MNFC ONE Loft Final:

J and P Hume’s ‘Last Chance’ Hits the Jackpot from Carentan

Click here to see the Full Result

Janet and Paul Hume the breeders of the Midlands National One Loft race winner.

With their grandson Teddy and the parents and brother to their winning pigeon.

 The Midlands National’s 2017 One Loft final race saw 123 birds go into the baskets racing for close on £25,000 in Prizes and pool money. The decision was made a few days earlier to postpone the final by six days following the third Hotspot race from Kingsdown which was badly hampered by peregrine attacks close to the racepoint. For anyone doubting this fact the Loft Managers can point to no less than seven birds being reported dead with all of the tell-tale signs of hawk damage on their bodies. Along with this a further 5 birds were reported and returned by couriers by people in and around nearby Exeter. These birds and no doubt many more had dropped to the ground to seek cover and hide from the hawks.

  Most entrants applauded the decision though one or two were critical saying the original date should have stood. I’m sorry but the welfare of the inmates was considered of far more importance than the prizes on offer, as the birds needed more recuperation time after their daunting experience.

  The birds were liberated at 9.00am in sunshine and a blue sky at Carentan into a brisk Northerly wind and we were under no illusions that this was going to be anything other than a hard fly for the pigeons. This was to prove to be the case with a young Blue hen entered by Janet & Paul Hume who reside I believe on the isle of Portland. The race winner named ‘Last Chance’ certainly took this chance to lift the 1st Prize of £13,000. Her breeding is from a pair of pigeons bred by Roger De Ryck of Nijlen which as many people who study the Belgian racing scene will realise Nijlen is one of the places where many of the country’s finest sprint and middle distance racing pigeons can be found. Just before 5.00pm ‘Last chance’ dived onto the loft like a good ‘un and after a short walk over the timing pads recorded at 4.57pm to a round of applause from the 80 or so entrants and their friends who took the opportunity to attend the event. These people enjoyed a nice buffet and a wonderful barbeque provided my Mo Hanif and his good lady. Seriously you were stars and you made sure that no one went home feeling hungry.

                      A close up of 'Last Chance' the winner of the £13,000 1st Prize                        Alan one of the Loft managers following the

                                                                                                                                                                      winner over the ETS pads

 2nd place was taken by one of the most consistent entrants in the form of Mr & Mrs John Pratt. It may be remembered that this team also won one of the previous Hotspot races. John I know has thoroughly enjoyed his series of races with the MNFC and he assured the Loft Manager on several occasions prior to the final that he intended to send another team to compete in the 2018 race series.

Mr & Mrs Pratt's 2nd placed bird which was bred by North East fanciers Stuart Watson & Joe Elcote

3rd prize was taken by a chequer hen which was entered by The Lever Syndicate. This bird also performed very well in previous Hotspot events for her Hampshire based owners.

3rd placed bird which was entered by 'The Lever Syndicate'

 The same can be said of Ron Irons Jan Theelen based Red hen wnich claims 4th place and like the previous bird will I’m sure feature prominently in the Ace bird category which will be revealed very shortly.

Ron Irons 4th placed bird that was entered after he won a place in the draw at Blackpool Show

 I should like to mention that the Club’s President who hasn’t enjoyed the best of health recently had the pleasure of getting a bird entered by he and his long-time pal John Cresswell be the final first day arrival at 7.20pm in the evening after a 10 hours and 20 minute flight. I hope that this performance is a health tonic to Roy.

 It is worth noting that the first 10 places were all taken by hens which surely highlights the fact that the fairer sex in pigeons is not just equal to their male counterpart but in fact their superior!

 I would like to congratulate Ian Fradley and Alan Windsor the loft managers on their dedication to their duties and the excellent conditions of the inmates. This has been endorsed by the many positive calls and text messages that they have received over the last few days. Also worthy of praise is Dave Banks who has done a sterling job on the One Lofts Facebook site keeping people up to speed with all of the latest info. Well done Dave.

 Attached is the full result up to the cut off of 330 yards per minute. Each one of these birds have done their owners proud and proved their quality from not a very tough race but a very testing build up and I’m confident that quite a few more will arrive over the next few days because the birds were well prepared.

Mike Lakin