HEATHER OUTWEST
West Cheshire Federation
Frome 14th May 2006
After a one day holdover the birds were liberated at 7.10 am on 14th May 2006 in a light
variable wind. The worry was of course the weather, with everyone dreading another day
in the basket, with the wives and girlfriends complaining. Our Conveyor, Dave
Cotgreave did us proud and we would like to thank him for an excellent race. Also, in the
shadows we would like to thank Ray Gargan the West Cheshire President for all his hard
work (day & night) in getting the old transporter ready for sale, which it would appear is
imminent. Many of us do not realise the efforts both men, and of course others not
mentioned, who work tirelessly with no praise given. The only time they are talked about
is when things have gone wrong, however small. I must also give thanks to all West
Cheshire members for their hard work in the clubs, enabling this Federation to be one of
the best.
Ray Gargan & Dave Cotgreave
President
Conveyor
The West Cheshire Federation: - 108 members send 2231 birds.
The first three positions in the Federation:1. John Atkinson & Son
2. Yates & Rogers
3. D. Ward
Moreton Club
Willaston Club
Rock Station Club
1582
1561
1559
Victoria Homing Society: - 11 members sent 225 birds: -First and third were the
partnership of Griffiths & Sandland on 1515, 1500. First place a Staff Van Reet x Janssen
yearling blue hen, who won as a young bird. Sire, The One Eyed Cock, a Staff Van Reet,
named due to damage sustained when racing, put to stock after winning 2 x 1sts and 2 x
2nds. An excellent breeder siring eight winners, with one in the previous week’s race
from Frome and his half brother was 2nd in the Chester Two Bird Specialist Club. The
breed originated from the late King Arthur Isherwood of Frodsham. Dam is a Janssen
from Jackson & Andrews of Yorkshire who won the Shotton Gold Ring Race three years
ago and put to stock. Third place was a Herbot originating from Rex Doe of Cornwall,
who had been a great flier for many years, the strain being brought in by Stan in 1986.
This yearling chq cock only had three races last year as his sire with 2 x 1sts was lost at
Falaise. A decision was made due to a shortage of cocks, to keep the youngsters for the
next season. Second was Mr. & Mrs. A.J. Price with a two year old Van Reet x Janssen
widowhood cock on 1504. The dam from John Gerrard, bred off two National winners
and sire a Staff Van Reet purchased as a kit of twelve from Tony Mardon, which Archie
later sold off, with this racer kept due to the breeding of the Dam. Fourth Sid Arathoon
on 1486, a two year old roundabout chq Jos Soontjen cock from Frank Sheader of
Scarborough.
Ellesmere Port: - 5 members sent 70 birds. First on 1500 was the up and coming
partnership of Downey & Davies with a Janssen Van Den Bosche. The sire and dam from
John and Sue Evans from Derbyshire. Each week they have been up there but have
cracked it this week with a pigeon that was 2nd Chepstow II this year (not the
bridesmaid’s now?).Let’s hope that this is the start of many for them, as John has been
through rough times over the last couple of years, when his wife taken ill, luckily things
are improving. Joe Ellis was second on 1467with a Pros Roosen of Kernt, Belgium x
Jackson & Andrews’s pigeon. Third Mr. & Mrs. A J Price on 1464 with a Blue Hartog
widowhood cock from John Gerrard. Last year was unable to keep his box as a yearling
but has now got his act together and defends it like nobodies business.
Hooton Homing Society: - 20 members sent 356 birds and the winner was the
excellent two bird racer George Harrison on 1509. With the Beeston Two Bird and
Chester Two Bird specialist races coming soon, I think we will now start to worry? This
is a four year old Staff Van Reet from stock off George Price of Crewe with the great
achievement previously of 1st Deeside Amalgamation of Federations racing fromVains in
2004. Second, Robbie Royle 1508 with a Jos Soontjen yearling dark chq cock. Third
place, Brian V Jones on 1503, with a two year old chq hen on roundabout, 1st Club 3rd
Fed Chepstow as a young bird. In fourth place W H Cottrell & Son on 1503 with a red
chq yearling widowhood cock. This year was 2nd, club, 7th Fed, and 8th Amal Chepstow
and 1st club, 4th Fed and 25th Amal Frome. The sire is from Jones & Thomas of the
Prenton and Willaston Club paired to a hen from the late Ian May.
Hooton 4 Bird Club: - 14 members sent 54 Club birds: 1st Robbie Royle 1508; 2nd W
H Cottrell & Son 1498 and 3rd George Harrison 1497.
Willaston & District Homing Society:- 404 birds were sent by 11 members. The
winner is the one and only Yates & Rogers on 1561, I know I wanted to win the National
races, but Club is fine. The night before the race I cleaned our two pigeon trophies and I
think I will do that every week as it might have brought us luck. This blue yearling cock
is flown on roundabout. He is only one of two birds in the loft that requires his peanuts
fed to him by hand in his box, as the others search for any on the floor. Sometimes when
I enter in the evening he pushes himself so far forward in his box to reach me, he falls
out. Bred from the Old Boy, now 16 years old and bought at George Trenchard
bereavement sale in 1999. A De Bruyn Janssen, who has stopped filling his eggs this
year, but he’s staying, his offspring have paid for his keep. At night I feed him peanuts at
an angle due to his wattle being so big he can’t see forward. Three years ago his metal
ring was cut off due to the thickness of his leg, but he still chases the hens on the floor .
