North Road Championship Club Dunbar young bird national

 by George Wheatman

 

Norwich fanciers dominated the North Road Championship Club's young bird national from Dunbar on Saturday when winners were the highly successful partnership of Mr and Mrs Owen King and sons, with former national winners Gordon Cockaday and Reg Piggin in second and third positions.

It was fitting that members from this fair city did so well because they supported the race in style by sending 600 of the 2, 300 entry. Their reward was a strong west wind that probably kept the birds out to sea for a straight run home.

Just a mention of these names is a reminder of how tough competition is in Norwich, but the Kings have been the aces in the pack for a number of seasons now but never quite on such incredible form as they have shown this summer, setting new records with their winning exploits.

They have named their winning pigeon "About Time" because they thought it was about time they took the top honours in a NRCC race, having now been first at their clock station in four of this season's six races. The bird making the vital breakthrough is a blue Verhagen cock bird racing natural on the darkness system, having been reared in January.

Bloodlines stem from the late, famous "Doodles" Lambert. Leroy, spokesman for the family on this occasion, said that they bought some choice pigeons from the bereavement sale that he organised for his uncle. Another purchaser at the sale was that London ace George Chalkley and it was a gift pigeon from him that was one half of the parents, being paired to a "Doodles" Lambert cock bird.

A third generation pigeon fancier, and well known for his convoying duties, Leroy, brother Joe, Dad Owen and Mum Ulanda, were rewarded by this win for the commitment they have shown to the sport.

It was particularly a boost for Owen who is making a good recovery from a triple by-pass heart operation earlier this year.

The winning pigeon, said Leroy, had won nothing previously but had always been among the front runners in his previous six races.

The King pigeons usually have a couple of 15-mile training tosses each week as well as exercising around home for an hour each morning and evening. All members of the family take an active role in the partnership.

Dunbar is a distance of 278 miles to their loft and they had 19 of the 30 they sent home on the day, timing the winner at 12-26pm.

They sensed it was a good pigeon because there was quite a long delay before the next timing. They had been expecting, and hoping for, a timing at about 12-40pm.

"I am sure that they came over the sea, and never went inland," said Leroy.

The winner will be back on the road next season.

Leroy said it was lovely weather in Norwich on Saturday. The wind was due west but not as strong as it had been earlier in the week.

"We have done well for a number of seasons now, but nothing quite like this season. The pigeons have been in excellent form and won lots of first prizes in our two clubs.

"We have done well in NRCC races but, until this time, have just missed out on the first place. That is why we have called the pigeon About Time. We thought it was about time we made the breakthrough in the NRCC."

The Kings started with 93 youngsters to race in their two clubs and have finished with 73.

In addition to the first three places being occupied by Norwich fanciers, three more of their colleagues were in the first 20, and another three Norfolk fanciers were also among the frontrunners.

The Friday night prediction by secretary Steve Spinks was that the race would be won in Norwich, because of the predicted wind direction, and he won himself a £10 bet on this from his Peterborough club colleague Dickie Bird who was convinced that the Louth fanciers would have the upperhand.

As ever, they were prominent in the provisional result, in 16th, 17th and 18th places, but the first Lincolnshire loft was that of husband and wife team, Kevin and Barbara Smith, past winners of this race, of Chapel St Leonards, who have been in excellent form with their young birds this season.

Secretary Steve Spinks said the race proved to be a good one to end a season of racing with the NRCC that has produced winners, and superb performances, from all over the membership area this summer. Some times the races have not been easy, and delicate timing has been necessary over liberations, but always the quality of fanciers has been up to the task.

Again we have top-class fanciers, steeped in pigeon racing tradition, in peak form, who have triumphed in excellent style.

It is not often fanciers win NRCC races on sheer luck. Ability is the key factor, and already Mr and Mrs King and Sons had proved they had the quality pigeons and right management. And Saturday proved it was About Time for their big-race breakthrough.

