MNFC Poitiers

        Victory for Mr & Mrs Brian Fisher & Son

Brian & Steve Fisher with the Poitiers National winner and 1st section Vire winners

 After a three day holdover and the prospect of a daunting flight with a strong North West blowing the decision was made to bring the birds back nearly 100 miles nearer to home by moving to Poitiers. I think the number of day birds that reached home on the Tuesday when the liberation finally took place at 7.20am into a WNW wind on the Tuesday morning that it was going to be a tough one and highlighted that the decision though disappointing for many members was in reality a wise one.

 Quite a few eyebrows were raised when they saw that on top of the leader board was one of the longest flying members in the form of Mr & Mrs Brian Fisher and their son Steve with a big, handsome 4-year-old Blue widowhood cock. I drove up to Lydgate which is near to Todmorden in the Pennines to take a look at this fine team of racing pigeons. In truth, the partners have been flying exceptionally well for years and this latest performance is another chapter in their success story.

  The dangers of sparrow hawks apart the lofts are situated in an idyllic location up on the level of a steep hillside high above the village of Lydgate.  So beautiful is the spot that the partners have set up home in a grand static caravan which has all of the latest mod cons after deciding to sell their home at the bottom of the valley below.  Yes it really is a wonderful place to live. After looking at some fine performers I got to see the latest star and I was in no way disappointed as he is a grand example of a long distance performer, with a sturdy skeleton and tight vent bones covered by excellent muscle and with the short back wing so necessary for success from the longest races. Brian explained that the birds in the main originate from his old Delbar lines which the partners first acquired from an old farmer  up on Saddleworth Moor named Levy Tweed over 40 years ago. Brian told me that the farmer’s birds were indeed of a mouth-watering quality. Well these birds have certainly served the partnership magnificently since their introduction all of those years ago with some superb National results. The National winner is a grandson of one of the lofts old superstars called ‘Stormer’ and now the MNFC winner is named ‘Young Stormer’ and the named is very fitting because on the day he certainly was a stormer! The win was the icing on a fine day as earlier in the day the partners had clocked the North Centre section’s winner from Vire. This is surely a good indication to the excellent condition of the lofts inmates. Let me inform readers here that I know that the Fishers are hard task masters and Steve is often up at dawn with a couple of baskets of pigeons for a 40-50 miles training flight. Brian said that he believes that this is necessary to get the birds in tip top shape and well prepared for the hard work that awaits them. A prime example is the National winner which for the last three seasons since he was two he has been sent to Tarbes and there aren’t many that would dream of sending their birds back to another long flight so soon after a marathon race like Tarbes but these birds are as tough as ‘owd boots’ and obviously thrive on the work. After a flight time of 13 hours and 10 minutes for the 516 miles the bird arrived home to record 1149 and win 1st section and Open for his proud owners.

The Fisher Family's Poitiers National winner

 Just a decimal of .9 behind the 1st South Centre and 2nd Open bird which is another multi long distance performer land on his home loft in Earl Shilton belonging to Robert Glover. The bird is a 4 year old Blue hen that was bred by the well-known scribe and fancier Joe Murphy. The bird contains the blood of some magnificent Scottish pigeons being a ½ sister of ‘My Little Rachel’ who won1st SNFC from Falaise. Also ‘Mary’ who raced with great credit on no less than 11 occasions for Jock King and finally G & B Hunter’s ‘Kingdom Spirit’ which was decided on PIPA as ‘A bird in a million’. In her illustrious career the bird won no less than 2 x gold (5 times a winner) and 2x silver Awards. In 2010 this super bird won the Dewar Trophy after being voted Scotland’s Bird of the year. Robert’s hen has flown quite a number of times now and in 2016 showed her massive potential by being

6th MNFC Long Distance Ace Pigeon.

'The Murphy Hen' Rob Glover's 2nd Open winner

  In 3rd Open and winning the South East section is a partnership in Mr & Mrs Geoff Jakings who are certainly enjoying a golden year with the Midlands National because you will no doubt remember that they also won the Fougeres race a few weeks ago. The Jakings latest ‘star’ is a Hereman Ceusters x Hardy Kruger pigeon and was actually bred by their friend Dave Arthurs. As is often the case this yearling Dark chequer hen has spent most of the year on the roundabout system but was sent sitting for the big one and she was sitting four eggs after pairing with another hen. Geoff and Geraldine ask me to congratulate the race winners and the other section toppers.

