Warwickshire Federation notes
The last week end of the old bird programme saw members competing from 2 different channel race points – Bordeaux for those who like the challenge of 500+ mile racing and Vire for those who are more fond of a shorter channel race. Both of these races were duplicated back out of the MNFC. Vire saw 27 members sending 318 birds who were liberated in a light South West wind. Taking top honour sand having a bit of a field day with 9 in the top 20 is the Lutterworth loft of Dean Pallatt. Dean has set out his stall this year to compete in the national race programmes and has been consistent with a capital C throughout the season, making a nuisance of himself at each channel race and having a clock full on each occasion. His team was well represented with yearlings, but their lack of experience certainly didn’t hold them back or limit them. His team tumbled in and scored 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th,9th 11th and 13th Federation, a stonking bit of flying by anyone’s standards.
3rd Federation went to the Coalville loft of J Pickering and son. In 6th and 13th Fed is the Leicester loft of Malc Slater who tends to set his stall out for channel racing. Next up is the loft of Fraser and Hunt who compete on the Barras Green Club in Coventry. These guys clearly had the birds right for this one and had 3 quick ones I was speaking to Terry at the Federation breeder/buyer earlier this year and he was telling me this is probably his last season, I personally hope he has had a rethink, but if not it’s a good way to go out in your last channel race. Claiming 11th Federation Is the former national winner Bill Marbrow, still up amongst them despite health concerns. Next up with 2 quick ones for 17th and 18th Federation is John Hambidge – the singing Farmer who competes in the Adderbury Club .John was closely followed by the top Leicester loft of Mick O’Rourke who dipped his toe in with a small team of only 4 but still had 1 up with the leaders in the federation. Rounding off the top 20 is the East Leake loft of Allen and Walker.
Pete McFarlane – section and Fed topper from Bordeaux
On the same day members were competing from the more exotic and far flung race point of Bordeaux. This race is the Blue Riband race for members and is a demonstration of skill and patience, and traditionally there are very few in on the night, so it’s a real thrill and bonus. Topping the federation and having a top 10 finish in the MNFC race is the Weedon loft of Pete Mc Farlane. Pete has only been in pigeons for a few years, and you would go a long way to find some one more focused and dedicated. Due to health reasons Pete has not bred any young birds for the previous 2 years, and for 2019 his old bird team was actually 2 birds! He never let this stop him and he actually never raced the cock as he needed something for the hen to race back to. The hen had 2 or 3 inland races and a couple of Channel races with the BICC before being set up for Bordeaux sitting tight on her first eggs in 5 months. The thrill of having her drop in on the night was a great tonic for Pete. He had worked hard in keeping her going all season and even had to put up with a member in one of his clubs telling him he was an idiot for racing just 1 pigeon – who said sportsmanship is dead! Well done Pete mate, a cracking way to win your first club race.
Taking 2nd spot is the Adderbury loft of E N Murrey and sons. These days the loft duties are undertaken by Buzz, one of the sons in the partnership. He usually gets a decent 1 from this distance and I know he had high hopes of topping the federation but had to settle for the Bridesmaid position, but had the thrill of being in on the night. Next up we once more have the Lutterworth lofts of Dean Pallatt. Dean had 3 on the result for 3rd, 6th and 7th to follow on from his cavalry charge from Vire – clearly a man for al seasons.
For 4th Federation we travel up to the top of the federation and the loft of R Shelton. Next up we are down at the bottom end of the federation and another loft that was on the sheet from Vire as well. John Hambidge John had 3 on the sheet again for 5th, 8th and 10th Federation- great bit of racing at close on 500 miles. Finishing of the top 10 is the Coalville loft of K J Walker who claimed 9th Federation.
This year the fed programme saw the inclusion of some mixed age racing at the start of the young bird/end of old bird programmes. However the first race was finally abandoned with the birds being brought back to base. Despite the best efforts of our amazing race controller we did not get the necessary conditions to have a race, so we erred on the side of caution – after all young birds in their first race need all the help they can get. We just weren’t happy with the odds so it was a no brainer.
