L J Parkinson
There are those days when things happen and you can’t explain them, one of those days was Friday 21st June, which is the longest day of the year. That could be the reason why the morning went in what appeared to be a strange direction, that was probably a coincidence. I got up around the usual time of 6am, after my usual procedure I arrived at the left and let the hens out at 6-50am, nothing strange about that. I changed the water and put the morning feed in the trough and went in to make my cappuccino and then took my seat to watch the pigeons exercise, again as normal. I sat there looking around and wondering what the following day was going to bring with our races. Something then occurred to me, I hadn’t seen the hen’s flying around home as usual. I don’t usually leave my seat until they are looking to come down, I did and started to scan the skies in all directions. Just then I saw them heading home, if anyone had been watching they would have thought they had been for a training toss, they were online and finished well. The next strange thing was for them to all land together on the house roof behind, they had never done that before as a group, a few seconds and they were gone again. Had something frightened them, I hadn’t heard anything, all was quiet. Off they went again, gone out of sight so I took my seat again, with a less than hot drink. 15mins later they appeared and again landed on the house behind and again a few seconds and off they went. I was then beginning to think, it looked as if I was flagging them which I don’t do. Then they appeared again, and this time landed on our house, it was as if they had landed on a hot plate because no sooner had they hit the roof than they were down and in the loft. It was then the turn of the cocks to take their morning exercise, couldn’t believe it, a couple of circles around the loft and they were down and back in the loft. Up until this day they were the ones coming from training much better than the hen’s. I left them in peace and quiet for the rest of the day, thinking all the time of basketing that night for the races. But it was still going through my mind how unusual the exercising had been that morning, had I unintentionally done something to bring this about, not that I could think of. In all the years I have raced pigeons I have never been a fan of sprint racing; I prefer the more leisurely channel races. We are not into those yet, so I am asking myself if I am naturally making small changes without really picking up on them and is that the difference between sprint and distance racing. Elizabeth said it’s silly the things that go through my mind, I am always looking at things and why we do them in the first place. I was wondering how they would race on the Saturday; with Ebony and myself ending up up 2nd in the 5B to Peter and 4th 6th 7th 8th 9th with Mark taking the first three and fourth.
Ionizers
Trying to help myself with the airflow in the loft I have I have fitted the whole loft out section by section with Ionizers. Even though I wear a double mask when I go into the loft, I am still finding myself having hay fever conditions when I am in there. I am hoping that the ionizers will go some way to rectifying my problem. About 10yrs ago I contacted Dazer UK and spent a few quid with them but getting hold of them now is hard work so Kim sorted them out for me. Let’s hope the ones I have invested in work; I know the ones I had before were helpful. I had a good red rope light from these people that I thought was very good in the stock loft, especially when it came to breeding over the winter months.
Night out
Lesley Moss the Middlewich 5B and South West Cheshire Fed secretary organised a get together down at the Boars Head in Middlewich. It was a mid-season get together. Unfortunately, we had to leave early but it must have been a good night with some having a get together until after midnight. Thank you to Lesley for the time and effort she put into the evening, all reports are it was a good night with Lesley.
