Local pigeon racing fanciers had their first taste of national competition on Saturday when they competed in the North Road Championship Club race from Perth. And it turned out to be a sensational race for the Mamwell brothers, Robert and Geoffrey, of Louth who took the first four places in the open result.

More than 400 members sent nearly 4,000 birds and the provisional result is dominated by East Lincolnshire fanciers. Following on from the Mamwell Brothers, other Louth fanciers Sayers and Wilkinson, ME Dales and Wright and Sweeney are expected to figure prominently in the consolidated result, as will Mr and Mrs Paul Newbold, Friskney, F and A Tasker, Wainfleet, A and J Pinner, Wainfleet, Bartle and French, Skegness, Martin Sharpe, Hogsthorpe, David Page, Spilsby, and Andrew Kirkman, Boston. The latter also won his first race of the season with Boston Central RPC.

Club results from Perth were:
Boston Central (17 members sent 190 birds): A Kirkman 1571 yards per minute, Upsall and Frost 1557 and 1554, Appleby and Dtr 1545.717, Hardy and Troops 1545.152, Upsall and Frost 1545.027 and 1544, G Watts 1538.790, Hardy and Troops 1538.633, D Henry 1538.365, Hardy and Troops 1536.931, J Burt and Son 1536.159.

Boston and District (8-106): D Brackenbury 1544 and 1542, Mr and Mrs E Attwater 1526, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1520, LR Manning 1516.380, D Brackenbury 1516.144, Mr and Mrs Attwater 1509, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1506 and 1498.803, A Bell 1498.070, Mr and Mrs Attwater 1483, LR Manning 1482.

Alford (9-166): F and A Tasker 1598, 1597 and 1588, A and J Pinner 1580, B Sears 1551 and 1539, A and J Pinner 1533, Mr and Mrs D Evans 1531, Mr and Mrs PG Clare 1530, Mr and Mrs Kellett 1528.

Swineshead and District (4-38): G Wheatman 1547, M Huddlestone 1472.321 and 1472.098, G Wheatman 1471, Mr and Mrs TF Welby 1470, Mr and Mrs A Neison 1462, Mr and Mrs Welby 1433, G Wheatman 1422, M Huddlestone 1421 and 1413.

Swineshead also had a club race from Northallerton (4-59): D Iles 1679, 1638, 1620 and 1609, G Wheatman 1457 and 1384.

After five races there have been five different winners this season within the Skegness and District Racing Pigeon Club ranks.

Latest to top the list is the Bartle and French partnership who won from the second Whitley Bay race when seven members sent 86 birds: Bartle and French 1418, Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1415, Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1410 and 1407, Bartle and French 1394, Mr and Mrs Boswell 1394.

The club’s sprint average has been won by Mr and Mrs Bob Boulton.

Skegness and Wainfleet (4-114): F and A Tasker 1429, 1422 and 1420, Bartle and French 1416, 1410 and 1402, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1395, A and J Pinner 1357.

Candlesby (9-97): P Whiting 1421, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1390, 1378 and 1373, D Page 1372, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1368, T Spence 1343, Jessica Newbold 1327, W Simpson 1302, K Scholz 1274, Mr and Mrs Akid 1250, J Childs 1168.

Boston Area South Road RPC’s race from Fougeres was a distance of 325 miles to the loft of winner Richard Manning.

Seven members sent 44 birds: LR Manning 1590, MW and MB Scrupps 1504, G Will and R Jobson 1503, T Upex 1490, JL Batterham 1398.

Result of the same club’s race from Basingstoke (13-192): Mr and Mrs J Dixon 1989, 1987, 1972, R Lancaster 1960, 1957 and 1955, J Gore and Son 1937, T Upex 1933, Mrs H Bullock 1929, G Will and R Jobson 1896.

Week ending May 20

‘Comeback Kid’ celebrates victorious return

They don’t call him the “Comeback Kid” for nothing! Boston fancier George Watts returned to pigeon racing last year, after a decade away, and promptly won his first young bird race.

