RAMSGATE 2013

FISHLOCK BROS & SON - 1ST SOUTH SECTION 1ST OPEN

Report by Tom Harris

The second outing in as many weeks of 2013 for the WNFC saw the birds at Ramsgate on the east coast on Sunday 12 May. This was a day later than previously advertised due to the unpredictable forecast which indicated very little chance of liberation on the Saturday, so like most organisations basketing was postponed for 24hrs. Sunday morning, and with a big improvement in the conditions the birds were up and away at 0700. Ahead of them was an approx distance of 200 miles to home. A few showers were lingering in certain areas, but these weren’t going to prevent the birds from getting through. The main factor that was to be noted was the brisk westerly wind that the convoy were to face head on throughout their flight.

Fishlock Bros & Son - 1st South Section 1st Open Ramsgate

Leading the field this week with 1st south section 1st open is the Cardiff family partnership of Fishlock Bros & Son who timed in at 12.01.12 with a velocity of 1163.3. The winning pigeon is a two year old blue cock. The sire of this gallant bird was gifted to the partnership by their good friend Andrew Mcfenton from Swansea, with bloodlines originating from the renowned Syndicate Lofts, going through the Drum and Young Couple lines. As for the dam’s side she was purchased as a youngster from the well known Manchester set up of Crehan & O’Connor and includes the best of Peter van de Merwe crossed with Curtis Wall and Lunt pigeons. Before this performance this dam had previously bred many highly placed club, federation and national section winning performances, and the partnership wish to thank both outlets for providing a base of pigeons that grace the Fishlock partnerships lofts

"77" - 1st Welsh National FC Ramsgate 2013

Over the past years that the WNFC has been in existence, the partnership of Fishlock Bros & Son have attended our presentation evenings to collect their awards for various section wins. After just missing out on winning the open on numerous occasions, this year it’s pleasing to say they will no doubt be in attendance to collect a major trophy for 1st open Ramsgate. The partnership would like me to note that after such a hard race with the birds well split they were full of praise for the convoying team as by nightfall they had 29 from their 31 entries safely perched. Also they would like to thank their friends and fellow fanciers for contacting them to congratulate them on their achievement. It’s been five years in the making but we’re sure the boys are well pleased to be finally sitting on top of the result.

For 2nd south section 2nd open we head east to Newport to the husband and wife partnership of Mr & Mrs K Upham, who timed in at 11.53 with a vel of 1144. Kevin and Sandra decided this year to stand back from club racing for 2013 and fly just national races whilst they rebuild their team after suffering from paramyxo virus in 2012. The partnership timed in a 2yr old blue white flighted cock which was flown on roundabout. The bloodlines of this pigeon come down from the Vandenabeele strain from M & D Evans, Solitare and Joint Venture lines going back to the original Shadow etc. The Uphams obtained these pigeons from retired fancier John Sparry of Newport, who doesn’t race anymore but has pleasure of gifting out his annual youngsters to local fanciers to see how they perform. We are well aware that Kevin has been on a downer since last year’s events but we’re hopeful now that with achieving this success he will bounce back.

We remain in Newport for 3rd and 5th open 3rd and 4th south section and return to last week’s winning loft of Andy Kidd flying as Kidd & Cooke. The partnership timed in two arrivals at 11.58 to record velocities of 1139 and 1136. The first pigeon on the clock was a 4yr old roundabout cheq hen of Galaxy Reitvink cross Soontjen of Frank Sheader of Scarbourgh. This hen is no stranger to top flight positions having topped the Welsh North Road Federation in the past. The second arrival was a cheq white flight hen also on roundabout who is a direct daughter of their Maidstone national winner and is bred down through their own blended family with the sire being "Cookies Boy".

For 1st centre section 4th open we head to the Blackwood lofts of Brian Price who timed in a 4yr old cheq cock. The original family of this pigeon goes way back to 2003 when Brian purchased eggs from the well known local fancier Iddy Davies of Bargoed. These have since been crossed into the "Rino" and "Ufo" pigeons of Graham Warren of Treherbert. This cock has flown consistently over the years with many club, federation and national performance to its credit from Dover 200 miles and beyond. As most will reflect, this loft and fancier has been very successful at club, federation, national and combine level over previous years going back to when I had the pleasure of scribing on Brian’s national winning performance from Bonn, a distance of 450 miles.

That’s it, yet another successful event under our belts and once again it was a race of mixed pleasures as whilst some lofts experienced excellent returns, others struggled throughout the day to get a respectable percentage home. So as expected, a testing and challenging event with the weather conditions a major factor, but with the channel races looming on the horizon, these pigeons that now go overseas have already faced the elements on a weekly basis and are ready to experience something new over the next few weeks when we turn southwards from here on in to Fougeres, Tours, Tarbes and Bergerac. So for the Welsh fancy the challenge is set before you with races up to 600 miles. It will be interesting to see who takes it on?

Before finishing, I would like to pass on my gratitude to Colin and Linda Asher from Ramsgate who are regular travellers on our annual Belgium trip. They gladly got out of bed at such an early hour to take the short journey to the liberation site to photograph the liberation on my behalf. These were e-mailed through to me just minutes after the release and on the web site for our members to see the conditions that their pigeons were liberated in hours before they returned home. Thank you both once again.

Whilst on the subject of Belgium, on the last weekend of April, myself and Gaynor, accompanied by Dylan and Tracey Russel from Ebbw Vale, made a return journey to Antwerp to visit fancier and friend Clement Dehondt of Dendermonde. We spent the Saturday night in central Antwerp of course and made a return visit to our recent stomping ground laid down in March. The following picture witnesses the women going in to "Kelly’s Bar", a popular retreat on our visit in March.

Kelly's Bar in Antwerp

You should have seen them coming out in the early hours! So who said I wouldnt publish it?

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