2013 PRESENTATION
by Tom Harris
The Welsh North Road Federation recently held its 2013 Annual Presentation on Saturday 14th December at the Seaman's Mission Club Newport along with the hosts for the evening the Welsh National F.C.
The evening got underway shortly after 6.30 with ninety-four fanciers, families and friends seated for the start of proceedings beginning with a traditional three course meal swiftly served and cleared away. The evening proper began with the Welsh National FC Chairman Mr Terry Tremeer warmly welcoming everyone to the venue. He went on to also welcome and thank the Welsh North Road Federation for once again accepting the open invitation to join with the Welsh National FC on yet another well supported evening. He then invited representitives from the federation to come forward to present their awards to each of their section and open winners for 2013.
The Chairman of the federation thanked everyone for their continued support throughout a troublesome 2013 and also thanked the members and committee af the national for once again inviting the federation to join the party. He went on to express his gratitude to the workers behind the scenes singling out Mr & Mrs John and Rosemary Humphreys federation secretaries, David Humphreys (convoyer) and the hard working John Watkins and William Holpin race controllers, who have the daunting task of getting the birds away and home safely week in week out, and last but not least Mr & Mrs Tom and Gaynor Harris secretaries of the wnfc for orgainising the event.
Each section and open winner was then invited forward in race order and presented with their award to aknowledge their achievements in 2013, with quite a few fanciers coming to the table to collect awards for multple wins in their respected section and open. Many noteworthy performances were highlighted including:
Kidd and Cooke, Newport receiving awards for 1st south section Swindon (1), 1st section 1st open Newbury (1) 2,049 entries, 1st south section 1st open Maidstone2,282 entries, 1st section 1st open Fougeres 1,068 entries, 1st section and open Swindon 1,211 entries, 1st section Newbury, 1st section 1st open Maidstone (2) 982 entries, 1st section and open Swindon any age race 911 entries. Young birds 1st section 1st open Epsom 1,980 birds, 1st south section 1st open Maidstone 1,532 entries, and 1st south section Swindon. Along with the section and open awards the partnership also collected the Fougeres winner’s trophy, the Maidstone young bird trophy, most points cup for south section and the highest individual pionts award throughout the federation for 2013.
The family of Andy Kidd representing the Kidd and Cooke partnership of Newport
Father and son partnership M & J Hughes from Cascade collected quite a few awards on the night with the following results: 1st centre section Newbury, 1st section 1st open Tours and the Tours winner’s trophy, the overseas averages, most pionts achieved overseas throughout 2013 and the Glyn Picton perseverence trophy.
M & J Hughes
Other principal winners were Mr and Mrs Russel of Ebbw Vale’s West End Homing Society who achieved 1st north section from Newbury 1, Maidstone 1, Ramsgate, Tours and Bergerac and 1st section any age Swindon also the most pionts in the north section trophy.
Mr and Mrs K Beresford & Sons of Newport also had a good season recording 1st south section 1st open Swindon 1 ybs 1,117 birds, 1st section 1st open Newbury 1 1,967 birds, 1st section Newbury 2, 1st south section 1st open Maidstone 1,002 birds and the "Onlooker" trophy.
Mr & Mrs J Humphreys and Sons, Beaufort HS, 1st north section 1st open Tarbes (611 miles) and the Doug Hawkins memorial trophy and the Anuerin Williams friendship trophy.
M Mayo, Bargoed HS 1st open and section Swindon 1,914 birds, 1st section Bergerac, 1st section Epsom ybs.
I Davies, Bargoed & District HS 1st section 1st open Newbury 988 birds, 1st section 1st open Newbury yb 2,199 birds, 1st section Ramsgate, 1st section Swindon.
Picton Bros & Son, RPC 1st south section 1st open Bergerac only pigeon on the day 144 entries flying 507 miles winning the Roy Dolloway convoyer’s trophy.
M J Burridge & Sons 1st section Swindon, 1st section Maidstone yb, 1st section Swindon.
1st south section 1st open Ramsgate old birds 1,828, Fishlock Bros & Son, Wolfscastle HS.
Pope & Hibbert 1st centre section 1st open Newbury 2 ybs 2,403 birds.
Other open and section winners who were also present were P Saunders Pill RPC winning his first ever federation race with 1st south section 1st open Swindon 1,388 birds.
Perry Saunders
Mr & Mrs K Upham 1st south section 1st open Swindon 1,154 birds.
Morris and Lucas who sadly retired from the sport in the weeks following the last race achieved and recieved the awards for 1st section Maidstone, 1st section 1st open Maidstone 2 ybs.
B Hackland and Son gained 1st section from Swindon 2 young birds, 1st section Swindon on 14th Sept and the last race of 2013 from Swindon on Sept 28th.
Hadden and Son 1st south section Tarbes.
J Morris 1st centre section Maidstone 2.
Davies & Coombes 1st centre section Fougeres.
Morgan & Cushing 1st centre section Swindon ybs.
The members who were unfortunatly not present to recieve their awards were
K Williams New Lysaghts 1st south section 1st open Swindon 2 ybs 2,065 birds and 1st section 1st open Swindon last race of the year 792 entries.
B Walker and Son 1st section Newbury, 1st section Ramsgate old birds,
1st south section 1st open Newbury 2 old birds 2,543 entries.
R Jones Wolfscastle FC
B Price 1st centre section 1st open Swindon 1,667 birds.
J Newbury 1st section Tours.
Howells and Baulch 1st section Newbury.
K Lewis 1st section Newbury old birds.
Thoeophilus & Son 1st section Swindon 2, Newbury.
G Vaughan 1st centre section Swindon any age.
P N Jones 1st north section Swindon 2 ybs.
W& B Davies 1st north section Newbury 1 ybs.
L House 1st section Newbury 2 ybs.
W Holpin 1st north section Epsom and Swindon young birds.
Davies and Haines 1st centre section Tarbes and Swindon old birds.
C & J McCarthy 1st north section Maidstone 2.
This virtually completed the awards, apart from one more presentation. This was to be the most pionts gained by a club in 2013 and this was awarded to the Pill RPC who gained a total of 1,120 points, at which point the proceddings were handed back over to the Welsh National Flying Club to continue the evening.
The federation has undergone a large drop in members for a number of reasons with some members merging with other clubs and some moving to other organisations and some clubs even disbanding due to lack of membership. This isn’t going to hamper the determination and competitve spirit of those members who are remaining within the federation for the forthcoming year, along with the fact that against all the rumours circulating regarding weekly fees the pricing for 2014 is set to remain the same as previous years. Where else can you send 20 pigeons to the shortest of races 55 miles through to 600 miles plus for the mere sum of £10.00 per week? This is soley down to the free time put in by the committee and finace committee of the WNRF to ensure the future of the federation.
The federation is pround to hold one of the finest fleets of Geraldy built convoying wagons available in the UK from the 17 ton articulated transporter to two smaller pick up lorries, all fully maintained and ready to act on race days if required. The federation even has a Geradly trailer which holds 200 or so pigeons. So with all these vehicles available on a weekly basis the members have decided to part with the federation’s pride of fleet the 45 foot 7,000 plus carrying capacity Geraldy artic transporter, which we believe will soon be on route to a warmer climate once the appropriate paperwork has been completed and approved.
So there it is, another year over. The 2014 season once again kicks off in the second week of April, so I relay on the message from the Committee of the Welsh North Road Federation to wish all members a successful and trouble free 2014 season.
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Elimar - January 2014