NORTH WEST GRAND NATIONAL F.C. & BAMFORDS GOLD RING
Joint Presentation Season 2014
Once more the North West Grand National Flying Club presentation was held at the Ruskin Hotel during the Blackpool Weekend. The occasion was a shared event in conjunction with the Bamford Gold Ring presentation
The hotel is a superb venue being centrally located, the staff are first class and as many of our regular guests will verify the food is outstanding.
NWGNFC PRESENTATION
Rob Owen welcomed the guests for the evening and thanked the club sponsors Bamford’s Corn, Peter Bennett, and NWHU for their continued support.
Transport is very important and the club thanked Keith Iddon and Diane Bonney of B & I Transport for once again providing an excellent service to the club.
Also thanked where the clubs marking officers namely Mike Mcalinden, Terry Phifer, Colin Wood, Alan Bamford, George Hilson, George Hilson, Jim Sephton, Maurice McCartney, Jim Frost & Dave Moss. Where would we be without these wonderful volunteers?
The clubs array of trophies where displayed the icing on the cake being Peter Bennetts marvellously presented photographs and ‘Bird of the Year’ plate.
Rob introduced our secretary Niki Waterhouse mention her husband John for all the work behind the scenes ensuring club rings are despatched, money banked, race distances and entries verified, and dealing with the constant stream of enquiries a biggish club needs to deal with on a daily basis.
Without further ado the club chief guest Alan Hindhaugh was introduced. Alan along with wife Hilda attend the presentation on a yearly basis as guests of George Hilson and the committee felt it was appropriate that Alan came out to present the prizes. Of course Alan is a legend in pigeon circles. As well as being a top class racer he is of course a master breeder and indeed bred ‘Bird of the Year’ in the club just a few years ago for Green & Hilson.
Alan made a great speech reminding clubs as to the importance of the club secretary and praising and recommending Bamford’s products many of which he used himself.
The winners of the first race and the East Section from Falaise, winning the Bamfords Corn trophy and Dave & Mark Cup, were the well-known partnership of Curtis, Wall & Lunt. I noted on the same day the partnership won 3rd Lancs Combine. The boys are now racing from a new location and it is no secret that they have started where they left off, being very successful, loft location means little to these birds as they continue to make history where ever they go winning numerous first prizes. This was a close affair with the first two pigeons being well clear and that good partnership from Heywood, Mr & Mrs J P Walker, where narrowly held off.
In the West section Bill Dickinson took the honours, not for the first time. Bill has a brilliant record in the club especially over the water and on several occasions has won the section. Hopefully an open win is just around the corner. Tom Smith, Paul Dolan and Southport aces Liddle & Field all well to the fore in the West Section
In the B section north of the River Ribble past winner Ian Pedder was presented with the West Coaster trophy for 1st B Section Falaise. Ian has an enviable record in the club with both young and old birds, and held off up and coming stars Roskell & Williamson who timed a well fancied bird. These lad’s had a cracking race timing in several good birds. Another top Lancashire loft Tom Jackson continued his good seasons form taking third and fourth section.
In the A section flying the dog leg into Barrow natural flyer Ken Charnley won the C. Wainwright trophy for 1st a section Falaise, just managing to overcome other Barrow lofts of Tony Johnson and Palmer & Shields. Such a tight finish after their 385 miles journey and remarkable how they must have stuck together. Small team man Ken timed his nom bird first and had three out of four in no time, clock officer Terry Phifer having nothing but praise for Ken for yet another section win and wondered how he would fare in a better loft location.
Moving onto the Fougeres race. This turned out to be a tough affair being liberated into a cold North East wind it was never going to be straight forward, some organisations held over at the race-point, however as it turned out members had a better race into the North West than the organisations who held over.
Winner of the race and a past winner in recent years was Tom Smith of Haydock. A member of the well-known and successful Smith dynasty from St Helens, cousins R & B Smith and brother Alex Smith. Tom loves his channel racing and was presented with the Barrow Victoria trophy for 1st Open Fougeres. Tom had an excellent series of races from across the channel and was also presented with the Channel Average Cup. Other lofts well to fore in the West Section were Dave Brookfield, Paul Dolan and Newsholme & McArdle with Alan Greenall and Stephen Stringfellow scooping the West Section pools.
