STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS & DISTRICT FEDERATION

by Thomas Garvie

Tewkesbury

Well the old bird season is gone now and we have started the young bird programme, which has been changed around a couple of times because of the weather, starting with the first race having been put back a week to allow some more training to take place because it has been non-stop rain for weeks on end. We get used to it more up where we live because most of the year it rains so we were quite happy with that decision. The week before the first race the weather was fairly good and we had some sunshine, a rarity in itself, so everybody would have been out training their birds with the exception of Jean Ashby who thinks that her husband David being ill is an inconsiderate thing to her training regime. She has to take David to the clinic when she would rather be out training her birds! Shows you how far down the list you are David in the order of things. David was only allowed to watch the Olympics when Frost was not on so missed the opening ceremony and I would assume he missed the closing ceremony as Frost was on at the same time again - it's a hard life David.

Before the first race we had the chance to attend Bakewell county show. We were dreading going in case the ground was waterlogged but when we did arrive we were pleasantly surprised to find it was in good condition plus the fact the weather was great and it was really hot with the exception of two very brief showers. It was a lovely day and the place was absolutely packed. There were also a lot of birds entered this year, which is always nice to see, and we had a great day prize wise. We had a few firsts with the racers and to cap it off we ended up winning the shield for best racer. It is the same cock that won best racer a few weeks earlier at Cheshire Show; in fact he has had several best racer trophies. He is a lovely blue Janssen cock who stands great in the show pen and really looks the part when you see him. He has never done anything at all race wise but more than makes up for this shortcoming when he is entered in shows.

Bast Racer at Bakewell Show

Back to the race and the fed released 2,185 birds at 07-00am from Tewkesbury with no wind at the race point. Everybody had been told the night before the race to expect an early liberation because of the prospect of a hot day and taking the top spot here and also the next three places was Paul Beck of Longdendale with his velocities being 1539, 1535[2] and 1508, excellent flying from an excellent fancier. Leigh and Musgreaves were next on 1507 from Dukinfield, C Knowles from Longdendale was next on 1506 then P Stanway from Poynton was next on 1505, E Sellars from Poynton was next on 1502.75 closely followed by S&R Ford from Alton on 1502.70 and tenth fed place went to Collins & Stevens from Dukinfield on 1501. So a great start to the young bird season with very good returns for most folks, which is what we actually need, some good returns for the young bird season to kick off.

News from a few clubs now starting with Ipstones where 5 members sent 85 birds and taking the first three places in the club was A Mace on 1444, 1395 and 1377. Fourth place went to K Champ on 1364.

Hayfield now where 5 members sent 138 [would have been double that if Mr Nanny had not been away on holiday] and continuing where he left in the inland races was king of the skies JL Gibb taking the first two places on 1392 and 1357. For anybody interested Jim has a cock for sale for £1,500 and it has won 15 races so if you want it you better get it now because every race it wins next year it will go up by £100 - a bargain for anybody. Third place went to Hayfield’s golden couple David and Jean Ashby on 1307.

Macclesfield now where 10 members sent 277 birds and taking the red card was hard working secretary Bernie Barrett on 1469 with a home bred Braspenning x Soontjen returning to the perch. Rick and Simon Geary were second on 1437 with a Soontjen cock bred from the stock loft..

Bernie Barret & Rick Geary

Joe Flood is third on 1430 with a Willy Thas cock which was a gift bird from Andy Webb of Buttlane with the dam being a breeder of winner of three first section winners in the Midland Continental Club. Martin Hough is fourth on 1428 with a cock bred out of Roger Sutton’s national winning family and the club would like to thank Martin for sponsoring this race.

Final club I have for now is Packmoor. Nice to hear from Jeff again. First four were 1st Mr&Mrs R Slack Vel 1432.3. 2nd K Hall Vel 1402.5. 3rd T Woolrich & Son Vel 1394.3. 4th Mr&Mrs F White Vel 1392.7.

In the pools, first share went To J&R Mclatchie winning £9 75. 2nd A Cliff with £6.45. Andy never fails to pick up some pool money. Next was good friend Stephen Lazarski winning the nom £24.90. Well done to them all. Jeff has added a few notes below.

A good result for our president and her husband Mr & Mrs R Slack who took the red card with a bird they bought off A & J Armitt. Rob was well pleased on Saturday night. Next bird home belongs to K Hall & his silent partner R Frost - well done lads. 3rd was T Woolrich & Son and 4th went to Mr & Mrs F White. It was good to see Frank at the marking on Friday night with his mate from up north.

Robert Slack

Well that sums up the club news for now but there are some important dates in the fed programme and they are:

27 August 2012 – Packmoor Young Bird Open Race from Guernsey - Packmoor HS would like to thank all the 37 members who have entered 157 birds into this race which will have £1000 in prize money. Marking will take place on Saturday 25 August at the Grapes Inn, Packmoor between 6.30 and 8.30pm.

1 September 2012 – Breeder / Buyer Race from Poole – See the entries on the Breeder/Buyer page on the Fed’s website which can be found under the Special Races heading.

8 September 2012 – Carentan 5 Bird Young Bird Race – The Entry Form can be found in the Special Races Page under Carentan 5 Bird Young Bird Race. Closing Date for Entries 25 August 2012.

Any news or views can be sent to me at my e-mail address or you can give me a call at home. One quick addition is the second young bird race has also been cancelled because of a bad weather report from the controllers for both Saturday and Sunday so the third race will actually be from Hullavington.