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PIGEON RACING

All the up-to-date news from Boston and District pigeon racing scene

June 2006

News for week ending Sunday June 25

Martin Sharpe, usually prominent in Candlesby Racing Pigeon Club’s results, had been worried about his birds’ recent loss of form, but all those worries were banished on Saturday when he topped the result in a testing race from Perth, Scotland.

Bridget and Geoff Clare have had no such concerns about the form of their pigeons for they have dominated Boston and District Flying Club's results this season, and recorded their eighth consecutive win this week.

Candlesby (8 members sent 77 birds: M Sharpe 1238, A Sanderson 1207 and 1173, M Sharpe 1165 and 1162, D Page 1159, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1147, T Spence 1107, K Scholz 1081, B Simpson 1021.

Skegness and Wainfleet (3-32): Mr and Mrs Newbold 166, 1144 and 1130, F and A Tasker 1127, A and J Pinner 1120, F and A Tasker 1109 and 1096.

Skegness and District (2-32): Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1217, Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1215, Mr and Mrs Boswell 1193 and 1192, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1178 and 1166.

Boston and District FC (9-134): Mr and Mrs PG Clare 1208 and 1173, H Bell 1172, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1137 and 1136, Mr and Mrs E Attwater 1131, LR Manning 1130.708. Mr and Mrs Attwater 1130.708 and 1128, D Brackenbury 1102, Mr and Mrs Clare 100.754, Mr and Mrs Attwater 1100.426.

Boston Central RPC (15-187): Hardy and Troops 1167 and 1155, Skinner and Mercer 1151, G and C Edwards 1150, J Burt and Son 1147, Mr and Mrs R Skinner 1146, Upsall and Frost 1142, Appleby and Dtr 1139, Hardy and Troops 1137, G and C Edwards 1134, Mr and Mrs R Skinner 1129, R Brocklesby 1124.

Horncastle Invitation FC (8-97): Mr and Mrs Duckering 1197, M Cowley 1161, Mr and Mrs Duckering 1154 and 1135, R Quibell 1130.

Competing with Sleaford Invitation FC from Berwick, the Swineshead based loft of Norman Sibley and Son won for the second successive week when 10 members sent 180 birds: N Sibley and Son 1249, F Bristow 1232, 1231 and 1224, D and J Swift 1220, N Sibley and Son 1206, F Bristow 1202, R Peat 1178 and 1169.793, N Sibley and Son 1169.426, 1169.054 and 1158.393, R Peat 1158.183, C Stafford 1151, M Caccavone 1142.

News for week ending Sunday June 18

Regional-based pigeon fanciers were competing in their third national race of the season on Saturday. Members of the North Road Championship Club fought for honours from Fraserburgh along with some of the best fanciers in the country.

The race, a real test of bird and the preparation skills of fanciers, was won by Kevin Lawson, of Boughton, near Newark, who clinched his fourth NRCC title in the process.

The winning velocity was 1268 yards per minute and leading fanciers from local area included R Mamwell, Louth (1207 yards per minute), Wright and Sweeney, Louth (1205), M Cowley, Horncastle (1198), Mr and Mrs Geoff Clare, Old Leake (1196) — and they probably set a new record by winning their sixth successive race in Boston and District Flying Club — Karl Scholz, Wainfleet (1195), Hardy and Troops, Boston (1187), Mr and Mrs Brian Garnham, Butterwick (1186), Darren Peters, East Heckington (1186) and Frank Tasker, Wainfleet (1166).

Horncastle Invitation FC (six members sent 43 birds): M Cowley 1198, R Quibell 1149, M Cowley 1147, Mr and Mrs Duckering 1140, M Cowley 1128.

Boston Central (11-115): Hardy and Troops 1187, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1186, R Brocklesby 1182, Hardy and Troops 1181, Upsall and Frost 1171 and 1144, R Brocklesby 1142, Upsall and Frost 1135 and 1125, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1118, Upsall and Frost 1117 and 1115.

Boston and District (Mr and Mrs PG Clare 1195, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1186, Mr and Mrs Clare 1139, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1118 and 1114, D Brackenbury 1111, Mr and Mrs Clare 1110, D Brackenbury 1109, LR Manning 1105 and 1102, D Brackenbury 1101, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1095.

Swineshead and District (4-42): Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1136 and 1113, Mr and Mrs T Welby 1098, Mr and Mrs A Neison 1074.

Skegness and District (5-44): Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1109, K and B Smith 1095, Mr and Mrs Boswell 1089 and 1066, Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1065, K and B Smith 1059.

Candlesby (6-49): K Scholz 1194, A Sanderson 1166, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1154, A Sanderson 1151, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1141, 1137 and 1129, T Spence 1105, M Sharpe 1102, D Page 1060.

