2013 PRESENTATION EVENING

by Tom Harris

Saturday 14th December in Newport was the place to be for Welsh fanciers for the prestigious presentation night of the the Welsh National Flying Club and Welsh North Road Federation. The doors opened at 5.30pm as a steady flow of fanciers, families and friends started to arrive in preparation for a 6.30 kick off. With everyone seated awaiting their traditional three-course Christmas meal, the serving was delayed slightly due to some of the waitressing staff having difficulties finding the venue, so we thank Gaynor and Tracey Russel for stepping in and assisting the catering staff who were present in getting the first course underway. Anyhow after this small hitch and the arrival of the missing staff we soon got back on track and the evening was once again flowing as planned, with a few seeking a double helping of the food on offer. The tables were swiftly cleared and the night was formally opened by our chairman Terry Tremeer who glady welcomed everyone for their attendance and thanked the committee of the Seamans Mission for once again staging the event.
A minute’s silence was observed as we remembered those who had passed on since our last gathering, after which the presentatives from the Welsh North Road Federation were requested to come forward and present thier organisation’s awards to their section and open winners for 2013. These were duly awarded in the form of framed diplomas and glassware to each section and open federation winner. The final presentation was to the club points champions for 2013 which was awarded to Pill Racing Pigeon Club Newport, and following on from this it was the turn of the Welsh National Flying Club to reward their members with the silverware that they worked so hard to win over the past months.
Edward Watts, chairman of the Seamans Mission organisation in Newport was once again requested to come forward to present each section and open winner with their engraved silver salvers along with our sponsored trophy for the open winners along with framed photos supplied by Chris Sutton, who was unfortunatley unable to attend due to a family commitment.

First up to the table in race order were Morris and Lucus with 1st centre section Maidstone old birds, followed by Kidd and Cooke who were accompanied by the Kidd family and you will notice that they go on to make several appearences to the trophy table as the presentation unfolds. They collected their awards for 1st south section 1st open Maidstone old birds winning the Malcolm Gibbons sponsored trophy.

Kidd & Cooke

The next event was from Ramsgate an average distance of 200 miles when 1st centre section was won by B Price of Blackwood followed by 1st south section 1st open by the succesful Cardiff partnership of Fishlock Bros & Son who recieved the R G Davies corn supplies sponsored trophy.
It was then we made our way across the channel for the first time since switching onto a more southerly route and headed out to Fougeres a distance of approx 250 miles. This proved to be our hardest race of the year for some reason, and it was the loft and partnership of Davies & Coombes of Pengam nr Blackwood who came forward to be rewarded with first centre section on this occasion. For 1st south section 1st open national Fourgeres it was once again the newport loft of Kidd and Cooke who came forward for the second time to receive the West Country Products sponsored trophy. 

Fishlock Bros & Son

Tours and with the birds being convoyed by the West of England Combine we were looking for a race to calm our nerves after the previous event as the distance opened up to 350 miles. It was the Risca loft of John Newbury who took the honours in the south section followed by the father and son partnership of Matthew and Joseph Hughes from Treharris who received the Proff Sport of Holland crystalware for 1st centre section first open national.

We then moved onto the longest race in the programme for the Welsh North Road Federation sponsored trophy from Tarbes with distances of over 600 miles to most lofts with the birds under the control of the Central Southern Classic. It was two of our newest members who stole the show and prestige for this event with an outstanding performance by the well known Padfield Family of Abertillery coming forward to receive their applause for 1st & 2nd centre section 1st & 2nd open, followed by the Hadden & Son partnership of Newport who timed in the only pigeon in the south section in race time. I beleive I’m justified in mentioning the other fanicers who were also graced with timing in from this greater distance: M/M Humphrys & Son, Davies & Haines, M&J Hughes and M Burridge & Sons.

M & J Hughes

Dave & Vince Padfield

1st open Tarbes

2nd open Tarbes

It was then we dropped back to Bergerac an average distance of 500 miles for the final event of the old bird programme for the Versele Laga sponsorship trophies, with the CSCFC once again taking control of the liberation. The award for 1st south section 1st open with the only arrival on the day was to the Newport partnership of Glyn Picton Bros & Son who also went on to win the Versele Laga two bird averages trophy. For 1st centre section it was none other than federation chairman and Bargoed fancier Mel Mayo who took the honours timing in early the following morning. There was one more award for this race the Versele Laga best oppersite sex to the winner and this was awarded to B Hackland & Son from Pontlainfraith nr Blackwood.