Dave Arthurs holding the hen that won 3rd Open and that he bred for Mr & Mrs Jakings posing with Geoff Jakings

 After reading of three previous superb long distance pigeons we now see another absolute topper in the form of Nigel Laycock’s 2011 bred Blue hen that has an absolutely fantastic record from the Club’s Blue Ribbon race. This hen that was bred from birds loaned off Nigel’s good friend Paul Stobbs go back to the old Tom Gilbertson & Son of Carlisle’s blood via Alan White of Hetton. The bird is called ‘Shizere’ due to the many times that Nigel has shouted this to his wife after they waited confidently to see her return. Her record from the longest race is quite amazing as in 2013 she won 3rd section 46th Open, 2014 saw her win 2nd section and 37th Open. Then after a failure in 2015 for which Nigel blames himself as in his heart he knew she wasn’t right and she homed late on the second evening but in 2016 normally service was resumed when she won 1st section and 10th Open after which she won the ‘Blue Ribbon Diploma of Merit’ but unlike many others her boss was confident enough to send he once again to win her second 1st section win and 4th Open. Yes this hen is like vintage wine and just gets better with age!

Nigel Laycock's fine hen that this time won 4th Open back on her eggs

 5th Open and 1st North North West section is filled by yet another bird that is a little stonker for Roskell & Williamson. Their first one that recorded 1134 is a 5 year old dark hen. She was also on the clock from the tough Ancenis race. The lads tell me that she is bred from the old Busschaert lines of Maurice Carter who raced excellently from the cross channel events. After he passed away the birds were purchased by the partners and this hen has been one of the stars from these birds as she has won prizes every year since being a youngster. The ‘Toms’ sent two and also clocked their other bird which won 2nd section from Ancenis to fill 11th section on this occasion.

Roskell & Williamson's hen back home with her mate

  I don’t know how many readers will have noticed that the top five birds are from five different sections! In fact there are no less than seven sections represented in the top ten Open placings. Highlighted what I have always believed that the further the race the fairer it is. From the longest races it is a case of good birds make for good locations.

 Back to the race again and in 6th Open is claimed by another former race winner in the form of Ron Fullbrook if as you may remember won 1st & 2nd in the Queens Diamond Jubilee race a few seasons ago. The 2015 bred cock recorded 1130 with a son off ‘Jubilee Diamond’ which was second in the Jubilee race and his second timer which finished in 6th section is son off ‘Jubilee Pearl’ which won the disastrous Old Hens race with the NFC. This proves the old saying ‘That the apple never falls far from the tree’ very accurate. These hens were both crossed with the Soontjen ‘Just a Kid’ lines. Ron prepared is birds with the first two races in the MNFC then privately trained before a toss off the line from Southend which is around 70 miles then taken to Buckingham to the west  of the line to ‘make them think’ and it clearly worked didn’t it?

Ron Fullbrook 2nd SE section 6th Open

 Congleton fanciers B & G Smith take 7th Open and top the North West section with a 6 year old Chequer hen. The bird that went to Carentan and had plenty of short races before being paired after racing on the roundabout  method and the Jan Aarden x Dordin which was bred by their pal Stuart Goldstraw was sent flying to large youngster. The Jan Aarden sire was bred by Jan Polder and is a grandson of his famed ‘Rainbow Warrior’. Gary tells me that she has been a grand bird for them winning quite a few pries including being the only bird on the day in their club from Saintes.

Patmore & Rayner occupy 8th Open and 1st East South East section with a 3 year old cock that the partners call the ‘Golden cock’ the cock five channel races as a yearling. Then rested but brought out again in 2016 and was the partners first bird on three occasions and twice their second arrival. The nestmate of the bird won 4th Open in the NFc Saintes race and a sister won 1st EECC from Fontenay.  The bird was entered to the race feeding newly hatched babies after previously racing on the widowerhood system. His breeding is a multi-crossed pigeon being a mixture of Van Loon, van Hee and Wanroy via ‘Black Giant’ lines. The bird was well fancied as the winners cheque clearly testifies. The partners in fact take the second section place with a four year old Blue cock but I have no further details on this one I’m afraid.

Patmore & Rayner 1st ESE section and 8th Open

   The ‘silent men’ in the form of R & P Montila who fill 9th Open and 3rd SE section with a 3 year old Chequer W/F cock which achieved a velocity of 1113.

10th Open goes to the Ancenis champion L D S Johnson and once again they top the North East section. Their bird on this occasion is a two year old Blue cock that recorded a velocity of 1105 for the 454 mile trip.

