Fougeres - 1st National Joy for Mr & Mrs Auker

The winning team Mr & Mrs Auker of Brandon

Never has the diversity of National racing been more clearly underlined as revealed by the first two Midlands National Flying Club races. In the first race the wind was of a South Easterly direction and the North Western areas of the club profited. For the second race of season the weather vane swung over to the West South West and the Eastern side members rubbed their hands in anticipation with the South East in particular looking favourites to lift the magnificent Queens Diamond Jubilee trophy so kindly donated by Ron Fullbrook the previous year’s winner. Ron you are a gentleman.

What I have written explains National pigeon racing on any given day certain areas are favoured and this is the reason why we now have ten sections. The critics say that it was better when we had only the four and it certainly made my task a lot easier but these members are mainly the guys who were sitting in the £1 seats, the ones with the best of locations. All that they saw was the sectional prize pot being divided but really is National racing just about the money? I personally like to think that it’s more about the sport and the honour of winning a sectional trophy when an actual National win is the impossible dream for most parts of the country. The cash is lovely but it pales in significance compared to the joy of going forward and receiving your award. So what can be wrong in possibility of seeing ten smiling members faces at the annual dinner?

For the second race in a row the MNFC had a great entry of 6,861 birds. These were in the capable hands of our convoying team led by Ian French and they got the birds on their homeward journey at 7.05am into a fresh WSW wind and confidence was high for a good race with excellent returns which proved to be correct with nearly 4,000 early birds clocked.

On this occasion it was Ron & Angela Auker a husband and wife partnership who were celebrating every fancier’s ambition and dream… winning a National race. My first question that I put to Ron was is Angela a real pigeon partner? Or is she just to make the photos look better? The answer was a resounding yes. She is the daughter of a fancier and is a great aid to Ron and equally keen on the pigeons as I soon learned as we chatted about the various topics of pigeon racing. The Aukers are a fine example of what pigeon racing is all about, nice people enjoying a good clean hobby. The National winner which also wins 1st ESE section is the type that is bred for the job of successfully flying the 292 mile distance to Brandon in Suffolk being a Tumley Lofts bred Leen Boers pigeon which are bred for these Middle distance events. A 4 year old Blue Pied cock which won flying on the natural system. It was having its fourth trip across the channel having previously been sent as far a Niort. Obviously the bird had learned the way home well to record a velocity of 1743 ypm. In their lofts the couple are geared up for the Marathon races with stock including Jan Aarden, Van Der Wegen and Bricoux all strains that have no fear of the longer races. I wish them well with their ambitions.

The MNFC Fougeres 2013 National winner

I’m sure that all readers will spare a thought for another husband and wife partnership who for the second year running were the runners up. Yes incredibly Mr & Mrs George Butts of Hitchen finished 2nd Open but on this occasion they had the consolation of winning 1st SE section. Their bird is a 2 year old widowhood cock. The bird which was bred from a pair of Janssen x Van den Bosche purchased from Mr Whitehouse of New Milton’s entire clearance sale. As a youngster the bird was only trained to 30 miles. As a yearling he was just raced from Poole on 4 occasions. Great patience was the order of the day for this Blue pied cock. This season he began to reveal his worth with 1st club and 5th Federation from Honiton then two weeks later he won 2nd club 5th federation from Poole. Then he really came ‘up trumps’ with 2nd Open in the MNFC with a velocity of 1721. Will it be third time lucky next season for Mr & Mrs Butts? One thing is for sure, the partners will be doing their very best!

Plenty to smile about  - Mr & Mrs George Butts 1st SE & 2nd Open

P & D Ellwood of South Lynn lay claim to the 3rd Open position with a 2 year old Chequer hen the velocity being 1713.The pigeon is a Janssen based pigeon off Shaun Nicholson of Bury. She has really been kept busy as she has had every inland race with the Fens S R fed and was 24th section from the MNFC Carentan race. For this race she was sent paired and sitting on 3 day old eggs and this seemed to have suited her to a T. The partners only started racing in 2007 and the loft is self built and I’m told has good ventilation. The birds were flown on roundabout but feel that the results are better now they are flying on the natural system. The birds are fed Gerry Plus and it must be working as the whole team was back home by the late afternoon. This result is the highlight of their short career but I bet that they are hungry for more.