Picton Bros & Son

A Kidd & family

It was then time to reward the young bird winners. We started off with the A. Kidd GARDENING SERVICES sponsored Maidstone race an approx 160 miles, where our previous Metz 1st open winner back in 2009, D Thomas of Blackwood took 1st centre section 1st open. For 1st south section 1st open it was once again the partnership of Kidd and Cooke who stole the show with yet another outstanding performance to make it their third time to the table in pole position to be rewarded with 1st south section and 1st open in 2013.

Mr & Mrs K Beresford & Son

Next to the table was our Ramsgate young bird winners a distance of approx 200 miles to most lofts. 1st centre section was awarded to the successful loft of Iddy Davies of Bargoed, followed by the family partnership of Mr & Mrs Keith Beresford and sons Jack and Sam from Newport, who where keen to recieve the Jack Jenkins memorial trophy for 1st south secton 1st open.

The final event of the year was from Lillers and after a two-day holdover the convoy were eventually brought back to Maidstone, where 1st south section was awarded to the Newport husband and wife partnership of M/M K Upham, who where then folowed to the table by the Hengoed partnership of Morris and Lucus who recieved the M/M T Tremeer sponsored trophy for 1st centre section 1st open. Sadly this partnership had an entire cleareance sale prior to this presentation.

Morris & Lucus

With all the race winners congratulated there were just a few presentations remaining, the first being the M/M T Harris sponsored young bird average trophy, which was won by Kevin and Sandra Upham, and the partnership of B Hackland & Son who were also announced as winners of the South West one loft race sponsored voucher. News from the SWOL is that the race will not be opperating in 2014 so Richie Elliott has kindly honoured his commitment to us by entering the winner’s pigeons in the forthcoming 2014 French open.

Mr & Mrs K Upham

B Hackland & Son

Finally it was the turn of the following ladies from behind the scenes to be presented with flowers. Rosemary Humphrys who has the daunting task on each race of sorting through the entry sheets as race sheet auditor, Christine Tremeer as our chairman’s wife and finally Gaynor Harris as joint secretary.

Rosemary Humphrys

Mrs C Tremeer

Mrs Harris

We would like to pass on our gratitude to Chris Sutton the pigeon photographer in his absence for his support and sponsorship in 2013 and for travelling down to South Wales on a regular basis to photograph our open winners, and we are pleased that he remains on board as one of our sponsors going into 2014.

With the presentations over it was time to enjoy the evening as the lights were lowered and the music raised for the remainder of the night. This went on into the early hours as you could imagine, and was only interrupted by the raffle and the fundraising auction that once again went down well raising over £900 for our organisations for 2014.

So that was another year over, all the races won and awards presented. We now look forward to 2014 when once again all the above will be there for the taking. It’s only through hard work and dedication that these races are won. We may well be a small organisation compared to some, however we are now starting to attract new members who seek to test and compete via duplication against larger organisations within the UK, and we also pride ourselves on being the home of many well known highly profiled pigeon men and fanciers here in Wales who dedicate themselves to achieve the rewards on a night such as this. With an insight into 2014, it’s once again looking that since our formation in 2009 all the prices in regards to birdage and membership fees have remained the same throughout and look set to remain for the coming season. This is something we are able to do as a result of the support of our transporting organisation the WNR Federation who transport our entries for a minimal fee, which enables us then to pass back to our members a higher amount of their entry fees in prize monies throughout the year.
In relation to the race programme, once again there’s something for everyone within the WNFC in 2014 with races planned from 150 mile races up to the 500 and 600 mile events. Be it the sprint and middle distance lofts or those who are out and out distance fanatics, there’s a variety of challenges set out in preparation for the coming season. The question is are you and your pigeons brave enough to take it on?
To enquire about future membership or any other matters concerning the WNFC why not log onto our website at www.welshnational.co.uk for contact details and information.
A reminder now for our current members: the WNFC annual general meeting will be held as per rules on the last Sun 26th Jan at the Seamans Mission Club Newport at 10.30am.
Best wishes and a susscesful 2014 to all our members old and new.

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Elimar - January 2014