"The Cobbler"
Northamptonshire
Ramblings
May 2009
Ramblings
May 2009
"The Cobbler"
Any views on Pigeon Racing in Northamptonshire to
Tel: 01933 410322 or
Email: russellbradford@talktalk.net
Copyright, all rights reserved, Russell Bradford 2008
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 2008
Ramblers Itinerary Racing Pigeon Post RPP Index to Articles
ETS - Unikon and the Rest
Some two years ago Ray Knight gave a demonstration of the Unikon electronic timing system at Northampton, and the upshot to that, was Northampton SRFC being given a club base station and scanner, as one of the members committed to using Unikon. That same equipment is now used at the BICC marking station, and this year increasingly more so, as more and more members switch to ETS. At the first BICC marking for Falaise 48% of the members were on ETS and around 80% of those using ETS, were operating with Unikon and the remainder (with very few exceptions) the Bricon Speedy clock. At BICC marking on Thursday for Alencon (13/5) we had thankfully finished marking entries, but were asked to test a Benzing clock that had failed just up the road at the MNFC marking, and of course were glad to help. The Benzing clock was plugged in to the Unikon system via the universal lead, and the scanner that obtains the time signal promptly went up in smoke ~ quite literally with a small electrical fire and smoke coming out of the UCS. Now was the time to test Unikon’s service, as without this piece of kit none of the ETS timings would be able to be read on race-day and it is so pleasing to say that Unikon without the slightest quibble promised to courier a new scanner to us with guaranteed next day delivery. A brilliant back-up service that can only warrant recommendation, but as with most things in life “One gets what one pays for”. Compare this with a club member whose Wife purchased a Benzing ETS system for him as a Christmas present. The system (which I believe has only one UK agent) was initially sent with an incorrect computer disc, and that in itself caused hours of wasted time when the allocation of rings just wouldn’t work. The correct disc was sent after many phone calls, and loaded after struggling with non user friendly instructions on to the computer, but is a very poor second in my opinion to Unikon. On the first club race it failed to allow a print-off of timings, and at the first National (MNFC) the fancier concerned had to ‘rubber’ his birds over the ETS rings. I for one would be asking for my money back!
Northamptonshire Championship Club
At time of writing the club has had two trainers to the south coast and one cross Channel event with the BICC. The Barry & Troy Hobbs partnership set their stall out, as they hope to continue the season, taking first and second at Portsmouth with a very fast race returning 1923 & 1915; some 65 miles per hour, with Andy Smith on third and newcomer to the club Rob Jarratt taking fourth and fifth. Positions were somewhat reversed at the second training race from the coast with Rob Jarratt taking first, third and fourth but with the Hobbs partnership again in the frame with second place.
The first Channel race with the BICC proved a much more difficult event than many originally thought, with the 4,359 birds held in France until eleven fifteen for this 240 mile race to Northamptonshire. I enclose a photo of the release of the BICC birds and as can be seen from the photo the flag is at full stretch on the mast, up on the castle ramparts~ (top left corner of the photo).
Some two years ago Ray Knight gave a demonstration of the Unikon electronic timing system at Northampton, and the upshot to that, was Northampton SRFC being given a club base station and scanner, as one of the members committed to using Unikon. That same equipment is now used at the BICC marking station, and this year increasingly more so, as more and more members switch to ETS. At the first BICC marking for Falaise 48% of the members were on ETS and around 80% of those using ETS, were operating with Unikon and the remainder (with very few exceptions) the Bricon Speedy clock. At BICC marking on Thursday for Alencon (13/5) we had thankfully finished marking entries, but were asked to test a Benzing clock that had failed just up the road at the MNFC marking, and of course were glad to help. The Benzing clock was plugged in to the Unikon system via the universal lead, and the scanner that obtains the time signal promptly went up in smoke ~ quite literally with a small electrical fire and smoke coming out of the UCS. Now was the time to test Unikon’s service, as without this piece of kit none of the ETS timings would be able to be read on race-day and it is so pleasing to say that Unikon without the slightest quibble promised to courier a new scanner to us with guaranteed next day delivery. A brilliant back-up service that can only warrant recommendation, but as with most things in life “One gets what one pays for”. Compare this with a club member whose Wife purchased a Benzing ETS system for him as a Christmas present. The system (which I believe has only one UK agent) was initially sent with an incorrect computer disc, and that in itself caused hours of wasted time when the allocation of rings just wouldn’t work. The correct disc was sent after many phone calls, and loaded after struggling with non user friendly instructions on to the computer, but is a very poor second in my opinion to Unikon. On the first club race it failed to allow a print-off of timings, and at the first National (MNFC) the fancier concerned had to ‘rubber’ his birds over the ETS rings. I for one would be asking for my money back!
Northamptonshire Championship Club
At time of writing the club has had two trainers to the south coast and one cross Channel event with the BICC. The Barry & Troy Hobbs partnership set their stall out, as they hope to continue the season, taking first and second at Portsmouth with a very fast race returning 1923 & 1915; some 65 miles per hour, with Andy Smith on third and newcomer to the club Rob Jarratt taking fourth and fifth. Positions were somewhat reversed at the second training race from the coast with Rob Jarratt taking first, third and fourth but with the Hobbs partnership again in the frame with second place.
The first Channel race with the BICC proved a much more difficult event than many originally thought, with the 4,359 birds held in France until eleven fifteen for this 240 mile race to Northamptonshire. I enclose a photo of the release of the BICC birds and as can be seen from the photo the flag is at full stretch on the mast, up on the castle ramparts~ (top left corner of the photo).
