organisations and people are working so hard to keep our hobby alive and aid in the future wellbeing of our younger generation.

Before you look 2013 winners’ list I should also like to give great credit to our new Race Secretary Ann Covington and her daughter Sheryl who have taken over so ‘seamlessly’ from Peter and Julie Humphries who gave several years of excellent service to the club and who with the aid of Viv Oliver our computer man advanced us so far in the ‘online services’ that we have today. I must say when Pete told us of his vision for the Club that I thought it ‘pie in the sky’ but I didn’t think we would see men on the moon either so what do I know?  Yes I think that the MNFC have unearthed two new ‘treasures’ in Ann and Sheryl.

The feedback that I got from the people next morning who attended the evening was ‘a great night, roll on next year’. I have to end on the comments of my good pal Jos Mee who  on hearing our entertainment group ‘The Crew’, a 60s and 70s tribute band, proclaimed ‘’It’s brilliant, they are all old men like me playing the music that I loved’’. Yes mate they did a great job and judging by the people on the dance floor they played their kind of music too. 

WINNERS' LIST

LOUELLA PIGEON WORLD - CARENTAN RACE

1ST. OPEN, 1ST. WEST SECTION; MR. LES MORRIS winning the MNFC GOLD MEDAL, CONVOYERS CUP, PICAUVILLE TROPHY & THE MNFC RACE WINNER’S TROPHY

2ND. OPEN, BAURESS & MURRAY winning the 2ND. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD and also winning the RACING PIGEON/BELGICA DE WEERD YEARLING CLASSIC RACE DECANTER    

3RD. OPEN, R. TUDOR winning the 3RD. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD   

4TH. OPEN, 1ST. NW SECTION, MR. & MRS. A. HARGREAVES winning the 4TH. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD. 1ST. NW SECT. TROPHY and also they won 1ST. NW SECTION TROPHY ANCENSIS

1ST. NORTH SECTION TROPHY; MR. M. ROBINSON  

1ST. NORTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; MR. & MRS. M. & J. GAUNT also winning SHIMWELL MEM. TROPHY for COMB. AVE. DERBYSHIRE 

1ST. SOUTH CENTRE SECTION TROPHY; MR. BILL MARBROW  

1ST. NORTH, NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; BARNES WALMSLEY  

1ST. SOUTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; OLIVER G. KNOWLES   

1ST. SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; SMITH & WILSON 

1ST. EAST SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; T.J. HAWES 

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THE QUEENS JUBILEE TROPHY RACE - FOUGERES THANKS TO RON FULBROOK FOR DONATING THE TROPHY

1ST. OPEN 1ST. ESE SECTION, MR. & MRS. R. AUKER winning the MNFC GOLD MEDAL, the QUEENS JUBILEE TROPHY, F. ATKINS TROPHY and the MNFC RACE WINNERS TROPHY 

2ND. OPEN, 1ST. S.E. SECTION, MR. & MRS. G. BUTTS  winning the 2ND. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD and the 1ST. SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY  

3RD. OPEN E.S.E. P. & D. ELLWOOD winning the 3RD. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD 

4TH. OPEN E.S.E. ROGER WELLS winning the 4TH. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD 

1ST. NORTH SECTION TROPHY; MR. & MRS. R. PASHLEY  

1ST. EAST SECTION TROPHY; MR. FRANK BRISTOW    

1ST. NORTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; KEVIN BOWSKILL  

1ST. NORTH, NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; MR. & MRS. B. FISHER 

1ST. NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; MR. & MRS. J. BOOTH  

1ST. SOUTH CENTRE SECTION TROPHY; L. & J. HAYWOOD    

1ST. SOUTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; W.J. DICKINSON   

1ST. WEST SECTION TROPHY; R. & B. SMITH   

RACING PIGEON/BELGICA DE WEERD YEARLING CLASSIC RACE DECANTER; R. & Y. THOMPSON

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COUNTRY WIDE CLASSIC - ANCENSIS

1ST. OPEN 1ST.NORTH SECTION MR. M.B. BETTS winning the MNFC GOLD MEDAL, HAMPLETT & SHELTON SHIELD, THE HAITH CUP and the MNFC RACE WINNERS TROPHY  

2ND. OPEN MR. N. LAYCOCK winning the 2ND. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD and the RACING PIGEON/ BELGICA DE WEERD YEARLING CLASSIC DECANTER   

3RD. OPEN & 1ST. SOUTH WEST SECTION  MR. C. LEADBEATER & SONS winning the 3RD. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD & 1ST. S.W. SECTION TROPHY   

4TH. OPEN MR. S. GILL & SON winning the 4TH. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD  

1ST. EAST SECTION TROPHY; MR. & MRS. P. CHAPMAN 

1ST. EAST SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; MR. W. BECKETT 

1ST. NORTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; MR. P. LEE & SON   

1ST. NORTH, NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; MR. D. CULLINANE & SON 