Over in the East Sections, Curtis Wall and Lunt were seconds away from doing the double. Timing two birds in a short period and taking 2nd & 3rd open, 1st & 2nd Section. As someone pointed out ‘not bad for sprint pigeons’. Velocities 1149.38 and 1149.34. What a tremendous performance timing two birds in a second flying in a north east wind from Fougeres. J. Perez and Green & Hilson took 3rd & 4th section with Jim Kenyon the main money.
Peter Billington of Bilsborrow, who had a great season in the club, won section B Fougeres. Talking to Peter at the clubs presentation, he seems to have set his sights on winning one of Peter Bennett’s wonderful winner photographs, so watch this space. Taking second section B another great performance from Don McCartney flying into Bolton-Le-Sands near Carnforth, saw Don clocking six birds out of his eight flying a distance of 403 miles, this when many lofts sixty miles shorter struggled to clock. This fine sportsman has cultivated the Van Loon family for 25 years and it seems they thrive in tough hard channel races, well done Don.
Section A winners and presented with ‘Dalesman Trophy’ were Palmer & Shields, it has to be a game bird in the prevailing conditions and they well clear of the next bird in the section doing just over twelve hours for the 403 mile trip. These boys love the tough channel races and it is when their birds start to excel. The ever present Tony Johnson, who has a wonderful team of birds, was second and Dave Quirk third.
Messac was once again the final old bird race. In a congested programme with many national, combine and 2- bird races around this time members struggle to find numbers. Plenty of members sent but more a case of quality over quantity.
Winning 1st West Section 1st Open winning the T O Burrows Trophy Stewardess Cup were Merseyside loft of Newsholme & McArdle. Jim was thrilled to pick up the trophies from Alan Hindhaugh one of his heroes in the pigeon game. He thanked the club and B & I transport regarding the excellent condition of the birds on arrival. The loft timed three good birds out of an entry of five. My club mates win did not surprise as there not many lofts with so many high quality inmates. The winner was a Lambrecht being a grandson of DE90 having it second channel race, having flown the hard Fougeres race a fortnight previous. The winner also won its club race as the Halton club decided to adopt the North West Grand National FC races as club races, so two bites of the cherry. It has paid dividends with the club members taking a four figure sum in winnings out of the Grand National races. 2nd Open Messac was Bill Dickinson of Orrell. Bill continued his great record out of Messac winning the section last year, and in fact time two birds in the top ten, there are few West section lofts with a better channel record than Bill in the Grand National, and by gum those fresh eggs are nice Bill. Terry Orritt, John Baxter rounded off the West section prizes.
3rd Open and 1st B Section presented with the Parkinson Memorial Trophy flying 435 miles, the wonderful channel loft of Don McCartney, what a great distance flyer this man is. Don also won the Channel Average B Section. Jim Kenyon another member with a fine record and former 1st Open winner in the club, clocked three quick ones to take 2nd, 3rd, & 4th B section a top class performance and similar to other results he has had in the past.
Over in Sect E Mr & Mrs Jefferson of Tottington took the honours and most years this partnership win good money and I believe they have had a great season. Green & Hilson, Paul Hart and Mr & Mrs J P Walker filled the rest of the prize winners.
In section ‘A’ once again there were three birds in just a couple of minutes flying into Barrow-in-Furness. That man Ken Charnley took the honours and presented with the Barrow Victoria Shield, Ken was closely followed by Tony Johnson and Palmer & Shields. John New & Son and Palmer & Shields took the main section pools.
Onto the young bird series and the programme of Bedhampton and Littlehampton, a tough test especially flying into Cumbria.
The Bedhampton liberation was delayed with low cloud just above the race point and we finally got away at 11:45 into a tough north easterlygf. It turned out to be a hard race for a lot of fanciers but as usual some fanciers with in form youngsters bucked the trend.
Taking first open for the twelfth occasion and presented with the Peter Foster Cup and the clubs highest prize-winners for the sixth consecutive occasion, the nationally known loft of Green & Hilson. It was nice to see that George Hilson had made the trip to the presentation after missing last year through ill health. The winning bird, and in fact most of Green & Hilson’s entries carried Bamford gold rings, so had been to Bedhampton just ten day’s previously and obviously the experience had benefited the bird. The partnership second bird was their all pooler taking 2nd section E.