Peter Ellwood the 3rd Open winner

A 4 year old blue hen belonging to Roger Wells of nearby West Lynn finished in 4th Open three yards behind the 3rd place bird having been clocked 1 ½ minutes behind the Elwoods  pigeon. Like the Ellwood’s bird she was sent sitting for 5 days when sent to the race. This Louella bred Willy van Houtte bird has won previously from Morpeth flying on the North road. This was only her second channel crossing and in the previous race she was Roger’s last bird home so those eggs must have worked wonders! A small number of hens were selected a while ago with the sole intention of competing with the MNFC and had been prepared with the Federation with little heed paid to their results and with the plan to bring them to a peak of form for their chosen MNFC races. I tell you what Roger you certainly ‘cracked it’ mate. Isn’t it nice when a plan comes together? Roger has been in the game since the sixties and flys to a small, neat traditional green and white loft. His birds are fed on a no nonsense economy mix and purchased locally.

Roger Wells with his 4th Open winner

Tony Bates of Alconbury clocked a three year old Blue Cock called ‘True Blue’ which wins not only 2nd SE section and 5th Open but also 1st Huntingdon SRRPC and 1st Harrowden Federation as the Harrowden is one of the sensible Feds who leave all the transport problems to the Midlands National by duplicating back from the full race. Tony explained to me that that his bird is a North Road conversion as he was raced on the North road earlier in his career flying up to Thurso as a yearling. Since turning to the ‘promised land’ of South Road racing ‘True Blue’ won 1st club from Vire in 2012. Also when duplicating back from the MNFC race. The bird is a 100% Houben pigeon being bred from direct stock. Tony told me that he is also a scribe for his area writing under the pen name of ‘Batesy’ . So he will no doubt understand my error.

Tony Bates with 'True Blue' winner of 2nd SE section 5th Open Fougeres

The 6th Open winner was yet another SE section partnership of Farrington Brothers a 2 year old Roland Janssen Grizzle hen flown on the roundabout system recording 1707. The bird was gifted to the partners by a chap who was moving away and they don’t even no his name. Showing my age now could it have been the Lone Ranger? Either way it was a superb gift. Mr & Mrs Hartley of Luton take the 4th prize in the SE section and 7th open on 1700 with a 2 year old blue cock.

Then it’s back up to Kings Lynn and Naughton & Granddaughter timed another 4 year old blue chequer hen with a good channel record having won from Fougeres in 2012 flying in the Norfolk Continental F C her bloodlines are Venus x Flor Engels and were acquired from the MNFC maestro Geoff Kirkland a velocity of 1690 winning 4th ESE section and 8th Open. Amazingly it was once again newly laid eggs which did the trick for Paul. I must start eating more eggs regardless of what Edwina Curry said because they certainly seem to work in Norfolk!

The Stotford partnership of R & Y Thompson win the Racing Pigeon-De Weerdt sponsored Yearling National race and the lovely Crystal Decanter trophy with yet another blue pied cock. I’m sure the Thompsons will be delighted with their prize. It really was a good day for Kings Lynn and the surrounding area’s fanciers with no less than 4 birds in the top ten positions as Peacock and Byrne also take 10th Open position. My thanks to Graham Cook for his info.

Heading further up country now to the East section and once again we see the name of Frank Bristow. Let’s be honest and admit that Frank and his son George are flying absolutely brilliantly and this is underlined once again as the loft takes 1st 2nd & 4th section placings. I have details of the first section winner which is a yearling blue chequer Willy Thas based widowhood hen records 1678. She was 14th section from the MNFC Carentan race three weeks previously. Last season as a young bird she was 6th section from Carentan once again with the MNFC. Her sire is a son of Frank’s ‘Rooney’ when paired to a daughter of ‘Beckham’. I have no details of the 2nd and 4th section winning birds other than they are both hens and Frank and George certainly have this widowhood hens system down to a fine art.

Simply superb - Frank & Son George Bristow

Ian Cameron of Broadholme in Linconshire was 2nd and 3rd East section. Ian’s first bird is a G W & P Macaloney x Darren Peters pigeon. Ian is a good friend of these fine fanciers and his 3 year old cock was bred off a Cock from Darren that is a son of Peter van der Merwe’s ‘Wonder Girl’. I think that most people are aware that Darren Peters owns the very finest bloodlines of this family. The mother is a daughter of the Macaloney’s ‘Dream Pair’ which have bred an army of great pigeons for both them and many other people such as Ian. The bird proved that this was no ‘flash in the pan’ by being 11th section in the MNFC’s race from Caretan three weeks earlier. Close on the first bird is a second bird this time a yearling cock. Once again this pigeon is bred from Macaloney birds being the result of a pairing of a cock from the’ Macs’ top Vandenabeele pair of ‘Bandit’ and ‘Shady Lady’ when paired to another ‘Dream pair’ hen. You will notice that Ian has always sought the very best from his long term friends from Coatbridge in Bonnie Scotland. Ian has told me many times that the Macaloney’s have supplied their fellow Scot with some wonderful pigeons over the decade plus that he has been going to them for stock.

