North West Classic Yelverton with Les J Parkinson.

It is a tough time for the specialist and National clubs with not getting any channel racing which is where such clubs are meant to be racing from. On the positive side they are getting more members who are in a more favorable position having a go at the big clubs, with this club being in a restricted area of the North West that does not affect this club. What I do believe is there must be a change for the 2022 season otherwise many are going to be leaving the sport, I have already heard this from fanciers whose preference is the longer races. For this race I went down to help the lads mark at Middlewich, and I have to say I was a little slow to start with and not sure of the system, but it only took a few pigeons to pick up where I left off all those years ago. I still think more fanciers could freely help with the marking of the birds and make life easier for those doing these jobs.

1^st Section B 1^st Open Team Wicker & Wright of Bolton with “Iron Man” based on being inbred to “Iron Lady”, will he be as good as her, we shall have to wait and see. Alan clocked this first one on the day which is a double grandson of the fantastic “Iron Lady” winner of the fantastic “Iron Lady”. On the dam’s side off a direct daughter of “Iron Lady” who is the dam of 1^st National St Vincent while the dam is paired to a direct son of “Champion Indy” winner of 1^st & 8^th National Tarbes. The sire is also out of “Iron Lady” when paired to the “Blue Badge Cock” 1^st WS 2^nd Open Barcelona National, 1^st Single Bird National, 1^st WS 4^th Open BICC National Agen, 3^rd WS 10^th Open BICC Pau, 1^st WS 2^nd Open BICC National St Vincent, 4^th Section 5^th Open WSR National Tarbes. “Iron Lady” flew Barcelona 4 times winning 3^rd 5^th 7^th Open BICC National. The winner was raced on widowhood and had had 3 races without seeing his hen, but for this race he saw his hen prior to basketing. They are fed on 20% fats 20% protein plus the rest being carbohydrates. On Monday and Tuesday, they have Med.Tollyamin, Forte in the water. They are also treated for canker every 4 weeks for 2 days. I was surprised when Alan was telling me that once they are past the yearling stage, they are not trained they go straight into their first race, the young birds and yearlings are trained. Alan was saying he is disappointed at not going across the channel this year, he was looking forward to the BICC International Barcelona which is where he planned to send his St Vincent National winner. “Iron Man” has only had 7 races in his life and is a 2yo, not even raced as a young bird. The team collected £300 in prize money.


Alan Wicker

2^nd Section B 2^nd Open goes to Graham Mackay the Swinton Ace who is a regular in the prizes with this club and on this occasion won £190.

1^st Section A 3^rd open goes to Bob Smith from Stockport picking up £190 when he clocked a 5yo hen flying 220mls. Bob follows a straightforward natural system which is how this hen is raced and is trained by Bob’s wife Pat and they are fed Versela Laga. Bob was saying that she was in good condition when she arrived and handled and trapped well. This 5yo Blue hen was a birthday present from sister-in-Law Dianne, who purchased the bird from Gerry Clements of Audenshaw. She was in the stock loft until 3 weeks ago and has since had 3 training tosses and 2 races one from Mangotsfield and then the NWCC Yelverton.


Bob Smith

2^nd 3^rd 6^th Section A 4^th 5^th 10^th Open winning £242 goes to Rick & Simon Geary from Macclesfield who had a good race with others close behind. Their first in the clock has won money in the Classic before as well as in the club and is good on hard days, he is a Soontjen/Vandenabeele. Second in the clock has also won prizes in the club. His sire is the Syndicate Lofts Cock crossed with a Soontjen Van Reet through the late John Allbutt. They are fed on a variety mix and are trained to suit the club program, they need to be fit to win such races, most fanciers are keen. Well done to all members on their performances and everyone at the marking station plus Diane Bonney for getting a good result out.  


Rick & Simon Geary

4^th Section A 6^th open are Congleton’s B & G Smith collecting £165. Brian & Gary’s first in the clock is a yearling hen flown on the roundabout system. The sire is a son of their 2nd Open Midland National Hen which is a Heremans Ceusters. The dam was a gift bird off the particularly good fancier George Appleton.


Brian & Gary Smith

3^rd Section B 7^th Open sees Sandbach fancier Mick Stockton collects another prize plus £214. Mick clocked a Chequer yearling widowhood cock who had won 1^st club the week before. He was saying he was in good condition as if it had not been to the race and has been in the clock many times. The pigeons are trained hard in the early part of the season and stopped once they are fit. In the morning they are fed on a conditioner seed and in the evening a mix of Versela Laga and Vanroabys with Sedacol in the water. Mick was saying he has a good young bird team, 59 plus 10 later bred that are only just going out.


Mick Stockton

5^th Section A 8^th Open sees another regular in the prizes showing how good they are, we have Roger Sutton from Congleton collecting £264.36.

4^th Section B 9^th Open goes to Eric Taylor over at Goostrey picking up £37.91.

1^st Section C is won by A Jones & Son of Preston collecting £75 prize money.

2^nd & 3^rd Section C goes to Mr & Mrs DW Cox of Warrington who clocked a 2yo red cock raced on the widowhood. Darren was saying this is one of those plodders who is always reliable. He is out of a Higham Van Reet cross hen who has bred many winners for other fanciers. The sire was a gift from John Burnett also from Warrington. The partnership race 15 widowhood cocks and 8 hens and are fed on Diet 2000, Versela Laga conditioner, and are built for the race on Marimans.

There were 26 members who drew various amounts of money in this race either prizes or pools from a pot of £1,942.71p. In total 40 members sent 451 birds.Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ.
Tel: 01606836036 - Mobile: 07871701585.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.elimarpigeons.com