The performance of the young birds in this race can only be described as outstanding. Ian and Nigel took the first six positions in both the club and the fed. Had all their arrivals been forwarded for Federation honours they would have indeed won 19 federation places. The bird winning the silverware is a Vandenabeele Blue Bar Cock bred from their very extensive stock team that had been on darkness until June which romped in on 1705 ypm. 2nd, club, 2nd fed was a Van Koppen Blue Hen on 1703 ypm. The dam of this hen was bought from the clearance sale of Tony Carter. Their third bird was a Bosua blue bar cock, again on 1703 ypm which was a gold ring pigeon. This was race was preparation for the following week when he was to be sent to the BBC Lamballe race.
The season for the Crammond and Langstaff lofts starts around 4th December each year when they pair up the stock birds. The stock loft contains three strains that are essentially sprint to middle distance, these being Pater Van Osch, Kees Bosua, and Vandenabeele, and four distance families, Wim Muller, Herman Van Helmond, Marcel Demeyere and Emily Denys. The first round from this team is the bulk of the 240 young birds with which Ian and Nigel start each season. Having such a large stock team does mean that they rarely breed from the 150 widowhood cock race team. These are paired around 5th January and rear some of the second round youngsters from the stock team. The widowhood cocks are divided roughly into two teams. In the larger (plusher) lofts are housed the distance birds with the sprint/middle distance in the right hand lofts which are dimentionally smaller. There was concern that with the left hand, larger, facing south, and the smaller loft with the back to the sun that there might be a difference in the form shown by the birds. I was assured that the results from each loft were on a par, and the position of the lofts seems to have no bearing on results. As well as the two main racing lofts there is a small 'shed like' loft which houses distance racers that have not been as extensively raced as the widowhood cocks. The hens of the cocks are never raced past their young bird season. They are housed in covered aviaries or open fronted lofts to the rear of each racing loft, and can enter through a hole between the lofts into the boxed sections, never having to be caught. Training of the cocks is varied, depending on what Nigel sees as their need. They might be flown around the loft, or trained up the road. They are fed a mixture of Marimans Super Winner and Countrywide Concord. Unsurprisingly, with such a large team, they are fed any treatments in their water.
Both Ian and Nigel are always on the lookout for the particular lines of a strain of pigeons that win. They scour the BHW and auctions, home and abroad, often spotting particular breeding lines that in the past have done well either for them or others and buy these rather than making a blanket purchase of a strain. Ian had long been a user of electronic timing systems before they were approved for use in this country for racing. The loft has two systems in use. The newer Unikon Champ System is used for the old birds, while the older Prof System is still used in the young bird loft. The cocks either enter the loft through a window or open door, while the young birds land on decking and walk into the loft over the antennae. Of course having such luxury is comforting. I mean, such a professional set up wouldn't want to miss a bird would they? After all, surely they couldn't miss a bird by 32 minutes ..........Could you Nigel??? Thank goodness for technology....
This is a class partnership. They are always there or thereabouts in the top echelons of racing in this country. This year's results include 1st & 2nd Sect, 85th Open BBC Messac (2252 Birds). 20th Sect, 34th Open LSECC Alencon (2469 Birds). NFC Fougeres RPRA One Loft Race 1st, winning £1,000. 3rd Sect, 3rd Open LSECC Tours (1921 Birds). 2nd, 4th, 5th, & 10th Sect. 2nd, 9th , 10th & 33rd Open NFC Angers (5977 Birds). 4th Sect, 89th Open BBC Poitiers. 26th Open , 40th Open LSECC Tarbes (on the day). 24th Sect, 195th Open NFC Tarbes. 1st & 3rd Sect, 4th & 13th Open BBC Bordeaux.1st Sect, 77th Open NFC Saintes (5315 Birds). 9th Sect, 28th Open BICC Perpignan (a single entry). But the very best result of this season must be the win from Bergerac. Seven organisations were liberated simultaneously, a total of 3,442 Birds. Not only did Crammond and Langstaff take 1st Sect, 1st Open LSECC Bergerac, but were also the highest velocity of the entire liberation. An amazing feat.
There were many different facets to this loft visit from the norm. For me, as a former 'half' or a partnership, I was very interested in the dynamics between Ian and Nigel. Each has their roles in this success story. Ian is very much the keeper of the records, with his 'black book' (and we've all heard about black books and their secrets, haven't we?). Nigel, more the 'hands on' loft manager (I wouldn't dare to make a comment about 'hands on' men in case I was accused of sexism). But in my visit, one common factor I found in both fanciers was.........focus. Perhaps another word for it would be professionalism. Take it from me, they are both very serious about one aspect of our sport..........winning.
Well, here we go again. Is any Solent Fed Young Bird safe from on onslaught from the loft of Mark Ellins of Racecourse SRFC. There is only one word to describe this young bird team this year......Lightning. 1st club, 8th Fed is a Blue Pied Janssen Cock on 1689 ypm. 2nd Club, 19th Fed is a blue bar Maurice Matthews cock, bred by G & M Stud Lofts. What an exciting prospect is Mark's 3rd club, 25th Fed pigeon? A Janssen, bought at the Leir Market, already this year he has been 2nd Club, 6th fed from Yelverton and 2nd Club, 10th fed from Exeter. This must be this year's best young bird to date, but Mark tells me that his trapping lets him down. Mark also wins 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 44th, 47th, and 48th Fed cards. Congratulations!