Ian Cameron, 2nd & 3rd East section

Next in the East section are the Cleethorpes flyers Mr & Mrs Tony Blendell their bird is a 3 year old blue cock and showed his form by being 8th section three weeks previously with the MNFC.His sire is a Glynn and Mick Stone and he is a son of their ‘Hartshay Lady’. On the dam's side she is known as the ‘Blackpool Hen’ and comes from Grimsby’s Earling Dean.

Tony Blendell at it again in the East section

The Champs in the North section on this occasion are Mr & Mrs Pashley of Bircotes and they won the section with a Yearling Chequer hen which is a M & D Evans pigeon. I’m told that the bird contains the bloodlines of ‘Wittenbuik 360’, Lady Devon, Young Eisenhower and Diamond Spirit.

A happy couple Mr & Mrs Pashley - 1st North section

In 2nd section is a team of birds that are in great form belonging to Womersley’s Nigel Laycock his bird which was well fancied as his prize money pick up will testify records a velocity of 1672 and just edges out Crowle’s Simon Parkinson who is on the next yard.

The Laycocks 'still on the boil' in the North section

Simon’s pigeon is a 2 year old blue pied which is bred from the loft’s number 1 Jochem van Hasselt stock pair that are responsible for winners right through to National levels. The bird herself is a previous winner of 3rd section 9th Open from Chale as a youngster. Her wins in the NEPC are also very impressive and I won’t be surprised to hear more about her in future races.

Simon Parkinson of Crowle - 3rd North section

4th section is another two times National winning fancier Micky Betts. Mick clocked yet another two year old hen and boy did his birds come well as he got three birds in the top ten section places. In 5th section just a blink behind Mick’s bird is Mr & Mrs Cherry with a 2 year old chequer cock.

Dropping down into the North East section and there we see Kevin Bowskill clocks a nice one the bird is a red yearling widowerhood cock and  is a mixture os Karel Herman, Pete Hagland and Hamilton Brothers. He won as a young bird and his brother was 8th NE section from Carentan. It does look like Kevin has a pair of good ‘uns on his hands there doesn’t it?

Kevin Bowskill the NE champ from Fougeres

Keeping it close is the 2nd NE section winner belonging to Allen Son & Clark who are club mates of Kevin’s and they send their congratulations to the section topper. The 2nd placed pigeon is a 2 year old Blue cock and he is a Peter Van der Merwe x Wildemeersche. Right behind them in 3rd spot is the Beeston loft of Pete Hudson with his bird a yearling blue cock just .45 of a yard behind on 1674.02. The North East quartet is made up by Topham, Betts and Son the lads from Nottingham got a 2 year old chequer hen on 1670.

Graham Allen and his young son 2nd NE section

Dropping back in a southerly direction we go into the South Centre section and we find it a bit of a battle of the families. Coming out on top are brothers L & J Haywood with a velocity of 1668. The lads time in a yearling Chequer cock which will see a nice little cheque arriving to them. Being sons of the late and dare I say great John Haywood the sons have obviously learned a bit from the ‘old man’. In 2nd section is their brother in law Clive Yates on 1666. Clive very sportingly sends his congratulations but I bet the baskets have been in action since ready for the next race. The bird that Clive timed is a yearling hen and is a cross between the Yates and son ‘house’ Wildie family and a M & Evans. Her father has 3 first feds on his CV and the dam is a daughter of Clive’s Tours National winner.

Clive Yates with his young granddaughter showng off his 2nd S Csection pigeon

3rd section goes to a fellow who is so far having a good season and he usually gets better as the distance increases and that man is Micky Lennon of Nuneaton. Micky times a 2 year old Pencil cock on 1653. The bird is a Roger Maris-based pigeon and bred in the ‘purple’ with its sire being a previous 1st section Tours winner and the dam is a daughter of Mick’s 2nd Open Bordeaux winner. So you will now understand my comment of expecting to see Mick’s name in the longest race results. In 4th section is Markfield’s Pickering and son velocity 1641. Their timer is Madam Vink bird bred off stock acquired from Scotland’s Mick McMurchie.