Results
Starting with the Mid Cheshire Fed race from Mangotsfield when 64 members entered 945 birds that were liberated at 11-30am in a southwest wind. Ace Ray Lunt from the Lymm club is still the one to beat and this week clocked 4 on the same yard, winning club, section and fed. They are all yearlings recording on 1589ypm. His results are fantastic, taking the first four on four occasions, plus 1-2-4-5, 3-5-6-7 only beaten by club member, 3-4-5-6 and that is out of nine races flown to date only missing out on two races where he still appeared on the fed result but lower down. I have had many conversations with Ray over the years but with me I have nearly always gone for the National and channel races. I recently asked Ray about sprint racing, and he said he has refined his system over the years which you have to do to keep at the top as Ray has done ever since I have known him. No doubt Gary and Alan play a part in their success, they have nearly always been a working, winning team together. How do they do it, I don’t think there are many who know the finer details and those who are often a yard or two behind them. As they say, wouldn’t it be great to bottle and sell the system, even then I don’t think the rest would be as consistent as they are. Trying to keep pace with the winner is fellow club member Andy Roberts who is doing well, and this week comes in with 5th 6th 7th fed on 1582/1576/1574ypm. Middlewich FC fancier Mark Smith is really going big guns having another good race with the first four being yearlings taking the first four in the club to go with 9th 10th 19th 21st fed on 1572/1571/1564/1561ypm. Mark is having a good season and is being pushed by fellow club members. I think we all need a share of Mike O’Hare, how about sending him round. W & P Brown lead the way with a 2yo & yearling in the Earlestown FC picking up 10th & 16th fed along the way with vels of 1567/1564ypm. 2nd club 11th fed is Arnold & Johnson also on 1567ypm. Still with the same club we have Ryads Lofts clocked three yearlings while collecting 12th 15th & 17th fed with vels of 1567/1564 (2) ypm. Eric Taylor wins the Acton Bridge club with a yearling to finish 13th fed on 1564ypm ahead of Mr & Mrs Carl Hickman who takes the next three in the club plus 14th fed with a 2yo and 3 together just out of the top 20. Finishing in the top 20 is another member from the Earlestown club S Brown who clocked a yearling of 1564ypm. Other club winners missing out on this week’s top 20 are Geofrey Warburton who leads the way in the Frodsham club with a vel of 1288ypm. 2nd & 3rd club go the Sidney Rogers & Son with vels of 1165/1153ypm. Over in the Halmerend FC Mainwaring & Simpkin lead the way on 1498ypm ahead of D & P Whitefield with a vel of 1453ypm with 3rd going to N & S Harvey recording a vel of 1436ypm. Jim Chadwick fills the top two positions in the Leigh & Atherton HS with two recording a vel of 1553ypm with two yearlings. Simon Kennedy is 3rd after seeing home a 2yo on 1547ypm. In the Rudheath WMHS Dave Lowe collects the red card on 1529ypm head of Peter & Mike Child on 1520yom and in 3rd spot we have A J Thornley on 1509ypm. S Spataru takes the top three positions in the Runcorn DHS clocking up 1522/1500/1497ypm. In the Sankey Bridge HS the top two places go to I Hill with a yearling and 2yo on 1560/1533ypm with M Magee 3rd on 1527ypm. Meanwhile in the St Helens FC Arnold & Johnson lock the rest out by filling the two three positions recording vels of 1536/1535/1534ypm. That leaves Wrinehill HS where Frank Speed tops the list on 1521ypm ahead of Dave Beeston & Son Gary who clocked up 1519ypm with Mr & Mrs Colin Stanley 3rd on 1496ypm. In the South West Cheshire Fed race from Mangotsfield 47 members sent 607 birds that were liberated at 10am in a west north west wind. Hankelow winners Mr & Mrs Nigel Shaw sent one and topped the fed list, mind you this yearling is a good one having won 5 x 1sts etc. I suppose this is one of those cases where if you have one that will do the job and you are confident why send more. The father & son partnership of Dave & Gary Beeston are 2nd club 5th fed with fellow club member Joe Glover being 3rd club 6th fed just ahead of his big helper Jimmy Smithon 