Wetherby 11th May 2024
The fifth race of our old bird program takes the 49 members, 818 pigeons a little further north up the A1 to the 170-80 mile mark at Wetherby. Liberated at half past nine into a south east wind this is surely a favourite racepoint for Laindon club Mick Smith as this wouldn’t be the first time he has come out on top from the Yorkshire racecourse. Racing 182 miles to the pigeon hotbed that is Hockley, Mick being the furthest easterly flyer in the club timed in a yearling cock at seven minutes past four to complete a hatrick of successive club victories. The Hereman Ceusters blue pied was runner up and in the fed from Grantham a fortnight ago before topping the fed today conquering all with 1293.54. Laindon clubs Top prize winner of 2023, Mick looks as if he won’t be relinquishing that title none too soon. Well done, Mick. Runner up in the clubs significant 366 bird entry is D Wilton and Son, winning everywhere they go at the moment the partnership continue their good form taking silver and 13th fed with their blue 3y cock completing 185 miles at 1263. Club deputy Marcin Grzedowicz completes the podium with his yearling blue hen flying 180 miles in 4 hours 11 minutes for 1259 and 14th fed to go with his bronze. A good day all round for our strong South Essex contingent with the legend that is David Coward talbot 15th fed with his yearling blue hen, Russell Jaques 4th fed from our second outing to Grantham follows that with 16th today for his 2y chequer cock. Club runners up, the formidable D Wilton and Son put two more on the sheet with their yearling chequer hen 1256 and an older 2y blue cock 1250, 17th and 18th respectively.
Not too far up the road we don’t have to leave this lovely part of the world to find our next club winning fancier. Stambridge secretary and another resident of Hockley Malcolm Scouler. Regular readers will be familiar to Malcolm and his ever present consistent performers this week taking another clean sweep at the tight knit club. Leading the way of the fanciers 36 entries is a super consistent 3y Leo Hermans blue cock, runner up in the fed today flying his 182 miles at a close up 1293.1, the son of Malcolms prolific ex racer now 8y stock cock just misses out but makes a remarkable 11th appearance in the federation result. Great pigeon. Second club and 3rd fed goes to Malcolm’s next through the trap. The yearling blue hen registering a mere 4 seconds behind her club winning loftmate for 1292.8 fractions ahead of the last of the trio to trap, yet another Leo Heremans yearling blue hen, quarter of a yard inferior 1292.6 and 4th fed. Malcolm often takes a multitude of top positions in our fed and does so once again from Wetherby with 2 more in the top ten, 9th is taken by his veteran 4y chequer cock 1271 with a younger NWHU rung yearling blue hen 1270 and a hard earned 10th spot. Mr consistency had 6 more in the published result equating to 11 entries. Phenomenal for a close run old bird race, well done one again Malcolm.
North to Wickham Bishops and Burnham Victor Dave Freeman clocking in a consistent blue cock 13th fed from Grantham a fortnight ago. The 3 year old Keith Turner Red Danial Van Reet crossed into the best of Daves lines has won in the past as well as numerous fed positions covered his 171 miles to Dave at 1279 5th fed for the man of the countryside. Results were close across the county today and it would be no exception at Burnham with Husband and Wife partnership Mr and Mrs John Moss taking silver with a chequer pied yearling cock flying 182 miles to the Dengie coast in 4 hours 11 minutes resulting in a single yard difference of 1278. Mr and Mrs Moss also take third spot at the coastal collective clocking in a yearling blue cock 8 seconds later on the same yard picking up 8th fed. Club winner Dave Freeman’s second arrival also makes the frame. His yearling blue pied hen 19th with 1245.
We move on and Two more fed toppers from Rayleigh club next, both featuring in previous articles. President Steve Oddy collects the club red card and 7th fed timing in a 2y blue hen completing her 178 mile journey to Battlesbridge in 4 hours and five minutes for 7th fed with 1277. Wickford’s Mark Pittman winner of the Darlington open race last term completes the podium at Rayleigh with two yearling cocks landing together at 13:39. First to go through the trap was the Red cock 11th fed with 1267 followed by his mealy pied loftmate right on his tail. 5 seconds or half a yard later on 1266.6 for 12th. C Vidgeon rounds off the Rayleigh result and gets in the fed again with a 2y chequer cock 177 miles at 1245 collecting 20th fed.
To the capital now and our man on the ground John Payne gives his review of the weekends racing from a Chelmsford city point of view. The City members once again initially enjoyed a close race into the area with most of us taking a top ten position within the club. In first place we have the author racing in partnership with wife Tina clocking in their regular performer, a red chequer cock which is one of the very last of the late great Stuart Elvin’s Busschaerts closely followed in 2nd place by Tony Hitchings with a super blue cock originating and sent down from Durham by his good friend Geoff Morris. Taking third this week we have club victors Mr and Mrs Payne timing in one of their ultra reliable Vandenabeele Blue cocks of Colin Mann/Formula One origins. After the initial group of arrivals into the area the rest of the afternoon was taken up with long gappy returns going on into the evening and next morning. Cheers John. Five races behind us now and with a more official scorecard in play we have Burnham club topping the bill with 28 points, Maldon are in second spot with 25 and Laindon a close up third with 23. Lots still to come over the course of the next few weekends beginning with a Big money race from Darlington to look forward to next week with the fed offering numerous prizes from the county Durham racepoint, until then, all the best.
C L Elmes.
1st club Rayleigh for |
1st Essex central Federation Wetherby 818b |
Runner up, now 10 times in the |