Folkestone 2 - September 2012

Hawkins Family - 1st south section 1st open national

by Tom Harris

Well we finally come to the last race within the WNFC 2012 race programme and once again the good old British weather has determined when and where we were liberating from. The proposed race point was due to be from Lillers in western France, a distance of approx 250 miles, however with low pressure forecast for the next few days, which was slowly coming in from the south and settling over the race point on Saturday, early indications were that this wasn’t going to clear until late morning or possibly early afternoon. With the hours of daylight being restricted due to the time of year, our race advisors John Watkins and Glyn Picton, who we have to agree like most race controllers haven’t had it easy this year, worked long and hard with our weather advisor throughout the early part of the week to reach the following decision. He advised them late Wednesday evening that their best option was, if it was possible, to return to Folkestone on the south east coast of the UK, a distance of aprrox 180 miles, where more suitable weather was available for a liberation.

Yes there were of course fanciers who had conditioned pigeons for the advertised channel race and on hearing the news were disappointed and we feel for them, but rest assured this decision wasn’t made easily and the welfare of these youngsters was the main priority for our race committee. Remember, this year’s youngsters are next year’s yearlings and future racing stock so letting them go over the channel with the possibility of losing a large numbers of future winners wasn’t going to be a chance they were prepared to take.

Folkestone Saturday morning, and after the early morning mist had cleared away I made the call for an update on the proceedings to hear that the strings were currently being cut in preparation for a 0800 liberation. The weather throughout the line of flight gave no cause for concern so the convoy was away as predicted into light south westerly winds over the Berkshire area turning brisk north westerly closer to home.

Leading the field is the Newport family partnership of T Hawkins Family timing in at 12.26.11 with a velocity of 1183.6. The partnership consists of Tommy (father), sons Ray and Richard and even Ray’s two kids are regular visitors to the club on a weekly basis. The winning pigeon is a slatey blue cock bred down from birds introduced from the annual Belgium trip a few seasons ago. This is a family of pigeons that have one from day one for the partnership. The g.sires on both sides are multiple first prize winners, both having topped the WNRF and now retired from racing having earned a perch for the remainder of their days.

The Hawkins family - 1st open 1st section

Both parents have scored regulary with the sire winning 1st Sect 14th open WNFC Maidstone OB this year, and the dam 1st Sect 3rd Open WNFC Lillers YB last season. The national winner hasn't shown any previous form up until this race but hatched a youngster 3 days before basketing, which seems to have done the trick. Upon moving the lofts to Ray’s garden in 2011 they introduced Ray’s brother Richard into the partnership this year after experiencing problems of having his own loft at his own home, and it’s here that I’m informed that Most of the credit for this win lies with Rich as he took over the management and control of the YB team for 2012 and what a way to end his first season in the sport. The partners would like to thank everyone connected with the national for the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, also Glyn Picton for taking the time to verify the pigeon shortly after being timed in and also to everyone that has called and texted to congratulate them on their first National win.

The Folkestone 2 national winner

In 1st centre section 2nd open it’s the Bargoed loft of Iddy Davies timing in at 12.41.46 velocity 1178.6 with a young cheq hen of Jack Cornes’ Galaxy Assasins bloodlines. This hen was sent unpaired and flying to the perch. I’m also informed the pedigree of this hen is flooded with previous national winners and good performance winning pigeons on both sides going back many years, including cousins in there which are the two which were timed in from Folkestone 1 just two weeks ago recording 1st and 2nd section 3rd and 4th open national.

For 2nd centre section we go to the partnership of Davies & Coombes who have also appeared highly on the national result in the past weeks. This partnership timed in a young blue hen which was sent showing to a young cock before basketing. She is bred down from their Taffy Bowen pigeons and 2004 Maidstone national and combine winner against 14,500 pigeons, when paired to a Leon Boers hen bred down through the Lion King lines which was sent/sold to China after being honoured as being the best overall pigeon in Holland as a yb.

4th open 3rd section once again is the Cefn Hengoed loft of Jason Morris who timed in a dark cheq Sootjen x Van Hee of Frank Sheader’s down through his Jacko lines with a touch of Steve Maylett Busschaert. The sire of this pigeon gained 1st club 8th national Bonn 470 mls this year which originates down from a previous Ramsgate national winner of Pope & Courts from Cefn Hengoed. Jason informs me that three pigeons came up the valley and his pigeon went through with them before turning out and doing a few laps of the loft before trapping. Considering Jason’s small back garden set up, he is more than happy with this year’s racing having started off the year with 40 youngsters, 29 of which still remain there for 2013. Jason would like to thank John Harris for his help. As most are aware, Jason doesn’t drive so John has over the past years helped him out by training his youngster for him in preparation for racing, which has contributed to his recent success at both club and national level.

