NEWS FROM DARREN SMITH

Litherland & Crosby and Blundellsands Prize Presentation 2013

To the victors await the spoils

Hello folks,

Friday 8th November saw me heading out to the Crosby & Blundellsands and Litherland HS joint prize presentation. Companions for the evening were my better half Carla who was breaking her presentation duck, my Dad Cliff and fellow Edgehillian Terry Snagg.

The venue was the Litherland British Legion on Orrell Lane and by the time we arrived there was already a good crowd in attendance and it was great to see so many familiar faces from our various member clubs as well as making the acquaintance of some faces not so familiar.

Guests of honour for this occasion were an indomitable duo who race in the Vauxhall HS right on the fringe of Liverpool city centre, namely Danny Kelly and Danny Devine of the Kelly Brothers, Sons & Devine partnership. Two of the nicest lads you could care to meet whose rise in the sport over the last few years has been meteoric to say the least.

The role of compere fell on the shoulders of Mr Litherland himself Ted Davin Jr, with entertainment being provided by the velvet tones of Alan Rogers who slipped through his musical gears with a mixture of classic and contemporary hits. Later on there was also a cameo vocal slot from Keeley Perry (daughter of Joe) who performed an excellent rendition of Kate Nash’s Foundations.

The Litherland HS Premier prize-winner for the 2013 season goes to the loft of Alan Halsall with 7x1st, 3x2nd, 5x3rd, 3x4th, a total of £206 in pools and prize-money and a points total of 50. Alan also wins the old bird averages, last old bird inland trophy, best averages for the 1/3/5 channel races Best averages for the 2/4/6/ channel races, the Messac Trophy, Niort Trophy, Best Averages Ludlow-Messac, the Channel Averages and Channel Bird of the Year with GB1019763. Congratulations Alan& brother Mark who is also very involved.

Premier Prize Winners Alan & Mark Halsall

Runner-Up premier prize-winner is the loft of Joe Perry & Son with 4x1st, 4x2nd, 3x3rd, 3x4th, a total of £219 in pools and prize-money and a points total of 37. Congratulations Joe & Son.

Third highest prize-winner goes to Ted Davin & Son with 2x1st, 6x2nd, 3x3rd, 2x4th, a total of £350 in pools and prize money and a points total of 34. Congratulations Ted & Steven.

Fourth highest prize-winners are the partnership of Fred Lloyd & Kev Moran assisted by Ashley Healey, with 2x1st, 2x2nd, 5x3rd, 6x4th, a total of £274.50 in pools and prize money and a points total of 30. Fred & Kev also win the Combine Averages All Birds, Combine Inland & Young bird Races, Young Bird Averages and Best Averages Last 2 Young Bird Races. Congratulations Fred, Kev & Ashley.

Fifth highest prize-winners on our list goes to another father and son tandem, namely Stan & Dave Rothwell with 3x1st, 2x2nd, 1x3rd, 3x4th, pools and prize money of £235.50 and a points total of 23. Stan & Dave also win Bird of the Year with GB10L8153. Congratulations Stan & Dave.

Sixth highest prize-winners are Mercer Brothers with 1x1st, 2x2nd, 2x3rd, 1x4th, pool and prize money of £109 and a points total of 15. Congratulations Paul & Stan.

Seventh highest prize-winners goes to the loft of Mr & Mrs Ted Davin Sr and Jock McCafferty with 1x1st, 1x2nd, a total of £64 in pools and prize money and a points total of 7. Congratulations Ted, Jock and Mrs Davin.

Eigth highest prize-winner is Joe O’Neil with 1x3rd, a total of £13 in pools and prize money and a total of 2 points. Congratulations Joe.

Ninth highest prize-winner is Jim Garner with 1x4th, a total of £14 in pools and prize money and a total of 1 point. Congratulations Jim.

Other money winners were John Murphy with £32.50 and Mick Mulally with £26.

The Crosby & Blundellsands HS Premier prize-winner for 2013 is John Pugh with 8x1st, 6x2nd, 7x3rd, 3x4th. Trophies include the Old Bird Inland Averages, Combined Inland Averages, Young bird Averages and the Young Bird Points Cup. Congratulations John.

Premier prize-winner John Pugh

Runner-Up premier prize-winner goes to Joey Rooney, racing as Chambers & Rooney with 1x1st, 6x2nd, 5x3rd and 5x4th. Congratulations Joey.

Third highest prize-winner is club president Joey Pearman, racing as W Pearman, Son & Duffy with 5x1st, 3x3rd, 4x4th. Trophies include Lowest Winning Velocity, the W. Rimmer Trophy and Old Bird of the Year with GB11A44874. Congratulations Joey.

Fourth highest prize-winner is Colin Carrington & Son with 2x1st, 3x2nd, 1x3rd, 1x4th. Colin also wins the W. Pearman Memorial Trophy for Young bird of the Year with GB13C49486. Congratulations Colin & Son.

Fifth highest prize-winner is John Jones & Son with 1x3rd and 1x4th. Congratulations John & Son.

We have seen strong competition in 2013 from the members of both clubs. Indeed Alan Halsall assisted by brother Mark, and young Jess were worthy winners of the federation inland averages, building on an incredible run of consistency stretching back 3 seasons when they were just pipped to the post for the same honour. There is a buzz about this partnership at the moment and many, including last year's club champion Ted Davin, would argue rightly so.

Stan & Dave Rothwell were off the mark early with a federation victory in the opening weeks of the season and word from the wise is that this is also a loft to watch in the coming seasons.

Federation president Joey Pearman showed his pedigree with a federation victory at Carentan in what turned out to be a very testing event, the type of racing that has been bread and butter to the Pearman loft for many years now.

There were also a number of close calls for Ted Davin & Son, Joe Perry & Son, Fred Lloyd & Kev Moran and Mercer Brothers as the Litherland HS maintained a season long assault on the federation top 30. Congratulations to you all and I wish you the very best for 2014.

A special mention also to Lynne & Joanne Lloyd who provided a lovely chicken curry and scouse supper. Masterchef had nothing on their efforts and a certain female in my company actually went back for seconds (scav!)

We had a great time Friday and the Litherland & Crosby members and their families are a wonderfully warm group of people. I look forward to reporting on your many future successes and I will hopefully see you all the same time next year.

Over the next few weeks I will once more be taking to the road to profile our more notable performers of 2013. Scribes, please keep your presentation night reports coming in and don’t forget to include as many photographs (the digital type preferred) as possible.

Carol Pearman & John Jones

Danny Kelly, Danny Devine and Colin Carrington

Fred Lloyd & Ashley Healey of the Lloyd & Moran partnership

Gilly Halley, Premier Prize Winner Marine Midweek Club

Irene Hartless

Jim Garner

Joe Perry (J Perry & Son)

Joey Pearman

Joey Rooney of the Chambers & Rooney partnership

Lynne & Joanne Lloyd - Angela Hartnett & Monica Galetti eat your heart out!

Paul & Stan Mercer

Stan & Dave Rothwell

Ted Davin Jr (E Davin & Son)

Ted Davin Sr & Jock McCafferty

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