MNFC Vire - The Bristows are Back on Top in Style The final race date of the Midlands National dawned to good racing conditions especially for the Eastern side of the country as the North Westerly wind at the liberation site was clearly going to favour the members in the East. The forecast also quite correctly predicted a more South Westerly wind once the birds got into England. With all of this in mind it was no great surprise to see Frank & George Bristow s name leading the provisional result with a velocity of 1447. When the dust had settled and the result finalised though the lads from Horbling in fact had taken 1 st and 2 nd Open! This highlights why I flatly refuse to rush into print with the final report as it can cause both embarrassment and disappointments and this I try to avoid at all costs. George s Boy the winner of 1 st MNFC Vire for George & Frank Bristow Let s now take a look at the Bristows latest performers. The winner which won the race by a sizeable margin of nearly 27 ypm is a Dark w/f cock now named George s Boy as it was George who did all of the work and looked after the birds in 2015 while his dad Frank recovered from a knee operation. The bird is a direct son of Oscar the lads 2013 Kings cup winner from Lerwick. His dam is a daughter of Kezie the 2008 Kings Cup winner and she is a full sister of Bridgette the Bristows 2014 1 st Open MNFC Bordeaux. So it is clear the latest of their National winners has Royal blood in his veins. The 2 nd Open winner is
another Cock which is rather surprising as most of the loft s winners are usually hens. He is one of the loft s Casaert based birds being a grandson of the famous Streeter who won an RPRA award after amassing 20 x 1 st Prizes and 5 x 1 st Fed wins. This bird is now named Maurice in gratitude to the senior member of the Casaert family who Frank tells me that they Frank & George with their 1 st & 2 nd Open winners owe so much. Thanks are also due to Brian Barnes of Lytham who bred Kezie who is also of Casaert bloodlines. The lads also clocked a third arrival that took 4 th East section for them. In 1 st ENE section and 3 rd Open we find Dave Beadle who clocked a yearling cock on 1417 who had been flown on the roundabout system until being paired 14 days before the Vire race. Dave tells me that the bird actually raced from Arras the week before his national performance. The bird is of Kruger x Derwa breeding and he won 3 rd fed as a young bird from the longest race. This led to high hopes for 2016 where 3 cards were won but in truth the bird which I m told is full of character saved his best until this last race and he will win his owner a nice trophy for his section win. Dave Beadle the winner of 3 rd Open from Vire with his young assistant Jessica. 4 th Open and winning the SE section is Gavin Cole of Gedney Hill who recorded 1415 with a Janssen x Soontjen hen Morning Red Riser. Gavin tells me that he was sitting in his garden after timing in feeling rather pleased with himself and 2
his bird when Frank Bristow called to congratulate him, then he knocked Gavin back when he told him his times. That said he was pleased for the Bristows but after going close now on a few occasions of late he feels just like most of his school report comments Must try harder! That s the spirit keep on knocking and the door will open. In 5 th Open we see T & P Douthwaite take 2 nd section with a 2 year old chequer hen which recorded a good velocity of 1413. Her breeding is of the lofts P & P Quirijnen lines x with an Arrien Verreckt based bird. A brother to the hen topped the combine only the week before and the father of them both is their No1 stock cock who had 8 x 1 st prizes on his own CV. What a lovely smile from Gavin Cole and 4 th Open winner T & P Douthwaite 5 th Open from Vire A good bird on the day is the 6 th Open winner which wins the 1 st SW section trophy for her owners Summers and Singh of Rowley Regis. The bird is a yearling Blue hen and records an excellent velocity of 1408. A bird to be proud of there you have lads. The Hitchen loft of Mr & Mrs George Butts on 1406 who took 2 nd SE section and 7 th Open who clocked a yearling cock that was sent feeding a 10 day old baby. The bird won 2 nd club as a YB and after an easy inland start has flown with the MNFC in the first two races. His sire won 4 th section and 21 st Open 3