2nd and 4th Open and first West Section Billy Brown and wife Pat had a sensational race timing in nine out of ten entries in a short period of time, this when some member were struggling to clock. Once again the first bird had been the Bamford Gold Ring race. Their second bird was previously 10th in the Bamford race after losing a lot of time. Bill has always been a hard man to beat and really enjoys sending in these races. 3rd Open was Naylor Bros from Haydock won the first N ring prize in the section, narrow squeak as they only just caught the transporter on marking night. Alan Bamford, Newsholme & McArdle and Alex Smith were the next birds in the result taking 6th, 7th & 8th Open respectively. What was noticeable was the large number of fancied birds in the top ten open, the majority being pooled up.
Winning section B for the second time was the Mr & Mrs Billington partnership. Hassall & Jackson of Wharton took second section in a tight finish whilst Maurice McCartney and Son and Ian Pedder took third and fourth respectively.
Section ‘A’ birds had a difficult fly with many running out of daylight hours. B. Lloyd of Kirkby in Furness was took the honours winning the H.B. Mcalinden Trophy , this game youngster flying six hours forty five for the 250 mile journey. Brian won first open in this event a few years ago. Roy Fullard of Millom and R. Parrington of Askam in Furness took second and third.
The final race of the season was Littlehampton. Eventually the coastal mist lifted enabling the birds to get away at 11:15 into a light north-easterly. Thirteen was not unlucky for the Green & Hilson partnership the loft winning their thirteenth North West Grand National race and the second young bird race on the trot. Yet again it was a Bamford Gold Ring pigeon which ended up a clear winner, indeed defying wind and drag it was an outstanding performance. This is one of the most powerful lofts in the country and always the ones to beat be it 60 miles or 740 miles. The loft also took 2nd & 3rd section for good measure and ensured the partnership top spot in the club winning the T J & T Norris Cup, Highest Points.
Second open, first west section was Derek Rooney of Warrington. Derek has made his mark in the classic young bird races the last few years. He starts to work his young birds as these longer races are approaching and uses various methods of motivation to ensure success. This was also 1st NWGNF Gold Ring netting Derek a tidy sum. Derek also won 1st Gold Ring in the Midland National, what a great double. Derek’s timer was a Leo Hereman. He tells me he has disposed of these sprint birds with a view to tackling some longer events in the future. The next three birds timed belonged to that good partnership of Newsholme & McArdle. They set their stall out to do well in the North West Grand National this year and fair play to them Andrew and Jim take some beating . Their first bird was bred by Tim Webster of Chorley. Double Olympiad representative Cliff Harding, Devine & Kelly. Mr Consistency John Tamman of Liverpool rounded off a great season in the club taking prominent positions in every single raise, good flying to a short westerly location
Winning section ‘B’ was the ever present Ian Pedder. Ian has really stepped up to the plate the last few years and has a superb record in the club, a real all-rounder be it young birds or channel races. Ian’s bird won 1st Gold Ring bird in the B section plus being an all pooler, so great picking and a tidy pickup. Tom Jackson had the next section B pigeon with the ever present Mr & Mrs Peter Billington close to hand.
Section A always make a big effort for this race especially getting their gold ring birds to the race-point is quite an achievement in itself racing up to Cumbria. For J Jefferson & Son their master plan came together quite nicely winning the section, the main pools and the gold ring prize for the A section.. A & K Young of Millom continued their good season taking second and third place.