Moving out now to the ‘wild’ west and they don’t come much wilder than the builder pigeon fancier Joe Booth of Milwich. Mr & Mrs Booth top the North West section with a 3 year old Blue cock with a bird originating from his good friend Cannock’s Jack Walker. The bird has won club races and taken fed prizes previously Joe tells me. This is a really good bird to feature so highly in the open result being in 61st place with a velocity of 1650. The bird in 2nd section is another amazing bird owned by R & J Goodwin & Son. I say amazing because it was a wonder it managed to home so quickly as it was carrying so much pool and nom on his back! The bird is a yearling Blue hen and she will lift just under a ‘grand’ for her owners who are having a great season and this hen is a bird which we all crave and she has already stacked up winnings of nearly £2,500. She won 2nd section 6th Open Carentan as a baby. She has won several firsts at club and fed level and was 9th section 60th Open MNFC Carentan earlier this season. I was told that she won 1st Club and 11th Fed last weekend and is going back to Ancensis this week. I bet the partners will be waiting with their hearts in their mouth until she homes but what a pigeon and it couldn’t happen to nicer people even if Mrs G did have a little moan about the perforations on her subs form ha ha! The pigeon is a Verheye and she comes from two great home bred parents her grandsire won 5 1st prizes. 

Joe Booth looking like 'King' of the NW section

What can you say about the lads who are 3rd NW section? They really do make pigeon racing look easy. Who am I talking about? Surely you can guess its A & S Hughes of Rochdale. These two appear at times to defy gravity. If there is a better team of Middle distance channel racers in the country lead me to them as I would like to meet them. Their first bird is another of their ‘ladies’ a two year old dark hen. I noticed that they also timed a plethora in the NFC on the same day so they have plenty of ‘good eggs in their basket’. 4th section goes to our mate Freddie Proc’ of Proctor Brothers from Brown Edge. Fred timed a 2 year old roundabout hen on 1619. Be careful of that roundabout Fred it will make you giddy! I don’t normally mention the 5th section bird but as they are so close to Fred’s bird being just .3 of a yard behind I will give A & S Rushton a mention and just like the ‘Dale A & S team the Potteries version are  fanciers to look out for in the future! They have done it in the clubs and now they are turning their attention to the MNFC.

The South West section is led home by a 2 year old Blue hen owned by Cannock Wood fancier Bill Dickinson. I had a nice chat with Bill and he is a keen on his channel racing as the proverbial mustard. He tells me that his winner is a blue Dordin based hen two years old and it was her first channel crossing. Bill is one of the ‘old school’ who has great patience and prefers private training to a lot of racing. I was informed that this pigeon had only had 4 races in her life but as previously explained plenty of private preparation. She was sent sitting 14 days on eggs. Yes Bill is a natural man; I did tell you that he was an ‘old school’ fancier. He also timed a second bird that was well fancied and will settle the corn bills for a while with another hen this time a 3 year old which was also on 14 day old eggs and it was her second channel crossing and she was 2nd club from Messac in 2012. This blue hen originates from Bob and Brian Smith’s Burtonwood loft. We will be reading more on these two gents later in my report. Bill kindly invited me over to visit him and if time allows I will take him up on his offer.

2nd SW section is filled by G & J Jones and Adams who are just .1 of a yard behind the section winner on 1635.8 - talk about close finishes! It would have been a double 1st section as the loft won the NFC section J on the same day so it is obvious that the partners have got the loft on ‘super form’ is the secret in the water or on the corn lads. Probably not just good birds in good condition.Their MNFC pigeon is a 3 year old Walter Docx pigeon off their best Docx stock pair. The bird is a 3 year old pied cock and has proved his worth by winning 1st Federation previously and he has generally flown consistently from over the channel. Well done on a fine weekend’s racing, truly the stuff many of us dream of.

What a super day for Grahan Jones with two superb National results

3rd section are friends of mine being Rugeley’s Dougie Nesbitt and Sons and they clocked a yearling blue widowhood cock 1627.8 and pooled to the ‘knocker’ which will bring them another ‘Grand’ for the kitty. Boy I wish I was their cat he must be pretty fat by now after what they have won already this season! Doug tells me that on this occasion it is a Cooreman x Soontjens. Bob Fenech says that the Cooremans are ‘lightning fast’. Well crossed with the Nessy Soontjens it looks they can rob banks!!

Dougie Nesbitt of the 'Nessie team' enjoying another great season

4th spot and once again just a gnats wing length behind on 1627.6 is another grand partnership and once again people whose company I’ve enjoyed after previous wins are Paul, Brian & Wendy Hyatt a father, mother and son team from Ripple. They have raced wonderfully for quite a time now and I’m told that they have already won6 first clubs, 2 First feds and no less than 42 top 20 fed diplomas. Their bird a two year old blue w/f hen which has already won this season 1st club is a M & D Vandenabeele and he has Benson, Red Eye and Shadow very prominently in his breeding.