Mr & Mrs George Butt 2 nd SE section and 7 th open from the substitute Portsmouth race earlier in the year. 3 rd section is filled by the Montila Brothers showed how much difference clocking a bird with a few pools on it can make by lifting 90 more than the section prize alone. Their bird is a 2 year old Blue W/C cock on 1404. Taking 1 st NE section and 9 th Open are R & N Dennett on 1402. Their bird is a yearling hen bred from a cock of John Dudhill lines from whom the Dennett s have got some good pigeons x a hen bought at a One Loft dispersal sale which was bred by Andrew Newton. Rounding up the top ten Open placings we have Piet Rooster Oberholster who had a good race with several early clockings the first bird which is 4 th SE section is a 2015 bred Blue Cheq hen on 1402 a mere.3 of a yard behind the 9 th Open winning bird. Piet as many will know is the British agent for the World renowned PIPA website and it would be very nice if the MNFC had a little coverage on their site. After all the Midlands are now the biggest sending National club in the country. So come on Piet make it happen the MNFC and its members deserve the recognition and you know it. Ron & Nigel Dennett the 1 st NE section winners 4 Piet Oberholster 4 th section and 10 th Open
Going around the sections now and first up is the North East section where Turner & Pallatt fill the 2 nd place on 1400 and a very creditable 11 th Open. The bird is a yearling Van Lint cock being a grandson of Amos The loft had a good race in general taking 6 th,9 th and 10 th section places also and 36 th,50 th and 51 st Open excellent flying. 3 rd section in the NE are Betts Topham & Son whose timer on 1390 is one of the stars of 2016 being a bird that has been 23 rd Open Portsmouth 7 th Open Ancenis and now 20 th Open. Birds like this one when they come along are real money spinners. 4 th section is filled by G Inger & Son and as usual with Neil I have no further details of the bird other than it s a yearling hen doing 1388. Richard show off the latest Turner & Pallatt performance pigeon Nathan Topham with their multiperformance super star Next up for shaving is the ENE section as the first two in this section have already been covered but in 3 rd section and 12 th Open we see Mr & Mrs Mellonby who clocked a well fancied pigeon on 1396. The bird is a yearling Blue Cock which also 5 Kerry Mellonby the 3 rd ENE section 12 th Open and winner of the 2Bird Nominated race.
wins the 2Bird Nominated 1 st Open position. So once again we see this loft continuing to shine. 4 th section goes to fellow Bridlington fanciers Mr & Mrs Chadwick on 1389. Their yearling hen finishes in a very good 21 st Open. Tidying the East section now and 3 rd section place going to Robbie Taylor of Broughton who was philosophical about being beaten by the Bristows as he had been pipped previously by the Horbling Horrors but like a true sportsman he sends them his congratulations but says hopefully it will be my turn to come out on top!. Rob s bird is a 2 year old Chequer cock bred from a pair of birds off Ian Stafford. This pair have already bred several good ones for Robbie. Next place in the section goes to Cawdron & Costello with a Grizzle cock that is a crossing of Paul Wilson s Van Camp blood x Preston s Joe Dorning. The partners also clocked a good Pied hen of Scrumpy lines off Mick McMurchie. This hen is worthy of a mention as she already has 2 x 2nd section wins to her credit. Robbie Taylor 3 rd E section Cawdron & Costello 4 th section this time Crowle fancier Simon Parkinson takes the North section honours with another yearling this time a cock bird of Luc Van Mechelen x Jochem Van Hasselt breeding. The sire from Luc is a Gaby Vandenabeele inbred to Gaby s famous Bliksem lines. The section winners father s grandparents being Jason x Floreke and Mr Magic x Luna. The dam is Special 952 a great racer for Simon with 9 th and 25 th National placings on her CV. Since being put to stock this Van Hasselt 6
hen has bred 2 x 1 st section winners in just 2 years. 2 nd North section is filled by Knottingley s A Bainbridge & Son who clocked their 2 year old Blue cock on 137. In 3 rd slot we have Gordon Parker & Son clocked another 2 year old chequer cock a mere 2 yards behind the Bainbridges bird. 4 th position is achieved by Dunscrofts Harry Gravil & Son who clocked their yearling Blue cock on 1372. Simon Parkinson s 1 st N section winner Harry Gravill with young Joe 4 th N section from Vire In 1 st North West section we see a couple of Princes in the form of Cheadle s Prince Brothers who in truth have flown like kings this year and this is their 7 th Yet another section topper for Prince Brothers in the NW section win I believe a wonderful achievement when you consider that these are relatively young men. Their winning bird is a yearling hen sent sitting 5 day old eggs which is bred off a cock of Nauwelaert breeding through a pied cock from Hand Bros x a Tony Hayes Van der Rhee hen. The bird though only a young bird has already won 1 st N Staffs fed Carentan and 1 st NS 4B Carentan. Her velocity of 1394 was good enough for a highly creditable 15 Open. The lads also take 4 th section on 1372 with a red Lambrecht hen off Alan Dungworth stock. This hen had already proved her worth as a baby when she was 1 st NW section ace pigeon last year. 2 nd section is claimed by Mr & Mrs Dave Phillips 7