BICC Liberation
at Falaise
2nd, May 2009
at Falaise
2nd, May 2009
In the afternoon the wind seemed to just die away completely, but even so the lead birds into the county were still managing around 45 mph. The in form partnership of Barry & Troy Hobbs had a cracking pigeon, some 10 - 15 minutes in front of the next four on 1329, and this pigeon is also in the National result at 9th north section and 85th, Open from 4,359 birds entered. Barry & Troy pocket £120 plus a chunk of the pools whilst tripping the light fantastic into second was Rodney Oakes on 1313 with Graham Groom in third on 1299. Andy Smith filled 4th, & 6th, with Mr & Mrs Bradford in 5th. NCC members had ten birds in the top 250 of the Open BICC result, or roughly the top 5%, so not at all a poor result Nationally.
I also enclose a photo of the senior member of the Hobbs partnership taken quite recently in the garden of Bernard & Annie Deweerdt, when Barry visited to collect the pigeon promised in the Narbonne telephone auction, and duly sold to a fancier in Ireland. The widowers sections can be seen in the roof, and it is to this loft that Bernard and his Brother clocked 19 pigeons - approximately one every ten minutes or so, on the day from Barcelona last year.
Barry Hobbs visiting famous Belgian loft
June 6th, 2009 - Merville
The “D-Day” race is only a few weeks away, and to remind everyone, there will be a marking station at Ringstead WMC from 10.00 am until 1.00 pm. The £2.50 per bird entry covers transport to Ash, where the birds will be transferred (under cover - so no escapees) to the London and South East transporter. The L & SE have kindly donated their transporter free of charge to this worthy charitable cause. There will be eight marking stations nationally with each marking station forming its own section, and within the sections there will be pools at £1, £2, £5 & £10 plus a Single Bird Nom at £2 split 50/30/20. In the Open there will be just one £10 pool if you are feeling confident! All the proceeds for this anniversary race are being donated to the 9th Parachute regiment’s Memorial Fund, along with 50% of the proceeds from one further Nom pool at a £1.00. The RPRA have issued a special race code for Merville in order for secretaries to obtain distances, and this is 9999. The approximate distance to middle of Wellingborough from Merville is around 209 miles, so marginally shorter than Lessay for most flyers into Northamptonshire.
Narbonne International Open
I never anticipated more than ten or twelve birds from Northamptonshire being entered for this incredibly prestigious International, and thus have been hugely surprised at how many enquiries I have had, with often a closing comment that the fancier concerned may be able to find one or two for the race. Without a shadow of doubt one has to be prepared to send one’s absolute best to compete at this level and have the capability to fly around 650 miles into Northamptonshire. To be realistic it would take a miracle to win the International in Northamptonshire and even to win the UK section against some of the best distance fanciers in England, would take a fantastic pigeon. However the UK sections for this race are innovatively following the 13 RPRA Regions, and of course Northamptonshire falls into the East Midlands Region. The other counties in the same section are all bar one (Bedfordshire) to either the north or east of the county, so a section win could well be possible. For sure whoever gets the first bird into Northamptonshire, will achieve a massive result that will be talked about for a long time ahead. For the fanciers who do clock birds in race time; they will experience the enormous buzz and sense of achievement that comes with flying in an International at this distance and will be remembered until they are old and grey.
The “D-Day” race is only a few weeks away, and to remind everyone, there will be a marking station at Ringstead WMC from 10.00 am until 1.00 pm. The £2.50 per bird entry covers transport to Ash, where the birds will be transferred (under cover - so no escapees) to the London and South East transporter. The L & SE have kindly donated their transporter free of charge to this worthy charitable cause. There will be eight marking stations nationally with each marking station forming its own section, and within the sections there will be pools at £1, £2, £5 & £10 plus a Single Bird Nom at £2 split 50/30/20. In the Open there will be just one £10 pool if you are feeling confident! All the proceeds for this anniversary race are being donated to the 9th Parachute regiment’s Memorial Fund, along with 50% of the proceeds from one further Nom pool at a £1.00. The RPRA have issued a special race code for Merville in order for secretaries to obtain distances, and this is 9999. The approximate distance to middle of Wellingborough from Merville is around 209 miles, so marginally shorter than Lessay for most flyers into Northamptonshire.
Narbonne International Open
I never anticipated more than ten or twelve birds from Northamptonshire being entered for this incredibly prestigious International, and thus have been hugely surprised at how many enquiries I have had, with often a closing comment that the fancier concerned may be able to find one or two for the race. Without a shadow of doubt one has to be prepared to send one’s absolute best to compete at this level and have the capability to fly around 650 miles into Northamptonshire. To be realistic it would take a miracle to win the International in Northamptonshire and even to win the UK section against some of the best distance fanciers in England, would take a fantastic pigeon. However the UK sections for this race are innovatively following the 13 RPRA Regions, and of course Northamptonshire falls into the East Midlands Region. The other counties in the same section are all bar one (Bedfordshire) to either the north or east of the county, so a section win could well be possible. For sure whoever gets the first bird into Northamptonshire, will achieve a massive result that will be talked about for a long time ahead. For the fanciers who do clock birds in race time; they will experience the enormous buzz and sense of achievement that comes with flying in an International at this distance and will be remembered until they are old and grey.