At Wootton & Bashley WMPC the young bird team of Ron Ayres proved yet again too hot for all other contestants. His blue cheq hen took the top spot and 16th fed on1668 ypm. Club Secretary, Don Ellis was not far behind with his second placed, 28th fed, a blue hen on 1652 ypm. Don then had two come together on 1625 ypm to be 64th and 65th Fed. This is great going for flyers that are flying over 20 miles shorter than any other fed member in the top 50 position in this race.
In the strong Parade FC where 10 members sent 118 birds, the top of the shop, 1st club, 26th Fed was S & K Brimecombe & Son with a dark cheq KO Nipius hen on 1653 ypm. This hen, previously on darkness, was sent to the race being driven to nest. This partnership also took 2nd club, 27th Fed with another KO Nipius, this time a cheq pied cock on 1653 ypm. He was sent to the race unpaired, racing to the perch. A Barrett ruined the Brimecomes clean sweep, with his Heinz 57 hen taking 3rd club, 29th fed on 1651 ypm, racing to a corn tin!( New one on me.) 4th club, 46th fed and it was back to the Brimecomes. Their 4th club, 46th fed is another very consistent bird. This cheq pied cock was 36th fed the previous week from Yelverton. The club's £5 noms were won by Stan & Kim Brimecome.
Gosport RPC saw 6 members send 97 birds to Kingsdown 2. Bob Clarke continued his impressive young bird form with the first two by a clear margin. His winner , also taking 31st fed,is a really consistent Blue W/Flight hen on 1647 ypm that has previously won 1st Guernsey and 2nd Exeter. She is a Janssen x Masseralla SVR, the parents being stock from C J Wheeler of Leyton Buzzard. Bob's 2nd club, 40th fed on 1642 ypm is a Blue W/F Hartog hen from Mr & Mrs P Johnson of Park View lofts. 3rd and 4th club went to Pete Woods on 1536 and 1513 ypms with two of his own family, a dark cock and a blue hen.
What a great club race to win. The former fed winners Kevin and John Zerafa topped a club race at the Milton HS of 393 birds sent by 22 members. That's more birds than some feds send! Their blue bar cock was doing 1636 ypm to also take 43rd Fed and £153 pools and noms. A 'nice little earner' that will help with the winter feed bill. Bomber Mellis was not far behind with a blue Berger cock on 1634 ypm to take 2nd club, 45th fed. The partnership of Barry Robertson & Steve Vaizey took 3rd club, 49th fed with their Flor Engels x Vandenabeele blue cock on 1633 ypm.
A clean sweep was had by Ray McIlroy at Bitterne Park where 13 members sent 141 birds. Roy took the 1st four positions with his Jos Thone team, flown naturally.
East Cowes FC had 8 members sending 84 pigeons to this race. Eric Churches took both 1st and 2nd club positions. His dark cheq Kalk cock won on 1569 ypm. This was a gift bird from Mr Len Hodges from the isle of Wight. His second placed bird was a pied hen bred from Welsh pigeons on 1568 ypm. David Clark took the third spot with a cheq w/f gift pigeon on 1510 ypm.
At Fawley RPC it was James Cox who showed the way. His Buschaert grizzle hen was in her first race when arriving on 1567 ypm. It must have been very tense in the Cox garden, because Steve and Bernie also clocked a grizzle Buschaert hen just one yard behind on 1566 ypm, with their Janssen/Buschaert black pied cock in the third spot on 1530 ypm.
Eastleigh Irish RPC had 9 members send 82 pigeons to this race. N Elcock took the first prize with a Blues Hartog hen on 1501 ypm. S Sollitt's pied Buschaert hen took second spot on 1493 ypm. This position was good enough to win the club's young bird knock out competition. D Hayles must see great potential in his third placed Blue W/f Fred Bloor cock on 1454 ypm. This youngster has already secured a win from Yelverton.
Club Chairman Colin Edwards proved too hot too beat in the Romsey SRFC, where 11 members sent 83 birds. His Blue Mardon Van Reet hen was doing 1382 ypm. She has flown most of the young bird races, and is from a son of Casino x Daughter of Red Alert. Brian Basham and Son were second with a blue cheq cock on 1357 ypm. He is out of the De Klak family of Tony Cowan crossed with Brian's own Merkx Janssen s. Martin & Claire Norman were 3rd with a cheq gift bird from Dave Wells of Borden on 1350 ypm.
The Camrose PC of Basingstoke saw a win for Club Chairman Dave Hawthorne with a blue w/f cock he describes as a 'mixed bag' on 1337 ypm. Dave obviously thought a lot of this breeding as he carried a BBC special ring and his sire is from Tony Hesketh. Mr & Mr Hayward were second with a blue cock on 1330 ypm.
May I thank all club press reporters for their support.
Claire Mills c.mills59@btinternet.com
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