24-V59474 CHEQUER COCK Sire of 5 × 1st already — Tim Atkin's Seabiscuit and Secretariat lines x Willems Gold hen

24-V59474 CHEQUER COCK Sire of 5 × 1st already — Tim Atkin's Seabiscuit and Secretariat lines over a nest-mate Willems Gold hen

A 2024 chequer cock who has bred 5 × 1st to date. His sire "Seabird" (23-N21504) was bred by Tim Atkin from "Seabiscuit", a son of "Secretariat" — described on the card as sire of the UK's highest-priced bird at Blackpool. His dam 23-D92849 is a stock, inbred hen from the nest mates Al Willem × Willems Gold.

The Sire — 23-N21504 "Seabird" Bred by Tim Atkin · Seabiscuit × Dark Beauty Harry Bred by Tim Atkin. His sire "Seabiscuit" (NL-20-1775721), which cost a large sum, is by "Secretariat" (NL-191667269) — sire of the UK's highest-priced bird, at Blackpool — out of "Francis" (NL-19-1667546). His dam "Dark Beauty Harry" (NL-20-1609264) is an inbred hen by "Beauty Harry", out of NL-16-1663951, bred from two classic breeding lines, Harry × Di Caprio.

The Dam — 23-D92849 Al Willem × Willems Gold · stock, inbred Described on the card as stock, inbred. She is bred from the nest mates "Al Willem" (22-V51475) and "Willems Gold" (22-V51476), both Yuri × Maggy Murphy — a full brother × full sister mating, F = 25%. Her full sister 23D92857 is the dam of 2nd Open, 300 miles for Richardson & Son of Horden. Willems Gold has bred multiple winners with different cocks, and two of her full sisters breed to national level.

Foot note from Howard himself

In 2024 I was told I had stage 4 prostrate cancer which had gone to my bones, so I sold nearly all my race bird’s including stock. My last sale was due for Dec 2024 with 20 late breds and 4 stock birds. On my visit too Hull Hospital in Nov 2024 to see my consultant Doctor Patu, he informed me that he though my treatment was working because my P.S.I. was dropping from 940, and it is now undetectable, so I decided too give it another try racing, racing only 5 race bird in 2025 old birds on rubbers. They won or were first 4 in every old bird race, ending with 2nd GYA, 1200 odd bird’s.

I was invited to join a very strong club for young birds, and they flew really well winning a few races, in many arriving in bunches.

In 2026 old bird I was 2nd Fed ECT despite me going on a cruise for 2 wks. In young bird season: first Grantham 88ml 1st 2nd 3rd 4th, 1st Ebor Fed; Grantham (2) 1st club 1st Fed; Huntingdon 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th, first 4 in Fed; and in last race of season 1st club 1st Fed, Decoy Lakes.

Winning 3rd breeder buyer in GYA £400,
In the club 1st and 2nd breeder buyer and £1,000.

So thats all bragging done, now onto birds.

Mostly ‘William De Bruije’ from syndicate loft, with a few Luc Vavort’s, all very nr the tree: Lawman, Blue Spider, Erin, Little China Girl, All the Aces, Yurri, Murphys Diamond, Red Rum, Sweet Caroline, Maggy Murphy, and many more. I still have ‘Golden Jade’ – her young this yr alone have won me £1400 in B and B. These will be my last ever sales as I am 86 now.