on 1388 with a yearling hen that a few weeks before had taken 2 nd place in the Late George Litherland yearling Nom race from Carentan. This Reynaert bred hen was sent sitting on one week old eggs after pairing to another hen. This condition if encouraged can lead to explosive results as this bird has clearly shown. 3 rd section goes to another loft that has performed exceptionally well this year in the form of Mitch Denson and Son of Tunstall who timed a 2 year old Blue cock to clock a speed of 1374. I think that the best may still be to come from this father and son team. Mr & Mrs Dave Phillips 2 nd NW section winning hen Mitch Denson & Son 3 rd NW section Mike Beadle with his minders and his SC section winner. Turning to the South Centre section now where we see yet another Beadle about in the form of Mike Beadle & Daughter of Melton Mowbray they timed a 5 year old Blue hen on 1387 which was sent on chipping eggs. This section topper is bred from birds off Doncaster s Alwyn Paddey. The photo is of the partners with Mike s grandchildren George, Alfie and Isabella who had plenty to celebrate as their second timer a 2 year old Pied cock on 1376 also took 4 th section. A Ceuleman x Lambrecht bred 2 year old chequer cock belonging to Wilson & Malin claimed the 2 nd 8
section placing on 1383. Mr & Mrs Huddlestone of Hinckley snatch 3 rd spot in the SC section when their 3 year old hen recorded 1381. Heading westward into the South West section in 2 nd section and 19 th Open is West Bromwich fancier Tony Whitehouse who clocked a heavily pooled 3 year old Chequer cock on 1391 which will collect his boss nearly 1200. The bird as expected has plenty of previous with 3 1 st prizes and other placings. His best result was when he won a prestigious Open race when he beat Tony s previous 1 st Open Vire winner into 2 nd place. The cock s sire has an 8 th section 18 th Open from Bordeaux on his CV and his mum is the nest sister to Tony s Vire National winner and also a granddaughter of Tony s 2 nd Open MNFC winner from a few years ago. She in turn is a g/g daughter of Tom Lawley s 1 st Open MNFC Rennes winner. So with this one it s winners all of the way. 3 rd section and 23 rd Open is taken by G & J Jones & Adams the bird responsible is yet another yearling on 1388 which is a Schaerlaecken x Docx pigeon. The hen had on had two races prior to going to Vire. I m told that their second timer that was 4 th section from Ancenis is closely related to this latest performer on the sire s side of her pedigree. 4th section is taken by Steve McDonough who is a previous MNFC G & J Jones & Adams 3 rd SW section. Graham with his great Granddaughter Macie Tony Whitehouse 2nd SW section this year winner who timed a yearling Blue cock on 1388. 9
Following the cowboys now and heading up to the West section we see the St Helen s partnership of Mills Rice Abbott & Duffy who clocked a 3 year old Blue hen which was obviously expected as she was pooled to the hilt and wins her owners close on to a thousand s. On closer inspection it is clear to see why because this roundabout hen has had 5 channel races over the last three years winning four of them and second in the other one. Two of these wins where in the Leigh Arms Open Carentan race. This star performer has also won from inland race points and sisters have won 1 st Open NW Grand National from Ceusters x Koopman and Schaerlaeckens lines. Jamie Langrish enjoys double joy with his twin sons and 2 nd W section and 1 st in the One Loft Hotspot race 2 nd section is taken by Jamie Langrish with a J Hughes of Manchester bred hen and is in fact a latebred which is still carrying 4 nest flights. This hen recorded 1358 just a yard less than the section winner. 3 rd section is filled by P Moss & Son with another hen but this one is a 2 year old which was well fancied and no wonder as she already has 4 Fed wins to her name including taking 1 st place from previous race from Carentan when she recorded 1677 yards per minute. Her sire is a grandson of Drum and her mother is of Albert Tarleton breeding. The 4 th placed bird in the West section is a 2 year old Black hen owned by Mr & Mrs F B Jennings and son of Chorley recording 1338 two yards slower than the 3 rd placed bird. P Moss & Son the 3 rd W section winners 10 Jennings & Son 4 th W section
