By Janet Hull

The Prize Presentation for 2006 was held on Saturday 20th January at the Cliffs Hotel Blackpool. Whilst numbers were down slightly the evening was still a great success with almost all Prize Winners in attendance. R & E Bamford sponsored the NWCC with £20 vouchers for all the Land Race Open winners 2006 and Sales Reps Tony and Clive were welcome guests.

The partnership of Harrison and Hull provided the wine and crystal glass packs for all section and open winners of the two Yelverton Races (replacement Channel Races), Lessay and Messac as their 2006 sponsorship to the NWCC. Tony Reavelle from R & E Bamfords was called upon to present the prizes and the prize card winners were called to the table first to receive their prize card folders. The club has the facility to produce its own prize cards which are then laminated and presented to each member in a folder as a memento of their racing season. It was then the turn of the Section, Open, Ace Pigeon and Championship Loft Winners and first to the table was W Whisker winner of Section B and Open Portland Gold Ring. John Albutt was next up having won Section B at Messac followed by George and Linda Greenwood Section A winners at Lessay and Section A and Open winners at Lulworth 3. Club President Derek Woodward was next having had three Section B wins at Yelverton 2, Lulworth 1 and Lulworth 3. Ian Peddar then collected his silverware for winning Section C and Open at Lessay and Section C and Open at Lulworth 2. Following Ian was Roy Latham another Section C member who was thrilled to win Section C Ace Pigeon Award. Bill Pearson was called up next having won Section C Championship Sprint Loft and Section C Ace Sprint Pigeon Awards along with Section C wins at Yelverton 2 and Portland Young Bird. The partnership of O’Hare and Woodward were next to the table after winning Championship Sprint Loft Award for Section B and two Section B wins at Yelverton 1 and Lulworth 2. After an excellent racing Season in 2006 it was the turn of Harrison and Hull who collected the Championship Channel Loft Award for Section C and silverware for their Open winner at Messac and four Section C wins at Messac, Yelverton 1, Lulworth 3 and Portland YB Futurity. Finally it was the turn of Roger Sutton who was presented with his prizes by Beryl Harrison of the Harrison and Hull partnership. After another exceptional years racing Roger won the coveted Overall Championship Sprint Loft and Ace Sprint Pigeon Awards for the 2006 Season. Roger also collected prizes for winning Section A at Messac, Lulworth 1 and Portland Young Bird as well as the winning the Open at Lulworth 1. Photographs taken on the evening and a full list of Section and Open Winners are now online at www.harrisonhullracingpigeons.co.uk following the NWCC link.

After the prize presentation had been completed retiring Secretary Les and partner Elizabeth were presented with a gift to thank them for their work within the NWCC over the years. Then it was time for the buffet which was superb as always and in fact there was enough to feed the whole hotel let alone our function. The raffle raised £185 so thank you to all that supported the raffle by donating prizes and/or buying tickets.

RACE PROGRAMME 2007

The North West Classic Club Committee met on the 7th January 2007 at The Boars Head Hotel, Middlewich. The main item on the agenda was the race programme for the 2007 Season, this was discussed at length and the Committee agreed a race programme in principle subject to the availability of transport and of course DEFRA. It was agreed that the NWCC would hold; Three old bird land races from Portland on 2nd June, 16th June and 30th June. Four old bird Channel races from distances of (flying into Preston) 350, 400, 450 and 520+ miles on four out of the five dates 26th May, 9th June, 23rd June, 7th July or 14th July. Three young bird races, two club member races Yeovil on 1st September and Picauville on 15th September with an Open Race from Portland on the 8th September. This programme is at present a race programme in principle and it is totally dependent on the availability of transport. Committee Member Roger Sutton kindly offered to undertake the task of securing transport for the Club on the dates we require using his many contacts within the Sport. It is expected he will have some news by the next committee meeting, which will be held on Sunday 4th February at the Boars Head Hotel, Middlewich to commence at 12.30pm.

YOUNG BIRD GOLD RING RACE 2007

It was decided that the Club would run its annual Young Bird Gold Ring Race within the Picauville race on 15th September. Gold Rings are available at a cost of £10 each (maximum 20) from the Secretary Andy Galley, Roger Sutton and Janet Hull.

MARKING STATIONS 2007

It is hoped that there will again be three marking stations for the coming season. Preston station at the Anchor Inn, Croston Road, Lostock Hall at Old Lodge HS Headquarters remains the same, marking station officer Janet Hull. Marking station officer Jeanette Taylor and her team of helpers will run the new Manchester station at the Failsworth Liberal Club. The Middlewich station at the Boars Head Hotel is still in need of a marking station officer to be responsible for taking the entry monies and forwarding the clock sheets to the Secretary. This station has an existing clock and marking team willing to continue which is a great help to anyone wishing to become the marking station officer. Could anybody interested please contact Andy Galley.

SPONSORSHIP 2007

The NWCC has over the years become renowned for the amount of Sponsorship it attracts. This is due to the amount of publicity the Sponsors receive throughout the year both in the Fancy Press and on the Clubs paperwork. Already on board for the 2007 Season are R & E Bamford www.bamfords.co.uk , Harrison & Hull www.harrisonhullracingpigeons.co.uk , Pigeon Chat www.pigeon-chat.com , and Elimar Pigeon Services www.elimarpigeons.com . This year we aim to further increase Sponsorship and Andy is working hard to secure new Sponsors for the 2007 Season. Anyone wishing to offer sponsorship for the coming season should contact Andy.

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND NEW APPLICANTS 2007

Subscriptions of £15 for the 2007 Season should be forwarded to the Secretary Andy  Galley, 16 Hibbert Cres, Failsworth, Manchester. M35 0RQ Tel 0161 657 1897, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The Classic is open to lofts flying at least 407 miles from Nantes within the radius of 2.00.00 W on the Eastern boundary and Open on the Western boundary. There are three corridor sections each with prize monies and pools as well as open prize money and pools; the NWCC paid out nearly £23,000 during 2006. The NWCC is unique in that offers specialist racing both on land and channel thus catering for all NorthWest Fanciers. Members wishing to join the NWCC should contact Andy for an application form, subscriptions for 2007 are £15 and the joining fee is £5. Come on get your applications in and compete with the best this year.

My contact details. Janet Hull 205 Brownedge Rd, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancs PR5 6UT

Tel. 01772 467882 or 467794

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website  www.harrisonhullracingpigeons.co.uk