His blue pied Vandenabeele cock was doing 1849 ypm. This is a really outstanding performance for which Mark should be highly congratulated. After having previously kept a few birds in a garden shed as a teenager, he only restarted his interest with a team of young birds in the 2007 season. Mark decided to race birds having been friends with Gary Moody of Moody & King for many years , and it was after waiting at Gary's house for his birds that enthused Mark to start up on his own. In his first year he won the prestigious young bird averages of the whole mighty Solent South Road Federation! After an old bird season where the main aim was still to establish his loft, he raced just three club races and one classic, and has been left with 8 of the 9 widowhood cocks with which he started. Mark had decided that he is only interested in racing up to 250 miles. He admits that the reason that he doesn't want to race the distance is because he doesn't have the patience. What can I say?? Mark is a young man with a young family. Perhaps in the future he will learn that 'the best things come to those who wait'! His 1st fed winner has raced all the races in the programme so far with this being his first card. He has unfortunately, since his great performance had a wire hit, and will not be raced for the rest of the season. There can be no doubt that Mark is a 'master' young bird racer. His results talk for themselves. In the first young bird race Kingsdown where 184 members sent 3104 birds Mark was 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 23rd, 32nd, 35th, 36th, 37th and 42nd. Exeter saw 187 members send 2745 birds. Yet again Mark was in the cards, 6th, 10th, 14th, 25th, 29th, 30th and 33rd. In this race as well as 1st and 6th, this loft had eight birds in the top hundred. These results from three strong races are a testament indeed to his ability. He sourced his YB team, numbering 57, from many different suppliers. Some came from his own stock birds, Janssens, Van Reems, Vandenabeeles, and Maurice Matthews. Others he bought from the Lier Market, and more from the Natural Breeding Station in Belgium. His 2nd club, 6th fed was a blue bar Janssen cock from the Belgium on1818 ypm, and his 3rd club was bred by Jimmy Wearn. He is fussy about the type of birds he likes to race. For preference he likes a bird that is wedge shaped, with a roman head. He has an old bird loft which has 24 nest boxes, but told me that if he starts next season with 18 widowhood cocks then he will be contented. Marks' birds are basketed just after four in the morning for training from Poole which he shares the cost of with Lee Cleife. Mark fully acknowledges that without the help of his wife Hayley all this would in vain, as it is Hayley who gets up at 0530hrs to call in the birds from training. I have in the past met many wives and partners of pigeon fanciers who spoil their partners. But Hayley! 0530hrs every morning! That takes some beating. Now Mark is one of the very competitive bunch of lads from in and around the 'Golden Mile' .This doesn't give him any advantage at all! Are you reading this Jason Ross! He is very much a 'colourful character' in more ways than one. I have met fanciers from many different walks of life while doing these reports. Many of whom have of course been retired. Some have sold double glazing. Guess what Mark does? He is a tattooist! I just had to ask the question. Does he have a tattoo of a pigeon? (At this point I must say that I didn't ask him to SHOW me, after all, these days you never know where it might be, and I might blush!!) The answer was in the negative but he has been asked to do one soon......... he told me on whom ........but didn't tell me where!
At the very strong Channel SRFC where 6 members sent 103 birds, it was Buster and Lee Cliefe yet again showing the way. Lee's early morning training regime is certainly paying off. They took 1st club, 3rd fed with a Gaby Vandenabeele blue bar cock on 1838 ypm, flown naturally. Moody & King were next, taking 2nd club, 5th fed with a mealy cock, one of their phenomenally reliable Maurice Matthews family on 1831 ypm, and flown naturally. 3rd club, 14th fed was S Harris Loft 2, with a Dark Cheq hen on 1808 ypm. The club's £5 nom was won by D & K Jones.
Bitterne Park saw 8 members send 59 birds to this race, the 4th young bird race. 1st Club, 8th fed was s Harris loft 1, with his Vandenabeeles, a dark cheq hen this time, flown naturally, doing a ve;locity of 1814 ypm. The blue Janssen Van Loon cock of Paul Basham took 2nd club, 39th fed on 1781, flown naturally. This family was originally purchased from Brian Bolton. 3rd club, 55th fed was Michael Bradley and his dark cheq cock of Reyneart breeding, from the Premier Lofts on 1771 ypm.