So, we had to wait for another week to get the young bird programme under way. It was, however, worth the wait and what a difference a week makes weather wise. The convoyers had the 1731 birds sent by 70 members up and away nice and early in a light South East wind and just like that the young birds were up and in their first race.
Tim Atkin – flying a decent young bird!
Taking top honours and setting the standard for the young bird programme in fantastic style is the Frankton loft of Tim Atkin. Tim was Federation Champion last year and is putting in the graft to retain this title for 2019 – and in this race he had 11 in the 1st 20 of the Federation. As well as pole place on 1403 ypm, he had 3rd – 11th and 13th. Close on his tail for top spot is the man who he has gone toe to toe with for most of the old bird programme and their competitive rivalry continues with Mick O’Rourke being 2nd Federation with 0.1 yards between them.
M Sanders from Monsell club is next for 14th Federation on 1355ypm, then it’s off to Trent Valley where John Mc Neill had 2 handy timers for 15th and 16th Federation. The dynamin Duo Wilson and Malin are up next representing Nuneaton club with 17th Federation- Ken and Steve top their club with this one. The further flying East Leake and Coalville clubs are well represented with Mr and Mrs Elton chalking up 18th Fed and A Brown on 1339 for 19th Federation. Rounding up the top 20 we have the Monsell loft of Dalby Brothers.
Having missed out on the first Bath , the majority of clubs voted to change the race point for what was scheduled to be race number 3 and we were back at Bath. Again, Adam and Steve had them up and away bright and early, with the 1,202 birds racing home in a brisk south westerly wind. This week saw a bit of a masterclass in young bird racing by Tim Atkin of the Dunchurch club who had a cavalry charge over the 77 or so miles that saw him top the federation on 2184.935 ypm. He then proceeded to take the next 19 positions in the federation- with his 20th bird on 2179.646ypm!! Now, as is always the case with pigeon fanciers, some will bemoan that Tim is in a good spot, sends a big team, creates a drag etc, etc. However, I defy anyone who puts in the time and effort to racing not to be impressed by that result. He is one of the shorter fliers in the federation and the history books say that the short drop shouldn’t be in with a shout on a fast sprint like we had in this race. However, I think the result shows that the form book dictated the result. However you look at it this is a great bit of flying – well done Tim.
Mighty Mick O’Rourke
Week three saw us a little further down the road with 1311 birds up and away from Wincanton in a WSW wind. Hot on the heels of the previous weeks result when Tim Atkin took all 20 federation spots – the Monsell loft of Mick O’Rourke almost did the same. His team took the top spot and tumbled in to take the first 16 in the federation. The winner records 1985yom and his 16th bird is on a velocity of 1980ypm, most definitely top bombing! Well done Mick.
Stopping the charge is last weeks winner Tim Atkin who takes the remaining 4 slots in the federation. I have written before about the quality of these 2 gentlemen and their ability to get a group of birds up at the front regularly. Good pigeons, good pigeon men and hard work – its simple really.
Week 4 saw the federation at Honiton for the Young Bird Championship race and the 1304 birds entered by 63 members were liberated by Steve bright and early at 7.45 in to a light south east wind. Going double top this week in some style is the far-flung loft of Mr and Mrs Elton who compete in the East Leake club. Their 2 timers claim 1st and 2nd Federation and first 2 cuts of the prize money. A very good bit of flying up in to the top edge of the federation, well done. And for good measures their 3rd on the clock claims 19th Federation and a bit of prize money as well.
Next up, carrying on where he left off last week is the loft of Tim Atkin who competes in the Dunchurch club. Tim had a drop of early ones again to claim 3rd – 15th Federation. Up amongst them again is the Monsell loft of Mick O’Rourke who claims 16th and 20th Federation. Hot on his heels is a partnership who most definitely know how to race a pigeon. The Bedworth loft of Armstrong and Wheatley have 2 quick together to claim 17th and 18th federation and a bit of corn money. It’s good to see the team back together again and picking up where they left off.