On Saturday he emphasised the fact that he has not lost the touch by finishing first in Boston Central RPC’s race from Whitley Bay, having been second from the same race-point the previous week. His winner was a yearling widowhood cock bird bred for him by the Carl Upsall and Trevor Frost partnership who, ironically, took the next three places as well as sixth and eighth, while George was also fifth, seventh and ninth.

Whitley Bay 2 results:

Boston Central RPC (23 sent 299 birds): G Watts 1403, Upsall and Frost 1401.823, 1401.346 and 1385, G Watts 1384, Upsall and Frost 1353, G Watts 1350, Upsall and Frost 1349, G Watts 1348, Mr and Mrs R Skinner 1343, A Kirkman 1340, Hardy and Troops 1332.

Boston and District (12-228): Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1360, D Judd 1350, D Brackenbury 1333, Mr and Mrs E Attwater 1328, H Bell 1326, Mr and Mrs Attwater 1323, D Brackenbury 1318, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1317, A Bell 1316, Mr and Mrs Attwater 1314, LR Manning 1303, A Bell 1301.

Swineshead and District (5-111): G Wheatman 1296, Mr and Mrs T Welby 1280, Mark Huddleston 1269, D Iles 1249 and 1236, G Wheatman 1234.867, D Iles 1234.786, Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1227, G Wheatman 1226, D Iles 1212.

Whitley Bay 1 results:

Skegness and District (5-83): K and B Smith 1478, Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1472 and 1468, K and B Smith 1461, Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1459, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1456.

Alford (7-110): F and A Tasker 1481 and 1475, Mr and Mrs R Kellett 1467, F and A Tasker 1464, Mr and Mrs Kellett 1439 and 1438, Mr and Mrs D Evans 1436, Mr and Mrs PG Clare 1431, B Sears 1424 and 1421.

Skegness and Wainfleet (4-132): F and A Tasker 1483, 1481 and 1478, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1465, Bartle and French 1464, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1453, A and J Pinner 1432.

Candlesby (11-117): Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1474, P Whiting 1446, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1443 and 1438, T Spence 1434, M Sharpe 1431, D Page 1402, K Scholz 1400, Jessica Newbold 1369, W Simpsson 1354, Akid and Hall 1310, J Childs 1261, G Clemence 1261.

Week ending May 13

Treble tops as Hardy sets a scorching pace

Now it is three out of four for John Hardy as he sets a hot pace to fight off any challengers for his title of top Boston pigeon fancier, which he won last year by being top prizewinner in Boston Central RPC and Peterborough and District Federation. John races under the partnership name of Hardy and Troops as a tribute to his late partner in the sport.

But, with fanciers preparing their birds for the first national North Road Championship Club race of the season from Perth on May 26, there are signs that competition is hotting up. Comeback Kid George Watts had three in the first seven this week, and the Carl Upsall-Trevor Frost partnership had four in the first ten and six in the first 15. Indeed they had the fastest bird in town the previous week from Bishop Auckland, but it was a Federation-only entry. John's latest win was from Whitley Bay when results were:

Boston Central (17 members sent 214 birds): Hardy and Troops 1432, George Watts 1431 and 1429.513, Upsall and Frost 1429.098, G Hoyles and Dtr 1427, Upsall and Frost 1425, G Watts 1421, Appleby and Dtr 1418.223, Upsall and Frost 1418.223 and 1405, Mr and Mrs Russ Skinner 1403, Mr and Mrs Brian Garnham 1397.

Boston and District FC (9-179): Mr and Mrs Ted Attwater 1408, 1403 and 1381, Mr and Mrs Brian Garnham 1371, A Bell 1363, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1360, D Brackenbury 1356, D Judd 1354, LR Manning 1346, D Brackenbury 1345, D Peters and Son 1343, A Bell 1340.