Up into the West section now and what a day for Bob & Brian Smith who take not just 1st but also 2nd and 3rd section positions, what a hat trick I bet they won the lottery as well! Once again two very dedicated fanciers. ‘Our Bob’ as Brian refers to him is currently President of the Lancashire Social Circle a club recently I had the pleasure of being invited to one of their dinners. All I can say is that it is an organisation that promotes everything which is good about pigeon racing. Not just the winning though that is the ‘cherry on the cake’ but also the pleasure of mixing with other people who love their pigeons. And I say ‘more power to your elbows lads’ I really had a great weekend and if you are lucky enough to be invited snap up the opportunity. Brian is what I would describe as a ‘loose cannon’ but a friendly one! The sort who you can trust to do what he feels is right and you can’t get enough of this type. He told me I don’t want to be on the Social committee like ‘Our Bob’ because he has to behave himself. I like to be able to say what I think he told me with a wink. A little bird tells me that Brian may just be coming to join the MNFC committee to represent the West section. I’m sure that you will be warmly welcomed Brian. The three blue hens did the damagefor the partners. The first one ‘84’ and is a previous winner of 1st section 2nd Open NW Grand National Fougeres plus a host of other excellent performances. She is half sister to ‘51’ their 1st MNFC National winner  from Carentan in 2011. In 2nd section is ‘92’ who was flown naturally as a baby and as a yearling was only lightly raced due to injury. This season she was sent to Carentan winning 36th Open 97th Open. Then followed up with 2nd section obviously; she is learning very fast. Her sire is from Barber & Hilson being of Kees Bosua origins off Crammond & Langstaff. While the dam is another half sister of ‘51’. Her sister  has also won a stack of diplomas and prize money. The third blue has also got ‘form’ and she is off ‘Hughie’ their No1 stock cock which has bred winner from 60-510 miles. ‘Hughie’ was bred by their friend Hugh Higgins. His basis is Turner & Ryder ‘Red Daniel’ Staf Van Reet. All three were raced on widowhood. They exercise just once a day flying to their own section. Feeding is very light at the beginning of theseason and strengthened by adding fat seed and a heavier widowhood mixture as the distance increases. During the early part of the season the birds get 2 x 40 miles training flights and later in between the Channel races they rely on the club’s comeback racing programme to keep them in trim. Between them the Smiths birds have won them a superb trophy and lovely cash pick up.

Bob & Brian Smith and Bob's apprentice young Matt Keelan holding the first three West section pigeons

Having to settle for 4th section is a stalwart MNFC partnership that of Porter Brothers two grand lads who love to race pigeons and their 2 year old blue cock will ensure that they also have a nice pick up on 1549. The bird I’m told is a Vandenbeele bred by Southport’s John Blundell and the lads wish to thank John as he is a good bird having won previously. He also wins the brothers 1st in the Liverpool Classic Club.

Thomas Peter Forber is just one yard behind with the West section’s first yearling which will win his owner a nice prize is a blue Gevaert x Laereman cock and he comes off stock from Warrington’s Les Davis. I’m informed that it was his first look at the channel and enjoyed it so much that he did two laps of honour before trapping which probable lost him a couple of places but hey ho he could be one for the future. I hope so for you Thomas.

Thomas Forber flying high in the West section

Finally we move on up to the far North West of the club the NNW section which obviously were the least advantaged area due to both location and the prevailing wind direction. The rewards are still there though as Mr & Mrs Brian Fisher of Todmorden will surely testify. They had a field day winning 1st 2nd 3rd 5th and 6th section places. A top team performance in anyone’s book surely.

4th section is won by P R Heywood of Chipping who clocked the same blue hen that won 4th section from the previous MNFC race from Carentan. As was explained it is a bird bred off top M & Evans birds with Shadow, Jester, Carrie, Gentiel and Crystal in her lines.

Peter Heywood with his good bird winning its second 4th NNW section placing

Well worth a mention are Cullinane & Son who describe themselves as novices. Well with the aid of their 2 year old red cock from a cock which has won 3 times as a baby he always can be relied upon in the channel events they are breaking their novice status very rapidly. The bird’s mother is a Janssen based pigeon off their friend John Turner. The lads say they can’t wait for the next MNFC race. I think that there are a few more that will echo that sentiment and we are expecting yet another very healthy entry.

Cullinane & Son's Red Chequer up with the leaders in the NNW

I must say it has been a real challenge getting this report together and I do appeal to members whose name appears in the first four of each section to contact me with an email and a few details and a photo if possible. My email which is also in the handbook is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

                                                                                                                         

Stop Press The entry for the next race from the new race point of Ancensis is now 5,467 with a few more expected in tomorrow’s post. This is a fabulous send with over 1500 more pigeons than last year’s corresponding race. What other organisation can boast such an increase?

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