Still smilling the L D S Johnson team after their 1st NE section win

Going around the sections now and the first to hand is the NNW and in 2nd & 3rd section here are the Thornton Cleveleys loft of Mr & Mrs Sarre who clocked a chequer hen and a Blue Pied cock respectively on 1009 and 984 respectively. 4th section goes over to Accrington to Peter Hargreaves who timed a three-year-old Dark Chequer pied Jan Aarden hen which was bred by Carl Cousins of Aberdare. She has previously won 1st club and 2nd fed from Ludlow along with 2nd club from Shrewsbury and she has also won 4th club from Messac all flying to a small 12 x 4 garden loft that contains 8 couples and 12 young ones. So a big thumbs up for the small team flyers. A nice cheque will be on its way shortly Peter.

Rounding up the SE section in 4th section we see Chris Gadsden who timed in a bird that was bred by local fancier Peter Wells to help Chris to rebuild his team after a fox got into the loft and decimated his loft killing most of the young bird team and his best National winning hens. It was only trained as a baby then had four inland races as a yearling then prior to the Poitiers race it had two prep inland races before being sent sitting eggs for her great result. Her pedigree is full of long distance bloodlines including a combine winner from Niort and a 2nd combine winner from Thurso.

2nd & 3rd NNW section Mr & Mrs Sarre

            

                          Peter Hargreaves 4 NNW section                                                                     Chris Gadsden 4th SE section

 

Back to the NW section now and in 2nd section is D Hughes of Market Drayton who timed a yearling pied cock of Busschaert and Koopman breeding via his dad and uncle Mick and John Hughes on 1053. Mick in particular is well known and respected for his exploits over the channel with his good family of Busschaerts. I am informed that the bird has been very consistent this season so this performance was the crowning glory.

Dave Hughes the winner of  2nd NW section

Fellow clubmate Brian Heath timed a three year old Chequer cock for 3rd section that showed it’s ability as a yearling in 2015 when it won 1st NW section from Bordeaux. The bird was well fancied and will collect a handsome cheque for Brian and  is a Biss x Kipp & son pigeon. The Biss lines are ‘Yentas’ a son of ‘Legacy’ and a daughter of ‘Vend’. On the dams side it is ‘Malvulio’ crossed with ‘Gunfighter Lady’. Brian says that these lines are racing very well for him. 4th section is taken by the Leek loft of the Fowler Family who timed a 3 year old Chequer hen on 1017. Three weeks earlier she had been 10th section from Ancenis behind three other loftmates. The hen is of Biss x Gilbert and Cooper breeding.

           

                 Brian Heath holding his 3rd NW section winner                                               Fowler Family 4th NW section

In 1st East section we see Frank & George Bristow who won the Blue ribbon race a couple of years ago clock the only day bird in the section. Their timer on this occasion is the same bird that the partners timed first in the poor Ancenis race. This seems to be a common factor this season. He was also the partners first arrival from Bordeaux in 2016.The cock which was bred by Ipswich’s Peter Crawford is a crossing of the Bristows Casaert blood and Peters Westcotts. Those Westcotts were renowned as very tough birds and many fanciers down in the Rhondda valley used this line from the longest North road race points. In 2nd section we have Coleman & Lawson and their bird is a two year old former roundabout racer which was prepared by pairing her and sending her sitting 10 day old eggs. The bird is bred from a grandson of Geoff & Catherine Cooper’s National winner ‘George’ and her dam is a granddaughter of ‘Red Barcelona’ and ‘Euro Diamond’. I’m told by Dean that the bird was timed at 5.55 am so must have been very close to home on the night.

2nd East section Coleman & Lawson's hen back with her partner

In 3rd section Dave Barnett of Sudbrooke clocked a hen that as a youngster won 4th section in the MNFC Carentan race. Now this bird which was bred by Congleton fanciers Ken and Mark Cliffe is of German based Stoffel x Tommy Shaw  breeding. Dave confided that he is confident that his hen will shine in future long distance races but only time will tell. In 4th section is L Tuplin and Son but due to lack of info I aren’t sure if his 5 year old dark cock is in fact one of their old Barker strain that they built an impressive reputation with.

Dave Barnett with his 3rd E section winner

 News is pretty scarce in the East North East section where we see Hull fanciers K & S Walsh fill 1st and 4th section with two 2015 bred hen on 943 and 850 respectively. In 2nd section is the newly wed Dave Beadle and his 2nd section winner from Ancenis is once again the bird that repeated the dose once again. The bird is of Sablon breeding via Mark Gilbert and her brother was Dave’s first bird from Vire and he told me that she is a good little hen that is always there 1st thing next morning. In 3rd section are Gray & Atkin of Bridlington their single entry for the 530 mile event was a two year old Mealy hen.