1442ypm. Greenbank FC winners are Turner & Son who had a good race ending up with the top 5 in the club to go with 2nd 4th 15th on 1495/1488/1463/1442 (2)ypm. Colin Lindop tops the list in the Crewe West End along with 4th 5th 6th club 3rd 16th 17th 20th fed with vels of 1488/1458 (2)/1449ypm. Mr & Mrs Keith Lovatt are 2nd club 12th fed on 1474ypm just ahead of Mr & Mrs Richard Young 3rd club 14th fed. Moving on we come to the Middlewich 5B where Peter & Dawn Latham are 1st & 6th club 7th & 13th fed on 1486/1470ypm. The partnership are having a good season after a couple of good results in the National. Les Parkinson & Elizabeth Wilkinson from Elimar Lofts are 2nd & 7th club 8th & 18th fed recording vels of 1482/1455ypm. Mark Smith once again posts a good result with 3rd 4th 5th club 9th 10th 11th fed on 1481/1479/ (2) ypm. Carol & Robert Carson are 8th club 19th fed rounding off a good result for the Middlewich club. In the Duddon PFC KW Walker & Sons take the top two places with vels of 1406/1402ypm. Gary Adamson is 3rd & 4th on 1376/1375ypm. In the Winsford HS the red card goes to Richard Ormandy who is also 3 with vels of 1423/1397ypm. 2nd goes to G&A&C Joneson 1418ypm ahead of H Bratt & Son with a vel of 1392ypm. The Mid Cheshire Fed moved on to Frome when 68 members entered 1,017 birds that were liberated at 10.15am in a west south west wind. No prizes for guessing who took the top 4 places once again, yes Ray Lunt from the Lymm club takes the top 4 in club, section and fed, Ray appears to be unbeatable this year. Anyway, we are getting closer to Ray’s vels of 1520 (2)/ 1519 (2) ypm, they are 2 yearlings a 2yo and 3yo. In the Middlewich FC Mark Smith is leading the way with 1st 2nd 3rd 5th club 1st 4th 5th 11th section 5th 13th 14th Fed recording vels of 1513/1478/1477ypm with 2 yearlings and a 3yo. Mark is having a very good season and is the one to beat. Ebony Crowley from Elimar Lofts is 4th club 16th fed on 1474ypm. Acton Bridge winners are Mr & Mrs Carl Hickman taking the first 4 in the club to go with 6th 7th 8th 11th fed after seeing home 2 yearlings a 3yo and 4yo. Eric Taylor is5th club 15th fed after seeing home a yearling on 1476ypm. Leading the way in the Wrinehill HS is the evergreen Joe Glover on 1486/1462ypm collecting 1st & 3rd club9th 21st fed. Darren Everill is 2nd club 10th fed on 1483ypm with Mrs J Moss 4th club on 1453ypm. In the Earlestown FC Arnold & Johnson are this week’s premier prize winners plus 4th recording vels of 1481/1462ypm. Coming in between are W & P Brown who saw home a 2yo and yearling to record vels of 1465/1463ypm. Sankey Bridge was won by I Hill who saw home a yearling on1466 to claim 17th fed. 2nd club on 1460ypm with a 3yo is Steve Cooke just ahead of Mr & Mrs D W Cox who have gone quiet on information in the NWCC where they are never far away. In this race they clocked a yearling recording a vel of 1452ypm. Over at Frodsham Geofrey Warburton tops the list on 1284ypm followed by Sidney Rogers & Son who clocked two on 1277/1275ypm. D & P Whitfield lead the way in the Halmerend FC on 1452ypm with N & S Harvey 2nd clocking up 1450ypm and C Gill 3rd with a vel of 1439ypm. In the Leigh & Atherton HS Jim Chadwick runs away with the top three places on 1454/1449/1446ypm. Meanwhile over at Rudheath the top spot goes to AJ Thornley with a vel of 1445ypm. The next two places both go to Dave Lowe with vels of 1440/1439ypm.
North West Classic
Another Guernsey race for the NWCC when 32 members entered 216 birds to be liberated at 8am in a west-southwest wind. Guernsey is one of those race points that you are never sure what is going to happen. If the wind is coming from the northwest, they are more than likely going to end up in France. However, looking at the velocities I don’t think that is the case in this race, the velocities are too good.
1st & 8th Open 1st & 7th section A are won by J Willianson from Stoke on Trent with vels of 1454/1407ypm winning £350. The dam of John's hen is a 2yo raced on the roundabout system and is bred down on the dam’s side from a Gaston Van de Wower X Koopman, that is bred from a double g/son of Klien Dirk. The sire is from Potteries favorite George Litherland and Freddy Galimore stock.
