Retford 4th May 2024.
Week 4 and the opener of our Ace bird trilogy racing from Retford, Notts. A nice incentive to the fancy and with 44 members taking part 793 entries were released at 08:15 in a South West wind.
Winners back to back in the federation are the kings of Heybridge SIS Wallis. The Wood Road masters first bird, a Bob Fenech pencil cock, 10th fed from the opening Grantham and twice in the top 5 last year in addition to other fed cards arrived half a minute ahead of a trio of yearlings to take top spot at the competitive loft. Flying 128 miles home the consistent performer registered at six minutes past eleven calculating a fed winning 1313. Colchester distance man Norman Holliday continues in his quest to win an old bird club race less than 300 miles. His breeding pair of Wallis brothers ‘Belgian Hen’ pigeons give him hope with a club winner produced every year together. This time out it’s a yearling pied corremans son, runner up in the fed today flying 124 miles to North Colchester at 1310. Three in twenty seconds follow up for the unofficial champions for the next three spots in the result, headed by a dark chequer cock claiming bronze trapping 3 seconds ahead of his Blue Pied late bred brother, having only his second outing after a hard Grantham. Both pigeons on 1309 with a third of the Sean Hunt progeny going through not long after. The Dark Chequer cock 5th fed with 1307, all three yearlings from a son of Back to Back and a sister of his Cream Rise. Alan Moore strikes again for the counties latest City. The Colchester widowhood king times in a 2y mealy for 6th. The Pitbull cock 124 miles at 1297. The Lexden legend puts another four on the scoresheet adding 12th and 13th with a 2y grizzle cock 1267 and a yearling blue cock 1266. The younger of the two 13th fed from Grantham last time out. Race winners SIS Wallis add a fifth and Sixth pigeon in the result. A yearling chequer pied cock 14th with 1262, followed in by his blue brother on 1257. The second yearling also 13th fed from Grantham in our second race. Back North to Clairmont Road and Alan Moore to round off a superb day not just for himself but the club as a whole with 2 cocks a second apart on 1256. The yearling blue pipping his older 2y mealy loftmate by point one of a yard for 17th and 18th.
Mr and Mrs Moss top the tree at Burnham Club. Their club winning 2y chequer pied cock heading the coastal collective clocking in at 11:22, completing his 135 mile journey to the Dengie at 1267. 7th fed today for the partnership to go with their club red card. Runner up goes to Mr and Mrs Moss again, their second pigeon a 2y red cock 11th fed with 1267. Dave Freeman completes the honours at Burnham. The Wickham Bishops dangerman 15th fed with a yearling blue pied hen 125 miles at 1259.
An excellent result for Mick Smith down at Laindon considering the wind. Mick backs up his one two last week from Grantham by sweeping the board today at Retford. The first two of Micks Hermans Ceusters trio landing together and registering four seconds apart. First through the trap a 2y blue cock, followed by a blue hen of the same age, both pigeons completing their 135 mile journey at 1279, the cock point four in front to pick up 8th and 9th fed. Micks third pigeon, an older 3y blue pied cock completes the podium by taking bronze in the clubs 217 birds on 1226.
Off to Stambridge, currently marking at Rayleigh where we find ever present Malcolm Scouler and his formidable flock. The Hockley master has three in the top twenty on this occasion. Topping the strong outfit today and first of the fanciers 40 strong battalion a yearling blue cock flying 135 miles to Malcolm at 1268. 10th fed for the consistent Leo Heremans. Runner up in the club and 19th fed would be the club secretary’s second pigeon 12 minutes later on 1256. The 3y old blue cock trapping just before his 3y brother of the same colour who earns 20th and a club clean sweep on 1254.
Rounding up our fourth race of the season we head to the capital and our man on the scene. Mr John Payne who begins to tell me that the city had an bit of an awkward weekend with illness prevalent and work commitments they only managed in our opinion a poor turnout with only 56 birds on board. John goes on to say, nether the less we had fairly early returns over here on the west side and good initial grouping, unfortunately followed by long delays for suffering members with birds arriving in the remainder of the day and a few the next morning. Onto the club result and in first and second place we have last Saturdays fed winning fancier Alan (Mr and Mrs Hills coming up trumps once again courtesy of another pair of home bred syndicate loft imports from the Fred Harnett stable. In third place we have John and Tina Payne with one of their regular and reliable blue Vandenabeele cocks originating from Colin Mann of Hockley’s formula one bloodlines. John finishes his weekly update hoping things improve at the club and return to some sort of normality heading towards next weekend’s race at Wetherby. Cheers John.
C L Elmes
Another Red card for the |
A good day all round for the lads at Maldon club |
1st Essex Central Federation Retford |