The August Bank Holiday weekend saw the federation at Kingsdown and alongside the normal convoy we had the surviving Gold ring entries who would be liberated separately from the main batch. The birds had a long wait for conditions to improve to the point where the birds could be libbed, but at 1.30 the small convoy of 44 birds were up and away followed 20 minutes later by the main federation convoy of 1032 birds.
Taking top spot in the Gold Ring Race is that man from Monsell again – Mighty Mick O’Rourke. His winner on 1657 takes the lions share of the Gold Ring pot, just ahead of fellow club mate Baz Lovell who has to settle for 2nd spot and share of the prize pot. Next up is Tim Atkin who 7 out of his 9 Gold ring contenders on the drop and his 8th close up behind them for 3rd – 10th positions in the Gold Ring race.
In the Federation race itself the convoy were 100 yards quicker – which I suppose is to be expected with a larger lib, and being libbed off the lorry second they would be keen to chase after the first lib and try and catch them up. Taking 1st federation and having them queuing up to get in the loft is the Frankton loft of Tim Atkin. This young bird team have a great bit of form around them and this week they were once more up at the front to take 1st – 14th federation with velocities ranging from 1754 ypm to 1728ypm – once again a top bit of flying by Tim. Malc Slater who competes in Wigston Fields claims 15th Federation and we stay in the Leicester area for the remainder of the top 20 with Mick O’Rourke taking 16th, 17th, 19th and 20th – another top turn Mick. Filling out the top 20 is Wigston member K Chapman with a velocity of 1723ypm.
The first weekend in September saw us at Bath for our come back race and Steve had the 1,639 birds away at 9.30 in a light Northerly wind. It turned out to be a carbon copy of one of the earlier Bath young bird races with that man Tim Atkin once more leading the charge in spectacular style. This young bird team are really on top of their game and must be up and away without a circle at liberation. The week again Tim has taken all 20 federation positions with velocities ranging from 1419ypm down to 1414 ypm…now that is some going. But again there will be some with their own theories as to why they are performing at the top- drag, mob flying , good spot on the golden mile etc. However I have said it before – good pigeons, well managed, in excellent health and set up for the job being asked of them. Well done Tim on taking the clean sweep again – a fantastic display of young bird racing from a man at the top of his game.
The final inland race of the 2019 season saw the birds back at Wincanton and Steve had them up ands away at 9.00am so he could top up his tan before heading home. The 13.13 birds were up in a light North East wind – always a test of a pigeons fitness. Tim Atkin came very close to mirroring last weeks performance by taking pole position on 1683ypm and then had them tumbling over the pads to take the next 18 positions as well, only being stopped from the Royal flush by Mighty Mick O’Rourke who claimed 19th Federation on 1629ypm. Again, some exceptional flying right out of the top drawer, when you have a team flying at this level it must be an absolute delight to watch them come home on a race day. I have had the pleasure of being at the lofts with Tim on race days on several occasions and his young birds have arrived in cavalry charges with each one racing it’s loft mates to the loft and it has been quite a spectacle.
On the same day the Federation had its Breeder Buyer race, this was a separate liberation off the lorry. Steve had the 17 birds sent by 7 members up and at it with an 8.30 liberation. Personally, I feel that such a small number should not be liberated on their own and should be up with the main liberation. I know the reasoning behind a different liberation – no advantage from the drag being the main one. However, I do not feel that unsettling the main convoy by having these couple of baskets libbed first and the fact that the main convoy could have been up 30 minutes earlier is necessary – Such small numbers should be absorbed in to the main convoy and liberated with them. It cannot do the welfare of the young birds any good spending another 30 minutes getting jittery and wound up by still being in their baskets.
Johnny Gilbert – the B/B maestro.