John Williamson NWCC
2nd & 16th Open 1st & 3rd section B on 1444/1390ypm, are won by the evergreen Joe Glover from Wrinehill collecting £198.95. A blue hen who is no stranger to the classic prize list was a section winner in the club last year. Her sister has won 3 x 1sts fed and another sister won Mangotsfield a couple of weeks earlier. The breeding is Peter Jones from Whitchurch and the golden Lace lines of Micky Collins that are very highly rated. Since his accident Joe has relied on good friend Jimmy Smith to help him out and he is doing a very good job for him. Joe said he would like to thank the fanciers at Middlewich for their help in getting his birds in and out of the car. I did say to joe that it’s nice to see him winning to which he replied, “It’s not me it’s the pigeons”
3rd Open 2nd section A sees Brian Lee from Congleton put up another fine performance in specialist racing collecting £125 after clocking up 1444ypm. Brian is another of the Congleton fanciers who are regulars in the Classic prize list and in this race clocked one out of the John Corris stock. The sire is from Philip Boal and is off a brother to Koletje 1st National winning son of Kanon. The dam of the sire is Perfect Light winner of, 1st NIPA 26,000 birds, 1st NIPA 11,000 bird’s 9th NIPA 26,000 birds and is an RPRA Award winner. Perfect Light is a direct daughter of the excellent Young Bobby 3 x 1sts section winner. The dam is also a top pigeon, being a direct daughter of the Superkoppel which makes her a sister to many winners. Such as, Olympic Marjolein 1st Gennep 14,228 birds. 3rd Deurne 12,469 birds. 1st best sprint ranking.
Brian Lee with Lady Zlatan NWCC
4th Open 3rd section A sees Kevin Tagel of Congleton in the prizes once again after finishing 3rd in the club’s previous race from the same race point and wins £90 for a vel of 1422ypm. Kevin seems to have it right with this specialist club, he is a regular in the top prizes. This week’s bird is the 3rd section 4th open and is a Lambrecht x Ceuster 2yo blue hen which was bred in the stock loft out of a pair which have bred a few winners. She was flown on the widowhood system and was 3rd section 3rd open with the classic last year out of Guernsey and she has won a few prizes in club racing.
Kevin Tagell NWCC
5th & 10th Open 4th & 8th section A go to Slirwer Tomczak from over at Macclesfield with £40.62 recording vels of 1422/1401ypm. The first pigeon in this NWCC is a 3yo Chequer cock from the Leo Heremans family that was bred by George and Mark Greenwood. The sire is blue cock bred by Curtis-Wall-Lunt out of Playfull while the dam is Zara a Chequer hen again from George & Mark Greenwood, who are prominent winners from Macclesfield, their wins include first NWCC, so as you can see this is well bred.
S Tomczak 9th Open NWCC
6th Open 5th Section A sees G & M Greenwood Macclesfield clocked a near all-pooler on 1415ypm winning £322.76. Clocked a Chequer yearling hen flown on the celibacy system. She has flown all Oldham fed races and was 5th fed 5th Amal the week before from Cheltenham. The pigeons are fed on normal Versele Laga widowhood mix. Her sire is a Lambrecht out of their good Lambrecht late bed bred cock who in turn is out of Rob Roy a winner of many first prizes. The dam of this winner was a gift Bosma from their good mate Ray Lunt.
George Greenwood NWCC
7th & 10th open 6th & 9th section A goes to Stephen Turnock from Stoke on Trent with vels of 1409/1401ypm, this is another fancier have a good race in the previous one for the club where he ended up 2nd open.
Stephen Turnock
12th Open 2nd section B is won by Graham Mackay of Swinton on 1400ypm winning £97.38.
Taking the first 7 in section C, are Mr & Mrs D W Cox from Warrington with the top 3 vels being 1362 (2) / 1350ypm winning £112.07.
Mr & Mrs D W Cox
Les Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ.
Tel: +44 (0)1606 836036. Mob: +44 (0)7871 701585.
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Web site: http://www.elimarpigeons.com