Horncastle IFC (7-76): M Cowley 1433 and 1416, R Hayes 1414 and 1405, R Quibell 1383.

Skegness and District (5-83): K and B Smith 1478, Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1472 and 1468, K and B Smith 1461, Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1459, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1456.

Skegness and Wainfleet (4-132): F and A Tasker 1483, 1481 and 1478, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1465, Bartle and French 1464, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1453, A and J Pinner 1432.

Candlesby (11-117): Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1474, P Whiting 1446, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1443 and 1438, T Spence 1434, M Sharpe 1431, D Page 1402, K Scholz 1400, Jessica Newbold 1369, W Simpson 1354, Akid and Hall 1310, J Childs 1261, G Clemence 1239.

Alford (7-110): F and A Tasker 1481 and 1475, Mr and Mrs R Kellett 1467, F and A Tasker 1464, Mr and Mrs Kellett 1439 and 1438, Mr and Mrs Evans 1436, Mr and Mrs PG Clare 1431, B Sears 1424 and 1421.

Swineshead and District (5-120): D Iles 1394, 1389, 1338 and 1327, G Wheatman 1304, Mr and Mrs T Welby 1294.444, Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1294.352, G Wheatman 1286, Mark Huddleston 1261 and 1238.

Boston Area South Road Club competed from West Bay when 10 members sent 179 birds: Mr and Mrs J Dixon 1922 and 1907, MW and MB Scrupps 1901, Mr and Mrs Dixon 1878, J Gore and Son 1844, T Upex 1836, J Gore and Son 1811, JL Batterham 1795, LR Manning 1776, R Lancaster 1774.

Week ending May 6

Auckland race day results

Top fancier in Boston Central Racing Pigeon Club last year, and major prize-winner in Peterborough and District Federation, John Hardy, racing as Hardy and Troops, has made a fine start to the new season. He has won two of the first three races, and was second in the other. His latest win was from Bishop Auckland.

Results:

Boston and District (13 members sent 269 birds): B Parker 1475, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1453, D Judd 1437, Mr and Mrs E Attwater 1417, C Collins and Son 1416, B Parker 1414, A Bell 1389, D Brackenbury 1374, D Judd 1364, Mr and Mrs Attwater 1359 and 1355, B Parker 1348.

Boston Central (22-319): Hardy and Troops 1536, Appleby and Dtr 1525, G and C Edwards 1522, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1491, G Watts 1473, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1468, Upsall and Frost 1461, S Snowden 1456, Mr and Mrs R Skinner 1452, G Hoyles and Dtr 1444, D Henry 1443, D Brackenbury 1430.

Alford (10-173): F and A Tasker 1525, Baker and Kingswood 1522.1672, B Sears 1522.1667, F and A Tasker 1520, Mr and Mrs Kellett 1516, Mr and Mrs PG Clare 1508, Mr and Mrs D Evans 1506 and 1501, Baker and Kingswood 1479, Mr and Mrs Kellett 1477.

Horncastle (8-102): R Hayes 1426, 1424, 1412 and 1408, R Quibell 1402.

Skegness and District: (6-93): Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1562 and 1553, Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1548, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1537, Mr and Mrs Smith 1529, Mr and Mrs Boswell 1517.

Skegness and Wainfleet (4-153): Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1562, F and A Tasker 1536 and 1533, Mr and Mrs Newbold 1528 and 1497, Bartle and French 1478, A and J Pinner 1440.

Candlesby (11-138): M Sharpe 1506, 1481 and 1478, K Scholz 1469, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1454, T Spence 1445, D Page 1442, Jessica Newbold 1432, P Whiting 1410, W Simpson 1406, Mr and Mrs Akid and Hall 1346, G Clemence 1079, J Childs 1043.

Swineshead (5-124): D Iles 1383, 1283, 1250 and 1209, G Wheatman 1206, Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1196, G Wheatman 1175 and 1164, Mark Huddleston 1161 and 1154.