For 5th open 4th centre section we head over the valley to the lofts of Morris & Pugh who sent to this national race for the first time this year. The partnership timed in two of their entries, the second of which will probably take 6th open when things are worked out at 12.59.43 v 1175.3, however their first in the clock is a young blue Staf Van Reet darkness cock which was sent sitting 14 day old eggs. The sire and dam of their arrival originates from Dean Pallat cross Bert Hession Playboy lines Van Reets. Even though this cock hasn’t scored prior to this race, Robert informs me that they have had yet another good season at club federation and national level throughout 2012 and have on many occasions timed in different pigeons virtually every week indicating a loft and partnership with the right system to succeed.

The north section this week was won by our Folkestone 1 national winner D. K. Flowers. Unfortunately shortly after clocking Derek flew out to Spain for a break so he is yet to see the outcome of this week’s race and his reward of yet another trophy to add to his collection.

On clock checking there were a few mixed reactions in regards to returns. Some lofts were pleased to have one or two away whilst others didn’t come off so well, but that’s pigeon racing I suppose. In fairness it was a good race to finish off the season. These game youngsters had to overcome a continuous north westerly head wind which puts closure on a season most would rather forget in regards to altering basketing and liberation days and race points etc on a weekly basis to overcome the poor weather conditions. However, looking back over the past weeks it is pleasing to see that it wasn’t all doom and gloom and some members put up some outstanding performances with the spoils well spread out this year through out all the sections.

From Maidstone Hayden Minett took the 1st open position in the centre section to add yet another national winner to his portfolio. The following week we were at Folkestone when the winning pigeons was timed in the south section at the loft of Rogers & Duggan taking a 1, 2, 3 both section and open. We then jumped across the channel to Lillers old birds and this week the winning pigeon was high up in the north section at the Tredegar lofts of Williams Bros & Son, resulting in each of the three sections hosting the winning pigeons in the first three races. How is that for fair competition? From there we headed further east to the European capital Brussels, some 360 miles, where Mel Mayo, vice president of the WNR Federation, was ahead of the field at his Bargeod loft in the centre section for 1st open. Believe me that was a moment to cherish when I telephoned to inform Mel that subject to checking he was probable 1st section 1st open. The reply I got was "Me! Are you sure?" then the line went quiet for a while which left me thinking I was disconnected as the reality hit home. With yet another change from the advertised programme the following week due to bad weather we reverted back to Folkestone 180 mls instead of Huy 380 miles, to the delight of the father and son partnership of M & J Hughes of Treharris timing in their winner for 1st open and 1st centre section.

Hayden Minett - 1st Maidstone

Rogers & Duggan - 1st open Folkestone 1 OB

After the disappointment of cancelling the race the previous week, we struck a little good fortune as the weather finally turned in our favour for Bonn 460 miles and with the birdage up for this one, Steve Jude of Cwmbran nr Newport recorded the winning pigeon just prior to going into hospital for major surgery on his legs. I can now report that after coming out of hospital Steve is slowly but surely making good progress and will soon be back to his normal self. So it’s the youngsters now that take priority and our first young bird national was from Maidstone 160 miles approx, when the convoy sat on site till shortly after midday before releasing, and it was one of our most northern members William Holpin in Abergavenny who took both 1st north section 1st open from this one, some 35 yards per minute in front of the rest of the field. Moving on further east to Folkestone 1 yb and after waiting till near the end of the season to shine it was the multi-national winning Pontypool lofts of Derek and Clive Flowers who took the pole positions with a 1, 2 north section and open. Derek is another of one our members on the road to recovery after being laid up for a while after undergoing knee replacements, and is back to his winning ways.

I. Williams - 1st open Lillers

M. Mayo - 1st open Brussels

M & J Hughes 1st Folkestone 2 OB

S. Jude - 1st open Bonn

W. Holpin - 1st open Maidstone YB

D. K. Flowers - 1st open Folkestone 1 YB

So that’s it for another year and with the final race from Folkestone 2 featured above all that remains is to once again thank a few people, starting with our marking station secretaries namely Geoff Gavies, Paul Fishlock, Steve Attley and Sean Proctor and the respected members of their clubs for their hard work throughout the season in the smooth running of the marking stations. Also our race advisors John Watkins and Glyn Picton and convoyers headed by David Humphries for their commitment and dedication in looking after the welfare of the birds. And of course our many sponsors old and new for their continued support throughout the past year. Also we cannot forget our convoying organisation the Welsh North Road Federation which is committed to providing us with realistic transporting costs, which enables us to give our membership a much higher return on their outlay every week. Also someone behind the scenes who duly deserves a mention is Rosemary Humphries who has the daunting task of auditing the race sheets on a weekly basis for the national. It’s then after matching my figures with hers that the payout is announced on production of the result. Finally a last reminder that the joint presentation of the Welsh National Flying Club and Welsh North Road Federation will be held on sat 15th December at the Seamans Mission Club, Newport. Ticket reservations are now available at the price of £18.50 pp, but be advised these will sell fast as they did last year so get your numbers in early to avoid disappointment.

During the winter months you can catch up with the highlights of 2012 plus news, views and thoughts for the coming season, on our web site at www.welshnational.co.uk All that remains is on behalf of ourselves as secretaries and our fellow committee members of the WNFC we duly wish our membership a successful 2013.