Dave Beadle with his bride on their wedding day and shortly after he was celebrating once again with 2nd section in the ENE

Tidying up in the ESE and Terry Roughton is there once again with a gift bird from Richard Green which has only been lightly raced and was sent sitting 14 days and she recorded 975. Terry got two more the next day but as he had already gone on holiday the lucky devil they weren’t clocked. 4th section is filled by one of our regulars when the longest races come around in the form of Mr & Mrs Ron Auker they clocked a 2 year old chequer cock at 9.06 at night. The bird has been called ‘Brandon’ after the couples young grandson. Like so many more birds the cock was paired for the race and sent sitting 15 day old eggs after formerly being a roundabout pigeon racing up to 200 miles with the local club. He is bred from stock acquired from John Halstead both of which were bought from the Blackpool charity sale. The cock is directly from ‘Nyland Ashley’ while the hen is a Biss x Southwell and both parents being full of good national results.

        

              Terry Roughton amongst the winners again in the ESE                            Ron & Angie Auker with their grandchildren - 4th section in the ESE

Returning to the North section in 2nd place is Simon Parkinson who along with his dad had pretty much given up hope of seeing a first night arrival and Simon’s dad went in the house. 5 minutes later though at 9.28 pm in almost darkness a Luc Christians based hen which Simon had only brought in in 2014 made the wait worthwhile. Her velocity is 1037 and good enough to win 23rd Open.

The Parkinson's 2nd North section

3rd section is claimed by Dave Valentine & Grandson with the same 3 year old cock that he got from the ill-fated Ancenis race. That sounds very familiar doesn’t it? The bird is just like the Bristows pigeon bred by Peter Crawford the super North Road racer and he comes from his team of Westcotts. These birds lie dormant I’m told until they hit the longer racepoints then they turn up looking fresh as paint. Goole’s Stanley Lockwood took the 4th slot with a 4 year old Blue cock but once again no further details I’m afraid.

Dave Valentine 3rd in the North section.

The West section is the location of one of the most impressive performances of the day which unless you know your geography you could well have missed. The bird that I am referring to is the 5 year old Chequer cock that in his career this Corbett based Busschaert roundabout cock . The pigeon must know the route back from France to Wrexham like clockwork as he has umpteen good results from many racepoints across the channel. His owners Lloyd & Bagnall must be very proud of this veteran campaigner after his latest win when he will as well as topping the section has also laid claim to 16th Open. Well done.

             

                                 Lloyd & Bagnall - 1st West section                                       One of the race's star winning 16th Open against the odds

In 2nd section is Peter Forber who saw home a 4 year old Blue hen which was bred by Lee Davidson of Liverpool and this lady is a granddaughter of one of the greatest MNFC  winners ever in the form of the late Les grain’s ‘Max-a-Million’ the double National winner. The bird was also doubleback to the North Ashton 2B and will obviously win that good club also. 3rd place is taken by Lee Davidson & Son himself who timed a 2014 bred Grizzle hen which recorded 962 just 2 yards behind the hen which he had bred for Peter Forber. A case of bitter sweet for Lee? 4th section goes to another one of the West’s long distance supporters in the form of Bauress & Murray with a 3 year old Chequer cock achieving 919.

          

                                    Peter Forber 2nd West section                                                                         Lee Davidson 3rd West section

Bauress & Murray 4th section this time

The team of L D S Johnson are continuing their memorable season after their National win from Ancenis with 1st North East section in the Blue Ribbon race with a velocity of 1105. The bird is a 2 year old Blue Cock and he is bred from a Ruud Moes cock which was acquired from John Wheatcroft. On the other side the mother is once again Moes x a Louella Busschaert hen. The bird their sole entry had been earmarked for Bordeaux at the beginning of the year and was sent to the local club races then on to Fougeres then saved for Bordeaux  on 10 day old babies and it all worked out fine. Very close behind in 2nd section on 1104 is filled by a wellknown and respected name but this time it is Don Salt’s lad Adam who is amongst the race leaders. Adam tells me that the bird a 2year old Mosaic hen is of Jan Theelan lines. Acquired via the Old Salt family that has brought a great deal of success to the Salt’s remember Don’s great hen ‘Anndon Gold’ that won a diploma of merit last year. The mother of Adam’s hen comes from Ian & Nigel Axe’s Theelan colony. The bird has shown her versatility by winning 1st club and section in the federation from Stratford. In 3rd section is a previous winner of the Midlands National in the form of Andrew Newton. The bird is a yearling cock that recorded 1030 for the 473 mile journey home.

