"The Cobbler"
Northamptonshire
Ramblings
February (2) 2011
Ramblings
February (2) 2011
"The Cobbler"
Any views on Pigeon Racing in Northamptonshire to
Tel: 01933 410322 or
Email: russellbradford@talktalk.net
Copyright, all rights reserved, Russell Bradford 2010
Ramblers Itinerary Racing Pigeon Post RPP Index to Articles
Any views on Pigeon Racing in Northamptonshire to
Tel: 01933 410322 or
Email: russellbradford@talktalk.net
Copyright, all rights reserved, Russell Bradford 2010
Ramblers Itinerary Racing Pigeon Post RPP Index to Articles
I have agreed to take on a reporting role that extends (to some extent) outside Northamptonshire, and thus it crossed my mind to alter the title of my column. Now over eight years in as it were, and some 200 articles later, I’ve decided to leave it as it stands, so those members of Harrowden Federation, who live in adjoining counties, will I’m afraid just have to read Northamptonshire’s news as well.
Harrowden Federation
The annual jamboree (whoops) general meeting, took place on Sunday 13th, February, so clearly no superstitions held by those attending, albeit maybe that could have been the excuse for those who weren’t there - who knows!! The 2010 business was conducted without anyone throwing their toys around as can sometimes happen at these affairs and the accounts were passed and confined to the history book. There were however changes with the main officers; namely Chair; Treasurer & Secretary, albeit Gordon Raku remains ‘in situ’ as the Federation President. John Smith, Dawn Smith & Andy Smith were all given a vote of thanks for their efforts over the past year, and Andy even volunteered to do that most thankless of jobs again ~ race controller. Bryan Garfoot from Kesteven & Rutland club took the Chair; Clare Bradford took on responsibility for the finances, and I (Russell Bradford) returned to fill the secretary’s role - a job I did in 2006 & 2007, so hopefully have a rough idea of what I am up to. Nathan & Sue who filled the press duties in 2010 stood down, with comment from the Wellingborough delegate that the support they received from some of the clubs in the Federation had not been good. Writing a column in the BHW as I do, the inevitable finger was pointed in my direction, and I suppose that as I will know the Federation race results ahead of most others, it makes sense to for me to take on the Press Officer role as well. So where do I start? Perhaps by welcoming two new clubs to the Federation; namely Desborough in the north of the county, and Stamford in Lincolnshire, both clubs having made the decision to turn from north to south this year. The Federation is only a microcosm of the sport in general, and in the last four to five years has shrunk by around 20%, so with the membership and eventually the birdage from these two clubs, the Fed may well not only return to past numbers, but actually exceed previous statistics. The club count now numbers ten clubs with overall membership in excess of one hundred, so competition (and winning the Fed) certainly will not be a walk in the park. The next significant event on the horizon is the Fed’s Breeder Buyer sale, and this is open to all and sundry to provide a youngster. This sale will take place at The Britannia Club in Burton Latimer on March 27th, and I will of course update with further news as soon as possible. Although racing doesn’t start until April 16th, and is still many weeks away, members of the Federation who have ‘e’-mail may like to have a copy of the race result as soon as it is completed each week. Just send me an Email at the address below and I will add you to the circulation list. A race result will of course be sent every week by normal post to each club secretary, but given that I received a Christmas Card in the first week of February; correctly addressed but without a postcode from around six miles away, and post-marked December 18th, there’s clearly no guarantee of next day delivery any more.
BHW Delivery
It takes me onto another point altogether which has absolutely nothing to do with Harrowden Fed, but I wonder how many people receive their BHW by post? I do, and my own copy used to arrive like clockwork on a Thursday morning. That however seems too slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past, with even Saturday delivery now fairly and frustratingly normal. It is of course a total waste of time complaining to the post office as they have mastered the blame culture to perfection, with somebody else along the line always responsible - but never ever of course the individual to whom you are speaking.
Northamptonshire Championship Club
The NCC has decided on its race program for this year, which starts with Newbury on Wednesday April 13th, plus Newbury again a week later, followed by three consecutive trips to the New Forest on April 27th, May 4th, & 11th, and again on May 25th, with a final training race from there on June 22nd. Although these are all mid week races for members of the club, they are never-the-less regarded as a training schedule for the bigger cross Channel races to follow, with the first of these being on May 21st from Fougeres with the National Flying Club. The other NFC races the club will compete in, are Cholet on 4th, June; Messac 18th, June and Saintes July 23rd. However the longest race of the season and the Blue Ribbon event, will be the new (and shortest) of the Internationals at Villeneuve-Sur-Lot on July 2nd, ~ a distance of around 540 miles into Northamptonshire. This is a brand new race point ideally placed for the UK, and I’m sure given that the race is to be run as an Open race (run by the BICC) there will be a considerable number of fanciers dipping their toes into the International scene for the first time. The entry fee is a competitive £6.50 with a marking station in Northamptonshire. I’m sure I’ve laboured the point before about fuel costs and training, so it is perhaps again worth the comment that the NCC is happy to take mid week trainers to both Newbury and to the New Forest, if the birds can be delivered to the transport either Tuesday evening, or before 9.30 Wednesday mornings. The pigeons will be released around 2.30 to 3.00 Wednesday afternoons weather permitting of course.