 

 

 

 

 North Road Championship Club Dunbar young bird national

 by George Wheatman

 

Norwich fanciers dominated the North Road Championship Club's young bird national from Dunbar on Saturday when winners were the highly successful partnership of Mr and Mrs Owen King and sons, with former national winners Gordon Cockaday and Reg Piggin in second and third positions.

It was fitting that members from this fair city did so well because they supported the race in style by sending 600 of the 2, 300 entry. Their reward was a strong west wind that probably kept the birds out to sea for a straight run home.

Just a mention of these names is a reminder of how tough competition is in Norwich, but the Kings have been the aces in the pack for a number of seasons now but never quite on such incredible form as they have shown this summer, setting new records with their winning exploits.

They have named their winning pigeon "About Time" because they thought it was about time they took the top honours in a NRCC race, having now been first at their clock station in four of this season's six races. The bird making the vital breakthrough is a blue Verhagen cock bird racing natural on the darkness system, having been reared in January.

Bloodlines stem from the late, famous "Doodles" Lambert. Leroy, spokesman for the family on this occasion, said that they bought some choice pigeons from the bereavement sale that he organised for his uncle. Another purchaser at the sale was that London ace George Chalkley and it was a gift pigeon from him that was one half of the parents, being paired to a "Doodles" Lambert cock bird.

A third generation pigeon fancier, and well known for his convoying duties, Leroy, brother Joe, Dad Owen and Mum Ulanda, were rewarded by this win for the commitment they have shown to the sport.

It was particularly a boost for Owen who is making a good recovery from a triple by-pass heart operation earlier this year.

The winning pigeon, said Leroy, had won nothing previously but had always been among the front runners in his previous six races.

The King pigeons usually have a couple of 15-mile training tosses each week as well as exercising around home for an hour each morning and evening. All members of the family take an active role in the partnership.

Dunbar is a distance of 278 miles to their loft and they had 19 of the 30 they sent home on the day, timing the winner at 12-26pm.

They sensed it was a good pigeon because there was quite a long delay before the next timing. They had been expecting, and hoping for, a timing at about 12-40pm.

"I am sure that they came over the sea, and never went inland," said Leroy.

The winner will be back on the road next season.

Leroy said it was lovely weather in Norwich on Saturday. The wind was due west but not as strong as it had been earlier in the week.

"We have done well for a number of seasons now, but nothing quite like this season. The pigeons have been in excellent form and won lots of first prizes in our two clubs.

"We have done well in NRCC races but, until this time, have just missed out on the first place. That is why we have called the pigeon About Time. We thought it was about time we made the breakthrough in the NRCC."

The Kings started with 93 youngsters to race in their two clubs and have finished with 73.

In addition to the first three places being occupied by Norwich fanciers, three more of their colleagues were in the first 20, and another three Norfolk fanciers were also among the frontrunners.

The Friday night prediction by secretary Steve Spinks was that the race would be won in Norwich, because of the predicted wind direction, and he won himself a £10 bet on this from his Peterborough club colleague Dickie Bird who was convinced that the Louth fanciers would have the upperhand.

As ever, they were prominent in the provisional result, in 16th, 17th and 18th places, but the first Lincolnshire loft was that of husband and wife team, Kevin and Barbara Smith, past winners of this race, of Chapel St Leonards, who have been in excellent form with their young birds this season.

Secretary Steve Spinks said the race proved to be a good one to end a season of racing with the NRCC that has produced winners, and superb performances, from all over the membership area this summer. Some times the races have not been easy, and delicate timing has been necessary over liberations, but always the quality of fanciers has been up to the task.

Again we have top-class fanciers, steeped in pigeon racing tradition, in peak form, who have triumphed in excellent style.

It is not often fanciers win NRCC races on sheer luck. Ability is the key factor, and already Mr and Mrs King and Sons had proved they had the quality pigeons and right management. And Saturday proved it was About Time for their big-race breakthrough.