Skegness and Wainfleet (4-92): F and A Tasker 1166, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1154, 1141 and 1137, F and A Tasker 1132 and 1128, A and J Pinner 1092.

The Swineshead-based loft of Norman Sibley and Son had a fine race from Northallerton with Sleaford Invitation FC, when 10 members sent 145 birds: N Sibley and Son, 1403, 1385 and 1381, F Bristow 1372 and 1363, N Sibley and Son 1345, M Caccavone 1316, F Bristow 1315, R Peat 1303, D and J Swift 1301, R Peat 1300 and 1297.

Swineshead and District RPC also competed in the same race (4-85): D Iles 1365, Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1355, D Iles 1337 and 1326, Mr and Mrs Welby 1321, Mr and Mrs AG Fisher 1279.

Boston Central RPC raced from Bubwith on Sunday when 22 members sent 307 birds. Results: Mr and Mrs Boswell 1506, F and A Tasker 1480, 1476, 1473, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1470, F and A Tasker 1466, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1465, F and A Tasker 1463, Mr and Mrs P G Clare 1453, 1449, F and A Tasker 1445, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1443.

Fourteen members of Dorrington and Digby RPC sent 285 birds to Maidstone. Results: P Clawson 1368, M and D Williams 1349, Mr and Mrs Kennedy 1344, H Gostlow and Son 1343, J Andrews 1338,S Benge 1336, A Waby 1334, J Pearson 1333, Cawdron and Costello 1330,A Waby 1318, M Pearson 1317,J Pearson 1316, H Gostlow and Son 1316, M and D Williams 1313, J Pearson 1305, 1303, 1301, Cadron and Costello 1298, J Pearson 1298, M and D Williams 1296, H Gostlow and Son 1293,Mr and Mrs Bradshaw 1288, A Waby 1287, Cawdron and Costello 1286, Mr and Mrs Kennedy 1280, P Collishaw 1277, Collishaw and Johnson 1271, P Clawson 1236, Cawdeon and Costello 1231, G Theaker 1228.

News for week ending Sunday June 11

Following a recent double bill of national racing, district area pigeon fanciers have a third go at the big time this weekend (June 17) when members of the North Road Championship Club compete from Fraserburgh.

Looking back to last Saturday (June 10), it was back to club racing for those north road organisations affiliated to Peterborough and District Federation. Racing from Bishop Auckland the fastest bird back to the local area was owned by Maurice Cowley, of Horncastle Invitation Flying Club, followed by Stan Snowden, of Boston Central, and Frank Tasker, of Wainfleet.

Horncastle Invitation FC (8 members sent 105 birds): M Cowley 1388, Melson and Hayes 1375, 1356.5954, 1356.1468 and 1355.

Boston Central (14-219): S Snowden 1385, Upsall and Frost 1365, Skinner and Mercer 1364, Hardy and Troops 1360 and 1350.359, Mr and Mrs R Skinner 1350.359 and 1348, Upsall and Frost 1345, A Kirkman 1338, Hardy and Troops 1334, Upsall and Frost 1331 and 1318.

Boston and District (12-281): Mr and Mrs P G Clare 1371, D Brackenbury 1351, L R Manning 1350, Mr and Mrs Clare 1341, Mr and Mrs E Attwater 1325, Mr and Mrs Clare 1307 and 1306, Mr and Mrs Attwater 1302, A Bell 1301.572, D Judd 1301.206, B Parker 1299, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1298.

Swineshead and District (7-112): Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1341 and 1323, Mr and Mrs T Welby 1310, Mr and Mrs A Neison 1284, D Iles 1282, Mr and Mrs Poulter 1275, Mr and Mrs Neison 1266, Mr and Mrs Poulter 1264, D Iles 1258 and 1256, G Wheatman 1255, Mr and Mrs Neison 1245, D Iles 1220, Mr and Mrs AG Fisher 1074.

Skegness and District (5-70): Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1325, 1322 and 1317, Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1312, Mr and Mrs Boswell 1309, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1305.

Skegness and Wainfleet (4-69): F and A Tasker 1382, 1380 and 1357, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1347, 1340 and 1327, Bartle and French 1298, A and J Pinner 1214.

Candlesby FC (12-124): K Scholz 1355, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1340, A Sanderson 1325, P Whiting 1321, D Page 1300 and 1299, M Sharpe 1274, T Spence 1261, Mr and Mrs Akid 1171, Bill Simpson 1164.

Result of Swineshead and District RPC race from Perth last week (3-31): Mr and Mrs A Neison 1748, Mr and Mrs T F Welby 1674, Mr and Mrs Neison 1585, 1538 and 1527, Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1507.

