STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS & DISTRICT FEDERATION
by Thomas Garvie
TEWKESBURY - MAY 2012
Well the fed has now moved on to the third race of the season, which was meant to be from Frome, and what can be said about this race? Well, it has to be the worst unmitigated disastrous old bird race I have ever had the misfortune to compete in and since the race my phone has never stopped ringing with fanciers wanting to know or have their say as to what happened.
The race controllers have forwarded a letter to the BHW and the RPRA and it has also been posted on the Fed's website. Click here to read the link: http://www.moorlandsfedpigeons.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/BTS-RJ-to-RPRA-30.4.12.pdf
The fed released 2,291 birds at Tewkesbury at 15.12hrs and an extremely hard race was now under way. The first bird in the fed arrived at the lofts of Leigh & Musgreaves at Dukinfield with a velocity of 1199 and they had another in the top ten on 1154. Second in the fed was Mike Webb of Poynton on 1178, next two places went to Collins and Stevens also from Poynton on 1176, next were Bailey and Proctor from Dog and Partridge on 1168, next was W. Burgess from Packmoor on 1164, next was L Claughan again from Packmoor on 1163, next was M Goldstraw from Macclesfield on 1157, and also from Macclesfield were Rick and Simon Geary on 1156. So there we have the top ten from a very hard race.
A few club notes just now and starting with Ipstones where 10 members sent 139 birds and first was K Champ on 1080. Taking the next three cards was D Glover on 1070 with two and 1069 with his next bird. Next club was Macclesfield where 11 members sent 169 birds and first here was Mick Goldstraw on 1157 with a yearling cock which he bred from Dean Pallett lines on to a Hybrecht x Soontjen line; the sire has already bred him a first prize winner and this pair always seem to breed good hard day birds. Rick and Simon Geary took the next 3 places on 1156, 1150 and 1127 with their first bird being the fed topper from the first race, their second a Rietvink x Soontjen which has had five firsts and all of their birds have been in the prizes this year. Members would like to thank D Swindells scrap merchants from Macclesfield. Next we have Hayfield where Jimmy Gibb took his third red card on the trot on 1144. Jim was second in the club on 1083, and third and fourth went to David and Jean Ashby on 1078 and 1070. Normally I would have had a result off Roy Jones from Blythbridge but for this race they never sent. Foresight is a wonderful thing. Next we had Packmoor where 18 members sent 386 birds and on marking night their oldest member Stephen Lazarski who was sending for the first time this season got off to a good start winning a litre of whisky on the raffle [bet he needed it over the weekend]. First place in the race was W Burgess [for the second time this year] on 1164 and he was also fourth on 1134, second was L Claughan on 1173 plus winning first share of pools - £9.37, third was the partnership of M/M D Scragg on 1152. Dave Jones won 325 nom for second week running, M/M D Slack won the second share of the pools - £6.47.
Packmoor are hoping to stage an open race on bank holiday Monday 27th August from Guernsey with young birds. It is open to Moorlands, North Staffs and Wreken members, £10 per bird with a 5 bird limit. For information call Jeff Roberts on 01782 777930.
Well that sums up another week so if you have any information you know where to send it or give me a call at home. My details are on the fed website which is www.moorlandsfedpigeons.co.uk, and they can also be found on Elimar Pigeon Portal and also at www.pigeonsglosop.co.uk.
Bye for now from TG.