Harrowden Federation
The annual jamboree (whoops) general meeting, took place on Sunday 13th, February, so clearly no superstitions held by those attending, albeit maybe that could have been the excuse for those who weren’t there - who knows!! The 2010 business was conducted without anyone throwing their toys around as can sometimes happen at these affairs and the accounts were passed and confined to the history book. There were however changes with the main officers; namely Chair; Treasurer & Secretary, albeit Gordon Raku remains ‘in situ’ as the Federation President. John Smith, Dawn Smith & Andy Smith were all given a vote of thanks for their efforts over the past year, and Andy even volunteered to do that most thankless of jobs again ~ race controller. Bryan Garfoot from Kesteven & Rutland club took the Chair; Clare Bradford took on responsibility for the finances, and I (Russell Bradford) returned to fill the secretary’s role - a job I did in 2006 & 2007, so hopefully have a rough idea of what I am up to. Nathan & Sue who filled the press duties in 2010 stood down, with comment from the Wellingborough delegate that the support they received from some of the clubs in the Federation had not been good. Writing a column in the BHW as I do, the inevitable finger was pointed in my direction, and I suppose that as I will know the Federation race results ahead of most others, it makes sense to for me to take on the Press Officer role as well. So where do I start? Perhaps by welcoming two new clubs to the Federation; namely Desborough in the north of the county, and Stamford in Lincolnshire, both clubs having made the decision to turn from north to south this year. The Federation is only a microcosm of the sport in general, and in the last four to five years has shrunk by around 20%, so with the membership and eventually the birdage from these two clubs, the Fed may well not only return to past numbers, but actually exceed previous statistics. The club count now numbers ten clubs with overall membership in excess of one hundred, so competition (and winning the Fed) certainly will not be a walk in the park. The next significant event on the horizon is the Fed’s Breeder Buyer sale, and this is open to all and sundry to provide a youngster. This sale will take place at The Britannia Club in Burton Latimer on March 27th, and I will of course update with further news as soon as possible. Although racing doesn’t start until April 16th, and is still many weeks away, members of the Federation who have ‘e’-mail may like to have a copy of the race result as soon as it is completed each week. Just send me an Email at the address below and I will add you to the circulation list. A race result will of course be sent every week by normal post to each club secretary, but given that I received a Christmas Card in the first week of February; correctly addressed but without a postcode from around six miles away, and post-marked December 18th, there’s clearly no guarantee of next day delivery any more.
BHW Delivery
It takes me onto another point altogether which has absolutely nothing to do with Harrowden Fed, but I wonder how many people receive their BHW by post? I do, and my own copy used to arrive like clockwork on a Thursday morning. That however seems too slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past, with even Saturday delivery now fairly and frustratingly normal. It is of course a total waste of time complaining to the post office as they have mastered the blame culture to perfection, with somebody else along the line always responsible - but never ever of course the individual to whom you are speaking.
Northamptonshire Championship Club
The NCC has decided on its race program for this year, which starts with Newbury on Wednesday April 13th, plus Newbury again a week later, followed by three consecutive trips to the New Forest on April 27th, May 4th, & 11th, and again on May 25th, with a final training race from there on June 22nd. Although these are all mid week races for members of the club, they are never-the-less regarded as a training schedule for the bigger cross Channel races to follow, with the first of these being on May 21st from Fougeres with the National Flying Club. The other NFC races the club will compete in, are Cholet on 4th, June; Messac 18th, June and Saintes July 23rd. However the longest race of the season and the Blue Ribbon event, will be the new (and shortest) of the Internationals at Villeneuve-Sur-Lot on July 2nd, ~ a distance of around 540 miles into Northamptonshire. This is a brand new race point ideally placed for the UK, and I’m sure given that the race is to be run as an Open race (run by the BICC) there will be a considerable number of fanciers dipping their toes into the International scene for the first time. The entry fee is a competitive £6.50 with a marking station in Northamptonshire. I’m sure I’ve laboured the point before about fuel costs and training, so it is perhaps again worth the comment that the NCC is happy to take mid week trainers to both Newbury and to the New Forest, if the birds can be delivered to the transport either Tuesday evening, or before 9.30 Wednesday mornings. The pigeons will be released around 2.30 to 3.00 Wednesday afternoons weather permitting of course.