Dorrington and Digby Racing Pigeon Club (14-223) raced from Exeter. Results: M and D Williams 1104, Mr and Mrs Kennedy 1091, P Clawson 1076, H Gostlow and Son 1076,1075, M and D Williams 1069, J Pearson 1068, H Gostlow and Son 1066, Cawdron and Costello 1065, A Waby 1060, Mr and Mrs Kennedy 1038, H Gostlow and Son 1036, A Waby 1030, Mr and Mrs Bradshaw 1026,1020, J Andrews 979, P Scott 949, M Pearson 933, P Clawson 925, P Collishaw 875, M and D Williams 841, H Gostlow and Son 812, Collishaw and Johnson 670.

News for week ending Sunday June 4

Regional pigeon fanciers contested their second North Road Championship Club national race of the season on Saturday June 3. The race from Perth attracted an entry of 4,200 birds and the fastest into the local area was owned by former national winners Kevin and Barbara Smith, of Chapel St Leonard’s, with a velocity of 1909 yards per minute.

This was good enough to place them at the top of section two in the provisional results, followed by Mamwell Brothers, of Louth, and Frank and Ann Tasker, who timed in 30 pigeons, on 1894.

Fastest into the Boston clock station, for the second successive NRCC race, was the in-form loft of Bridget and Geoff Clare who dominated the Boston and District Flying Club result with only Angie and Brian Garnham, in second and fourth places, preventing a clean sweep by the Clares and their team of Simon Brothers Jansennes. The Garnhams, also in good form in recent weeks, won the Boston Central club for the second successive week.

The overall race winners were Mr and Mrs Reg Piggin, of Norwich (see special report below), on 1968 yards per minute, with other Norwich fanciers in second and third places.

Club results from Perth:

Boston and District (7 members sent 133 birds): Mr and Mrs PG Clare 1846, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1831, Mr and Mrs Clare 1820, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1816, Mr and Mrs Clare 1808, 1804.502, 1804.275, 1802, 1795, 1788, A Bell 1786, D Brackenbury 1778.

Boston Central (12-147): Mr and Mrs Garnham 1831, Upsall and Frost 1829, A Kirkman 1817, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1816, Mr and Mrs Skinner 1814, Hardy and Troops 1804 and 1800, Upsall and Frost 1791 and 1789, A Kirkman 1786.573, Hardy and Troops 1786.298 and 1782.

Horncastle Invitation FC (4-38): R Quibell 1753, M Cowley 1745, T and F Kennedy 1742, R Quibell 1736, Melson and Hayes 1734.

Skegness (5-50): K and B Smith 1905, Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1857, Mr and Mrs J Bosworth 1853, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1851, Mr and Mrs Bosworth 1845 and 1844.

Skegness and Wainfleet (5-131): F and A Tasker 1894, 1884, 1878, Bartle and French 1869, Mr and Mrs P J Newbold 1835, 1827 and 1822, A and J Pinner 1812, Candlesby (7-65): D Page 1871, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1835, K Scholz 1828, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1827, D Page 1820, K Scholz 1818, M Sharpe 1794, A Sanderson 1786, Mr and Mrs Akid 1714, T Spence 1686.

Swineshead and District RPC raced with the Peterborough Central Federation from Alnwick (5-69) D Iles 1776, Mr and Mrs T F Welby 1731, D Iles 1730, 1712 and 1695, Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1662, G Wheatman 1605, Mr and Mrs A G Fisher 1522.

Boston Central open race from Bubwith (28-320): Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1859 and 1831, Mr and Mrs R Skinner 1793, F and A Tasker 1785 and 1768, A Kirkman 1764, F and A Tasker 1763, Upsall and Frost 1761, F and A Tasker 1757, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1756, D J Brackenbury 1755, Harrison and Webster 1750.

Elsewhere, South Road clubs were competing from Newbury.

Dorrington and Digby (15-358): M and D Williams 1303, Mr and Mrs Bradshaw 1298, M and D Williams 1288, Mr and Mrs Bradshaw 1288, Cawdron and Costello 1287, M and D Williams 1286, Cawdron and Costello 1277, Mr and Mrs Kennedy 1271, P Clawson 1267, Mr and Mrs Bradshaw 1266, H Gostlow and Son 1261, M and D Williams 1260, Mr and Mrs Kennedy 1256, A Waby 1255, J Pearson 1253, J Andrews 1232, Collishaw and Johnson 1211, P Scott 1201, S Benge 1181, M Pearson 1178, G Theaker 1167.

Wheatsheaf FC, Eastville: Joe McFadyen 1337, 1331 and 1330, Ralph Brown 1234, Ray Hermitage 1226, 1225 and 1223, J Downes and Grandson 1207.

