STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS & DISTRICT FEDERATION
by Thomas Garvie
Well we have just arrived home after a well earned rest in Morocco for 12 days and what a fantastic country it is. There is so much history there to be seen in the various museums and palaces scattered around the old part of the city, which is where we wanted to be because outside the city walls they have built a new city and there was nothing there that was going to intrest us as we like to see some of the local culture and what it was really like to live there. We decided to split our holiday in to three resorts with the first part staying up in the Atlas mountains for 4 days and it was absolutely breathtaking, stunning beyond comprehension from the sun rising over them in the morning and then setting over a different part of them at night. We took hundreds of photos and when you actually see them played back on the computer they look even more amazing than they do on the camera.
As I said, we split the holiday in to three parts and as I have three races to catch up on I will perhaps give each part of our holiday a mention along with each race but it was all absolutely breathtaking and even Liz says it was the best holiday places she had ever been and she has seen a lot of places in the world as she has been travelling abroad since she was only a few months old, with her first flight to Saudi partly because her dad worked there, but ever since she has had the travelling bug. I have to admit I have it as well and even though we are just back she is already planning the next two holidays. The first one with her sister and then one for us later in the year.
The first part we stayed in a small complex where you could have a choice of living in a courtyard where there were maybe 7 or 8 rooms adjacent but we did not fancy that so we had a small bungalow where we had our own private terrace and garden and we were not disturbed by anyone. It was really nice to sit out early in the morning with a cup ot tea or sit out later at night with a drink [obviously not tea though] amd walking through the garden was a really relaxing time as we were badly needing a break although we do also have a holiday in the UK where wer can take our dogs with us. This year it is planned later for Norfolk and that will be an adventure in itself as we have hired a boat and neither of us have ever driven a boat so that could be quite exciting in itself. But back to our bungalow and when we arrived it was very late and very dark and you were not able to see much but when we got up in the morning and we opened the door to the terrace I was absolutely amazed by the bird's nest I saw built on a small rafter. I have added a photo of this nest as I thought it was an absolute work of art and the engineering skills these birds have is unbelievable as the nest must have taken ages to build and you can see the way it has been built in the photograph. There were two pair of adult birds using the nest and they were absolutely tiny birds. I have added a couple of photos but it was hard to catch them on camera as they were like lightning going in and out but if you look closely at the photo of them in the trees you will see how small they are. I managed to snap one on the light on the wall just ready to go in the nest and there were quite a few youngsters in the nest as we could here the noise they were making as soon as it was light, wanting to be fed and the parents constantly flew all day trying to feed them. Maybe I will invest in a better camera as the one we have is not really good enough to zoom in close to smaller birds and objects but it does the job mainly as the photos I take can be altered a bit on the computer. Alas, they cannot be made to zoom in so maybe Santa will bring me a new one at Christmas - if I hint long enough! I have loads of photos of the Atlas mountains but I think if I just put in some of the birds that may intrest any readers as I am sure a lot are not really interested in the history and culture side of it.
Engineering geniuses
Super nest builders
Waiting to go in
While up in the mountains, we trekked up the second highest mountain in Africa, well not up to the top but about halfway up with our guide who says he has climbed it many times on trips he has arranged. We did climb up past Imlil, which is the highest village in Morocco and it was worth it as the views were amazing and looking way down at where we had walked along made us realise just how high we had walked up. Considering I am not the most fittest person in the world I was very happy that I had been able to go so high as Liz really wanted to go up that way. I was offered an easier option but I did not want to have Liz disappointed so up we went and I think if anybody wants a bit of an adventure holiday them this is the place because even in the Atlas mountains there is so much to see and do. We absolutely loved it and I could talk about it forever but I will stop there and save the next two parts of our trip for the next two articles and even I can't wait to write them!!!!
Back to the racing and the fed were at Blandford and unfortunately we were arranging a birthday party for one of our close friends and as we were going to be busy all day preparing everything we decided not to send any. As we were going away that was our young bird season ended but they have had a few races and I think that is all they need as they have learned to come home plus the fact they were falling to bits with the moult we were not too bothered about not completing the season
At Blandford the fed had 125 members sending 2,402 birds and they were released at 07-30 in a west north west wind. At the haed of the convoy was P Beck from Longdendale and his name is never far away in any of the races and his first bird was a hen on 1517; he had another two on 1512.7 and 1512.6. Another excellent performance from Paul. Second place in the fed went to N Brian from Alton on 1515 also with a young hen. The Fowler family from Leek also had a very good race with four birds in the top ten and they were on 1510 and two on 1508 plus one on 1507.6. Another excellent flier M Webb from Poynton was on 1507.7 and the tenth fed place went to R Given from Poynton on 1505.5.
The sections were made up with the west section sending 1332 birds from 69 memberts and this section was won by the Fowler family from Leek. The north section had 21 members sending 497 birds and this section as well as the race was won by Paul Beck. The east section had 35 members sending 537 birds and this section was won by N Brian from Alton.
A few club notes now starting with BlytheBridge where 3 members sent 69 birds and first and second was another very good flier K Pettitt on 1498 and 1492, third and fourth were R&M Jones on 1476 and 1421. Meir had 8 members sending 105 birds and winning here as well as being third and fourth were Adams brs on 1461 with a blue cock and on 1457 with a blue hen and a cheq hen on 1451, and in second place was A Whieldon AKA Winkie on 1457 with a blue hen. Ipstones now where 8 members sent 129 birds and taking the red card here was J White on 1494.6 with a young hen and he was also fourth on 1490 with a young cock. Second and third were R& J Goodwin &son on 1494.3 with a hen and 1492 with a cock. Macclesfield now where 9 members sent 210 birds and the partnership of Rick and Simon Geary carry on the good season by taking the first three on 1499, 1497, 1496. Their first bird was a Soontjen x Vandenbeele cock with the Soontjen side from their own stock and the Vandenbeele side is from John Keywood. Their second bird is also a cross from their Soontjen stock and agin to a bird from John Keywwod only this time it is with a Rietvink. Their third bird was Soontjen crossed Van loon and this cross seems to be working for them. Fourth was Martin Hough with a Duggens Jansenn and this bird was also second for them in the first race. Final club is my own Hayfield IOC and here 5 members sent 127 birds and taking yet another red card was Chris Mourne on 1461 with a young hen and Chris was also fourth on 1421 with a young cock. In second place was resident house husband Steve Warhurst on 1439 with a young cock and Steve is keeping his young bird season going well and in third place were partnership Joule & Norton on 1427 with a young cock and it is nice to have this pair flying in the club again after their spell with Chapel flying club and I hope they continue to fly with us again next year as the more competition there is the better and I know this partnership will fly the water races and hopefully it will be with our club.
Well I think that is about all for now and hopefully I have not missed out any results as it is a nightmare trying to find them amongst a million other e mails, and as usual if you have anything else to send then you know my e-mail and it can also be found on the fed's own website which is www.moorlandsfedpigeons.co.uk So it is Morocco mole signing out for now. Thank you.