After points were totted up the magnificent ‘Bird of the Year’ plate donated by Peter
Bennett went to Billy & Pat Brown of St Helens with their youngster GB14A25101. Sire
of the youngster a D. Parson Jansson of the Verbart 46 line crossed with a Premier
Loft Ceuster out of Thunder X Superjackpot lines. Bill kept his youngsters separate
this year and could not do a thing with them. For the last few weeks of the racing
season he let them run together and performances took off. Bill sends his thanks
to Peter Bennett for such a wonderful keepsake
I summary of other major trophy winners where ‘All Race Average’ & ‘Highest Prize-winners’ the Bury loft of Green & Hilson. Runner-up highest prize winners the Merseyside loft of Newsholme & McArdle winning the T O Burrows Trophy and Stewardess Cup for 1st Open Messac and the K Hogg Memorial for best average West Section young birds. As mention Tom Smith of Haydock, St, Helens won the channel average cup, Ken Charnley of Barrow-in-Furness Barrow Victoria Shield 1st section A Messac, and C. Wainwright Trophy 1st A section Falaise, Palmer & Shields Barrow-in-Furness the Dalesman Trophy 1st Section A Fougeres and Channel Average section A, Tony Johnson Barrow-in-Furness the Mcalinden memorial cup for combined average section A, John Tamman, the Don Owen Memorial Trophy for all race average West Section, Don McCartney the Parkinson Memorial for 1st section B Messac, Mr & Mrs Jefferson NWHU Trophy 1st East Section Messac, Curtis Wall & Lunt Bamfords Corn Trophy for 1st Open Falaise, and the Dave & Mark Cup for 1st Section E Fougeres, B. Lloyd the H.B. Mcalinden trophy for 1st section A Bedhampton, Maurice McCartney & Son, The Combined Average Cup, Section B, Mr & Mrs Peter Billington 1st section B Fougeres, 1st Section B Bedhampton. Ian Pedder the West Coaster Trophy 1st Section B Falaise, 1st Section B Littlehampton, 1st Gold Ring Littlehampton, Young Bird Average Section B.
BAMFORD GOLD RING
The original concept for this race was thought out by the late Vic Harrison and the late Eric Bamford and run by the Old Lodge H.S. Secretary being Beryl Harrison. The Hull family Janet and her late father have also played a prominent role. The last race run by the Old Lodge was in 2012 and many fanciers in the North-West where gutted when they thought the race would peter out. Thank fully Diane Bonney stepped into the breach and it continues to be probably the largest gold ring race into the North West. The race is sectionalised to ensure that much of the prize & pool money goes back into the area generating those ring sales. Alan Bamford came out front to do the honours and thanked Diane Bonney & Keith Iddon for all their help. Of course we should thank Alan for providing such great facilities for the marking of the birds. He puts a lot back into the pigeon sport being a fancier himself and is worthy of our support.
Racing from Bedhampton it was the west coastal based lofts who prevailed this year. 1st open was T. J Hawkins & Son of Kirkby, Liverpool who timed a well fancied young bird. The loft picked up a cool £1471 to cover Tommy’s beer money for the week. For Tommy to win the race after giving so much of his time to promoting the sport is a marvellous reward. Tommy holds a large number of official positions in various clubs in the North West. Some of them being The Western Region, Ormskirk West Amalgamation, North Ashton Continental Club, Wigan 2-Bird, Leigh Arms 2-Bird, Maghull FC, North West Grand National FC, North West Combine. If no one puts their hand up for a job Tommy Hawkins will volunteer, probably missed a few organisations but you get the gist. Despite being hospitalised on a number of occasions he has raced as well as ever this year. As I have said before, in my eyes it should be ‘Sir Tommy Hawkins’.
2nd Open, just beaten by the narrowest of margins was the St Anne’s Loft of Barnes & Walmsley. Again it was well fancied timer winning a cool £943. In fact the partnership was also 5th in the race winning another £385. This loft is one of the best in the North West and is always very competitive no matter what the distance. The partnership brought a sizable party to the presentation, what delightful company. St. Helens loft Arnold & Johnson, no stranger to the prize table, took 3rd place £885, Midland National aces R & B Smith 4th & 8th winning £1360 with the two birds, the renown Mr & Mrs A Gregson was 6th, £510, 7th Curtis Wall & Lunt £665, 9th Kenny Atherton & Son, £295, and 10th W & P Brown, £200. Of course there were a great many more winning birds in fact the 209th bird clocked won the last of the section money. Total paid out was £21251. So it proves the race is as popular as ever.
With prize winners and friends gathered in friendship the evening slipped away in
pleasant conversation well into the early hours. Good food, great friends and a social
able ambiance finished another great night in Blackpool. The meal is pre booked already
for next year.