So, the race itself was won by Dave Woods who flies in the Church Road club – they are one of our newest clubs who only joined this year. Dave clocked a bird bred by top Leamington fancier Alan Rheams and was expertly prepared for the event by Dave, and it didn’t let them down. Both fanciers were rewarded with a nice bit of corn money. Next up is a man who has made this race his own over the past few years- the man who makes the magic happen on a Saturday, Johnny Gilbert our race controller. Johnny had 8 on the result and he clearly did his homework prior to the sale and bought wisely as can be seen by number of purchases he managed to get to the race. Now, as you all know Johnny lives in The Golden Mile and some people will try and brow beat you in to believing that is all it takes to be successful with pigeons. But I suspect that he has a fair bit of skill as a fancier as well, and it is in races like this where this skill becomes apparent. Johnny waste top money winner in the race and his team chalked up 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th – it is good to see one of the grafters getting up amongst them. Well done Johnny.
In 5th spot is the Coventry loft of W Swain, sons and Diaz wit a bird bred by K R Wilson. Tim Atkin was 6th and 7th with his 2 entries -one self bred and one bred by Dean Pallatt. Bill Marbrow is next on the result for 8th flying a bird put up by D Jones. John Mc Neill from Trent Valley and Mr and Mrs Pegg from Church Road clinch the remaining places and prizes n 9th and 13th place.
The final race of the Warwickshire Federation 2019 programme was from Carentan, with a duplication back out from the MNFC. Young bird racing is a tricky affair at times and this can be more so when there is a strip of water put in between the race point and home. Add to this the fact that the birds were up in a NE wind and you have a real test of fitness and determination on your hands. 12 members sent 126 birds to this final race and it turned out to be a classic young bird channel race.
Taking top honours in style was the Leicester loft of Malc Slater who likes to put out a good team for the channel races. He had a few on the result, and as well as 1st Federation on a fantastic 1375ypm, he claimed 17th and 19th as well, a good bit of flying on a day that asked a few questions and left no where to hide. Next up is the loft of Tim Atkin and I think it’s fair to say one or two people didn’t realise that Tim liked his channel racing. His young birds carried on showing the form they have had all season by claiming 2nd, 4th, 5th,11th,12th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th spots in the federation with velocities ranging from 1285 to 1108 ypm. Taking 3rd spot in the federation is the Rugby loft of Tommy Young. Tommy loves his channel racing and has an impressive CV from race points over the pond. On this occasion the young bird was doing 1282ypm. As a fellow Irishman who cut his teeth racing across 2 channels in to Ireland it warms my heart to see his apprenticeship has served him well – well done Tommy.
Next up is another loft with an impeccable list of successes over the channel up to and including 1st National level – Mr Jerry Wright. I have known Jerry since my days in Northampton in the late 1990’s and he remains a real force to be reckoned with, a more importantly a true gentleman. Jerry has a few on the result for 6th,8th and 9th on a real flying day. Keeping with the Monsell club, we have S Butlin in 7th on 1233ypm. We go to one of the most westerly clubs in the Federation now for the next couple with Farrell and Brenan getting 2 game young birds on the result in 10th and 20th Federation spots. W J Keay who competes on the Nuneaton NR club is next in 13th fed on a velocity of 1157 ypm.
Right folks, that is the last of the races put to bed. It has taken a while but on several occasions other commitments an family time took precedent – and lets not forget it’s only pigeons at the end of the day! But I got there in the end. On behalf of the members I would like to thank the convoying team of Steve and Adam who have been brilliant all season and nothing was a bother to them. We are extremely lucky in having 2 wonderful, selfless people at the helm of the federation – our Secretary Ann Covington and race controller/ fleet manager/ chief mechanic and head of breakdowns and recovery (mechanical, not emotional) Johnny Gilbert. These 2 always go above and beyond for the members.Many people take it for granted that their birds go on the lorry and come home and a race result is published – but they might want to reflect on the herculean efforts involved behind the scenes during the season so we can send our birds and moan about wind, drag and late libs. If you don’t believe me then ask Diane when was the last time she had breakfast in bed!!
I have a few lofts lined up for visits over the winter, let m know if you have some one in mind. Until then, hope your birds have a good moult and that you have a good rest as well. Roll on the silly season of meetings, propositions and sales. Be careful what you stick your hand up for!
Right, as always I am on 01926 817796 or weebu@hotmail.com.