                            

                                            Adam  Salt 2nd NE section                                Nigel (r) with Don Salt after winning the diploma of merit in 2016

 Bowskill & Gascoigne continued a good weekend after their success from vire with 4th section this time. The lads tell me that their bird is a 3 year old Dark chequer hen of Vandenabeele lines. My golly haven’t these Gaby Vandenabeele’s made a massive impact on UK pigeon racing?

4th NE section on this occasion for Bowskill & Gascoigne

Tidying up in the South Centre where we see Lol Turner the long distance specialist fill 2nd, 4th and 6th section sadly though I have no other details of his birds I’m afraid. This is also the case with the 3rd section winner belonging to R J Perrott & Son. Come on lads get your birds a little extra credit by sending me your details in the future. This is also the case with the 1st section winning pigeon in the South West which recorded 1103 for his owner M J Addenbrooke of Brierley Hill. The bird also achieved an excellent placing of 12th Open.  Happily the man in 2nd and 3rd section has been in touch so I give the birds the credit that they deserve. The fellow in question is Gavin Duggan. His bird a 3 year old cock proved his quality last season when it won 8th Open. It is now called ‘Seaview Liam’ in memory of the good stock that Gavin got from McCartan & Woodside. Flown once again on the Roundabout system the bird was prepared all year aimed at the final race of the season. A second bird of similar breeding was clocked 13 minutes later which was a hen this time and sent sitting 4 day old eggs. This obviously proves that these lines have what it takes to perform on the tough races. As Gavin says 2017 has been weatherwise a season of struggle and in the main one to forget but we must look forward to 2018 with renewed optimism. In 4th section is P B & W Hyatt of Ripple and no doubt the partners timed in a bird bred down from their fine Vandenabeeles a family that have brought the Hyatts so much success over the years.

Gavin Duggan's 2nd SW section winner

There was only two birds timed in the North centre section. The first being the Fishers Open winner and the 2nd one belonging to David Bowler. Surely this highlights what a tough race this year’s Poitiers race really was so much credit should be afforded to David’s timer a 2015 bred Chequer hen.

 

Vire Race Correction

I would like to highlight a loft that won 3rd place in the South East section but for some reason wasn’t on the result that I received. This was compounded by the fact that for some reason the mail intended for me off the owner of the bird I didn’t get otherwise the error could have been averted. Still I now have the info so I would now like to put things right for Rob Jarratt and his children on the attached photo Charlie and Emily.

Charlie & Emily Jarratt with their dad's 3rd SE section winner

  The bird as Rob tells me has been his best performer this year. Proof of which is highlighted with Fed wins from both Bedhampton & Poole. This result from Vire will be her 3rd fed  win as the federation is duplicated back from the MNFC.

 The birds are raced on the natural system which is quite rare these days. She was sent motivated by two 10 day old babies at home. She is half De Meyer via a daughter of Jason Hulse’s best racer ‘Lexmark’ and half Lambrecht  in the form of an unrung cock from Jim & Gary Dutton. The mother has bred 4 fed winners this year while the unrung cock is responsible for pigeons that have won 1st,2nd, 3rd, 5th and 8th section. So he may not have a ring but it obviously hasn’t affected his breeding potential.

MNFC One Loft

     The second hotspot race was flown on Tuesday the 22nd August. The race which was flown from Hullavington wasn’t a particularly simple affair due no doubt to the Easterly wind direction and the fact that the sunnier conditions were on the Western side of the route home.

  After a longer than anticipated wait it was at 1.16pm when the first arrival was spotted coming out of the west side but he dropped on the aviary canopy above the entrance and they do say ‘he who hesitates is lost’ well this was definitely case here because before he could be coaxed down with the aid of the fantail lure birds a clique of birds dropped onto the trapping area and it was all over in less than 3 seconds with the first eight prize places signed and sealed. With a great result for Forge Lofts A team which took 1st & 2nd slots and the combined £750 in prizemoney. 3rd and 7th places being claimed by Connor & Son and with it the £200 in prizemoney. 4th was filled by Paul Lockley with a pooled bird and a nice win of £466 in total. The 5th placed bird was also a pooler for the Moorland Boys +one and £24 in prize and pool money. 6th was taken by another bird that was bolstered by prize and pool money to £209. The final prize winner in 8th spot was BBA who also took a little pool money and will collect a total of £69 in prizes.

  The full result is on the MNFC web and Facebook sites. At the time of writing this short report there are 16 birds unaccounted for from the 310 birds that went to the race.

Mike Lakin