1ST. SOUTHE CENTRE SECTION TROPHY & the A. PASSEY MEMORIAL TROPHY; MR. JOHN GILBERT

1ST. NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; A. & S, HUGHES  

1ST. SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; R. & S. GUBBINS 

1ST. WEST SECTION TROPHY, also winning 1st W.S. SECT. VIRE & 1ST. W.S. SECT. CARENTAN Y.B. MR. D. JONES    

Winning the O.R. GAUT MEMORIAL TROPHY for 1ST. HEN in the S.W. SECTION, R. POSTING & SON  

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MNFC ‘GERALDY TRANSPORTERS’ - VIRE

1ST. OPEN, 1ST. SOUTH EAST SECT. MR. A. FARROW winning the MNFC GOLD MEDAL, TOM BIRCH TROPHY and the MNFC  RACE WINNERS TROPHY 

2ND. OPEN, R. & P. MONTILA winning the 2ND. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD and they also won 1st. SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY in the CHALE Y.B. race and the F. ALBRIGHTON MEM TROPHY for comb. Ave. S.E. SECTION 

3RD. & 4TH. OPEN, 1ST. SOUTH CENTRE SECTION; MR. M. LENNON winning the 3RD. & 4TH. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD & 1ST. S.C. SECTION TROPHY 

1ST. EAST SECTION TROPHY; MR. & MRS. P. NEWBOLD  

1ST. EAST, SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; COLIN MANLY  

1ST. NORTH,NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; TIM WEBSTER  

1ST. SOUTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; MR. K. SMITH & SON 

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‘FRANCIS TRANSPORT’ YOUNG BIRD - CHALE

1ST. OPEN, 1ST. NORTH EAST SECTION, G. & S. DAYKIN & SON winning the MNFC GOLD MEDAL, COLIN LEE MEMORIAL TROPHY, MNFC RACE WINNER’S TROPHY they have also won 1ST. N.E. SECT. BORDEAUX TROPHY, JESSE DOLBY ROSEBOWL for 1ST. NOTTS./DERBYS BORDEAUX and the R. WHITMORE MEMORIAL TROPHY, SHIMWELL MEM. TROPHY for COMB. AVERAGE N.E. SECTION   

2ND.,3RD. & 4TH. OPEN, ROBERT PEARSON winning the 2ND., 3RD. & 4TH. CRYSTAL AWARDS  

1ST. NORTH SECTION TROPHY; D. & J. HAWKINS & EVANS also winning N. SECT. COMB. AVE. TROPHY 

1ST. EAST,SOUTH EAST TROPHY; TERRY ROUGHTON also winning 1ST. E.S.E. SECT. TROPHY CARENTAN and the E.S.E. COMB. AVERAGE TROPHY 

1ST. SOUTH CENTRE SECTION TROPHY; JOHN HAVENS

1ST. NORTH,NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; LEACH BROTHERS 

1ST. WEST SECTION TROPHY; J. BURNETT & SONS 

1ST. SOUTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; D. NESBITT & SONS also winning the KEN & CATH LYCETT TROPHY for best average 1ST.O.B. & 1ST. Y.B. races   

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‘THE RACING PIGEON’ YOUNG BIRD CARENTAN

1ST. OPEN, 1ST. NORTH EAST SECTION, MR. R. TURNER winning the MNFC GOLD MEDAL, DICKINSON CUP, C. CATTERALL TROPHY, LADY DIANA MEM. TROPHY, E. AKERS MEM. TROPHY and the MNFC RACE WINNERS TROPHY & 1ST. YOUNG BIRD DERBY AWARD 

2ND. OPEN, 1ST. NORTH SECTION; MR. S. PARKINSON, winning the G.J. & M. SPOONER TROPHY R/U longest Y.B. race, 1ST. N. SECT. TROPHY and also the VIRE ELITE RACE WINNERS TROPHY 

3RD. OPEN, MR. R. BLOWER, winning 3RD. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD 

4TH. OPEN, 1ST. NORTH WEST SECTION, MR. & MRS. G.W. KIRKLAND winning the 4TH. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD, 1ST. N.W.SECT. TROPHY they have also won A. WHITE CUP R/U COMB. AVERAGE, FERNS SHIELD, O.B. AVE.WINNER N.W.SECT & J. BURDEN MEM TROPHY for COMB. AVE. WINNER N.W. SECT.  