8 members of Parade FC sent 88 birds to this race. 1st club 11th fed was S & K Brimecombe & Son with a dark cheq K O Nipius hen opn 1811 ypm. Previously on darkness, this bird was bred from their own stock. The sire of this young bird was 1st club, 2nd fed Tours 2 this season. S & K Brimecombe & Son were also 2nd club, 13th fed with a cheq pied hen that they bought at the Lier Market. This hen was sent to the race being driven to the nest. 3rd club, 15th fed was Jason Ross with a blue cheq De Clek hen on 1807 ypm. This hen was previously on a darkness system, and was sent to the race on a roundabout system. Jason was also 4th club, 16th fed with a blue pied hen that was a gift bird from Jimmy Wearn of Petersfield. The club's £5 noms were won by Jason Ross.
Well....He's done it again! Alan Akmenkalns is proving invincible in the Bognor & Chichester SRFC since the young bird season started. Yet again this week he as taken all three positions with performances that have also secured federation prize cards as well. 1st club, 12th fed. 2nd club, 25th fed. 3rd club, 40th fed were all won with youngsters from a team of stock birds bought as young birds from Van De Weyer. A fine investment if ever there was one.
10 members sent 107 birds to this race at Wootton & Bashley WMFC. 1st Club, 45th fed is Don Ellis with a blue hen on 1779 ypm. The sire of this pigeon, a Sootgen, was part of a swap that Don made with Mick Rogers of Highcliffe, and the dam another swapped pigeon, this time a Van Reet with Tony Adams . Don also took 2nd club, 46th fed with one of his own family (Janssen x Van Reet) on 1779 ypm also. 3rd club, 50th fed was Ron Ayres with his blue Curtis Wall & Lunt Janssen hen in her first race.
Milton HS saw 14 members send 74 birds to Yelverton. Kevin & John Zerafa were 1st club, 59th fed with a blue w/flight hen from their own family on 1765 ypm. The dam of this pigeon was 1st Section, 7th open BBC Ingleton, and 2nd Section 320th open NFC St Nazaire. 2nd club, 62nd fed was Barry Robertson and Steve Vaizey with their blue Vandenabeele darkness hen on 1758 ypm. Albie Webb & son, previous federation winners this year secured 3rd club, 69th fed with a blue Vandenabeele cock on 1748 ypm. This bird was bred by Dave Oldeness of Preston.
Romsey SRFC , where 11 members sent 80 birds, saw a win for Brian Basham & Son with their Blue Van Loon cock on 1704 ypm. This bird was bred by Brian Bolton. Colin Edwards was 2nd club with a blue Van Reet cock on 1639 ypm. He was bred from Colin's top racing Van Reet cock, 'The Hampshire Cock'. A Tony Adams x Mardon bird. Taking 3rd club was Alan Sutton & Son with a dark cheq hen on 1638 ypm. She was bred from his last years Federation winner.
In the Gosport RPC, a clean sweep was enjoyed by club secretary Pete Woods. His first, on 1641 ypm, was a dark cheq cock. 2nd & 3rd on 1613 ypm and 1602 ypm , both blue cheq cocks, all from his own family.
5 members sent 33 young birds to Yelverton 1 in the Eastleigh Irish RPC. D Hayles Son led the way taking 1st club with a blue w/flight Fred Bloor/Buschart cock on 1630 ypm. This bird is flown on a roundabout system. N Elcock was 2nd club with a Grizzle Roland Janssen cock on 1599 ypm. D Hayles & Son also took the 3rd card with a blue cheq Buschart hen on 1582 ypm. Flown on roundabout, she has already 1st Exeter, 3rd Kingsdown to her credit.
Conveyers Report.
Arrived on site at Yelverton at 0130hrs. All birds watered and the lights left on for 30 mins. Saturday out at 0530hrs. The weather was heavy rain and strong wind. Tony called at 0645hrsm hoping that the bad weather had not reached us, but I told him that it had. He said that it would be with us all day and we had no chance of getting a liberation. We decided it would be a holdover. This proved to be the right decision as it never stopped raining all day. The only time we got out of the lorry was to check the waters every so often, and to give the birds a light feed at 1330hrs. The weather was so bad that we didn't even get out to make ourselves a cup of tea! Sunday out at 0530hrs. All birds waters checked. Weather conditions looked good for an early liberation. Tony called to say the line of flight was good and to go when I was ready. I said I wanted it to warm up a bit, and would go at 0800hrs, which I did into broken cloud and sunshine. A light South to South West breeze.
Many Thanks to the Club Press Reporters.
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