The dam is a Jan Grondelaer bred from stock off Terry Lodge (Top Lofts). She was 7 th
Section 58th Open in the National Flying Club Messac and 15th Chester Two Bird Vire,
then put to stock. Our Beeston Two Bird winner a couple of years ago was off this pair.
Second place Les Taylor on 1531, with a three year old Len & Kath Clarke Marcelis blue
cock. He now has 2x1st and 2x2nd’s. We were also third on 1530 with a blue yearling
roundabout cock bred from a son off the Old Boy crossed with a hen bought at Ian May’s
bereavement sale in December 2004. This hen was sent to Ian as a gift on the death of
Cees Stolk in 2004, from his stock loft.
.
Fourth, Roy Sandland on 1528, with a Hofken x Andre Dierick blue cock. Sire was from
Jackson & Andrews of Yorkshire crossed with a daughter of the Present Hen. Terry
Sherratt of Crewe was given the Present Hen direct off Andre Dierick, sprint champion of
Belgium (thus named) and Roy was given a daughter off it.
Rock Station: - 15 members send 205 birds. 1st D. Ward 1559; 2nd Harris & Bolton
1551; 3rd D. Joinson 1549 and 4th Neville Shakeshaft 1542. I would love to be able to
give full details, but unfortunately, no one will collect details. Come on lads give the
praise to your bird’s performances and yourselves?
Neston: - 18 members sent 317 birds. First Brian Wilcock on 1549 and 8th Federation
with a dark chq widowhood cock from Bob Tudor of the Bebington & Willaston clubs.
The breeding is from Bob’s well established old line of Arthur Beardsmore x Van Loon.
At Chepstow this year was 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Amal and you can gather was well pooled
for this race. Brian tells me this cock is one of the tamest birds he has ever had, a pleasure
to race as believes he is coming into his own. Second place Neil Favager on 1542 with a
blue widowhood cock. The sire was bought from Willaston club member Dave
Greenhalgh, when he had a clearance sale a few years ago, due to work commitments.
Sire and dam are Planet Janssen Van Loons, the dam originating from Tommy Roden.
Third was Gary Leighton on 1530 with a German Stoffel Gr. Ophoff yearling cock sent
sitting 15 days.
Moreton Club: 14 members sent 297 birds. Would you believe it, John Atkinson &
Son won the Club, Federation and Deeside Amalgamation on 1582. John was in his
kitchen making himself a piece of toast with some home made blackcurrant jam I gave
him the day before. He told me I had bought it at a shop as it tasted so good, I could have
hit him! My homemade jam, with fruit from our allotment is the best jam ever. Looking
out the window he saw a bird on his landing board and rushed out and clocked the hen.
What a hen as topped the Federation way ahead of the pack by 21 yards. He would like
to thank Tommy Connor who organised the bus trip to Lier Market in Belgium last year.
This hen, with others, was bought at a stall for 15 euros each and everyone laughed at
him for buying them. No one is laughing now with this Star.
John Atkinson and Heather Rogers with winning hen
Second Ian Campbell on 1556, 4th Federation with a yearling Wildermeersch dark chq
cock, line being through Leadbetters of Rugeley. Ian works as a taxi driver, working all
hours and is pleased with his performances this year in Saughall Massie club where he
has won four out of five races this year. He had only given his youngsters two races last
year, as with moving house two years ago to Moreton has been trying to build up a good
strong team, which are now mainly yearlings. Third Alan & Jean Clare on 1554 and 5th
Federation with a three year old chq widowhood cock. Squeakers were exchanged with
John Bennett in 2003. Fourth club and 6th Federation was Tommy Johnstone on 1553
with a Busschaert widowhood cock originating from Tom Laskey of Gateshead, having
only two races as a young bird All the members of the Moreton Club and the West
Cheshire Federation wish John Bennett’s wife Betty a speedy recovery. Betty was
hospitalised due to an accident to her ankle and is now recovering at home. John is now
chief bottle washer, obtaining a degree in vacuum cleaning, with racing put on the back
burner for the time being.
Chester: - 14 members sent 357 birds with first, third and fourth place taken by Warren
Walker on 1502; 1500; 1496. First was a Wildermeersch x Staff Van Reet blue
roundabout cock. This three year old won Messac in club racing last year and Sire from
Clive Yates and Dam bought at Keith Jones’s final clearance sale. Second, Sammy Lee
on 1502, with a four year old Van Hee chq widowhood cock. This cock also won Messac
in 2004 and was bred by Chris Preece from Bridgenorth. Third is same way bred as the
winner this week. A blue yearling hen that two weeks previously returned from the race
and sat on the young bird loft and nothing would move her.
No need to flag the pigeons in the afternoon, as the Fun Fair arrived this week. Midnight
onwards on a Sunday night, when you hear the gears of a large lorry coming down the
street, you know exactly what is coming. They set up for a couple of days and then it runs
for four days. Hoping the birds this week come home in the morning as it starts at
1.00pm. There again, it probably bothers me more than them One of the rides spins
round, at a great height and frightens the life out of the dogs. Paul Doughty, one of our
club members, tells me he is going to go on it, I’ll watch from the ground!
Jack & Jill who will not be climbing the hill to the Fair
Any information, please contact me, Heather Rogers on 0151 608 4403 or email
westcheshire@btinternet.com