1ST SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; PAUL LANE & SON 

1ST. SOUTH CENTRE SECTION TROPHY; MR. & MRS. J. PASSEY & FAMILY  

1ST. EAST SECTION TROPHY; COLEMAN & LAWSON  

1ST. NORTH,NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; EVES. & FLEMING     

1ST. SOUTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; K. PARRY & SON  

1ST. GOLD RING AWARD; A. & S. HUGHES    

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M.N.F.C. ‘ BLUE RIBAND’ BORDEAUX

1ST. OPEN, 1ST. EAST SECTION; MR.J.D. WALKER, winning the MNFC GOLD MEDAL, PERPETUAL CHALLENGE CUP & MNFC RACE WINNERS TROPHY , LORNA HEMSWORTH TROPHY for 1ST. HEN BORDEAUX and the JUNE & TONY WHITEHURST TROPHY for the BEST TWO BIRD AVE. in the longest race, they also won the 1ST. EAST SECT. TROPHY at CHALE & MNFC COMB.AVERAGE EAST SECTION TROPHY

2ND. OPEN, 1ST. SOUTH CENTRE SECTION, MR. F. JACKSON winning the 2ND. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD, ARTHUR PRIME TROPHY for 2ND. OPEN & 1ST. S.C. SECT. TROPHY 

3RD. OPEN, 1ST. NORTH SECTION, L. & A. MILNE winning the 3RD. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD & 1ST. NORTH SECT. TROPHY   

4TH. OPEN, 1ST. SOUTH WEST SECTION, MR. J.D. FRETWELL winning the 4TH. OPEN CRYSTAL AWARD & 1ST. S.W. SECT. TROPHY   

1ST. EAST,SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; MR. C.R. COLCLOUGH 

1ST. NORTH,NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; MR. & MRS, R,E, SARRE  

1ST. NORTH WEST SECTION TROPHY; PRINCE BROTHERS who also won the 1ST. N.W. SECT CHALE TROPHy

1ST. SOUTH EAST SECTION TROPHY; MR. & MRS. G. GROOM   

1ST. WEST SECTION TROPHY; S.J. SMITH & SON    

 

 COMBINED AVERAGES WINNERS

1ST. MNFC SOUTH CENTRE COMB. AVE. TROPHY, MR. & MRS. J. WRIGHT

COMBINED AVERAGE CHAMPIONS for 2013 MR. C. LEADBEATER & SONS, winning the COMBINED AVERAGE CUP, SUN CITY TROPHY, HILLSIDE CUP for best O.B. AVERAGE, GALAXY LOFTS TROPHY for best average TWO LONGEST RACES and finally the JESSE GREEN MEM. TROPHY for best average S.W. SECTION.

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Brian Leadbeater of C. Leadbeater & Sons, the MNFC 2013 Combined Average winners, flanked by Michael Massarella of Louella Pigeon World (L) and MNFC President Roy Jones.

Les Morris the Old Bird Carentan winner

Bauress and Murray 2nd open and 1st Yearling Classic winners from Carentan

Double NW section winners Mr & Mrs Hargreaves

Mally Robinson wins 1st North section again

Barnes & Walmesley NNW section winners

Frank & George Bristow collect another E section win

Mr & Mrs Auker the 1st Open MNFC winners from Fougeres

Mrs Pashley 1st North section Fougeres

The 1st Open winners from Ancensis Mr & Mrs Mick Betts

Nigel & Ryan Laycock 2nd Open and 1st Ylg Classic race winners from Ancensis

One of the Leadbeater team the 3rd Open and 1st SW section winners from Ancensis

A smiling Johnny Gilbert 1st SC section Ancensis - well done John

The 'Dale destroyers A & S Hughes winners of 1st NW section Ancensis and the young bird Gold Ring race.

The Gubbins lads 1st SE section from Ancensis. Your dad would be proud of you boys.

Albert Farrow the winner of the Vire National race

Kevin Smith 1st SW section from Vire

Gary Daykin wins another arm full of trophies including 1st National Chale

Rob Pearson who had a great race from Chale winning 2nd 3rd & 4th Open

Dave & John Hawkins collecting their awards from Michael Massarella

John Havens 1st SC section from Chale

Burnett & Sons winners of 1st West section from Chale

The Nesbitt enjoyed another superb season

Rich Turner the Carentan 1st Open winner

Simon Parkinson a double section winner and the winner of 1st Vire Elite race

The omnipresent Mr & Mrs Geoff Kirkland collect their awards from Michael Massarella

John Passey 1st Sc section from Carentan

Coleman & Lawson 1st West section from Carentan

Jon Walker the 'Blue Riband' race winner from Bordeaux

L & A Milne the North section Bordeaux winners

John Fretwell the Bordeaux SW section Champ

Prince Brothers double NW section winners from Chale and Bordeaux

The Bordeaux SE section winners Mr & Mrs Graham Groom

R & Y Thompson the RP/Deweerd Fougeres Ylg Classic winners

The SC section Combined winner Jeremy Wright

Julie Humphries receives her gift of a wine decanter to mark her service to the club as assistant race secretary

The RPRA cheque supporting the Club's 'Flying Back to Nature' project being presented by Councillor Don Mackay to the MNFC President Roy Jones

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Elimar - November 2013