Up in the North North West section we see yet another grand pigeon belonging to Tim Webster who timed a 2 year old de Rauw Sablon cock as I have written in the past he is a grandson of Snoopy who is a son of Pros Roosens famed Blauwe Prins. The cock that was sent after his hen had just laid her first egg after being repaired after a season on the widowerhood system. This now means the bird has won a 1 st 3 rd and 4 th placing in his section. Tim tells me that he is delighted at the condition of his returning birds and heard great praise on the lads who look after the Bolton marking station. Tim Webster with Isabelle and his fine section topper Another good race from Vire for Roskell & Williamson 2 nd and 3 rd section places are claimed by Roskell & Williamson who appear to be amongst our shrinking violets as they haven t sent me any further details of their two timers. So all I can report is the fact that their first bird is a 2 year old blue hen and their second arrival is another 2 year old hen but this one is a Chequer on 1323 some 13 yards behind her loftmate. 4 th section is filled by Preston flyer Tom Jackson with a 3 year old Pied hen who recorded 1309. Also up near the top are P & B Taylor with a bird flown naturally that was nursed after returning from Coutances injured. The yearling hen was then prepared with a few club races then sent to Vire. She is a daughter of a good racer who is in turn a granddaughter of an Up North Combine winner and a hen off the lofts Frans Zwolls lines. A clear case of patience being rewarded. 11
Ryan Cullinane with the partners NC section winner young man. Sliding over to the North Centre section we see D Cullinane & his son Ryan on top of their pile. Ryan remind me that this is the 4 th section win with the MNFC. The winner is a yearling hen and like two of the others is bred down from the partners best breeding hen The 66 Hen who is responsible for winners from club right through to Amal and as already mention National levels. Ryan said that 2016 has been a steady season which dipped in the middle but lads were delighted when they got them right for the final race. Now on to young birds says an enthusiastic 2 nd section is taken by one of the area s most consistent loft that is Leach brothers who clocked another yearling hen which has flown very consistently all year and she homed like a rocket I m told. Her grandma is the loft s top breeder The 51 Hen who also bred last year s 1 st section 4 th Open winner from the same race point and the hen s nest sister has won 2 x1st and a joint 1 st prize. Adrian tells me to send his congratulations to the race winners and fellow Clubmates Dennis & Ryan Cullinane. A good example of Adrian Leach 2 nd NC section introducing his youngest son to the pigeons sportsmanship in my opinion. 3 rd section is filled by McCormick & Schofield of Leeds who timed a 2 year old Blue hen on 1318 while Silsden fanciers Mr & Mrs Muff clocked a yearling Blue cock just 4 yards behind. The champion in the East South East section is Stewart McCurry who is making quite a habit of performing well in the Midlands National flying club. In fact if you remember Stewart won the 2015 Vire race. The bird is a yearling hen that 12
is 505 from No28 and the Lenson Hen which is the house family and this latest winner is related to last year s National winner. Right behind the section winner is another consistent loft that of Terry Roughton who timed a 4 year old hen on 1368 a mere 3 yards behind the section winner. Mr & Mrs Pat Royle who also timed a 4 year old hen of Van den Broucke bloodlines off long distance enthusiasts Perry brothers of Kings Lynn on 1338. 4th section is taken once again by Stewart McCurry but after the excitement of topping the section he clean forgot to mention his second arrival but knowing Stewart he is only interested in 1 st prize winners! Stewaart McCurry with the ESE section winner Terry Roughton 2 nd ESE section Mr & Mrs Pat Royle 3 rd in the ESE section 13
MNFC One Loft 1 st Hotspot Race. The race was flown on Thursday the 18 th August with the 428 birds being released at 11.50am from Salisbury the result of the top 10 arrivals is as follows: 1. Bob & Jamie Langrish 1096 500 2. W Fairhurst & Son 1095 250 2. The Magnificent Seven 1094 200 4. Talas & Ross 1091 150 5. Sneaky Leaky 1090 75 6. Alan m Wood 1089 50 7. Three Tenors 1085 50 8. Ben & Sally 1084 50 9. The Magnificent Seven 1082 50 10. Pied Pipers Loft 1080 50 With each of the next five arrivals also winning 50 each. The full result is on the MNFC website Mike Lakin 14