At the time of writing I am delighted to inform all that he is has also romped away with the Young Birds Averages for the 2008 season. Mark was second in these averages last year and unbelievably, this is only his second year in the pigeon fancy. His young bird team has been so strong, they have proved to be invincible. In the eight young bird races flown Mark's team have been: Kingsdown 1, 4th fed with (15 birds in the top 100 positions). Exeter, 6th fed (15/100), Guernsey 1, 21st fed (4/100), Yelverton 1,1st fed (8/100), Kingsdown 2, 8th fed (14/100), Kingsdown 3, 10th fed,(9/100). 1st fed, (12/100) and Guernsey 2. 5th fed (4/100), winning a total of 47 Young Bird Federation Cards. This was attained with a team of young birds that are not on any darkness system, but are trained every day from Poole, and are studied in order for Mark to motivate them, for example, separating any youngsters that pair later in the season and allowing them together on the day of basketing. His Federation topper was bred to do the business. A Maurice Matthews pigeon, bred by G & M Stud, his dam was 3rd Open CSCFC Sennen Cove, behind two loft mates for Moody & King. She raced for seven years, and won 7 x 1st prizes during that time. This is her third youngster to win 1st Fed, having already bred 2 x 1st Fed winners for Moody & King. The sire is a Maurice Matthews bought from Wales for stock. This young blue cock has already this season been 5th Club, 29th Fed from Exeter, and 4th Club, 25th Fed from Guernsey 1. Mark also took 2nd Club, 4th Fed on 1829 ypm with a Blue Pied hen bred by Mr & Mrs T Wilson of Gosport, another pigeon with form that has previously won 1st Club, 4th fed from Kingsdown 1. His third pigeon on 1829 ypm, which was 3rd Club,5th Fed, previously took 4th Club, 35th Fed from Kingsdown 3 is also bred by G & M Stud. This Blue Bar hen is from a long line of winners.
Mark has been very busy since his win. Next year his team of young birds numbering approx 95 will be housed in one of his two brand new lofts. He will not introduce any young birds to the team after the end of January. This means they will not need darkness. His loft now is planned to accommodate any system, jealously, widowhood or natural. Weeks of planning went into the loft, and I have been particularly asked by Mark to thank his good mate Kenny Cleife who helped him build his lofts, giving freely of his time, and to whom he is very grateful.
Next year Mark starts the old bird season with a team of 21 cocks, 8 two year olds and the rest yearlings. He is planning to race the programme through, and will divide his team equally when there are Classics and National races, along with the Fed. He will pair them up 90 days before the first race, which will enable him to train the cocks back to the hens before splitting them about two weeks prior to racing. This will be mark's first season with a team of old birds that have a degree of experience about them. If they show the form that they have done in their young bird racing over the past two years they will be a team to be reckoned with.........
The training partners of Mark Ellins, K & L Cleife of Channel SRFC, won this very strong club, with a blue bar Van Reet cock on 1829ypm to secure 6th fed. He was bred by Brian Harris from 'The red cheq cock'. It was a good race all round for this club. M Skidmore's blue pied Busschaert hen was 2nd club, 7th fed on 1823 ypm. The dam of this hen won 6 times on the North Road. Moody & King were 3rd club, 8th fed with a Belgium bred cheq cock on 1822 ypm.
Ron Ayres of Wootton & Bashley WMPC again had a cracking race. Among his 7 youngsters to take cards in this race was blue cheq Sootjen hen on 1816ypm winning 1st Club, 9th fed. In my earlier loft report on Ron's I indicated that he had found the roundabout system hard work this year and was having a think whether to continue next year. I can now confirm that with six of the seven fed card winners in this race being hens, he will persevere to race both next year. Other Wootton & Bashley WMPC members to attain fed cards were Don Ellis, at 26th, and Berry & Matthews at 30th.
Parade FC saw 7 members send 74 birds to this race. Jason Ross proved impossible to beat with a blue cheq Vandenabeele hen raced on a roundabout system, doing 1806 ypm to take 15th fed. Tony Barrett was 2nd club, 16th fed on 1797 ypm with a slatey Vandenabeele cock. Tony's birds were certainly on form. Another of his Vandenabeeles, this time a blue cheq cock also on 1797 ypm, was 3rd club, 17th fed. Now as you may know, I'm not one to get involved in the politics of the sport. (Much!) I will only directly quote the matters of interest on the press report sheet as filled in by Tony. 'These are gift birds (two of many), from the Champion Portsea Island flyer Jason Ross...and he didn't charge me a penny Richard Thomas!' I make no further comment! The club £5 noms were won by Jason Ross.
They weren't afraid in the Milton HS. 14 members sent 129 birds to this race. Barry Robertson and Steve Vaizey clocked their blue w/flight Vandenabeele cock on 1780ypm to win 1st club, 27th fed. He is the same way bred as the pigeon they sent to South Africa that scored in the big race. Kevin & John Zerafa were 2nd club, 28th fed with a cheq cock from their own family which was sent feeding a youngster, as was their next dark pied cock that took 3rd club, 29th fed.
Portsmouth Manor Park saw a win for B & M Wiggins with a cheq pied hen flown paired up on 1742 ypm. Mark Drackett was 2nd club with a red pied cock flown naturally on 1733 ypm. 3rd club were Mr & Mrs D Tolfrey with their Blue Cheq Pied hen, flown naturally on 1618 ypm.
In the Romsey SRFC it was another win for club Chairman Colin Edwards, whose young bird team have been on fine form this season. His red cheq Mardon Van Reet cock, previously on darkness, was sent to this race sitting 10 days. He is from a Grandson of Toey x a daughter of Red Alert and Toey's Pied, and was previously a pool money winner from CSCFC Lessay. Alan Sutton, who had an outstanding old bird season, clocked his dark cheq cock on 1559 ypm to win 2nd club. He is from their own family, was sent to this race sitting 7 days, and had previously flown most of the programme. Brian Basham & Son were 3rd club in this race with a dark cheq De Klak hen on 1538 ypm. She was bred from Tony Cowan stock and too has been sent to most races.
In the Gosport RPC hard working club secretary Pete Woods had the winner. His blue bar cock from his own family was sent to the race flying to the perch only and was doing 1627ypm. 2nd on 1581 ypm was Bill Edwards with a Jan Heybrecht Blue Pied hen that had been on darkness. Both parents were bred by John Keywood of Chertsey. Secretary Pete also took the 3rd prize with another of his own family, a blue cheq hen on 1530ypm.
East Cowes saw a win for Mr R Dunford. His blue cheq hen from his own family was doing 1681 ypm. 2nd club was Mr R Harbour with a light cheq Janssen cock on 1641ypm. Mr E Churches was 3rd club with a blue bar Janssen cock on 1525ypm.
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