Congratulations go to Joe McFadyen for topping the Federation result from Frome the previous week.

*******

The husband and wife partnership of Reg and Doreen Piggin of New Costessy, Norwich, joined the elite of fanciers who have won two North Road Championship Club races when they triumphed from Perth on Saturday June 3 from an entry of 4,200 birds. Their previous win had been from Dunbar in 2004.

With the whole countryside bathed in sunshine, convoyer Phil Ringe had the easiest of tasks in deciding to liberate at 6.45am in a light west wind, although the high velocities suggest that the birds found more than a little north in the wind to give them every assistance. Phil said he had spotted some high-flying clouds appearing to be travelling north at the racepoint although, at ground level, it was a light west wind.

The winning bird is a six-year-old blue widowhood Willy van Houte cock bird bought in a batch of 12 from the Louella stud. Reg said he bought the dozen in 2000 “to have some fun with” - his main strain is Van Den Bosch - and, after the young bird programme he had eight of them left. Two were cocks and he gave away the six hens. Both cock birds were steady racers but he lost one along the way and was left with just the Perth winner that he describes as “quite a reliable pigeon which has flown Lerwick for the past two years.”

He timed in at 11.33am, much earlier than expected. He thought noon to 12.15pm would be a good timing.

The Piggins fly a distance of 322 miles from Perth. They entered 10 birds and had them all home within 40 minutes of the winner. So now what is the future for the pigeon that helped make the partnership part of double-winning history? Reg says he will be sent to Lerwick this year.

But then he said Bachelor Boy, winner of NRCC Dunbar two years ago, would continue racing. But Doreen put her foot down and said no! So he has been in their stock loft for a couple of years, although the generous Reg has none of his progeny because he has given them all away.

Reg and Doreen, normally top prizewinners in the Costessy Flying Club, have not been in the winner’s enclosure so frequently this season, probably because they made a slow start, missing the first two races because Reg has been suffering from a mystery illness that has necessitated two stays in hospital. The experts never found out what was wrong, but he says he is feeling better now, and June 3’s win will, no doubt, give a boost to the recovery programme. The partnership usually keep about 22 cock birds and 32 hens, and Reg is noted for flying his yearling cock birds as bachelors, being willing to put up with their sometimes reluctance to trap as he likes them to develop before being paired.

Reg is a retired builder, now aged 73, and spends a lot of time on his pigeons, usually giving them three training tosses a week.

It was a great day for Norwich fanciers. The winning velocity was 1968 yards per minute, and the Norwich lofts took second and third were Mr and Mrs D Culling on 1964 and M Waller on 1957. “The race was close here in Norwich, and you always feel a little bit sorry for whoever is second,” said Reg.

The race was described as “excellent” by secretary Stephen Spinks, although the west in the wind again gave an advantage to fanciers on the east side of the club’s territory. A group of pioneers has established a blueprint that could enhance the future of long distance pigeon racing from London.

The new Greater London Distance Club for members of Section 7 of the North Road Championship Club will compete from all of the NRCC old bird races, and fanciers will also be able to fit in the distance races organised by the London North Road Combine, giving them a programme of eight races that will test fancier and bird to the limit.

Secretary is Steve Chalkley, who flies in the successful partnership with his father George, and already there are 24 members, with others sitting on the fence waiting to see how successful the new venture is. There is little doubt that it will succeed with the experience behind it, and the enthusiasm for long distance racing of the members who were fed up of sprint races dominating their programme.

Members of the new club will compete with the NRCC from Dunbar (321-328 miles), Perth (360-368), Fraserburgh (430-438), Thurso (500-510) and Lerwick (590-602). And they will also be able to compete with the London North Road Combine longer races from Berwick, Stonehaven and Thurso, giving a programme of eight races to test fancier and pigeon to the limit.

This is probably one of the most testing distance programmes in the country and, as teams develop, London can become the home of some of the best distance pigeons around. They have secured sponsorship, entry fee is £10 and subscription £50. All the subscription money goes in prizes, and prizemoney of £230 will be paid out per race.

Dunbar was the first test, and that is just what it proved to be. As bad weather engulfed the country for most of that weekend, convoyer Phil Ringe took the window of opportunity to release the birds on the Sunday, and it proved to be a good race. Unfortunately for the London birds they had to finish a lot of it in steady rain, but most timed in and few failed to make it home. The velocities show that they had more difficulties than most.

There were 106 entries for this Dunbar race and the new club was won by J Connolly and Son on 1110 yards per minute. Next NRCC race is from Fraserburgh on Saturday June 17, marking Thursday June 15. Last date for entries is Sunday June 11 and the secretary appeals for members not to leave it until the weekend until they send in their entries as their is little time to carry out all the work entailed.