Warwickshire and District Federation notes.
The first weekend in June saw the federation members competing from Yelverton , and the birds were up and away at 8.15 in alight South East wind for the journey back o their lofts. The race saw a new name and club at the top of the heap this season, with top spot being filled by the Buckshill club courtesy of M Evans. The bird just managed to get its nose in front of the second placed bird which saw a first appearance of the season as well from Pete Mawby who competes in the Dunchurch Club. Both birds were doing 1719 ypm with just 0.3 yards between them. Well done to both members Taking 3rd federation and top honours at Barras Green we have the partnership of D J Duffin and son on 1718 ypm closely followed by the East Leake winning partnership of Mr and Mrs Elton, a partnership always in the shake up, claiming 4th Federation this week. With 4 club winners in the top 4 it shows how well spread out the convoy was this week, and this pattern continues with 5th and 6th Federation going to D Allen of Monsell and J Ringrose of Lime tree respectively. East Leake get on the result again with R Shelton taking 7th Federation followed by Dalton brothers of Monsell and the hard working Ian and Julie Wilson from Trent Valley in 8th and 9th Federation. The ever green J Backhouse claims top spot in Church Road and a good 1oth Fed followed by Golden Mile Gilbert who takes top honours at Nuneaton and 11th Federation. Mr and Mrs Perkins hold off fellow club mates A Latham and son Mark for 12th and 13th Federation – these rare just in front of the top 2 lofts in the federation so far this season – Tim Atkin and Mick O’Rourke who are in 14th and 15th Federation. Tim follows this up with 4 more quick ones for 16th – 19th Federation. Baz Lovell rounds off the top 20 for Monsell.
The following week saw 1,625 birds up and at it nice and early from Honiton, with a 7.30 lib in a light, almost non existent SSW wind, although it did pick up in places along the route home. Top of the heap is the Monsell loft of Mick O’Rourke a loft that knows how to sprint. He also had a second one close up to claim 5th Federation. Next 2, and doing the double top at Trent Valley is the loft of E Allen and son – a good bit of flying on a quick, competitive day. The partnership also had a 3rd bird to take 19th federation. Taking top honours at Nuneaton is the dynamic duo of Wilson and Malin, and they claim 4th Federation. Taking 6th and 7th Fed and in the order of play from the previous week we have 2 more Trent Valley lofts in the form of Mr and Mrs Perkins and A Latham and son, taking 7th and 8th federation – with Mr and Mrs Perkins caiman 10th spot as well. The Monsell partnership of Dalby brothers and R C Duncalf chalk up 9th and 11th Federation. Continuing a very good season we have last years federation champion loft of Tim Atkin who had a tumble birds to take 12th, 14th -18th and 20th federation – another good bit of flying. Next up and claiming 13th federation we have the quiet man himself, Mr John McNeill – well done John.
On the same week end the Federation were at Fougeres for their 2nd channel race of the programme and the convoy were up and away in a no wind situation at 7.20. With no wind to help or hinder it was always going to be a good working day for the birds. As I have said before when you drop a stretch of water in to a race you tend to get a different set of fanciers on the result sheet. Channel racing gets the heart pumping for many fanciers in a way that 140 mile racing from the West Country never will – and it awakens a challenge in many fanciers who see no interest or value in inland racing. Taking top spot from a federation entry of 305 birds, and having a few on the sheet is one of the longer flying federation members and clubs. R Shelton of East Leake, he clearly sent a team set up for the job, with a clock full of good bird – with good enough to get on the federation sheet at 1st, 8th, 10th and 18th a great bit of flying .Next up is our ace race controller Golden Mile Gilbert – Johnny is always in the frame at the channel events and this time has 2 for 2nd and 15th Federation. Next on the sheet are his fellow clubmates Wilson and Malin, with Ken and Steve claiming 3rd and 20th Federation. The Coventry loft of Farrell and Brennan are up next and they also clocked 2 decent birds to get both on the federation result in 4th and 16th Federation. Next up is the loft of Dean Pallatt who follows up his performance from the first channel race with another clutch of early timings peppering the result – Dean claims 5th, 9th and 13th with quite a few more further down the list. Claiming 6th Federation is the loft of J Pickering and Son. Taking 10th, 11th and 17th we have the loft of Lol Turner – now here is a fancier who feels his pulse quicken during channel races and is always a name to watch for in these races. Taking 14th Federation is the Coventry loft of Neil Howes – Neil is another one who likes his channel races and especially these middle distance ones. Taking 19th Federation and claiming bragging rights at Adderbury for this race is John Hambidge. Well done all fanciers on the sheet from this channel race – birds had a sweat on to get home looking at the velocities.
The following week the members were at Newton Abbot for the Old Bird Inland championship race, and the convoying team had to wait it out whilst the weather improved , but finally had the 1414 birds up and away at 12.30. in a light WSW wind.it was certainly a day for the shorter fliers and they seized the opportunity, claiming the bulk of the places and prize money. Top 4 spots went to Adderbury club, with Kevin Godfrey taking the top spot in both club and federation, with another timer in 10th Fed – top flying from a top fancier. Next up is his fellow club mate Richard Mc Nally – who pulls off a superb piece of flying t take 2nd, 3rd and 4th in both club and Federation – well done Richard. In 5th we have a bird that wanted to get home did so quite quickly for the Monsell lofts of Dalby Brothers. Next up we have a demonstration of how to sprint a team of pigeons by the Southam loft of Shaun Young. Shaun put 7 birds on the result for 6th – 8th and 13th – 16th federation – excellent flying Shaun and they must have been like wasps round a jam jar at the loft! Next up for 9th and 11th federation are 2 fellow Monsell club mates – namely P Mc Gonigle and J Atchinson and son. They were followed by the far flying East Leake winner D and A Smith who clocked a bird that was good enough to claim 12th federation on the day. The dynamic duo of Wilson and Malin from Nuneaton NR are at it again, winning their club and notching up 17th Federation. The Wigston Fields loft of Dean Pallatt rounds of the top 20 in the Championship race
Saturday 22nd June saw the birds at Kingsdown in a race that incorporated the Yearling Gold Ring race. Taking top spot in the Federation and claiming 2nd spot as well is the Trent Valley loft .of Mr and Mrs Perkins on 1617 and 1615 ypm. Next up and continuing a fantastic run of form is the Frankton loft of Tim Atkin. Tim had the team on their toes for this and was rewarded with 11 of the top 20 positions in the federation – a tidy bit of sprint racing by any ones standard. The team claimed 3rd – 9th and 17th – 20th. Mick O’Rourke had 4 on the sheet for 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th fed with club members Dalby Brother and Malc Slater close by to claim 12th and 16th Federation. In 15th spot it’s those 2 again Ken and Steve of the Wilson and Malin partnership who also claim first prize in the yearling Gold Ring to boot – not a bad bit of work gentlemen. Just to show off the fact that they can pick a pigeon they also claimed the second lot of prize money as well. and it’s true that money goes to money!! Claiming the 3rd prize in the Yearling Gold Ring is the Monsell loft of Baz Lovell.